The Gemstone Blog

True love is a precious thing. True love can right wrongs and can make anything and everything better than it once was. True love can unite two people so thoroughly that to be apart from one another would be almost unbearable. True love is timeless and everlasting. Since true love is all of these things, why not celebrate it with something that can encompass all of these sentiments into one physical entity. I am talking about buying diamond jewelry.

Because of the precious nature of diamond jewelry, it only makes perfect sense for such an exquisite object to be a common gift to celebrate the love between two people. It has been said that diamonds are forever and there is a whole lot of truth to this statement. Many precious artifacts and jewelry items adorned with precious gems and diamonds have lasted a very long time and can tell stories about the persons who wore it, where it came from, who created it, and so on. Now as it was in the past, there have been many people who have celebrated their love for another by giving them diamond jewelry.

Can you not just tell the person you love that you love them? Of course you can and that simple act of saying a few choice but important words is very sweet. But every now and then you just do a little bit more than that. You are going to have to break your normal routine and go a step further. Or better yet, go several steps further than what you may have usually done. Just this little change of pace will be most appreciated by your significant other.

You have a lot of great gift options to get when you are trying to make your loved one feel special. Celebrating a momentous occasion, like an important anniversary or a birthday, is the perfect opportunity to give her a gift that will last her the rest of her life. She will look at that gift of diamond jewelry and think, “He thinks so much of me that he spent a great deal of money buying this for me.” She will also realize that you spent a great deal of time choosing the right gift for her.

When thinking upon what to get your beloved as a gift, think about giving her something like gemstone jewelry. You will not regret it any time soon.

Le Varon has gorgeous sapphire jewelry and ruby jewelry.

It is that time again. You have to buy a special gift for your special someone. Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays: there are a lot of times when you just have to show appreciative you are that that person is in your life. You start off by making plans. This begins by reserving a table for two at her favorite restaurant and then you buy a new suit to wear for that evening. But what is missing? You have to get her something that she will love and will lost a very long time. But what could it possibly be? You think harder and harder and then it finally dawns on you: you have to buy her gemstone jewelry.

Gemstone jewelry is easily one of the best presents you can give someone. Besides the silver or gold jewelry, the gemstone can be tied to her birth month. If she was born in February, her birthstone is amethyst; if her birth month is May, her birthstone is emerald; if she was born in July, her stone is ruby. Every month has its own stone and it takes a few moments of research to find out which gemstone is the right one for her. Giving her emerald jewelry for her May birthday shows how much you care about her as a person and it is a gift that is in tune with something that is in tune with her life. Sometimes it is the little things like that that make your relationship much sweeter.

Besides buying gemstone jewelry specifically for your loved one’s birth month, you can buy jewelry that matches her favorite outfits. If she has a favorite deep blue outfit she likes to wear on special, rare occasions, then a matching set of sapphire jewelry go very well with it. With that said, you can buy her jewelry with her favorite color. She will definitely love and appreciate that you pay attention and know every single detail of what she likes. Barring this you can always fall back to diamond jewelry, which is always a great gift to give her.

The next time a special day or momentous occasion comes up, buying her jewelry that is closely in line with her as a person will make her extremely appreciative. You make to make the process of gift-giving both personal and meaningful. Roses and cards, though meaningful, are pretty normal and mundane. But buying her gemstone jewelry is something altogether different and special.

Le Varon has gorgeous sapphire jewelry and ruby jewelry.

Aquamarine is a light blue gemstone that was discovered around two thousand years ago. The name of stone has its origins in the Latin language. It is a combination of “aqua” – which means “water” and “mare” with translates to “sea” in Latin. The Greeks are credited with the first use of aquamarine for jewelry around the fourth or fifth century BC. From here, aquamarine spread around the world along established trade routes. As time passed, the popularity of aquamarine increased, and peaked around the seventeenth century. When it comes to jewelry applications, the color of aquamarine has won the hearts of jewelry aficionados around the world. This is because the light blue color of the stone is quite neutral and as such, can be easily matched with all skin tones and eye colors. In fact, the color is so very mild that it is often used in jewelry and ornaments for babies and young children. Light colored stones can sometimes be heat treated to intensify their colors. In most cases, the change in color is permanent. One interesting note about aquamarine – it is found in nature in crystalline as well as in glassy or amorphous forms. The glassy form is often found in odd shapes, some with holes in them.

Jewelry designers prefer to use stones that have an intense and deep color. Stones that have tinges of yellow and brown are considered to be less valuable and less desirable compared to specimens with a pure blue color. One disadvantage of the light color of this stone is that flaws are readily apparent even to an inexperienced observer. Stones that contain flaws such as inclusions and fracture planes are not as valuable as flawless specimens. Cutting and polishing aquamarine specimens are relatively easy and therefore easy to work into a wide range of jewelry designs and patterns. Aquamarine is almost always cut with facets for jewelry applications.

Aquamarine is mined in various countries around the world. However, Brazil is undisputed leader in aquamarine production – both in terms of the quality of specimens found here as well as the volume to aquamarine supplied to markets around the world. Among the notable finds in this country are the stunning 200-lb specimen found near Marambaia, and the 50- plus pound Dom Pedro. African countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, and Mozambique are also important producers of aquamarine. Mozambique in particular quite often produces specimens that are said to rival the best specimens found in the Brazilian mines. On the Asian continent, India, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have some aquamarine producing mines. However, the quality of Asian aquamarine is moderate at best, and is often only suited for costume or fashion jewelry applications. The United States of America is a relatively small producer on the world scene, even though this stone is found in several states around the country. Specimens from Massachusetts deserve special mention because the blue color of these stones is so intense that they are often compared to sapphires. One negative aspect of American specimens is that are usually small in size and difficult to process.

Author Bio: Mr. Arnold is an amateur gemologist and writes about silver jewelry and gemstones jewelry. He is a geologist by profession.

“Diamonds are a woman’s best friend.”, is the common saying about the world’s most valuable gemstone. Diamonds are an extremely rare and valuable commodity in the world market so its worth can be easily determined four factors: the cut, color, clarity, and carat. From there, jewelers can embed them into jewelry and create diamond jewelry like diamond engagement rings for people to purchase.

A diamond can be cut into a number of shapes including a heart, an oval, round, or a princess cut. Diamonds are graded on its color which can vary and also includes colorless. Yellow diamonds are very rare. One of the darker shades of yellow found in such diamonds is called fancy yellow. Another factor that determines the value of a diamond is its clarity. This is defined by whether or not a diamond has any flaws or blemishes on it. Most diamonds have “inclusions”, tiny scratches that were part of the diamond when it was created. A flawless diamond will have no such blemishes is not only exceptionally rare, but just as exceptionally valuable. Carat is the weight of the diamond and though it can factor into the end price of the stone, all the other factors have a major say in what the price will be. The cut, color, clarity, and carat are known as the Four C’s of diamonds.

Diamonds have been worth a lot of money for hundreds and even thousands of years. Kings, queens, monarchs, and the well-to-do have been wearing jewelry adorned with diamonds for a very long time. The 20th century has seen the industry grow to the point that you do not have to be the most important person in your country or even super rich to afford diamond earrings, pendants, and the like. A man with a wife and two kids living in a single family home can just as easily afford a diamond ring for this wife as a anniversary present. With many diamond importing companies on the market the competition helps drive the prices down. And just as important to the relatively affordable prices of diamonds are the number of vendors vying for customers looking to buy something special for their significant others. Sales, discounts, and the like offer even more avenues for the average consumer to buy jewelry for their loved ones.

Another popular saying is “Diamonds are forever.” When you give your special someone diamond jewelry, this is the same sentiment that you are sharing with the person you love.

Le Varon has gorgeous sapphire jewelry and ruby jewelry.

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.