Category: Gemstone Facts

Amazing Quartz

6/2/2020

Quartz is a huge family of minerals with the same chemical composition and similar properties. It makes up 12% of the earth's crust.

There are two major branches of the quartz family:

Macro-crystalline - crystals visible to the naked eye. This branch includes amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, smoky quartz and rutilated quartz.
Micro- or crypto-crystalline - crystals too small to be seen without magnification. This branch is more commonly known as chalcedony (kal-SEH-doh-nee) and includes agate, jasper, carnelian, chrysoprase, onyx and petrified wood.

Amethyst Cross Pendant

Fired Jasper Necklace

In broad terms, chalcedony can be semi-transparent, translucent, solid, or patterned. The most common forms of chalcedony are agate and jasper.

Jasper tends to be opaque with irregular and less defined markings. It is composed of microscopic grains of crystalline quartz.
Agate is usually translucent and has clearly defined bands. It is composed of microscopic fibers of crystalline quartz.

However, in the gem and jewelry trade when someone refers to chalcedony, they are usually talking about a semi-transparent or translucent stone with a solid color (most often soft blue) with a waxy luster. This type of chalcedony can also be white, purple, pink, yellow or red but not orange-red which is referred to as carnelian.

I enjoy making jewelry with all types of quartz from clear rock crystal quartz to the astonishingly colored and patterned jaspers and agates. A few of my current favorites are:

Rock Crystal Quartz - the crystal-clear variety of macro-crystalline quartz. It is considered the ideal of macro-crystalline quartz.

Fired Agate - this agate, a micro-crystalline quartz, is heated to give it a crackled appearance.

Green Zebra Jasper - as its name implies this jasper, also a micro-crystalline quartz, is striped in green and white.

Rose Quartz - the soft pink variety of macro-crystalline quartz. It is one of the most desired varieties of macro-crystalline quartz.

Rock Crystal Quartz & Onyx Pendant

Visit Jewelry Facets to learn more about all the branches of the quartz family as well as a wide variety of other gems and gemstones.

Gems Are Not Just for Jewelry

4/21/2020

When I think of gems, I immediately think "jewelry." But gems are used in many other ways. In fact, the majority of gems that are mined are used in applications other than jewelry. Here are just a few.

Corundum is aluminum oxide. It is called ruby when red and sapphire when other colors. Regardless of color, corundum is used as an abrasive for grinding glass and polishing metal. It is made into sandpapers and grinding wheels.

Fluorite is calcium fluoride. It is used as flux in the manufacture of steel and as a catalyst in the manufacture of high-octane fuels. Fluorite plays a large part in the creation of glazed tiles and opalescent glass. It is a source of fluorine which is used for the fluoridation of water and in Teflon coatings.

Hematite is an iron oxide and the most important iron ore as it is 70% iron. Powdered hematite is called red ocher and is used as a pigment. Purified, ground hematite is called rouge and is used to polish plate glass and jewelry.

Fluorite

Kyanite

Kyanite is the major raw material for the aluminum silicate mullite which is used in spark plugs and heat-resistant porcelains. The molds that are used for casting high-temperature metals are often made of kyanite.

Lazurite is the main component of lapis lazuli and gives it its deep blue color. Powered lapis was used for hundreds of years to make the pigment ultramarine. And, it was probably one of the first eye shadows.

Malachite is green copper carbonate hydroxide. It was ground and used as eye paint in ancient time possibly to ward off the evil eye. It was also used as the green pigment in wall paintings dating back to the 15th century BC.

Petalite, lithium aluminum silicate, is an important source of lithium. Its high chemical activity makes possible the tiny batteries used in pacemakers and other small devices.

Petalite

Jewelry Facets provides more information about these and other gemstones.

Spring Is Almost Here

3/13/2020

Trees and shrubs are starting to bloom. Tulips and daffodils are popping up. Soft green blades of grass are visible. All signs spring is almost here.

Spring brings a sense of lightness and renewal. As I'm creating new designs, I'm choosing gemstones in soft pinks and greens and blues. I'm moving away from weighty styles and toward light, airy designs.

In addition to being beautiful, gemstones have distinct metaphysical properties which I enjoy learning about and sharing with you. So, here is a bit about some of the gemstones I plan to use.

Rose Quartz - Its soft pink tones are perfect for spring. In addition, rose quartz is often called the "love stone" as it is believed to generate strong love energies and to help find new love.

Ruby Zoisite - It has a soft green background with small bursts of ruby that look like flowers. This unusual stone is thought to bring positive and happy feelings.

Ruby Zoisite Necklace

Prehnite Necklace

Blue and Green Kyanite - These translucent stones come in quiet blues and greens with a subtle shimmer. Kyanite is believed to bring loyalty, honesty and tranquility as well as to diminish anger and confusion.

Prehnite - It is a delicate, translucent apple green, a color unique to this stone. Prehnite is known as the stone of unconditional love. It is also believed to help sufferers of claustrophobia.

Rock Crystal Quartz - This is the clear variety of quartz. It is considered the ideal quartz. Rock crystal quartz is thought to enhance concentration and unlock memories.

Blue Lace Agate - This variety of agate has bands of soft blue in a wavy or lacy pattern. It is believed to be cooling and calming and bring peace of mind. Blue lace agate is also thought to neutralize anger, infection, inflammation and fever.

Rock Crystal Quartz & Onyx Pendant

Combined with sterling, bronze or copper wire, these gemstones will appear in jewelry that is sure to add a touch of spring to your wardrobe.

Happy Spring!

Amazing Sapphires

10/14/2019

My birthday is in September which makes my birthstone sapphire. So, in honor of my birthday I'm sharing some fascinating facts about sapphire.

It is one of the four precious gems (diamond, emerald and ruby are the other three). Sapphire is the birthstone for the Zodiac signs Pisces, Taurus, Virgo and Sagittarius I'm also a Virgo.

Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium color the corundum blue, yellow, purple, orange , green or pink. When chromium impurities in corundum yield a red stone, it is called ruby. Pure corundum has no traces of other elements and is called white sapphire. When race elements produce an orangey pink corundum, it is called padparadscha which means lotus flower in Sinhalese, the language spoken in Sir Lanka where stones of this color were originally found.

Multi-colored sapphire necklace with pyrite nugget.

Multi-colored sapphire necklace with pyrite.

Star sapphires contain intersecting needle-like inclusions that cause the appearance of a six-rayed star. The inclusion is often the mineral rutile. Star sapphires can be any color from shades of blue to pink, orange, yellow, green, lavender, gray or black. The most desirable color is a vivid intense blue.

Color-change sapphire is a rare variety which exhibits different colors in different light. The stones are blue in outdoor light and purple under incandescent indoor light.

Multi-colored sapphire earrings

Multi-colored sapphire earrings

Tradition holds that Moses was given the Ten commandments on tablets of sapphire, making it a sacred gemstone. Ancient Persians believed sapphire gave heaven its blue color. In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced sapphire protected them from envy and harm. Because sapphires represent divine favor, they were the gemstone of choice for kings and high priests. Ordinary people thought sapphires attracted heavenly blessings.

Sapphires symbolize truth, compatibility, commitment and mutual understanding which make them the perfect gem for engagement rings. They are said to contribute to mental clarity and perception. Sapphires are also believed to promote financial rewards.

Lustrous Pearls

6/6/2019

Natural pearls have been coveted as symbols of wealth and status for thousands of years. The first written mention of pearls was by a Chinese writer in about 2206 BC.

Pearls form naturally when an irritant, such as a tiny stone, gets in mollusk's shell. A lustrous substance called nacre is secreted around the irritant to protect the soft inside of the mollusk (oysters or mussels). As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant a pearl is formed. This can take years. The way light is reflected from these layers of nacre creates the iridescent luster of the pearl. When nacre forms on the inside of the shell, it is known as mother of pearl.

Nature couldn't keep up with the demand for pearls, so man devised a way to culture pearls by placing an irritant, often a piece of rounded shell from a freshwater mussel, into a mollusk. The majority of pearls on the market have been cultured and many of the shells used as an irritant are from freshwater river mussels harvested in the midwestern states. The few natural pearls available command high prices.

Pearls, both natural and cultured, can be divided into two main categories: saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls, including the Akoya, Tahitian and South Seas, are found in the coastal waters of Japan, China, Australia and Polynesia. Freshwater pearls are found in the rivers, ponds and lakes of China, Japan, the United States and Europe. Of the two types, saltwater pearls are the more expensive.

Pearls are a natural substance and are porous. They can absorb cologne, hair spray and lotions. So, make your pearls the last thing you put on and the first think you take off. Keep them looking their best by gently wiping them with a damp cloth.

Pearls are always in style; wear yours today.

Pastel, cultured, freshwater pearls

Tinted Cultured Freshwater Pearls

Jazzy Jasper

8/13/2018

Antique blue & black jasper links with sterling chain

"Antique" Jasper

Jasper is a gemstone of seemingly endless variety. It is one of the more common of the world's gemstones and may be found all over the world. Jasper's name comes from the Greek iaspis for "spotted stone."

Jasper is a member of the chalcedony (pronounced kal-SEH-doh-nee) or microcrystalline branch of the quartz family. Another familiar member of this branch of the quartz family is agate which is usually translucent or has translucent bands whereas jasper is usually opaque.

Jasper is colored by oxides of iron and known for its deep earthy tones of red, yellow, brown and green. It also sometimes appears in shades of blue or purple. Jasper may also display bands of color, pictures, or small circular patterns. The colors and patterns are the result of the minerals present in the stone. Jaspers are often named after their patterns or for the places in which they're mined. Here a few of my favorites.

Dalmatian Jasper has a cream background with black and/or brown spots - just like the dog of the same name. It is supposed to increase patience and protect against nightmares.

Kambaba Jasper is a combination of light and dark green, brown, and black in concentric circles and speckles. Mystics believe it soothes the nerves.

Kambaba jasper pendant with copper accents

Kambaba Jasper

Ocean jasper pendant with sterling accents

Ocean Jasper

Ocean Jasper, also known as orbicular jasper, has wavy and circular patterns in green, cream, beige, brown, and pink. It sometimes looks like the foam from a wave that just broke on the beach. It is said to be a very calming and soothing stone.

Picture Jasper often looks like a landscape painting, perhaps a desert or mountain scene. It is formed from petrified mud and quartz. It is thought to be excellent for creative vision, initiative and boosting one's confidence.

Because of its versatile colors and patterns, jasper jewelry can be worn in any season and will jazz up any outfit. It's a great gemstone to have in your jewelry box.

To add jasper jewelry to your collection, visit my website, stop in at the Prescott Art Market in the Prescott Gateway Mall, or meet me at one of these select shows.

Porcelain jasper pendant wrapped with sterling wire.

Porcelain Jasper

All About Diamonds

4/9/2018

The diamond is April's gemstone and perhaps the most recognized gem in the world. Diamonds were first mined in India over 3,000 years ago. And while the diamond mines in India have mostly played out, India cuts and polishes over 90% of all diamonds. Today, South Africa, Canada, Australia, Brazil and Russia are the leading diamond producers.

yellow & blue diamonds

Yellow & Blue Diamonds

Diamonds were formed deep in the earth under extreme heat and pressure. As the earth cooled, volcanic activity pushed diamonds to the surface. Some, through volcanic outbursts, made their way to river- and stream-beds. Others formed volcanic pipes known as Kimberlite pipes. Each diamond is anywhere from a few million to 3 billion years old.

The popularity of diamonds escalated in the 19th century as a result of an increase in supply, improvements in cutting and polishing techniques, growth in world economy, and innovative advertising campaigns. The most successful and well-known of the advertising campaigns is DeBeers' A Diamond Is Forever, first launched in 1947. This campaign popularized the use of diamonds in engagement rings and fostered a demand for diamonds.

Diamonds are the hardest gemstone in the world. In fact, the word "diamond" comes from the ancient Greek word "adamas" meaning unbreakable. This hardness makes diamonds well-suited to everyday wear. In addition, the high dispersion of light, which gives the stone "fire", makes diamonds highly desired for jewelry. However, only 20% of all diamonds mined are considered to be gem quality. The other 80% are used for industrial purposes.

Black & Champagne diamonds

Black & Champagne Diamonds

Petalite Solitaire

While white or colorless diamonds are the most familiar; diamonds also come in reds, pinks, blues, greens, yellows and browns as well as black. Yellows and browns are the most common, with brown being marketed as champagne or chocolate diamonds. Black diamonds are often used in mourning jewelry.

Unfortunately, natural diamond jewelry doesn't fit into every budget. Luckily there are synthetic diamonds and diamond simulants. Synthetic diamonds are made in a laboratory and have the same optical and physical properties as natural diamonds. Diamond simulants are stones which simulate the look of natural diamonds. Diamond simulants can either be man-made like cubic zirconia (CZ) and crystal, or natural gemstones like petalite, white sapphire and white zircon. So regardless of your budget, you can add a little sparkle to your life.

Crystal cube necklace

Crystal Cube Necklace

Spring Greens

3/12/2018

Say "March" and immediately most people think St. Patrick's Day, spring or green. I think of these stunning green and spring-like gemstones.

Emerald is at the top of the list of green gems. It has been treasured for its lush green hue since antiquity. The first known emerald mines were in Egypt and date from 330 B.C. It is believed that emeralds reveal the truth and protect against evil spirits. It is also the stone of fertility and rebirth.

Emerald Rough

Emerald Rough

Grossular Garnet Beads

Grossular Garnet Beads

Green Garnet comes in two different mineral types, grossular and andradite. Tsavorite is a highly sought after gem-quality green grossular garnet that can rival emerald in color. Demantoid is a rare green andradite garnet that has the sparkle of a diamond. Green garnet is a stone of confidence and service.

Peridot ranges in color from yellow/green to deep chartreuse. It has been mined as early as 1500 B.C. and is the national gem of Egypt. In artificial light, it glows a brilliant green and thus has been named "Evening Emerald." It is thought to promote wealth and power, and to ward against nightmares and jealous thoughts.

Peridot & Bronze Earrings

Peridot & Bronze Earrings

Prehnite & Bronze Necklace

Prehnite & Bronze Necklace

Prehnite, a beautiful apple-green stone, was first described in 1788 in South Africa. It is named after colonel Hendrik von Prehn (1733-1785), a mineralogist and early governor of the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope. Prehnite is thought to enhance inner knowledge and is called the stone of unconditional love.

Serpentine, a green mineral sometimes mottled like the skin of a snake, is not one mineral but a group of minerals with the same chemical formula but different structures or crystal lattices. Serpentine has been used for jewelry, ornamental carvings and in architecture for centuries. Because it can be similar in appearance to jade, it is sometimes called "New Jade." Serpentine is said to help you find inner peace and balance mood swings.

Serpentine & Sterling Pendant

Serpentine & Sterling Pendant

Add a little spring to your wardrobe with these and other beautiful green gemstones.

2018 Color of the Year

1/9/2018

Pantone's Color of the Year is Ultra Violet - a blue based purple. Pantone describes Ultra Violet as an enigmatic purple shade that evokes the inventive spirit and imaginative thinking that challenges the status quo.

According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, from exploring new technologies and the greater galaxy to artistic expression and spiritual reflection, intuitive Ultra Violet lights the way to what is to come.

The Pantone Color Institute, most commonly referred to as simply Pantone, is the global color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. These standards allow the exact same color to be used across a variety of products as diverse as home furnishings, paint, cosmetics, clothing, and linens.

Here are just a few of the many purple gemstones that will be featured in jewelry this year.

Amethyst (left) is the ideal Ultra Violet gemstone in both color and meaning. It symbolizes piety, humility, sincerity and spiritual wisdom. It is believed that amethyst has the power to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken intelligence. Amethyst is also thought to prevent drunkenness.

Kunzite is light violet in color. It is believed to increase intuitive powers and to protect against harmful spirits.

Lepidolite (right) is a form of mica and comes in soft shades of lilac. It is thought to foster peaceful and calming energies.

Sugilite ranges from pale lavender to deep violet. It is said to encourage peace of mind and reduce stress.

In addition to gemstones, crystal, glass and cubic zirconia beads will abound in this complex deep purple.

Regardless of your budget, you'll be able to find just the right piece of jewelry in the 2018 Color of the Year - Ultra Violet.

Splendid Sapphire - September's Birthstone

9/18/2017

Sapphire is one of the four precious gems (diamond, emerald and ruby are the other three). It is the birthstone for September and for the Zodiac signs Pisces, Taurus, Virgo and Sagittarius.

Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium color the corundum blue, yellow, purple, orange, green or pink. When chromium impurities in corundum yield a red stone, it is called ruby. Pure corundum has no traces of other elements and is called white sapphire. When the trace elements produce an orangey pink corundum, it is called padparadscha which means lotus flower in Sinhalese, the language spoken in Sri Lanka where stones of this color were originally found.

Star sapphires contain intersecting needle-like inclusions that cause the appearance of a six-rayed star. The inclusion is often the mineral rutile. Star sapphires can be any color from shades of blue to pink, orange, yellow, green, lavender, gray or black. The most desirable color is a vivid intense blue.

Color-change sapphire is a rare variety which exhibits different colors in different types of light. The stones are blue in outdoor light and purple under incandescent indoor light.

Tradition holds that Moses was given the Ten Commandments on tablets of sapphire, making it a sacred gemstone. Ancient Persians believed sapphire gave heaven its blue color. In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced sapphires protected them from envy and harm. Because sapphires represent divine favor, they were the gemstone of choice for kings and high priests. Ordinary people thought sapphires attracted heavenly blessings.

Sapphires symbolize truth, compatibility, commitment and mutual understanding which make them the perfect gem for engagement rings. They are also said to contribute to mental clarity and perception. Sapphires are also believed to promote financial rewards.

More about sapphires and other gemstones can be found in Jewelry Facets.