jewelry - Leo Hamel

2022 Christmas Gift Guide from Leo Hamel’s

2022-12-172024-05-28 by Rylee Kahan

Are you still looking for a last-minute Christmas gift? Christmas shopping later in the season can be extremely stressful, and we’re to help! We have gifts for everyone that are sure to leave a lasting impression this Christmas.

Here’s a peek into our jewelry, watch, and handbag collection. All of the items are available to view at our San Diego showroom at 1851 San Diego Ave., Suite #130.

Christmas Gifts For Her

Need a shiny gift for her this Christmas? We have a huge collection of jewelry, new & pre-owned watches, and handbags for all your gifting needs.

White gold floral stud earrings centered with round cut emeralds surrounded by diamond haloes.

New 0.42 CTW Diamond & Emerald Earrings. Retails for: $1,450, Our Price: $1,350

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Vintage Burberry Nova Check Gold Shoe backpack.

Vintage Burberry Nova Check Golf Shoe Backpack
Retails for: $1,350, Our Price: $625

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Pre-owned women's Baume & Mercier Diamant in stainless steel with a blue dial.

Pre-Owned Women’s 34MM Baume & Mercier Diamant
Retails for: $1,790, Our Price: $895

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New women's Tissot Classic Dream Lady in stainless steel with a white Roman numeral dial.

New Women’s 28MM Tissot Classic Dream Lady
Retails Price: $275

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New women's Tissot Heritage Porto in stainless steel with a blue leather strap and blue dial.

New Women’s 22MM Tissot Heritage Porto
Retail Price: $425

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New 0.42 CTW Diamond & Emerald Earrings. Retails for: $1,450, Our Price: $1,350.

New Women’s 28MM Tissot Classic Dream Lady. Price: $275

New Women’s 22MM Tissot Heritage Porto. Price: $425.

Pre-Owned Women’s 34MM Baume & Mercier Diamant. Retails for: $1,790, Our Price: $895.

Vintage Burberry Nova Check Golf Shoe Backpack. Retails for: $1,350, Our Price: $625.

Lab-Grown Diamond Gifts

Looking for an ethical, earth-friendly Christmas gift? Our collection of lab-grown jewelry is sure to wow. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and visually the same, the only difference is the price!

White gold lab-grown diamond station necklace.

New 3.00 CTW Lab-Grown Diamond Necklace
Mined Price: $8,500, Lab-Grown Price: $3,000

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White gold lab-grown diamond tennis bracelet.

New 5.00 CTW Lab-Grown Diamond Tennis Bracelet
Mined Price: $14,000, Lab-Grown Price: $4,500

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Yellow gold lab-grown diamond stud earrings.

New 4.07 CTW Lab-Grown Diamond Earrings.
Mined Price: $40,000, Our Price: $9,400.

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New 3.00 CTW Lab-Grown Diamond Necklace. Mined Price: $8,500, Lab-Grown Price: $3,000.

New 5.00 CTW Lab-Grown Diamond Tennis Bracelet. Mined Price: $14,000, Lab-Grown Price: $4,500.

New 4.07 CTW Lab-Grown Diamond Earrings. Mined Price: $40,000, Our Price: $9,400.

Christmas Gifts For Him

Want to dazzle him with the perfect Christmas gift? You’re sure to find an amazing gift for any man in your life in our large selection of new & pre-owned watched, including Rolex, IWC, Tissot, Hamilton, Omega, and more!

Victorinox Swiss Army pocket knife in black.

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife in Black
Our Price: $20

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Victorinox Swiss Army pocket knife in white.

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife in White
Our Price: $20

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Pre-owned men's Rolex Milgauss in stainless steel with a black dial and orange markers.

Pre-Owned Men’s 40MM Rolex Milgauss
Our Price: $14,000

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Pre-owned men's Rolex Submariner in stainless steel and yellow gold with a gray dial and black ceramic bezel.

Pre-Owned Men’s 40MM Rolex Submariner.
Retails for: $14,700, Our Price: $14,200.

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Pre-owned men's Rolex Datejust in yellow gold and stainless steel with a black Roman numeral dial.

Pre-Owned Men’s 41MM Rolex Datejust II
Our Price: $14,500

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Vintage Rope Chain
Retails for: $2,650, Our Price: $2,350

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Pre-Owned Men’s 41MM Rolex Datejust II. Our Price: $14,500.

Vintage Rope Chain. Retails for: $2,650, Our Price: $2,350.

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife in Black. Our Price: $20.

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife in White. Our Price: $20.

Pre-Owned Men’s 40MM Rolex Milgauss. Our Price: $14,000.

Pre-Owned Men’s 40MM Rolex Submariner. Retails for: $14,700, Our Price: $14,200.

Engagement Rings

Planning a proposal this holiday season? We have a wide variety of engagement rings to make your moment perfect. Our team is happy to assist you in finding the perfect piece for that special woman!

Yellow gold solitair marquise diamond engagement ring.

Vintage 0.40 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring
Retails for: $1,325, Our Price: $1,225

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White gold solitaire asscher cut diamond engagement ring.

Vintage 0.87 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring
Retails for: $4,125, Our Price: $3,350

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White gold solitaire diamond engagement ring.

Vintage 0.26 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring
Retails for: $675, Our Price: $600

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White and yellow gold engagement ring centered with a pear cut diamond surrounded by a diamond halo and diamonds in the band.

New Venetti 0.78 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring
Retails for: $3,600, Our Price: $1,800

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Yellow gold solitaire diamond engagement ring.

Vintage 0.42 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring
Retails for: $1,175, Our Price: $1,075

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Yellow gold three-stone diamond engagement ring.

Vintage 0.50 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring
Retails for: $1,175, Our Price: $995

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Vintage 0.42 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring. Retails for: $1,175, Our Price: $1,075.

Vintage 0.50 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring. Retails for: $1,175, Our Price: $995.

Vintage 0.40 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring. Retails for: $1,325, Our Price: $1,225.

Vintage 0.87 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring. Retails for: $4,125, Our Price: $3,350.

Vintage 0.26 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring. Retails for: $675, Our Price: $600.

New Venetti 0.78 CTW Diamond Engagement Ring. Retails for: $3,600, Our Price: $1,800.

Extraordinary Christmas Gifts

If you’re looking to go big this Christmas season, we have the perfect selection for you! These extravagant pieces are just a peek into our collection.

New 4.63 CTW Diamond Bracelet
Retails for: $19,750, Our Price: $17,750

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Yellow, rose, and white gold interlocking rings set with diamonds.

New 2.26 CTW Diamond Interlocking Rings
Retails for: $8,695, Our Price: $7,695

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New 4.63 CTW Diamond Bracelet. Retails for: $19,750, Our Price: $17,750.

New 2.26 CTW Diamond Interlocking Rings. Retails for: $8,695, Our Price: $7,695.

The Leo Hamel team is here to help you find the perfect gifts this holiday season. We have an extensive collection, if you would like to see any of the above pieces, please visit our showroom on San Diego Avenue or contact us here. Our knowledgeable team is excited to help you make this Christmas the one that special someone in your life will remember.

Tips for Engagement Ring Care

2022-11-182024-05-31 by Rylee Kahan

Diamonds are the hardest mineral; however, it’s important to remember that they’re not indestructible. Following these tips for the care and protection of your engagement ring will ensure that your diamond lasts a lifetime.

Schedule Regular Cleanings

Leo Hamel’s offers free jewelry cleaning services for rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and watches as well as free ring polishing. Your engagement ring will be put in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner to remove dirt or oil. (Rings that include softer gemstones that may be damaged by ultrasonic vibrations and heat are cleaned by hand). After the ultrasonic, the ring will be steam-cleaned and polished by hand by the jeweler.

Prior to all cleaning services, our certified graduate jewelers will inspect your ring under a microscope to inform you of any issues with the prongs as well as any chipped or loose diamonds. You should plan to bring in your engagement ring (and other jewelry you own) twice a year for a professional cleaning and inspection.

Gentle Home Ring Cleaning (only if you must clean at home)

While we always recommend bringing your jewelry into our jewelers for cleanings, we understand that sometimes that doesn’t always work out. If you must clean your engagement ring at home, make sure to use only warm water, dish soap, and a soft bristle brush.

Insure Your Valuables

Most people think of insurance when it comes to their life, car, or health, but what about your engagement ring? It can cost as much as a car and symbolizes one of the most important bonds in your life. There’s always an emotional toll when losing an engagement ring, but when it’s insured, you don’t have to worry about the financial hardship of replacing it. Leo Hamel’s works with the independent gemologist appraiser at San Diego Gemological Laboratory to supply appraisals for insurance purposes.

Consider an Alternate

Having a “backup” ring is an increasingly popular choice for many people. The alternate ring is less expensive and has less emotional ties to it. It’s worn regularly without many worries about it getting lost or damaged since it’s just acting as a placeholder. This alternate ring is worn during activities that may expose the ring to dirt, grease, or damage. Like while out partying at a club, or while traveling to less secure locations, and your main engagement ring is kept locked in a safe at home.

Avoid Chemicals

Chemicals in perfumes, lotions, and sunscreens may cause damage and add residue to your jewelry. Remove your engagement ring and other jewelry before using these substances or any other chemical. Chlorine can also damage jewelry so keep that in mind before getting into a treated pool or jacuzzi.

Weather Matters

Fingers can swell in the heat and shrink in the cold. It’s important to take note of any extreme weather so that you don’t have to worry about your engagement ring slipping off in the cold or being uncomfortable in the heat. Some gemstones are also affected by extreme weather so keep that in mind when deciding what to wear for the day.

Safe Keeping

Make sure you have a designated place to keep your engagement ring when you’re not wearing it. By keeping it in one place whenever you’re not wearing it, you lessen the risk of leaving it somewhere that you won’t remember later. You should also keep ring holders around the house in places where you might need to take it off for just a short amount of time.

Places like in the kitchen (away from the sink) for when you do dishes, in the bathroom for when you need to use any cleaning products, at your makeup table for when you are applying lotions and perfumes, etc. For longer term storage, or whenever your ring is at home but you are not, a home security safe is relatively inexpensive to install.

Restore White Gold

Over time, the shine on white gold rings will start to dull and display a yellow hue; this happens over time from normal wear, even with perfect care. Re-plating the white gold with rhodium will bring back the original shine to your engagement ring. Leo Hamel’s jewelry repair department can restore your white gold jewelry with expertly applied rhodium plating. Just stop by our San Diego Avenue showroom today to check your jewelry in!

What Properties are Gemstones Associated With?

2022-10-262024-05-28 by Rylee Kahan

Have you ever wondered what properties certain gemstones hold? Or maybe you’ve been wanting to surround yourself with gemstones that are associated with certain feelings. There are many feelings and properties that gemstones can be associated with. The main four are: Love, Protection, Anxiety, and Wealth. Let’s talk about where these stones come from along with the ancient deities and property they’re connected to.

Love

Rose Quartz – Comes from Japan, Madagascar, Brazil, and the USA. Linked to Aphrodite and Adonis. Speaks to every kind of love: healing communication with family, developing a deeper connection with a spouse, or guiding you through self-love.

Rhodochrosite – Comes from Argentina, South Africa, Peru, Montana, Russia, China, Mexico, Gabon, and Japan. Linked to Aphrodite and Persephone. Tied to the heart chakra, this stone encourages you to put yourself first and will help you sort through emotions.

Pink Tourmaline – Comes from the USA, Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar, Afghanistan, and Namibia. This stone encourages you to heal old wounds and open your heart chakra. It brings comfort and compassion when you need it.

Yellow Jasper – Comes from Africa, Brazil, India, Madagascar, South Africa, Russia, Venezuela, Australia, Uruguay, and the USA. Linked to Persephone. Encourages learning and attracts positive energy for building self-confidence.

Garnet – Comes from Brazil, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Russia, the USA, and China. Linked to Artemis, Ares, Persephone, and Hestia. This stone is connected to your root chakra and is great for building last relationships. It gives the confidence you need to ask for what you want and to avoid jealousy in relationships.

Aventurine – Comes from India, Chile, Spain, and Russia. Linked to Dionysus and Persephone. Aventurine bring prosperity and luck in love, and is great to have when you’re looking for a relationship.

Moonstone – Comes from Sri Lanka, Southern India, Australia, Armenia, Mexico, Brazil, and the USA. Linked to Artemis, Nyx, and Selene. If you’re looking to find that missed connection or rekindle an old relationship, this is the stone to keep. Moonstone brings the balance and calm needed to mend relationships.

Gemstones for Protection

Obsidian – Comes from Mount Hekla in Iceland, Eolie Islands off the coast of Italy, and Obsidian Cliff in Yellowstone National Park. Linked to Pele, Hephaestus, and Hades. Obsidian is the protector of the heart and helps you by bringing safety into your relationships.

Lapiz Lazuli – Comes from Afghanistan, Chile, Serbia, the USA, and Myanmar. Linked to Aphrodite, Athena, Zeus, and Hera. This stone provides the protection needed to speak as your authentic self and is connected to your throat chakra.

Black Tourmaline – Brazil, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, and Namibia. Linked to Aradia and Hecate. Black Tourmaline releases negative energy from your mind and inspires a positive attitude.

Smoky Quartz – Comes from Mozambique, Switzerland, Brazil, the USA, Madagascar, Australia, and Scotland. Linked to Persephone, Ares, and Gaia. Protecting you from fear, negative thoughts, instability, and depression, this stone is often used for grounding.

Amethyst – Comes from Brazil, Uruguay, South Korea, Russia, the USA, and Southern India. Linked to Dionysus and Artemis. Providing healing energy and peace, amethyst is often kept after a breakup to nurture self-worth.

Carnelian – India, Brazil, Egypt, and Uruguay. Linked to Pele, Hephaestus, and Apollo. Carnelian protects you from fear and provides a sense of safety to take risks and try new things.

Hematite – Comes from sedimentary deposits in Lake Superior, Brazil, Venezuela, and Canada. Linked to Hephaestus, Ares, Hades, and Aradia. This stone protects you from negative energies of those around you and it kept to boost self-esteem, confidence, and willpower.

Anxiety

Amethyst – Comes from Brazil, Uruguay, South Korea, Russia, the USA, and Southern India. Linked to Dionysus and Artemis. In respect to anxiety, amethyst encourages balanced emotions, courage, and decision-making.

Labradorite – Comes from Canada, Poland, Norway, and Finland. Linked to Hecate. Labradorite helps you see the light at the end of the tunnel and provides new perspective.

Rhodonite – Comes from Russia, Sweden, New South Wales, California, and New Jersey. Linked to Aphrodite. Clearing away past emotional wounds, rhodonite eases the anxiety of new relationships.

Kyanite – Comes from Myanmar, Cambodia, Kenya, Nepal, Tibet, Brazil, Switzerland, Russia, and Virginia. Linked to Nemetona. Kyanite brings tranquility to anxious minds and encourages meaningful communication.

Howlite – Comes from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Canada, Turkey, Mexico, Germany, Russia, and California. Linked to Selene. This stone is a calming stone and rids you of rage, pain, and stress. Howlite also teaches patience, calm communication, and emotional expression.

Selenite – Comes from Mexico, Poland, Russia, Greece, Japan, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, and the USA. Linked to Artemis and Selene. Selenite promotes mental clarity and deep healing, minimizing the weight that anxiety holds.

Shungite – Comes from Shunga Village in Karelia, Russia. Linked to Bacchus. This stone helps ground you and eliminate bad luck and bad energies.

Gemstones for Wealth

Pyrite – Comes from Italy, Spain, Kazakhstan, and the USA. Linked to Apollo, Hephaestus, Athena, and Persephone. This stone enhances connection, protection, and security to bring good fortune and prosperity.

Green Jade – Comes from Myanmar, New Zealand, Canada, Taiwan, Guyana, Surinam, Southern Europe, Russia, and China. Linked to Dionysus and The Fates. Green Jade brings the wholesome and nurturing nature of the Earth to increase physical prosperity and wellbeing in your life.

Amazonite – Comes from Brazil, Peru, Pike’s Peak in Colorado, and Virginia. Linked to Athena and Artemis. Connected to the heart and throat chakra, amazonite brings self-discipline, creativity, and compassion to help make dreams a reality.

Peridot – Comes from China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, and the USA. Linked to Pele and Apollo. Peridot rids you of a bad conscious to assist you with your mistakes and provide space for great prosperity.

Malachite – Comes from Congo, Gabon, Zambia, Namibia, Mexico, Australia, and Russia. Linked to Hathor. Malachite helps you recognize and use your power, protects against harm, and brings wealth.

Citrine – Comes from Brazil, Russia, and Madagascar. Linked to Apollo, Hestia, and Demeter. Citrine promotes positivity, drives personal growth, and improves motivation to help you increase self-esteem, optimism, and good luck.

Tigers Eye – Comes from Griqueatown West in South Africa and Wittenoom Gorge in Western Australia. Linked to Ares. Tigers Eye is tied to the root and sacral chakra which help you get grounded. This stone helps you build a safe and strong foundation to increase motivation and bring good fortune.

Gemstones in San Diego

If you’re looking to increase these qualities in your life, visit our showroom on San Diego Avenue to find the perfect gemstone jewelry piece!

Engagement Rings

The holidays are quickly approaching, which means engagement season is upon us! Believe it or not, more than 40% of couples get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day each year. Perhaps it’s the cooler weather that ignites feelings of warmth and devotion, or maybe it’s the comfort of home and being together with family.

Regardless of reason, if you’re planning to propose to your sweetheart this holiday season, it’s a good time to do some homework. With so many engagement ring styles to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down your options. Doing your own research before you shop can save you time and most importantly—money! Visit our engagement ring page to find out how you can save money on your next big purchase today.

https://www.jewelrystoresd.com/engagement/rings/san-diego/

Watch Repair

Time is a force that dictates much of our day to day lives. Hence, it is important that your favorite watch is working properly, so that you never miss a beat! Most fine watches are designed with durability in mind, meaning that with regular care and maintenance, your watch will last a lifetime and then some. But even the most luxurious timepiece will wear down with everyday use. Finding a trusted jeweler to repair your watch doesn’t have to be a hassle. Visit our watch repair page to learn more about how we can have your watch working like new in no time!

https://www.jewelrystoresd.com/repair/watches/

Jewelry Repair

Fine jewelry is as delicate as it is beautiful, a combination of precious gemstones and intricate metalwork melded together to make truly exquisite works of art. Such treasures are meant to endure for centuries, and many of them have. Did you know that several of the French Crown Jewels still exist today? Of course, this isn’t simply by chance. Fine jewelry will only maintain its grandeur when it is well cared for.

Just like a luxury car, or an expensive item of clothing, jewelry can sometimes require a little TLC. Which is why it’s necessary to find someone you trust to handle cleaning and repairing your fine jewelry. After all, you didn’t spend all that money just for your jewelry to sit in a drawer. Visit our jewelry repair page today to see how we can assist you with all of your jewelry repair needs, and more!

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Everything You Need to Know About Ring Resizing

2018-10-042024-05-27 by lhfj

So, you’ve found your dream ring, but it’s a few sizes too big. Or perhaps you’ve received a gift from your sweetheart and it just isn’t fitting. Maybe you’ve lost (or gained) some weight. Or maybe you simply want to wear your ring on another finger. Whatever the reason for needing ring resizing, we have some information that you may find helpful to know before visiting your local jewelers.

When is it time to resize your ring?

First, it is important to make sure that a ring actually needs resizing before going through with the process. An ideal fitting ring is snug enough so that it doesn’t fall off but is loose enough to slide over your knuckle with a gentle pull. It should slide onto your finger fairly easily, but be a bit harder to get off.

During wear, the ring should fit snugly, but not too tightly to cause discomfort. If your ring is so small that it’s uncomfortable to wear, or too big that it can slip off with no resistance at all, you should get it resized. Wearing a ring that fits improperly risks damaging or even losing the piece.

The perfect fit

When it comes to rings, you should know that there is no such thing as a perfect fit. There will be days when your ring is a little loose, as well as days when it’s a bit too tight. Our fingers change size depending on the weather, time of day, hormone fluctuations, our eating habits, and other factors.

Seeking out professional ring resizing will ensure you get that almost perfect fit with the help of a knowledgeable jeweler. After all, it is their job to make sure you feel the most comfortable while wearing your ring.

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