Corbo Jewelers

Blue Topaz is the birthstone of December (blue topaz), it is a talisman for the sign of Sagittarius and the suggested anniversary gemstone for the 4th, 19th or 23rd year of marriage. The name topaz comes from the Sanskrit and means fire. Topaz occurs in a wide range of colors including red, orange, peach, pink, gold, yellow, brown and clear and is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Russia. Naturally pale to medium blue topaz is enhanced by irradiation to produce a more intense blue color. Red and pink topaz gems were used in the jewelry of the 18th and 19th Century Russian Czarinas and is why topaz is sometimes called "Imperial Topaz". The most famous topaz is actually a colorless topaz that was originally thought to be a diamond. It is a 1680 carat stone known as the "Braganza Diamond" set in the Portuguese Crown Jewels. Another beautiful topaz is in the Green Vault in Dresden which has one of the world's most important gem collections. Al

Hanukkah, the "Festival of Lights," starts on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev and lasts for eight days and nights. In 2011, Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 20. With blessings, games, and festive foods, Hanukkah celebrates the triumphs--both religious and military--of ancient Jewish heroes. Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday in the Jewish year. In the United States, however, its closeness to Christmas has brought greater attention to Hanukkah and its gift-giving tradition. Amid the ever-growing flood of Christmas advertising, it may seem especially fitting that the Hanukkah story tells of Jewish culture surviving in a non-Jewish world. The Hanukkah Story Nearly 2,200 years ago, the Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV tried to force Greek culture upon peoples in his territory. Jews in Judea - now Israel- were forbidden their most important religious practices as well as study of the Torah. Although vastly outnumbered, religious

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. Mo

Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day , celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has officially been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863, when during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. As a federal and popular holiday in the U.S., Thanksgiving is one of the "big six" major holidays of the year (along with Christmas, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day). Together with Christmas and the New Year, Thanksgiving is a part of the broader holiday season. The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated to give thanks to God for guiding them safely to the New World. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days, providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Native Americans. The feast consisted of fish  and shellfish, wild fowl , venison, berries and fruit, vegetables, harvest grains,and the Three Sisters:

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation W hereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:" Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and p

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities.  This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who

We've hidden Alan somewhere on  CorboJewelers.com The first ten people to find him will win a sterling silver freshwater pearl bracelet   retail value $29 When you find Alan, email us at  corbocontest@gmail.com Be sure to include your name, address, and email address along with your guess. The first ten correct answers will win the bracelet! Check for clues on our  Facebook page Good Luck! PS- this blogpost is NOT the correct answer :)

Patriot Day  occurs on September 11 of each year, designated in memory of the 2,977 killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. Many Americans refer to the day as "Nine-Eleven (9/11)", "September Eleventh", or some variation thereof. Initially, the day was called the Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001. U.S. House of Representatives Joint Resolution 71 was approved by a vote of 407–0 on October 25, 2001. It requested that the President designate September 11 of each year as "Patriot Day". President George W. Bush signed the resolution into law on December 18, 2001. It is a discretionary day of remembrance. On September 4, 2002, President Bush used his authority created by the resolution and proclaimed September 11, 2002 as Patriot Day. On this day, the President directs that the American flag be flown at half-staff at individual American homes, at the White House, and on all U.S. government buildings and es

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold." But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union

Sapphire and ruby are the same material, the mineral corundum.  They are the second hardest gemstone after diamond.  Red corundum is known as ruby.  All other colors are known as sapphire. Blue is the most famous of the sapphire colors. Sri Lankan and Madagascar sapphires are the most common today, with a wide range of colors from light sky blue to dark blue. Other producers of blue sapphire are Australia, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, and the USA (Montana). Large sapphires are rare and attract fame. The largest star sapphire is the Star of India at 536 carats. Discovered about three hundred years ago in Sri Lanka, the Star of India was donated to the American Museum of Natural History by J.P. Morgan. Later burglar Jack Murphy stole the stone. Its recovery two months later only added to its fame. The 423 carat Logan Sapphire is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It is the largest faceted sapphire on public display and may be the largest blue sapphire known. This

T wenty seven years ago a retail jewelry store was opened on Nassau Street in NYC. After a few years, an opportunity presented itself and a second store was opened at the World Trade Center. With this transition the establishment of the New Company name evolved – “World Trade Jewelers”.   Then with the wake of the terrible tragedy on September 11, 2001 the business owners decided to take this time to jumpstart the wholesale division which leads us into today’s story. A new diamond wholesale jewelry business plan went into action in 2002 and along with it came licensing opportunities like the Hershey’s Kiss.   Few times has a Brand such as Hershey’s paired themselves with a Fine Jewelry house. This new found relationship has been a fun and exciting partnership. The relationship has paved the way for multiple jewelry venues which has allowed “World Trade Jewelers” to cross over into Fashion as well as Fine Jewelry products. The wholesale company has developed Hershey’s products in Gold

Peridot is the modern August birthstone and the gem designated for the 16th wedding anniversary.  Peridot (pronounced pair-a-dot) is a transparent yellowish-green Magnesium/Iron Silicate. It is a gem variety of the mineral Chrysolite or Olivine and its chemical formula is given by: (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. Peridot ranges in color from light yellow-green to the intense bright green of new spring grass to olive. Because of the way peridot splits and bends the rays of light passing through it, it has a velvety appearance, a rich glow, and a slightly greasy luster. The purer green a peridot is the higher the value. Any tinges of brown or visible flaws greatly diminish the price. The best-colored peridot has an iron percentage of less than 15% and includes nickel and chromium as trace elements. It is not clear whether the word peridot comes from the Arabic word faridat, which means gem or if it is derived from the French word peritot which means unclear. The French were the first to call this yel

Corbo Jewelers has partnered with The Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel & CK's Steakhouse.   Buy your Engagement Rin g from Corbo's, get a free night at the Renissance and dinner at CK's It's the perfect way to make that special memory. The Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel is the only luxury hotel within the Meadowlands region and just minutes away from NYC.   Chilled Champagne will be waiting for you upon your arrival. Award-winning CK's steakhouse is located on site at the Renaissance Meadowlands.   Enjoy a dinner for two while proposing or make it the place to celebrate the beginning of the rest of your lives.   

Nearly seventy years ago, the Candela jewelry house was founded by the three Candela brothers in Valencia, Spain. The company name was Candela Hermanos, and it quickly became one of the world’s largest manufacturers of karat gold jewelry in that region. For several generations the Candela family has been at the forefront of European jewelry design and manufacturing. The success of Candela is credited to the expert craftsmanship and attention to detail. The name “Candela” is synonymous with fine Spanish jewelry. With this heritage, it is no wonder that daughter Andréa, was inspired to create the  Andréa Candela  Collection of fine jewelry. In 1979, Candela Hermanos expanded to the United States under the name Candela Jewelry Inc. Andréa, while still involved in the family business, passed design responsibility to the design team in the United States to carefully analyze the markets worldwide. Today,  Andréa Candela  brings customers beautiful jewelry that is universally acknowledged to

A ruby is a gemstone from the corundum family. It comes in a variety of colors from the light almost champagne hue to what is marcarbly called "pigeon's blood", which is almost a pure red. Ruby is a hard gem just below diamond. Like many gemstones, rubies are often heat treated to improve the color and a well cut ruby can often approach a diamond in it's brilliance and sparkle. Rubies are found in the asian and african countries predominently in Afghanistan,Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Kenya, Madagascar, Sri Lanka,Tanzania,Thailand,and Vietnam. Rubies and sapphires come from the same family but the red ones are called rubies and the other colors in the corundum family are called sapphires. The term ruby comes from the latin ' ruber ', meaning red and in sanskrit the ruby is called the 'king of precious stones'. During the course of history, rubies have been so highly prized and valued that they have, at times, reached a value over 7 times the value

Known as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. ~from History.com

The Artistry of Vanna K Heir to a tradition of artistry and excellence in fine jewelry, hallmarks of Kitsinian Jewelers, Vanna K designs with an aura of energy that interacts with the mind and body and resonates with her admirer. Though jewelry design has been the family business for three generations, Papa never meant for his little girl to follow in his footsteps. “For you…great things” he often said as young Vanna would peer over his shoulder at the platinum wonders unfolding under his pencil. Papa got his way – or so he thought. While Vanna dutifully fulfilled his ambitions by excelling as a multi-lingual scholastic star, for Vanna, none of it extinguished her fierce, unremitting passion to sketch, imagine, and bring to life sculpted precious metal in ways never before seen or worn. Today, the next generation of bridal and fashion design has arrived. Led by a member of the very age group her product will serve, someone entirely in sync with their sensibilities, taste, and sh

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'. On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York S

Pearl is the official birthstone for the month of June as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also the birthstone for the Sun Signs of Gemini and Cancer.  Fresh water pearls are given on the 1st wedding anniversary. Pearls are also given on the 3rd, 12th and 30th anniversaries. Pearls are formed inside mollusks such as oysters and mussels. They are formed when an irritant such as a tiny stone or bit of sand gets inside the mollusk's shell. A lustrous substance, called nacre, is secreted around the object to protect the soft internal surface of the mollusk. Layers of nacre coat the irritant, and a  pearl is formed. Light that is reflected from these overlapping layers produces a characteristic iridescent luster. This process can take up to seven or eight years. The most valuable pearls are perfectly symmetrical, relatively large and naturally produced. They have a shimmering iridescence which is called orient luster. The principal oyster beds l

On June 19, 1910, a Father's Day observance was celebrated through the efforts of  Sonora Smart Dodd  of  Spokane, Washington . After listening to a church sermon at Spokane's Central Methodist Episcopal Church in 1909 about the newly recognized Mother's Day, Dodd felt strongly that fatherhood needed recognition, as well. She wanted a celebration that honored fathers like her own father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who was left to raise his family alone when his wife died giving birth to their sixth child when Sonora was 16 years old. The following year with the assistance of Reverend Dr. Conrad Bluhm, her pastor at Old Centenary Presbyterian Church (now Knox Presbyterian Church), Sonora took the idea to the Spokane YMCA. The Spokane YMCA, along with the Ministerial Alliance, endorsed Dodd’s idea and helped it spread by celebrating the first Father’s Day in 1910. Sonora suggested her father’s birthday, June 5, be established as the day to honor all Fathers. However,

Since its commercial launch at 2010 JCK show in Las Vegas, the Raquelle Bianco brand has developed into one of the fastest rising brands in the jewelry world. In just few months over 250 US retail stores have bought into the vivacious colors, excellent price points and versatile collections of Raquelle Bianco. Raquelle was the great grandmother of designer Eddie Weiss who together with his father Alex has specialized over the years in designing and selling jewelry. Raquelle Bianco is their first entry into the 'brand jewelry' world. "Raquelle is an ancestral inspiration for both of us" says Eddie Weiss "She was a designer in 1910 when there were not many women designers. We were also inspired by what we thought was a lack of fascinating colors and styles at affordable prices in the market". Raquelle Bianco jewelry is made for the modern and dynamic woman who loves to accessorize on a daily basis. The designer’s research is based on new materials. The first