Please join us  February 8-10th  for our annual Winter Clearance Event-our huge 50% off Sale!

Cases full of beautiful jewelry all 50% off

This is a great time to shop for your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day is next weekend ….so let us help you surprise your loved ones with a gift from Carreras.

With every Valentine’s Day gift over $45, we will give you a complimentary box of delicious Carreras dark and milk Chocolates! What could be sweeter?

Questions? call us 804-282-7018.

We look forward to getting a running start with you!

Did we forget to mention that one lucky guest will win a pair of 1/2 ct diamond stud earrings? Oh yes, it is true! The person who guesses the closest winning score of the Super Bowl will win fabulous diamond earrings. What a great start to the New Year!

A sampling of our loose cut and un-cut Amethyst stones that we have in-store ready to be designed into a perfect piece of jewelry for you.

Coveted for years, fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty.

Amethyst is transparent purple quartz and it is the most important quartz variety used in jewelry.

Amethyst has been attributed with various spiritual powers throughout history.

The name comes from the Greek “amethystos,” which means “not drunken.” The stone was considered by the Greeks to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were often carved from it. Amethyst still symbolizes sobriety.

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst could dissipate evil thoughts and quicken intelligence.

Amethyst was very important in the ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages.

Known as a stone of spirituality and contentment, Amethyst bestows stability, strength, invigoration and peace. It is also useful in the situation of debating, affording advantage to the holder of the amethyst!

Visit us to view our large collection of Amethyst jewelry. We have many rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets and loose stones for you to purchase.

Carreras is a huge supporter of  the non-profit Radio and TV programs that the Idea Stations run.  So on February 9th and 10th we are hosting a verbal appraisal event that 100% supports them.

Whether it is an upcoming jewelry event, a monthly special, new arrivals, a designer coming to town, a sale, the price of gold, how to buy a diamond, or what this month’s birthstone is, we want you to feel connected and informed.

Please contact us with your email address, your birthday month and day, and your anniversary.

Trust us – you will thank us!

Anniversary:

What is more joyous and heartfelt than giving your loved one a special gift each year to commemorate a wedding anniversary? Traditionally, every anniversary is celebrated by giving a gift made from a different material. It isn’t clear when this traditional list came into existence.It probably originated in the Middle Ages when very few people could afford rare stones and jewelry and it evolved over time. But these days, giving paper, cotton or glass somehow does not seem to capture the significance of the happiest day of your life.

There is a new tradition gaining popularity and it will please your loved one a whole lot more than paper or glass.It’s the growing trend of giving a lasting gift of  jewelry for your anniversary.Here is a list of gemstones and fine jewelry  that are quickly becoming the accepted norms to commemorate each anniversary year.

1st Anniversary – Mother of Pearl.Alternate:Peridot & Gold

2nd Anniversary – Garnet

3rd Anniversary – Pearls. Alternate: Jade

4th Anniversary – Blue Topaz. Alternate: Blue Zircon

5th Anniversary – Sapphire. Alternate: Pink Tourmaline

6th Anniversary – Amethyst. Alternate: Turquoise

7th Anniversary – Onyx. Alternates: Yellow Sapphire, Golden Beryl

8th Anniversary – Tourmaline. Alternate: Tanzanite

9th Anniversary – Lapis Lazuli. Alternates: Amethyst, Green Spinel

10th Anniversary – Diamond Jewelry. Alternate:Blue Sapphire

11th Anniversary – Turquoise. Alternates: Citrine, Yellow Zircon

12th Anniversary – Jade. Alternate: Opal

13th Anniversary – Citrine. Alternates: Moonstone, Hawk’s Eye

14th Anniversary – Opal. Alternates: Agate, Bloodstone

15th Anniversary – Ruby. Alternates: Rhodolite Garnet, Alexandrite

16th Anniversary – Peridot. Alternate: Red Spinel

17th Anniversary – Watches. Alternate: Carnelian

18th Anniversary – Cat’s Eye or Chrysoberyl . Alternate:Aquamarine

19th Anniversary – Aquamarine. Alternate:Almandine Garnet

20th Anniversary – Emerald. 
Alternate: Yellow or Golden Diamond

21st Anniversary – Iolite.

22nd Anniversary – Spinel.

23rd Anniversary – Imperial Topaz.

24th Anniversary – Tanzanite.

25th Anniversary – Silver Jubilee. Alternates: Tsavorite , Green Garnet

30th Anniversary – Pearl Jubilee.

35th Anniversary – Emerald.

40th Anniversary – Ruby.

45th Anniversary – Sapphire.
Alternate: Cat’s Eye

50th Anniversary – Golden Jubilee. Alternate: Imperial or Golden Topaz

55th Anniversary – Alexandrite.

60th Anniversary – Diamond Jubilee. Alternate: Star Ruby

Visit us at Carreras to find the perfect Anniversary gift.

We  also love picking out jewelry with your  birthstone….

• January~Garnet
• February~Amethyst
• March~Aquamarine
• April~Diamond
• May~ Emerald
• June~ Pearl and
  Alexandrite

• July~Ruby
• August~Peridot
• September~Sapphire
• October~Tourmaline and Opal
• November~Topaz and
  Citrine
• December~ Tanzanite, Zircon,
  and Turquoise

We will make sure you are always “In the Know” with our professional advice.

We enjoy creating custom diamond ring designs with your visions. Stop by to meet with one of our highly qualified gemologists to learn about the 5cs of a Carreras Diamond and why you should never purchase a Diamond over the internet.

Our no-stress environment will ease your fears of making such a big yet exciting decision.

Visit our Diamond Ring page online and email us with any questions. We are here to help you.

Fill February with Romance and we promise you will be appreciated!

Carreras has a variety of well priced gifts that Cupid is dying to get a hold of.

With every Valentine’s Day purchase over $45, enjoy our complimentary Carreras Chocolates.

What could be sweeter?

The American Gem Society was established in 1934 by a select group of independent jewelers and Robert M. Shipley, founder of the prestigious school of gemology, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

It was their vision to create an association dedicated to setting and maintaining the highest possible standards of business ethics and professionalism in the jewelry industry. Today, American Gem Society members continue their dedication to ethics, knowledge and consumer protection.

The Most Knowledgeable Professionals, AGS Members:
Only a small percentage of those who apply for membership in the American Gem Society are awarded membership. In order for a firm to become a member of the American Gem Society they must meet the following criteria:

The firm owners, principals, or employees must have a high level of gemological knowledge. This includes having at least one full-time employee who has studied and completed an Accredited or Graduate Program from the GIA or Gemological Association of Great Britain.  This individual must hold a title of either Registered Jeweler, Certified Gemologist, or Certified Gemologist Appraiser.

The firm must hold a reputation for unquestioned integrity in the business community and must be operated in a way that will enhance the confidence of the public in the jewelry industry.

The owners and principals must demonstrate that they are genuinely interested in high business ethics and the firm exemplifies this belief.

The firm must be a retail or supplier jewelry business that has been established for at least two years and has demonstrated financial stability.

The Highest Code of Ethics:
To ensure our members practice the highest standard of business ethics, the Society prohibits certain business practices, including:

Advertising which in any way is not the truth or has the intent to be misleading.

Advertising or setting artificially high prices as the regular price to allow a fictitious sale price or supposed discount.

Representing itself as a wholesaler and selling to the consumer.

Employing the technique of bait and switch, which is attempting to influence customers to buy an article carrying a high mark-up in place of an article requested.

Failing to advertise in accordance with recommendations set forth by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

Any member found in violation of the Society’s code of ethics is subject to investigation and possible expulsion.

Carreras proudly operates according to the highest code of Ethics set by the American Gem Society. Visit us to meet with our gemologist experts and highly knowledgeable staff.

We look forward to educating you about our passion ~ Fine Jewelry & Diamonds.

January’s birthstone is the Garnet – known as the “stone of health and commitment” reflecting the attributes of devotion.

Garnets have always been prized for their rich color and brilliance. The deep red that gave garnets their name is the most commonly occurring color, but these gemstones come in a variety of color shades ranging from deep red to vibrant green, orange, golden brown, pink, lavender and purple.

Garnets are appealing for their color and for their natural non-manipulated beauty.

So warm up during the cold winter month of January with the firey magnetism of Garnets.

Stop into Carreras to see our  Garnet jewelry.

We would love to help you custom design the perfect garnet jewelry item for your birthday!

]]> http://carrerasjewelers.com/2009/12/warm-up-with-garnets/feed/ 0 http://carrerasjewelers.com/2009/12/transform-with-tanzanite/ http://carrerasjewelers.com/2009/12/transform-with-tanzanite/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:00:31 +0000 Sally http://carrerasjewelers.com/?p=2297 Those of you celebrating your birthday in December not only have a festive month but you also have a very rare and extraordinary birthstone.

Tanzanite, December’s birthstone, was first discovered in 1967 by the Maasai and was originally given its name by Tiffany & Co. in 1970.  The only known source of Tanzanite is a five square mile hilltop at Merelani, ten miles south of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania where the chief deposit has almost been depleted.

Tanzanite’s deep violet blue color is one of the most extravagant and mysterious gemstone colors that changes when viewed from different directions and this shifting of hue has been said to facilitate raising consciousness.

This gemstone has created a lot of excitement with specialists and it is very much a collector’s item.

Symbolizing immaculate but unusual elegance, anyone who purchases this unique gem will communicate self-confidence and individuality.

Tanzanite has been known to have the power to transform negative energies into positive ones and it assists in manifesting your own self rather than being influenced by others.

At Carreras, we have a beautiful selection of Tanzanite jewelry -

Stop in to see our unique Tanzanite and diamond rings, pendants, and earrings –

the perfect distinctively different Holiday gift!