A&L Blog

White gold cushion shaped rhodolite garnet pendant.

When we think of garnets, most of us probably visualize a pretty red gem, right? “Garnet” derives from middle Latin granatus, or “pomegranate,” referring to its juicy red color, reminiscent of pomegranate seeds. But, while red is the most common garnet color, it comes in a fascinating array of almost every color of the rainbow!

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It may be cold outside but it’s not putting a damper on bold looks and colors for the winter season. From blooming flowers to flirty tassels, this season is anything but boring. It is all about standing out in a bright and cheerful way. This may be just what you need to inspire gorgeous holiday gift ideas or even a few gifts for yourself.

Fringe and Tassels

of different metals, lengths and styles. We love the bohemian look which seems to frame the face in necklace and earrings and provide a bit of whimsy. Below (bottom row) are our vintage yellow gold buckle earrings with a matching bracelet, a pre-owned yellow gold bib necklace with filigree and a sterling choker necklace with dangling discs.

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This year we bring you our top gift categories with our favorite and most coveted pieces for the holiday season. The buzz around the holidays is that shopping early has it’s benefits, well, we couldn’t agree more. We have had such a successful year and we anticipate the holiday to reflect the same. We have prepared by stocking our inventory early and can’t wait to share some of our staff and client favorites. Michelle, our President at Argo & Lehne will sit with a new guest from the store each Friday morning at 9 am and advise on our top gifts for all your loved ones during our Fireside Chats. So, kick back, get cozy and enjoy our chats live or at your convenience on our Facebook page. Jump to the bottom of the post to find out how to be entered to win our grand prize of a $250 gift card, announced on Black Friday.

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Opals are valuable gems that can last a lifetime and be passed down if well taken care of. Follow these tips to maintain your opals’ luster & pristine condition.

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We are thrilled to welcome back local artist, John Wilson, to our latest Art at Argo’s exhibit. The exhibition. “Seaside Holiday”, begins September 27 and will remain on display in our Arlington showroom through January 15. John’s work was last shown at Argo & Lehne in 2017, where we came very close to a sold out show. His impressionistic paintings are ever so popular with our customers and staff. In this exhibit, he shares many paintings captured from his seaside holidays on the Cape.

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Sapphires are quickly becoming the hottest trend in engagement jewelry, partly because Heidi Klum, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elizabeth Hurley and Penelope Cruz have all recently sported sapphire engagement rings.

But there are other reasons to choose a sapphire to pledge your devotion. These tough, durable, beautiful stones make a perfect choice for a unique bride or a more traditional one. After all, sapphires have a history as engagement jewelry older than diamonds.. and they’re often more affordable than a diamond  — more bling for the buck! 

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As the saying goes, “what goes around, comes around”. This is true with jewelry as well as clothes. Of course, timing on these trends is of utmost importance. With an acute eye for fashion forecasting, we are here to tell you about all the vintage jewelry trends that are back in style. This way, you can be your most fashion forward self and be ready to dazzle in the upcoming season.

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Since Biblical times, each month of the year has been assigned one precious gemstone known as a birthstone for the month. The association of gems with birth months comes from the breastplate of Aaron which held a different gem for each of their tribes of Israel, each of which was celebrated in a different month.  Christian culture associated each disciple with a month and kept the tribe’s gem for that month. Other gems are linked to the twelve signs of the zodiac which do not quite coincide with today’s.. Many cultures throughout history have believed that birthstones hold magical powers or protection for the wearer, and this belief has permeated modern jewelry myths to this day.

The month of August is classically linked to a particularly extraordinary gem: the Peridot.

What Is Peridot?

Peridot (pronounced PEAR-A-DOE) is a beautiful gem of the mineral olivine, known for its distinctive vivid green coloring. The intensity of yellowish-green is deeper with more iron content, It’s value is more because of this beautiful coloring. Peridot has the nickname “evening emerald,” as it glows prettily under lamplight. 

The gem peridot has been found in numerous locations throughout the world, and is also one of the first known gems to also come from outer space! Extraterrestrial peridot found in Pallasite Meteorites is not large enough or strong enough for use in jewelry but is evident as flecks of olivine crystals. Peridot is softer than many gems, with a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Most peridot mined for jewelry is from China, Myanmar, Tanzania and the United States.

The History Of Peridot

Some think “peridot” comes from the Arabic word for gem, “faridat.” Valued in many ancient and medieval cultures, peridot can be traced back to the second century BCE in priests’ jewelry and chalices, and even further back to the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. In fact, a small island off the coast of Egypt once known as Topazios (now Zabargad) is the oldest recorded source of peridot. Cleopatra was famous for her vast collection of emeralds, which historians now believe must have included many specimens of peridot.

The Power Of Peridot

Some believe gemstones hold supernatural powers providing good luck and protection to the wearer. The birthstone of August, peridot is associated with harmony, good health, and peacefulness. Supposedly, peridot can calm anger, free the mind of envious thoughts, and ease depression. It symbolizes strength and has been used for hundreds of years as a protective charm that shields its owner from evil spirits. Specifically, peridot that is set in gold is thought to ease “terrors of the night”, protecting from nightmares and restless sleep.

Whether you are drawn to this gorgeous gemstone for its purported benefits, its lovely color, or because you were born in the month of August, there is no doubt that Peridot has a colorful history as a valuable gemstone. Contact Argo & Lehne Jewelers today for more information about our assortment of Peridot and other birthstone jewelry. View our collection here (https://www.argolehne.com/?s=peridot&post_type=product)

Show images of the three sale peridot items. Find these three pieces at an exceptional value all this month in our 97th Anniversary Sale.

As one of the world’s most popular gems, many ask what makes a ruby so beautiful and how does one tell if the ruby they are looking at is of high quality? This is a great question! You don’t need to be a gemologist to understand the quality and value of a ruby, but we all might benefit from more education shopping for rubies. In this article we will tell you all you need to know about rubies and answer the common question “How Can You Tell The Quality Of A Ruby”.

The History Of Rubies

Portrait for the Coronation of Queen Victoria by George Hayter (detail), wearing the new Imperial State Crown made for her by the Crown Jewellers Rundell and Bridge, with 3093 gems, with the Black Prince’s Ruby at the front. (Public Domain photo)

Many cultures have considered rubies the gemstone of kings. Historically, the stone was worn in many battles as it was thought to be a stone of protection.  Some cultures even went as far as inserting the stone into the skin as they believed this would protect them. Ruby goes back as far as the Bible and is still ever so popular. With its intense red color it only makes sense that it also symbolizes wealth and passion. It is the birthstone of July and Cancer and both the 15th and 40th anniversary stone.

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