Chimera Design in Lowell Michigan

Mokume ring with diamonds and sapphires.

2012-02-02T07:31:00.000-08:00

Julie set this Mokume band with flush set diamonds and natural orange sapphires. It is a size 7.5 and can be yours for $425.00.

14kt white gold filigree estate ring - $240.00

2012-02-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

This size 5 14kt white gold ring is in like new condition. It is set with an 18x9mm marquise cut black onyx with a 1mm diamond accent in the middle. This ring looks like it was just made, but it can be yours for $240.00

Family jewelry made to order for you.

2012-02-01T04:16:00.000-08:00

Here are a few samples of jewelry Julie has made with birthstones to celebrate family. She can work in sterling or karat gold - or a combination of both.

We can construct your piece of jewelry using genuine gems, lab created gems, imitation gems, gems from your existing jewelry or any combination of these.

We can make something based on one of these designs, or make something according to YOUR sketch or idea (see the pendant modeled after the Lowell Showboat at the bottom.)

Cats eye imperial quartz sterling ring with Mokume accents.

2012-01-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

I could not get the gorgeous cats eye in this 13.5mm imperial (golden) quartz to photograph. Trust me, this stone has a very lively cats eye - Julie accented the wide silver band with a Mokume bezel and a leaf on the side.

We only have one of these gems - this ring is $395.00.

17x17mm Green Amethyst Pendant in Sterling silver.

2012-01-27T13:47:00.000-08:00

Julie used patterned sterling to mount this 17x17mm green amethyst (green quartz) so that you can see the pattern through the window of the gemstone. $349.00

Big Ametrine (17x24mm) pendant in sterling silver.

2012-01-27T13:44:00.000-08:00

Look at the facets on this big (17x24mm) ametrine - gorgeous work by the stone cutter. Ametrine is a mixture of citrine and amethyst that occurs when one part of the stone gets heated to a higher temperature in the earth - leaving us with a lovely mix of golden-yellow and purple.

Blue diamond in sterling ring.

2012-01-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

Julie just put this ring together. Nice, vintage looking sterling silver ring set with a .17 ct round irradiated blue diamond. Where can you have this much cool for less than $500?

New Estate Piece - .73 ct center diamond.

2012-01-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

This just became available - the owner is having us build her a completely new ring. The center diamond here is .73 ct accented with .24ctw of baguettes.

At $3,300 complete - you could buy the ring, trade in the gold and accent diamonds and put the center diamond in a brand new setting or wear it home!

Titanium rings - under $100.

2012-01-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

The titanium rings we have just keep getting better and better.

Here are four new styles we just put out in the case with wood grain, carbon fiber, gold plated grooves, and hammered finishes.

The picture does NOT do this carbon fiber center any justice at all. The carbon fiber has a 3D look to it in this 8mm wide band.

I don't know exactly how they built a titanium ring with a hammered look, but they did.

We are unable to size titanium rings. HOWEVER - the good news is that if you gain or lose some weight, we can get you a brand new ring in the correct size for $10.

Holiday Specials on Alisson-Kaufman & Rainbow Sapphire.

2011-12-14T07:29:00.000-08:00

In Store Holiday Special on Allison-Kaufman

15% off AND we pay the sales tax, too.

(that is like saving 21%, you know.)

Holiday Savings on Rainbow Sapphire -

15% off our prices AND we pay

the sales tax for you.

Icy Fun - Hot diamonds at Chimera Design.

2011-12-13T16:02:00.000-08:00

Just got here for the Holidays! Above you can see an .80 ct diamond (bigger than three quarters....) this one is a sparkler - F color and SI2 clarity. Only $3,225.00.

Would you like a bright yellow diamond but don't have the finances of a movie star? This 1.06 ct has been irradiated to turn it yellow. There are some inclusions in it (look between 4 and 6 o'clock in the picture). BUT - you can own this yellow diamond for $1,550.00.

Hot Deal Right Here - .50ctw three stone diamond ring mounted in a size 6.75 14kt white gold setting. $520!! I only have one at this price -

Just Arrived - soft, traveling cases for your jewelry.

2011-12-09T12:25:00.001-08:00

We just got in a selection of cases for you to use when you travel with your jewelry. They are all fairly small and many of them are soft - easy to tuck in pretty much any place in your luggage.

The best part is that they are priced from $20 to $36.

More new pieces from Julie Claire DeVoe at Chimera.

2011-12-06T14:16:00.001-08:00

Julie mounted this fire agate (hard to photograph effectively) in a sterling silver band and accented it with recycled 14kt yellow gold.

Knots of sterling silver are holding amethysts in these earrings (above) and the pendant (below) - nothing beats the royal purple of amethyst.

Pendant is SOLD.

Some new sterling pieces from Julie Claire DeVoe

2011-12-06T07:27:00.001-08:00

Here are some new pieces - still warm from the bench where they were made!

Big wide cuff bracelet set with aquamarine, green sapphies, blue sapphires. Three of each are set in bezels.

Nice big 8mm created green spinel pendant. Yes, she built a pair of earrings that match it - the picture of them didn't look very good.

Big pink opal in a wide sterling band accented with a pink spinel.

.50 ctw 3 Stone Diamond ring in Estate Section.

2011-11-30T12:54:00.001-08:00

Just put this out in the case - if we didn't tell you, you would think this ring was brand new. The prongs, tips, and shank are in like new condition. Size is 6.75. 14kt white gold with .50 ctw in diamonds. New this ring would be $1,300.00 - it can be yours for $749.00.

Flasks - They are back at Chimera Design.

2011-11-16T12:03:00.001-08:00

Yippee! Flasks are back at Chimera Design.

We sold flasks for several years and then our supplier phased out of them We have been getting requests lately and I am happy to report we are back in the flask business.

We have a pretty good selection in the store AND we have access to another hundred or so styles, shapes, and capacities. From the little 4 oz leather one to 12 oz all steel versions. We have Jack Daniels flasks and the more feminine selections like the one below with crystals or the Amy Brown "Naughty Fairy".

Flasks are fun and they make great gifts. They range in price from $12 to $80 with the majority of them in the $30 to $45 price range. Come on in and take a look.

The importance of insuring wedding rings.

2011-11-15T09:26:00.001-08:00

Anytime we make a wedding ring for someone we emphasize the importance of having it insured. Wedding rings are usually worn 24/7 and things happen. When you schedule your ring on your homeowners/renters policy, or with a company like Jeweler's Mutual, you have what is called all risk coverage. In Michigan it typically costs somewhere between $10 and $15 per thousand per year. In other words a $5,000 ring will cost $50 to $75 a year to insure.

Here are some True Life stories - all of which are covered when you SCHEDULE your jewelry with all risk coverage.

Kathy hid her ring in the coffee bean grinder when they went to the beach. Next morning her husband ground the ring along with the beans.
An infant who was being toilet trained saw mom take off her ring, he put it in the toilet and flushed it away like a good boy.
Mary loved to water ski - she had a pretty good wipe out that stripped the ring right off her hand to the bottom of the lake.
Carla had a custom ring made with a trillion cut diamond. She works in a lab and hit the diamond on a metal refrigerator door handle. It broke one end off her triangle shaped diamond.

All of these instances are covered when you schedule your ring/jewelry.

If you do not have your wedding ring or other valuable jewelry insured, Jeweler's Mututal has just made getting a quote to insure your jewelry very, very easy. Simply go to www.JewelersMutualinfo.com for a painless quote. At the top of the form put in Jeweler Code: A01904 to get the free, no obligation quote. You can also learn a lot about jewelry insurance at this informative site.

Strellman's Dramatic Jewelry - More new Shapes & Styles.

2011-11-10T12:59:00.001-08:00

Our display of Strellman's jewelry has never been as full as it is now.

They have added brand new cuts to their current selection (yes, they kept the classic Lighthouse Lens cut that started it all).

Here are some of the pendants we just added. They are available in tarnish resistant sterling or 14kt gold with your choice of seven colors: aquamarine, blue spinel, green spinel, peridot, padparadschah, pink sapphire, and ruby.

ST 52 green spinel in 14kt white gold.

ST 43 padparadschah in 14kt yellow gold.

ST 43 blue spinel in two tone 14kt gold.

ST53 green spinel in tarnish resistant sterling silver.

ST50 padparadschah in tarnish resistant sterling.

The craftsmen at Strellman's are just waiting to make a piece of their new jewelry just for you - get in touch with Cliff and he will make it happen.

Intense Rainbow Sapphire earrings at Chimera.

2011-11-09T07:26:00.000-08:00

These are natural sapphires. They are hand matched by the folks at Rainbow Sapphire and set in 14kt white gold. Nothing will brighten your day like 2.50ctw of a rainbow in your ears! Stop in a see them in person. Amazing.

New Styles from Strellman's - Part 2.

2011-11-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

Here are three more of the new styles from Strellman's Dramatic Jewelry. The pictures are great - but they look even better in person.

ST 48 in sterling. New Diamond Cut aquamarine.

ST51 in Sterling with diamonds. Square Checkered cut padparadschah.

ST54 in Sterling with the Triangle Cut pink sapphire.

All of these rings are available in a choice of 7 gems: Aquamarine, Blue Spinel, Green Spinel, Padparadschah, Peridot, Pink Sapphire, and Ruby.

New Strellman's Rings - new styles and stone cuts. Part 1.

2011-11-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

ST44 in 14kt yellow gold.

We just received some brand new styles from our friends at Strellman's. Not only do they have new rings, earrings, and pendants - but they are set with some gemstones in new shaped cuts as well.

ST 46 in 14kt yellow gold and tarnish resistant silver.

All of them are available in sterling silver, white or yellow 14kt gold, or (sometimes) a two tone mixture of both of them. Because of the constantly changing price of precious metals, we will not be posting prices - please contact Cliff for your best price on Strellman's dramatic jewelry.

ST 47 in sterling silver.

These examples are set with the new cuts (from the top) Cappricio, and Cushion Antique for the bottom two rings. The new styles are available in seven different gemstones - come on in a take a look in person.

Versatile, sparkly wedding set in white gold.

2011-11-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

We just put this set together for Scott and his bride to be. The center diamond is a .65 ct VS1 clarity, H color oval accented with 13-1.5mm round diamonds (.19ctw). We are usually very happy with the pictures we take, but these do not do justice to the nice sparkle created by the accent stones.

It is worth mentioning that this wedding set can accommodate any size or shape center diamond - you can go round, princess, marquise, oval, - or what ever your heart desires.

Aunt Sandy gets newborn Kynsee her first diamond ring.

2011-10-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

This little cutie is Kynsee Lynn. Her Aunt Sandy LOVES jewelry, so she asked Julie to make Kynsee her first ring. Julie took some white gold stock and a 2mm Princess cut diamond (a princess for a princess!) and did just that.

Kynsee's parents, Kevin & Kristi, were nice enough to take some pictures of their little princess and send them along to us. Thanks to Kevin, Kristi, and Sandy for letting us be a part of this major fun.

Kynsee is now officially the youngest person wearing a Chimera diamond ring on the planet!

New lower price - .50 ct SI1 H with diamond wrap.

2011-10-19T13:22:00.000-07:00

The owner just called me about this wedding set and we have lowered the price by $200.00. The center diamond is 5mm (.50 ct) SI1 clarity - there is a white inclusion you can't see without magnification by one of the prongs - H color.

Rings are size 6.75.

The solitaire rests in a ring guard set with 16-1.50mm diamonds (.25 ctw) SI2-I1 clarity I-J color.

New this set would sell for around $3,000.00 (or even more in the mall!), but it is in our Estate collection for only $1,675.00.

One more thought - the center diamond alone is worth $1,675.00 - you could buy the set, remove the center diamond and Cliff will give you credit for the gold and the small diamonds toward your new setting. Come on in and we can talk.

Another CAD-CAM wedding ring from Chimera.

2011-10-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

Michele came to us with some ideas on a new ring to replace her wedding ring, which was giving her some maintenence issues. She wanted elements of her old ring to be combined with a ring she had seen on the internet.

That is just the kind of thing we like to do - create something unique. Michele wanted to use some of the baguettes from her old ring, but wanted some princess cut and round diamonds to go with them in her new ring.

Here are a couple of the CAD images and you can see the finished product below - cast in 14kt white gold.

Julie set a diamond right in a freshwater pearl in this sterling ring.

2011-10-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

Julie has been experimenting with setting diamonds and gemstones right into pearls. Here is an example. She put a bezel set diamond into this 10x16mm freshwater pearl and set it in a handmade sterling ring. Cool, eh? $210.00

Sterling silver and recycled 14kt yellow gold spiral jewelry.

2011-10-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Julie has been having some fun at the bench. She recently came up with these spirals made of sterling silver tipped with recycled 14kt yellow gold. She also bezel set a round diamond. The pendant is $220.00 and the ring is $169.00.

State of Michigan in a reticulated silver pendant.

2011-10-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

We like Michigan - yes we do. We like Michigan - how 'bout you? Julie just came up with this one - the raised portion of the pendant (you know, the Michigan part) is reticulated sterling silver on a sterling circle pendant with a yellow gold accent at the top AND a diamond placed right where the Mighty Mac Bridge is.
If you like, we can make one for you and put the diamond where YOU live. On a black leather cord for $115.00

New Mokume Gane series from Julie Claire DeVoe.

2011-10-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

Julie took her inspiration from her favorite time of year in Michigan: Fall. She started with this Mokume bracelet ($209) and had so much fun she continued with a pendant, a ring, and a set of earrings.

The pendant has a little extra something in that she set a natural orange sapphire up at the top. The pendant is $190.00 on a leather cord.

The ring can be yours for $135.00. Julie made a pair of matching earrings - $110.00.

This Mokume is alternating layers of sterling silver and copper which is folded and compressed under extreme pressure - the final result is metal with the grained appearance of wood. Beautiful jewelry!

Harvest Celebration 2011 - Save $$ & Help FROM.

2011-10-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

Celebrate the Harvest by saving money AND helping FROM keep their Food Pantry stocked for Lowell families that need a little help.

Come in to Chimera this Saturday during the Harvest Celebration (Harvest Celebration info here) and mention the word "harvest" - Cliff and Julie will take 10% off your purchase AND they will donate 10% to the food pantry at Flat River Outreach Ministries.

(Does not apply to items in the 50% off case or custom orders.)

Matthew, Meaghan, and The Ring.

2011-10-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time in a land not so far away, there was a young man

named Matthew with a sweetheart named Meaghan.

Their quest for a beautiful diamond and a just right ring

for Meaghan (happily) brought them to Chimera design.

Where they found just the kind of diamond Matthew had in

mind and together they designed a perfect ring for Meaghan.

They brought the ring to the beach for its very own photo session!

Here is a close up of the ring taken right before Matthew whisked

it away to put it on Meaghan's finger.

Big thanks to Matthew & Meaghan for sharing these great pictures with us!

Great looking ring - tension look at a reasonable price.

2011-09-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

We just put this ring together - the mounting is from

Overnight Mountings in New York - it gives the look of a tension

set ring without the high price. Lots of light all around the diamond.

The rings is available in yellow or white gold. It is hard to tell in these pictures,

but it has a squared off or European shank.

This example is set with a VS1 clarity, G color

.50 ct round. Pretty stunning package for less than $2,500.00.

This ring is SOLD - but we would love to put one together for you!

The importance of having your wedding ring insured.

2011-09-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Anytime we create an engagement ring for someone, I always discuss the importance of having jewelry insured - especially your wedding ring since they are generally worn 24/7.

Many people assume that they have coverage with their homeowners policy - while this is true, there is usually a limited type of coverage and a sizable deductible. What you need to really cover a wedding ring is to have it scheduled on your policy. When you have a rider for specific jewelry items you pay an additional premium but it is generally All Risk coverage which means it covers theft, mysterious disappearance, and even damage.

If you do not have your wedding ring or other valuable jewelry insured, Jeweler's Mututal has just made getting a quote to insure your jewelry very, very easy. Simply go to www.JewelersMutualinfo.com for a painless quote. At the top of the form put in Jeweler Code: A01904 to get the free, no obligation quote. You can also learn a lot about jewelry insurance at this informative site.

1.05 ct Round VS2 I-J outstanding value $4,750.00

2011-08-25T07:23:00.000-07:00

BETTER THAN BLUE NILE!

We just learned of an outstanding value on a 1.05 ct round VS2 clarity I-J color. This diamond is available from a customer who inherited it and would like to sell it. The price is very good - Blue Nile (who claims to have the lowest diamond prices anywhere) lists comparable diamonds from $5,368.00 to $8,515.00.

You can own this diamond for $4,750.00. If you want to

take a look at it, call Cliff at 616-897-9480.

Shopping for Sterling jewelry - bring a magnet with you!

2011-08-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

We have been seeing an increasing number of items come into the shop that have all the correct markings for sterling silver - they have "925" or "Sterling" stamped right into them, but examination of them has shown that they are NOT sterling silver.
All it takes to know if you are being sold a pig in a silver blanket is a magnet.
Silver will NOT be attracted to a magnet. It is non-ferrous. In order for something to be sold as "sterling silver" and/or "925" it must contain 925 (92.5%) parts per thousand pure silver with the remaining 75 parts (7.5%) being made up of various alloys that work well with silver.
When testing a chain or a bracelet - do NOT test the clasp because there is usually a small steel spring in the clasp mechanism - if you hold your magnet by the chain itself and the chain is attracted AT ALL to the magnet, then the product is not sterling silver. If a ring moves toward the magnet, it is not silver. The same holds true for a pendant or bracelet.

Great prices on some diamond stud earrings.

2011-08-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

Julie just mounted up some of the diamonds we have stashed in the safe. They are all nice and white, eye clean and are available for about half what you might pay for them elsewhere. All of them are mounted in 14kt white gold three prong settings.

Above are two pair of .18ctw each. $240.00 a pair.

These are .40 ctw, SI1 H-I color for only $845.00. Really.

These are VS clarity - .47ctw for $1,068.00.

These POP! .79ctw SI1 clarity and G color.

Yours for only $1,560.00.

These pictures are not touched up in any way. Take a look at our diamond studs and then go look elsewhere - you will not find this caliber of diamonds at this price.

More diamond jewelry for our Estate section.

2011-08-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the nice clean, white diamonds in this 14kt white gold ring with .50 ctw for just $490.00 (new it would be more than double that amount).

Big bi-color quartz set in patterned sterling ring.

2011-08-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

Look at the colors in this 9x20mm bi-color quartz - Julie just mounted it into a nice wide band she fabricated from some patterned sterling.

This is another one of the great gemstones we get from Rich. The ring is yours for $295.00 - or stop in and have a gaze at our loose colored stones and comission Julie to make a ring or other piece of jewelry just for you.

Big 14x18mm deep purple amethyst bracelet - with diamonds.

2011-08-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

Julie has been having a lot of fun with some bigger colored stones from our friend Rich. She just completed this hammered sterling bracelet that features a big 14x18mm oval amethyst accented with some little diamonds mounted in yellow gold bezels.

Citizen watch made just for golfers: BM7120-01A

2011-08-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hit the links and then hit the pool!

Citizen made a watch just for golfers - the BM7120-01A pictured here in the white/gray version (also available in black). This Eco-Drive watch is powered by light and comes with a 5 year warranty on the movement.
Citizen mounted the crown/stem on the left side so that golfers will be able to wear it with comfort - even while swinging for the pin. The lightweight titanium watch is mounted in a premium rubber watch band.
The crystal is scratch resistant sapphire and you can swim in this watch (rated to 330 feet). All this for less than $300.

Allison-Kaufman at Chimera Design in Lowell, MI

2011-08-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

Click on the link below to see some more beautiful jewelry from Allison-Kaufman.

Here are some more Allison-Kaufman pieces.

We made a sparkler for Cindi and Dale.

2011-07-29T07:16:00.000-07:00

Cindi and Dale were nice enough to stop in and let us

put together Cindi's vision of a perfect ring. We started with

an ideal cut center diamond and accented it with

six .10 rounds in an X1 white gold setting that should

never need rhodium plating.

Cindi was pleased with the results. Here is some of what

she had to say in an email:

"I was going to email you anyway to tell you how much I love my ring. It is fabulous, and exactly what I wanted. Please pass that along to everyone who had a hand in creating it. It's been a big hit with friends and co-workers, and I'm passing along your name every chance I get.

Again, thanks so much for everything. I seriously can't stop staring at it!"

Big Mabe pearl ring - Julie set gemstones right in the pearl!

2011-07-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

Julie had fun with this one - we just put it out in the case. She took a 14.8mm mabe pearl and fabricated a mounting for it out of 18kt yellow gold with

a sterling silver shank.

She bezel set a total of .34ctw in diamonds around the pearl -

then she set 4 created alexandrite along with another diamond right into

the mabe pearl. The construction of the shank will allow her to

fit this to just about any finger size up to 10.

Top View!

Princess cut diamond earrings - 1.44 ctw.

2011-07-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

Another addition to our growing Estate jewelry collection. These custom made earrings feature a total of 16 2.5mm Princess cut diamonds for a total of approximately 1.44 ctw. The diamonds are very high quality - VS2 and SI1 clarity with near colorless rating of G-H. They are channel set in 14kt gold setting that are in like new condition. WAIT - there is more! The have screw backs, so the danger of losing them is mimimized.

These beauties can go home

with you for $1,500.00.

Custom sterling bracelet - Julie made it just for Judy!

2011-07-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

Judy came in a while ago with some gold jewelry - she wanted Julie to take the diamonds and gemstones out and make her a sterling bracelet. She gave Julie free rein to have fun and make something special. The result above has several different finishes on the bracelet along with some recycled gold (rose, white, and yellow) and even a couple of gemstones mounted directly into pearls.

Judy picked it up this morning and LOVED it. I quickly grabbed my camera and took this shot of the two of them. It sure is fun to make people smile! Thanks Judy for trusting us to make your bracelet.
(On a purely practical note, the value of the gold jewelry she traded in covered more than half the cost of her bracelet. Win-win!)

White gold wedding set with .50 ct SI1 H

2011-07-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

Cliff just put this set out today.

The center diamond is 5mm (.50 ct) SI1 clarity - there is a white inclusion you can't see without magnification by one of the prongs - H color.

Rings are size 6.75.

The solitaire is sitting in a ring guard set with

16-1.50mm diamonds (.25 ctw) SI2-I1 clarity I-J color.

New this set would sell for around $3,000.00

(or even more in the mall!), but it is in our

Estate collection for $1,875.00.

Beautiful, big ameythyst in a custom silver bracelet.

2011-07-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

Sold - thanks Peggy!

This amethyst is big - just over 21 carats. Julie set it in a nice wide sterling bracelet - she put a cool finish on the bracelet and set the stone in gobs of silver balls (with a couple of gold ones just for fun).

All this for less than $600.00 - only at Chimera Design.

NOTE: the amethyst is oval - for some reason my camera has a tendency to round out big ovals when they are mounted. It measures 20x16mm.

Gorgeous half carat VS-1 E-F round diamond $1,375 in a ring!

2011-07-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

This Estate piece has a beautiful center diamond approximately .48 ct VS1 clarity and E-F color. You could expect to pay $1,800 to $2,200 just for the center diamond alone, but you can buy this sparkler from us for only $1,375.00. This diamond must be seen to be truly appreciated.

If you want to use the diamonds for a new ring, then you can sell the gold back to Cliff for a credit on your new creation.

Diamond and sapphire cocktail ring at a bargain price.

2011-07-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

Another piece of estate jewelry in like new condition. This 14kt white gold ring is set with a .25 ct center diamond accented by 6 - 3mm diamonds (.60 ctw) and 12 - 3mm ceylon blue sapphires (1.56 ctw). All the tips and prongs are in excellent condition.

The ring is size 8, but we can make it smaller to fit your finger if need be. The diamonds are all VS2-SI1 clarity and near colorless - all this gem happiness can be yours for only $675.00.

Gorgeous cocktail ring - 18kt peridot & ruby flower with a diamond.

2011-07-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

Look at this ring - 18kt yellow gold with 6 - 6x8 pear shape peridot accented with 6 - 2mm rubies topped off with a .25 ct diamond in the center! The ring is for those who want to show off their bling - it measures 20mm across the top.

The condition of the ring is excellent - all the tips and prongs are in like-new condition. The ring is size nine so you can wear it on a pointer finger - or we can size it down to fit your finger of choice. This is a must see.

All this for ONLY $650.00.

Platinum diamond ring - just $550.00 in our estate collection.

2011-07-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

If you or someone you know is looking for outstanding value in an engagement ring or a Just For Fun ring - look no further! This is a platinum band set with 4-2mm round diamonds (.12ctw) and a nice, clean 5x2.5mm (.15ct) marquise in the center. It is size 5.75 and best of all - it can be yours for $550!

The platinum band alone would be over $700 new.

We have an opening bid on the FROM food fight bracelet.

2011-07-06T01:25:00.000-07:00

BRACELET IS SOLD and the food pantry at FROM is better for it!

We have an opening bid of $1,200.00 on this gorgeous bracelet. There is still time for YOU to take this home at a bargain basement price AND benefit the food pantry at FROM. Do I hear $1,250? Contact Cliff at Chimera - 897-9480 - you may remain anonymous if you wish. C'mon - this bracelet is in fantastic condition and would be well over $5,000.00. Bidding ends Friday at 5 pm.

Custom rings for bride and groom at Chimera Design.

2011-06-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

Mike had some ideas for Suzy's ring. He wanted the center diamond to be complemented by sapphires and his vision for the sapphires was for them to be "bermed" into the ring. The finished ring is in the picture above.

Suzy loved the ring and she and Mike worked together on two bands to be soldered on either side of her engagement ring. We flush set sapphires opposite the diamond and flush set diamonds opposite the sapphires to create the ring you see above.

Mike did not want any gemstones in his ring, but he did want to reflect the pattern of the "berms" in Suzy's ring. So we did that - you can see the results above.

Mike and Suzy are heading off into the sunset (they are moving out west) with their custom rings - all cast in 14kt X1 white (X1 has a platinum dirivitive in the allow and should never have to be rhodium plated). We wish them all the best out West!

Natural ruby and diamond pendant in white gold. Allison-Kaufman.

2011-06-28T16:46:00.000-07:00

We have been waiting for several weeks for the good people at Allison-Kaufman to make one of these spectacular ruby and diamonds pendants for us. Just got here today.

Wow - pictures do not do justice to this lovely piece of jewelry - 2/3s of a carat of natural rubies and almost half a carat of diamonds in bright white gold. Sweet!

The top picture is from the Allison-Kaufman website and the bottom picture is one we took of the pendant we received today.

Food Fight Auction Item for FROM - a diamond bracelet.

2011-06-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

Fundraising auction for

Flat River Outreach Food Fight 2011.

14kt yellow gold 2.88 ctw diamond tennis bracelet.

Julie and I want to auction off this gently used diamond bracelet.

It weighs 31 grams and is a high quality piece of jewelry.

The bracelet is 7 inches long and contains 96 2mm round diamonds.

They are SI2-I1 clarity and H-I (near colorless).

Brand new this bracelet would be well over $5,000.00.

(one of our suppliers has a similar bracelet that weighs 26 grams and

only has .93 ctw of diamonds for $4,485.00)

We are starting the bidding at only $1,200.00.

THE BEST PART - Chimera Design will donate 10% of the winning bid to the food pantry at Flat River Outreach Ministry as part of the 2011 Food Fight.

If the winning bid goes to or over $1,500 - then Chimera will donate 20%

If the winning bid is $1,800 or over - Chimera will donate 25%

If the winning bid is $2,000 or over - Chimera will donate 30%!!

The more you bid - the more $$$$ the food pantry will receive.

You or someone you love can have a gorgeous bracelet at a great price and help out the food pantry at the same time.

WIN-WIN!!

Stop in Chimera and try this beauty on - make your bid.

BIDS WILL BE TAKEN UNTIL FRIDAY JULY 8th at NOON.

Allison-Kaufman ring and earring set in white gold.

2011-06-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

ps - we can also provide you with a matching pendant!

Allison-Kaufman at Chimera - they have arrived!

2011-06-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

This ring is multi-purpose. It could serve as a promise ring - the .06 ct diamond is bright and white or it could be a nice decoration for anyone's finger!

This diamond pendant looks 5 times better in person. (At least.)

Diamonds and blue sapphires in a well made white gold setting.

(We can get them with rubies if you prefer.)

Hot Rod Power Tour Coming Through Lowell Friday June 10.

2011-06-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

If you like hot cars, then you might want to visit downtown Lowell tomorrow from late morning to early afternoon. The National Hot Rod Power Tour leaves Muskegon at 8:30 am and the official route takes them down M-21 (Main Street in Lowell) all the way to St Johns. Bring a chair and watch some rolling beauty!

Help Chimera fight hunger - Food Fight for F.R.O.M on now!

2011-06-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

Lowell has a great thing in Flat River Outreach Ministries aka FROM. Why do I like it? Because it represents people from all different churches (and some who do not attend any church) who get together to help their neighbors. One of the best things FROM offers is a food pantry. It doesn't get much more fundamental than having something to eat.
This time of year is rough - donations are down for the pantry - so some wise person at FROM came up with the idea of a Food Fight a couple years ago. It is a classic stand off - businesses South of M-21 versus those North of M-21. We all collect food and offer incentives for you to bring it in. Learn all about it here: Food Fight Specials

Here at Chimera we will give you a 10% discount from any regular priced item if you bring in a non perishable food item for FROM's pantry. You could save .60 cents off a watch battery or $120 from a diamond and sapphire pendant. So gather up some food to share and save some money at Chimera.

Allison-Kaufman at Chimera Design.

2011-06-07T12:57:00.000-07:00

Julie and I are very excited - we have just begun a relationship with Allison-Kaufman. They have been making jewelry in California for 90 years - it is a family owned business with a fantastic reputation and some gorgeous jewelry. Here are some examples:

We placed our initial order and are eagerly waiting by the back door for things to start to arrive. We will let you know as soon as we have them.

Summer 2011 Hours at Chimera Design.

2011-06-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

During the months of July and August - we will be closed Saturday thru Monday.

We plan to get out and enjoy as much of the beauty and fun of Michigan as we can.

July and August hours:

Tuesday thru Friday 10am to 7pm

Vintage white gold diamond bracelet and a yellow gold diamond set.

2011-06-03T15:20:00.000-07:00

Two new pieces for our consignment selection of Estate Jewelry.

The first one is a white gold bracelet that is in wonderful condition. The hinges and pins on all the sections are in great shape. It is set with 5 round diamonds with a square cut sapphire on each end. $775.00.

This yellow gold set is in great condition as well. The marquise center diamond is accented by six round diamonds in a nice, heavy mounting. Size 5. $875.00

Exquisite floral pattern diamond ring.

2011-06-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

There are 150 diamonds in this 10mm wide ring.

Look at the detail and craftsmanship that make this beauty sparkle.

This sparkler is available in your choice of white or yellow gold.

Adam is happy because Erica is happy - Erica said YES!

2011-05-31T12:24:00.000-07:00

Here is another demonstration of the Trickle Around Theory of Happiness (known as TATH). Adam found a great 18kt wedding set here - Erica liked it and she said "Yes." when Adam proposed. Erica is happy which means that Adam is happy which means Chimera Design is happy, too.
Thanks to Erica and Adam for sharing their happiness with us - PLUS this great picture of Erica taken right after she got the ring (way cool hat, Erica).

A Note About Strellman's Dramatic Jewelry at Chimera Design.

2011-05-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

We LOVE Strellman's jewelry. Thanks to our website, blog, and Facebook page we get to help people all over the country realize their dream of wearing and enjoying Strellman's. The creative element in their jewelry is very high and the quality of the pieces has always met or exceeded our expectations.

With the volitile costs of gold and silver these days we are hesitant to put any prices up here because we don't want you to be mis-informed. Please contact Cliff - you can call him at the store 616-897-9480 or shoot him an email at cliffy777atcomcast.net (substitute the @ symbol for the word "at" above) - and he will get you a quote based on the daily metal market.

The importance of check ups for your diamond ring(s).

2011-05-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

A lady just came in the store with this ring. She is lucky that she did not lose her center diamond or any of the accent diamonds. As you can see above 3 of her 6 prongs are totally worn away.

Here is a side view - you can see that there is no gold securing the diamond from three of her prongs - the other three are worn very, very flat. Take a look at the accent diamonds and you can see where they have been worn flat as well.

One more view - all those tips started life as nice little rounded beads that secured the diamonds into the mounting. This lady is lucky that she didn't lose her diamond.

Please stop in anytime and we will be happy to give your diamond ring a nice bath in a heated ultrasonic, a cleansing shot of steam and a good examination. We don't charge anything for this service and it will allow YOU to catch any problems BEFORE losing a diamond.

Most ladies wear their diamond rings 24/7 - there is nothing wrong with that, but they do need to be inspected and maintained from time to time. Normal wear and tear will flatten out the tips - let us help you keep an eye on them.

Gemstone Rountable - Thursday October 6th.

2011-05-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

You know we love colored gemstones - we think our friends and customers do as well.

With that in mind, we are going to host our FIRST ever Gemstone Roundtable with Rich, our favorite gemstone guy. He is going to be on hand with a selection of hundreds of gems for you to admire, learn about, and purchase.

When: Thursday October 6th from 6pm to 8pm (or maybe a little later).
Where: Ella's 307 E Main Lowell 49331

LIMITED TO 15 PEOPLE.

Rich will introduce you to a variety of gemstones. He will tell you a little bit about them and pass them around for everyone to see. Chimera Design will provide some goodies to eat and drink while we learn about the gems.

Julie and I have a great time whenever Rich comes in with his amazing selection of gems - we think you will enjoy it as well. NOTE: if there is a particular gemstone that you have been wanting - let us know and we can ask Rich if he can bring some along. Call Cliff at the store to reserve your spot at the Roundtable: 616-897-9480.

Chimera Closed Saturday, Sunday & Monday for Memorial Day.

2011-05-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

We will be closed Saturday May 28th, Sunday the 29th and Monday the 30th for the Holiday.

New source for BEAUTIFUL Canadian Diamonds.

2011-05-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

I am very happy to report that we have found a new source for Canadian diamonds and they are stunning. Nordic Fire diamonds are mined in the Northwest Territories and cut in Belgium to exacting proportions. You can see the results below.

The diamond on the left is a .43 ct VS2 F and the larger one is .53 ct SI2 F.

All Nordic Fire diamonds are GIA certified for their clarity, color, and the quality and precision of the cut. I took their pictures on a white and black background.

The .43 ct is $1,600.00 and the .53 ct is $1,800.00.

Chimera just got some BIG pink gemstones.

2011-05-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

Julie has been making rings from some pretty big gemstones lately and customers are liking them. We just purchased some big pink lab grown corrundum (corrundum is the material rubies and sapphires are made of) from Rich, our favorite gem guy. Cool thing about corrundum is that it is extremely durable - a 9 on the Mohs scale puts it second only to diamonds in terms of hardness. Click on the "Lab Grown Gemstones" link on the right of this page to learn more about them.

The two round ones are $175.00 each. The top stone is 18.70mm and weighs 39.95 carats, the other round one is 20mm and weighs 35.51 carats - this one has a more traditional cut with a bigger table as you can see (the table is the flat part on the top of the gemstone).

This one weighs 60.75 carats and measures 31x16mm. Price $225.00.

We would love to put one of these gemstones into a ring or pendant for you.

We will be CLOSED Saturday April 30th.

2011-04-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

We will be closed this Saturday (April 30th) - we will be attending a wedding.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Survival Bracelet in 550 Test Paracord - made in Lowell.

2011-04-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

More talent from our family comes to the forefront.

Our son James has perfected his technique for making these Survival Bracelets. Being a stickler for details, James insists on making his from the true 550 lb test parachute cord - it is the seven strand military spec cord with a kernmantle sheath. They are called "survival bracelets" because they were originally made and worn by soldiers in the field and the single strong cord can be quickly unraveled and used for a variety of purposes.

The end result is a sharp looking bracelet that can be worn anywhere and any time. The paracord is weather and water-proof. The knot tucks under (see picture below) for a comfortable, adjustable fit.

Cliff has been wearing bracelets for decades and has test driven the Survival Bracelet for a couple of days now and is very happy with the result. It looks sharp and is easy enough to put on with no help.

You can own one for $18.87 ($20 with tax!).

Sell Chimera your sterling flatware and serving dishes.

2011-03-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

When we opened nine years ago silver was $2.75 per ounce.
Today it is over 13 times that amount - $37.65!
We just paid out over $1,000.00 for a set of sterling flatware.
Bring in your sterling silver serving dishes, flatware, and jewelry - you just might have a nice little pile of money sitting in your drawers, cupboards, and jewelry box.

Diamonds from a ring and some earrings become a pendant.

2011-03-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

Carol came in with some diamond studs she no longer wore and a couple of rings with diamonds in them - Julie took all the diamonds and made this yellow gold pendant.

Cad-Cam jewelry design at Chimera.

2011-03-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

Cheryl and Dan stopped in with a couple of rings

and a tennis bracelet containing diamonds of various sizes.

They want us to make one ring using the diamonds.

Here are a few ideas we came up with using GemVision.

We would love to take your diamonds and/or gemstones and make a new piece of unique jewelry just for you.

Jenny models her Keshi pearls with help from Remmington.

2011-03-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

Jenny lives in the big city (Chicago) - but she has been visiting Chimera every once in a while ever since her Aunt Deb brought her in here. A couple months ago Jenny stopped in and fell in love with some Keshi pearls - low and behold her aunt was paying attention and brought a big smile to Jenny's face on her recent birthday.

So here is a nice shot of Jenny sporting her Keshis alongside her best buddy Remington (who is not a fan of looking directly at the camera).

2.51 ct oval Blue/purple tanzanite stone. $1,200.00

2011-03-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

We have a customer who needs to raise some money.

She bought this 2.51 ct (8.75x7.50x5.37mm) tanzanite several years ago.

It can be yours for $1,200.00.

Custom 3 stone marquise cut diamond ring.

2011-03-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

Sharon came in with some rings and a couple of ideas.

The first one was to use the marquise cut diamonds from a couple of

rings along with some round ones to creat one three stone ring.

Cliff got on his GemVision and offered her sever versions of rings

using her diamonds. She chose the one you see above.

We cut the wax and let her try it on her finger to show her how it would fit her hand and how the diamonds would look in it.

Here are a couple pictures of the finished ring - 14kt yellow gold.

We would love to make a special piece of jewelry for you -

Three new steel bracelets from Tattooed Steel.

2011-03-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

We just got three of the new Tattooed Steel bracelets in - they are hot AND they are made in the USA! We got one in a couple of weeks ago and it was in the store for about 3 days. These sell for $75.00 - mention you saw it online and Cliff will let you have your choice for $60.00

Chimera Design is expanding.

2011-03-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

We are fixing up the area back behind our shop so that we can have another jewelers bench back there and possibly some other equipment.

Jere and Dan (yup, Jere is the same guy who does the CAD-CAM work and casting for us) have been tearing out and building new walls back there over the last couple days. Today they put a coat of mud on the drywall.

Another coat of mud, some sanding and a little paint and we will be rockin'.

More photos from Kirstin Anne Johnson

2011-02-22T07:23:00.000-08:00

Kirstin Anne Johson is a friend of ours. She has taken some really great pictures of Julie's jewelry for us in the past and she just recently had some fun with a couple of colorful pieces. This top picture is a sterling ring Julie recently made - for lack of a better name, we call it "Big Pink".

This ring below reminded Julie of the Mad Hatter - the top picture is your basic

jewelry shot that Cliff took with our camera.

Kirstin took the cue from Julie and put the ring where

it really belongs - in a tea party waiting for Alice.

See more of Kirstin's work here.

Relay for Life in Lowell - kickoff coming soon.

2011-02-18T11:53:00.000-08:00

Click the link below to learn more:

Learn about the Relay

for Life in Lowell

We are closing early today February 16th.

2011-02-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

Chimera will be closing today at 5 pm so Cliff and Julie can attend the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner at the Grand Volute.

New ring from Jere Keyes. Sterling & 14kt yellow gold.

2011-02-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

Our associate Jere Keyes just

dropped this ring off to us.

The ring is made of 14kt yellow gold and sterling.

It weighs 11.3 grams and is size 6.5.

As you can see it has a balanced (squared off) shank.

It is set with a 6mm round created tanzanite.

This ring can be yours for $650.00.

We can also make one for you with your choice

of a center stone and your choice of metals.

Dragonfly ring in your choice of sterling silver or gold.

2011-02-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

Do you like dragonflies?

We found this great ring from one of our suppliers.

The wings of two dragonflies support the

big 12x10mm gemstone.

This one is set with an opposed bar cut

lab created blue sapphire.

The ring is available in sterling silver as

well as 14kt white or yellow gold.

Julie can set it with any number of colored stones -

we can get several in this opposed bar cut or we

can set it with a 12x10 emerald cut.

This ring is sterling silver and can

be yours for $249.00 to $289.00.

The same ring in white or yellow

gold would be $1050.00 to $1150.00

(price on silver or gold versions can vary with the metal market).

Strellman's ring with a Delta cut alexandrite and diamond accents.

2011-01-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

I wish our camera could capture the color play in alexandrite. In person,

this Delta cut alex faces up purple/red in man made light and a

cool blue/green in natural light.

Set in this sterling ring with 3 diamonds - $475.00.

Fresh Strellman's came in today.

2011-01-26T15:47:00.000-08:00

The famous Lighthouse Lens cut in tarnish resistant silver.

Above is the large size set in a ring. $385.00

For the same price you can have the matching earrings below!

Both are set with color-changing alexandrite.

Purple-red in man-made light and blue-green in nature.

Here is the large size Lighthouse Lens again.

Blue Sapphire in tarnish resistant silver $375.00

Strellman's dramatic jewelry is cool you can wear.

They will make one in your choice of colors in silver, or 14kt white or yellow gold.

Incentives to sign up for our emails.

2011-01-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

We would like to invite you to sign up for our emails. And we have decided to offer you some incentives.

Chimera emails are informative and fun.
Learn about different gemstones.
Tips about caring for and cleaning your jewelry.
Get the inside track on new creations from Julie's bench.
Special deals will be offered to the email list FIRST.
Monthly drawing for a $50 Gift Certificate (starts in February).

We are proud to be a sponsor of the Lowell Caledonia Hockey team.

2011-01-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

The young men of the Lowell Caledonia hockey team have

made a very good impression on us.

Why did they impress us? Well, they actually stopped in the store to ask for a donation (as opposed to

calling on the phone). They were very polite and seemed grateful when we agreed to

give them a small donation.

To top it off, they recently stopped in with a copy of the program and

a nice Thank You card with a note from one of the players - Braden McGillicuddy.

We are certainly not their biggest sponsor, but they did a good job of making us feel

appreciated. Thanks guys - have a good season.

Two more new rings from Julie's bench.

2011-01-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

Top ring is a 10mm smokey quartz with some great

faceting on the stone. Julie made earrings and a pendant to

match the ring. Ring price $179.00

This ring was difficult to photograph - it features a 7mm

cabachon (smooth top) garnet. Yours for $105.00.

And we have a pendant, bracelet, and earrings to match.

Vacation and jewelry, gemstones, and watches.

2011-01-14T08:29:00.000-08:00

It is getting to be that time of year when people head out to warm places to escape single digit temperatures and snow.

Julie and I would like to pass along some travel advice as it pertains to wearing and caring for your jewelry while you are on vacation.

We also have some advice when it comes to purchasing jewelry on vacation;especially gold, diamonds, and gemstones.

We want to give you a heads up when it comes to wearing your watches in the water as you swim, snorkel, and/or scuba dive.

If you are going on vacation - have a great time. If you think this advice will help someone you know, please pass it on.

Wearing & Caring for Your Jewelry on Vacation.

1.Be careful of the chemicals in pools, spas, and hot tubs. These chemicals are hard on jewelry and can blacken sterling silver in an instant! (Don't worry, we can clean it when you get back if we need to.)

2.Sand = sandpaper! Wearing your fine jewelry on the beach can be fun, but be careful. Sand can act just like sandpaper - it can abrade your settings and work its way into clasps and cause trouble.

Buying gold, diamonds, and gemstones.

While it is true that you can find great deals and beautiful treasures while on vacation, it is equally true that you can throw your money away on fakes and copies. We see examples every year.

Gold and diamonds are traded GLOBALLY. Gold is at $1,378.00 as I write this and that is the global value of one ounce of pure gold - if the deal on a piece of gold jewelry looks too good to be true, then it is either a fake or stolen. The same is true of diamonds - they are traded worldwide and you should beware of outrageous deals on diamonds.

IF YOU DO DECIDE TO SPEND MONEY ON FINE JEWELRY, then by all means pay for it using your credit card and have it looked at when you return home. That way if the "diamonds" in the ring turn out to be cubic zirconia or the "gold" bracelet is plated silver, then you have recourse through your credit card company.

Watches in the Water

Almost every year we get people coming in with water in their watches. Check your watch before you swim, snorkel or dive with it on to see how it is rated. Here are what the symbols REALLY mean (from Seiko's website):

•Water resistant: DO NOT wear while showering, bathing, swimming, or diving.

•50 Meters: OKAY to shower, bathe, or swim in shallow water. DO NOT wear snorkeling or diving.

•100 Meters: OKAY to snorkel and swim, but do not dive.

•150 or 200 Meters: these watches usually have a screw down crown and/or watch back. They are suitable for scuba diving as well as all water sports.

If you have a dive watch, then make sure the crown and back are screwed down and secure before you take it swimming or diving. IF YOU DO notice moisture or water in your watch, then try to get the back off IMMEDIATELY to allow it to dry. You can use a hair dryer on low to help speed the process.

If you can't get the back off, then bring it in to Cliff when you return home and he will try to dry it out before your watch corrodes.

Have a great time on your vacation and be careful of your jewelry on the beach, in the hot tub, and in the water.

Please join our email list.

2011-01-12T14:32:00.000-08:00



Join Our Email List News, tips, special offers, n more.

We promise you won't get emails from us all the time. We will send out helpful jewelry tips, gemstone information, event information, and the occasional SPECIAL DEAL.

Chalcedony and tanzanite in a sterling ring and bracelet.

2011-01-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

We have had this lovely Chalcendony for years - Julie waits until the inspiration hits! Well, it hit.

She mounted the 13.5x13.5mm beauty in distressed sterling and accented it

with some 14kt yellow gold and a 4mm natural tanzanite.

Ring is a size 6.5, but can be sized from 5.5 to about 8.

Another view of this terrific ring.

It can be yours for $450.00 SOLD

Just in case you wanted a bracelet to match - Julie made this up.

It has a 4mm natural tanzanite and two chalcedony stones the same size.

$225 for the bracelet.

Dave and Emily: Your wish is our command.

2011-01-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

We take great pride in making jewelry that YOU want.

Recently, Jere and I had some fun with Dave and Emily. They came in looking for something out of the ordinary, but they wanted it based on a ring they had seen. (Dave had a picture on his phone - see it below.)

Emily liked the basic design structure of the ring - she liked the two stones accenting the center diamond and enjoyed the swooping piece of gold on each side of the ring shank. However, she wanted to personalize the ring with different colors and shapes.

Emily's idea was to incorporate a couple of black diamonds along with some triangle shaped rubies in her white gold ring. Dave wanted a great looking diamond for the center and we found him an ideal cut .57 ct SI2, G color that would jump and sparkle in Emily's ring.

Everyone was happy with the end result. We made a custom ring with the elements Emily wanted, set with a sparkler for a center stone and stayed within the budget Dave had set aside for the ring. (Not only do we respect your design wishes, but we pay attention to your budget as well. When you tell Cliff a specific dollar amount, he doesn't come back with a projected price over that amount.)

It is noteworthy that the ring we made for Emily and Dave is much more substantial than the ring they showed us in the picture. The shank of our ring (see above) is thick and substantial and will last for decades. The diamonds and rubies are held in with heavier tips and prongs.

We asked Dave how Emily responded to the ring after the week-end he planned on giving it to her this is what he told us: "The weekend was alot of fun and she loved the ring. The ring was so much better than either of us could have imagined. Thanks so much."

It was our pleasure Dave. Thank you very much.

New Strellman's pieces - just in time!

2010-12-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

Santa - actually the UPS man - just skidded into the parking lot with these beauties from Strellman's.

We have a complete set of these round lab created green spinel pieces.

They are set in a combination of tarnish resistant sterling silver and 18kt yellow gold.

Earrings: $495.00

Pendant: $447.00

Ring (below): $537.00

If you want the whole set - $982.00 (save $497!!)

We also got in this large Lighthouse Lens cut lab created Ruby pendant.

The ruby is set in tarnish resistant silver accented with 18kt yellow gold.

$477.00 and you can take it home.

Anne Marie makes Chimera Design a part of her wedding.

2010-12-08T15:33:00.000-08:00

Here is Anne Marie surrounded by her bridal party. She had Julie Claire make all of them a pair of earrings to wear on her big day and to remember her by. Here she is surrounded by (L to R) Bridget, Christina, Anne, Molly, Catharine, Nicole, Moira, and Taylor.

Here is a close up of Nicole sporting her Chimera ear decoration.

Thanks to Anne Marie and photographer Andrew Maguire for letting us use these pictures.

We are open Mondays from 10-7 until Christmas.

2010-12-05T11:28:00.000-08:00

Chimera Design will be open

Mondays until Christmas.

Hours: Monday thru Friday 10am to 7pm
Saturday 10am to 4 pm

Two new ones from the big gemstone collection!

2010-12-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

Do you like your colored stones BIG?

Julie just mounted these two we bought from our favorite gemstone supplier, Rich.

The pink topaz in the ring above is 14x16mm and is accented by some pink sapphires

and one gold bead in the silver.

Julie accented this 16x22mm green quartz with a green sapphire.

(it is up there about 11 o'clock)

Your choice $379.00

12 Days Of Christmas - 2010 Promotion

2010-11-29T12:03:00.000-08:00

12 Days of Christmas at Chimera Design

Start Date - Saturday December 11
End Date - Friday December 24th

NOTE: We will be open Mondays in December (12/6, 12/13, 12/20) until Christmas.

What is it? One piece of jewelry per day at a ridiculously low price for 12 days.

Details: We will post ONE piece of jewelry each day (Monday-Saturday) with an absolutely rock bottom price that is good for that day only. We will also give you a Double Secret password which will allow you to buy that item at the rock bottom price.

How do I get it? Be the first to come in to the store that day with the password OR be the first to call us between 10am and 7pm Monday thru Friday or 10am to 4pm on Saturday with the password and your credit card onformation and the item is yours.

We will be offering a variety of things - from some of Julie's custom pieces to a five stone diamond ring and anything else Cliff & Julie can think of - diamond earrings, watches, bracelets, etc.. We will post the item(s) here on our blog and on our FaceBook page right before we open during the 12 Days of Christmas Sale.

Stay tuned for fantastic deals!!

14kt Two tone tanzanite (2.05 ct) and diamond (.40 ct) ring.

2010-11-11T11:46:00.000-08:00

This ring is just plain gorgeous.

14kt white & yellow gold.

4mm princess cut VS2 clarity G-H color diamond (.40 ct)

Natural tanzanite 7x10x4.8mm (approx 2.05 ct)

Size 7

All this for $3,150.00.