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What is gemology? Gemology is the science that studies gemstonesand is a branch of mineralogy and, by extension, geology. The word "gemology" comes from the Latin word "gema" which means gemstone.It is a speciality that focuses on the analysis and certification of the authenticity of a gemstone, as well as the identification of the enhancement treatments it has undergone. The expert gemologist examines the stones by physical observation, but also with the use of special instruments, and first decides whether the stone is natural or synthetic. If the stone is natural, the gemologist identifies it and then assesses its specific characteristics in order to estimate its commercial value.Gemologists can identify a gemstone based on certain characteristics and properties, such as cut, colour, quality and clarity. Certain rubies and garnets, for example, may not differ in appearance, but may have different physical properties. The 4C criteria A very popular set of criteria is the 4C criteria used in gemology to evaluate diamonds. These are the initial letters of the English words carat (carat, a unit of weight), clarity, colour and cut. The gemological laboratories There are many gemological laboratories in the world, and they are usually private or owned by associations. Two of them are the most reputable and have worldwide recognition, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the HRD Antwerp in Belgium. These institutes have branches around the world and provide training and gemology certification degrees to jewellers. The consumer should be aware of whether the certification of a piece of jewellery comes from a well-known institute, and most importantly should consult the jeweller they trust. The gemological tools The gemologist uses several specialized tools to evaluate gemstones. The main one is the microscope and, in most cases, with this instrument he can make a complete assessment of the stone under examination. For example, a microscope can magnify the examined stone 30, 40, 50 and so on times, while the jewellers' specialized lens gives 10 times magnification and the bookstore magnifying glass 5 times. In addition to the determination of the test stone, the following is measured:- the angle of refraction of light passing through the stone, using a refractometer,- the specific gravity when passing through the refractometer through the refractometer, the specific weight,- the dust line,- the analysis of white light by spectroscope.Finally, the estimate of value depends on the clarity, colour, cut, size (carat) and rarity of the stone in relation to all of the above.In the photo below, KALFIDIS Jewellery's gemologist, Akanthos Kalfidis, who studied at the HRD in Belgium, is evaluating a diamond at the Gemology Station.

The KALFIDIS Jewellery charm for 2024 We designed the 2024 charm and we are giving it to our customers!New year, new beginning! The seed as the starting point of a creative process and as a wish for fruitfulness. We wish that what you "sow" will "blossom" in 2024!As the New Year approaches, charms are prominent on gift lists as a way to wish our loved ones good luck and prosperity in the New Year.The New Year's Eve charm tradition is an age-old custom found in many cultures. Ancient Greece was one of the oldest cultures to use charms. In Greek mythology, luck was often associated with specific deities, such as Tyche, and Agathos Daimon, a personal guardian spirit. People often wore talismans bearing the symbols of these deities to attract their favor. Charms and symbolism Pomegranates, horseshoes and eyes are some of the dominant symbols of New Year's Eve.The pomegranate was a symbol of fertility and abundance, commonly used in Ancient Greece. It was often depicted in artwork and jewellery, and was used as a common motif on coins, vases and other objects. People also placed a pomegranate at the entrance of a new house to bring good luck and blessings to the occupants of the house. The pomegranate seeds and their color are associated with abundance and success. One of the most common charms is the horse shoe. It is considered a symbol of good luck, protecting the eye from evil. In the old days it was believed that the horseshoe brings good luck because it is made of iron and magical powers cannot pass through the cold metal. When someone found a horseshoe on the street, they were considered very lucky. The horseshoe was hung on the inside of the front door of their house, usually with the opening facing upwards, so that luck and good energy would be concentrated there.  Charms are still popular, adding a touch of magic to the new start. Today's charms combine classic symbols with new materials and modern design approaches.Visit our e-shop and see our large collection of decorative, table or hanging charms.

For another year we organized the Marco Bicego jewellery presentation week, which took place from the 20th to the 25th of November, at our store in Panorama. It was a week full of meetings, smiles and wonderful jewellery.The event is an occasion for us to get together with friends and customers, anticipating the festive atmosphere of Christmas. A few words about Marco Bicego: Based in northeastern Italy, Marco Bicego continues the family tradition in jewellery and since 2000 he has been presenting his unique creations that combine the know-how and values of the past, the luxury of Italian jewellery making and contemporary design. All his jewellery is handmade, and every stage of production takes place at the company's headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. It is one of the largest Italian houses, with international accolades, and 1000 corners around the world. Read more about Marco Bicego

Freywille's Hommage à Gustav Klimt collection is inspired by Klimt's works and unique technique, paying homage to the great painter and the Viennese Art Nouveau. Gustav Klimt was an Austrian painter and one of the most important representatives of the Vienna Secession movement, while he also played an important role in the development of Art Nouveau. At the end of the 19th century, he presented a completely new way of painting that combined figurative and abstract painting, combining details from nature images with abstract, colourful and mosaic motifs. A few words about Gustav Klimt Egon Schiele paints Gustav Klimt Gustav Klimt was born in Baumgarten, near Vienna, in 1862. His father was an engraver and his mother a singer. Influenced by the artistic environment in which he grew up, at the age of fourteen he enrolled in the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Applied Arts) in Vienna and in the following years he studied various techniques, such as relief and fresco painting.By 1909, he had received tremendous acclaim for his murals in the Burgtheater, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, and the University of Vienna. In 1910, the Venice Biennale purchased his work "Judith II" or "Salome", which established him internationally. Klimt was a founding member and president of the Vienna Secession, which played an important role in the development of Art Nouveau, reacting to the conservative attitude of the academic art world. Klimt's style combined, in an innovative way, elements of Symbolism and Art Nouveau, with parallel influences from ancient Greek, Mycenaean and Egyptian pottery.In his paintings he often intertwined gold with silver earth, metals and ceramics, with a particular emphasis on the decorative elements of his works. In his paintings he mainly depicts women, and the eroticism that dominates his works often causes a reaction in the conservative society of the time. He described the erotic element as a tribute "to the good but lustful race of the hypersensitive".  In the early 1890s, Klimt met the fashion designer Emilie Louise Flöge, who would remain his companion for the rest of his life. Emilie became his muse and featured in several of his paintings, and his masterpiece The Kiss is believed to be a picture of them together. Klimt suffered a stroke, and died a few days later in 1918. His last words were "Get Emilie".  Hommage à Gustav Klimt: the Freywille Jewellery line inspired by Klimt Freywille's creators are inspired by Klimt, his distinctive style, his muses, the wide range of colours, the rich imagery and the strong presence of gold in his works. Adele Bloch-Bauer's portrait, with its distinctive, decorative elements and playful forms, was the starting point for Freywille's most luxurious jewellery range, which combines enamel with 18-carat gold and exquisite diamonds. The painting "Hoffnung II" (Hope II) served as the inspiration for Freywille's eponymous design that combines gold with bright colours and swirling shapes. The Nixe design is dedicated to the painting "Wasserschlangen I" (Watersnakes I) which features two dreamy nymphs. Here, gold surrounds the colours, giving the jewellery a glittering finish. In the Nixe Aqua version, the same design is depicted in shades of blue, turquoise and violet.The Ultimate Kiss series, inspired by the painting "The Kiss", artfully reflects Klimt's "Golden Period", using five different types of gold, presenting a fascinating depiction of love. See more jewellery by Freywille  Sources: https://shorturl.at/eGIN3 https://shorturl.at/azDQR https://shorturl.at/ghORV

The famous American fashion influencer, Olivia Palermo, chose Marco Bicego jewellery for her appearance on the red carpet of the Venice Festival, perfectly accompanying the pink Barbie-scented gown by designer Tamara Ralph. For the neck, she chose a bold lasso necklace from the Jaipur Link collection, crafted in 18-karat yellow gold, and a precious pendant from the ALTA collection, set with a stunning 38.26-carat red tourmaline (rubellite) and 1.47-carat brilliant-cut diamonds. She completed her stunning look with a combination of rings, from the Masai and Marrakech collections, in yellow gold and diamonds. Visit our eshop and see the unique collections of Marco Bicego.

We welcome Montblanc watches to our stores!Montblanc, the ultimate and most famous business gift brand, synonymous with excellent quality and luxury, counts over 160 years of history in fine watchmaking. The story:The history of Montblanc watches is linked to the legendary Swiss brand Minerva. In 1858, Charles-Yvan Robert founded his workshop in Villeret, a small Swiss village in the Jura mountains, marking the beginning of the historic era of Minerva, a brand that has become synonymous with the creation of high-fidelity chronographs. By the 1880s, Minerva had established itself in the watchmaking industry, creating innovative pocket watches in which it replaced the traditional winding pivot with a crown. The company then turned to precision timekeeping and specialised in the manufacture of professional pocket watches and chronometers. A few years later, Minerva invented one of the first manual monopusher chronographs, the calibre 13.20, and a decade later, it introduced the legendary calibre 17.29, one of the thinnest monopusher chronographs, just 5.6 mm high. Montblanc takes up the Minerva tradition by creating its handmade watch collections in the original workshops in Villeret. Every component of the watches is made and decorated by hand, including the balance wheel. It is one of the few watchmaking workshops in the world that has the expertise to handcraft a balance wheel, relying on well-trained eyes rather than modern electronic systems for precision. Montblanc's timeless collections bridge the heavy heritage of the past with contemporary and modern design in four distinct versions: the Star Legacy, 1858, Bohème and Heritage.  Visit our e-shop and see the Montblanc signature watches. Photo credit: www.montblanc.com