Happy Birthday November!

November's gemstone, Citrine, is as warm as a Van Gogh painting of sunflowers. The name Citrine comes from an old French word, "citrin", meaning lemon. One of the more rare forms of quartz, this gemstone ranges in color from the palest yellow to a dark amber named Madeira because of its resemblance to the red wine.

Perhaps because of its scarcity, there is little mention of Citrine used as a gemstone prior to the first century B.C. The Romans were thought to be the first to wear the yellow quartz, crafting it into cabochon, or highly polished but unfaceted cuts of stone set into jewelry. Citrine became more popular during the Romantic Period, when artisans often favored these warm colored gems to enhance gold jewelry. Citrine, like all forms of quartz, was believed to have magical powers and was worn as a talisman against evil thoughts and snake venom. It was also considered to have medicinal properties and was commonly used as a remedy for urinary and kidney ailments.

Sister stone to the purple quartz known as Amethyst, Citrine crystals are found in igneous metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. It is believed that some Citrine may have actually begun as Amethyst, but heat from nearby molten rock changed it to the yellow form of quartz. Citrine is known to change color when subjected to heat and is routinely heated in the jewelry-making process to intensify its color. For this same reason, though, this gemstone should not be left in direct sunlight for a long time because it will permanently alter the color. Most Citrine is mined in Brazil, but other sources of the quartz are Bolivia and Madagascar.

A gift of Citrine is symbolic for hope and strength. With its sunny brightness, this gemstone is ideal for helping anyone to get through the tough times in life!

Alternate Birthstone
Yellow Topaz is an alternate gemstone for those born in November. It's golden color was believed by the Egyptians to be the glow cast by the sun god Ra. Yellow Topaz ranges in color from a peachy blush to a deep cognac. A gift of this gemstone is said to symbolize friendship and to strengthen one's capacity to give and receive love.

source: http://www.about-birthstones.com/novemberbirthstone.html

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Happy Birthday October!

October's birthstone treats the eye to an explosion of shimmering colors, not unlike those of a magnificent rainbow following a summer rain. The Opal derives its name from the Latin word "opalus," meaning precious jewel. Prized for its unique ability to refract and reflect specific wavelengths of light, the Opal was called "Cupid Paederos" by the Romans, meaning a child beautiful as love. One legendary explanation for this gemstone's origin is that it fell from heaven in a flash of fiery lightning.

Ancient monarchs treasured Opals, both for their beauty and for their presumed protective powers. They were set into crowns and worn in necklaces to ward off evil and to protect the eyesight. These gemstones were also ground and ingested for their healing properties and to ward off nightmares.

The Opal dates back to prehistoric times. It is a non-crystallized silica, which is a mineral found near the earth's surface in areas where ancient geothermal hot springs once existed. As the hot springs dried up, layers of the silica, combined with water, were deposited into the cracks and cavities of the bedrock, forming Opal. This gemstone actually contains up to 30% water, so it must be protected from heat or harsh chemicals, both of which will cause drying and may lead to cracking and loss of iridescence. Opal must also be guarded from blows, since it is relatively soft and breaks easily.

Most of the world's Opal deposits are found in Southern Australia. Other sources of this gemstone are Brazil, Mexico, Czechoslovakia and Nevada. Quality Opal is very expensive, made more so by the caution that must be exercised in cutting, polishing and setting it into jewelry.

A gift of Opal is symbolic of faithfulness and confidence. And the powerful energy radiating from this fiery gemstone will surely illuminate any occasion!

source:www.about-birthstones.com/octoberbirthstone.html

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Happy Birthday September!

Birthstone Color: Deep Blue

The striking deep blue of a quality sapphire is reminiscent of a cloudless night sky. Ancient civilizations believed that the world was set upon an enormous sapphire, which painted the sky blue with its reflection. This legend, as well as the belief that the ten commandments were inscribed upon tablets made of sapphire, gives September’s birthstone a royal place among gemstones.


Named after the Greek word "sapphirus", meaning blue, Sapphires have long been a favorite among priests and kings, who considered them symbolic of wisdom and purity. These gemstones are prominent among the British Crown Jewels, and Prince Charles chose this as the engagement stone for his fiancée, Princess Diana.

In ancient times, Sapphires were thought to be protective against envy, and even against poisoning. A common belief was that a venomous snake placed in a Sapphire vessel would rapidly die! Ground to a powder, the blue stone was believed to cure colic, rheumatism and mental illness, and to strengthen eyesight.

Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum. Corundum is found in every color of the rainbow, with red being designated as ruby and all other hues Sapphire. But the most prized color of Sapphire is a rich, deep blue. These gemstones were mined as early as the 7th Century BC from India and what is now Sri Lanka. They are found today in Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, China, Madagascar, and the United States. Large specimens of Corundum crystals are rare, although the 563-carat Star of India can be seen in the American Museum of Natural History. This is the largest and most famous of star Sapphires, which are cut to reflect light from inclusions within the stone, revealing a bright six-legged star pattern.

The Sapphire is second only to the Diamond in hardness, making it a durable gemstone for setting into jewelry. A gift of Sapphire represents sincerity and faithfulness. As nourishing to the soul as gazing up at the sky on a summer day, this brilliant blue gemstone is truly a heavenly choice!

source:www.about-birthstones.com/septemberbirthstone.html

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Happy Birthday August!

August Birthstone Peridot
Cleopatra's Favorite Green "Sun Stone" Prized in Rings, Earrings

Peridot is a clear olive-green gemstone valued for its brilliant color and durability. The gem is said to heal the heart, lend strength and help dreams come true.

Peridot is the perfect summer stone, a gemstone colored with the green of nature and the gold hues of the sun. First popular nearly 4,000 years ago in ancient Egypt, the brilliant peridot has made a stunning comeback in recent years and is considered the gemstone of the month of August and of the astrology sign Libra. Peridot is often mistaken for emerald and other green gems, but it has a beauty all its own.

Green Peridot

Peridot is gemstone-quality olivine, a mineral that is very abundant but not usually found in high enough quality to be used as gemstones. The name peridot was derived from either the Greek "peridona," (richness) or the Arabic "faridat" (gem). Peridot is also known as chrysolite, Greek for "gold stone."

The most valuable peridots are those with the richest green color, lending to gold – coloring that is caused by the traces amounts of iron that color the gemstone. Peridot is not very hard, ranking 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, but it is easy to care for when properly cut and is very durable.

Peridot in Myth and History

When Hawaiian natives first discovered peridot in the black sands of volcanoes, they believed the clear, green gemstones were the tears of the volcano goddess, Pele. Egyptian jewelry featured peridot, "the gem of the sun," as early as two centuries B.C., believing it connected them to their goddess, Isis. Peridots are said to have been a favorite gemstone of Egypt's most famous queen, Cleopatra.

The Romans admired the stone for its constant color which does not change in artificial light, calling it "emerald of the evening." Peridot is found in Medieval Christian churches and shrines and was also popular during Europe's baroque period of the 17th Century.

When a new source of peridot was discovered in Pakistan in 1994, finer than any samples that had been found before, the gemstone was popularized for modern use. These Pakistani stones have been called "Kashmir peridots," linking them in name with the famed Kashmir sapphires that are so highly prized.

Magical Significance and Powers of the Peridot

Like most gemstones, peridot has been attributed with a long list of healing and magical powers. Peridot is said to:

* protect from negativity and nightmares
* aid with stress reduction and relaxation, acting as a tonic for the whole body
* clean and heal the heart
* boost medicine's potency
* be linked with nature
* enhance persuasiveness, fame, and vitality
* help dreams and ambitions to come true
* aid in finding strength and encouraging future growth

Peridot is commonly considered the birthstone for the month of August, the gem corresponding to the astrology sign Libra, and the gemstone for the 16th wedding anniversary.

Peridot Gemstones in Jewelry

Until the discovery of new sources in the mountains of Pakistan in 1994, peridot had hardly been seen since the artwork of the 17th century. Today, however, peridot is found in Brazil, Norway, the Congo, Australia, Myanmar (Burma), Mexico, China, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and the US. Peridot has also been found in crashed meteorites.

Peridot is striking when set in pendants, earrings, bracelets, and rings. The popularity of this gemstone is on the rise, as is its availability and the creative uses to which jewelers are beginning to put the stone.


Reference

* About Birthstones, "August Birthstone," About-birthstones.com, 2008.
* Bernardine Fine Art Jewelry, "August Birthstone – Peridot," Bernardine.com, 2009.
* International Colored Gemstone Association, "Peridot," Gemstone.org, 2009.

Courtesy of © 2009 Victoria Anisman-Reiner

Read more at Suite101: August Birthstone Peridot: Cleopatra's Favorite Green "Sun Stone" Prized in Rings, Earrings http://gemstones.suite101.com/article.cfm/august_birthstone_peridot#ixzz0vk0JOn5U

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Happy Birthday July!

Like a perfect red rose, the Ruby's rich color speaks of love and passion. Called the "Rajnapura" or King of Gems by ancient Hindus, July's birthstone is among the most highly prized of gems throughout history. The Ruby was considered to have magical powers, and was worn by royalty as a talisman against evil. It was thought to grow darker when peril was imminent, and to return to its original color once danger was past—provided it was in the hands of its rightful owner!

Rubies were thought to represent heat and power. Ancient tribes used the gem as bullets for blowguns, and it was said that a pot of water would boil instantly if a Ruby was tossed into it. Ground to powder and placed on the tongue, this crystal was used as a cure for indigestion.

The word Ruby comes from the Latin "ruber," meaning red. It is a variety of the mineral Corundum, and is found as crystals within metamorphic rock. Corundum is the second hardest mineral, after Diamond. It comes in a variety of colors, and is considered a Sapphire in any color except red, which is designated as a Ruby. Rubies range in hue from an orangey red to a purplish red, but the most prized gems are a true red in color. Large sized Rubies are very rare and valuable.

The history of Ruby mining dates back more than 2,500 years ago. The most beautiful crystals are thought to be from Burma, but quality Rubies are also found in India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States.

It has been said that the Ruby's red glow comes from an internal flame that cannot be extinguished, making a gift of this stone symbolic of everlasting love. With its hardness and durability, it is a perfect engagement gem. And if worn on the left hand, ancient lore has it that the Ruby will bring good fortune to its wearer, too!
Article courtesy of www.about-birthstones.com

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Happy Birthday June!

From one of the humblest of life forms, the mollusk, comes the pearl -- a gem of unsurpassed beauty and elegance. Ancient civilizations had many stories to explain the origin of June's birthstone, such as the Greek belief that pearls were the hardened tears of joy that the goddess of love shook from her eyes as she was born from the sea. According to Arab legend, pearls were formed when oysters were lured from the depths of the ocean by the beautiful moon and then swallowed moonlit dewdrops. And the Ancient Chinese thought that these gems originated from the brains of dragons.

The scientific explanation for natural pearls is almost as mystifying as folklore. When an irritant, such as a small parasite or a fish lodges in the flesh of an oyster, mussel, or clam, a protective substance called "nacre" is produced. Over years, layer upon layer of shimmering nacre coats the intruder, creating a lustrous pearl. Natural pearls are relatively rare, so a process evolved in which a piece of shell or bead was placed inside a mollusk to stimulate the production of nacre. This results in a cultured pearl, which accounts for about 90 per cent of the pearl industry.

Divers find natural pearls in The Persian Gulf as well as in the waters off Japan, the South Pacific Islands off northern Australia, and the coasts of Panama, Venezuela, and California. Most of the cultured pearl industry is in Japanese and Australian coastal waters. These gems come in a variety of colors, from pure white to pink, yellow, gray and black. They also come in different shapes and sizes.

Pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages. They have been ground up and used in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat heart and stomach conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls as an aphrodisiac. These gems have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child. Pearls are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown. - www.about-birthstones.com

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The Economy and The Diamond

Last week as I was wrapping up a new bridal set for a couple's anniversary, the husband leaned close to me and asked "So, with the economy so tight, how is your business?". He was such a nice man, and so truly concerned, that I almost felt bad having to tell him that our business was really doing very well. Everything you hear about the luxury business seems to be bad, however, people often forget that the few businesses to come out ahead even during the "Great Depresssion" were jewelry stores. There will always be love, engagements, marriages and anniversaries, birthdays, with new babies being added to the mix. There are always special occassions in which jewelry is the right and cherished gift, and the small list above just scratches the surface.

I have found in this "tight economy", most men will still pop that question with a 1 carat diamond. Those particularly painful birthdays (the one's ending with a 0) are always less painful when accompanied by that pretty "Dunkin's Diamonds bag" with it's shiny silver foil peeking out the top. Anniversaries are celebrated every day. Ask any woman about any piece of jewelry she is wearing and she will tell you exactly when and for what occassion she received it.

There will never be anything like a diamond to make your special someone feel cherished.

So, in this "tight economy" feel free to come in - we've got you covered.

Kim, Manager, Lima, Ohio

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