In this episode, I dive into the fascinating world of platinum, one of the rarest elements on Earth and highly valued in the jewelry industry. Join me as we explore the advantages and disadvantages of choosing platinum for your fine jewelry. Platinum's rarity is unparalleled. With an abundance of only 0.005 parts per million in the Earth's crust, it's truly a super rare metal. To put its density into perspective, a 1-inch cube of platinum weighs approximately a pound, while a 1-inch ball of platinum is equivalent to a 12-ounce beer. Ever wondered how much platinum would represent a man weighin ..read more

In this episode, Pat Finn and I continue our off-the-cuff exploration of the significance of fine jewelry, including a pretty sweet story about Pat's late friend, the legendary Chris Farley, and his love of gift-giving. We get a little sentimental, but it's cool, because that's one of the unexpected powers of jewelry:  it can connect us to our past and the people we love the most.  Jewelry is more than just shiny trinkets, and we talk about how fine jewelry becomes physical representations of unforgettable moments and intense emotions.   Okay, yeah...it's a bit deep, but you won ..read more

Pat Finn is a well-known actor, comedian, and writer with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. He's appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including The Middle, Seinfeld, “It’s Complicated,” and the “I Am Chris Farley” documentary.  He has an almost endless list of professional accomplishments, and I wanted him on the show because he’s also a husband, father, and regular guy who really seems to “get” the whole jewelry thing.  Here is Pat's IMDB link: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278156/ We’re going to discuss his own experience of buying an engagement ring, h ..read more

Gold has been treasured for centuries for its rarity and beauty, but did you know that not all gold is the same? In this episode, we'll explore the different types of gold and what makes them unique.  Understanding the "K" in Gold Jewelry The "K" in gold jewelry stands for "karat", which refers to the purity of the gold. Pure gold is too soft to be used in jewelry, so it's mixed with other metals to make it stronger and more durable. The karat measurement indicates the percentage of pure gold in the alloy. For example, 24K gold is 100% pure gold, while 18K gold is 75% pure gold and 25% ot ..read more

If you're like most guys, you haven't spent much time thinking about what kind of wedding ring you'd like, and honestly, until you have a need for one, you don't really care. Most guys don't wear a lot of jewelry, if any, so when it's time to shop for your wedding ring, what are you supposed to do? (Besides, start thinking about it.) However, having a wedding ring is important, yes...even for guys.  Is it life or death important? No. But neither is that watch you've been eyeing up, or that bike, sailboat or the hunting dog you just "have to have" because she's perfect. While a guy's weddi ..read more

Today, we're going to talk about the different diamond shapes and a few advantages of each. Diamonds come in various shapes and sizes, but I’m going to talk about the Top 8 based on their popularity.  So, whether you're shopping for an engagement ring, a gift, or a piece of jewelry for yourself, knowing the differences between diamond shapes can help you make an informed decision.  Also known as, “getting it right.”   The shape of a diamond refers to the outline or form of the diamond as seen from the top when it is placed face-down. Diamond shape is determined by the arrangemen ..read more

A lot of guys have no idea what a “push present” is.  I have to confess that until there was a baby in my future, I never heard of it, nor did I know what it was.  (And I'm in "the business!") So what is a push present? Is it something you should consider when there’s a baby on the way?   First, a push present is a gift that you present to your wife or girlfriend shortly after the baby is born, to celebrate the occasion.  The term "push present" originated from the idea that the mother has "pushed" to bring the baby into the world, and the gift is a way to show appreciation ..read more

This the second half of a discussion I had with my friend and hero, Maarten de Witte, aka "The Diamond Wizard."  He's a living legend in the diamond cutting world, and he decided to tackle the oft repeated (and crazy cynical) idea that "diamonds are a bad investment." Are they?   Some people think there is no question that diamonds are a "bad" investment.  That the entire diamond industry was created by DeBeer's and they're diabolical marketing campaign that causes people to believe there is value to what is actually a worthless rock.  So, are they worthless?  Is this ..read more

In this episode, we delve into the last two of the Four C's of diamond quality, Clarity and Carat weight. While the 4C's may seem boring, they play a significant role in determining the price you'll pay for a diamond, making it crucial to understand them. But don't worry, we'll get through it together! I'll discuss the details of the Gemological Institute of America's Clarity System, which looks like this:  Once we've covered the basics of Clarity and Carat weight, I'll share a Fifth C with you that will simplify everything. While knowing about the 4 C's is helpful, it won't necessarily m ..read more

Did you know when we're talking about the 'color grade' of a diamond, we're actually referring to the lack of color? Did you also know that the top grade a diamond can achieve is a 'D'? Did you further know it is really hard to distinguish colorless diamonds from near colorless diamonds? Do you know how hard it is to say 'colorless'? Haha, I kid but I really said it far more often then I should have this episode. When we're talking about color grade, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) uses this scale: - Colorless (Grade D, E, F) - Near Colorless (Grade G, H, I, J) - Faint (Grade K, L ..read more