During our Leap Year Sale get one day only pricing on two unbeatable values on our website and may more items from our associates at your local Kranich’s Location

WAS $234.00 - NOW $165.00

Everlon Diamond Knot Necklace in Sterling Silver

WAS$498.00 NOW$355.00

Everlon 1/4 Ct. Diamond Knot Pendant 14k White Gold

These prices are only good for one day in stores and online now at Kranich’s Jewelers.

Take advantage of this opportunity and Shop Kranich’s Jewelers today.

The symbol then began appearing in jewelry during the Victorian era first as a symbol of condolence typically given after a loved one’s death, and later given as a symbol of love representing one heart laying on top of another.

At Kranich’s Jewelers we offer a full selection of diamond jewelry available for Valentine’s Day, none more popular this time of year as our heart shaped necklaces. Here is a small selection of pendants featuring a gold heart.

• The first diamond heart pendant, 134970 is set in 14 karat white gold. It features an open heart shape boasting 2.00 carats total weight round cut diamonds which are prong set.
• Next, we feature an elegant 14 karat white gold pave diamond heart pendant, item 140003. Dangling from the right side of a classic heart shape, the pendant features .80 carat round cut diamonds that are pave set. The setting helps give the pendant a sparkling quality viewed at any angle.
• The following diamond heart pendant is then set in 10 karat white gold. Our gold heart item number 142068 features .08 carat total weight round cut diamonds highlighting the left side of this playful necklace.
• And finally this diamond heart pendant, item 120358 is set in 18 karat pink gold. It features 2.08 carat total weight diamonds round cut and prong set.

Perfect for any occasion or ensemble, one of these diamond heart pendants offers versatility and style for any special someone for Valentine’s Day.

For any additional questions you may have about any of the diamond heart pendants mentioned in this post or for more on any specific piece offered at Kranich’s Jewelers, visit Kranichs.com or call 888.944.4575 and we will be happy to help you.

Robert M. Shipley: Founder of the Gemological Institute of America

The beginnings of the 4Cs were laid out by Robert Shipley, founder of the Gemological Institute of America. Originally based out of the Shipley home in 1931, the GIA continued to grow through 1940 when Richard T. Liddicoat, who is recognized as the “father of modern gemology”, joined the staff. It wasn’t until 1953 that Richard introduced the GIA diamond grading system which was a practical approach to grading the quality of diamonds on the basis of color, clarity and cut.

So what are the 4Css? Let’s start with Carat. A carat weight is the unit of measurement based on a base unit of 100 points. So that being said, a diamond with .50 carats is considered a 1/2 carat diamond. Next let’s move to color. The color of a diamond ranges from a scale of D meaning colorless to Z meaning near colorless. Clarity measures both any internal inclusions as well as any external blemishes. The final C is Cut. Cut measures the brilliance and fire of the diamond, in other words, the “sparkle” factor.

So now you know a little more about the 4Cs. If you are interested in learning more about them, I recommend you visit the GIA online at gia.edu. They have a wealth of information on the subject. For any additional questions you may have about the 4 C’s or for more on any specific piece offered at Kranich’s Jewelers, visit Kranichs.com or call 888.944.4575 and we will be happy to help you.

Prongs that hold these stones in place run the risk of developing micro fractures if not cared for.

Today, let’s take a little blog real estate for some jewelry info good for all, not just customers of Kranich’s Jewelers. This simply lets you know why most jewelers suggest that customers get all tips, prongs, clasps and links on their pieces checked at least every 4-6 months. If you are a current Kranich’s Jewelers customer, you have no doubted been asked one time or another about our company Extended Service plan offered on almost every product for sale at the store and online.

When your jewelry is set, the points where the prongs are bent to hold your gemstones become a stress point. Sometimes, these points can develop tiny microscopic cracks which we call Stress induced corrosion. That is why sometimes very old pieces or pieces that have been sized and sized again become brittle or even break. Household cleansers, hand sanitizers or even highly chlorinated water can accelerate development of these little faults. This is the main reason we feel that it is good practice to bring your jewelry in for inspection on a regular basis.

A little added bonus when you bring your pieces in for inspection at most jewelers, it usually means your piece is going to be polished after inspection. Buildup from lotion, sweat and even just the environment sometimes gives your jewelry a dull look as time passes. So with a little buff and polish, sometimes it’s almost like getting a brand new piece of jewelry at the end of the day.
So we hope if you are still reading, you consider taking the time to have your jewelry inspected. It can make you pieces last a lifetime in the long run.

For any additional questions you may have about jewelry care or for more on any specific piece offered at Kranich’s Jewelers, visit Kranichs.com or call 888.944.4575 and we will be happy to help you.

View all of our garnet birthstone jewelry at kranichs.com

Happy Birthday January readers. As I’m sure most of our January born readers are aware, the birthstone of January is the garnet. As yours truly’s mother was actually born this month, I felt it was time I look into some details about this gemstone. Let’s take a look at the history of garnet as January’s birthstone, some properties associated with this precious gem and maybe some suggestions on accessorizing with garnet.

Accessorize your garnet jewelry

The history of garnet as the January birthstone seems to have gone back for generations. The Latin word granatum malum roughly translating as the original Roman word for pomegranate, which was thought to have the same dark red color as the garnet birthstone lead many believe this is where the crimson jewel got its name. They have been known to be carried by travelers to protect against accidents and some even believe they even may help prevent nightmares. Garnet have even been found in Bronze age burial sites showing that they have been cherished through the rise and fall of civilizations. Their significance to the month of January is believed to be based in poems matching each month in the Gregorian calendar. It isn’t known if the verse below originally appeared in the Gregorian calendar or may have in fact been a clever marketing strategy by Tiffany & Co. where they were published as early as 1870.

By her who in this month (January) is born
No gem save garnets should be worn;
They will ensure her constancy,
True friendship, and fidelity.

The garnet that most are familiar to jewelry lovers is the deep dark red garnet, almandine
but they can range anywhere from a purplish rhodolite, to a green tsavorite or even an
orange Mandarin spessartite. The January birthstone has a hardness level between 7 to 7.50 on the mohs scale and is commonly cut in round, oval and cushion shapes. They mine garnet in African countries, famously in Russia and even some January birthstones are mined in the United states.

So what to wear with garnet you may ask? It’s all personal preference. How about a designer watch with a deep red strap?
Maybe combine that with a deep red handbag or tech case.Even a simple pair of red shoes accentuate the deep red color of the garnet. Simply look in most recent fashion magazines to get ideas to complete your dazzling look, perfect for any occasion.

For any questions you may have about birthstone jewelry or for more on any specific piece offered at Kranich’s Jewelers, visit Kranichs.com or call 888.944.4575 and we will be happy to help you.

For now, I thought I would share some photos that came across my desk from one of our popular designers Scott Kay and their new design, the Dream Collection.

For any questions you may have about Scott Kay Jewelry or for more on any specific piece offered at Kranich’s Jewelers, visit Kranichs.com or call 888.944.4575 and we will be happy to help you.

It is Officially the dog days of Summer here in Central Pennsylvania so it’s no wonder July is both National Hot Dog Month as well as Nationial Ice Cream Month. I highly recommend you take time to enjoy both this month, seperately, unless you like meat in your ice cream. The most opportune time would have been on July 4th, America’s birthday, which reminds me, What would be a great gift for someone celebrating a July birthdays? That’s easy as the birthstone of July is the ruby.

Rubies are well known for their rich red color as well as a remarkable hardness just below the Mohs scale for a diamond. They make a wonderful addition to almost any collection, whether you prefer a designer ruby bracelet, a charming ruby pendant or even some fiery ruby earrings, we have a full selection of ruby jewelry online and at each Kranich’s Jewelers location.

For any questions you may have about birthstone jewelry or for more on any specific piece offered at Kranich’s Jewelers, visit Kranichs.com or call 888.944.4575 and we will be happy to help you.

Sunblock and tanning lotion buildup can tarnish your jewelry over time

Summer is in full swing which means lots of fun outside. It also means you should take a little extra care for your jewelry. As I mentioned in an older post, it is important to keep your jewelry clean to preventing tarnish keeping it beautiful for years to come. One of the main culprits during summer months can be a buildup of sun block or sunscreen, so we suggest you remove your prized pieces before you apply.

A second concern was actually the catalyst for this post. As my Uncle Doug planned the opening of his pool earlier this month, we hooked up the filter, made sure the water level was correct and then he said our last step was shocking the pool with the chemicals and the pool would be swimmable. Now I don’t know how many readers have been around when shocking a pool, but that intense chlorine odor is as much a smell of summer as a charcoal grill. Dumping those chemicals triggered a question. If those chemicals are what make it safe for us to swim, what must it do to a piece of jewelry? I did a little digging and here’s what I found out.

The technical term for what chlorine does to jewelry is “stress induced corrosion”. Chlorine damage is mostly seen in white gold due to nickel added making the gold white. Most white gold contains nickel which is why some people have an allergy to white gold and can only wear a higher purity rating. This chlorine damage can occur in yellow gold but is much more common in white.

The stress points, when prongs are bent over a stone, are where the chlorine does its damage. Chlorine works on the nickel resulting in microscopic cracks in the metal. Stress in the metal is a primary culprit here as this can also happen with yellow gold pieces. With enough damage, the joining of the nickel (or other alloy metal) is degraded enough for the crack to actually separate and a prong can break off. The same thing can happen on the band of a ring when there is stress in the metal, perhaps from a jeweler hammering the band during sizing.

If you think your jewelry has had chlorine damage, stop by your local Kranich’s Jewelers location where one of our on location jewelers will be able to make your piece as good as new

For questions about caring for your jewelry during summer months or for more on any specific piece offered at Kranich’s Jewelers, visit Kranichs.com or call 888.944.4575 and we will be happy to help you.

Do you or does someone special in your life celebrate their birthday throughout June? If so, a great gift for this occasion may be found at your local Kranich’s Jewelers location. Perhaps a pair of alexandrite earrings or a strand of white pearls would make the perfect birthday gift which carries the special meaning of the June birthstone.

For any questions you may have about birthstone jewelry or for more on any specific piece offered at Kranich’s Jewelers, visit Kranichs.com or call 888.944.4575 and we will be happy to help you.

All of your favorite designers found at Kranich’s Jewelers were in attendance including Simon G. Jewelry, Verragio, Scott Kay and many more.  New offerings were also available from the Forevermark Diamond Collection coming soon to all Kranich’s locations.

Every year JCK Las Vegas remains a premier event unveiling the latest in fashion and bridal jewelry for the upcoming season.  Look for new selections from all of your favorite designers coming to kranichs.com in the following weeks.

For questions about the new styles arriving or for more on any specific piece offered at Kranich’s Jewelers, visit Kranichs.com or call 888.944.4575 and we will be happy to help you.