Blue Diamond Earrings

There are so many lovely diamond earrings that it is often difficult to choose the perfect pair. However, if you are looking for a diamond that is unique, the perfect stone would be a breathtaking blue diamond. Only red is more rare, yet still not as lovely as a cool blue diamond. Of the world’s most famous diamonds, the three that top the list are all blue.

The famous Hope Diamond, the Heart of Eternity Diamond and the Blue Heart Diamond top the list of the world’s most famous and priceless diamonds and it is not merely because of their size. While the Hope Diamond is an amazing 45.52 carats, it is not the size that makes it so unique, or even the exquisite cut, yet it is the sheer beauty of that crystal blue diamond that sets it apart from other stones.

Diamonds are steeped in lore from as far back as Biblical times and they have always been synonymous with priceless gifts. They stand for eternity, and are thought to have the ability to withstand unseen forces. A diamond is the hardest stone on earth and as such, was once believed to cut through anything that stood in one’s path. Perhaps these are the reasons why diamonds have traditionally been used as a sign of undying love when offered as an engagement ring.

As it should be expected, a gem this rare will be more costly than other stones. While diamonds generally are known to be …

EarringsJanuary 2, 2020January 2, 2020

Blue Chalcedony Earrings

Blue chalcedony is a popular gemstone with today’s jewelry designers. Chalcedony is a type of quartz known as microcrystalline, which means the crystals are undetectable unless looked at under a strong magnifier. It is common for chalcedony to be sold only as a one color stone, while other gems that fall into this category are given other names like agate and jasper. There are many different types of jewelry that this type of crystal can be made into, including blue chalcedony earrings. These earrings are ideal for anyone because the stunning shade of blue goes with anything.

The color of blue chalcedony ranges from light to medium. Some stones are more translucent than others. Sometimes this type of crystal has a pink or gray tint. Occasionally a chalcedony stone will have adularescence, which is a clouding commonly seen with moonstone. It is caused by the interference of light due to miniscule inclusions. This cloudiness does not mar the beauty of the stone, in fact it enhances it as it seems to float from within. Another thing you should know about the blue chalcedony stone is that it is often named based on where it hails from. The color can also be affected by the place of origin.

For example, Nevada and California offer Mt. Airy and Mohave Blue stones. These have a moderate gray tint and range from light to medium blue. The African country of Namibia also produces this stone, which is known as African Blue. This type …

EarringsJanuary 2, 2020January 2, 2020

Blue Sapphire Stones

There is something about the color blue that makes it the most favored color in the world. Psychologists say that there is something calming about the color as it reminds us of the sky on a clear day or the crystal clear depths of the ocean. Without knowing anything about blue sapphire stones from a gemologist’s point of view, they are among the most popular stones simply because of their color. However, in terms of a gemstone, sapphires are second only to diamonds in their hardness, coming in at 9 on the Mohs scale which makes them durable and easy to care for, and of course quite valuable.

What Exactly Is a Blue Sapphire?

The ‘funny’ thing about a blue sapphire is that you could say it is the same stone as a ruby only it is blue and not red! Both are gemstones of the corundum family of minerals but a blue sapphire gets its color from both titanium and iron impurities being present in the crystal while rubies derive their vivid red color from chromium. A sapphire then is any member of the corundum family that is colored anything but ruby red, and blue sapphire stones are not only the most beautiful, they are the most valuable. Going a step further, cornflower blue from gems mined in Kashmir is actually the most valuable of all the blues. Sapphires are only found in a few locations around the world, the most notable being Kashmir (India), Burma, Australia, Thailand, …

GemstonesDecember 23, 2019December 23, 2019

Natural Gemstones

Shopping for natural gemstones can sometimes be very tricky, as often, prices can seem to vary vastly on products that look nearly identical. For this reason, many people are often ripped off when buying Natural Gemstones. If you want to find out what’s good and what’s not, and also where to safely purchase natural gemstones from, you’ve come to the right place.

Advertisers can often fluff out the terminology for natural gemstones. At the end of the day they come straight from the ground, and although they will have been cut and polished, they will not have been altered in any others ways. Advertisers may try and use words such as natural, genuine, synthetic, simulated, treated amongst others to try and make out that their gemstones are superior to the rest, alongside them trying to justify the high price they are charging. Not to say everyone who advertises natural gemstones is trying to trick you, just a word of warning to look out for.

If you are looking to buy natural gemstones, always check whether it has been enhanced or not. Once a gem has been enhanced, a company can no longer label is as natural. To sum it up quickly, a perfect natural gemstone with no imperfections straight from the ground would be worth millions, as they are extraordinarily rare. Companies will enhance their gemstones to the same standards as the non-enhanced stones, but simply because they are not naturally perfect, they are worth nothing compared to what the …

GiftDecember 18, 2019December 18, 2019

Amethyst Jewelry

Amethyst is a gemstone that is used in various types of jewelry. The actual word Amethyst is derived from the Greek word amethystos, which has a literal translation of “remedy against drunkenness”. Amethysts, and all gemstone for that matter, are graded in the exact same way as diamonds. They are graded by their color, clarity, cut and carat weight. Amethysts are known as a variety of crystallized quartz, and are a member of the Quartz family, or to give them their scientific name, silicon dioxide. You will typically find that the crystal structure of an Amethyst is hexagonal.

Amethyst jewelry comes in a wide variety of natural shades and colors. These include purple, bluish-purple and reddish-purple. However, with that said, amethysts in their purest form are actually colorless. An amethyst will produce color due to the absorption of certain wavelengths of light. The color will consist of three separate components which are the hue, which is the initial impression of color. The tone, which is the term given for the lightness or darkness of color and the saturation, which measures the intensity of an Amethyst’s color.

The amethyst is also known as a birthstone for the month of February. It covers the zodiac sign for Aquarius which is known as the water bearer. Amethyst is also a wedding anniversary gemstone that is typically presented for the fourth and sixth year of married life. The amethyst as a birthstone also has certain properties that are associated with the zodiac …

GiftDecember 11, 2019December 11, 2019

Garnet Pendant

Due to garnet’s deep red color, similar to that of a red ruby, it is very commonly found in a selection of two and three-dimensional pendants. But garnet is not only found in a deep red color. Other, more rare colors exist, and are frequently found on high-end jewelry. These include andradite, spessartine, and the basic pyrope (red) garnet.

Andradite

Andradite can come in several different colors from green, yellow, orange, and black, and is mostly mined in Russia, however it has also been found along the Arizona and Mexico border. Perfect andradite gemstones are rare, and have significant jewelry value as accent pieces to other gemstones in the garnet family, or as standalone gems.

Spessartine

Spessartine is a very deep orange member of the garnet family. This particular garnet is mined all over the world, namely in Brazil, Africa, and in some parts of California. Mined spessartine is usually of very good jewelry quality, however the rarity of spessartine commands prices of upwards of $250 per carat for smaller size gemstones.

Pyrope

Pyrope is the classic “ruby red” garnet that most everyone knows. These are the most reasonably priced of all the garnets, however the price varies greatly with the deepness of the coloring. Deeper reds are considered more desirable and more valuable. This is the standard garnet for many birthstone pendants.

Two Dimensional Garnet Pendants

The natural red color of garnet contrasts nicely against a sterling silver or white gold setting, making it a preferred gemstone for bright …

DiamondDecember 9, 2019December 11, 2019

Swarovski Crystal Earrings

In today’s jewelry industry, there are certain elite companies that distinguish themselves by offering only the finest products, crafted solely from the highest quality raw materials. One such company is Swarovski, the brand name carrying worldwide recognition for their luxurious crystals and crystal jewelry.

Swarovski crystals are used to create crystal glass miniatures and sculptures and to adorn clothing, jewelry, chandeliers or other home decor elements. All Swarovski sculptures are inscribed with the brand’s logo, which evolved from the original edelweiss flower, to a “S.A.L.” engraving, and finally to the current swan logo.

The brand is nowadays recognized worldwide, sometimes to the point of crystal jewelry being uniquely associated with the Swarovski name. The crystals produced by Swarovski have earned their fame through their unique features: precision cuts, impressive clarity and marvelous sparkle. Swarovski crystals are used to create a wide variety of jewelry, from necklaces and pendants to rings, earrings and tiaras.

The reason why the Swarovski crystals are highly coveted in the jewelry industry is their unique appearance and brilliant refraction characteristics, as well as unparalleled cuts and innovative shapes. In order to obtain the rainbow spectrum refraction that Swarovski crystals exhibit, certain coating techniques are used. One of the most popular is called Aurora Borealis, or simply “AB”, which is a metallic coating used on some crystals to ensure that the light refracted by their surface disperses into a rainbow spectrum of colors. Such technique, in conjunction with a glass composition containing 32 percent lead, yields the …

DiamondDecember 6, 2019December 6, 2019

Pear Shaped Engagement Rings

Pear-shaped engagement rings are a very unique and popular option today. They are also referred to as a pendeloque or teardrop shape and are basically a combination of the marquis and oval cuts. On a pear-shaped stone, one side is round in shape and the other side tapers to a small point. There are many varieties with regards to stone choice, settings and size available.

The most commonly chosen setting for pear shaped engagement rings is the diamond solitaire. The actual diamonds can be found in many sizes and carat weights and the stone is normally set lying perpendicular to the band. This enhances both the size and the length of the stone and gives it a truly brilliant shine and look. Pear stones are normally set in either a prong or a tiffany setting although there are many other settings that are available.

Other styles for pear shaped engagement ring settings include accented rings which includes other stones that are lined up on each side of the pear-shaped stone. Other, smaller stones are typically placed around the center stone. These other cuts may include pear shapes, round and marquis cuts all of which make beautiful accents for the center pear stone. Cluster settings are another very popular choice. These include smaller clusters of gems that completely surround the pear stone in the center of the ring. Cluster settings normally include smaller round diamonds or other precious gemstones to highlight the larger pear-shaped stone. Many designers also add their own …

DiamondDecember 2, 2019December 4, 2019

Gemstone Journey Pendants

Gemstone journey pendants are made to celebrate a journey of sorts in a person’s life. This journey can be of many different types. It is a way to celebrate a milestone or any other special time in that person’s life. These pieces of jewelry are wonderful ways to commiserate that special day with someone and to provide them with memories for years to come.

The journey pendant is designed to resemble a lazy s. It is inlaid with gemstones that can be made especially for the person that the piece of jewelry is being designed for. These pieces are wonderful gifts for many occasions and can be tailored to the needs of the recipient.

Journeys can mean many different things to people. To some individuals a journey gift may be appropriate for a college graduate in order to highlight their journey through their educational years and to celebrate their success in completing their studies. Another journey could be a wedding taking place. This could signify the journey of a young woman who has completed her journey as a single woman and is now ready to start a new journey as a partner to her new husband.

Other journeys that can be celebrated with a beautiful pendant such as this include the birth of a new child. A couple is no longer just husband and wife but is embarking on parenthood and they want to celebrate that journey with a piece of jewelry that they can cherish for years to come. …