Gallery - Ma Mo Jewelry Design

GALLERY

“I adore Ma Mo, they have some of the most unique jewelry in Seattle made by the two owners Maurice and Morgan who are always extremely helpful, knowledgable and trustworthy.”

Jenifer M, Seattle WA

“We have been getting our jewelry needs at Ma Mo for quite some time. We bought our wedding rings there, after having shopped for quite a while. They are very helpful, courteous, and very knowledgeable about metals and stones. We’ve advised many friends and colleagues to go shop there.”

Robert D, Seattle WA

“It is obvious that Morgan and Maurice do what they do because they love it and are talented, and that’s it. They are your advocates and are amazingly talented and generous. Go to them!”

Shelby B, Seattle WA

Some sets are just made for each other #mamojewe

Some sets are just made for each other

#mamojewelry #waxcarver #lostwax #weddingbands #weddingset #independantdesigner #modernbride #matchingrings #modernjewelry #style #twotone #design #platinum #gold #symbolism

Form and function, elegance and design This bol

Form and function, elegance and design

This bold hand carved ring has sculpted tilting angles shifting to soft curves creating fluid movement around the finger. Making a statement piece with comfort in mind.

This substantial ring was carved and sculpted by hand in wax, cast and finished by hand.

No gemstones, no engraving, just the elegant statement of bold sculpted gold.

#mamojewelry #waxcarver #lostwax #statementring #goldring #boldgold #architectonic #sculpture #independantdesigner #glowofgold

It's the season of the gourd! The candle burned

It's the season of the gourd!

The candle burned out in the jack-o'-lantern and now they are going into the pies, and muffins, and coffee.....

Solid silver hand carved pumpkin ring
(Spice not included)

#mamojewelry #waxcarver #lostwax #pumkinring #statementring #oneofakind #independantdesigner

Cats eye : the phenomenon resembles the slit pupil

Cats eye : the phenomenon resembles the slit pupil of the eye of a cat. Caused by reflecting light from included fibrous crystals or long parallel cavities or tubes in the gem.

Tourmaline is one gem of only a few that has this phenomenon. The chatoyant band or streak across the summit of the stone moves and the stone is turned about.

Just another option for the October birthstone.

1, green tourmaline cat eye

2, cat eye tourmaline all from Brazil.
GIA and Harold & Erica Van Pelt

3, microscopic image of the fibrous needles and a few crystals which cause the chatoyance

4, real cats eyes

#mamojewelry #tourmalinecatseye #tourmaline #naturalgemstone #catseye #catseyetourmaline #catseyegemstone #chatoyance #netsuké #octoberbirthstone

---Gold--- At an all time high, another record da

---Gold---

At an all time high, another record day
for this shiny yellow metal.

Here at Ma Mo we use Karated gold, 14k and up.
We also use 24 karat but that's a whole different post.

Karat is used to describe the purity.
Abbreviated as "Kt" or "k".
An essential factor in FINE Jewelry.

Look for the stamps. The higher the karatage, the greater the proportion of pure gold it contains.

Know your karat:

24k: Is 100% gold and is absolutely pure.

22k: Is 91.67% gold

18k: Is 75% gold and is recognized as the ultimate performance metal by the finest jewelry and watch brands.

14k: Is 58.5% gold and is the most popular choice in the United States. This is the minimum karat to be considered fine jewelry.

10k: Is 41.7% gold and is the least pure but can still legally be called gold in the United States.

Anything below 10k cannot legally be called "gold" in the United States.

If you bought a ring 20 years ago it would cost you over 10x's that amount today.

#mamojewelry
#finejewelry #gold #goldpurity #hardmoney #au #element79 #assay #chrysophilist #bullion ft

Ethiopian Opal: a few design ideas to ponder Thes

Ethiopian Opal: a few design ideas to ponder

These Opals are little colorful jellies and don't need to be big to attract your attention.

Strong design balanced with a fine lively gemstone makes a great statement piece.

All designs are hand-carved by me, as always

#mamojewelry
#waxcarver
#lostwax
#opal
#ethiopanopal #design #independantdesigner #octoberbirthstone

October is a great time to have Opals! Precious

October is a great time to have Opals!

Precious gem opals come from a few select locations in the world. Each having their own unique characteristics.
The largest deposits are in Australia.
They also come from Mexico and Ethiopia.

A true kaleidoscope of colors are found in this gem.

Image 1: Boulder opal pendant -sold-

Image 2: Prescious Mexican Opals

Image 3: Gem Australia Opal inlay with lapis ring -sold-

Image 4: A collection of a variety of Australian opals and an opalized petrified tree specimen

#mamojewelry #opal #octoberbirthstone #mexicanopal #boulderopal #giaalumni #independantdesigner

Gemstones have inspired more than just jewelers.

Gemstones have inspired more than just jewelers.
Writers, musicians, and poets also have gained inspiration from gems and jewelry.

One writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, (image 1)most famously created the character Sherlock Holmes. Published in the strand magazine, his stories of mystery sometimes involved a gemstone.

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. A Carbuncle was known as a red gem, using the color blue gave an unusual twist. If you are not familiar with the story, spoiler ahead....
The gem was hidden inside a Christmas goose.

Other stories are:
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet

The Adventure of the Mazarine stone: Yellow crown diamond

The Adventure of the Six Napoleons: A large Pearl

The sign of four: Pearls

The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual: a Crown of Gold

Actor Basill Rathbone was a notable Sherlock (image 11)

Jeremy Brett (image 12) revised Sherlock Holmes for a series by Granada. If you wanted to watch these stories we suggest this series.

Can you think of any other stories centered around gemstones? The Pink Panther?

Share in the comments if you have a favorite!

#mamojewelry #sherlockholmes #gemstories #sirarthurconandoyle #bluecarbuncle #mazarinstone #berylcoronet #sixnapoleons #signoffour #musgraveritual #liturature #gemstoneinspiration

Sapphires are not always used in jewelry. Object

Sapphires are not always used in jewelry.
Object d'art and some functional items are made more significant with the addition of fine gemstones.

Image 1&2:
Reliquary Arm of St. Valentine from the 14th century.
Silver, partial gilt, Sapphire ring

Image 3:
Triptych with the Mandylion
Russia, early 17th century
Silver, gilt, Sapphire, Rubies, Spinels, Pearls

Image 4&5:
Ivory carving of the crucifixion
10th century ivory, late 11th century setting
Silver, gilt, Sapphire cabochons, Ivory

Image 6:
Snuff bottle
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
This is from the 19th century.
Sapphire with pink glass stopper

Image 7&8:
Flintlock rifle
Mix of 17th century with 19th century decorations.
Silver, wood, Pearl, Sapphire, Garnets, Gold, Iron

Image 9&10:
Dagger with Sheath
18th century, India
Steel, shark skin, Jade, Gold, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Silver

All objects are in the collections of the Met museum.

#mamojewelry
#septemberbirthstone #reliquary #stvalentine #triptych #gemstoneart #snuffbottle #dagger #flintlock #decoration #art #objetdart

Excluding Platinum, Gold has been an emblem of Lov

Excluding Platinum, Gold has been an emblem of Love that you wear for the rest of your life.

No precious metal has been as sought after or captured mankind's fascination more than Gold.

Your wedding band not only symbolizes the timelessness of Love, it honors the tradition of marriage.

Gold is everlasting and indestructible.

All the gold that has ever been mined still exists.

Gold does not corrode or tarnish and can be subjected to the elements and intense pressure without being destroyed.

The oldest gold jewelry dates over 6,000 years old and looks the same today as when it was first given.

Malleable, yet strong, allowing a wide range of intricate and custom made designs.

Image 6: Antique
Wedding ring engraved, 13th 1862 can still be sized and worn today.

#mamojewelry
#weddingring
#gold
#goldring #weddingbands #betrothal #independantdesigner #finejewelry

It's a great month to be born in, September. Sapp

It's a great month to be born in, September.

Sapphires come in many colors of the rainbow and even with amazing phenomenon of stars and color-change stones.

One of our favorite is green.
There are many variations of green shown in picture 2.
Shades of yellow-green, blue-green, earthy-green, deep-green.

This would be a fantastic engagement ring or an equally fabulous right hand ring. Available on our website

#mamojewelry #greensapphire #sapphire #septemberbirthstone #modernbride #statementring #righthandring #classicjewelry #addmorecolortoyourlife #giaalumni #gia

A block of wax and some gold With a design and t

A block of wax and some gold

With a design and tools

Some heat and labor

Becomes a piece of jewelry

Happy Labor Day weekend !

#mamojewelry #waxcarver #lostwaxcasting #independantdesigner #finejewelry #lostwax #sculpture #gold #artofjewelry #jewelrybench

Jewelry History: The 20th Century 1901-2000 Ushe

Jewelry History:
The 20th Century 1901-2000

Ushering in the new century we had two movements that brought craftsmanship and creativity to the forefront.

The Arts and Crafts movement reacting to industrialization and mass production, emphasizing handmade artistry.
Along side the Art Nouveau movement, inspired by nature, sensual lines, exotic flowers, and plants. The designs were dynamic and asymmetrical with unexpected materials.

These jewelers said " the value of the jewelry lay in it's design, not the monetary value of the materials".
This caused a dramatic shift in jewelry design.

They selected materials for their aesthetic appeal rather than it's preciousness. They were after artistic refinement.
Thus we saw the use of glass, horn, ivory, along side precious gemstones and metal.
Great technical achievements were made with enamels especially plique-a-jour (backless) on undulating surfaces. This technique is the art of placing "cells" of colored glass with no backing creating a stained glass effect.

This movement was short lived, 1890-1914 roughly. The artistic refinement and use of unconventional materials has inspired designers still today.

1: Brooch of 18k gold, platinum, enamel, diamonds, and conch pearls. By Marcus and Co. N.Y. USA 1900.
Met museum collection

2/3: Dragon fly necklace, gold, enamel, diamond, hessonite garnet. By Lucien Gaillard 1900.

4/5: Celtic inspired necklace, gold, silver, enamel, pearl.
By Archibald Knox 1902.

6: Orchid, gold, enamel, diamond, rubies.
By Philippe Wolfers 1905-7.

7: Tiara hair comb, gold, enamel, horn, cast glass, and fire opals. By Rene' Lalique 1903-4.

8: Holly choker, gold, enamel, coral.
By Rene' Lalique 1897-1900
Lalique museum France

9/10: Dragonfly brooch, gold, enamel, chrysoprase, diamonds, moonstone, chalcedony.
By Rene' Lalique 1900-10
Calouste Gulbenkian museum Lisbon Portugal

Items 2-7 are in the collection at the VA museum

#mamojewelry #jewelryhistory #artnouveaujewelry #artnouveau #enamel #jewelrydesign

August's most recently added birthstone is Spinel.

August's most recently added birthstone is Spinel.

Often confused with Ruby, until 1783 when spinel was differentiated chemically from Ruby. Both gems get their color from Chromium but Spinel also has Magnesium, which Ruby does not.

Image 1&2: The Carew Spinel
133.50 carat Spinel drilled vertically with a diamond at both ends and engraved with inscriptions to the Mughal emperors, Jahangir (r. 1605-1627), Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658), and Alamgir (Prince Aurangzeb) (r. 1658-1707)
Bequeath to the V&A museum by Lady Carew.
Images from V&A Museum

The most famous Spinel is the Black Prince Ruby which resides at the front of the state crown of England. The 170 carat gem is one if the oldest parts of the crown dating back to the 14th century. It has been in possession of England's kings since it's namesake, Edward of Woodstock ( the Black Prince) when it was given to him in 1367.

Image 3&4: the Black Prince Ruby in the state crown and Queen Elizabeth on her coronation.
Image by Cecil Beaton.

Spinel comes in many colors from Ruby red to vibrant Blue.
Variations of pinks, orange, purple, grey, and black as well.
Hard enough for daily wear coming just under a sapphire in hardness.

#mamojewelry #spinel #augustbirthstone #carewspinel #theblackprinceruby #historicalgemstones

Our favorite color, Green One of the rarest colo

Our favorite color, Green

One of the rarest colors of diamond.
Naturally colored green diamonds are among the most rare and enigmatic of the colored diamonds.

There can be several different causes of the green color in diamonds. The most common is exposure to radioactive material and fluid in the earths crust.

The colors grades range from faint to fancy dark.
Gem quality diamonds span a wide range of color description. The GIA fancy colored diamond grading system can include pure green, dominant green, and mixed with blue, brown, grey, and yellow.

Photo 1: a few natural colored diamonds in our collection
Photos 2-3: taken from gems and gemology magazine Spring issue 2018.
Photo 4: taken from colored diamond grading scale GIA.

For more in-depth information on green diamonds visit GIA.edu

#mamojewelry
#greendiamond
#naturalfancycolordiamond #fancycoloreddiamonds #giaalumni #coloreddiamonds

Peridot - The birthstone of August One of gemol

Peridot - The birthstone of August

One of gemology's oldest gemstones.

The Egyptians called it "The Gem of the Sun"
Native Hawaiian's called it "Tears of Pele"

Known as "night emeralds" in the time of the Pharos, Egyptians made beads from this golden crystal.

The oldest known important source of peridot is from an island off the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea. The Greek and Romans called it Topazios. It is now known as Zabargad, Arabic for Peridot.

The Egyptians kept the island under constant watch, those who landed and tried to steal peridot were threatened with death.

During the Hellenistic and Imperial Roman times, Peridot appears to have been used sparingly. Primarily used for intaglio carving seen here, image 4&5, or plain un-engraved.

The island is now under conservation for turtles, birds, and coral. It is a popular area for diving. The ruins and artifacts on the island date from the 3rd - 1st century BCE of the Hellenistic period.

Image 4: Apollo leaning on a pillar, with a bow
Roman 1st century BCE - 2nd century CE

Image 5: Sleeping Medusa
Roman 1st century BCE - 3rd century CE
Both in the collection of the MET museum NY.

If you are interested in further reading a great article was written by Edward Gubelin for Gems and Gemology, Spring 1981 issue. See GIA.edu/ Zabargad: The ancient Peridot Island in the Red Sea.

Peridot is currently found in, Arizona, Myanmar, Pakistan, Egypt, Antarctica, and Norway.

#mamojewelry #peridot #zabargad #gemofthesun #tearsofpele #augustbirthstone #apollo #medusa #intaglio #hellenistic #giaalumni

July - Pictures at the bench Unfinished and und

July -
Pictures at the bench

Unfinished and undecided designs

There isn't a more powerful impact than a Red Ruby

The color is a stop sign 🛑 for the eyes

Mens rings don't always need a big gem. Going with a bolder design concept with that accent of a gem can give just the right balance and still make a statement.

A little ruby goes a long way, The King of Gems

My Lion started to morph into a Dragon, so I put it down.
The concept was the sign of Leo which overlaps Ruby and Peridot birthstones.

These are unheated, natural Rubies from Tanzania

#mamojewelry #ruby #naturalruby #waxcarver #lostwax #independantdesigner #mensrings #gentlemansstyle #mensjewelry #julybirthstone #corundum

Red Ruby In July this rare stone takes center st

Red Ruby

In July this rare stone takes center stage.
Known as the "King of Gems". (Pearl being Queen)

Historically referenced since it's discovery it has also played a part in movies and books.

The traditional gift for the 15th and 40th wedding anniversary.

1: Rosser Reeves Star Ruby. 138.70 carats, might be the largest and finest Star Ruby in the world. From Sri Lanka, purchased by a London gem dealer in the 1950's weighing 140 carats. Rosser Reeves had it recut to center the star and carried in his pocket as a lucky stone. He donated it to the Smithsonian in 1965.

2: Carmen Lucia Ruby. 23.10 carats is one of the largest faceted fine Burmese rubies known. Donated to the Smithsonian by Dr. Peter Buck, in memory of his wife in 2004.

3: The Shadow, featured first as a radio program from 1937-1954 then later pulp fiction publications. His Ruby ring was intrinsic to many story lines.

4: Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, from the Wizard of Oz.

#mamojewelry #ruby #kingofgems #carmenluciaruby #rosserreevesstarruby #starruby #naturalruby #corundum #theshadow #rubyslippers #wizardofoz #julybirthstone

Jewelry History: 1837 - 1901 The Victorian Era an

Jewelry History:
1837 - 1901 The Victorian Era and The Industrial Age

Gold and diamonds availability and manufacturing methods enable talented jewelers to create. Fine jewelry houses begin to establish around the world.

Japan opens it's borders in 1853.

Few other gems materials have been believed to have such medicinal and talismanic powers as Coral.

Before the development of modern medicine many believed that supernatural powers were embodied in amulets. They were thought to protect, give power, and attract good fortune. Based on color, pattern, shape, and material. Coral was a powerful amulet against the evil eye in Europe.

1: Coral carved into Medusa, who's glance would kill the onlooker. A powerful amulet theme for this bracelet center.
According to legend, Coral was formed from the blood of the severed head of Medusa.

2: Amulets or charms were fashionable souvenirs from Italy.
This amulet group has coral and carved lava stone. Naturalistic jewelry was growing in popularity in the 1850's.

3: Rattle toy, whistle and teething device. Coral was thought to strengthen teeth so it was given to babies to chew on. Also functioning as a talisman to ward off illness and disease .

4: Coral rosary from the Philippines. The Catholic Church was apposed to the pagan nature of many amulets, it was powerless to prevent the use.

5&6: Japan was in the end of the Edo period and coming into the Meiji period. Netsuke were widely used and collected. Finely carved talismans serving a functional use. Coral branch netsuke and an Ivory boar inlay with coral netsuke.

7: India is in the British Raj Era. This bracelet has talismanic and astrological attributes. There are nine gems which relate to the nine planets. Coral represent Mars.

8: The palate of Coral. Ox blood red, Angel Skin (pale pink), White, Black, Golden, Salmon, Fossilized coral (flower bloom)

Image 1&2, Victoria Albert Museum collection
Image 3-7, Metropolitan Museum of Art NY collection

#mamojewelry
#coral
#jewelryhistory #netsuke #amulet #talisman #victorianera #naturalgemstones #organicgem #gemofthesea

The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave ! Happ

The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave !

Happy Independence Day 🇺🇲

#mamojewelry #freedom #4thofjuly #independenceday #usa #redwhiteandblue #naturalgemstones

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