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Are you thinking of popping the question – but uninterested in upholding tradition? These days, many grooms and brides-to-be find creating their own traditions much more important than repeating old ones. If this sounds like you, then you’re well aware that a diamond solitaire – while beautiful – is far from your only option when it comes to an engagement ring.  Whether your goal is a budget-friendly option that frees up funds for an exotic honeymoon or you simply want to stand out, there are many reasons that people look far beyond the diamond for their perfect antique engagement ring. Breaking...

It's that magical time, emotional, joyous and just possibly daunting. Yes, it's almost time to propose. If you’re thinking about buying an engagement ring for someone special, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer number of options.  There are endless designs, cuts, settings, and gemstones available when it comes to engagement rings. It can be tricky to decide which one is perfect for your significant other. Decisions such as the type of metal and whether the ring should be ornate or simple depend primarily on your personal preferences and style as well as those of your partner. Once you’ve...

Known since the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs, niello (also referred to as tulo) is both a process and a substance that was used in jewelry and the decorative arts. Resembling black enamel, niello stands out with its distinctive graphite, lead gray metallic sheen. It is a lustrous almost blue-black material that has been used as technique to heighten and enrich objects that have been engraved, chased or etched. The contrast of the inlay against matte or polished metal is striking. The earliest examples of the art belong to the Roman period of the 1st century. To this day classical,...

Around the turn of the 20th century Newark, New Jersey was quickly rising as the center of America's jewelry creation and production. One of the core members was the Riker Brothers firm that helped fuel this great expansion.  As an integral member of this cabal, Riker Bros. was one of the few Art Nouveau era houses to employ plique-à-jour enamels as well as create a full line of platinum and gold jewelry. Having achieved a reputation for its dragon (sometimes referred to as griffin) motif antique brooches, Riker Brothers offered these and similar adornments in a variety of sizes and manifestations dating from circa 1890-1900....