GEMSTONE INFO & JEWELRY CARE

All our jewelry is made out of Sterling Silver, genuine gemstones and/or organic materials.

SILVER Pure Silver is too soft for most ordinary uses, so, like gold, silver is alloyed, or mixed, with other metals to add hardness and strength. The standard alloy is 92.5% silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. In order for an item to be called Sterling, the law requires that it have a minimum silver content of 92.5%.

GEMSTONES

Amethyst is the most precious variety of Quartz. Amethyst is usually purple, from pale lavender to very deep, reddish purple and may have milky white or green inclusions. In ancient Greece and Rome wearing Amethyst was believed to keep from intoxication. The Amethyst is associated with royalty and great wealth and is said to bring good luck and to radiate love. Amethyst is the birthstone for February.

Black Onyx is a member of the Chalcedony group of minerals and is always dyed black and polished to a beautiful shine. To this day, the elegant appeal of black Onyx makes it the choice of those who prefer basic black.

Blue Chalcedony is a member of the Chalcedony family of micro-crystalline Quartzes. Blue Chalcedony is opaque in color, ranging from taupe to aquamarine. Chalcedony forms under tremendous heat, and is mostly found in rocks such as volcanic lava. Chalcedony was carved into cameos during Victorian times.

Blue Topaz By Nature Topaz is a colorless stone, Blue Topaz is irradiated or heat treated to give it the blue tint ranging from light aquamarine to dark sapphire blue. The ancient Greeks believed Topaz would give them strength. During the Renaissance, it was widely believed that Topaz could break magic spells and relieve anger. In India it was said, that Topaz worn above the heart assured a long life, beauty and intelligence. Blue Topaz is one of the December birthstones.

Carnelian is a member of the Chalcedony group of micro-crystalline Quartzes. Carnelian is translucent in vibrant colors from red to orange. In ancient times, Carnelian stones were said to benefit the wearer's health and love life.

Cinnabar An ancient art form, the creation and carving of bracelets is an intensive process requiring much artistic skill and patience. The wooden forms are dipped in layer upon layer of lacquer and allowed to dry. Only the most skilled carvers in China work with cinnabar lacquer. The artisans hand-carve the intricate dragon and flower designs.

Citrine is a gem variety of the mineral Quartz. Named after the French word for lemon, "citron". Citrine is found in light yellow, amber-brown, and a brilliant orange. Most Citrine comes from South America. In ancient times, Citrine was believed to be a gift of the sun and to be a powerful antidote to a viper's venom. Citrine is the birthstone for November.

Coral is the calcified remain of coral reefs and is organic in nature. Corals are found in many colors such as pink, white, red and blue, and have been used in jewelry for thousands of years. Jewelry made from Coral is in the group called organic jewelry, which includes all jewelry that originates from a living creature, plant or other living organism.

"Eye of Shiva" is the name of the small trap door (operculum) protecting the tropical Turban Shell sea snail from danger. After the sea snail's natural death, its protective door drops off the shell, to become a sought-after treasure. The exact shape of the spiral is unique from shell to shell. The color of the spiral varies from beige to deep green, depending on the sea snail's diet, while the background always remains pearly white. Eye of Shiva jewelry is in the group called organic jewelry, which includes all jewelry that originates from a living creature, plant or other living organism.

Garnet is the wonderful deep-red gemstone often found in antique jewelry. The name "garnet" is derived from the Latin word "granatus" because of its deep red color and its resemblance to the seeds of pomegranates. Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January.

Iolite , which means violet in Greek, was used by seafaring Vikings for navigating on hazy and cloudy days, which gave it the name Viking’s Compass. Iolite ranges in color from deep blue, to violet and light blue and grayish blue.

Labradorite derives its name from the principal location that it is found, Paul's Island Labrador, a region of Atlantic Canada near the island of Newfoundland. A distinct characteristic of Labradorite is its iridescent play of color (schiller effect) that occurs on surface. Labradorite's principal base color is blue, but it can occur in a wide variety of colors such as green, orange, red, and yellow. There are varieties from Madagascar and transparent varieties from India.

Mother-of-Pearl refers to the natural, iridescent coating linings the inner surface of the shells of oysters. Jewelry made from Mother of Pearl is in the group called organic jewelry, which includes all jewelry that originates from a living creature, plant or other living organism. Pearl is the birthstone of the month of June.

Peridot ranges in color from lustrous olive to bottle-green. Peridots have been adored since ancient times, and rival the green of a new spring day. Its history goes back more than 3,500 years and it has been credited with a host of magical powers and healing properties, such as protection against nightmares and possessing the power to ward off evil. Peridot is the birthstone for August and is also the suggested gemstone gift for the sixteenth wedding anniversary.

Rock Crystal is the transparent and colorless variety of Quartz. Long ago, people believed that Rock Crystal was a compact form of ice: in fact 'crystallos' means 'ice'. The best Rock Crystal has the clarity and shimmer of water. Art deco jewelry has many examples of stunning black and white Quartz combination of Rock Crystal and Black Onyx. Many people believe that wearing Quartz Crystals benefits their health and spiritual well-being. Rock Crystal is one of the birthstones for April.

Rose Quartz a member of the Quartz group of Crystals, Rose Quartz is a very pale and delicate powder pink, ranging from transparent to translucent. Transparent Rose Quartz is very rare, and usually so pale that it does not show very much color at all. Translucent Rose Quartz is much more readily available and commonly used. Rose Quartz is somewhat rarer than other varieties of Quartz.

Smoky Topaz , as it is commonly known is really one of the darker varieties of Quartz, with a deep, rich brown color.

Turquoise is one of the oldest known gemstones. Egyptian pharaohs were wearing Turquoise jewelry already in 5500 BC and Turquoise is the national gemstone of Tibet. Native American tribes in the Southwestern U.S. used Turquoise as a ceremonial gem and as a medium of exchange. Turquoise was believed to guarantee health, good fortune, and protection from evil. The name Turquoise means Turkish stone. Turquoise is commonly impregnated with plastic, colorless oil or wax to protect it and increase durability. Turquoise is porous, so contact with liquids, oils or even perspiration should be avoided. Jewelry made with Turquoise should be removed before washing hands, etc.

JEWELRY CARE

With a little care you will be able to enjoy your jewelry for many years to come!

Your jewelry should be the last thing you put on when getting dressed and the first thing you take off at the end of the night. Many gemstones as well as pearls and corals are sensitive to the oils in creams, lotions and fragrances. After wearing your jewelry, wipe it with a clean, lint free cloth. This is usually all the care it needs.

Storage: Store your jewelry carefully, separate from each other as it can get tangled and stones can scratch precious metals. Ideal is a large jewelry box or armoire with different compartments, but any drawer or box with a soft lining will work too as long as the jewelry does not touch. Individual fabric satchels can be a great and inexpensive solution to keep jewelry from touching.

Soap & Water: If your jewelry is dirty, all you normally need is a bowl with warm water, a little dish soap and a soft brush (a soft toothbrush works well). Soak your jewelry for about 10 minutes, then carefully brush away any remaining dirt with the brush. Rinse with clean water and carefully pat dry.

Commercial Jewelry Cleaners are usually no more effective than dish soap and water, but they are convenient. They are normally safe for diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, but may damage other stones. Never leave gemstone jewelry in a commercial cleaner for more than a few minutes.

Note! Commercial cleaners are not recommended for opal, pearl, coral, lapis lazuli, turquoise and emerald. They may damage or reduce the luster (shine) on these stones.

Ultrasound cleaning is not recommended for most of our gemstones. Ultrasonic cleaners are generally safe for Amethyst, Citrine and Garnet. Ultrasonic cleaners can damage Emerald, Opal, Pearl, Turquoise and many other colored gemstones.