Gemologist Shannon Demoulin has been a part of the Rio Grande gemology department since 1990 and has been integral to its evolution into a boutique, concierge service that offers each customer one-on-one, personal service in selecting the right stone. Shannon chose t[...]
One of the first metals early humans used to create pieces of adornment, gold is a time-tested classic of jewelry making. With its unmatched luster and resistance to tarnish, it is the darling of the jeweler’s bench. There are innumerable ways to incorporate the[...]
Wingostarr Jewelry is made up of Mallory Wingo and Jason Self. They’ve been together for seven years, have a 4-year-old little girl and have been making a living off of their jewelry designs for two years. They make electro-formed and wire-wrapped jewelry together full time in[...]
If you’re a jeweler who hasn’t tried 3M radial bristle discs, you’re in for a big, bright finishing surprise. These funny-looking little discs can save you a ton of time and improve your end result. The rubber wheels are impregnated with an abrasive compound,[...]
Chris Hoffman, one of Rio Grande’s resident gemologists, has worked alongside jewelers for most of his adult life. When he was 19, he answered an ad in the paper for a jewelry salesperson. “I didn’t know about anything, but the guy hired me,” he says, “My very f[...]
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Nikon D100
3/21/2010 12:56:10.00
World Time:
RAW (12-bit)
Image Size: L (3008 x 2000)
Lens: 105mm F/2.8D
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Focal Length: 105mm
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Metering: Spot
Shutter Speed: 1/6s
Aperture: F/20
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ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image:
White Balance: Preset, 0
Focus Mode: Manual
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Long Exposure NR: OFF
Color Mode: Mode II (Adobe RGB)
Color Space: Adobe RGB
Tone Comp.: Auto
Hue Adjustment: 08
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Sharpening: Auto
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[#End of Shooting Data Section]](http://riograndeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/N2K_medium-280x200.jpg)
Unmistakable luster. A wide variety of alloys and colors. Tarnish resistance. A long and fabled history in jewelry making. All of these properties make gold grist for the jewelry designer’s imagination. If you want to incorporate the singular look of gold into your work,[...]
With the advent of the internet, the way jewelry was sold changed exponentially. In a pre-internet age, most people either sold retail or wholesale. Today traditional wholesalers are selling their work retail to the ultimate consumer, and retailers are selling their work wholesal[...]
If you own a jeweler’s hammer with a wood handle, the head will probably come loose at some point or another, whether you’re working with a top-of-the-line Fretz hammer or a basic beginner’s hammer. It can be frustrating to deal with an unsteady hammer head when[...]
Michelle Fernandez, the jeweler behind MeShe Designs, has one of the most well-known social media presences in the #RioJeweler family. What began as a sharing experience has grown into an avenue where she helps other jewelers learn from her mistakes – and her triumphs. In an in[...]
With the launch of our new diamond-buying portal, the Rio Diamond Source, we’re sharing the stories of customers who have depended on our graduate gemologists for the stones that make their pieces come to to life. Tim has been ordering diamonds from Shannon, on our gemst[...]
Gold-filled fabrication metals and findings allow you to design with the rich color of gold at a fraction of the cost of solid gold and offer a higher quality than is available from gold-plated pieces. Gold-filled materials are made by heat- and pressure-bonding a layer of karat[...]
Pricing handmade jewelry is one of the most common frustrations I encounter when working with jewelers. It is common for a customer respond that a price is simply too high when starting negotiations on a piece. The customer might not mean it, but it is an easy and convenient res[...]
Mary Lee Hu is a larger-than-life artist in the jewelry world. She has literally done it all, from creating a breathtaking body of jewelry and sharing her knowledge with … [Read More...] about Influencers in Jewelry Design: Mary Lee Hu
Elizabeth Kirk is dressed head-to-toe in turquoise velvet. Each eyelid is powdered in ombré eye shadow as iridescent as a hummingbird's breast. She's warm and … [Read More...] about Elizabeth Kirk Shares the Display Secrets Behind Her Pop-Up “Boutique”
