Category Archives: Jewelry

After three years of decline, sales of women’s watches – the perfect combination of utility and fashion – are ticking up again. NPD Group, a national marketing research firm, reports that from January through May of this year, sales increased 2 percent over the same period in 2017. The numbers, said Karen Wood, vice president for service at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange, reflect what she’s been seeing at the company’s four North Texas stores. “A luxury watch is a great way to express your personal style,” she said. “More and more women are coming in to purchase watches for themselves, not just getting gifts from their husbands or boyfriends.” Wood said several factors are driving the trend. Women are wearing bigger watches, she said, “instead of the little petite watches like maybe your grandma wore.” That led some women to buy men’s models, which got the watchmakers’ attention. “So they’re focusing more on women’s style watches,” she said. “They’re not just making small versions of men’s watches. Some brands are designing more watches for women.” That’s smart, Wood said, because for women a watch is also a fashion accessory. “Of course it’s functional,” she said. “but they’re treating it more like jewelry than a watch.” Dallas Gold and Silver has a wide – and ever-changing – selection of pre-owned luxury watches, with famous names including Rolex, Cartier, Breitling and TAG Heuer, guaranteed in like-new condition and perfect working order. That’s not the only reason to come in. “We see a lot of women who want to make their watch more feminine, not just looking like a small men’s watch. So we’ll accessorize it with mother-of-pearl dials, diamond bezels, or other things. “We have beautiful watches right out of the box,” Wood said. “Or if you don’t want the same watch everyone else has, we can customize it.”

You’ve probably paid a lot to the jewelry business – and unless you’ve shopped at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange, you’ve definitely paid too much for your bridal jewelry. But now the jewelry business wants to pay you. The Gemological Institute of America is awarding $2 million in scholarships next year, and the deadline to apply is September 30. “With changing consumer trends and technological advancements in the industry, it is now more important than ever to have professional qualifications,” said Duncan Pay, the GIA’s vice president and chief academic officer. “These scholarships help people follow their dreams and pursue their passion in gems and jewelry.” The scholarships range from partial to full tuition for GIA’s gemology, jewelry, and design programs, courses, and lab classes. Most are held at the Institute’s headquarters in Carlsbad, California, which is near San Diego. The money comes from individuals, jewelry companies, alumni associations and the GIA itself. For more information, click here. A sparkling future awaits.

We think that Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange is the best place to hunt for gold, because you’ll always find what you want. But if you’re more the old-fashioned type, and you have a competitive streak, join the rush to Hodruša-Hámre, Slovakia. That’s where the 2018 World Gold Panning Championships get under way on August 6 for six days of pressure, pride and prospecting. About 600 competitors from more than 20 countries are expected at the annual event, which features colorful opening ceremonies, a gold-themed festival – and serious competition. The championship dates from 1977, when panners from 10 nations gathered in Finland to transform their hobby into the inaugural shiny showdown. Last year’s WGPC was held in Scotland, and the year before that in Placerville, California, near the spot of the historic discovery that set off the California Gold Rush. Categories include men, women, juniors, seniors, two-person teams, three-person teams, five-person teams and national teams. Italy is the two-time defending champion. But no matter the classification, it comes down to a pan-off. Everybody gets a giant tub of water, sand and gravel into which officials have put between 5 and 12 bits of gold, depending on the competition. Whoever sifts all of them out the fastest wins. Jody Franklin, director of tourism for the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the 2016 WGPC, said the event may be misunderstood. “It’s just a unique sporting event,” she told the Sacramento Bee. “When you think gold panning, they picture this little old guy with a beard next to the river, you know, swishing away…No, it’s a lot quicker than that.” Have you found some extra gold bullion around your home and want to trade it in for cash? Head to your nearest DGSE location today!

The good news is that we may have found a better deal on diamonds than what you’ll get at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange. The bad news is that it’s 500 million miles away and it’s really hard to breathe. At No. 24 on the Perot Museum of Nature and Science list of “Amaze Your Brain” fun facts, the great Dallas museum points out that “On Saturn and Jupiter, it can rain diamonds.” The conclusion comes from a study presented five years ago at an American Astronomical Society meeting in Denver. Space supernerds Kevin Baines and Mona Delitsky analyzed all kinds of data we can’t begin to understand and concluded that the planets’ atmosphere are rich with methane gas. They also have lots of lightning storms, which turn the methane into carbon. As the carbon heads to the surface, the fierce atmospheric pressure forms it into clumps of graphite and then actual diamonds, giving the planets the most valuable hail in the universe. (Remember when Superman would grab a lump of coal and use his superstrength to crush it into a diamond? Sort of like that) Before you Google “Jupiter Gold & Silver Exchange,” you should know that not all scientists agree with this conclusion. And the planets are mostly big balls of gas. As the diamonds fall closer to the hot planet core, they liquify into diamond soup, which would be harder to wear on your neck or finger. So scientists agree: the best, most practical place in the solar system for all your diamond needs remains Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange.

The folks down at Chipotle in Elk Grove, California, last week found themselves in the middle of a burrito-themed engagement party. The Sacramento Bee reports that Chris Piwinski decided to pop the question to Natalie Neach at their local Chipotle, scene of many high school dates, post-squabble feasts and even a Valentine’s Day dinner when the fancy restaurant was full. “It’s where we go,” he said. “We love it.” So with the company’s cooperation, Chris stashed their friends at the pizza parlor next door, went through the line, put down his burrito and pulled out the ring as employees put their favorite song on the speakers. Natalie said yes, even though it will be a mixed marriage – he likes the tortilla version, she goes for the bowl. Chipotle catered the ensuing party, complete with a cake topped with an icing burrito. No details yet on what they’ll serve at the wedding. We like Chipotle, and we wish the happy couple a lifetime of all the chips and guac their hearts desire. And there are many fine fast food emporiums and budget-friendly eateries close to our stores for your engagement party. But we do have to wonder: if Chris had bought Natalie’s ring at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange, he would have saved enough to stage his unforgettable life event at a really, really nice restaurant.

Jewelry should make you happy, especially when you find it at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange prices. But finding it in a rusty box in your backyard is pretty good as well.   Last month in the New York City borough of Staten Island, Matthew and Maria Colonna-Emanuel noticed a piece of rusty metal behind some trees in their garden.   “It was really prominent when the deer ate away all the foliage,” he said.   They started digging and unearthed a rusty box. Inside were a wad of soggy $100 bills and plastic bags containing gold rings, diamonds, jade and other jewelry.   “You dream as a kid that you find a buried treasure, and it happened,” Matthew said.   But they weren’t typical pirates. There was also a piece of paper with their neighbor’s address.   “I knocked on their door and asked if they’d ever been robbed, and they were,” he said. The box had been taken on the day after Christmas in 2011, and police told the owners not to count on recovering the estimated $52,000 worth of stuff inside.   The Colonna-Emanuels didn’t move in until three years later and had no idea why thieves would stash the loot in their garden.   “A couple people asked us, ‘Why did you return it?,’ ” Maria said. “It wasn’t even a question. It wasn’t ours.”   Her husband added, “The reward is karma. Good karma.”   We certainly hope he’s right. But in case there’s any reward money as well, the virtuous couple can fill their own jewelry box here at prices they won’t believe.