Christmas Gift Guide

At McGee & Company, we have items to fit everyone's style and budget. We have compiled just a few of our favorites to get your wheels turning!

Under $100!

Colts Jewelry starting at just $19.99!

$101 - $500

This Sterling Silver and Ancient Roman Glass jewelry has a timeless elegance.
One-of-a-kind designs make this collection perfect for fashion-forward ladies looking for unique statement pieces.

$501 - $1000

Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle!!! Need we say more?

$1001 - $5000

Colored Diamonds, Classic Diamond Pendants, Outstanding Gemstone Jewelry -
we've got luxe looks that will add to any wardrobe!

$5000+

Make her feel like Elizabeth Taylor and dazzle her with diamonds!!!

November's Birthstone is Citrine

November’s modern birthstone is a variety of quartz called Citrine. It can range in color from yellow to dark amber. Originally worn as a talisman against evil thoughts, Citrine symbolizes hope and strength. Happy Birthday, November Babies!

October Birthstone Spotlight

October's birthstone is Opal. 

The opal has long been a sought-after gemstone, with the earliest known opal artifacts dating back to about 4000 B.C. Some of the first beliefs surrounding this unique stone include its capability to amplify feelings, promote spontaneity, and enhance psychic abilities. Opals are also known as symbols of hope and purity. 

As one of the more delicate gemstones, opals need careful protection from scratches, household chemicals, and temperature changes. Be sure to remove your opal jewelry before activities such gardening or housecleaning. Clean your opals with a soft cloth to help keep their brilliance. 

Happy Birthday - April!

First I'd like to apologize for the absence over the past several months. I had a baby boy in December who arrived 2.5 months early. Everyone is doing well and now I'm back to work full time. Thanks for visiting our blog and stay tuned for more regular updates!

April's birthstone is DIAMOND.

These are just 3 of the designs that caught my eye in our showroom. All are by Allison-Kaufmann, a relatively new company for us. Their striking designs really grab your attention! Fashion trends are leaning back toward yellow gold for the upcoming season. 

If you are interested in diamond lore, check out last year's blog post about diamonds: http://mcgeejewelers.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html

October Birthstone Spotlight

October’s birthstones are OPAL and PINK TOURMALINE!

Found in Australia, Mexico and the U.S., opals symbolize hope, innocence, and purity. This symbolism influenced the belief that opals aided children, encouraged friendships and feelings, and supported those in theater and amusement professions. Opals have been used as a talisman against evil spirits and one medieval belief said they could render a wearer invisible when needed.

Opals come in two varieties; white opal has a light body color with flashes of many colors and black opal has a dark body with flashes of red, pink, and bright green.

Opal is a fragile gemstone and care should be taken to protect it against scratches and hard blows. Avoid using household cleaners and extreme temperature changes. Clean only with a soft cloth and never use an ultrasonic machine or jewelry cleaner.

An alternate, but accepted, birthstone for October is pink tourmaline. It has the widest range of colors of any gemstone. Tourmaline can be found in reds, greens, blues, and all sorts of combinations of those colors.

Tourmaline is believed to be a healing stone and when worn as an amulet, it will bring you friends and lovers.

To clean your tourmaline, use lukewarm soapy water and a small bristle brush. Do not use a home ultrasonic machine. Be sure to remove your tourmaline jewelry before engaging in housework, gardening, or sports to protect it against sharp blows and scratches. 

September Birthstone Spotlight

September’s birthstone is SAPPHIRE! 

Ancient Persians believed the Earth rested on an enormous blue sapphire, and its reflection caused the blueness of the sky. Sorcerers used sapphires to interpret oracles and foretell the future. For centuries, sapphires have been seen as a symbol of truth, a talisman of protection and guardians of love.

As well as being the birthstone for September, sapphires are also the traditional gift for couples celebrating fifth and forty-fifth anniversaries.

Sapphire is one of two varieties of corundum and can be found in any color except red. The red variety is a ruby. Fancy colored sapphires include pink, green, orange and golden yellow.

  

Although sapphires are one of the most durable gemstones, they should be protected against hard blows and scratches. With proper care, your sapphire jewelry can be an heirloom for generations. 

Stop in to see our selection of sapphire jewelry!

August Birthstone Spotlight

August's birthstone is PERIDOT!

The history of peridot [per-i-doh] dates back to the Ancient Egyptians, who called it “the gem of the sun.” It is now believed that Cleopatra wore peridot gems, having mistaken them for emeralds. The color range for peridot includes bright green, yellowish-green, and olive hues.

After the Crusades, soldiers brought peridot back as spoils of war. Once in Europe, the gems were set in a variety of religious objects.

Traditionally found in Egypt and Burma, more recent sources include the U.S. (mostly Arizona and Hawaii), China, Brazil, Pakistan, Australia, and Norway. Peridot can even be found in some meteorites!

Peridot is said to protect from nightmares, fear, and the evil eye. This protection made peridot a favorite among pirates. A healing stone, it aids in reducing stress and digestive problems. Peridot supposedly stimulates the mind, opens the door for opportunity, and accelerates personal growth. It also is known to attract love and calm anger, appropriate for the traditional stone for the 16^th wedding anniversary.

Avoid sharp blows and scratches, household chemicals, as well as drastic temperature changes. Remove your peridot jewelry before housework, gardening, or active sports. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner on peridot. 

July Birthstone Spotlight

July’s birthstone is RUBY!

Known as “Lord of the Gems,” rubies are steeped in lore and history. The name ruby is derived from “ruber,” the Latin word for red. Myth says rubies were created upon their release from a dragon’s magical egg.

Said to have protective powers, rubies have adorned everything from thrones around the world to Dorothy’s iconic slippers. The ruby has long been used as an amulet for passion and healing due to the belief that it helped its owner avoid all kinds of misfortune. To intensify the Ruby’s powers, set in jewelry and wear on your left side.

Ruby’s lore for passion is aptly applied as the accepted gemstone for the15th and 40^th anniversaries. 

Like its sister the sapphire, the ruby is a variety of corundum. These gems rate a 9 on the Mohs scale, placing them as the second hardest known material, just behind diamonds.

As always, avoid sharp blows and scratches to protect your ruby jewelry. Stop in to see our ruby selection or bring your ruby jewelry by for an inspection and cleaning. 

June Birthstone Spotlight

June’s birthstone is PEARL!

The oyster uses nature’s most wonderful defense mechanism. When a grain of sand or other irritant becomes lodged in an oyster, it surrounds the foreign substance with a nacre coating. This forms a pearl. When the irritant is introduced by man, the result is a cultured pearl.

Pearls can be found in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and luster. All of these attributes affect the value of a pearl. High luster, perfectly round, large pearls are the most valuable. The pearl’s natural colors include white, cream and gold, grey, blue and black with shades of rose, purple and green. Other colors can be created by dyeing, bleaching, and chemical treatment.

A romantic gem, pearls have long been associated with lovers. They have seen centuries of use in love potions and were believed to turn your dreams into true romance if you wore them during sleep. Pearls have come to symbolize a successful marriage and are now recognized as a traditional gift for brides and in celebration of the third and thirtieth anniversaries.

Pearls are delicate and demand gentle care. Store them in a protective fabric pouch or wrap them in tissue paper. Avoid household chemicals, hairspray, cosmetics and perfumes, as these will affect a pearl’s luster. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Only use a soft damp cloth, mild soap and water to clean your pearls. With the proper care, your pearls can be an heirloom piece to pass down through the generations.

Stop by to see our huge selection of pearl jewelry!

May Birthstone Spotlight

May's birthstone is EMERALD!

From King Arthur and Cleopatra to Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor, people have been enamored by emeralds for millennia. Aristotle touted the emerald’s ability to aid in litigation and increase one’s savvy in business communications. Roman emperor Nero supposedly watched the gladiators through an emerald, as he found the color calming and soothing to his eyes.

Many cultures around the world have prized the emerald and attributed fantastic characteristics to this beautiful green stone. According to lore, emeralds could cure low IQ, poor eyesight and infertility.  They were thought to bring good luck, creativity, eloquence and the ability to foresee the future, as well as work against enchantments and spells. Long held as a symbol of fidelity, during the Middle Ages emeralds were believed to keep a woman chaste (the men, not so much).

Like aquamarine, emerald is a variety of beryl. Most are mined in Brazil, Columbia, and Zambia, with some notable stones having been discovered in western North Carolina. Country of origin will affect the variations in color and clarity.

Take care to protect your emerald from hard knocks and scratches by removing them before housework, sports, or gardening. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and harsh detergents.