The Underwoods Journal
A Gem With A Story
Valentine’s Day Holidays have a way of sneaking up on even the most prepared among us. While flowers and cards have their place, many people hope for a gift that feels more lasting. They want something that carries meaning long after February 14 has passed. This Is Where Gemstones Come In. For centuries, gemstones have been chosen not only for their beauty but also for what they represent. Long before modern jewelry trends, stones were tied to emotion, milestones, protection, and a connection to the natural world. Today, that symbolism still matters, especially in “The Natural State”, where people value intention, craftsmanship, and authenticity as much as aesthetics. Why Gemstone Jewelry Holds So Much Meaning Unlike mass produced gifts, natural gemstones are formed over millions of years beneath the earth’s surface. Each one is an original, with none being exactly alike. For many people, that uniqueness is what makes gemstone jewelry feel personal. It is not just something beautiful. It is something rare. Gemstones are a traditional way to mark important moments. Engagements, anniversaries, career milestones, graduations, and Valentine’s Day are all occasions where jewelry can become a part of your legacy of love. By gifting something with such significance you are solidifying a memory for years to come. Gemstone Guide If you choose to gift a gemstone, whether set in fine jewelry or given as a loose stone, understanding traditional symbolism can add another layer of meaning.
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Dad’s Gift Guide
Mother’s Day is right around the corner, May 11. Whether it’s your grandmother, mother, or wife, all women with a motherly role should be celebrated. What better way to show them love by buying them a timeless piece of jewelry. Here at Underwoods, we have a collection of items that would be perfect for her.
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Treasure Hunting in Tucson
AGTA Tuscon Gem ShowTreasure HuntingWhat is a gem or "trade" show?You may be wondering what is a gem show and what is the benefit of buying from a jeweler that shops via these gem shows. These "trade" shows bring together everyone in the trade and offers the widest selection when looking for hidden treasure like gorgeous colored gemstones.The AGTA Tucson Gem Show brings together some of the world's most talented designers, gemologists, gemstone cutters and dealers. These gemstone dealers and cutters, many operating multi-generational family businesses, showcase their newest selection of precious stones and unique jewelry pieces. Our team traveled to Tucson to explore the gemology world's latest and greatest from rare gemstones to cutting-edge jewelry designs. Beyond obtaining fresh insights on what's new we get the opportunity to visit with dealers we have known for generations. By doing business at these trade shows, we are allowed the ideal opportunity to find one-of-a-kind treasures at remarkable values. Time in TucsonAt the beginning of each day we take a look at our shopping list and spend some time strategizing the day ahead. The shopping list includes stones we need for custom projects, replenishments for staple stock pieces, and client requests. The requests are always the ones that get everyone most excited, when we find a stone our clients or team has been wanting to see in the store we know it's going to make everyone happy. The Underwoods will go through each cutter's cases of stones to find what they are looking for. This includes narrowing selections down based on their beauty, making sure there is no light leaking through the facets, no prominent inclusions, and a perfect amount of sparkle, of course. Hand engraved platinum ring featuring a 4.16 carat round blue sapphire plus 1.26 carats total weight of fully cut diamonds.AGTA Spectrum Award WinnerWe got to view the Spectrum Award winners where our custom ring was on display for winning Platinum Honors as an engagement ring entry.FAQFrequently Asked QuestionsThere is a a small section we like to call "The Jungle": that is open to the public. This part of the show has geodes, crystals, home goods, and more! The place we spend the majority of our time does require you to be registered as a jewelry retailer and provide credentials. Security is tight where the treasures can be found to say the least!Tucson offers many loose gemstones, which is something we do a lot of business with. Having a business that specializes in custom jewelry and fine jewelry design, we are able to do some of our best sourcing at Tucson. Being surrounded by the sea of colored stone where the trending tones and shapes shift from year to year always sparks creativity for new, hopefully award-winning, designs.Bringing home new and rare gemsOverall, we consistently continue to see pastels and unique saturations for popular gemstones continue to get attention. Indicolite tourmaline and green tourmaline continue to be fan favorites among our customers and the industry. This year, we decided to acquire the rare Paraíba tourmaline that has been a favorite among collectors for the past few years.Top Picks from Tucsonpear-shaped paraÍba tourmalinesThese are one of the hottest and most sought-after gemstones on the market today. Known for its electric neon blue color, Paraíba tourmaline confidently glows. Finding a matched pair with color that rich is truly remarkable. round Mozambique rubyRubies usually have a deeper tone, but this one is bright and fiery. These type of rubies are very limited, and can be found in Mozambique, a country in Southeast Africa.Emerald-cut ZirconThis extraordianry Zircon features a smooth whiskey-like color with golden flashes to it, which is remarkable. Zircon comes in a variety of colors, but this dark and moody hue was one we couldn't leave without.From our social mediaViewTrends from Tucson★★★★★Drawn to color and character? Explore gemstone jewelry.
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Hello August
Hello August Here at Underwoods, we love the month of August! Not only is it Summertime, but it’s also the month to bask in the glory of the gemstones Peridot and Spinel! Peridot has been an official birthstone for August since 1912 but Spinel was just recently added as a birthstone in 2016! Both beautiful and incredibly different, there is much to say about these two gemstones. Keep reading to learn more! History PERIDOT: This stone can be traced back over 3,000 years ago to the time of ancient Egyptians. It was a prized stone that is said to have been worn by Cleopatra, who mistakenly thought they were Emeralds! Peridot was also mined from an island off Egypt’s coast! SPINEL- Through the years, this gemstone was known as the most “underappreciated” out of all gemstones. It was often mistaken for the gemstone Ruby and sought out by royalty. The stone known as the “Black Prince Ruby” was acquired in 1367 by Edward, Prince of Wales and is in fact a 170 carat red Spinel! Anniversaries PERIDOT: 16th wedding anniversary. SPINEL: 22nd wedding anniversary. Symbolism Peridot- Promotes happiness by driving away bad thoughts. Peridot is said to help assist us in having the courage to act out our heart’s desires and to be generous to others. It helps aid in success and abundance in career endeavors. This gemstone is also believed to increase wealth, health, joy and emotional well-being.Spinel- Promotes vitality and clear thinking. Spinel is said to be a stone of new hope and helps relieve the burden of negative thoughts. It assists in “thinking outside the box” and coming up with new ideas. Spinel is also said to be the “stone of victory” and inspires us to accept new challenges and aids in guiding us to achieve them. New Favs UCDC0318 LDRXC04411 CLE0438 LDRXC0271 How We Wear It Ready to find a ring with this kind of meaning? Explore engagement rings.
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Alexandrite, Moonstone, & Pearls Oh My!
Having a birthday in June gives you access to three incredible gemstones as your birthstone. Color changing Alexandrite, glowing Moonstone, and historically famous Pearl
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Take Me Down to Emerald City
Meaning "the green of growing things," Emeralds have long represented life, rebirth, fertility, and love. As Cleopatra's favorite gemstone they have graced the Earth for thousands of years.
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December Birthstone Trio
By Underwoods Fine JewelersShop OnlineTanzanite Tanzanite is a newer stone and was added to the official birthstone list in 2002 by the American Gem Trade Association as an additional birthstone for December. Tanzania, a country rich in folklore, boasts an ancient story that the local Maasai saw a bolt of lightning come down from the sky and strike all the rocks on the ground turning them to a shimmering blue – Tanzanite. The gemstone was discovered by Manuel d’Souza in the Mirerani Hills of Manyara Region in Northern Tanzania in 1967, near the city of Arusha and Mount Kilimanjaro. Tanzanite is only found in Tanzania, in a very small mining area (approximately 7 km long and 2 km wide) near the Mirerani Hills.Tanzanite is believed to be a stone of good fortune, and provide wisdom and balance. Tanzanite is the preferred gift to give on the 24th wedding anniversary and is sometimes called the “Workoholic’s Stone” because it is said to aid in slowing down, relieving stress and promoting composure and harmony. ZirconZircon is the oldest mineral on earth, dating back more than 4.4 billion years. Found in the Earth’s crust, it’s common in most sands and sedimentary deposits, as well as metamorphic rocks and crystallized magma. The name is thought to derive from the Persian zargun meaning gold-hued. Zircon occurs in many colors, including reddish brown, yellow, green, blue, gray and colorless. In the Middle Ages, this gem was thought to induce sound sleep, drive away evil spirits, and promote riches, honor, and wisdom. Turquoise Admired since ancient times, turquoise is known for its distinct color, which ranges from powdery blue to greenish robin’s egg blue. It’s one of few minerals to lend its name to anything that resembles its striking color. The word turquoise dates back to the 13th century, drawing from the French expression pierre tourques, which referenced the “Turkish stone” brought to Europe from Turkey. Native Americans believed Turquoise to have many protective and healing properties including a positive healing energy, good fortune, and strength. Other cultures believe Turquoise enhances creativity, communication, serenity and wisdom. Turquoise is also believed to foster empathy, loyalty, courage, confidence, and personal power. A dream of Turquoise is thought to signify prosperity. Turquoise is the gift to give on the 11th wedding anniversary and symbolizes friendship and brings peace to the home. How we wear them Drawn to color and character? Explore gemstone jewelry.
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Make a Splash with Aquamarine
lets dive in! We’ve all heard of the gorgeous gemstone Aquamarine, but do we really know it? Keep reading to learn more about this month’s cool colored gemstone! Shop AquasSymbolismAquamarine is the Birthstone for March and the preferred gift to give your loved one on your 19th wedding anniversary. Some cultures view the gem as a symbol of unity and love and will give Aquamarine jewelry as gifts to the bride the day of the wedding. It's said to symbolize eternal youth and happiness, and it's cool hue is said to calm the temper. This gem is also the Zodiac sign for Gemini. colorAquamarine is a blue or blue-green variety color in the beryl family and is considered to be a sister gem to the rich green Emerald. The most prized color of Aquamarine is a deep blue tone. folkloreFolklore suggests that Aquamarine was believed to be a treasure of mermaids and was used as a talisman to bring good luck, protection and fearlessness to sailors. The stone was also said to be good for all types of calming and cooling, from hot flashes to anger. It's said to grant the wearer protection in battle, improve intellect and promote love. historyHistory records Aquamarines first use in Greece, between 300-500 B.C. It's name is derived from the Latin meaning "water of the sea", which is an accurate description of the ocean-like color and clarity of the gem. Aquamarine was once worn by the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Hebrews to bring victory in battle. More recently, Aquamarine has been used as a symbol in tarot and is believed to aid in mental health by cultivating inner tranquility and aligning the spiritual and physical. our favsLDEC0069 OVAL AQUAMARINES IN WHITE GOLD HALO EARRINGSLdrxc0379 Oval Aquamarine and Diamond Halo White Gold RingUCDC0576 PEAR SHAPE AQUAMARINE DIAMOND HALO NECKLACELDRXC0378 OVAL AQUAMARINE DIAMOND HALO WHITE GOLD RINGShop Aquamarinehow we wear AquasBig and VintageAs an Engagement RingEveryday EarringsSimple and ClassicLatest blogs611 W. Dickson Street Fayetteville AR, 72701 479.521.2000 info@underwoods.com Drawn to color and character? Explore gemstone jewelry.
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Rubies in July
Underwoods Fine Jewelers Rubylearn all about the gorgeous july birthstone, ruby!Symobolism Ruby is treasured as a gift for July birthdays and celebration of a 40th anniversary. But don’t be limited by tradition, anyone can enjoy wearing this rich beautiful gemstone! The birthstone for July, it can symbolize charity and dignity. Ruby has also been regarded as a stone for passion, protection, and healing.Shop RubiesFolklore King of gems Over centuries, the pure red color of fine rubies has inspired much folklore. In the ancient world, the ruby was associated with riches and royalty. In Hindu astrology, the ruby was considered so valuable it was deemed the “sun” jewel around which all other precious gems circled. The Sanskrit word for ruby, “ratnaraj,” roughly translates to “king of the gems”. In medieval times, some European noblemen and women believed if a ruby was worn on the left side of the body (by the heart) it would help bring peace into the owner’s life.The color red symbolizes passion and love making a ruby a perfect accent color to your engagement ring.We love stacking rubies with other gems such as sapphires and diamonds. This particular ruby bracelet is made in 18K white gold. It features 7.36 carats total weight of rubies plus 2.65 carats total weight of fully cut diamonds.Here in Arkansas, we proudly love showing support to our state and our community. We have created a beautiful Arkansas State necklace with a ruby symbolizing the heart of NWAFeatured Rubiesldrr0053 Retail: $9,460ldrr0036 Retail: $6,245ldrr0040 Retail: $6,425ldnc0088 Retail: $3,190Shop RubiesCustomer Reviews"The quality and beauty of the jewelry is amazing! The attention and kindness shown to their customers is above and beyond! Thank you for making your store so inviting to all!""Underwoods Fine Jewelers.... Unique and Outstanding!The best jewelry, the best quality, and the best staff.Just terrific!"Trending Blogs Click now to read!underwoods fine jewelers 611 w. Dickon street fayetteville, AR 72701 479-521-2000 info@underwoods.com Ready to find the right piece? Explore fine jewelry.
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