Amber Jewelry

The simplest and at the same time most subjective evaluation of amber jewelry by a user of admirer is to say whether it is beautiful or not. Contemporary amber artifacts produced by artists initially tend to surprise us with their otherness, in the same manner as any other art does, for instance painting or sculpture, or jewelry ornamented with gemstones. But modernity means otherness.

The extremely exceptional so-called “amber in amber” may become dazzlingly beautiful in the hands of a skillful artist. To find or excavate amber with opalescent surfaces depends less on skills and more on luck. This, however, comes about very seldom.

Some people are interested only in amber as perfectly transparent as many other precious stones in which nothing is going on inside. In such a case a more opulent setting must compensate the lack of unique features.Raw amber for mass production started to be clarified and pressed as early as in the 19th century. Its color could be freely altered, often in order to make necklaces from beads in one shade of color and transparency.

The trend initiated at the end of the 1960s by the Fietkiewicz family in Gdynia was followed by other amber centers, resulting in a high standard of amber working in Poland today.

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Green Diamonds

Green diamonds owe their hue to millions of years of exposure to naturally occurring gamma and/or neutron radiation, and are typically found in alluvial secondary deposits. Primary sources are in south-central Africa. Most ‘green’ diamonds are actually a yellowish-green, greyish-green, or a combination of the two. Intense, pure green hues, as in the one-of-a-kind 5.51 carat blue-green ‘Ocean Green Diamond’ or the 41 carat apple-colored ‘Dresden Green Diamond’ are virtually non-existant. Green diamonds can range from $35,000 to $500,000 per carat. Irradiation can artificially induce a green color in diamonds.

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Petra Diamonds Reveals a 39-Carat Blue Diamond

A 39-carat blue diamond is on display in South Africa, as part of mining company Petra Diamonds Ltd.’s latest tender.

According to a release from Petra, the 39.19-carat stone is included as part of the company’s tender in Johannesburg, at the offices of Sadiamex (Meyer Diamonds) in the city’s Diamond Centre.

Petra’s Cullinan mine, located in South Africa, produced the rare stone. According to Petra, the Cullinan mine is the world’s only significant source of blue diamonds.

The mine, which Petra purchased from De Beers last year, is also famous for producing the largest gem-quality diamond ever found, a 3,106.75-carat stone later used to craft the crown jewels of England.

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Birthstone Jewelry

Birthstones have been linked to our dates of birth for centuries. Many cultures originally assigned a specific gemstone to signify birth during each sign of the zodiac, but over time the tradition shifted until it became common for a single gem to represent each month of the year.

Different cultures chose unique sets of twelve stones. The folklore attached to stones differed from one group of people to another, but they all shared the belief that wearing your birthstone brought good luck.

Birthstone jewelry is as popular today as it ever was, and it’s plentiful — we can choose from an endless selection of jewelry set with our own special gem.

January Birthstone – Garnet

Garnet Color
Garnets used in birthstone jewelry are usually deep red, but the gemstones are found in nearly every color except blue.

Garnet Folklore
Red garnets have long been associated with blood purification. They were believed to protect against food poisoning, snake bite, and hemorrhage.

February Birthstone – Amethyst

Amethyst Color
Amethyst is a form of quartz. Its color varies from pale lilac to dark purple.

Amethyst Folklore
Amethyst was believed to help protect the wearer from becoming intoxicated. The gemstone is widely known as a symbol of peace and tranquility.

March Birthstone – Aquamarine

Aquamarine Color
Aquamarine exists in all shades of blue. Clear blue aquamarine is more valuable than stones with traces of other colors.

Aquamarine Folklore
Aquamarine is said to protect sailors while they are at sea. The gems were also worn to prevent seasickness and other types of stomach ailments.

April Birthstone – Diamond

Diamond Color
Diamonds are the most durable substance on earth. Most are colorless, but colored variations are growing more popular every year.

Diamond Folklore
Some ancient cultures associated diamonds with lighting bolts, believing they were formed when lightning struck the earth. They are a symbol of courage and true love.

May Birthstone – Emerald

Emerald Color
Emeralds vary from light to dark green, and most are embedded with bits of other substances. Perfectly clear emeralds are rare and very expensive, so it is not uncommon for emeralds to be treated in some way to enhance their appearance.

Emerald Folklore
Some cultures believed that emeralds gave the wearer psychic powers. They were thought to improve both eyesight and fertility.

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