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Designer Focus: Maeve Gillies of MaeVona |
 Maeve Gillies is a multi-award-winning Scottish designer who grew up in Edinburgh in a nationally acclaimed artistic, literary and musical family. Maeve has two degrees in jewelry and goldsmithing - first from the Edinburgh College Of Art, then a Masters Degree from the prestigious Royal College Of Art in London.
MaeVona's launch in 2005 gained instant industry attention, winning the top industry design award, the Town & Country 'Best Bridal Design' at the Couture Show in Las Vegas, chosen by a vote of all Couture attendees.
MaeVona is contemporary and unique bridal jewelry with Celtic-inspired heritage and impeccable craftsmanship. Summa Jewelers is proud to be the exclusive dealer for MaeVona in the St. Louis area.
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Amethyst |
 Revered by the ancient Greeks as a talisman, amethyst was thought to entice the highest, purest aspirations of humankind when worn. Amethyst was believed to inspire courage, calm and contemplation.
February's birthstone, amethyst also is the favored gift for the 1st and 6th wedding anniversaries, historically symbolizing sincerity and sacred love. Gem of optimism and good fortune, amethyst reveals the positive vibrations surrounding those who wear it.
A member of the quartz family, amethyst comes in a variety of purple shades of varying intensity - from pale lilac to reddish or bluish violet to deep purple with red highlights. Amethyst is considered the most highly prized variety of quartz, although very affordable. However, amethyst in large sizes and rich, deep colors is rare and more costly.
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Diamond Information: Grading - GIA & AGS |
These organizations were both founded by Robert Shipley in the 1930s and undisputedly employ the most strict and consistent diamond grading standards. Diamonds with reports from the AGS or GIA command a higher premium and hold their value better than diamonds from softer labs. The world's best diamonds are typically sent to the laboratories of GIA or AGS.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has the strongest worldwide reputation for independence and consistency. The world's largest and most valuable diamonds have been sent there for decades thanks to their constant color and clarity strictness. GIA added a two-dimensional cut grading system for round brilliant diamonds in 2006.
The American Gem Society (AGS) is the world's elite cut grading laboratory. Smaller in scope than the GIA, they enforce the same color and clarity standards while focusing more strictly on cut craftsmanship and scientific light performance. From 1996-2005 they employed the only cut-grading system for round diamonds. That two-dimensional system was replaced in 2005 with a three-dimensional light performance metric that works for several diamond shapes including round and princess cut.
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