Carat is a meausre of weight. The size of that shimmering rock on your finger is measured in carats.
Karat refers to the purity of gold.
Pure gold is 24K. While it is a very strong metal, it is also quite malleable. For this reason, alloys are added to harden it for use in jewelry. The percent of alloys differentiates karat weight. See below for a simple breakdown of the math:
24K – 100% gold
18K – 75% gold + 25% other metal
14K – 58.3% gold + 41.67% other metal
18 karat white gold turquoise earrings with black diamonds, white diamonds and a layer of white topaz.
These beauties had to be the first item I showcased on the blog. Why? Because I’m in love. I’ve always had an affinity for turquoise jewelry – and now that I’ve seen it paired with black diamonds, I feel that I’m in the midst of a new love affair. They’re bold and beautiful, and right up my alley.
My favorite part about these earrings is the way they sparkle. When I fist laid eyes on them, I was completely intrigued by their mysterious radiance. How could turquoise possibly carry so much sparkle? I soon learned that the turquoise is actually fused with a layer of white topaz, giving it that wonderfully radiant sheen.
Yes, I’m in love.
Come visit us at our new location! We are located in the University Village Colorado shopping center on North Nevada, just across from the UCCS campus. (You’ll see us on your way to Costco!) We’ve been here just over a … Continue reading
If you were travelling through Montana in the early 1970s, the people you might have seen beside the road selling turquoise and sterling silver Indian jewelry out of a shoebox could have been Linda Johannes and a former boyfriend. As a single mom attending Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, Linda’s first marquee was two pieces of plywood painted by an architect friend.
In 1976 a small shop, Lone Mountain Jewelry, was opened in downtown Bozeman. The following year, Lone Mountain secured a contract to supply Indian jewelry to various concessions in Yellowstone National Park. As the Indian jewelry craze faded in the late 70s, Lone Mountain began adding diamonds and gold to the store inventory. Linda began taking GIA courses to learn the technical aspects of the new trade.
In 1980, the partnership dissolved and Linda moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She opened a tiny downstairs shop, Johannes and Company. Linda soon met and married Glenn Hunter, who had many years of experience in the traditional jewelry business and became a partner. The business survived long enough to move to a better location where it prospered. A second location opened in 1983 in nearby Sandpoint, Idaho.
In a quest for a larger market and more sunshine, the couple opened Johannes Hunter Jewelers in downtown Colorado Springs in April 1988. The business grew by leaps and bounds. Robin Johannes, Linda’s daughter, joined the business in Colorado Springs in 1991. Robin had managed the store in Coeur D’Alene until it was sold and worked at LaVake Jewelers in Princeton, New Jersey to gain more varied experience.
Johannes Hunter Jewelers doubled the size of the store in 1994. Brenda Boyd, Linda’s oldest daughter, with many years of experience in the trade, joined the company in 1999. The following year, Glenn Hunter left Johannes Hunter Jewelers to open another jewelry business in Colorado Springs.
After fourteen years, the store on the corner of 202 North Tejon Street was bursting with customers, merchandise and staff. In 2002, Johannes Hunter Jewelers moved one half block south on Tejon Street to gain more space and convenient customer parking in the rear of the store. In 2011 the store moved to 5182 N. Nevada Ave. in University Village Colorado.
Johannes Hunter Jewelers 