Aloha.  Thanks for the question.  You're right.  All of our current listings for Diamond Pendants are with chain.  But because you asked, we're going to fix that.  Give us a day or so and we will list two or thee as "Pendant Only."  Also, if there's a larger or smaller Diamond Pendant currently listed that you would like without the chain, just drop us a note.  I'm sure we can accommodate your request, whether it's to remove a chain, or swap for another chain of different style, length, etc.  We will always work with you to find that "Just Right" estate, vintage, or antique piece of jewelry.

Absolutely true!  Jade is a very, very special gemstone.  First because of its rarity, and second for the even greater rarity or scarcity of gem quality Jade.
Books have been written about Jade that are more scholarly that I can provide here, but just a few high points.
1.  The Chinese call Jade "The Stone of Heaven."  Within the Chinese, and many other Asian cultures, Jade has both intrinsic (value in its own worth), and cultural and spiritual value; hence, The Stone of Heaven.
2.  When we say Jade we are actually talking about two different stones:  Nephrite Jade and Jadeite.  Nephrite Jade is a bit softer than Jadeite, but "tougher,"  Jadeite is the hardest Jade and the most popular.  Both Jades in their finest form are very valuable.
3.  There is an objective hierarchy of value in colors, with green being the most valuable, but there are also subjective values which can make other than green more valuable.  
4.  There are many, many, colors of Jade.  Here is a bit about each, followed by an alternate view from yet another authority.

The Chinese identified "ritual colors" of jade and even spoke of colors "invisible to the eye." In fact, jadeite appears in six basic colors, with many variations. These are green, lavender, red, yellow, white and black. Green, the most important and traditional color, varies through apple green to gray-green and finally black-green.
There is a special magical item called Imperial jade. Although originally said to refer to those jades possessed by the emperor and royal family, Imperial jade today should indicate a stone whose color is a deep, translucent green, and is without visible flaws or color variations. Such stones are truly rare.
Lavender jade can be quite dark - almost deep plum-purple, and in some cases can take on a blue cast. At its other extreme, lavender jade approaches the pink range - though never achieving it - and lightens to a pale lavender-white. Often, lavender jade exhibits a sugary texture.
There are written reports of a blood-orange jade, but most red jade actually ranges from a yellow or beige to a deep russet brown.
Black jade is usually nephrite and, in its finer qualities, is glassy black. Surface flecks are common and difficult to avoid on pieces larger than dime size.
White jade, or "pure" jade, can be found in a chalky, opaque white to a translucent gray-white. A good polish is essential.
​
And as provided by another source:
Green Jade is the most popular color. Meaningful in abundance of peaceful,
prosperity and wealthy. Chinese believe that the green jade is the origin of the word.
“Money Flows”

White Jade meaning is to bring good luck to the owner. The symbol of purity both
mind and soul. As well as the longevity.

Purple (Lavender Jade) is the symbol of happiness in life. It alleviates emotional hurt
and provides spiritual nourishment. Its energy is of the highest etheric spectrum.

Black /Gray Jade is the color of immortality. It emanates strong, protective energies
to ward off negative assault, physical or psychological, including self limitation.

Red Jade (Red-Brown hue) is a stone of life-force energy, dispelling fear that holds
one back, and urges one to action. Meaning stimulates vitality. Reduce the anger and
stress as well as increase more creativity.

Yellow Jade is cheerful and energetic, a stone of assimilation and discrimination.
​

Just a SUPER question.  Of course!!  If one of our pendants is to your liking but you would prefer a chain that is a bit longer, or a bit shorter, or of a different style, just let us know.  We have a number of gold chains in inventory which can be paired with any of our pendants.  Too, we can eliminate the chain if you already have one that you would prefer to use.  Use our Contact Form on the "Contact" Page.  Tell us which item by SKU number, and what style and length chain you would like to have instead.  We'll see what we can do.  Please note that there may be a small pricing adjustment up-or-down based upon the gold purity and weight of the substitute chain.  For lighter weight or no chain we will adjust price downward, for heavier chain we will adjust price upward, consistent with fluctuating price of gold.  Thank you Candace, for your question.

When we hear the terms refurbished or restored it sounds as though there’s something lacking in the item.  Rest assured that all of the pieces of our collections are complete and in excellent condition for their respective age, with many pieces being as-new.

That said, it is to be expected that settings, bracelets, pendants, and other pieces made from precious metals will have acquired various “character marks” across their lifetimes.  Precious metals are soft, and can be easily scratched.  Many of our clients are wholly satisfied with this appearance and do not want it changed.  Others, however, enjoy the brilliance and shine of new pieces and will, accordingly, visit a professional jeweler or goldsmith to simply polish the existing settings.  This simple polishing, usually done inexpensively by the goldsmith, will restore luster, shine, brilliance, and remove most, if not all, light scratches on the precious metal.  

It really is a question of personal taste.  If you like the estate, vintage, or antique look, leave the finish as-is.  If you prefer a higher shine or luster, that can be done for a modest price.  As the new owner, it will be your choice.

There are several factors that directly bear on, and influence, the price of fine gold jewelry.  This would include bracelets, but also rings, necklaces, pendants, and so on.

First and foremost are jewelry items made by top designers such as Cartier, Tiffany, Roberto Coin, Bvlgari, and others.  Here you are paying not only for the gold content, design and manufacturing quality, but the aesthetic of owning the designer name.  Take three gold bracelets with a similar design, one by a fine Italian goldsmith, the second by Tiffany, and the third by Cartier and you'd likely see prices of $1,000 for the Italian goldsmith, $6,000 for Tiffany, and $10,000 for Cartier.  
When speaking of fine gold jewelry NOT made by the top designers, cost criteria includes manufacturer, unique design or form, and eye appeal; fineness of detail; finish and construction; and weight and gold purity (i.e., 10k, 14k, 18k).  For example, we find that Italian made gold jewelry is, in the main, better made and of better quality than gold jewelry from Turkey.  Too, finer jewelry tends to be of heavier weight.  Given two similar bracelets in 14k gold, one with a weight of 12 grams and the other weighing 9 grams, by rule of thumb the heavier bracelet is probably the better made of the two - but still bears examination.
We expect that our clients are purchasing jewelry items that will ultimately become family heirlooms so we are very selective of the jewelry we acquire.  We examine each piece for design appeal, karat purity, origin, weight, condition and fineness of detail so that each piece can become a quality heirloom to pass on, and then pass yet again, and yet then again.   

Everyone talks about Carats when discussing gemstones, and most understand that it relates to the size of the gemstone.  But there's more to "Carat" than size alone.

*According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and to put it simply, diamond carat weight measures how much a diamond, or any other gemstone for that matter, weighs.  And while carat is specifically about weight, it logically follows that the more a diamond or gemstone weighs, the larger the gemstone.  Here we'll discuss carat relative to diamonds.
A metric “carat” is defined as 200 milligrams. Each carat is subdivided into 100 ‘points.’ This allows very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place.  A jeweler may describe the weight of a diamond below one carat by its ‘points’ alone. For instance, the jeweler may refer to a diamond that weighs 0.25 carat as a ‘twenty-five pointer.’ Diamond weights greater than one carat are expressed in carats and decimals. A 1.08 carat stone would be described as ‘one point oh eight carats.’
All else being equal, diamond price increases with diamond carat weight because larger diamonds are rarer and more desirable. However, two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different values (and prices) depending on three other factors of the diamond 4Cs: Color, Clarity, and Cut.
While now you know what carat means, it’s also important to remember that a diamond’s value is determined using all of the 4Cs, and not just carat weight.

We mentioned that this discussion is about the carat weight of diamonds.  While it's true that the carat is used to weigh other gemstones as well, it's important to understand that a 1-carat diamond may be larger or smaller than a 1-carat sapphire, emerald, or ruby because of the difference in chemical composition and density.  Too, other colored gemstones have their "equivalent" of the 4Cs, those two of defined differently for different gemstones.

*Thanks to GIA for their definition of carat from their website. 

A lot of great questions of late.  The simplest answer is that an inclusion is "anything" visible on the interior or exterior of a Diamond (or other gemstone).  In a "Perfect" Diamond there is no trace of color.  It is, in fact, colorless.  There are no blemishes of any kind whatsoever on the exterior of the diamond.  Not even microscopically.  The same for the interior of the Diamond.  Flawless - not even a microscopic blip.

Unfortunately 99.99% of all diamonds have some flaw, some blemish, some spot.  These are known, overall, as "Inclusions."  Identification of the type of inclusion and its impact on the "Perfectness" of the gemstone is the basis for determining the Clarity of the gem.  There are many, many types of inclusions.  Below are the most common:

• Crystals and Mineral Inclusions 

Diamonds can have tiny crystals and minerals embedded in them. A diamond can even be embedded with other diamonds. Many of these crystals cannot be seen without magnification, but a large chunk or grouping of crystals that detracts from a diamond's appearance lowers its clarity grade and its value.
There are times that a small crystal can add character to a diamond. A diamond with a tiny garnet inside would be a conversation piece—and an excellent personal choice for someone whose birthstone is garnet.

• Pinpoint Inclusions 

Pinpoints are extremely small light or dark crystals in diamonds that can either appear by themselves or in clusters. Larger clusters of minute pinpoints can create a hazy area in the diamond called a cloud which will affect the diamond's clarity rating.

• Laser Lines 

Laser lines are not a natural diamond inclusion. These vapor-like trails are left behind when lasers are used to remove dark crystal inclusions from the diamond. The machine-made trails look like tiny strands of thread that begin at the diamond's surface and stretch inward, stopping at the point where the inclusion was removed.

• Feathers 

Feathers are cracks within the diamond that resemble feathers. Small feathers do not usually affect a diamond's durability unless they reach the surface on the top of the stone, a location that's prone to accidental blows.

• Cleavage 

Diamond cleavage is a straight crack with no feathering. A cleavage has the potential to split the diamond apart along its length if it is hit at the correct angle.
Small cracks that are not visible when a diamond is viewed in a table-up (face up) position do not seriously affect clarity ratings.

• Girdle Fringes or Bearding 

Girdle fringes, or bearding, are hair-like lines that can occur around the girdle during the cutting process. Minimal bearding is usually not a problem, but extensive fringing is often polished away or removed by re-cutting the diamond.

• Grain Lines or Growth Lines 

Grain lines are created by irregular crystallization that takes place when a diamond is formed. Colorless grain lines do not usually affect diamond clarity unless they are present in large masses. White or colored grain lines can lower a diamond's clarity grade.


Don't be intimidated by inclusions.  Most buyers are looking for an eye-clean diamond that presents well in its chosen setting, and has minimal color tint.  These are the types of Diamonds most commonly purchased, and those representing the best value to the buyer.

Most people have been browsing the newspaper, or see a commercial while watching television, where One-Carat Diamonds are advertised for $500.00.  While that sounds great and many take advantage of these sales, all too many of those buyers eventually come to rue the day they made that fateful decision.  
The bread-and-butter for large jewelry retailers is customer traffic.  Get the customer in the store and you're likely to make a sale.  At least statistics suggest as much.  To attract the customers these large businesses advertise large Diamonds at very low prices.  The only problem is - these are really, really, really, terrible Diamonds.
Promotional Diamonds are the bottom of the barrel.  I3 or worse.   They have but one purpose, get the customer into the store so that, hopefully, they will purchase a more expensive Diamond.  
Aloha Estate Jewelry does not sell "Promotional" Diamonds.  If by happenstance we acquire a single item, within a larger group of jewelry items, that has "Promotional" grade Diamond, that piece of jewelry usually goes to the "Scrap Bag" to eventually be sold for only its gold content.  

Really a great question.  But one with a complicated answer.  The shortest answer is that while we are not Gemalogical Institute of America (GIA) certified appraisers, we do possess 30+ years of experience in fine jewelry.  When evaluating Diamonds jewelry for acquisition we look for Diamonds in the color range of G - L, and the clarity ranges of SI or better.  Accordingly, pricing of two Diamond solitaires of the same Carat weight may differ greatly because of better Color or better Clarity.  
Now for the lengthier, more detailed answer.  Many have heard of the "4-Cs" of Diamonds.  The 4-Cs are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat.  Of these, Color and Clarity speak to quality.  
Diamonds are divided generally into two categories, Colorless Diamonds and Colored Diamonds.  Among the most common colored Diamonds can be steel gray, blue, yellow, orange, red, green, pink to purple, brown, and black.  Colorless Diamonds are often referred to as white Diamonds.  The GIA scale for white or colorless Diamonds runs from D - "Colorless" to Z - "Light Yellow" or "Brown."   D, E, and F colors are very rare, and typically increase the cost of a Diamond exponentially.  The most common color grades of Diamonds purchased are G - L.  In this color range is is very, very difficult for the untrained eye to discern a color difference.  Grades M - Z show a distinct to dramatic shift to yellow.  In terms of Clarity Diamonds are typically graded in a range from F - Flawless to Included - I3.  Here are the clarity grading distinctions:

• Flawless (FL) Diamonds (Cost - Astronomical)

-No internal or external characteristics
-Less than 1% of all Diamonds are graded Flawless.

• Internally Flawless (IF) Diamonds (Cost - Stratospheric)

-Some small surface blemishes may be visible under a microscope
-IF Diamonds have no inclusions within the stone, only surface characteristics

• VVS1, VVS2 Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS) Diamonds

-VVS Diamonds have minuscule inclusions that are difficult even for trained eyes
-VVS clarity is rare and results in an eye clean appearance

• VS1, VS2 Very Slightly Included (VS) Diamonds

-Minor inclusions ranging from difficult (VS1) to somewhat easy (VS2) to see at 10x (jewelers loupe) magnification

• SI1, SI2 Slightly Included (SI) Diamonds

-Inclusions arte noticeable at 10x (jewelers loupe) magnification
-If eye clean, SI Diamonds are often the best value
-SI2 inclusions may be detectable to a keen unaided eye, especially when viewed from the side
-SI range of clarity represents the most frequently/commonly purchased Diamond

• I1, I2, I3 Included Diamonds

​-I clarity Diamonds have obvious inclusions that are likely to be visible and impact beauty
-Aloha Estate Jewelry's policy is to avoid acquiring I-Clarity Diamonds whenever possible.

We want you to be absolutely thrilled with your selection from Aloha Estate Jewelry.  So regardless of the selection, you have 2 weeks, 14-days, to seek a second opinion, or a separate appraisal, to appreciate the value of your purchase.  And if not completely thrilled, we are happy for you to return the item to us for a full refund at anytime within the 2-weeks.

At Aloha Estate Jewelry we want our customers to be comfortable with their selections so we are pleased to provide these definitions to prevent any ambiguity of terms.  When we describe jewelry items as Antique we are saying that our estimate of the item's age is approximately 75 years or more.  Where we have a more accurate date, we will provide that date.  When we describe an item as Vintage, we are saying that the item has an approximate age of 30 to 75 years.  Again, if we have a more definitive date, we will provide that date.  When we describe an item as Estate we are placing the item on a timeline of within approximately the last 30 years.  If at any time you have a question about the dating of any piece of jewelry offered by Aloha Estate Jewelry, please do not hesitate to drop us a note.    

Before answering, a word of caution.  Collectors of Estate Jewelry very often want the piece left "as-found" with tarnish and all.  Often the tarnish, or patina, lends an effect to a piece of jewelry that is desirable and represents, in part, the character of the item after years and years of wear and ownership.  So before committing to cleaning away the tarnish or patina, ask if that's really what you want to do.  Also, if purchasing an item from us with patina, and that you choose to remove, then the item is considered altered and, therefore, not returnable.
That said, where we find a tarnished piece of jewelry and it is clear to us that removing the tarnish will enhance, not detract from, the beauty of the item, we use a jewelry cleaning cloth.  These cloths are embedded with a cleaning solution that gently removes the tarnish with no or minimal abrasion.  Our choice are the Sunshine Jewelry Polishing Cloths for Sterling, Gold, Brass, Copper, and etc.  These can be inexpensively purchased at Amazon.com.

We have many, many satisfied clients who are most ardent collectors of fine estate jewelry.  Over and again we hear that they are moved to estate jewelry for the classic styling, design, and expert craftsmanship that is, frankly, no longer found in a mass-production jewelry marketplace.  And yes, estate jewelry is most appropriate for gifting.  Nothing can express your sentiment more than the care and thoughtfulness of searching for and finding a perfect and timeless keepsake celebrating and commemorating life events, special occasions, or holidays.

First some definitions

• Synthetic – Synthetic gemstones are gemstones that are man made in a laboratory but have a natural counterpart. They possess the same physical, chemical and optical properties as a natural stone.
• Imitation or simulant – These are gemstones that try and look like real natural gemstones but are made of an entirely different material.
• Natural - These are minerals that have been mined from the ground and cut into gemstones.

Natural Gemstones
Natural gemstones are minerals that have been mined from the ground and cut into gemstones. They can be treated with different techniques to improve the color and clarity such as heating, but the main mineral must come from nature. Natural gemstones can take millions of years to create and people have been mesmerized by their beauty since the beginning of time.

Synthetic Gemstones
Synthetic (opposed to Imitation or Simulant) gemstones are those which exactly mimic and are chemically identical to natural gemstones but are man made in a laboratory.   Gems grown in a lab are identical to naturally occurring stones in every sense: chemically, physically, and optically. Costly and rare natural jewels, such as sapphire, emerald, and ruby, are favorite lab-created stones. 

• About the Creation Process 

The mineral composition of lab-created stones is created with a process similar to what nature does beneath the earth over millions of years. However, it is done in a lab in a fraction of the time and for a fraction of the cost of mining. 

• What’s the Benefit? 

The average person would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between most natural and lab-created stone. It takes a trained eye, high magnification, and other instruments. The result is a high-quality, lab-created stone at a price that’s significantly lower than the natural gemstone counterpart.  

Whatever your consideration when buying jewelry, lab-created gems are always an excellent option. 
Imitation or Simulant Gemstones
Imitation or simulants are gemstones that attempt to look like the real thing. The most common simulant or imitation gemstone found on the market are those that try to replicate a Diamond. Simulants such as synthetic Rutile or Strontium Titanate have been used for decades to try and replicate the sparkle of Diamond. Even though these gemstones are man made they do not have a natural counterpart and this is why they are not classified as high quality synthetics. Glass and plastic are other common imitations that can be found. Blue glass is often offered as blue Sapphire to unsuspecting buyers while plastic beads can be sold as natural pearls.

Aloha Estate Jewelry Policy
At Aloha Estate Jewelry where diamond is the principal gem, or the jewelry item advertised to be diamond, the piece will include only genuine, natural, earth mined, diamonds.  Never synthetic, simulant, or imitation diamonds.  

Where small "accent" stones, typically 1 millimeter in diameter or less, were used to highlight a colored gem (e.g., Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz) and found to be synthetic or simulant we will fully disclose this in the item description.

Our 14 day no-questions-asked return policy assures your complete satisfaction with every selection and acquisition of fine estate jewelry.