Colored Gemstone Choices for Fall and Winter 2017

After studying Pantone's color choices for Fall and Winter 2017, I selected the best gems for you that match the color palette.  These are gems that will compliment Fall and Winter's fashions in clothing and accessories; colors you may want to consider while planning your jewelry creations for later in the year.

Color Chart from Pantone.com

Grenadine - Red Coral

Tawny Port - Deep, Dark Ruby

Ballet Slipper - Rose Quartz, Pink Amethyst

Butterum - Browner Shades of Peach Moonstone,  Golden Moonstone

Navy Peony - Lapis, Sapphire

Neutral Gray - Gray Moonstone

Golden Lime - Peridot, Prehnite

Marina - Kyanite, Blue Topaz

Autumn Maple - Golden Moonstone

Color Trends for Fall and Winter 2017

Here we are, summer is just beginning, and I would like to share color trends for Fall.  Actually, these colors were announced by Pantone in February. Amazing. 

For more than 20 years, Pantone has been considered the global authority on color.  Each season, Pantone surveys the designers of New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week, to collect feedback on prominent collection colors, color inspiration and color philosophy. This information is used to create the Pantone Fashion Color Report, which serves as a reference tool throughout the year for fashion enthusiasts, reporters and retailers.  

This Fall, Pantone is highlighting London's color choices separately.  Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, has said this about the separate color palettes, “There is a commonality between the colors we are seeing on the runway in New York and London.  However, individuality is evident and we are seeing a distinct difference between the shows in the two cities in the way these same colors are being combined.”

In total 10 colors are chosen as part of Fall and Winter's color palette.  Here are two color charts to show you what you will be seeing in fashion and decor.  These charts may also helpful for you, as a jewelry designer, to know what gems to choose in your jewelry creations, that will compliment the current fashions. 

Top 10 Choices from New York - Color Chart borrowed from Pantone.com

Top 10 Choices from London - Color Chart borrowed from Pantone.com

Here is a brief description of each of the New York color choices:

Grenadine - "A powerful, evocative, dynamic red, Grenadine is a confident and self-assured attention-getter."

Tawny Port - "Taking the Red family to new depths, Tawny Port is elegant, sophisticated, and tasteful."

Ballet Slipper - "Descended from the Red family but with a softer touch, Ballet Slipper is always flattering and reminiscent of the rosy glow of health."

Butter Rum - "This snug, warming, and toasty shade is evocative of drinking a glass of Butterrum by a roaring fire on a cool autumn evening."

Navy Peony - "A mainstay for the season for both palettes, Navy Peony is a dependable and an anchoring shade. Solid and stable, the hue takes some of the load off of black as a go-to neutral."

Neutral Gray - "The standard bearer of all neutrals, Neutral Gray shares the anchoring role with Navy Peony in this palette. It can be used as an accent or a head-to-toe statement shade."

Shaded Spruce - "This is a green you might see in the forest – sheltering and protective as evergreen trees."

Golden Lime - "Earthy tones with a twist, the golden undertones of Golden Lime makes this yellow-green shade a refreshing complement to fall classics."

Marina - "Cool with an enhanced vitality, Marina is the only truly cool color in the fall palette that brings with it freshness and brightness."

Autumn Maple - "A quintessential autumn color, Autumn Maple is tawny and russet, introducing warmth into the palette."

(***All color descriptions are quoited from Leatrice Eiseman,  Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.)

Colored Gemstone Choices for Spring and Summer 2017

After studying Pantone's color choices for Spring and Summer 2017, I selected the best gems for you that match the color palette.  These are gems that will compliment Spring and Summer's fashions in clothing and accessories; colors you may want to consider while planning your jewelry creations for later in the year.

Color Chart from Pantone.com

Primrose Yellow - Lemon Quartz

Pale Dogwood - Rose Quartz, Pink Opal

Hazelnut - Light Shades of Smokey Quartz

Island Paradise - Aquamarine, Sky Blue Topaz, Turquoise

Greenery - Peridot, Chrysoprase

Flame - Red Onyx, Orange Shades of Carnelian

Pink Yarrow - Deep Shades of Pink Tourmaline

Niagara - Kyanite, Blue Sapphire, Swiss Topaz, London Blue Topaz

Kale - Green Tourmaline

Lapis Blue -  Lapis, Azurite

Color Trends for Spring and Summer 2017

Though we are all still in the middle of winter, the color trends for spring and summer of this year have all ready been chosen. 

For more than 20 years, Pantone has been considered the global authority on color.  Each season, Pantone surveys the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to collect feedback on prominent collection colors, color inspiration and color philosophy. This information is used to create the Pantone Fashion Color Report, which serves as a reference tool throughout the year for fashion enthusiasts, reporters and retailers.

Pantone chooses one main color that they call the color of the year.  This year, they have chosen "Greenery."  This is what Pantone has to say about "Greenery."

"A refreshing and revitalizing shade, Greenery is symbolic of new beginnings.

Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.

Greenery is nature’s neutral. The more submerged people are in modern life, the greater their innate craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world. This shift is reflected by the proliferation of all things expressive of Greenery in daily lives through urban planning, architecture, lifestyle and design choices globally. A constant on the periphery, Greenery is now being pulled to the forefront - it is an omnipresent hue around the world.

A life-affirming shade, Greenery is also emblematic of the pursuit of personal passions and vitality."

Pantone's Color of the Year 2017

In total 10 colors are chosen as part of Spring and Summer's color palette.  Here are two color charts to show you what you will be seeing in fashion and decor.  These charts may also helpful for you, as a jewelry designer, to know what gems to choose in your jewelry creations, that will compliment the current fashions.  

Color Chart borrowed from Pantone.com

 

Color Chart borrowed from BGFashion.net

- Niagara - "Comfortable and dependable and leads the PANTONE Fashion Color Report as the most prevalent color for spring 2017. Niagara is a classic denim-like blue that speaks to our desire for ease and relaxation."

- Lapis Blue - "Strong and confident, this intense blue shade is imbued with an inner radiance."

- Flame - "A red-based orange, Flame, is gregarious and fun loving. Flamboyant and vivacious, this wonderfully theatrical shade adds fiery heat to the spring 2017 palette."

- Primrose Yellow - "Sparkles with heat and vitality. Inviting us into its instant warmth, this joyful yellow shade takes us to a destination marked by enthusiasm, good cheer and sunny days."

- Island Paradise - "A refreshing aqua that calls to mind a change of scenery. A cool blue green shade that speaks to our dream of the great escape, Island Paradise is emblematic of tropical settings and our desire to unwind."

- Pale Dogwood - "A quiet and peaceful pink shade that engenders an aura of innocence and purity. The unobtrusive Pale Dogwood is a subtle pink whose soft touch infuses a healthy glow."

- Greenery - "A tangy yellow-green that speaks to our need to explore, experiment and reinvent. Illustrative of flourishing foliage, the fertile attributes of Greenery signals one to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate."

- Pink Yarrow - "A whimsical, unignorable hue that tempts and tantalizes. Bold, attention getting and tempestuous, the lively Pink Yarrow is a captivating and stimulating color that lifts spirits and gets the adrenaline going."

- Kale - "A foliage-based green that conjures up our desire to connect to nature, similar to the more vivacious Greenery. And, just as we see in nature, this lush and fertile natural green shade provides the perfect complementary background to the more vibrant tones in the palette."

- Hazelnut - "A key neutral for spring. This shade brings to mind a natural earthiness. Unpretentious and with an inherent warmth, Hazelnut is a transitional color that effortlessly connects the seasons."

 

Top 11 Ideas - What to Post on Your Facebook Page

If you have a Facebook Page, it is important to know what is helpful to grow your audience.  You want your followers to increase their engagement with your Page by Liking, Commenting and Sharing your posts with their followers.  Your goal in posting a post is to have you and your business be "seen," you want exposure. 

People are scanners when reading on the web, and definitely when reading the News Feed on Facebook.  You need to give them a compelling reason to stop and take a look at what you have posted.  In general, posts with a photo or video are viewed much more than text alone posts.  The following list is my... 


 Top 11 Ideas -  What to Post on Your Facebook Page 

1.  Photos

Home.  Eureka, CA. 

Sharing photos makes you more "real" to your followers.  They get to know more about you and what is important to you as a business owner.  People want to know that your brand has a heart and can interact with them on a one-to-one level.  Photo collages are a great way to do this type of share.

Ideas of photos to share:

- your artwork
- your work in progress
- your studio/office space
- you and/or your employees at work
- new equipment you may have purchased that you are excited about
- where you live
- places you've traveled to
- things that inspire you
- your garden
- your pet companions
- your family
- other interests or hobbies
- other artist's work that inspires you

2.  Videos

Photos and videos are viewed, commented on, and shared, much more than plain text postings. Informational, educational, tutorials, and videos showing your creative process are all interesting to your followers.

 3.  Humor

Humor is one of the best ways to connect to an audience.  If possible, it is best to share humor related to your business or industry.  This is a great way to show a lighter side of yourself and your business.  
 4.  Current News Events in Your Field 

Try to keep it positive.  You want your followers to have a good "feeling" from your share, and maybe even inspire them to share it on their page with their followers.

5.  Listings

This is your chance to show and tell.   Let your customers know when you have a new creation ready to buy.

6.  Blog Posts  

Announce when you have a new post to share, with a link.

7.  Customer Feedback and Testimonials

This is very important as a business.   Testimonials from previous happy buyers give proof to potential new buyers that shopping with you was a good experience.   Testimonials can be used to validate the value of your product, as well as your customer service level.

 8.  Expert Advice from Someone Else in Your Field

It is always good to share advice you may have, or you may have come upon, that would be helpful for your followers.   This makes following you a more valuable experience.

 9.  An Inspiring Quote from Another in Your Field

10.  Contests and Giveaways  

11.  Your Store Discounts and Sales

Customers quite often follow you for the value you can provide to them.

I hope this list is helpful for you in you ongoing Facebook marketing.

**If you do find it helpful and think it would help others you know, please Share.

Why are Some Gems Cut as Cabochons?

Mixed Gemstone Cabochon Assortment

A cabochon is a stone that is cut with a highly polished rounded or convex top, with or without faceting, with a flat or slightly domed base.

Technically, cabochons are not really "cut." Rather they are shaped and then polished. Before the art of faceting was developed, all gemstones were produced as rounded smooth topped cabochons, though some were intricately carved as well.  It was a much simpler task to produce a cabochon, than it was to cut a faceted gem with many faces.

Faceted gemstones made their appearance in European jewelry during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Once the technology and skill was available to facet gemstones, why were cabochons still produced? Different gems are cut as cabs for different reasons. In many cases it is because the gem has special properties that are displayed only when it is cut as a cabochon. Examples are gems that display the star effect (asterism) or the cat's eye effect (chatoyancy)  or iridescence (e.g., opal) or adularescence (e.g., moonstone).

Azurite Malachite, Smooth Round Cabs

Most gems that are opaque rather than transparent are cut as cabochons rather than faceted. You will also see lower grade material in gemstones such as sapphire, ruby and garnet cut as cabs. If the gem material has very good color but is not sufficiently transparent or clean to be faceted, it can still be shaped and polished to be a very attractive cabochon. It is also common to cut softer stones as cabs.   Minute scratches show much less on a cabochon than on a faceted stone.

(Information shared from GemSelect.com)

Helpful Tips for Your Etsy Business - Etsy Search

Have your sales seemed to have slowed down this year?  Maybe even the views to your shop?  I know mine have.  So I decided to look into why this might be happening.

Etsy is flooded with sellers right now: new and long time ones, retail and wholesale, handmade and not handmade.  Things have really changed since I started on Etsy almost 10 years ago.  And competition is stiff.   And so, once again, Etsy has changed it search algorithm, I believe it was earlier this year.  I came across this post, I believe in the Etsy forums, and thought it was good advice to help your listings be seen, and possibly move your listings to Etsy's first page of a search for products similar to your own.

I have been implementing these changes myself, and I have to honestly tell you, I am seeing good results. In the first 3 pages of search on Etsy, using my strongest keywords, my listings show up once.  But by page 4 in search, I have many listings showing up in search.  So I am seeing results. 


This post was written by someone named Sharna R., I believe in the Etsy forums, on Mary 17, 2016.  (I have edited and added clarifying information where I felt it may be helpful.) 

"I have found great success (in a matter of just a few minutes) in updating 4 things:

1.  Title - Put your top hit search terms as the first 3 words in your title. Go to your Etsy stats page, and see what the top three search terms are for your business.  Use them in your titles.

2.  Materials - Etsy uses this information when customers search for specific things.  In my leather pacifier clips rather than just having "leather' in my materials, I added "metal pacifier clip" since my top search hit is "leather pacifier clip." 

3.  Tags - This is HUGE!  Use phrases for your tags rather than just individual words.  You will find a lot more success if you are selling earrings to use the tag "geometric stud earrings" rather than "geometric", "stud", "earrings" separately.

4.  Description - Similar to Google, Etsy seems to have it's algorithm look for "interesting pages" so adding bullet point lists, links or quotes show Etsy that there's a variety of information on your listing rather than just a brief description of what the item is. 

My best advice is to search for your listings as if you were a customer to see where they come up (which page you're on) and try a few things to improve your listings to get on the first page of your top hits search terms.  Also, learning from those listings that are on the first page has been very valuable to me as well.  Even copying the tags and titles they use has given me good success."

Hope you find this information helpful for your business. 

We're Changing Our Name to Tiger Gem Store!

Me and Tiger, 2007

Tiger Bead Store was opened in October of 2007, and at that time, it started out as a bead store.  We carried all types of beads:  gemstone, glass, wood, clay, crystal, and lots of strands of pearls.  As the store developed, I kept adding new merchandise to see what kinds of gems and jewelry supplies my customers were interested in.

When I began to add cabochons and faceted gemstones, there seemed to be quite a need for quality gems at affordable prices.  And that is really what took off as far as sales went for the store.  So Tiger Bead Store, has really become a gem store.  And that is why the name change.

Only the name has changed.  The store is still owned and operated solely by myself.  You will continue to find quality gemstone cabochons and faceted gems, and superior customer service at Tiger Gem Store.  In a few months, I am also going to change the look of the store too, which I am excited about.

Me and Tiger, 2016

As always, if you have any feedback or suggestions for me, I would love to hear from you.  Thank you for all your support over these years.  And I am always here to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding gemstones or the products I carry.

Thank you.

Test Your Jewelry Knowledge with Fun Quizzes

Found something a little different on the web today that I wanted to share.  

The American Gem Society's website has five, just for fun, jewelry quizzes to test your general knowledge on jewelry facts, jewelry in pop culture, celebrity jewels, songs about jewelry, and royal jewelry! These are all timed quizzes.  And remember, they are just for fun!

Jewelry Facts Quiz

Jewelry in Pop Culture

Celebrity Marriages and Jewels

Songs About Jewelry

Royal Jewelry

What is Mother of Pearl?

Recently, I received some new mother of pearl cabochons for the store and when I was talking to my husband about them, he asked me, "what is mother of pearl anyway?"  And since I could not answer him off the cuff, I decided to look it up for myself and share what I found.

(By Hannes Grobe/AWI (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Mother of pearl, also called nacre,  is a combination of "minerals that are secreted by oysters and other mollusks and deposited inside their shells, coating and protecting them from parasites and foreign objects."  Nacre is the same substance that builds up and forms around a small particle or irritant that gets inside mollusk to form a pearl.  Because the nacre can take up a the whole of a  shell's interior, cabochons, with a larger focal area than pearls, can be cut and shaped from the shell.

Free form faceted mother of pearl cabochons available at TigerBeadStore.com.

 Mother of pearl is optically iridescent, strong and resilient.  It is considered organic in nature, in that it originates from a living creature, plant or organism.

Just some of the various shapes we carry in Mother of Pearl cabochons.

 (Some of the information for this post was shared from http://jewelry.about.com/od/pearls/qt/motherofpearl.htm)

Use Instagram to Grow Your Jewelry Business

Follow Tiger Bead Store on Instagram... Just Click This Link

 I just started using Instagram and I LOVE it!  Being an artist and a visual person, I love to look at photos and images that inspire me.  And I have found Instagram fairly intuitive and easy to use.

Instagram is a great social media platform for marketing jewelry because it is so visual.  Statistics say that there are over 130 million active users on Instagram every month and everyday, one billion photos are viewed and liked.  That is a lot of potential customers for you and your business. 

Would you like to know how to use Instagram to market your business?  Or how to get more followers and interaction with your brand?  I have searched the web and found some great articles with tips to show you some of the best practices you can implement to grow your Instagram following.  And increasing your following will consequently help grow your sales.

9 Marketing Techniques I Used to Get 39,000 Instagram Followers

Instagram for Business:  Everything You Need to Know

 52 Tips:  How to Market on Instagram

5 Best Types of Instagram Photos to Drive Engagement

47 Tips for Running an Instagram Photo Contest

Hope you find these articles helpful.  


And please follow Tiger Bead Store on Instagram...  Just Click this Link

Colored Gemstones for Spring 2016

Fashion trends in clothing and jewelry revolve around Pantone's color forecast every season.

After taking a good look at the color forecast, I like to make my own predictions for gemstones that I believe would be good choices to use in jewelry this year.   

Here are a couple of charts showing this spring's fashion colors...

And here are your gemstone choices that compliment spring's color... 

Rose Quartz (color of the year) -  Rose Quartz, Pink Opal, Dyed Pink Chalcedony

Serenity (color of the year) - Natural Blue Chalcedony, Aquamarine, Sky Blue Topaz, Blue Lace Agate

Peach Echo - Peach Moonstone, Coral, Apricot Agate

Snorkel Blue - Sapphire, Lapis, Kyanite, London Blue Topaz, Dark Blue Chalcedony (dyed)

Buttercup - Lemon Quartz

Limpet Shell - Sky Blue Topaz, Aquamarine, Amazonite, Apatite, Turquoise, Ocean Blue Chalcedony (dyed)

Lilac Gray- Gray Moonstone

Fiesta - Carnelian, Red Jasper, Red onyx

Iced Coffee - Smokey Quartz, Labradorite

Green Flash - Chrysoprase, Peridot, Prehnite, Emerald

Hope this helps with some of your creative choices this year!

Pantone's Two Colors of the Year for 2016

Photo borrowed from Pantone.com

For more than 20 years, Pantone has been considered the global authority on color.  Pantone chooses one color every year, to be the color of the year. This year, they decided to change things up a bit and chose two colors, Rose Quartz and Serenity.  

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, states, "Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times."  

She goes on to say, "As consumers seek mindfulness and well-being as an antidote to modern day stresses, welcoming colors that psychologically fulfill our yearning for reassurance and security are becoming more prominent. Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace."

So what does this mean for you as a jewelry designer?  For the color Rose Quartz, think pinks... of course, the gem rose quartz, but also pink opal and Tiger Bead Store's dyed pink chalcedony.

Gem suggestions for Pantone's Rose Quartz

For the color Serenity, think a softer, cooler blue.  Gems like natural blue chalcedony, sky blue topaz, aquamarine and blue lace agate are a few that come to my mind.  

You will find these colors being used throughout the year in clothing, jewelry, home interiors, paints, and many, many more places.  Keep an eye out for Rose Quartz and Serenity and see how many places you can find that use Pantone's color recommendations.  You'll be surprised. 
 

Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking Sites

As creative entrepreneurs, I believe we all have a limited amount of time to devote to marketing and social media outreach.  Because of this, I thought it would be helpful to let you know what I have found to be the most popular social media sites, currently.

eBizMBA.com, an online business guide that helps people find the web's best resources to grow an online business, ranked each of the following website's Alexa Global Traffic Rank, and U.S. Traffic Rank and came up with these results:

1.  Facebook

2. Twitter

3. Linked In

4. Pinterest

5. Google Plus+

6. Tumblr

7. Instagram

8. VK

9. Flickr

10.  Vine

11. Meetup

12. Tagged

13. Ask.fm

14. MeetMe

15. Classmates

Of course, if you are an Etsy seller, I would also recommend being active in the Forums and Teams.  I have found both places helpful for information, sharing, and letting other people know within the Etsy community about your business.

This has been updated to reflect the most current ranking as of March 2015.

Hope this information is helpful for you with your business marketing.

November's Birthstone, Citrine

Citrine Bullet Cabochons

Citrine is one of two birthstones for November.  The word citrine stems from the French word for lemon, and citrine gemstones range in color from pale yellows to deep oranges.

Citrine is any quartz crystal or cluster that is yellow or orange in color.   Most citrines on the market have been heat treated.   Specimens of low grade, inexpensive amethyst or smoky quartz are often cooked at high temperatures to produce the more profitable orange yellow citrine.   This is because natural citrine is found only in large quartz deposits in small amounts.  Citrines whose colors have been produced by artificial means tend to have much more of an orange or reddish cast than those found in nature, which are usually a pale yellow. 

In many amethyst deposits, the amethyst has been partially or fully changed to a darker brown citrine due to naturally occurring high temperatures, thereby changing the amethyst into natural citrine.

Citrine is found most frequently in Brazil, Bolivia, and Spain.

Citrine Round Cabochons

Citrine is often confused with the more expensive orange-yellow topaz and is at times sold as topaz by unscrupulous dealers.  The finest citrine gemstones have a pure yellow color that cannot be duplicated by golden topaz, which will always have hues of orange or brown to darken the gem.

Known as the "healing quartz," this golden gemstone is said to support vitality, energy and health while encouraging and guiding hope, energy and warmth within the wearer.


Information shared from:  

Bernadine Fine Art Jewelry,  Amethyst Galleries, Inc. and The AmericanGemSociety

Rings and Finger Significance

Are you someone who loves to wear with rings?  I know I do!  And did you know that each finger has a particular significance?   The specific finger the ring adorns carries deep meaning. Through the ages, people have slipped rings onto particular fingers to indicate authority, relationship status, religious expression, social standing, and much more.  

Ring finger

It is the fourth finger of human hand and people call it ring finger because it is believed that this finger of the left hand has a direct connection with the heart. It is a magical finger that a married couple wears rings on it to declare their eternal love for each other. This finger is also called Apollo because Apollo is the cultivation of love, beauty and energy. Wearing a ring on the right hand would help you to become more optimistic in your life. And it is advised that moonstone and jade are the perfect stones for the ring.


Thumb
As the first finger of human hand, it is the most independent finger. The thumb is connected with inner heart of a person. Wearing a ring on this finger on left hand indicates that you like to impose your will on others. Whatever, it will help boost your willpower. And you can wear it on the other thumb to show your ability to submit others' will. But please be attentive to any changes that occur in the time if you are wearing a ring on this finger. Perfect stones for thumb are ruby and garnet.


Index finger

This second finger is related to Jupiter which represents a certain kind of power. Kings in the ancient times wore rings on their index finger to show their power. Wearing a ring on this finger on the left hand means owning the ability to lead and the confidence that other will follow your leadership. And it represents being willing to take a less dominant role if you wear a ring on the other index finger. Blue topaz and amethyst rings are good for this finger.

Middle finger

It is related to Saturn and symbolizes a balanced life. Wearing a ring on the left middle finger represents the ability to tell right from wrong. While wearing it on the right middle finger means the tendency to look to others to provide guidance. It's better for you to wear quartz and coral ring on this finger.

Pinkie

People connect this finger with Mercury who is the energy of communication. And wearing a ring on the left little finger indicates you are a strong communicator, while wearing a ring on the right little finger means you are easy to understand what others are trying to explain.

(Parts of this article are being shared from the Learning Center at PandaHall.com)

Folklore of Sapphire, September's Birthstone

The word sapphire has its roots in several ancient languages: the Arabic safir, the Latin sapphirus (meaning blue), and the Greek word sappheiros for the island of Sappherine in the Arabian Sea where sapphires were found in ancient Grecian times.

Ancient civilizations believed that the world was set upon an enormous sapphire, which painted the sky blue with its reflection.

Ancient Persians called sapphire the “Celestial Stone.” It was the gem of Apollo, Greek God of prophesy and was worn by worshipers visiting his shrine in Delphi to seek his help. It was used by ancient Etruscans as far back as the 7th century B.C.

The sapphire was said to represent the purity of the soul. Before and during the Middle Ages, it was worn by priests as protection from impure thoughts and temptations of the flesh. Medieval kings of Europe valued these stones for rings and brooches, believing that it protected them from harm and envy. Warriors presented their young wives with sapphire necklaces so they would remain faithful. It was believed that the stone’s color would darken if worn by an adulterer or adulteress, or by an unworthy person.

Sapphires were once believed to be protection against snakes. It was said that if poisonous reptiles and spiders were placed in a jar containing the stone, the creatures would immediately die. The French of the 13th century believed that sapphire transformed stupidity to wisdom, and irritability to good temper.  It was also believed that if the sapphire was ground to a powder an ingested, it would cure colic, rheumatism and mental illness, and also improve eyesight. 

September's Birthstone, Sapphire

Sapphire, September's birthstone,  is a form of the mineral corundum, a normally drab grey mineral. Red corundum is called the ruby, while all other gem quality forms of corundum are called sapphires.

Typically, sapphires appear as blue stones, ranging from very pale blue to deep indigo, due to the presence of small amounts of titanium and iron within the crystal structure. The most valued shades of blue range from the medium-deep cornflower blue to medium dark blue, or slightly violetish blue.

Sapphires also occur in other natural colors and tints – colorless, gray, yellow, pale pink, orange, green, violet and brown – called fancy sapphires. These different colors are caused by different kinds of impurities within the crystal. For example, yellow sapphires get their color from ferric iron, and colorless gems have no contaminants.

The biggest source of sapphires world-wide is Australia, especially New South Wales and Queensland.   Australian sapphires typically are blue stones with a dark and inky appearance.   In India, Kashmir used to be a well-known source of the cornflower-blue stones. In the United States, a major source is the Yogo Gulch Mine in Montana that mostly yields small stones for industrial use.

Sapphires are commonly heated to improve their color and reduce cloudiness that is caused by inclusions. The inclusions are responsible for the "star" or "cat's eye" in star sapphires. 

One of the most famous sapphires rests on the Imperial State Crown, worn by Queen Victoria in 1838. It resides in the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. This gem is called the St. Edward’s Sapphire because it once belonged to Edward the Confessor, who wore the stone on a ring during his coronation in 1042.

(Parts of this post are being shared from the website Earthsky.org)

Spring Butterfly Pendant Tutorial

I just found this website called Slideshare which has jewelry tutorials on it to share.

This tutorial is for a wire wrapped stud earrings with crystal beads. It is called the "Spring Butterfly Pendant Tutorial," and it is by Kasia of Kica Bijoux for House of Gems. 

 

July's Birthstone, Ruby

 July's birthstone, the ruby, is among the most highly prized of gemstones. Large rubies are harder to find than large diamonds, emeralds and sapphires. As a result, rubies’ value increases with size more than any other gemstone.

Ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, also known as aluminum oxide.  The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. It is harder than any natural gemstone except diamond, which means a ruby is durable enough for everyday wear.

 Prices of rubies are primarily determined by color. The brightest and most valuable "red" called pigeon blood-red, commands a large premium over other rubies of similar quality. After color follows clarity: similar to diamonds, a clear stone will command a premium price.  Cut and carat weight would be the last determining factors in pricing a ruby.

All natural rubies have imperfections in them, including color impurities and inclusions of rutile needles known as "silk". Gemologists use these needle inclusions found in natural rubies to distinguish them from synthetics, or substitutes.  Almost all rubies today are treated in some form, with heat treatment being the most common practice.  Rubies that are completely untreated and are of excellent quality, command a large premium.

Rubies come from all over the world but good gemstones are found in India, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, North Carolina in the U.S., Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania, Kampuchea, and perhaps most notably, Burma.  The Mogok valley of Upper Burma is famous as the source for the finest and rarest rubies of all, the pigeon blood-red,  named for the stones’ intense red color. Another major source of rubies is Thailand, well-known for dark, brownish-red rubies. Both Thailand and Burma regard the ruby as their national stone.

(Information shared from the websites:  American Gem Society and Earth Sky.)