According to Ferrer, her designs are inspired by the lush, natural beauty of Maui. Her designs are meant to enhance the beauty and individuality of the person wearing the jewelry, and many pieces can be customized with initials to create a truly one of a kind jewelry statement. We are very excited to introduce her lovely pieces into our collection of fall and winter jewelry, and think they make fantastic presents for a friend or loved one.

Kira Ferrer's Romantic Besos Bangle

Three of our favorites from Kira Ferrer’s line include her sterling silver rustic lotus earrings, her sterling silver trio letter charm bangle bracelet (or the trio charm necklace if you prefer), and her besos bangle. The rustic lotus earrings would be a brilliant choice for women who love dangle earrings, the charm bangle and necklace are customizeable with three initials of your choice, and the besos bangle is a charming, romantic bracelet with a row of small hearts dangling from the bangle. Each one is beautiful in their own way, and is perfect for your favorite jewelry-lover… or perhaps even for yourself!

Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Dos and Don’ts

Since many gemstones were formed under heat, exposing them to very high temperatures can alter the crystal formation inside the gem, causing permanent damage.  Even when some ultrasonic cleaners claim to be safe for gemstones, it is always better to be safe and clean the gemstone by hand rather than sorry and forever ruin a beautiful piece of jewelry. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Dos –

- Clean solid gold jewelry

- Clean platinum jewelry

- Can clean silver jewelry, but might not remove all the tarnish (for advice on how to do this, see our article on cleaning silver)

Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Don’ts –

- Don’t ever use an ultrasonic cleaner for amber, opal, tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline, smokey quartz, rubies, peridot, rose quartz, emerald, chalcedony or aquamarine.

-Don’t ever use an ultrasonic cleaner on gemstones that have been heat treated to bring out their color. Many colored gemstones are treated this way, so it pays to be cautious.

- Try to avoid using an ultrasonic cleaner on sapphires, diamonds, citrine and garnet as well. If the gemstones have any fractures, inclusions or are color treated they can also be damaged, depending on the ultrasonic cleaner you are using.

- One last word of caution when using an ultrasonic cleaner is that although many hard gemstones can safely be cleaned in them, the cleaners have a tendancy to loosen gemstone settings, increasing the chance of your gemstone falling out.

Safe Gemstone Cleaning Tips

With gemstones, the best way to ensure your precious jewels will last a lifetime is to baby them and always clean them by hand. Luckily, hand-cleaning gemstones isn’t particularly hard and does not require any special materials.  All you have to do is create a gentle warm soapy water solution in a cup or bowl. Place the gemstone jewelry inside and allow it to soak for a few minutes to loosen the grime on the jewelry. Finally, take the piece of gemstone jewelry out, rinse out the bowl and refill it with cold water. Swish the piece of jewelry through the cold water to rinse off the suds and gently wipe it dry with a soft cloth – voila! Your piece of gemstone jewelry should look as good as new.

Gold crucifix pendants are always a popular item on Apples of Gold, and make especially thoughtful holiday presents for Christian men and women. Here are three of our favorite gold crucifix pendants that provide exceptional quality craftsmanship and detail as well as value:

14K Gold Crucifix Pendant

This gorgeous gold crucifix pendant is made from 14K gold and measures an inch and a half tall. It’s the ideal size to wear everyday; big enough to show your faith but not so big that it seems  ostentatious.  Yellow gold looks beautiful against most any skin tone, which is why this crucifix pendant is sure to be a hit for the holidays… not to mention it’s an absolute bargain, too.

14K Gold Tri-color Crucifix Pendant

Our tri-color 14K gold crucifix pendant is exceptionally detailed and has a beautiful rich look to it thanks to the composition of rose, yellow and white gold. Jesus’ body is made from 14K rose gold, the cross is made primarily of 14K yellow gold, and striking white gold accents add detailing to the cross. Three small cubic zirconia stones dot the cross above Jesus’ head to represent the trinity, adding depth and meaning to this beautiful gold crucifix pendant.

14K White Gold Crucifix Pendant

For fans of white gold, our 14K white gold crucifix pendant is a lovely option. Both Jesus and the cross are carved from 14K white gold, and the pendant measures one and three-fourths inches tall, making it a substantial piece of jewelry. Each of the four ends of the cross are accented with a small cubic zirconia stone to give the crucifix an extra special sparkle.

Check out our full collection of beautiful, high quality gold crucifix pendants, all of which can be purchased with coordinating gold necklace.

After much research consulting reliable sources, the best answer we can give is that both citrine and topaz are considered to be November birthstones.  Read on to find out why…

The First Calendar Birthstone Guide

The tradition of assigning a particular gemstone to a birth month in the Gregorian calendar began in 1870, when Tiffany & Co released the poem by ‘unknown author’ in a promotional pamphlet.  In the poem, the verse for November reads:

Who first comes to this world below
In dreary November’s fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true.

According to the poem, it would seem that the official November birthstone is actually the yellow topaz instead of citrine. However, accepting this poem as the ‘real’ guide to birthstones is complicated by two issues: first, yellow topaz and citrine are nearly impossible to tell apart with the naked eye, which means that during the 1800s people likely would confuse the two. Secondly, to this day it is not substantiated whether the poem was indeed an old Gregorian calendar poem or simply a marketing scheme by Tiffany’s to promote the purchase of gemstones. If the poem is just invented by a jewelry company, why would that be the official word on the correct birthstone?

The Jewelers of America Birthstone Guide

To complicate matters further, when the Jewelers of America created an official list of birthstones in 1912, they chose both the citrine and yellow topaz as the November birthstone. Today this list is widely used by jewelers in the United States, Australia and Thailand as the official guide to birthstones, however the Ayurvedic birthstone list only includes topaz as the November birthstone.

So, there you have it – depending on the source you choose to believe, the November birthstone is either just topaz, or is both topaz and citrine. We love both yellow topaz and citrine gemstones for their beautiful, warm glow that compliments every skin tone, so we’re siding with the Jewelers of America official birthstone guide on this one.  What do you think should be considered the ‘real’ November birthstone? Citrine, topaz or both?

Citrine History and Facts

Citrine is a quartz stone that is similar in chemical composition to amethyst. Natural citrine is found in Brazil, Russia, France and Madagascar. However, many citrine gemstones used by jewelers are actually amethysts that have been heat-treated to create the coveted yellow hue. The most noticeable difference between natural citrine and heat treated citrine is the reddish hue that tends to accompany heat treated citrine gemstones.

Since the November birthstone is found in France, its name comes from the French word ‘citron’, meaning lemon. The Romans were likely the first civilization to use citrine as a gemstone, and wore it in cabochon form as jewelry.  Citrine experienced a popular resurgence during both the Romantic Period in the late 18th century, when artists favored the gemstone’s warm, sunny color, as well as during the Art Deco period.

Citrine Symbolism and Mysticism

Citrine has been a popular healing remedy throughout history. The astrological gem for Virgos, the vibrant yellow stone was said to purify and detox the body, lessen depression, alleviate kidney problems, and help heal the heart. Though few people today believe in its power of healing, citrine remains a symbol for hope, strength, creativity and joy. With its bright, sunny color, it’s no wonder that people believe citrine to be symbolic of joy. Light yellow is also often used in color therapy to help the mind feel clear, calm and creative, making citrine a great choice of gemstone when you want mental clarity.

Apples of Gold carries a gorgeous collection of citrine rings, like the 2.75 carat stunner at top or the lovely enchanted vintage ring at right. They make the perfect gift for a November birthday, although the appeal of citrine is certainly universal. From the ancient Romans to today’s fashion world, citrine has claimed a place in the hearts of jewelry lovers across time and space.

Well, it’s exactly that. I am waiting.   Last week, we compared gold prices now, tottering between $1050 and $1060 per ounce, which sounds good initially, but in compared with the highs of the 1980’s, and adjusting for inflation, we see that actually is a pretty low price. 

Which ought to make one wonder why invest in gold?  Obviously, because the market makes you nervous and, when the dollar falls, gold is generally a safe haven.  But right now, the stock market is teeter-tottering up and down and the price of gold is following along.

Here’s what I mean: in 2009, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 14%.  Gold futures, meantime, seen as a safe haven and purchased by economic naysayers, are also up.  They are up 19%.  The reason for this: low interset rates and cheap money from the government stimulus package have poured into the financial markets, stabilizing the economy and cementing stock positions. 

The long-term net effect of creating all that money?  Not good.  Creating new money, together with the Fed’s maintaining near zero interest rates and the huge deficits that the U.S. is building will weaken the dollar, fuel inflation and cause untold economic hardship down the road.  Investors are pushing into gold to hedge against that future, but at the same time, the efforts of the government are stalling the losses that will undoubtedly be felt in the future because of the weakened American dollar.

Some experts are now predicting that $1000 per ounce is the new floor, and that the dollar will hit $1250 per ounce before the end of this year.  If you haven’t noticed, the year has only about two months left in it, and that, dear readers would be a hike indeed.

So no, I’m not ready to sell any of my gold yet.  If I were in “investing mode” personally, I think gold might be a likely candidate.   Buy on!

The price sounds good to the ear.  “Over $1000 per ounce!  Run, don’t walk to your jeweler now to trade your gold for cash!” Do you remember the excited voices gathering at the office watercooler?  But perhaps they sold out too soon.

Let’s consider that price with an eye to trading over the past several decades.  In the 1980, gold what was then a record high: $873 per ounce.  That may not sound like a lot, but consider that those were 1980 dollars.  Adjusted for inflation, that would equal a whopping $2287, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s inflationary index.

Judged by those numbers, the new “record price” is still 53% below the 1980 price.  For that reason, many experienced traders and marketwatchers think the price of gold still has some “go” in it.

“Gold is not at any peak,” says Martin Murenbeeld, chief economist at DundeeWealth, Inc., (Toronto), which manages $58.5 billion in mutual funds and brokerage accounts.  “The world’s money supply has increased and gold hasn’t kept pace.”

Which means, there is plenty of room for gold to continue upward as investors continue to look for a hedge against inflation, instability and other losses in the markets.

In fact, some are predicting $2000 will be the new ceiling.

“Gold is the hedge against currency devaluation,” John Brynjolfsson of Armored World LLC said in a Bloomberg TV interview from Aliso Viejo, California on October 7.    He, along with many bankers, is raising his estimates.

Time to raise a little cash and invest yourself?  Perhaps.  Or maybe time to sell.

Use Coupon Code: “Starhaven” at below link, to get discount!

View Entire Starhaven Collection!

Since diamond crosses are such a great gift, Apples of Gold carries a stylish assortment for our customers to choose from. Our diamond crosses range from strikingly modern to traditional and ornate, making it easy to find the perfect pick for yourself or a loved one.  Since we know every penny counts, we are also proud to present an affordable selection of diamond crosses that make a big impact without the need to pull out the plastic. Here are a few of our favorite affordable diamond crosses, which just might inspire you to start the Christmas shopping a little bit early this year:

Modern 14K White Gold Diamond Heart Cross

This modern looking cross strikes the perfect balance between style and symbolism. The single diamond in the center of the cross symbolizes the light and love of God, making it the perfect gift for the modern Christian woman who love minimalist design.

14K White Gold Cross and Heart Diamond Pendant

A beautiful solid white gold cross (shown at top left) lies nestled in a diamond-studded heart, creating a powerful symbolic statement and beautiful piece of jewelry.  This lovely cross necklace is the perfect present for a woman who steers toward classic, traditional style.

10K Yellow Gold Heart and Diamond Cross Pendant

A cross and heart are forever intertwined in this gorgeous jewelry design. The yellow gold cross has a natural, organic shape that complements the diamond-studded heart beautifully.  A twist on the traditional yellow gold cross design, this diamond cross necklace is just the pick for the girl who likes contemporary style with a traditional influence.

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