Ruby is the birthstone for July and the most prized of the red gems. It is a variety of corundum colored by chromium, it rates 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, and the finest stones glow with a red the trade calls pigeon’s blood. Charles Schwartz & Son, Washington DC’s oldest jeweler, founded in 1888, has handled estate and… Read more »
Posts By: dcadmin
Collecting Jewelry by Era: A Guide for Washington DC Estate Jewelry Collectors
Estate jewelry is previously owned jewelry, and the best of it carries the design language of the period that made it. Learning to read those periods is the heart of collecting, because the era shapes the metal, the cut of the stones, and the whole feeling of a piece. Charles Schwartz & Son, Washington DC’s oldest… Read more »
June’s Birthstone Has a History. A Fine Jeweler in DC Can Tell You How to Read It.
A strand of pearls rarely begins and ends with one person. It moves. It is clasped at a dressing table in Georgetown, worn to a reception at the State Department, packed into a trunk, inherited by a daughter who has it restrung and wears it to her own occasions. By the time an estate pearl… Read more »
7 Things to Know Before You Sell Gold Jewelry in Washington, DC
Gold jewelry changes hands for all kinds of reasons. An inherited, an old ring, a collection accumulated over decades that no longer fits your style. Whatever brings you to the decision, knowing how to sell estate jewelry well means more than finding the nearest buyer. The right preparation, the right buyer, and the right timing… Read more »
What to Do With Jewelry You No Longer Wear: Sell, Repair, or Redesign in DC
Most people have at least one piece of fine jewelry sitting in a drawer. Maybe it is an inherited ring that does not suit your style. Maybe it is an engagement ring from a chapter that has closed. Maybe it is a bracelet you loved in your thirties that just does not feel like you… Read more »
6 Things to Know Before Buying a Vintage Watch in 2026
The appeal of a vintage watch goes beyond how it looks on your wrist. These are objects with history, craftsmanship, and a sense of permanence that is genuinely compelling. But buying DC vintage watches well takes more than a good eye. Here is what we think every buyer should know going in. 1. Antique,… Read more »
How to Choose the Perfect Piece: A Gift Guide from Washington DC’s Oldest Jeweler
Choosing jewelry as a gift is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for someone you care about. It is also, we know, one of the most nerve-wracking. The options feel endless, the stakes feel high, and the fear of getting it wrong can stop even the most well-intentioned gift-giver in their tracks…. Read more »
The Revival of Art Deco Jewelry in DC
Art Deco jewelry never really disappeared. One hundred years after the style first captivated a generation, collectors, investors, and everyday jewelry lovers are rediscovering what makes these pieces so enduring. At Charles Schwartz & Son, we have spent over a century handling some of the finest Art Deco pieces to pass through Washington DC, and… Read more »
The Stones of Spring: A Guide to Blush and Rose Toned Jewelry in Washington DC
Every April, Washington DC transforms. The cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin bloom for just a week or two before the petals fall, and the city pauses to take notice. It is one of those rare moments when the whole region seems to share the same color palette: soft pinks, warm peaches, and the faintest… Read more »
The Language of Flowers in Jewelry: What Every Bloom Really Means
Long before a text message or a love letter, Victorians sent their feelings through flowers and when the blooms faded, they wore them instead. Floral motifs in fine jewelry were never just decoration. They were secret messages, carried close to the heart. At Charles Schwartz & Son, we handle these pieces every day, and we… Read more »
Amethyst Through the Ages: From Ancient Greece to Modern Fine Jewelry
February’s birthstone has one of the most fascinating stories in the history of fine jewelry. Amethyst, a purple variety of quartz ranging from pale lilac to deep violet, has been worn by pharaohs, coveted by royalty, and carried into battle as a protective talisman. At Charles Schwartz & Son, we’ve handled countless amethyst pieces over… Read more »
The Heart Through History: Heart Jewelry from Georgian to Art Deco
The heart has been the most enduring symbol of love in jewelry for centuries, but its expression has transformed dramatically across different eras. From the hand-carved Georgian crowned hearts of the 1700s to the geometric precision of Art Deco designs in the 1920s, each period brought its own romantic language to this timeless motif. Understanding… Read more »
