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Silver
Silver
is an element that occurs naturally in the earth and is generally
considered too soft in its pure form for practical use in jewelry. An
alloy is usually added to make silver workable for jewelry. Sterling
silver is 92.5 percent (925 parts) pure silver and 7.5 percent (75
parts) alloy metal. Sterling is the primary material used for silver
jewelry, giftware, and flatware. Sterling silver will tarnish. This is
not a defect but the result of natural chemical process that occurs
when sterling silver is exposed to chemicals in the air. Humid
environments will accelerate tarnishing.
Rhodium
Rhodium
is a precious metal that is used in plating jewelry. One of its
attributes is that is helps prevent tarnish. Tarnish is not a defect or
result of cheap jewelry but the result of natural chemical process that
occurs when sterling silver is exposed to chemicals in the air. Humid
environments will accelerate tarnishing. Since Rhodium is plated over
sterling silver, it helps to prevent tarnishing. As a precious metal is
would most likely fall between white gold and platinum. Because it is
plating, you must care for any Rhodium Jewelry as you would for your
sterling silver jewelry (i.e. routine cleaning and avoiding excess
moisture and chemicals). The rhodium is plated over silver jewelry.
Unless otherwise noted, our silver jewelry is 92.5% silver. It is
combined with another alloy for strength as pure silver is too soft for
jewelry.
Care of Your Silver
Jewelry
Keep your silver in a cool, dry place. Sterling silver, like other
precious metals, can oxidize with time. It is a good idea to store
silver in a tarnish-proof cloth or in drawers lined with
tarnish-resistant strips. If sterling does become tarnished, it is
easily restored to its original gleam by using a polishing cloth
intended for use on silver. Or you may simply wash the jewelry or
silver object with warm water, rubbing in a little soap, rinsing and
then patting dry with a fine soft cloth. Avoid using tissue paper or
paper towels as they can scratch silver. Allow your jewelry to dry
completely before storing. Your professional jeweler should be able to
provide you with silver-cleaning materials as well as directions for
their proper use. You should never use toothpaste to clean your jewelry
as many brands contain baking soda or other ingredients that are too
abrasive and can cause damage. The best way to prevent tarnish is to
actually wear your sterling jewelry or use your silver items often.
However, don''t wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or when
working with household cleaners such as bleach or ammonia.
Gold-Filled Jewelry
Gold-Filled
Jewelry is made with solid 14 Karat gold tubing filled with brass. The
gold tubing makes up 5% of the total jewelry weight. This is known as
14/20 gold-fill. Gold-filled jewelry has the same look and feel of
solid 14 karat gold. The color tone is beautiful and natural.
Gold-filled Jewelry differs from gold plated jewelry in that
gold-filled jewelry has approximately 100 times more gold. Unlike gold
plated jewelry, gold-filled jewelry will not flake, peel or wear off.
With proper care, your gold-filled jewelry will last a lifetime.
Natural Pearls and Cultured Freshwater Pearls
Natural
pearls are nearly 100% nacre. Natural pearls form under a set of
conditions when a intruder or parasite enters and settles inside the
shell. Over time, the intruder is coated with nacre, thus producing a
pearl. Natural pearls come in many shapes, with round ones being more
rare. Cultured Pearls, like natural pearls, grow inside a living
organism. A mother-of-pearl bead or other shapes is inserted into a
mollusk. Over time they become coated with nacre. The depth of the
nacre coating depends on how long the beads are left in place before
being harvested. As the pearl is produced by a living organism, the
outer surface of the pearl will have varied degrees of smoothness. Care
of Your Pearls Pearls are more delicate than your average gemstone.
They may scratch easily if stored with other jewelry. So store your
pearls in a separate section of your jewelry box. As with all of your
jewelry, you should avoid exposing your pearls to excess moisture and
chemicals. In addition, you should wear you pearls after you have
applied your make-up, perfume or hand and body lotions. Routine
cleaning of your pearls with mild soap and water will help to maintain
the lustrous look. Be sure to store your pearls when they are
completely dry. Do not use abrasive cleaners on your pearl as they may
damage the outer coating of the pearl.
Tungsten and Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten
only jewelry is steel. It is not very hard and will scratch easily.
However, when tungsten is combined with carbon to create Tungsten
Carbide it develops an incredibly hard metal that can only be scratched
by a diamond. Our tungsten carbide jewelry is cobalt free as cobalt
usually creates a negative reaction when it comes in contact with the
skin. Tungsten carbide is one of the hardest materials, measuring
between 8 and 9 on the Mohs scale. Diamonds are 10, which is the
highest. The tungsten carbide jewelry will hold its shape and shine
longer that any other jewelry material. Zirconium Plating Zirconium
plating is plating used on some of our tungsten carbide rings. It has
the same appearance as 14k gold plating but the zirconium plating will
not wear off. Zirconium is a very durable metal as it is used in
nuclear reactors and for hip and knee implants due to its low
resistance to corrosion.
Gemstones
Abalone
- Abalone are single-shelled, warm water (California, Mexico, Japan,
and South Africa) marine gastropods belonging to the genus Haliotis.
Characteristic features of abalone include a single row of small holes
(used for the excretion of waste) and an iridescent interior that is
typically used in jewelry and ornamentation.
Amber
Fact:
The yellow to brown fossilized resin of a specific pine tree present
during the Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period (50 million years ago),
amber is mostly found in the Baltic, with smaller, newer deposits found
in the Dominican Republic. Frequently amber has inclusion such as
insects, plant parts, air bubbles, and pyrites. Amber is also known by
the name saccinite. Amber was the first precious stone in human
history. It has been used as a healing stone and amulet for at least
7000 years.
Lore:
Amber encourages a sunny nature and makes the wearer open and
spontaneous. Amber dissolves opposition making the wearer more flexible
and encourages creativity.
Amethyst
Fact:
The color of this violet to pale red-violet quartz stone comes from the
inclusion of Iron (Fe) within the crystalline lattice of the quartz
(Silicon Dioxide). Numerous countries have rather large deposits of
amethyst including Brazil, Madagascar, Zambia, and Uruguay. Other
smaller deposits exist elsewhere on all major continents. Amethyst is
purple quartz, a beautiful blend of violet and red that can be found in
every corner of the earth. Historically, the finest amethysts were
found in Russia and were featured in much royal European jewelry.
Today, while Brazil is the primary source of this gemstone, fine
material can be found elsewhere, especially in Zambia. This gemstone
has been associated with many myths, legends, religions, and numerous
cultures. English regalia were even decorated with amethysts during the
Middle Ages to symbolize royalty. It has been associated with many
myths, legends, and numerous cultures.
Lore:
This gemstone is believed by the ancient Greeks and Romans to ward off
the intoxicating powers of Bacchus, also is said to keep the wearer
clear-headed and quick-witted.
Black Onyx
Fact: Onyx
is a chalcedony that is colored black through the presence of iron and
carbon. It is formed hydrothermally or out of cooler solutions in
hollows in rock.
Lore:
The Middle Ages believed this to be a stone bringing bad luck. Since
then beliefs have changed. The onyx is believed fortify
self-confidence, and self-realization.
Carnelian
Fact:
Carnelian is chalcedony that contains iron and is formed in the
vicinity of alkaline and acid volcanic rock out of magmatic silicic
acid solutions containing iron. Red-brown carnelian is also called
sard.
Lore: Hildegard
von Bingen was the first person known to make a distinction between
orange and brown varieties. In the Middles Ages it was believed to calm
anger. Egyptians placed it in tombs to protect the dead. It promotes
steadfastness and encourages a spirit of community. It encourages the
wearer to help, be idealistic, and stand up zealous for a good cause.
Cinnabar - A translucent to opaque, red to pale blue stone, Cinnabar is composed of mercury sulfide.
Chalcedony
Fact:
Blue chalcedony is a pure fibrous quartz form at temperatures of below
100 degrees Celsius out of solutions rich in silicic acid, usually of
magmatic origins and rarely secondary origin. These solutions percolate
through fine cracks in rock and collect in clefts and solidify and
crystallize.
Lore: In
ancient cultures it represented air and water and was used for weather
magic and for healing ailments due to the weather. It has been
considered to the crystal of orators and used for the spiritual aspect
of the element air, in communication.
Citrine
Fact:
A type of quartz (Silicon Dioxide) that varies in color form light
yellow to yellow to light gold (orange), citrine is the most abundant
of all yellow gems, although natural citrine are rare. Like amethyst,
citrine gets its characteristic color from the presence of Iron in the
crystalline lattice. Citrine mines can be found in Brazil, Madagascar,
Argentina, America, Burma, Namibia, Russia, Scotland, and Spain.
Citrine can be found in a variety of shades ranging from pastel yellow
to dark brownish orange. It is one of the most affordable of gemstones
and plentiful in nature.
Lore:
Known as a "healing quartz", this golden gemstone is said to support
vitality and health while encouraging and guiding hope, energy and
warmth within the wearer.
Coral
- Made up of calcium carbonate or an organic substance, the coral used
for ornamentation represents the skeletal remains of a marine organism.
Coral is retrieved from the reef either by divers, nets, or
minisubmarines. The outer organic layer of the organism is sloughed off
and the skeleton is polished to obtain a high luster. The color of
coral is created by the presence of microscopic algae and other
impurities within their skeletons. The red coral that we sell has been
dyed to achieve the same look as natural coral.
Cubic Zirconia
Cubic
Zirconia (CZ) is zirconium oxide, an extremely rare mineral in nature
that is widely synthesized for use as a diamond simulant. CZ is a fully
faceted synthetic stone that replicate the quality of a diamond. It is
more reflective and sparkles more brilliantly than glass or crystal.
Not to be confused with Zircon (see below).
Denim Lapis (Blue Denim) See Lapis
Dichroic Glass
Dichoric
Glass is glass with multiple layers of oxides (magnesium, silicon, or
titanium) deposited on one face (in our case, on the underside). These
layers together form a coating that is three to five millionths of an
inch thick. The combination of oxides and the number of layers
ultimately determine which colors you see in a piece of dichoric glass.
The glass used to create dichroic glass serves essentially the same
function as the canvas does in a painting: to provide a surface to
which color (paint) will adhere. The oxides mentioned above are
colorless sorts of paint that are deposited on the surface of the glass
in a high temperature (300 degrees F) vacuum chamber. When you rotate a
piece of dichoric glass, you will see that every color changes. This is
a result of the changing the angle of the light that hits the layers of
oxides on the surface of the glass. You can see a similar effect in the
natural world with opals, dragonfly wings and peacock feathers.
Emerald
Fact:
It was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C. Today, most of the world''s
emeralds are mined in Columbia, Brazil, Afghanistan, and Zambia. The
availability of high-quality emerald is limited; consequently,
treatments to improve clarity are performed regularly.
Lore:
The Emerald is a symbol for rebirth, and is believed to grant the owner
foresight, good fortune, and youth. Derived from the word samragdus,
meaning green in Greek.
Garnet
Fact:
Used in the popular sense, the term garnet applies only to pyrope and
almandine (so-called red "carbuncle" stones). Pyrope is composed of
magnesium aluminum silicate, while almandine contains iron aluminum
silicate. The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the use of pyrope
as a major fashion stone (under the name "Bohemian Garnet"). Pyrope (a
reddish stone sometimes with a brown tint) mines exist in Burma, China.
Madagascar, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the United States. Alamadine,
a reddish stone with a violet tint, can be found in Brazil, India,
Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Austria. References to the gemstone date
back to 3100 B.C. when Egyptians used garnets as inlays jewelry. Garnet
is the name of group of minerals that comes in a rainbow of colors,
from the deep red of the pyrope garnet to the vibrant green of
tsavorites. Today, the most important sources for garnet are Africa,
Sri Lanka, and India.
Lore:
Garnet signifies eternal friendship and trust. Garnet is derived from
the word grantatum, meaning seed, because of its resemblance to a
pomegranate seed.
Hematite
Fact:
A dense, opaque stone composed of iron oxide, hematite gets its name
from the fact that when the stone is cut, the saw coolant turns red
because of the iron. Depending on how the stone is finished or cut,
hematite appears black, black-gray, or brown-red. Hematite mines exist
in England, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, New Zealand, the Czech Republic,
and the United States.
Lore: Hematite strengthens the will and bestows vitality and dynamism.
Jade
Fact:
Jade is made up of one of two minerals: jadeite (sodium aluminum
silicate) or nephrite (calcium magnesium iron silicate). Common usage
grants both minerals (in their separate forms) the name jade. Both
minerals are most valuable when green, but can be found in all other
colors also. Of the two, nephrite is more common, with deposits in New
Zealand, Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Taiwan,
and Alaska. Jadeite is typically found in California, Burma, China,
Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Russia.
Lore: In the Far East Jade is considered a good luck charm. It creates balance and awakens one''s inner life and dreams.
Jasper
Fact:
A member of the quartz family, Jasper can contain up to 20% foreign
material, leading to the wide variety of jasper types available in the
market today. Typically jasper is striped, banded, flamed, or
multicolored, but rare forms exist that are uniform in color. True
jaspers include pop, yellow, zebra, Egyptian, plasma, and prase. Blood
jasper is actually not a type of jasper; the correct name for this
stone is heliotrope. Jasper mines can be found in Brazil, Argentine,
India, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia, Uruguay, and the United States.
Lore:
Jasper helps the wearer to pursue goal with determination. It imbues
courage and readiness for conflict or aggression and the ability to
protect oneself.
Lapis
Fact:
Lapis Lazuli is formed during the metamorphosis of chalk into marble.
Gold color pyrite inclusions occur when iron is also present. It was
used in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt as the "stone of rulers" and for
cult purposes. The technical classification of lapis as a rock and not
a mineral reflects its varied chemical composition: sodium calcium
aluminum silicate in the form of lazurite (majority), augite, calcite,
diopside, enstatite, glimmer, hauynite, hornblender, nosean, and/or
pyrite. The typical coloring agent is sulfur, while excesses of calcite
and pyrite add non-characteristic and value-diminishing color. Deposits
of lapis occur is Afaghanistan, Russia, Chile, Angola, Burma, Canada,
Pakistan, California, and Colorado. Typically lapis imitations involve
lapis pieces or powder that have been pressed or bound with a resin.
Lore: Lapis Lazuli bestows wisdom and honesty and reveals our own inner truth. It encourages honesty, dignity, and self-awareness.
Marcasite
The
"marcasite" referred to in the jewelry trade is actually a form of
pyrite, not true marcasite. A mineral closely resembling and having the
same chemical composition as pyrite, true marcasite is not commonly
used in jewelry fabrication because of its tendency to powder in air.
Moonstone
Fact:
Moonstone is a colorless to yellow stone composed of potassium aluminum
silicate (a potassium feldspar). Deposits exist in Sri Lanka, Burma,
Brazil, India, Madagascar, and the United States.
Lore:
The moonstone increases mediumistic abilities and clairvoyance. It
encourages lucid dreaming, particularly at the full moon.
Obsidian
Fact:
Obisidian is a siliceous glassy rock formed as a byproduct of volcanic
activity that exists in black, gray, brown, and green forms. Obsidian
can be found in Ecuador, Indonesia, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and
the United States. Snowflake obsidian is found on the North American
continent and is characterized by "gray-white, ball-shaped inclusions
(spherulites)".
Lore:
Obsidian expands the consciousness and helps change restricting beliefs
and behavior. It dissolves pain and tension and energy blocks.
Paua Shell -
From the same genus of organisms as abalone (Haliotis), paua mussels
are found in New Zealand. The mother-of-pearl (the inner nacreous layer
of a mollusk) of the paua mussel has a much richer blue-green
iridescence than abalone. Another name for the mother-of-pearl of the
paua mussel is "sea opal".
Peridot
Fact:
Peridot forms deep inside the Earth out of ultra-alkaline magma. It is
often torn away and brought to the surface by rising magma during
volcanic eruptions. Today, most of the peridot supply comes from
Hawaii; other sources are Arizona, China, Myanmar, and Pakistan. This
gemstone comes in several color variations to the bright lime greens
and olive greens.
Lore:
Peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and
volcanoes. It is said to host magical powers and healing properties to
protect against nightmares and to bring the wearer power, influence,
and a wonderful year.
Quartz
Fact:
Instead of being the name of a particular stone, quartz is the name of
a large group of minerals all composed of silicon dioxide. Varieties of
quartz are found in Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Scotland, Switzerland,
the Ukraine, India, Mozambique, Namibia, Sri Lanka, and the United
States. The following stones are considered quartz: amethyst,
aventurine, rock crystal, blue quartz, citrine, hawk''s eye, prase,
prasiolite, quartz cat''s eye, smoky quartz, rose quartz, tiger''s eye,
agate, fossilized wood, chalcedony, heliotrope, jasper, carnelian, moss
agate, sard.
Lore: The
energy of quartz is different for each type of quartz but all types
encourages calmness, protection and peace within the wearer. Agate:
grounding and stability. Rose quartz: love and harmony. Clear quartz:
clear sight or increased mental focus. Tiger''s Eye: courage.
Ruby
Fact:
Ruby is formed either in aluminum rich rock like granite or during the
metamorphosis of similar rocks into crystalline slate or marble. It
belongs to the corundum family and its red color is due to the presence
of chromium. The embedded oriented rutile needles in the ruby are
called asterism (star formation).
Lore:
In all the old cultures of Europe and India ruby was considered to be
the stone of the sun. Even today, it is believed to represent the life
force, inner fire, love and passion.
Sapphire
Fact:
An aluminum oxide found in several colors (blue, colorless, pink,
orange, yellow, green, purple, and black), sapphires can be transparent
to opaque. The term sapphire includes all gemstones of a family called
corundum except those that are red (rubies). Naming of sapphires
involves names the color and then adding sapphire (e.g. green
sapphire), although several exceptions do exist. the coloring agent
present in the aluminum oxide matrix varies with the color (e.g. blue
sapphire: iron sapphire: iron and titanium: pink sapphire: chrome).
Lore:
Sapphire is believed to protect your loved ones from envy and harm.
Medieval clergy wore sapphires to symbolize heaven, while commoners
thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. Sapphire is a variety of
the gem species corundum and occurs in all colors. Pink, purple, green,
orange or yellow corundum are known by their color (pink sapphire,
green sapphire). Ruby is the red variety or corundum. Blue sapphires
range from very light to very dark greenish or violetish blue, as well
as various shades of pure blue. The most prized colors are medium to
medium dark blue or slightly violetish blue.
Tanzanite
- A member of the zoisite group of minerals, tanzanite is a calcium
aluminum silicate. Tanzanite is transparent, sapphire blue to amethyst
to violet stone that was introduced by Tiffany & Co. The only
deposit is in the country where tanzanite gets its name, Tanzania.
Tiger's Eye
Fact:
A member of the quartz family, tiger''s eye is a derivative of hawk''s
eye in which the iron in the crystalline matrix has oxidized to a
brownish color. Deposits can be found in South Africa, Australia,
Burma, India, Namibia, and California.
Lore:
In the Middle Ages, tiger''s eye was used as an amulet to protect the
wearer against spells, demons, and the evil eye. Today, it''s believe
to lend courage to the wearer and see them through difficult times
Topaz
Fact:
A fluorine aluminum silicate, topaz varies widely in color (including
colorless, yellow, red-brown, light blue, red, pink-red, violet, and
light green). Coloring agents vary also (iron, chrome, etc.) and the
stone is transparent to translucent. Mines exist in Brazil,
Afghanistan, Australia, Burma, China, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico,
Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and the United
States. Available in a rich rainbow of colors. Prized for several
thousand years in antiquity, all yellow gems in antiquity were called
topaz. Often confused with citrine quartz (yellow) and smoky quartz
(brown), quartz and topaz are separate and unrelated mineral species.
The most prized color of topaz is called Imperial Topaz after the
Russian Czars of the 1800''s and features a magnificent orange body
color with pinkish undertones. Topaz also comes in yellow, pink,
purple, orange, and the many popular blue tones.
Lore:
Believed to be the stone of Jupiter in older cultures of Europe and
India. It represented rule over one''s own life, self-realization, and
wisdom.
Turquoise
Fact:
A stone that got its name (which means "Turkish stone") from the trade
route that went through Turkey on the way to Europe, Turquoise is
typically a blue stone with brown, dark gray, or black veins of other
minerals (impurities). The multicolored stone resulting is called
turquoise matrix. The blue color is due to the presence of Copper and
Aluminum in the matrix. Turquoise found in the United States typically
has a greenish color due to the presence of Iron and Aluminum.
Lore:
In ancient times people believed wearing turquoise would prevent injury
from falls, particularly from horses. In fact, turquoise amulets and
pendants were commonly attached to the bridles of horses to make them
more sure footed. Even today it is believed to protect the wearer''s
health and bring good fortune.
***Since turquoise is easily
damaged by light, perspiration, oils, cosmetics, and detergents,
turquoise jewelry should be removed before coming in contact with these
substances (such as when washing one''s hands).
Zircon
- A genuine and natural gemstone not to be confused with Cubic
Zirconia, which is synthetic. Zircon is common in colorless, blue and
pink/rose varieties.
Fact:
Derived from the Arabic words zar and gun, meaning gold and color,
zircon is found in a wide range of colors such as: blue, yellow,
orange, brown, green, colorless, and red (the most prized color). For
many years colorless zircon was used to imitate diamonds.
Lore:
Folk wisdom grants zircon the power to relieve pain, whet the appetite,
protect travelers from disease and injury, to ensure a warm welcome,
and to prevent nightmares guaranteeing a deep, tranquil sleep. Major
sources of zircon are the Chanthaburi area of Thailand, the Palin area
of Cambodia, and the southern part of Vietnam January Garnet February
Amethyst March Aquamarine April Diamond May Emerald June Pearl,
Alexandrite, and moonstone July Ruby August Peridot and Sardonyx
September Sapphire October Tourmaline and Opal November Topaz and
Citrine December Tanzanite, Zircon, and Turquoise Treat your jewelry
well and it will reward you with a lustrous look.
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