THE GOLD EXCHANGE INC.

James Avery Jewelry in stock

2010-09-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

We have quite a few pieces of James Avery jewelry now in stock, like this glorious 14kt gold cross, a retired piece.

James Avery began his business in 1954, the Christian symbolism that makes up so much of his pieces comes from his return to the church in the early 1950's after spending much time as an agnostic. James retired in 2007 and has passed the CEO position on to his son Chris. This is truly a family business based in the beautiful hill country of Texas.

This sterling silver prayer box is also retired and would make a lovely gift item.

This Spring Butterfly pendant in sterling silver comes with a handmade James Avery choker.

We have rings like this one in sterling silver.

And this daisy ring which is now retired and hard to find.

Plus rings in 14kt gold like this one named Thatch.

And this classic Avery design.

Sterling charms, this one is a retired piece for your ballerina.

One for someone whose name begins with L.

or S.

A retired and rare bi-plane charm.

a tiny Adorned Angel.

A very detailed camera for the photographer.

Rings for men as well with this classic design.

And 2 Song of Solomon men's rings, this one in gold and the one below in silver.

Come visit our ebay store to see these and many other beautiful items. Remember the Holiday gift giving time is nearly upon us. Avery pieces generally do not last long in our store, so come visit today!

New Items in our Etsy Store

2010-09-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

We have added new items to our Etsy store recently, like this solid silver commemorative coin honoring President John F. Kennedy.

Then we have this sweet solid silver heart with a special message on the back.

And we have also added some vintage/retro 1980's rings. These are real gold but the stones are synthetic/man-made. This beauty is tricolor gold with CZs set in the flower on the left.

This incredible ring is synthetic blue sapphire, a September birthstone, and if these were natural sapphires this ring would be much more expensive. Here you get the look without the high cost, a great fashion ring!

Another ring with synthetic blue sapphires, remember those September born ladies with a great gift.

This one has .15cttw of real diamonds as accents, yet still very affordable as the teardrop sapphire is man-made, set in 10kt gold.

This may be my favorite of the synthetic sapphires we recently acquired, such a simple setting with diamond chip accents, very petite. This one would make an excellent pinkie ring or would be super for a young girl.

And finally we have a cocktail ring with synthetic rubies. In some lighting the stones almost hot pink. a very striking ring, again with diamond chip accents set in 10kt gold.

Come on by our Etsy store and check out the new items there or visit us in our Ebay store for even more new items in jewelry and coins.

Sterling Silverware

2010-08-05T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Gold Exchange has some beautiful sterling silver flatware available in our Ebay store, like this Chateau Rose pattern from Alvin.

Another Alvin pattern named Raleigh.

Easterling Silver ~ Southern Grandeur

Gorham Silver spoons

Tuileries pattern by Gorham

William & Mary by Lunt ~ fruit spoon & jelly server.

A pair of lobster picks from JA Henckels

A lovely footed tray from Prill Silver Co.

Baby spoons

And tiny salt spoons.

If you are looking for silverware with monograms, we have those items in our Etsy store.

Antique Jelly server and fork.

Come visit at both our stores for beautiful items in every price range.

THE GOLD EXCHANGE on Ebay

THE GOLD EXCHANGE on Etsy

Liberty and Justice For All

2010-07-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

Coins are not just for the coin collector or the investor. There are many commemorative coins as well. They make excellent gifts for the history buff.

Gifts for Teachers.

A great way to learn history and save for the future.

To remember those who gave their all.

To honor those who contributed to the making of our country.

Commemorative coinis and small works of art.

Even if they commemorate large works of art.

These and many more commemorative coins await you in our ebay store.

Start your collection of these affordable coins today!

And have a safe and Happy Independence Day!

Golden Rings for Every Finger

2010-06-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

The Gold Exchange has a variety of solid gold rings.

You can have one for every finger.

From designers like James Avery.

Rings that are real puzzles.

Fabulous mod designs.

Hip, cool amd funky rings.

Ribbed and textured rings.

Rings that point the way.

Rings that wrap around your finger.....oh, yeah, they all do that.

:-)

Republic of Texas Paper Notes & Stocks

2010-05-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here are some more Texas Commemoratives. These are paper notes, the Republic of Texas never actually had coinage, it was known as the 'Paper Republic'.

And lest you think there were no big spenders back then....

They printed 50 and 100 dollar notes too!

There were also certificates of stock in the10% consolidated fund, which had coupons on the bottom.

Definitely an interesting way to fund a country.

See more at http://texascommem.com/

Texas will again lift it's head and stand among the nations. It ought to do so, for no country upon the globe can compare with it in natural advantages. -Sam Houston

Tangible Texas History

2010-05-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

We have a new website and a wonderful collection of Texas Memorabilia at http://texascommem.com/

Silver coins minted for several years only in the mid 1930's by the US Mint. These 50 cent coins are scarce and very collectible, they commemorate the founding of the Republic of Texas in 1836.

Come see the images and read the history of the only US State that was once its own country!

In addition to the coins we have Authentic Republic of Texas Bank Notes, sometimes known as redbacks because the ink created a reddish image on the back.

This color is where the University of Texas got its school colors.

We also have some rare bank notes signed by Sam Houston himself as well as Mirabeau Lamar.

There are also Republic of Texas stock certificates.

If you pick up a Texas Monthly Magazine, the June issue, you will find a full page spread on page 92, but much more awaits at our website http://texascommem.com/

Visit us soon and contact us if you wish to have a piece of Texas History you can actually hold in your hands.

Rings for the Gents

2010-05-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

Here's just a couple of the rings we have for men. We have over 100 in stock in all styles from plain gold bands to those with large diamonds.

This is the largest ring I have seen with mass amounts of diamonds set in white gold.

A beautiful black onyx with an inset diamond.

A couple for the horse lovers.

And the masonic rings are very popular.

Set this one with the stone of your choice.

See these and many more in our Ebay store or come by and visit with us in person.

Step Back & See the Light

2010-05-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

“The hues of the opal, the light of the diamond, are not to be seen if the eye is too near.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson quotation

Opals and Diamonds are only 2 of the gemstones we have available in our fine jewelry selection. Visit our ebay store to see many more including pearls, sapphires, emeralds, amethysts, aquamarines, rubies, tsarovites, citrines peridots, jade and more.

The Gift of Diamonds

2010-05-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

"I have always felt a gift diamond shines so much better than one you buy for yourself!"

Mae West

Pick up some diamonds today in our Ebay store!

We also have a layaway plan, email or call for details.

New Diamond Ring Inventory!

2010-05-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

We have recently gotten in more diamond rings. Some are engagement rings, some not, but all are absolutely fabulous! The ring above comes with a GIA certificate for the center solitaire and an appraisal for the ring by a GIA graduate gemologist.

This soldered wedding set also has the GIA certificate and appraisal. These solitaires are over 1 carat plus you have the accent diamonds.

This gorgeous diamond comes with its certificate and appraisal as well and this ring is not white gold but luxurious platinum! Brilliant rounds and baguettes are the accent diamonds here.

This pretty band is also platinum and the diamonds are very nice, a lovely ring by any standard.

This incredible handcrafted ring is also platinum set with many diamonds, even the yellow stones are fancy canary yellow diamonds. A one of a kind ring!

And this sparkling ring with 3 flowers of diamonds set in white gold would put a smile on any lady's face.

See all these and more in our Ebay store.

King Louis Sterling Flatware by International

2010-04-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

We recently acquired a complete set of sterling silver flatware that is absolutely fabulous! The pattern in King Louis by International.

Every piece, all 78 are marked International Sterling.

Its one of the most ornate patterns I've seen with intricate roses covering the entire handle. Very romantic. I can easily see this with rose adorned china or even something plain & simple to offset the opulence of the flatware.

All pieces are sterling silver except the knives and butter knife which have stainless steel blades.

This set includes 12 place settings of 6 pieces each: knife, dinner fork, salad fork, cocktail fork, spoon and soup spoon.

The serving pieces include 2 large pierced spoons, meat fork, gravy ladle, sugar spoon and butter knife.

Can't you just see how elegant your next holiday meal would be?

If you purchased all these pieces from a well known replacement company they would run over $3100. We have them much more reasonably priced at $2500.

Here's the link to the listing in our Ebay store:

King Louis Sterling Silver Flatware

And feel free to search our store for many more beautiful items.

Golden Time

2010-04-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

Pick my left pocket of its silver dime, but spare the right - it holds my golden time!

Oliver Wendall Holmes

At The Gold Exchange we have beautiful luxury watches by makers such as Rolex, Baume & Mercier, Gucci, Ice Link, Seiko, Omega, Renato, Longines, Invicta, KC, Rado and Renault.

This Renato masterpiece is called the Wildebeast.

Some of the lady's watches are more like bracelets.

The new trend is large face watches, especially automatics.

Those with extra dials and other features are also popular.

And then there are those that are more standard in looks but made with gold and set with diamonds.

There are also some with the old fashioned dials with no extras whatsoever, just excellent craftsmanship.

Please visit our Ebay store for these and more in our watches category and look for many more beautiful items in fine jewelry. Just click the link in the side bar.

Multi Colorful Gemstone Jewelry

2010-03-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Occasionally we receive in lovely jewelry pieces that feature a variety of gemstones in many colors. Quite often these are vintage pieces from the 1950's and 1960's. These 2 pair of clip earrings are clearly from that era. The lovely colors of the multiple gemstones really appeal to today's ladies.

This beautiful ring even has gold stamens just like a flower. Imagine wearing a miniature Spring flower bouquet on your finger!

Or perhaps you would like a bouquet in a basket to pin to a lapel or hat.

Floral gemstone wreaths are nice also, any time of year.

And then we get the occasional handmade type piece of jewelry. Very organic and definitely one of a kind.

More traditional rings sometimes just mix 2 or three gemstones together as this amethyst and citrine ring does.

And then sometimes the same gemstone in different colors is put together in the same ring, such as these yellow and blue sapphires.

Please come visit us at our Ebay store by following the link in the sidebar. And please leave a comment if you would like.

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too!

2010-03-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out. Small wonder that gold has been prized over all else, in all ages, as a store of value that will survive the travails of life and the ravages of time.

James Blakely

If you are not interested in gold coins or bullion, how about gold jewelry? Wearing your wealth is rather like having your cake and eating it too!

See these and more rings in our ebay store, click the link in the sidebar.

Paper vs. Metal or Scissors Cuts Paper?

2010-03-12T13:18:00.000-08:00

As fewer and fewer people have confidence in paper as a store of value, the price of gold will continue to rise.

Jerome F. Smith

Mr Smith is not the only one to be concerned about the economy and what the future holds. Paper money is historically worth only what the metal backing it is worth and since the US long ago went off the gold standard for our currency........well, you make up your own mind.

One thing we do know is that gold always holds a value and numismatic gold coins are even better as the rarity of the mintage and the condition of the coin can make it worth far more than just the weight of it.

Consider gold and silver numismatic coins next time you are looking to invest, they may be just the thing you need.

Threads of Gold

2010-03-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

I thought I would post a thought for the day so it will not be so long between posts when I am too busy to put together a longer post. Here's today's quote!

As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment of time.

Anonymous

These and more beautiful crosses are available in our Ebay store, please see the link in the sidebar.

Ruby the Queen of Gems

2010-02-19T13:45:00.000-08:00

Ruby is a form of corundum (aluminium oxide) with a distinctive red color produced by an admixture of chromium trioxide. The exact shade of red varies between pink and brownish red and these shades are often named after the regions in which they are usually found. The majority of high quality natural ruby today comes from Myanmar (formerly Burma).

Corundum of other colours is called sapphire. Light red corundum is known as "pink sapphire". The borderline between pink sapphire and true ruby can sometimes be difficult to determine. It has been said to depend on whether you are tryng to buy or sell the stone.

The ruby is one of the hardest stones in nature, second only to the diamond, but can still be chipped or fractured if improperly handled.

The name "ruby" comes from the Latin rubeus meaning "red", The Sanskrit word for the ruby is ratnaraj ("queen of gems") or ratnayaka ("first of gems"). Most of its mythological associations stem fom its color. The ruby is considered a stone of power and passion. It is supposed to bestow energy and will power. The homes of the gods were sometimes said to be lit by the glow of rubies and rubies the color of pigeon blood were referred to as being drops of the blood of mother Earth herself.

Ruby was traditionally associated with health and long life. The alchemists adopted the "perfect ruby" as a symbol of the philosopher's stone or elixir of life. According to Ben Jonson:

He that has once the flower of the sun,

The perfect ruby which we call elixir

Not only can do that, but, by its virtue

Can confer honour, love, respect, long life,

Give safety, valour, ya, and victory,

To whom he will.

The Alchemist II-i

Various cultures have referred to the value of rubies. It said to be one of the stones in the Breastplate of Aaron, the High Priest. It is written in Proverbs 31:10, a virtuous wife’s worth is “far above rubies.”

“Rubies” has also been translated as jewels and precious stones, depending on the source. Aryuvedic traditions believe these Rubies strengthen the heart, restore balance in both love and spiritual relationships, and help to prevent miscarriages.

Modern ruby lore suggests that the man who gives a woman an engagement ring with a ruby expresses passionate love. The blood red color of rubies symbolizes the heart. Hence, rubies are today the stone most associated with love.

Come visit our Ebay store to see these and other beautiful pieces of fine jewelry, something for every budget!

Morgan Silver Dollars

2010-02-09T15:17:00.000-08:00

If you collect Morgan Silver Dollars or are looking to start a collection, check out our listing pictured above at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290398432291&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Morgan Silver Dollars are to me the most beautiful of US coins. They were minted from 1878 to 1921 and George T. Morgan, formerly a pupil of William Wyon's in the Royal Mint in London, designed the new dollar after the Bland-Allison Act of Feb. 28, 1878 authorized a standard for silver dollars. Morgan's initial M is found at the truncation of the neck at the last tress, it also appears on the reverse on the left hand loop of the ribbon.

Coinage of the dollar was suspended after 1904 when demand was low and the bullion supply was exhausted. Under the Pittman Act of 1918, 270,232,722 silver dollars were melted and later in 1921, the coijnage was resumed.

These dollars are very collectible, especially when in a mint state condition. This will be the grading that begins with MS followed by a number. Any that are MS60 or above are considered to be uncirculated as the condition is so pristine.

Our set is a mix of grades and years, a wonderful place to start your collection. Many people like to collect until they have one of each year and mint mark, sometimes that takes years to put together. Here you have 10 different years represented at a very affordable price for the beginner.

New Coins Available on Ebay!

2010-02-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

We have recently listed a variety of proof sets and uncirculated sets as well as this wonderful silver proof set. We have put together decades when we could and grouped consecutive years when we could not.

We also have some premiere sets. All of these are proving very popular and are selling nearly as fast as we can list them.

Of course we always have excellent and rare slabbed coins.

Old and Newer coins, circulated and uncirculated. Rare and more common. All price ranges, something for everyone! And if you don't see what you are looking for please call us at 1-877-705-2646 and ask, we just may have it or can obtain it for you.

And look at these beautiful coins from China! The artwork is superb and they are .999 silver 1 oz. rounds.

Our Ebay link is in the sidebar.

It's Not Too Early For Valentine's Day

2010-01-22T14:56:00.000-08:00

It really isn't too early to think about Valentine's Day if you are buying something which needs to be shipped. While we strive to ship the same day or next day once we receive payment for an item, it is always good to plan ahead and order early.

We present here just some of our 'Valentine' items like the Chopard 'Happy Diamonds' pendant on the left. The diamonds inside the heart float around. Or how about the heart pendant on the right with the word LOVE in cutout?

We also have many bracelets with heart designs, or cherubs like the one on the right. The one in the middle is simple chunky letters that spell out I LOVE YOU.

Amethyst heart earrings and some more diamond studded hearts. We have items in all price ranges from $35 and it goes up from there. We always have free shipping in the US and each item comes gift boxed.

If your lady loves diamonds, here are just 3 of the many pendants we have in all kinds of styles.

From the simple to the sublime, solid gold to those set with diamonds, we even have heart shaped rings!

Musical notes, puffed hearts and love for Mom.

Small, medium and large! The one on the right is a pin with loop on the back to run a chain through so it can double as a necklace.

Visit our Ebay store or our newly designed website (see the links in the side column). We update and add new items daily and we have a special Valentines category in our Ebay Store.

We Have A New Toll Free Phone Number!

2010-01-20T15:04:00.000-08:00

Announcing our new TOLL FREE phone number!

1-877-705-2646

1-877-705-COIN

You can reach us Monday thru Friday 10:00 am to 5:30 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 2:30 pm Central Time. We are happy to answer any question you may have about our ebay listings, what we sell, what we buy, and where we are.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Comments, comments, comments

2010-01-18T12:53:00.000-08:00

We have gotten some really wonderful comments from ebay customers lately and I thought I would share.

After describing that our retail store buys jewelry from walk in customers wishing to sell it for various reasons and that sometimes our investment in a particular piece is more (due to the needs of our customers) we received this wonderful email:

I like you a lot and this proves that we miss a lot by doing e-biz when we really don’t get to know the sellers/buyers. I really do respect that you all try to do right by people when they are on hard times and having to sell precious possessions J That also makes me feel much better about spending my money with the Gold Exchange.

A customer in the UK had her package go awry, but once she got it, had this to say:

I have the ring. Its gorgeous my mum, sister and niece all want the ring, I will have to sleep with one eye open. Thank you, I am very happy with my purchase from you.

and some more comments from our feedback that show we must be doing things right!

exactly as described..very satisfied..love the rich color!! A+++++++transaction

great pendant fantastic shipping i love this trust worthy seller

I love the ring, it arrived quickly and I haven't taken it off since!!!

everything about my 1st time ever buying was excellent just so great loved it

WOW HOLY COW VERY VERY FAST SHIPPING

Set was better than described!! Great store and selection for anyone.

Great ring and crazy fast shipping

these earrings are very beautiful worth every penney would buy again

These and many more feedback comments can be seen in our Ebay store.

We have new listings almost every day, recently we added many gold bracelets in every price range.

New Gorgeous Jewelry in Stock!

2010-01-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

We have lots of new jewelry in stock and just listed in our Ebay store! This gorgeous bracelet is set with natural rubies and diamonds, just stunning!

And then there's my personal favorite, this natural amethyst pendant. It is rare to find a natural amethyst in this deep a color that is this large. It just radiates richness.

Just in time for Valentine's Day is this lovely diamond wrapped heart pendant.

Or perhaps you might be interested in this petite diamond solitaire pendant.

Then came the emeralds, these hoop earrings are fabulous.

And this emerald teardrop pendant is much more beautiful in person, the baguette diamonds sparkle and glitter.

Then we have this emerald ring with its 2 heart shaped diamonds and its set in 18kt gold rather than the normal 14kt.

Last but not least for today is this 10kt gold amethyst bracelet, very affordable and very feminine.

Stay tuned for more coming this week.

New and Improved Website!

2010-01-04T10:08:00.000-08:00

We have a totally new look to our website !

We have a webmaster furiously working to make sure all our ebay listings are listed and updated daily on our own website. Each description is a clickable link that will take you right to the exact ebay listing in a new window. More changes will be coming including pictures and news items. Please drop by and check out the new look! http://www.thegoldexchange.net/

Amethyst is Always a Favorite

2009-12-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

Beautiful purple amethyst, the birthstone for February, associated with power and wealth, thus associated with royalty and with the trappings of privilege such as an easy life. It is a gem of luxury said to bring peace, happiness and spiritual wisdom. Rumor has it that amethyst was a personal favorite of Queen Catherine the Great of Russia.

In popular belief, the amethyst offers protection against drunkenness - for the Greek word 'amethystos' means 'not intoxicated' while the Hebrew word for amethyst is achlemah, meaning "that which gives pleasant dreams".

This beautiful crystal quartz gemstone also poses riddles for the scientists which still haven't been completely solved to this day. The amethyst has its hardness (7), its moderate refraction and its weight in common with the other quartzes, but the crystal structure is different and unconventional. The construction is stratified, as a result of which areas and lamellae of varying colour intensity often come about. This explains why there are relatively few large cut amethysts of an evenly distributed dark colour in spite of its having been found so abundantly in all parts of the world. It is only in the last few years that scientists have been fairly certain of having found the real cause of the colour. It is now attributed to certain iron constituents in connection with natural radioactive radiation.

Some amethysts pale almost to colourlessness in daylight. The reason for this has not yet been discovered, but it is possible to re-colour them by means of radium radiation. The fact that these stones can lose their colour makes it obvious that amethyst jewellery should not be worn while sunbathing, in a solarium or in a discotheque with black light. Sudden changes of temperature can also be harmful to the stone.

Amethyst is a variety of quartz and varies in color from pale lavender to a deep, rich purple. The presence of manganese produces Amethyst, while varying amounts of iron content vary the purple intensity. Amethyst is found all over the globe and in every country, but the deeper colored amethyst are found in Uruguay, Siberia, Africa and Colorado.

Amethyst is a stone of "Spirituality and Contentment". It balances the energies of the intellectual, emotional and physical bodies and bestows stability, strength, invigoration and perfect peace. It brings one serenity and composure in decision making. Amethyst is also a 'Stone of Meditation'.

Moses described amethyst as a symbol of the Spirit of God in the official robes of the High Priest.

As you can see from the photos, amethyst is used in all kinds of jewelry and is also one of the most economically priced gemstones. That and the many tints and shades of amethyst please a variety of people. Visit our Ebay store or visit us in person at our Humble, TX store to choose your favorite!

Aquamarines to Heighten Intuition

2009-12-17T08:50:00.000-08:00

Aquamarine is one of the official birth stones for March, and like emerald, a gemstone form of beryl. Although aquamarine is transparent, it usually has a hue of one of a variety of colours: blue or blue-green are most common, yellow, pink and white are also known.

***

The name aquamarine means "sea water", however this was probably coined relatively recently, perhaps during the Renaissance. It's said that sailors would sometimes wear aquamarine to protect them at sea and this could be where it gained the name.

In older times aquamarine was often not distinguished from other forms of beryl, which is probably why there are less legends concerning this gem than some others. It's said that the Roman emperor Nero used a cut beryl as a monocle - it's likely that this was in fact formed from aquamarine.

Aquamarine is a hard gemstone, (Mohs scale 7.5 - 8.0) which makes it an excellent choice for jewelry that will be worn frequently. However, be sure to store Aquamarine in a dark place, as they often become paler if left out in the sun.

Sources of Aquamarine include Brazil, India, Russia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This gemstone is further associated with the Christian Apostle Thomas. Aquamarine and Aqua Aura are both gemstones related to Archangel Raguel. His name means Friend of God and he heals personal and professional relationships. His aura shows as pale blue.

***

It is said that aquamarine's strengths are developed to their best advantage when it is placed in water which is bathed in sunlight. However, it is better still to wear Aquamarine, since according to the old traditions this promises a happy marriage and is said to bring the woman who wears it joy and wealth into the bargain.

Aquamarine is called a "Stone of Courage". It enhances ones innate abilities to always be prepared. It provides a shielding quality against 'Spiritual Pollutants' while emitting a gentle compassionate energy. Aquamarine has been said to give good memory and general well-being. There is an ancient story that it would change colour to distinguish between truth and falsehood, friend or foe. It is sometimes therefore connected with heightened intuition, possibly even clairvoyance.

As in this ring, aquamarines are sometimes used in combination with other stones, mainly with diamonds and seems to be most often used in rings.

***

At The Gold Exchange we have these exceptional aquamarine rings you see here as well as many other birthstone rings. Click our Ebay link to the right to see your birthstone jewelry.

Gold & Silver Coins

2009-12-09T08:45:00.000-08:00

At The Gold Exchange, we have U.S. coins of all kinds, starting from the very common silver, nickel and copper currency that is circulated but old enough and rare enough to be worth more than face value. This kind of coin is excellent for a beginner collector as they are relatively inexpensive and are raw coins, meaning they are not in any kind of capsule or holder.

Then we have the more rare numismatic coins, they can be older coins like the 1856 dime above and the 1940 half dollar at the top. Due to condition and quality as well as how many were minted in any particular year, these coins have value beyond the metal value and face value.

If you are serious about collecting numismatic coins and want to have them as an investment, we would recommend buying coins that are slabbed as is the gold coin above. This means they will be in a plastic holder from one of the reputable grading companies and will have a grade applied to it. The coin above was slabbed and graded by NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), the grade is AU58. AU stands for Almost Uncirculated and the higher the number the more pristine the coin, also the higher the value.

If you do a Google search for Sheldon Scale you will find all the info you need on how coins are graded.

Below are some of the more common coins we see.

This silver dollar is known as a Morgan silver dollar as George T. Morgan was the designer.

This is known as the Peace silver dollar as the word PEACE shows below the eagle on the reverse.

If you are very lucky you may have a $20 gold coin such as this that your grandparents or great grandparents did not turn in to the government to be melted during the depression era. These double eagles, as they are known, are beautiful and valuable in any condition.

Coins like the one above are commemorative, minted for a special event but having a real currency value. These are collectible as the number minted is usually very small.

The Gold Exchange also has gold and silver bullion coins such as the 1 oz. fine silver coin above, this one was recovered from the destroyed World Trade Center. Because of the tragedy, these now have a historical value beyond the worth of the silver itself.

We also acquire and sell gold and silver bullion in coins and bars from other countries like these 1 oz. silver Panda coins from China. Others you might know of are Krugerands and Suisse Helvetias. When looking to buy coins or bullion from countries other than the U.S., be sure what the metal content and weight is as well as whether it is an authentic coin or whether it is a copy. Copies are not worth much, beware of unreputable dealers.

The U.S. Mint also produces special editions of coins in limited quantity and which should increase in value in the years to come. Some are even platinum.

If you are looking for numismatic coins or bullion coins, please check our Ebay listings or contact us if you don't see what you are looking for. If you are already a collector or are looking to become a collector and need some guidance, please call us at 281-548-2646 and we would be happy to help you with your collection or investment. We have clients nationwide and over 30 years experience in dealing with numismatics.

Designer Jewelry

2009-11-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

There are many jewelry designers out there whose names are well known. Others are lesser known, but they all have their own style and their own followings.

I am presenting here some designer jewelry we happen to have in our Ebay store.

The names Cartier and Tiffany are world famous for quality fine jewelry and this signed Cartier diamond ring is no exception.

This Dolce & Gabana stainless steel bracelet would be popular with the younger crowd and its diamond encrusted letters add that bling that is so popular now.

This is a wonderfully classic Scott Kay bracelet with matching earrings, sold as a set.

This beautiful James Avery necklace we just acquired, handcrafted of 14kt gold with its original wooden gift box. The James Avery studio is based in the hill country of Texas, he is most well known for his christian jewelry.

We also have designer luxury watches like Rolex, Icelink, Gucci, Movado, TechnoCom by KC, Renato, Invicta, Rado and more. You just never know what we will have next.

Everyone Loves A Bracelet

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At The Gold Exchange, folks come in all day long to buy and sell coins and jewelry. We are not a pawn shop, we don't loan money. But we do give a fair value price if someone wants to sell something and many times that something is a nice piece of jewelry. Sometimes we acquire estate pieces and they are usually unique, something you won't find in the stores in the mall.

The bracelet and ring above left is an example of estate jewelry. Art Deco styling and quality craftsmanship.

Sometimes we receive designer pieces like the Dolce Gabana bracelet above left and the Scott Kay below left.

Most often we receive pieces that no one wears any more. Then it makes sense to trade them in and let someone else have them who will wear them.

We have bracelets in both yellow and white gold and some platinum.

Most set with diamonds.

And in all price ranges.

Not to mention all different styles.

We have bangle bracelets,

and bracelets set with precious gemstones.

You just never know what we will have from day to day. Be sure to check out our Ebay store when you are thinking about jewelry for gift giving. You will find some wonderful jewelry pieces and excellent pricing, and you always have the option to make an offer on any item. Just click the link in the right column to visit us on Ebay, to follow us on Facebook or to follow us right here on our blog.

We also welcome comments!

'Stones of Destiny' - Sapphires

2009-11-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

The sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September and the anniversary stone for the 5th and 45th aniversaries. The name sapphire is derived from the Latin word 'saphirus' and the Greek word 'sapheiros', both meaning blue. It was also known as the 'Stone of Destiny'.

Ancient Persians believed Sapphires gave heaven its blue color, and some believed that the heavens formed a huge sapphire to act as a support for the earth, and its reflection colored the sky.

The sapphire has long been identified with chastity, piety, and repentance. It brings wisdom and truth, increases perception and the understanding of justice. It helps find peace of mind and serenity and promotes a life of sincerity, helping preserve one’s innocence while learning life’s truths. Sapphires also are associated with romantic love, representing fidelity and romantic devotion.

The sapphire is a corundum, an aluminum oxide with a trigonal crystal structure, in the same family as the ruby. The only difference between a ruby and a sapphire is simply the color. A red corundum is a ruby. Other colored corundums are called sapphires, which come in many colors, the most well known being blue. Sapphires also come in violet, dark gray, orange, yellow, pink, green and black.

Blue sapphires come from Burma and Kashmir, where the blue tone is the most pure to the true spectral blue, and the stones tend to have a unique velvety luster. Sapphires from Sri Lanka are a less deep shade, almost a pastel blue. Many sapphires also come from Australia, which are dark blue but with a slightly green undertone, as those from Thailand.

The value of sapphires depends on their size, colour and transparency. With stones of exceeding fine quality the origin of the gem also plays a major role. The most valuable are genuine Kashmir stones. Burmese sapphires are valued almost as highly, and then come the sapphires from Ceylon. The possibility of the gemstone's having undergone some treatment or other is also a factor in determining the price, since gemstones which can be guaranteed untreated are becoming more and more sought-after in this age of gemstone cosmetics.

Sapphire can be found naturally, or manufactured in large crystal boules. Because of its remarkable hardness, sapphire is used in many applications, including infrared optical components, watch crystals, high-durability windows, and wafers for the deposition of semiconductors.

Because of their hardness, Sapphires can be cleaned in almost any way. Warm, soapy water is best, though you might also try ultrasonic cleaners and steamers. You can also try using water with a touch of ammonia in it. If you have a fracture in your sapphire or own a star sapphire, do not use mechanical cleaning methods as a sapphire can shatter with one single blow, if hit sharply. This may be especially risky if the stone has inclusions, which weaken the crystal structure. As with most valuable stones, avoid doing heavy work or coming into contact with chemicals while wearing your stone, as they can damage your settings.

In the middle ages, people believed wearing a sapphire suppressed negative thoughts while ancient Persians ground it up to be used as an all purpose medicine. Ivan the Terrible of Russia stated that the sapphire strengthened the heart and muscles and endowed a person with courage. Others said it was an anecdote for poison- it killed snakes on site and if engraved with the figure of a man or a ram, would cure all illness and elevate the owner to a high position.

The 423 carats (85 g) Logan sapphire in the National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C. is one of the largest faceted gem-quality blue sapphires in the world.

The jewelry pieces in the photos, along with many more are available in our Ebay Store, just click on the link in the right hand column.

Gems from the Emerald City

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Emerald, this green gemstone is known as the birthstone for May. There are as many shades of green for emeralds as there are for the old Emerald Isle of Erin.

Scientifically speaking, color is divided into three components: hue, saturation and tone. Yellow and blue, the hues found adjacent to green on the spectral color wheel, are the normal secondary hues found in emerald. Emeralds occur in hues ranging from yellowish green to bluish green. The primary hue must, of course, be green. Only gems that are medium to dark in tone are considered emerald. Light toned gems are known by the species name, green beryl. In addition, the hue must be bright (vivid). Gray is the normal saturation modifier or mask found in emerald. A grayish green hue is a dull green hue.

The name 'emerald' is believed to have originated with the Greek word smaragdos meaning 'green', possibly of Persian origin. The word went through various etymological changes eventually becoming the Middle English emeraude and eventually emerald.

The oldest known emerald finds were once made near the Red Sea in Egypt. Those gemstone mines, already exploited by Egyptian pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 B.C. and later referred to as 'Cleopatra's Mines', had already been exhausted by the time they were rediscovered in the early 19th century.

Most of today's emerald production is in South America with Africa second. Colombian emeralds are particularly well known. Provenance on the ring above right shows that it is from Columbia and is an exceptionally fine stone. Emeralds come from three main emerald mining areas in Colombia: Muzo, Coscuez, and Chivor. Emeralds are also found in other countries, Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Somaliland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In the US, emeralds have been found in Connecticut, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina and South Carolina. In 1998 emeralds were discovered in the Yukon.

Emerald has been sought after since ancient times and it is said that Cleopatra had an emerald engraved with her portrait. Ancients associated Emerald with the Greek goddess Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, it and was said to protect lovers from unfaithfulness. If the heart was loyal, the gem would glow in a beautiful green color, but if the heart was went astray, it would turn a different, lifeless color. In addition, it was believed that wearing an Emerald would improve one’s memory and intelligence, enabling one to think clearly about the past, present, and future.

The Incas and Aztecs of South America, where the best emeralds are still found today, regarded the emerald as a holy gemstone.

A Roman legend tells of a king whose only fortune was a single magnificent emerald, which he threw into the sea as a sacrifice to gains the gods' favours. The next day, the emerald was found again in the stomach of a fish that had been served at the king's table. Later on the latter became Emperor Augustus and encased the miraculous stone at the foot of the altar dedicated to the goddess of Concord.

In the Christian tradition, a bowl shaped emerald fell from Lucifer's helmet during his battle with Archangel Michael. That bowl was later used by Christ at the last supper, and Joseph of Arimathea caught Christ’s blood dripping from the cross in that bowl, founding the order of the Holy Grail.

Since as far back as there is evidence of emeralds, there has been evidence of its healing powers. Some said emeralds would heal if simply worn, others said gaining help required gazing deeply into the green for a while. In every language, there are reports of the emerald helping eyesight. The Sumerians said that if an emerald was worn in a ring on the little finger of the left hand, it would cure inflammation of the eyes. During the time of Hippocrates, emeralds were crushed into a fine powder and made into an eye lotion.

Emerald tends to have numerous inclusions and surface breaking fissures. Emerald is graded by eye. Thus, if an emerald has no visible inclusions to the eye it is considered flawless. Stones that lack surface breaking fissures are extremely rare and therefore almost all emeralds are treated, 'oiled', to enhance the clarity as part of the post lapidary process. Cedar oil, having a similar refractive index, is often used in this traditional practice. Other liquids, including synthetic oils and polymers with refractive indexes close to that of emerald such as Opticon are also used. Because of the oiling process, it is not recommended to have your emerald jewelry steam cleaned.

Please visit our Ebay store to view more photos of these beautiful jewelry items we have for sale. The link is in the right hand column. You can also become a fan and follow us on Facebook, again the link is on the right.

A New Diamond Ring In Our Store

2009-11-06T07:18:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this beauty!

We just acquired this gorgeous diamond ring and it has to be the most exquisite diamond ring I have ever seen. The photos do not show even half of the radiance and fire in these diamonds, it is just stunning, the whole store is gaga over it.

The center stone is nearly a full carat, the clarity is VS1 and the color is I which is near colorless. Accenting it are smaller round and even some baguette diamonds. It is set in that lovely bright 14kt white gold which sets off diamonds so well. This ring comes with a GIA certificate and will be listed in our Ebay store later today.

Please see our previous post on diamonds and their grading.

You will find that diamonds are typically set in white gold even if the rest of the ring is yellow gold, as it accentuates the sparkle of the diamonds. When looking at a piece set with smaller stones you will often see a bit more of the white gold mount as it will make the stone appear larger unless viewed up close. This is not to fool anyone, it just makes for a prettier presentation when smaller stones are used.

Please visit our Ebay store, follow us here and become a fan on Facebook!

Diamond Bridal Rings

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When it comes to engagement or wedding ring choices, there are many. Many styles, many sizes and grades of diamonds, many price ranges.

Pricing will vary according to the karat or purity of the gold used, some rings are also made with platinum. By far the most common karat of gold used in 14kt and can be either yellow or white (which appears as a silver color like the ones in the photos below.)

Diamond Carat or weight and quality will be the other denominators in the cost. The bigger the diamond, the higher the cost, the better the clarity and color, the higher the cost.

Here are some charts that may help you to understand the grades.

CLARITY SCALE

FL-Flawless No imperfections inside or outside of the stone under 10x magnification.

IF-Internally Flawless No inclusions can be seen with 10x magnification.

VVS1,VVS2- Very Very Slightly Imperfect Very small inclusions which are very difficult to see with 10x magnification.

VS1,VS2- Very Slightly Imperfect Small inclusions which are slightly difficult to difficult to see with 10x magnification.

SI1 ,SI2- Slightly Imperfect Inclusions are fairly easy to see with 10x magnification. Sometimes inclusions are visible to the naked eye.

I1, I2, I3- Imperfect Inclusions range from eye visible to very easily seen to the naked eye. An I1 can be a beautiful stone when well cut. An I2 is industrial grade. I3 usually looks like frozen spit.

IS AN SI2 EYE CLEAN?

To best understand clarity, let's talk about "Eye Clean". If a stone is Eye Clean, it means you won't be able to see any imperfection without the aid of a magnifying device (Loupe).It is generally agreed that SI2 is the last grade which is usually eye clean. In some cases, an SI2 stone can be eye clean- yet in some cases an SI2 may not be eye clean.

Clarity grades are cumulative. This means a stone with two SI1 sized imperfections would likely garner a grade of SI2 from GIA. It's likely that two smaller imperfections would not be as easy for the eye to pick up as one larger one. The location of the imperfection also plays a large role in whether it is visible. When it comes to step cut diamonds, such as Emerald or Asscher, there are fewer facets to hide an imperfection. Therefore, it is possible that even a VS1 Emerald or Asscher cut may not be completely eye clean.

Color Scale

D, E, F=colorless

G, H, I, J=near colorless

K, L, M=faint yellow

N, O, P, Q, R=very light yellow

S-Z=light yellow

There are also other colors of diamonds from pink to brown but they are not usually used in bridal rings.

The 'cut' of a diamond has a lot to do with the quality and cost as well.

This term is used to describe the quality of the cut (not the shape) of the diamond. A well cut diamond is better suited to handle light internally creating more scintillation and sparkle (fire). Proportions and symmetry as well as polish are taken into consideration.
Very Good = Exceptional brilliance with few and only minor outer marks.

Good = Good brilliance. Some outer marks.

Medium = Slightly less brilliance. Some larger outer marks.

Poor = Less brilliance. Large or many outer marks.

So Carat, Cut, Clarity and Color are the 4 C's of Diamonds. In general you want to choose the best you can afford. Also take into consideration what kind of style you want and remember that it will be worn daily for many years to come and possibly passed on to a child or grandchild to be lovingly treasured.

Some engagement rings are just a solitaire on a band, others are more ornate, and some have other gemstones included in the setting for color. Individual taste varies and therefore there is no wrong kind of ring as long as you are happy with it.

The shapes of the diamonds are as varied as the styles. Round, pear, emerald, square or princess, oval, marquis, baguette and trillion. There are many variations such as checkerboard and pillow cuts. The cut made is chosen to show the diamond at its best.

As you can see from the differing photographs, we carry many sizes and styles of bridal rings here at The Gold Exchange. We have all price ranges from less than $200 on up. Wide, narrow, with or without guards, with or without matching bands, solitaires, with accent stones, yellow gold, white gold, platinum, you name it and we probably have it.

The 2nd from the right above is even a signed Cartier diamond ring. We have many men's wedding rings and bands as well. So if you are shopping for diamonds take a look at our Ebay store by

clicking the link on the right.

We have a graduate gemologist that views our jewelry and grades it if it does not come to us with any certification. We can also arrange to have a ring sized if need be.

And as always you are welcome to visit our showroom if you are in the Houston, TX area.

Welcome to The Gold Exchange!

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Welcome to our new online blog. We will be bringing you news, feature articles and many photos of items we have to offer. We hope to educate and even to entertain on occasion. Look for new posts at least twice a week, possibly more often as time allows.

The Gold Exchange buys, sells and trades gold and silver coins. Our company president has many years experience and is a professional numismatist specializing in rare coins and bullion.

We also have many pieces of fine jewelry that we have acquired over the years.

Most jewelry pieces are gold, whether yellow or white, and we do have some platinum.

Diamonds in many, many settings are the most popular items and if you are seeking an engagement ring or wedding set, we invite you to browse our Ebay store for some beautiful sparkling rings.

Many of our jewelry pieces are colorful gemstones.

Like aquamarine,

Emerald,

Garnet,

Mystic Topaz,

Pearls and many more.

We carry not only rings, but also pendants, necklaces, earrings, brooches, and luxury watches. Some of our pieces are antique, vintage or estate pieces.

Of course, women's jewelry makes up the bulk of our ever changing stock, but we have many handsome rings, bracelets and watches for men as well.

These few photos are a small sampling of the many lovely pieces we carry in the store. Prices will vary according to what the item is, the quality of the stones and of course the karat of gold used.

We invite you again to look through our Ebay store: thegoldexchange*123 You can use the link in the right hand side bar to get there easily. You will see we offer our items with a 'Buy it Now' price or you may also make an offer which we may accept or counter with a different price. It's very easy and you don't have to hang around waiting for the auction to end.

If you are in the Houston, TX area, we invite you to come by and visit with us in our showroom.