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Custom Made Jewelry Pieces

Five reasons why custom jewelry is designed to reflect your individuality During this time of uncertainty, we know that you are looking for symbols that inspire & uplift you. Custom made jewelry can remind us of our inner strength & beauty that can help us survive any challenge. 1-Jewelry will be crafted specifically for you and with you in mind We can help you build your jewelry with your own personal style or details according to your taste or needs by having your personal input. It would be a piece that you desire and value by making it real. It's almost like taking a blank canvas and painting that dream. It's the same scenario with jewelry. It all starts with a piece of paper, some drawings that will make it alive. It is exciting because it is your creation! It could be for an anniversary, birth of a baby, birthdays, etc. custom design jewelry 2- Custom based on your budget Not only you will have control on the piece’s design, gemstones and diamonds but you can also control your expenses, even before you start your ideas or creation that you want to make. You have to think about how much money you have to invest to get what you want. If the investment you are planning to create is a long term goal, meaning, a family heirloom, then every penny is absolutely worth it. custom made jewelry 3- A treasured heirloom These pieces can become a family heirloom to pass on for generations to come from your favorite jewelry store. In return, they give you memories that last a lifetime, pieces to talk about and jewelry pieces that you will remember. Family heirloom jewelry can be different pieces. For women, there is a large variety to be created; these can be rings, earrings, pearl, diamond pins to name plates and more. For men, it could be an old pocket watch from his great grandfather with engraved family initials or your father's watch that he wore daily. Rings can be made with the family crest hand engraved, adding special birthstone gems adorned with diamonds. Another idea is to make a 3D charm of your favorite pet, house or car into jewelry. custom made rings 4- Guarantee quality, clean process & top of the line innovation techniques We start with a few drawings of the item you want to create. It could be a ring, earrings or pendants, anything jewelry related. The next crucial step is where you have to make some important decisions about choosing the right diamonds or gems. We will help you choose the right diamonds according to color, clarity and shape. We will also assist you with; Matching the gems with the same tone and hues. Combining colors that go well together so they do not clash to avoid that one specific stone being the center of attention, unless it's a center diamond. Choosing color stones that are durable. For an active person or not, some precious or semi- precious stones are not like a diamond. From there we move on to a CAD-cam. This is a drawing where we can see a 3- dimensional look at what we are making. The advantage of a CAD-cam is that you can make any changes or modifications before having it carved into a wax model. After that we proceed to make a wax model, so you can see it and try it on, we can even put some stones in there to give you a better idea of a semi - complete look. Even minor modifications can be done or applied to the wax before it goes off for casting. When casting your item, you can choose the metal you want. You choose from basic yellow gold which can be casted in 10k, 14k, or 18k gold. Same for white gold and rose gold, these are gold mixed with different alloys to give you the color you want. It can also be platinum, which is considered the most precious of all metals. Some clients choose the metal according to the occasion they are celebrating. Once we have casted an item we can make a rubber silicone mold of your item for you to keep. Then you can use this mold to make as many pieces as you want in any metal. Nowadays, the well-known tricolor design of yellow, white & rose together is a very popular and trendy jewelry style. Finally, we polish and clean your precious piece to a semi- finished look to be prepared for the setter to place the stones. After the gems are mounted we are near the finish line. All that remains to be done is to have all the stones set, filed, polished and cleaned. cad jewelry design. 5- Personalized service & professionalism You will enjoy this part the most as you get to have our undivided attention. Our 37 years of experience in the same location in South Miami, has helped us to understand and be able to translate your ideas into real pieces. We make this special process a lot of fun. Imagine having loose diamonds, precious and semi precious stones in your hands. It is almost like having a painter's palette ready to create precious lasting pieces. jewelry design. We all know these holidays will be different, maybe a little apart or with less people around us but just imagine gifting our loved ones with a custom made jewelry piece. Explaining the interesting journey of it’s creation and the high sentimental value that the piece will now preserve for many years to come. We are up for any challenge. Bring us your projects, drawings or pictures so we can help you make your dream jewelry piece into reality. custom made fine jewelry At South Miami Jewelers, we can help you make that dream come true. We work with you through the whole process from the beginning to the end. We look at the ideas you have and see what you have to work with in case we are using your gems or diamonds. Call us at 305-667-1898 or visit our jewelry store. You still have time to treat yourself with that special piece or gift one for the holidays.  We offer the best prices without sacrificing great quality. We are the best jewelry store in Miami for customer service & highly curated jewelry pieces.

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How to sell your unwanted gold, jewelry& diamon...

  When you take a look at your jewelry box you might realize that you have pieces that you have not worn for a while. If that is the case you might have money that you can be using for other purposes such as; paying off debts, donating to some organizations, trying new experiences or even getting a new stunning piece of jewelry. Gold prices are racing to new highs, this can push the precious metal prices to a record high in the coming months. In a twenty year chart, gold prices hit highs in July 28th 2020 when gold was at $1,901.30. Here are some tips that will allow this process to be easy and smooth. 5 tips you should know before you sell your jewelry: Jewelry is easy to buy and collect over a lifetime. The hard part is departing from it or selling it. At one point you have to let go, especially something you have not worn in years. Think how attached you are to your items and how valuable they are. 1- Know how much they are worth: The sentimental value you give to your beloved piece has no comparison to the Fair Market Value (FMV) of your jewelry therefore, we suggest having them appraised. An appraisal certifies the retail replacement value which is normally required by insurance companies. Getting items appraised is a very important process everyone should do. An appraisal is a document that describes your item in a detailed way: what materials it is, stones, metals, sizes, colors, etc. It will also give the insurance company a replacement value according to the amount it was appraised for. This does not mean you will get full price when you try to sell it; it is for insurance purposes only. Jewelry items are sometimes like a car; as soon as you drive it off the lot, it depreciates. That is not the case with all pieces of jewelry; if it's unique or rare or something of a quality it will always hold its value. 2- Research online business: As technology improves so does the way people do business. There are websites where you can send your jewelry, get an offer and a check in the mail. However, be aware that BBB has received many complaints about online business such as; failing to return the jewelry, send payments to customers or nor receiving the amount promised. If you still choose to send your jewelry to an online business make sure to check their reputation and reviews on Google or Yelp. Also take pictures of your jewelry before sending it and finally ship the package insured and with some type of delivery method where you can be notified about the details and tracking information. 3- Visit local stores: Visiting a local shop might be still the best way to sell and get the most money for your pieces. Just like the online business you should check their reputation & reviews on Google or Yelp. You can visit coin shops, pawnshops, consignment and jewelry stores. 4- The Process: Appraisers at stores will perform a detailed description of your pieces. If you are selling diamonds, they will check their size, color, cut and clarity. If you are selling other gems, they will check their size, color and if they are genuine or synthetic. When selling gold, the appraiser will determine if the metal is platinum, 18k, 14k, 10k or sterling silver. As prices of gold are fluctuating daily, the price of gold can change from one day to another. It is important to know the price of gold the day you are selling it. Gold will be checked for stamps or if the piece is quite old and the stamp has disappeared, a gold test will be performed. This will determine the melt value or scrap value of the precious metal valued together with any other gems. The melt value is the amount of money that you will be offered. 5. The Offer: After a complete analysis of your jewelry, you will be given an offer. Some stores will offer you a consignment agreement which is always more value than the melt value. You will receive a payment upon the sale of your piece deducting the store fees. This is a great deal if you are not in a hurry to receive the money. In other circumstances, you will be offered a check or cash for your jewelry. At South Miami Jewelers, we buy pieces every day, therefore we have a large selection of Estate Jewelry, from diamonds, gem stones to antique and unique watches. When visiting us, we’ll help you make the best decision on how to get the most from your items. Even if you do not know how much your jewelry is worth, we will be able to help you and safely assist you. Our business is a reputable store with 39 years of experience and 100% customer satisfaction. Check our Five Star Reviews in Google. Come and visit us or make an appointment to get a free estimate of your jewelry value. We are experts in this field and can offer you top dollars for your pieces and the highest price in the market or offer you the consignment option.

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A guide to watch features

At one point in our lives we will all own a watch to tell time or to be worn as a treasured jewelry piece. Watches come in many price ranges, from inexpensive and simple, to high end luxury watches. What you need to know is why you need or want a timepiece: for work, play or both. That is what makes researching and purchasing a watch somewhat challenging for some people. Movement Today there are many types of movements; from mechanical to quartz (mechanisms). Mechanical movement watches are automatic self winding movements made of many jewels, different gears, wheels and more. These types of watches do not require batteries and they can run daily without stopping. Some movements can run from 36 to 48 hours without being worn. Quart movement                Automatic movement     Power Reserve You will find some automatic movements that have a power reserve of 5 to 8 days. This feature requires a main spring of high quality which can be found in higher end and luxury watches.         2. Origin Most mechanical watches come from Switzerland or Germany. They are known for their quality of workmanship, reputation and history in the art of watchmaking. Some even have a long line of family history which still continues today. Nowadays, with the technology and equipment they have at their disposal, the creativity of mechanical movement has gone to the next level. We find movements that chime, moving figures & scenes on the dial, complications and they are constantly discovering new materials to work with to make them lighter and stronger.         3. Watch cases Movements are kept inside watch cases. They come in different materials to choose from: such as stainless steel, gold, titanium, sterling silver, etc. The case material will have an impact on price. Stainless steel watches are very popular because they are easy to wear, elegant and come in many budgets. Titanium is light and durable with a matte finish look. Gold and platinum cases are reserved for luxury watches. Watch cases can be adorned with diamonds or semi-precious stones to make it an artistic piece of jewelry as well as a timepiece. Water Resistance Watches come in different grades of water resistance; it ranges from 50M (light washing hands and no swimming) to 100M (washing hands to shower rain, but no swimming). This will be the case for dress watches. 200M means you can swim, dive or anything water related. Depending on your lifestyle you will choose a watch that fits your needs. Divers watches have 200M due to their case and crown features. These watches also have a lock down crown system and screw back case to insure air tightness. Extreme diver watches have special escape valves built in to release excess pressure build up within the watch case. Crystals Today most watches come with a synthetic sapphire crystal known for their durability and strength which prevents scratching. Other models could have a mineral crystal which is glass or a plastic crystal that scratch a lot easier. Watchbands They come in different variations and materials from exotic leather straps, such as alligator, crocodile, lizard, etc to stainless steel, gold and platinum. Leather strap watches are comfortable to wear but if you live in a hot and humid city, leather bands will have a shorter lifespan than stainless steel. The same applies to your everyday activities; such as getting your hands wet due to sweat and transpiration. Stainless steel bands are durable, they can easily scratch but it can be polished to remove dents & scratches. This also applies for yellow gold, white gold and platinum watches. Polishing service should be performed by an experienced person so they know not to take much material (gold) from the band. Maintenance All watch movements eventually need maintenance; it's like a car that needs a tune up to keep it running. A watch needs a tune up every three to five years . All quality movements have jewels which require a special oil for the wheels to keep the movement properly lubricated to prevent any friction within the wheels to keep perfect time. South Miami Jewelers have master watchmakers that can work and perform the necessary service required to keep your favorite timepiece working for a lifetime and keep it in its original condition. All our services come with a one year warranty. All our work is done with original parts, polished, serviced and pressure tested to manufacturer standards. Victorinox also known as Swiss Army, a watch brand with a long history of proven quality and watchmaking, is always coming out with new ideas and models. They provide simple ladies & men quartz watches; like the Maverick that are for everyday use such as business and play. Some Victorinox quartz models have end of life indicators to let you know that it is time for a new battery and to bring it to us for a new one. Victorinox also offers a variety of battery operated chronographs, which means you can use it as a stopwatch, which can be used for exercising, timing or even a reminder. They also make automatic watches like the Airboss Collection and the Mach 8 which is an automatic chronograph in a black PVD case, pilot features, skeleton case back to show the movement in action. Limited edition. The I.N.O.X. collection is for the water person that wants a watch that can handle the daily abuse of water. The case is made up of one solid piece of stainless steel to ensure it can handle the pressures of the deep ocean diver. There is only one other company with this feature; “Rolex” at a much higher price. The I.N.O.X has a lock down crown and a case back that allows it to go 200 meters or deeper. I.N.O.X. Divers Automatic

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What are the 4 Cs of diamonds?

Did you know diamonds originated 3.5 billion years ago?!? Diamonds are the birthstone for the month of April, but they are also meant for everyone and every occasion. They are the most precious of all gemstones and known for their durability and brilliance. Over a period of time, they can create value, meaning and stories; because we all know that diamonds are forever. Today As diamonds became more popular and abundant, the world started to see them being used for all types of jewelry. Engagement rings are the number one use for diamonds in the market today due to the variety of shapes, colors and sizes. It is a never ending possibility as to what you can create with them using all the tools and equipment that technology has to offer. In other fields, diamonds are even used in machinery as a fine powder to cut and grind other materials. The rule of the 4 C’s Color, clarity, cut and carat are the 4 characteristics that make diamonds unique.  Color Good color is the first thing a diamond should have because that is one character that makes each diamond stand out from another. They range from colorless to a yellowish or a brownish tone. Although the color is based on personal preference, for the purpose of an engagement ring, you should focus on a colorless diamond. The color of a diamond is graded by letters starting at D through Z, the average popular color is F-I range, which is still a nice white look. Colorless Diamonds (D-F) where D/E are colorless and F colored diamonds  Near Colorless Diamonds: (G-J) Faint Color Diamonds (K-M) Very Light (N-R) Light (S-Z) Clarity Clarity is defined by the kind of flaws found inside of the stone. Sometimes it can be a small flaw that can only be seen through magnification or sometimes you can see it with the naked eye. It can also be called a​characteristic flaw since no two diamonds are created alike, meaning that your diamond will always be unique on its own. You, the owner, are the only one that knows what and where that flaw is. The clarity of a diamond can range from IF (Internally Flawless) to I (Imperfect), the lower you go on the grading chart, the more you might see an imperfection inside your diamond. Like anything in life, the better the quality, the higher the price. The same rules apply with a diamond; the more flaws it has, the lower the price will be. Cut Cut is the third characteristic which can also make a difference in the price of a diamond. This will determine if the diamond has life, which means the brilliance all around, it's almost a feeling of the diamond talking to you.  A diamond should have a very good cut or excellent cut to get that brilliance you are looking for, the advantage of the present day technology is that most diamonds are cut by computers, so the proportions are always very good to excellent. Cuts can also mean many different shapes like pear-shapes, emerald cuts and cushion cuts, just to name a few. The most popular is still the round shape because of its look and proportions. Round, oval and pear shape diamonds give you a bigger look, square shaped diamonds can give you a smaller look. The weight might be the same in all of them but because of the way square diamonds are cut, they usually have heavier bottoms. Nowadays, laser cutting technology allows you to have your initials or your name cut out from a diamond. Another important factor when buying a diamond is to obtain a certificate of authenticity. The most trusted and recommended report is GIA (Gemological Institute of America). When you obtain a GIA certificate it provides you with all the specifics of your diamond as far as measurements, all the angle measurements in degrees, a plot of your diamond which shows where your flaws are located and the 4 C’s. A GIA certificate is highly credited when you have your jewelry appraised for insurance purposes. This certificate does not only apply to engagement rings but also to all your jewelry items and watches when they need to be insured. This is a personalized service that we provide at South Miami Jewelers.  Carat Lastly we have carat, which means the weight of a diamond which also contributes to the pricing of a stone. Diamond pricing is categorized into different weight categories, the bigger the diamond, the higher the price will be. Color and clarity scale are also considered to set the price per carat weight. An ideal diamond is the one that is cut proportionally correct, otherwise a diamond with a heavy bottom contributes a lot to the carat weight which in turn means more money for a smaller look. At South Miami Jewelers, we make it a priority to educate our customers when it comes to looking for the perfect diamond, we strongly believe in creating trust between us and our customers. We offer a large variety of loose diamonds for every single budget and taste. During our 36 years of service, we have learned to listen to and understand our clients’ needs. If you are looking for a diamond, or looking to upgrade your diamond, you can book an appointment by emailing us at info@southmiamijewelers.net or call us at 305-667-1898 to visit our store when covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

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Jewelry Cleaning Tips

We all have those special jewelry pieces that we love to wear all the time. As with anything we wear, our jewelry also suffer some from wear and tear. A good cleaning every so often helps to keep our pieces looking beautiful. We are sharing these helpful jewelry cleaning tips to keep your jewels glittering this holiday season.  Here are a few ways to keep those treasured pieces looking their best... Diamond & gold: Let your jewelry soak in warm water with a few drops of dish soap for about 10 minutes. Use an old toothbrush clean them and rinse them well. Repeat the process if you see still some dirt. Pearls, Emeralds, Opals and Corals: These stones are porous stones that can be easily damaged. It is better to quickly place them in lukewarm water with a few drops of baby shampoo, rinse and softly clean with a dry cloth. Professional Cleaning: It is recommended to have your jewelry professional cleaned at least once a year. A complete cleaning will not only leave your pieces like new but qualified jewelers also will check your prongs and settings. If you are in the South Miami area, pass by South Miami Jewelers for *FREE* quick cleaning. 

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