Wow, what an incredible adventure! I've recently returned from a beautiful Herkimer Diamond mining trip with my friends and fellow jewelry designers in Herkimer County, New York. Herkimer is home to the world-famous Herkimer Diamonds. Learn more about these fascinating gems and how to mine them in this account from our treasure hunting.

Take a look inside Squirrel City Jewelers, now featuring Michelle Pajak-Reynolds jewelry.

Intricate textures, patterns and forms featuring pin-set gemstones are a few of Michelle Pajak-Reynolds’s signature design elements. See how they’re made in this look behind the scenes.

What’s the difference between carat and karat?  These identical sounding words mean very different things and it can be confusing for those who are not used to using them every day. The key thing to remember is that one is a unit of measurement and the other is a unit of fineness. 

From concept to creation, experience the making of Michelle Pajak-Reynolds’s Voyageuse Collection

Exploring the wonder and beauty of pearls, the birthstone for June.

Coveted for centuries, Labradorite gemstones are full of mystery and wonder.  At first glance, they appears as a beautiful grey stones, then the light hits them and your eyes are delighted with shimmering flashes of peacock-blue, velvety green, and fiery orange.  Eskimo Inuit and Native American Innu of Labrador, Canada, where Labradorite gets its name, tell a beautiful tale about the birth of these gems.

Tarnish is a challenge for every jewelry lover.  You go to put on your favorite jewelry pieces before heading out the door and find beloved treasures speckled with tarnish. UGH! What to do? Choose to wear a different piece, even though your first choice is perfect for your outfit and occasion, or stop and clean your jewelry… 

A behind the scenes look at everything that went into creating the "Angels & Gems" editorial featuring Michelle Pajak-Reynolds jewelry.

Most preschoolers have trouble deciding between Play-Doh and finger paints. Not Michelle Pajak-Reynolds, though. Even at the age of five, the Cleveland native knew she wanted to create jewelry: powerful statement jewelry, not unlike the bracelets and tiara that Lynda Carter brandished on television's Wonder Woman.