The Gemstone Blog

I was trying to figure out what my wife wanted for Christmas, to no avail. Our standard conversations would go something like this: “So I was at the mall the other day and I was thinking about a new scent for myself.”

“For you?” she said.

“Yeah. My old scent is a little too evening. I need something more daytime, more sprightly. Any ideas?”

“Well something floral maybe, with a touch of citrus to make it more masculine. Stay away from citrus. Floral. Floral. Floral.”

“But be careful, scents with any floral aspect can often be too feminine. It’s nice being able to choose from different scents,” she said. “I’m glad I have so many. If you want me to go with you to choose I will. It can be really hard choosing a new cologne.”

Which I took as a hint to mean, I don’t need any more perfumes, and don’t even think of getting me one without my permission. So I began thinking about other presents. Technology is a good idea, right? A new iPod, except she has an iPhone she can use as an iPod. I could get her an iPad, but she has a laptop she takes everywhere already. But there was always the chance that she wouldn’t like it, that my new present would burden her under technology and instead of talking to me at the dinner table she would alternate between texting, typing, and internet searching. Plus in another couple of years it would be dated and obsolete. Body scrub? No. Knowing what she’d get me (something expensive no doubt), it would come across as too first date. We were married!

If she was going to drop dough on me, I’d have to get her something nice. Jewelry. Of course. It’s expensive enough to impress her and make her feel like our presents are equal (although I don’t necessarily have to break the bank); she’ll have it forever and can never have too much in her collection; and I know her style so there’s little chance that I’ll choose the wrong thing.

I went to my local jeweler and bought her an elegant pair of diamond earrings. I know she likes sapphire jewelry, but I didn’t know if she’d wear sapphire gemstone rings as often as diamond earrings. And on Christmas morning, she clapped her hand to her mouth and nearly cried.

“They’re gorgeous,” she said.

What did she get me, you ask? An iPad.

Le Varon has gorgeous sapphire jewelry and ruby jewelry.

A great joy of the holiday season is watching your loved ones unwrapping their gifts. Imagine the looks on their faces if you take the time and care to give them handmade beaded jewelry or accessories.

There’s something almost magical about handcrafted gifts. But what if you’re not a crafty person blessed with lots of time? You can still purchase unique handmade jewelery created with care and love by someone else.

Whether you connect with artisans at your local farmers market, online or at a seasonal pop-up store, there is a whole world of bead earrings or gemstone jewelry available for your perusal. A line from an old nursery rhyme – “With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she shall have music wherever she goes” – seems apt. Perhaps there won’t be bells, but certainly rings – and even ankle bracelets, beaded fan pulls or purse charms.

Part of the fun is learning about the various qualities of the gemstones used in handmade jewelry. For instance, the birthstone for December is turquoise. Used since ancient times for personal adornment, turquoise is said to impart a cheerful mindset and to contribute to the wearer’s health. There are gemstones for each season. Besides turquoise, purple Czech glass beads, sapphire, peridot, and amethyst are prized for winter.

Here are some properties and their associated stones:

• Readiness for action – amethyst, fire opal and turquoise

• Communication with angels – angelite, celestite

• Fulfillment of desires – amber, malachite, mematite

• Love – chrysoprase, emerald, moonstone, rhodochrosite, rose quartz, ruby

• Protection – agate, tiger eye, smokey quartz

And for New Year’s giving:

• New Beginnings – garnet, moss agate

• Goal setting – watermelon tourmaline, lepidolite

Additionally, certain colors have associated meanings. Red is associated with action and confidence. So, if there is someone on your list who needs a little boost, why not gift them a red beaded necklace?

Green is the color of nature and fertility, self-respect, well being, balance, healing, money, change and transformation. The ancient Egyptians believed in green so much they used green eyeliner. Some green gemstones you could look for in your handmade jewelry selections could be emeralds, peridot, malachite or green Irish Blessings stones. Just picture that sparkling array of jewels!

So whether you’re looking for a special handmade beaded accessory for your funky cousin or a slick crystal number for your honey, there is a one-of-a-kind piece of handmade beaded jewelery just waiting for you to find it.

Irrespective of the choices of the wardrobe departments on some TV shows, a businesswoman dressed in halter tops and miniskirts and covered with glittering jewels is totally unrealistic. Or at least, it should be. No matter how full her jewelry box may be, the well-dressed professional will be tastefully conservative in her choice of accessories, especially when it comes to bangles, bracelets and earrings. This is not to say that no jewelry at all is to be worn to the office, just that it should be kept to a minimum: one or two tasteful pieces of gemstone jewelry or medium-length bead earrings, for example.

In terms of gemstones, color is more the deciding factor than size. The fact is, one of the oversize rings that are now seen everywhere are fine with a business suit, as long as it isn’t garish and doesn’t clash with the outfit. In other words, if you’re wearing a red power suit, you don’t want to slip a purple amethyst on your finger. Better to go with simple gold or silver, or neutral moonstones, diamonds or pearls.

Absolute no-nos are noisy charm bracelets whose jingling is anything but charming to fellow co-workers, anklets that give off a distinctly sleazy impression, and earrings that hit the shoulders. Always acceptable are tasteful pendants; tennis bracelets; one ring per hand; classy bead earrings; and of course, one or more strings of pearls, which can be worn with anything at any time.

The scarcity of jobs has made proper business dress more important than ever; applicants who show up looking unkempt, under or overdressed, or displaying overall poor taste in attire will surely be eliminated at first glance, regardless of qualifications. On the other hand, the man or woman who presents a professional appearance exudes confidence and is more likely to draw the attention of management. In fact, clothing has taken on so much importance in the workplace that many companies have instituted dress codes, which are strictly enforced. These rules are particularly important when employees interact directly with clients or customers, since they represent the company and its image.

Most businesses insist on a conservative look, with inconspicuous, tasteful jewelry used to accessorize. The only places that encourage trendy glitz are those that sell these items and use employees to model them. Otherwise, the watchword is “professional,” meaning muted colors; clean and well-pressed outfits; and unobtrusive accessories, including gemstone jewelry and handmade, beaded earrings.

Those who keep an eye on the red carpet and its denizens have noticed small, but significant changes in recent jewelry trends. For the most part, both beaded jewelry and handmade jewelry are still big and bold, but the look comes more from quantity rather than the size of individual pieces.

For example, rather than one big cuff, fashion conscious women are wearing several midsize bangles in various colors, layered from wrist to mid-arm or above. Necklaces follow the same trend: three or more pieces are seen worn together instead of the wide chin-to-clavicle collars featured in the past few years.

One fashion rule this year that has been largely ignored in recent years is that colors may differ, but materials should match. That is, silver, gold and enamel should not be mixed: choose one and stick to it seems to be the general rule. The same holds true for all pieces worn at the same time; they can be of various colors and in wildly interesting shapes, but they should all be made of the same material, regardless of the number a woman chooses to wear. And, it is important that each piece, when layered, does not compete, but rather complements the other pieces.

Silver chains are slightly more popular than gold this season, a trend which may reflect the faltering economy. They can, however, be as intricate and interesting as the wearer likes and can be combined with gemstone jewelry, as long as it too is set in silver. Earrings are becoming more extravagant than ever, longer and bolder, and big bold rings for any finger are still fashionable.

Color choices are important on two levels. First, of course, colored jewelry should complement an outfit, but it also sends subconscious signals of mood and status. For example, red signifies heat, which can reflect either anger or passion but is always an attention-getter. Blue delivers a message of dependability and a demeanor that says, in effect, “trust me”, which is one reason it is known to be the most popular color in the entire spectrum. Blue is closely followed by calm and peaceful green, probably the best bet for those indecisive times. To exude an aura of class and free-spirited creativity, purple is the way to go, while white is the all-purpose color that whispers cleanliness and purity. Orange seems to be a popular color this year as well, but one must take care in mixing this bold eye catcher with the rest of an outfit. Generally speaking, orange is being used as accent piece with an otherwise less ostentatious outfit. If large, it can be used as a stand-alone accessory. And of course, for the mysterious femme fatale effect, nothing says sophistication as clearly as black.

To display one’s jewelry to its fullest effect, it should be worn against a backdrop of a simple ensemble. On the other hand, a high-fashion designer dress should not be overpowered by jewels that scream for attention. Needless to say, the occasion for which one is dressing plays a large part in the selection of jewelry as well; gaudy accessories at the office do not lead to promotions, and of course wedding dresses should stand alone and accessorized with smaller jewelry pieces. Possibly the best advice when a choice is difficult: you can never go wrong with pearls, which by the way, are again very in vogue this year.

In the world of gemstone jewelry, sometimes the true quality of the bauble under consideration is less than meets the eye. For consumers who are purchasing higher quality jewelry here are some important questions:

• Is it real or synthetic? Real stones are scarcer because they are made by nature. It is a time intensive process that requires just the right ingredients to produce a gemstone, and of course, this is what makes them more expensive. Synthetics are made in labs where conditions are simulated. The can be produced in fairly large quantities in short time periods making them less expensive. This is the law of supply and demand in action.

• Do the stones look perfect? Believe it or not, in this case, since natural stones have been tossed about by their environment, less than perfect is an indication of real and is more desirable. The flaws make each gemstone a one-of-a-kind piece – and one-of-a-kind is always more valuable. Synthetics are produced in a controlled lab environment and so there are no flaws; making them perfect, but indistinguishable from every other stone of the same batch.

• How sparkly are they? Synthetics often sparkle more due to all that burnishing and lack of inclusions (other minerals or flaws).

• How heavy are the stones? Synthetics tend to be heavier in the hand because they are denser; however unless you are holding a pretty large stone, this is difficult to perceive.

If gold jewelry is the target, buyers should be aware that “gold” jewelry from China, Hong Kong, and many other countries and vendors tends to be gold-plated, not the genuine article Be sure to check for the carat mark on the gold, and never assume the gold is solid.

If the goal is simply to obtain something fun, attractive and relatively inexpensive, today’s excellent synthetics, such as Moissanite, a man-made diamond, should be perfectly acceptable. In fact, the more synthetics that are produced, the better the quality of those found online and in the stores. For the discerning buyer though or those who regularly shop for good or handmade gemstone jewelry, shopping from a reputable dealer is a must, as they will tell you if you are looking at real or synthetic; and you should also consider getting equipped with some jewelry detective equipment – a gold tester and a jeweler’s loupe at the very least. It is a good idea to have a grasp of how experts judge gemstone quality. Both diamonds and gemstones are scrutinized for cut, caret weight, color and clarity; though color and clarity are judged differently for gemstones:

• Color – including hue (are other colors mixed in?), tone (light? Medium? Dark?), and saturation (a measure of how much brown or gray hues are present)

• Clarity – the Gem Institute of America has classified gemstones into three classes, with one being the clearest (think Aquamarines) to three, exemplified by Emeralds.

Some enhancements or treatments are accepted as normal, provided the modifications are of a permanent nature, such as heating, oiling, waxing, irradiation, bleaching or dying to alter color or clarity. In fact, these treatments are pretty much the norm. However, again, an untreated, natural gemstone is the scarcest and if exceptional, the most expensive.

“Buyer beware” is still a valid admonition. Get educated; do your homework on the merchant in question and then, once you know what you are purchasing, whether real or synthetic, enjoy!

Lately, selling gold jewelry and jewelry with gemstones are increasingly becoming very popular because of the escalating gold and rare metal prices. If you surf the web, you will observe the growing trend of people selling gold jewelry for money on the web. Before you buy any of these jewelry pieces, there are some important things you must know.

Not only are gemstones beautiful, but they can very tastefully complement any piece of jewelry. If you did your research on all that is available with gemstones, you may be astonished at the diversity you will find. Actually, there is more to buying gemstone jewelry than you realize, and that is why we offer these helpful suggestions.

Authenticity is a favorite term jewelers like to throw out there and another one is “value.” Some things are easily understood, for example, buying gemstone fashion jewelry means you will not be getting something highly valuable. But the scenario we all want to avoid is being duped into buying something expensive when it actually has little value. Lots of people take possession of jewelry after a passing of someone, or they are given something, and legitimate questions arise about value. Yet, you can easily find reputable jewelers and jewelry appraisers who can provide a trusted evaluation. The people who do this are licensed and accredited, and they have professional reputations to protect. If the jewelry piece has high value, then we recommend you be willing to pay a professional for the best type of appraisal.

Throughout history, many people have chosen gemstones not only for their beauty but also for certain healing or magical powers that they supposedly possess. Many people still believe this, and you can find many books and websites that discuss this topic in detail. Of course, you’ll find that different sources will attribute the same gemstone with different properties, so you have to decide what to believe. The power that some people attribute to crystals is related to this. While not scientifically proven, it’s possible that each gemstone has a certain energy that has an effect on the humans who wear it. If you believe in this, you have to find out which gemstones you most resonate with or that make you feel the healthiest, luckiest or most powerful.

Many people buy gemstone jewelry online today, and while this gives you the chance to access thousands of items you’d never be able to otherwise find, certain precautions should be taken. If you’re buying from a large retail or auction site, look for feedback ratings or customer reviews to make sure the seller is honest. You should also pay attention to the seller’s policy regarding returns. Don’t buy expensive jewelry if the seller doesn’t give you the option of returning it. Stick to safe payment methods, such as credit cards or Paypal, and avoid transactions asking for money orders or wire transfers.

Gemstones have been the favorite topic of so many books that you cannot imagine. Before rushing out to buy a gem, take the time to study the subject of your chosen stone. Aside from merely trusting where you buy, you still would benefit from understanding your gemstone of choice and how they are graded, etc.

Before the advent of the new wave of elaborately created handmade beaded and gemstone jewelry, fashion accessories were more or less an afterthought when assembling an ensemble. The well-dressed woman would select her dress, gown or outfit, then select pieces to complement her attire. The guideline was that jewelry colors should match or at least complement the clothing, and styles should be similar. Nowadays, however, accessories have become so eye-catching, the fashion-conscious trendsetter is more likely to dress to show off her jewelry, rather than the reverse.

For decades, the arbiters of fashion had a list of unwritten rules for adding accessories. Conservative clothing called for conservative jewelry; ostentatiously large gemstone jewelry was in poor taste; matching sets of necklace, earrings and bracelets were definitely de rigueur, small women wore small pieces; only large hands could be embellished with chunky rings, etc. It was the audacious woman, indeed, who dared to flout these laws.

Fortunately, some forward-thinking jewelry designers, including those who specialize in handmade beaded jewelry are presenting fashionistas good reason to break the old rules. This vibrant new jewelry makes it possible for a woman to create as exciting a statement as she wishes as she adorns herself with pieces both intricate and delicate. Even the most petite women are flashing rings as big as ping-pong balls and necklaces that can double as breastplates, while a larger woman’s mood might call for delicate earrings and bangles to match. And, in this age of self-expression, both statements are completely recognized and acknowledged.

Whether you are a woman who favors costume pieces or one who prefers authentic gemstones, you can find them all and more in this season’s collection of accessories. Materials in a single piece can be as varied as diamonds and seashells, pearls and ceramic beads, often in unexpected combinations and complex designs. Handmade beaded accessories come in an infinite variety of colors, shapes and finishes and present day artists are letting their imaginations run wild in combining them into spectacular brooches, bangles, earrings and collars.

No longer must a woman select her accessories to “go with” her clothes. With the vast array of magnificent designs on the market, a woman can communicate her personality and mood through her choice of accessories, regardless of which backdrop of wardrobe she selects. A beautifully constructed item that combines precious metals, ceramic beads, gemstones and crystals will catch the interest of everyone who glimpses it and will give a quick perception of the style of its wearer. Accessories are no longer a last-minute choice but have rather become the centerpiece around which the fashion-conscious woman dresses. Whether you’re looking for class or flash, this year’s accessories are there to fill your wildest fantasies.

by Paul Easton

One of the most popular designs for a gemstone cut nowadays is the princess style cut. It is one of the newest additions available for the many different cuts of gemstones because of its great look.

The princess cut was first created in the nineteen sixties. It was made so that square cut gems could be made much more brilliant than previously. Square cut gems used to be dull and the cut wouldn’t bring out the best in the gems. That’s why the princess cut, with all its facets, was created and used often as it gave gems the highest brilliance.

JEGEM.com ~ Premier Artisan Gemstone Jewelry

The princess cut is not only beautiful, but it is very unique as well. It is as brilliant as many different round cuts, but its shape provides it with an interesting look that is more trendy and modern.

Also, princess cuts are cheaper than round cuts since the gem is used to its highest capacity and not a lot of stone is wasted.

Aside from being light on your wallet, gemstones cut with this style can also save wasted stones. With this cut, flaws can be hidden and it will be a lot easier to make the gemstones look clean and perfect. Not to mention, this will also lower the cost on your princess cut gem.

This kind of gemstone cut is popular because it mixes the classic designs and the modern ones too. It is cut in a classic square but by using modern cutting styles it makes it trendier and more fashionable, showing off the best of the gemstone.

Princess cuts can be used on different gemstones from diamonds to rubies and sapphires and all the other precious gemstones. It is a very sturdy and durable kind of cut, and will definitely still be trendy in the future. You can choose any gem to be cut with this style, so don’t be limited to the traditional diamonds.

Princess cut gems are placed on many different types of jewelry like necklaces, earrings and rings. It is a wonderful cut for engagement rings and is a popular choice for many couples.

Choosing the princess style cut for your gems in the jewelry that you wear makes a difference to the way that you look and the way that people will see your choice in jewelry. These pieces will always be in style and you can count on being able to use them for years to come.

About the Author:

Paul Easton is working with Daniel Joines the owner of Polished Diamonds. For High Quality Engagement Ring Designers at 1/2 retail shop available at: http://www.EngagementringDesigners.org/- The Diamond Ring Specialist

Article Courtesy of: Go Articles

by Wink Longnecker

The Diamond is the preeminent gemstone, the girl’s best friend. The diamond is at the pentacle of the gemstone tree. There are many other precious and semi-precious stones available.

Many do not command the price of diamonds but provide great beauty and can be made into striking jewelry and accessory items.

When we think of gems the first thing that comes to mind is the Diamond. There are many other very beautiful gemstones that deserve more consideration. There are other clear gemstones with a distinctive color like the Ruby and Emerald. There are also translucent gemstones like Agate. There are highly colorful gemstones like Topaz and Turquoise. The list goes on and on.

JEGEM.com ~ Premier Artisan Gemstone Jewelry

The various colors of gemstones is due to the specific impurities present in the stone. The Ruby is a special case of the Sapphire due to the presence of one specific impurity. While we generally think of the Sapphire as a blue stone it can come in many colors. It can also be a clear glass like stone or it can be translucent.

One of the most highly regarded members of the Sapphire family is the star Sapphire. The star comes from the light reflection pattern of a particular crystalline structure within the stone. This produces the effect of a six point star or twinkle floating within the stone.

In general gemstones are all hard materials. They can be polished to a high sheen to display their beauty. They are naturally occurring formations and various types can be found in many areas where the native rock is close to the surface. If there is a strong concentration in an area there are often mining operations in place to recover them.

Gemstones are used in all manner of jewelry and accessories. Not only rings and ear rings, but broaches, pendants, bracelets, and belt buckles can have gemstones embedded to add beauty. You would be able to find a gemstone accessory that would complement or accent any outfit. Men can accessories with gemstones as well. Belt buckles and men’s rings would be good examples.

While there are perfect gemstones that have a higher value than Diamond there are also many beautiful stones that are more affordable. There are also a broad range of colors from which to choose. Jewelry and accessories featuring various gemstones can complement any outfit or complexion. Broaden your horizons and start thinking about the beauty of gemstones now.

About the Author:

Wink has a website http://www.gemstonejewelrynow.com dedicated to the beauty of Gemstones. Check out some beautiful Gemstone Pendants or Gemstone Belt Buckles today. The beauty of gemstones will make you feel good.

Article Courtesy of: Go Articles