A&L Blog

There are so many tough choices in this world: chocolate or vanilla, heels or flats, cappuccino or latte, and hoops or studs. Luckily, Jennifer is back with her latest “I’m Loving It” video to walk us through selecting the perfect earrings.

http://youtu.be/GKscEXv3AVw

How Much Do You Love Me?

These pack a big bang!

You can never go wrong with a classic.

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A couple came into the store and told us they had been robbed. The husband told the sales associate how lucky they had been that nothing had happened to his wife and it was obvious that she is his most cherished treasure. Her wedding band was stolen, but she was left unharmed. He explains that their rings had matched and showed the associate his ring.

The intricacy of their original ring was unsurpassed by rings of current style. He gave up his ring in a showing of pure devotion that brought our staff to tears.  Our craftsmen were able to take his ring and cut it in half to make two rings and then size the second to fit. Both rings were fashioned with gold bands on each side to make them a matched pair.

Here is their story in their own words:

“When her ring was lost, she decided that it was sold, melted down and used in new wedding rings for couples just starting their journeys together in life and love. And whoever was lucky enough to receive a few grams of gold from her ring would experience the magic embedded in her ring wrought over 43 years of our joys, all of our experiences, and our triumphs over losses.”

“By separating “one ring” into two, we fell in love all over again, just as we did at first and just as we and other couples do at various times during their time together.”

“This would not have been possible without the artistry and incredible craftsmanship of Argo & Lehne Jewelers, along with their kindness and understanding of how important this was to us. We have decided, upon our deaths, to will our two rings to Argo & Lehne so that they may melt them down and perform, once again, their magic for our descendants in creating new masterpieces of love and longevity.”

Here is a couple who literally “banded together” in a time of need.

Can it really be Fall already? Crisp biting air, the thick smell of leaves burning, bubbly pots of stew on the stove. Yes, Fall has certainly arrived. Donning hearty sweaters, your favorite skinny jeans, and boots may have you feeling the Fall vibe. One of the most effective ways to spruce up last year’s waredrobe is with this year’s accessories. Here are our top 5 picks of the season:

1. Soft, Sweet Hues

We love a soft pink or mint green accessory paired with cream or winter-white. Or, go for a matchy-matchy look with a pastel sweater and accessories in the same color. Imagine our Yellow Gold Opal and Diamond Ring paired with a fluffy pink cable knit and your favorite pair of jeans.

2. Dark Romance

Emily Bronte’s classic dark romance, Wuthering Heights servers are inspiration of this Fall/Winter 2013 trend. Think baroque beauties draped in dark metal jewelry and rich colored gemstones. No you have it. Better yet, picture this vintage amethyst number poised just at the right spot to bounce color light around your face.

Or, throw these vintage sapphire drops on like you wear them everyday. Nothing is sexier than a woman who knows how to wear her jewels. Hello, Heathcliff!

3. Hats off…or rather, hats on

Bad hair days have met their match, because hats are hot for Fall. Oh yes, ladies, fedoras are not just for the boys anymore. We love this look with a crisp, starched oxford, corduroys in an autumnal hue , and riding boots.

And, what looks better that you under a sassy hat? You under a sassy hot with a strategically perched vintage brooch perched above! How about adding a little whimsy with this guy:

Or, go sophisticated with a classic piece that easily transitions to your favorite LBD. Nothing says it quite like platinum, diamonds, and sapphires in a beautiful graphic shape.

4. Unique Gemstones

“My, what type of stone is that?” This is what you want to hear from strangers and friends alike. We love the classics, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Amethyst. Heck, how could Elizabeth Taylor have been wrong all those years? No, please do not mistake our obsession with the rarely seen as a dismissal of the rare and beautiful. This season classic designers such as Oscar de la Renta to Matthew Williamson showed rare gems on the runway. A little something like this might be just the ticket:

Or, perhaps a Jade piece to keep them guessing.

5. Structured, architectural metals

Consider pairing loose flowing layers or crepes and soft cashmere with structured metal jewelry. It’s this juxtaposition of soft and hard that designers return to year after year.

Chic.

Pop in the store to find all the pieces we featured in this Fall/Winter Accessories Trend Report. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think and which trends you’re loving this season.

The clouds have lifted and so have our spirits. Spring is finally here and we are celebrating by donning bright colorful frocks and glorious gemstones to match.

Have you ever seen a pink opal or a pink sapphire? Pair one of these pretty pink rings with all your bright spring colors–the pink is practically a neutral. Or, go for the statement look by making the ring the star in an otherwise neutral ensemble.

Did you know this year’s Pantone Color of the Year is Emerald? Be bold and go green on green. Mix green tones and textures for a fashion-forward look. Or, keep it simple with purple, pink, and neutral accessories to set off Emerald tops and dresses.

Ahh. The forever classic black and white. Of course, the outfit just becomes a quiet canvas for some gorgeous colored gemstones! This pretty little peridot, pink tourmaline, and diamond pendant makes a simple white or black dress pop.

This Debbie Brooks clutch is all the color you need. Period.

Taking the black and white aesthetic from head-to-toe will require a lot of silver and a dash of black diamonds. Stack those bracelets, ladies!

Cognac diamonds and a coral blazer Sigh.

This proves you can have a little bit of everything and see it all work together. The citrine and gold ring really sets well against the emerald in the dress. Mix your accessories, ladies! Do not be afraid!

Traditional precious metals, gold, platinum and sterling silver, have some new players in the arena of men’s wedding bands. The unique characteristics of these metals have caught the attention of grooms-to-be everywhere. Companies we prefer which carry these styles are Dora, Lashbrook, Stuller, Frederick Goldman and Triton.

**Keep in mind the precious metals mentioned above can be sized, have various surface finishes, can be set with stones, and buff beautifully.

Below is a chart we assembled to give you a condensed reference guide. Print this off for yourself and if you are viewing from our FB page feel free to SHARE this post on yours!

METAL  FEATURES CONSIDERATIONS

It’s October already and a great time to start thinking about gifts for the holidays. While it’s fairly easy to buy a ring, a necklace, or earrings for a loved one for Christmas or any other holiday – it might be time to try something new.

Consider designing a one-of-a-kind piece of custom jewelry to mark a special occasion this holiday season or to give a gift that no one else has.

If you’re considering using this time of the year to propose, a custom engagement ring could make your special time even more special and unique. But you want to get started on the process soon to make sure you have time for several consultations with an Argo & Lehne artisan. We’ll want to make sure we get everything right when it comes to your specifications, gemstone and precious metal selections, and your overall design.

If you do not have custom bridal or engagement needs, you might still keep custom earrings, rings, or a necklace at the top of your holiday wish-list. When it comes to the design, we can work with you to make sure your own ideas come to life or we can help customize a piece for you so that you know you’ll be giving your special someone the only one like it… any where.

The symbols, the shapes of the jewelry, any inscriptions you might want, the color of the gemstone, and the type of metals we use can be entirely up to you. We’ll sketch out ideas and finally present you with a formal design for your approval.

The cost of custom jewelry does tend to be higher but these pieces are nearly always of heirloom quality and can be passed down to generation after generation with that special story from your loved one of how it happened one holiday season.

Stop by our store in Upper Arlington and speak with one of our custom jewelry consultants today to find out how you can make someone’s December a very special time to remember!

Most of us have at least one piece of jewelry sitting in a jewelry box or drawer. Grandmother’s cocktail ring, mom’s wedding ring, Auntie’s bracelet–all just gathering dust because of fickle fashion.

The gorgeous, on-trend necklace below has a hodge-podge of origins. Let’s see, there’s the center stone came from the solitaire necklace of a clients grandmother, the two on either side of that were from the pair of diamond stud earrings given to her by that same grandmother (and grandfather!) and the two outside diamonds were bought from Argo and Lehne stock to complete the piece.

To read more about Re-Imagining Heirloom Jewelry, please check out our very own Julie Smetzer’s guest post on the Tartan & Sequins blog.

Not to toot our own horn, but we are known around the country for our custom jewelry. There isn’t a more creative or more experienced custom jeweler in Columbus, Ohio. Take a peek at a few of our latest custom pieces.

It’s our favorite team, if you please! With the changing of the leaves and the cooling of the evenings comes Buckeye Fever. We’ve waited all summer for football season kick-off and this year more than most. It’s not just the excitement around the All-American candidates John Simon and Jonathan Hankins promising more sacks and more pressure, it’s the buckeye fashion.

This season we’re making it easy for Buckeye fans to support their team in style. Pretty pendants, charms, and scarlet and gray baubles are on our roster this season.

Check out a few of our star players.

Angelina knows the power of the emerald.

The emerald.  This magnificent gem has been treasured and enjoyed for thousands of years.  The ancient Egyptians circa 3500 B.C. were thought to be the first ones to use emeralds as gemstones as Egypt was the world’s main source.  Interestingly, Elizabeth Taylor, who played Cleopatra on film, was as enamored of emeralds as the Egyptian she portrayed.  She wore fabulous emerald jewelry throughout her life and used the color and popularity of emeralds to launch her perfume.

Big-screen goddess, Angelina Jolie, stole the show at the 2009 Oscars when she sauntered down the red carpet in a super simple black Elie Saab gown and oversized Lorraine Schwartz emerald earrings. The teardrop emerald stunners are worth a reported $2.5 million. The publicity Jolie received from her show of red carpet perfection was priceless.

Pliny the Elder (23 A.D. to 79 A.D.) wrote, “We delight in feasting our eyes on the pleasant green grasses and leaves, but the enjoyment of beholding an emerald is incomparably greater, for its green is most soothing.”  The Roman Emperor Nero is said to have watched gladiator fights through emerald glasses for their soothing effect.

Emeralds are part of the Beryl family of gemstones, another being the aquamarine.  Emerald value  is largely based on its color with the deeper more intense green being the most valuable.  Emeralds are very rarely free from eye-visible inclusions but it is these inclusions that give each emerald its unique look.  The French refer to these identifying characteristics as “jardin”, meaning garden, so named because they evoke an image under magnification of a leafy garden.

Today emeralds are rarely found in Egypt.  Columbia and Brazil are primary locations for emerald mining.  Other important sources are the countries of Zambia, Madagascar, Russia, China, and Pakistan.

Visit Argo & Lehne and be captivated by emerald, a fabulous gift of nature.

Can you hear that? It’s the sound of the leaves turning as the heat of summer finally subsides into the cool breezes of fall. Not a moment too soon, right? With the bright leaves and crisp air come the sophisticated, earthy styles marking this fall’s fashion trends. Rich leathers, classic cashmeres, edgy Navajo prints, and soft feather accents are all up for grabs.

It began this summer with droves of celebrities spotted with turquoise and coral statement pieces mixed in with white jeans and simple tees. But, this timeless stone knows no seasonal boundaries. Fall is flush with the “sky stone,” as it’s know among many Southwest Native American tribes. With its natural blue-green hue, turquoise is quite the eye catcher. The metallic veins that can run through a piece of polished turquoise are natural deposits of aluminum and copper. It’s only natural that turquoise studded jewelry is being paired with the coming season’s Native American inspired looks.

Maybe less expected, is the daintier take on turquoise–polished turquoise doesn’t always have a Southwestern look. Keep an eye out for brides mixing chic turquoise pieces into their wedding day ensemble. It is, after all, something blue.

A modern, but ultra-feminine rose gold accessory can soften your favorite black cashmere sweater, or crisp leather jacket. The ladylike pinkish hue of rose gold is created by an increase in the amount of copper in the gold. Colors can range from a pale pink, up to an intense red. Rose gold’s blush tint is sophisticated and looks soft against any skin tone.

Create a slick juxtaposition of materials by pairing a simple rose gold bracelet with trendy woven leather cuffs–sleek against rugged. For a more feminine finish look for a mixed-metal piece, such as a stack ring that layers rose gold with white and yellow metals.

Girlie rose gold and bold turquoise are two of our favorite fall accessory trends. How would you wear the trend? Leave us a comment or a send us a picture showing us your take on this season’s must-haves.

Vintage Turquoise and Pearl Bracelet

Vintage Turquoise Onyx & Coral Cuff

Rose Gold Stacked Ring