Featured Stone: Chalcedony

  

Hardness: 6 1/2 – 7
Toughness: Good

Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline silica aggregate, it is made up of microscopic crystals of quartz and morganite. Chalcedonies vary greatly in color due to its chemical composition. In its simplest form, chalcedony is white to milky grey. The presence of metallic salts give this stone a variety of color. The Chalcedony family includes bloodstone, chrysoprase, jasper, and onyx.
   

•  Chalcedony is named for an ancient Turkish seaport Chalcedon.
•  Greek sailors wore chalcedony to avoid drowning.
•  17th century Europeans believed chalcedony would ward of ghosts.
•  Native American Indians believed chalcedony was a sacred stone.

Top Quality Setting

Coeur Sauvage Jewelry is lucky to have access to highly talented jewelers in the diamond district in New York City. In the coming weeks we will feature  different craftsmen in the area. Our first spotlight features Josef Klein. He is an amazingly talented stone setter and a nice guy to boot! Here is his story in his own words.

"I started setting stones at age 19 in Oak Park, Michigan. Through a family member connection, I became an apprentice for a small jewelry shop in the Advance Building.  It was a mini "47^th Street" in the middle of Michigan.

In 1976 I moved to New York City with a two year plan.  I started working for a setter to complete my training and freelanced on the side. I found it hard to find good people to work with, most setters do not like people to see work in progress nor disclose their setting techniques.

From 1984-89 I shared space with another jeweler in 580 Fifth ave and started to build a regular clientele. This is where I met William Klein who became my mentor. William was truly gifted with all aspects of jewelry craftsmanship, from model making to finishing and stone setting. He was also very willing to teach. He instilled in me that quality is important no matter how much the client pays, because it is the quality they will remember.

In 1990 I started work at Tiffany's. My first month there I was really nervous, but I quickly settled in and started the daily grind. Setting at Tiffany's was a lot different than working on my own.  I found the work monotonous and creatively limiting, but by 1995 I was made shop foreman.

By 1998 I started Top Quality Setting. I enjoy working with new people and love the challenge of setting one-of-a-kind designs."

Top Quality Setting is located at 34 West 46^th St New York, New York 10036.

jktopq007@aol.com

jzkjewelry.moonfruit.com