Tip for emerald owners: clean your emeralds with a soft chamois or other cloth, using warm soapy water if needed. Do NOT use steam or an ultrasonic cleaner. Most emeralds are oiled and/or fracture filled and steam and ultrasonic cleaners can cause damage.
Brazilian emeralds are in demand for their stunning color and exceptional quality. http://gemstone.org/news/industry-news/277-brazilian-emeralds-rising-star-in-the-gemstone-world
Tourmalinated (tourmaline included) quartz is a type of quartz that has black or green tourmaline needle-like inclusions within it. The stone looks best when the quartz is clear but more common specimens are found where the quartz is whitish-grey. This uniquely patterned stone has a Mohs hardness of 7, so it is moderately hard but can scratch and get chipped.
Clean your tourmalinated quartz jewelry with water mixed with a small amount of mild liquid hand soap with a soft cloth, rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth. I have a sterling silver and tourmalinated quartz bracelet that I’ve been wearing for 3 or 4 years – the round stones have been unaffected by bathing soaps or shampoo, still looking as lovely as the day I made the bracelet.
Tourmalinated quartz has multiple metaphysical associations with it, including:
Chakra: crown
Below is a photo of a tourmalinated quartz trillion. We have a variety of loose gemstones as well as lovely completed pieces at www.dragondreamsjewelry.com.
At a recent show, we were asked about which stone is considered the “angel stone”. Apparently, there are multiple stones which are considered to be helpful for communicating with, contacting, or working with angels. Below are some of the stones I found, along with a very brief description of the angelic attribution for each.
Angel aura quartz, which is created by finely powdered platinum, silver, and other minerals are bonded to quartz, is also considered to be an angelic stone because the rainbow colors created by the coating seem like angel wings to some.
I also found another site that has a listing of a larger number of stones considered to be “angel stones”: http://crystal-cure.com/article-angels01.html
With all of the opinions out there, perhaps the best way to find an “angel stone” is to select the one that feels right to you. ◕ ‿ ◕
Out shopping for prom dresses with my daughter today, I noticed there was a lot of rhinestone and Swarovski crystal jewelry for sale. Faceted like gemstones, these faux gems sparkled from necklaces, tiaras, and other settings to tempt passers by. It made me curious about the composition of these prolific pretties.
Swarovski crystal is a brand name of Swarovski AG, a company based in Austria. Daniel Swarovski, one of the original founders, patented a machine to precision cut crystal stones in 1892[1]. “The characteristics of Swarovski crystals are unparalleled in both style and substance. Not only are their cuts distinct, but the assorted colors and shapes cover a broad spectrum. The brilliant sparkle of each crystal is actually resulted from a glass composition containing 32 percent lead.”[2] The faceted glass Swarovski crystals are even sold in fine jewelry stores alongside diamonds, sapphires, and other gemstones. These glass gems have a Mohs hardness of 6-7, which is harder than typical glass but still somewhat susceptible to chipping and scratches.
Rhinestones, used to simulate diamonds, can be made of paste, glass, or acrylic. “Rhinestones were so named because they were first made along the Rhine River of a composition known as strass, which was a vitreous or glasslike paste invented by and named after Joseph Strasser, a German jeweler. The- original rhinestones consisted of a. silicate of potassium and lead, combined with borax, alumina and white arsenic.”[3]
Cleaning rhinestone or Swarovski crystals is best done with a soft, dry cloth (like a chamois cloth). As some of the crystals may have a coating, you will want to rub gently so the coating is not damaged during the cleaning process.
[1] http://www.crystalfanaticsclub.com/about_swarovski.php
[2] http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-swarovski-crystal.htm
[3] http://www.4information.com/trivia/what-are-rhinestones/
In previous posts, we’ve discussed both sapphires and rubies, which are varieties of corundum. This popular, colorful, and durable gemstone is highly prized.
Corundum is now being diffusion treated with titanium and chromium, where the stone is irradiated to get the colorant to absorb into the outer layer of the stone. Another treatment, beryllium diffusion, has been common for years. Stones treated with any of these methods may lose part or all of their color if the stone is damaged or repolished.
It is possible that there are health hazards from these stone treatments. For example, chromium is toxic and may damage DNA cells. [1] “There is disturbing evidence that suggests the beryllium treatment poses a health hazard to the workers who process and cut the gemstones and to the merchants who handle them.” [2]
Surprisingly, irradiated gemstones are generally considered safe because of the mandated cooling off period and monitoring requirements. “NRC [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] requires that the initial distribution of these stones be by a distributor licensed by the NRC. This distributor would conduct radiological surveys of each batch of gemstones to ensure that any residual radioactivity falls below regulatory limits.” [3]
Sellers in the United States are required by law to disclose all treatments to stones they sell.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromium#Precautions
[2] The Jeweler’s Directory of Gemstones by Judith Crowe, p.50
[3] http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/irradiated-gemstones.html
This topic may sound dry and dull but it is relevant to anyone shopping for jewelry, gemstones or precious metals. We have seen recent listings (on a variety of auction sites) which misrepresent metals and gemstones. For example:
What’s a consumer to do? First, educate yourself. Do some research about the item you are buying – or seek assistance from someone who does. Know the characteristics of the gemstone or metal as well as market prices. If an item is selling for well below market price, that may be a warning sign. Second, work with a reputable seller you can trust. Positive feedback on an auction site or other website is no guarantee that a seller is trustworthy – far too many people purchase items from unscrupulous individuals without verifying their purchase. If you cannot trust the seller, be sure you can get a full refund should the item not be as claimed. Third, verify items you purchase. Inspect the item or possibly have an expert evaluate it.
If you find a disreputable seller, know that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is out there to help consumers. It is required by FTC rules that sellers disclose any and all treatments to gemstones, that is, the seller is responsible for informing the consumer. The FTC also outlines rules for clearly identifying metals and metal content so that the consumer is able to understand exactly what is being purchased. Details of the rules are on the FTC site here: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/jewel-gd.shtm
Some sellers make mistakes and will correct the mistake once it has been brought to their attention. However, sellers who repeatedly and intentionally misrepresent their products should be reported to the FTC.
The Latin ruber, meaning red, is the likely origin of the name ruby.
Prior to the 1800s, there was not a distinction made between red spinel, red garnet, and ruby[1]. As a result, some of the most famous rubies of the world are not actually rubies. For example, the Black Prince’s Ruby is actually red spinel. There are also a number of misnomers for ruby[1]:
Chatham ruby, Ramaura ruby, Linde star ruby are all names describing synthetic, flux grown ruby.
Ruby is a variety of corundum which has a purplish-bluish red to yellow-red color (sapphire is used to describe corundum of any other color). Ruby has a Mohs hardness of 9, making it quite durable and strong.
Clean your ruby jewelry with water mixed with a small amount of mild liquid hand soap with a soft cloth, rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth. You may want to use a toothbrush to clean under the stone. While rubies are not particularly light sensitive, all colored stones can fade with prolonged intense exposure to sunlight, so be sure to store your ruby jewelry out of direct light. As ruby jewelry can last many years, periodically check the prongs and/or settings to be sure the metal is still holding the stone securely in place.
Rubies can have fractures filled with oil, wax, paraffin, glass, or epoxy resin as fillers, reducing the visibility of flaws and cracks within the stone. When this has been done, the ruby is considered to be composite, reducing the value of the stone although the it will look better to the naked eye as the fractures will be nonreflective[1]. Rubies, like sapphires, can also be heat treated to improve the color. Most of the rubies we have seen recently in chain jewelry stores have been lab created rather than natural stones. Sellers are responsible for disclosing all treatments and whether the stone is natural or lab created.
Some of the metaphysical properties associated with ruby include:
Chakras: root, heart
[1] The Jeweler’s Directory of Gemstones by Judith Crowe, p.50
We have gorgeous ruby jewelry items on our site at www.dragondreamsjewelry.com.
Sapphire is believed to derive its name from the Greek σάπφειρος; sappheiros, meaning ‘blue stone’. However, there are a variety of possible word origins from Latin, Sanskrit, Hebrew, and other languages.
A 12th century writing by Abbess Hildegard von Bingen includes this use for a sapphire: “Who is dull and would like to be clever, should, in a sober state, frequently lick with the tongue on a sapphire, because the gemstone’s warmth and power, combined with the saliva’s moisture, will expel the harmful juices that affect the intellect. Thus the man will attain a good intellect.”
Sapphire is a variety of corundum which comes in a variety of colors, including pink, yellow, green, purple, blue, colorless (virtually any color except ruby, another variety of corundum which has a purplish-bluish red to yellow-red color.) Sapphire has a Mohs hardness of 9, making it quite durable and strong.
Clean your sapphire jewelry with water mixed with a small amount of mild liquid hand soap with a soft cloth, rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth. You may want to use a toothbrush to clean under the stone. While sapphires are not particularly light sensitive, all colored stones can fade with prolonged intense exposure to sunlight, so be sure to store your sapphire jewelry out of direct light. As sapphire jewelry can last many years, periodically check the prongs and/or settings to be sure the metal is still holding the stone securely in place.
Because these beautiful stones are durable and colorful, there are many synthetics and imitations on the market. Heat treatment of sapphire has been a common practice since the 1960s [1]. Most of the sapphires we have seen recently in chain jewelry stores have been lab created rather than natural stones. As always, be sure to ask your seller.
Some of the metaphysical properties associated with sapphire include:
Chakras (by color):
White, purple – Crown chakra
Blue – Third Eye and throat chakra
Padparadscha, Yellow – Solar plexus chakra
Green – Heart chakra
[1] The Jeweler’s Directory of Gemstones by Judith Crowe, p.48
We have many lovely sapphire jewelry items on our site at www.dragondreamsjewelry.com.
Here in the United States, the deep cold of winter is settling in. Just as you may not like the dramatic temperature change from warm indoor air to frigid outdoor air, many of your gemstones won’t like it either.
Sudden changes in temperature can cause some gemstones to crack or shatter, so not only should you take care to bundle yourself up, you should also take care to especially bundle up the following gemstones when you go outside:
The Greek word ‘amethystos,’ meaning ‘not intoxicated,’ gives amethyst it’s name – it was considered to be a strong antidote to drunkenness.
Amethyst is a type of quartz that can be found in all shades of purple – from light lavender to a rich purple that can display highlights of magenta when faceted, known as Siberian amethyst. Cape amethyst (also called amethyst quartz) is more opaque with color zoning in white and purple. Like all quartz, amethyst has a Mohs hardness of 7, so it is moderately hard but can scratch and get chipped.
Amethyst is sensitive both to heat and sunlight – both could affect the color of the stone. Try to keep your amethyst jewelry or stones away from prolonged exposure to intense heat or light and store in a cool, dark place when not in use. Clean your amethyst jewelry with water mixed with a small amount of mild liquid hand soap with a soft cloth, rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth.
Typically amethyst is not treated in any way, however synthetic amethyst does exist and synthetic quartz may be dyed and sold as amethyst. Be sure to ask your seller about the stones.
Amethyst has a number of metaphysical associations with it, including:
Chakras: third eye, crown
We have many amethyst pieces on our site and loose stones waiting to be set. Below is a 2.51ct amethyst set in Sterling Silver from www.dragondreamsjewelry.com
Gemstone & Jewelry Blog by Dragon Dreams Jewelry, LLC 