Meaning of Jewelry – A keepsake!

Posted on July 17, 2017July 19, 2017 by Harvinder C. Maniar

17 Jul

Welcoming a new baby in the family is a very special event in any couple’s life. Giving a gift to the mother as a gesture of gratitude and keepsake has become very popular in recent years. For those not familiar with the term, a “push” present is a gift a father gives to the mother on the occasion of giving birth to their child. The present can be gifted either before or after the baby is born, or even in the delivery room.

Jewelry is a very popular push present. It can be made even more special and personalized by incorporating the baby’s birthstone. In this month’s Meaning of Jewelry segment, we feature Leslie Afolabi’s gift from her husband after their second baby – Lewa was born in July.

We asked Leslie the following questions –

When did you first get your jewelry and what was your reaction?

I got my Ruby ring shortly after my second daughter was born and I absolutely loved the gesture from my husband and the custom created ring with Lewa’s birthstone.

Leslie’s Ruby ring made after her daughter’s July Birthday!

Did you wear your ring right away? Do you wear it all the time or for special occasions?

I wore it as soon as the swelling in my hands went down and wear it for special occasions.

What meaning does your jewelry have for you?

The ring is my baby girl Lewa’s birthstone – Ruby and will forever be a reminder of the amazing day she came into this world. When she grows up and moves away I will always have my ring to make me feel close to her. This ring will always remind me of my baby girl.

Is this something you will pass on to your daughter?

I will definitely be giving this ring to my second daughter. If she has a July baby it will be the perfect!

Leslie’s family during their family’s recent July 4th Celebrations!

Leslie’s girls – Ife and Lewa – all dressed up for July 4th celebrations!

We love this new tradition of the push present as a keepsake to remember the special day your child is born. We enjoyed being part of the journey to create Leslie’s custom made Ruby ring with her daughter’s July birthstone, especially knowing how she will forever cherish this ring as a reminder of the day her daughter made her debut in the world.

Meaning of Jewelry – Story of Passion, Baseball and Resilience

Posted on April 20, 2017April 23, 2017 by Harvinder C. Maniar

20 Apr

April is a very special month for me because it was during this month in 2010 that I first met my husband, Chintan Maniar. Since then, I have not just associated April with Spring or our ‘dating anniversary’, but also as the start of the Baseball season. It is not because I always followed baseball, but because my husband completely loves the sport and is a passionate fan of his team – Boston Red Sox. And passion can sometimes be contagious!

Since our first date, Chintan has made his love for baseball transparent, especially for the Boston Red Sox in particular. How does someone who grew up in India and lives in the Bay Area have Boston Red Sox as their favorite baseball team, I asked. He explained how he first got introduced to the sport and how he fell in love with the history of the Red Sox. But, it’s what happened next that told me that this guy was serious and perhaps the most passionate person I had ever met in my life – Chintan pulled out his custom made diamond and ruby pendant with the Redsox logo. He left me in awe and admiration for his passion.

Some photos of Chintan at the Red Sox game.

Chintan does not miss a single game when his Red Sox are in town to play against the Oakland A’s.

Proud fan!

I have been fortunate to get to know the game of baseball with him (although I support local) and to share in his passion for the sport over the years.

Since it is April and Baseball is in full swing, we caught up with Chintan and learned more about his passion for the Red Sox and the meaning behind his sports pendant.

So, we asked Chintan the following questions –

When did you first get your pedant?

“I first got this pendant back when Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. My dad wanted to give me a piece of memento that I would remember forever and would always have it on me”.

What was your first reaction to it? Did you wear it right away?

“I was blown away not just by the gift/gesture but also by the significance of it. Growing up over the years, my parents would usually gift me pieces of jewelry for birthday gifts or special occasions. However, for the most part, I would wear those pieces for a few months and either put it away in the safe or switch it up with a different piece of jewelry or just not wear any jewelry at all. Alas, all of this came to complete halt when I got my Red Sox pendant. The day I got it, I put it on right away and I have never taken it off. I have been wearing the same pendant for over 13 years”.

The pendant literally has not come off. Here are some places its been…

Our Engagement shoot in Carmel, CA.

Snorkeling adventure in Mauai.

On our honeymoon in St. Marteen.

What meaning does the pendant have for you?

“Two words that describe the significance of this pendant is: resiliency & passion. I look at this pendant every morning when I am getting ready and it reminds me of all the history & resiliency that my family had to go through to achieve the American dream. Just like the Red Sox had to overcome 86 years of championship drought. My parents did not speak a single word of English and took a leap of faith to come to USA to achieve the American Dream for their kids. It reminds me of all the hard work that the entire Maniar family has put in and still does to ensure we never forget the feeling of winning. Just like the Red Sox, I am a passionate person. And I could not have been more excited to say that, they are the first team in the 21st century to win 3 World Series trophies. I do not have 3 championships, but my own resiliency and passion have brought me many successes in my life – my college degree, my first luxury car at the age of 24, my first home at the age of 27, my several promotions in my career to name a few. I have put my blood, sweat & tears in all aspects of my life that I am truly passionate about. I love having my Red Sox pendant that keeps me close to my passions and continues to teach me resilience as I navigate through life”.

Any anecdotes/stories with your pedant?

“Anytime people question my loyalty to the Red Sox since I grew up in Bay Area, all I have to do is pull out this pendant and it does the job. I am proud to be wearing this pendant daily & love the power that comes with it”.

Close up of the pendant that gets pulled out each time Chintan’s loyalty is questioned.

Is this a piece you would hand down to your future kids?

“I would totally hand this down to my future kids once HCM diamonds makes a new piece for me that would have just as much significance as this Red Sox pendant does ;)”

This is such a beautiful story of how a piece of jewelry can be so instrumental in keeping not just sports history close to heart, but also family history and resiliency close to heart and keeping the passion alive. It also goes to show how sports can become a very integral part of our lives and remind us of our own struggles and teach us virtues such as resiliency and passion.

Hope to see you all at the ball game! Please do not hesitate to send us stories of the meaning behind your jewelry pieces.

Discover the colors of January Birthstone – Garnet

Posted on January 12, 2017January 12, 2017 by Harvinder C. Maniar

12 Jan

Garnet is actually the name of a group of minerals that come in a variety of colors. The symbolism of this January birthstone is that it is believed to bring peace, prosperity and good health. These characteristics make Garnet the optimal stone for the start of the New Year. Garnet also symbolizes loyalty and constancy which makes it a great gift for a friend whose friendship you deeply value. In addition to being the January birthstone and a great gift for a friend, Garnet also is the traditional gift for 2nd Wedding Anniversary.

With so much significance, we are excited to share a bit more about this multi-faceted stone.

Garnet derives its name from the Latin word “granatum” which means seed and is rightfully used for Garnet because of its resemblance to the deep red color of the pomegranate seeds.

Garnets are found in many places around the world, including North and South America, Australia, India, Asia and Spain. The more common, red Garnet is found in metamorphic rocks (rocks that are altered by heat and pressure).

Garnet is a very durable gemstone (6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale; Diamonds – the hardest natural substance is at 10). Garnet’s durability makes it a great gemstone for use in Jewelry. Garnet is so durable that remnants of Garnet jewelry can be found as far back as the Bronze age in the third millennium BC.

As per our knowledge, there are no laboratory created Garnets in the market. In addition, besides the heat treatment of demantoid variety to permanently improve color, widespread processes like heating and irradiation are not used to “treat” Garnet.

Going back to the color aspect, there are more than 20 Garnet species adding to the color variety of Garnets. The variety of colors in Garnets come from metals such as manganese, iron, calcium and aluminum. Following are some of the Garnet gemstone varieties/species that are seen in jewelry.

Pyrope Garnet – The classic and the less expensive red Garnet that frequently comes with a brown or orange tint.

Almandine Garnet – Another deep red and less expensive Garnet that comes with a slight violet tint. A pure deep red is the most desirable color.

Rhodolite Garnet – A very attractive violet-red Garnet which makes stunning jewelry pieces. Rhodolite composition is a mixture of Pyrope and Almandine Garnets,although it is more expensive that Pyrope and Almandine Garnets by themselves.

Hessonite Garnet – Known as cinnamon stone, Hessonite is a brown-red Garnet variety. Traces of manganese and iron give Hessonite its color.

Spressartite Garnet – Have an orange to red-orange color with exceptional brilliance.

Grossularite Garnet – Another combination variety composed of hessonite and tsavorite.

Tsavorite Garnet – Pale to emerald green in color and is one of the rarest Garnet varieties. The color is due to traces of chromium and vanadium. The finest examples rival fine emerald in color, but are superior to emerald in hardness and brilliance.

Demantoid Garnet – The the rarest and most valuable of all the garnets. Demantoid means “diamond-like luster” and demantoid garnet is one of the few gemstones with a luster and brilliance similar to diamond. Found in green to emerald green, demantoid garnet is very rare and is typically found only in small sizes.

So, what is your favorite Garnet variety? At HCM Diamonds, we created a lovely custom piece using Rhodolite and it is one of our favorites in Garnets besides the more traditional red Garnet.

Diamond and Rhodolite Pendant and Earrings set in 18kt Rose Gold

Gemstones add another dimension and a whole new meaning to Jewelry especially when created to mark a significant moment. In addition, creating pieces with the combination of diamonds and gemstones adds unparalleled sparkle.

Some reasons as to why you should consider Garnet for your Jewelry –

Garnets make great gifts in celebrating not only January birthdays, but also for celebrating a good friend, 2nd wedding anniversary and the New Year
At 6.5-7.5 on Mohs Scale, Garnets make a durable gemstone to be set in jewelry
The color range of Garnets is very attractive and offers many versatile options at affordable costs
Today, no synthetic (lab grown) Garnets are available in the market thereby making you a much confident Garnet buyer.

Have a Sparkling January!

Celebrating September Birthstone – Sapphire

Posted on September 1, 2016November 26, 2016 by Harvinder C. Maniar

01 Sep

Dear September, we can’t believe that you are already here! We are so looking forward to celebrating all the amazing September birthdays with the beauty of their birthstone – Blue Sapphire

Sapphire is traditionally known to symbolize nobility, truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. It has always been associated with royalty and romance which was highlighted and reinforced in year 1981 when Prince Charles of Britain gave a blue sapphire engagement ring to Lady Diana Spencer.

Sapphire belongs to the mineral species corundum which is the same mineral that Ruby belongs to. Corundum itself is composed of aluminum and oxygen with different trace elements present in it. While the presence of Chromium imparts the red of the ruby stone, the presence of iron and titanium makes it the Blue Sapphire.

Sapphires are found in a wide variety of places around the world, including India, Burma, Thailand, Australia, Brazil, and Africa. In the early 20th century, Montana’s Sapphire Mountain range tin the United States was named for the large amount of deposits—more than 40 tons. Most were sold for use in watch bearings.

Other little known Sapphire facts –

Sapphires also make the traditional gift for 5th and 45th anniversaries
After Diamonds, Blue Sapphires are the hardest natural substance available.
Blue Sapphires are very durable – unharmed by either alkaline or acidic substances.
Based on the trace element found in the mineral, ‘Fancy Sapphires’ also come in violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hues.

Some HCM Diamonds created Sapphire favorites

Custom made Sapphire and Diamond Anniversary Band

We love this custom created Sapphire and Diamond band. Besides being a great September birthday present, this style also makes a great present for a 5th or 45th wedding anniversary.

Sapphire flower earrings with Diamonds accents

These are our favorite September birthday earrings! If you like to get jewelry that you can wear everyday then these charming Sapphire flower earrings make the perfect fit.

Custom made Sapphire Eternity Band

While stack-able rings are all the rage right now, why not stack with the beautiful Sapphires? We custom created this Sapphire eternity band for a client to be worn against their existing wedding band.

Sapphire hoops with a hint of diamond accent

Another favorite! These Sapphire hoops paired with yellow gold and a hint of diamonds are both classy and versatile. Uplift any outfit with the vibrancy of the blue sapphire of these earrings.

Blue Sapphire and Diamond necklace

Do you have a ‘go to’ Sapphire necklace? We love this one with the vibrant blue Sapphire paired with some diamond accents.

Do you have any favorite pieces for Sapphire jewelry or is there anything that you have always wanted? Get in touch with HCM Diamonds and we will help create that perfect piece for you.

Have a Sparkling September!