All about Gems & Jewelry

Diamond Engagement Rings

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:58:00 +0000

Though we associate Diamonds with Engagement Rings, in reality diamond engagement rings are a fairly modern invention. They really only became popular after about 1890. Diamond rings had been used by royalty for about 500 years prior to that, but were out of reach of the ordinary person. In the 20th century with a good supply of diamonds being found in Africa, diamonds became more readily available, leading to a decrease in their price. Even so, it was really only around the time of the 2nd world war that diamonds became the most popular, infact the usual stone for engagement rings.

Some people feel that as diamond are the hardest stone, therefore technically the most enduring of all gemstones they are the most fitting stone for an engagement ring. What do you think?

A Little about the HARDNESS of DIAMONDS

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:32:00 +0000

When you see I call myself Aprilviolet, there would be no prizes for guessing that yes, I was born in April & yes, I do like diamonds. There is much that could be said on the subject of diamonds – just think of some of the songs that were popular in the 20th century. How romantic they seem. Yet it should be remembered that dispute all the hype surrounding diamonds – they are carbon! Yes, nothing more than humble carbon!

One of the most remarkable changes in nature is that of a caterpillar becoming a beautiful butterfly. Likewise pressure changes ugly soft soot-black carbon into a diamond, the hardest occurring of all gemstones. Because of its hardness, centuries ago diamonds were not easily cut & so were more regarded for their hardness than their beauty. As an example the Bible mentioned gemstones in several places. Heaven is symbolically filled with different layers of precious stones to emphasis its beauty. By contrast the only two mentions of diamond in the Bible, at Jer 17:1 & Eze 3:9 both refer to its hardness.

The hardness of diamond is also it ‘Achillis Heel’. Being so hard it can easily shatter. Diamonds have been found in my homeland of Tasmania. Most were accidentally destroyed by the early prospectors in the 19th century. The myth was that you tested for diamond by hitting the stone with a hammer! The few that got it right knew that you tested diamond by trying to mark it with flint. If you could not mark the stone, it probably was a diamond. It is quite well known that on the Mohs scale diamonds are number 10; & therefore the only thing that will cut a diamond is another diamond.

There is much of a technical nature we could say about diamonds; & we will do so on a later occasion. For those of you who are eager to learn right away about the '4C's' follow this long link http://www.thegemlovers.com/index.php?pr=Tips_for_Buying_Your_Engagement_Ring & you'll learn some good stuff. Being so 'hard' diamonds make excellent gem stones for me as the example above illustrates nicely. To buy the above ring for any male gemlover (& don't we love them) go to http://www.thegemlovers.com/Diamonds_.php

A Little About AMBER

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:38:00 +0000

Here’s a question for your next trivia pursuit game – what materials used in jewellery have are made by living creatures? Perhaps after a bit of thinking someone will probably answer “pearls”. Of course that answer is correct; but pearls are not alone. There are a number of different corals used in jewellery; the gorgeous black coral of the South Pacific, Red coral known since ancient times & the exquisite crystal coral of Australia.

For a really good answer, few will think of, say Amber. Amber is the resin or pine sap of ancient plants. It is used in carvings, particularly by the Chinese, & is set in silver or occasionally gold rings, earrings, pendants & bracelets. Only a small amount of amber is considered good to excellent quality. Amber of variable colour is considered by some to be the most valuable. Some amber contains preserved insects – which apart from their scientific uses – (this blog is about jewellery, so do a ‘google’ yourself!!) can make an interesting & certainly conversation promoting addition to an item of jewellery.
Like many other gems today, amber can be heat treated to improve its colour & experiments have been done adding a little dye to its surface. Being of organic origin it is very important to avoid harsh chemicals if you are wearing amber jewellery. Ultrasonic cleaning etc is also a no-no with amber. If amber is not a ‘gemstone’ you’re aquainted with, now is the time for you to get to know it better. Amber comes in several shades from red/brown through to yellow & green & more. One very recent discovery of amber has been made in Australia. Not only is this the first time amber has been found here, but it is red in colour. We awaiting more details with batted breath. Meanwhile, check out the details of the examples above at http://www.thegemlovers.com/Gemstone_Jewellery.php click on the tigerseye, amber link.

A Little about CHAMPAGNE Diamonds

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Sat, 26 May 2007 04:33:00 +0000

What do wine & diamonds have in common? Apart from the fact that yours truly is a fan & a little of an expert of both; in a word "Champagne". The French have banned others from using this word to describe their wine - after all Champagne is a region in France; & yes I have visited France twice, & contrary to what you sometimes hear the French are absolutely delightful people - but 'champagne' has become linked with Australia. We are ofcourse talking about CHAMPAGNE DIAMONDS.
Champagne diamonds are coloured diamonds that are shadys (according to me) of brown. To be technical their colour is graded by C's. C1 being the lightest, C3-4 medium, C5-6 dark & C7 being fancy Cognac diamonds - one of my favourite colours of diamonds. To check the colour of a champagne diamond view the stone in bright sunlight. What gives them their colours? Here is what the experts tell us. You may know already that Diamonds are carbon (soot!!!!) that is compressed over time under the earth till it becomes a diamonds. It is believed that since the diamonds formed over 3,000,000,000 years ago the compression of the Diamond lattice structure by tremendous forces deep beneath the earth is said to have caused the original clear diamonds to become coloured. This same process also causes pink & red natural diamonds. (To my way of thinking it is more strange that something that starts out black should end up clear! That it should finished up some shade of brown should seem less strange & should take less time according to my idea of conventional thinking. Perhaps that is why I am not an offical expert!)
Champagne diamonds are usually linked with the Kimberley region of Western Australia & while in fact most champagne diamonds you are likely to see do come from there, champagne diamonds have been found in other parts of Australia including Tasmania. (I have a nice story to tell you later.) Champagne diamonds have become quite popular with the rich & famous as anyone who closely follows the Oscars & what the Stars wear can confirm. My favourite Cognac diamond is not owned by anyone famous; it is owned by myself. About .5 of a carat it is a dark rich brown with just a hint of green through it. It is an I1-2, hence did not cost me an arm & a leg. That is my tip for saving you money this month. As a deep coloured diamond tends to hid its flaws easier than a clear one, a deep coloured well-cut coloured diamond will look okay in an I2 or even an I3 so you can afford to buy a larger stone.
Champagne diamonds are fashionable; also very popular, not only with the public but with jewellers. Why do we say this? Because champagne diamonds are used to create 'colour enhanced' diamonds of all colours. More about that later.........Meantime check out these great Champagne/Cognac earrings at http://www.thegemlovers.com/index.php?pr=Diamond_Earrings Also enjoy some French Champagne, I can recommend Pol Gessner used for many years by Formula 1. I am not get paid or re-imbused in any way for this recommendation. However complementary bottles of champagne by any great manufacturer will be gladly accepted for future recommendations by yours truly.

A little About Aquamarines

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 01:16:00 +0000

Good Aquamarine reminds us of the beauty of the sea. In fact it’s name is from the Latin for sea-water. Aquamarines are found in a range of blue shades, from the palest pastel to greenish-blue to deep blue, with the deeper blue gems being the most rare. Remember that Aquamarine is a pastel gemstone, therefore while colour can be quite intense in larger gemstones, in smaller Aquamarines the colour is often less vivid. This elegant gemstone is a symbol of youth, hope, health and fidelity. Aquamarines are mined in a number of different countries including Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Russia, Pakistan and Mozambique; but most of the gemstones on the market at present come from Brazil. Queen Elizabeth II has a beautiful Aquamarine & diamond necklace & earrings set which was a present from the people of Brazil. (I will accept one any time too.) The Duchess of Kent also has a most magnificent tiara made from the finest Aquamarine which has been in the family for some generations, (although it has bee re-styled according to a recent blog I read.) This gemstone is ranked 7 on Mohs scale of hardness (diamond is 10 - the hardest substance). Although Aquamarines are from the Beryl family, they are not as prone to inclusions as are Emerald (also a beryl) and near-flawless gems are easier to find. Popular cuts for Aquamarines stones are emerald & oval. It is quite common for Aquamarine to be enhanced by heating to increase its blueness. This treatment is very stable & the stone needs no further care. Aquamarine stones that have a green twinge can be the most sort after as many people feel this colour is more like the sea. It is well known that Aquamarine is associated with March & also the 19th wedding anniversary, some also consider it a symbol of youth, hope, health and fidelity. Personally I just enjoy its beauty. Aquamarine jewellery is usually worn with pastel shades of blue & green, depending on its colour. Ladies with light blue/green or grey eyes may like to wear Aquamarine earrings or pendants. It is more common to wear it with matching colours rather than using it as a contrast. I think it look nice with very light grey. It looks good with both white & yellow gold or silver as our two examples show. Check out whether you prefer white or yellow gold yourself by going to http://www.thegemlovers.com/Gemstone_Jewellery.php and clicking on the aquamarine. Let us know your preference.

Ametrine - What is It?

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 01:11:00 +0000

Perhaps like myself you have seen Ametrine items listed for sale, but wondered what it is. Well it’s like Amethyst. Like we just learnt Amethyst is a type of quartz, later we will learn that Citrine is as well. Ametrine is the name given to a stone that is a mixture of purple & yellow quartz; or as is sometimes said a mixture of Amethyst and Citrine. It is an interesting stone to own particularly in a ring. I prefer it set with yellow gold. Obviously Ametrine has the same hardness & other properties as Amethyst.

Amethyst - purple Gemstone

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:52:00 +0000

Being mauve, Amethyst is one of my favourite gemstone. (Of course I love Royal Amethyst – but as this is actually a shade of Sapphire – we will deal with this later.) Amethyst is the purple form of quartz. Therefore it has a hardness of 6.5 - 7 on the Mohs scale – according to some experts & 7 according to others. (Diamonds are 10.) Amethyst stones can range from pale lilac to deep purple. Quality Amethyst stones are considered transparent & have a fairly even colour. It is a popular choice for jewellery because of its beautiful colour, (apparently many people have similar taste to me!) affordability and versatility.

Amethyst can be found in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bolivia, Namibia, Uruguay, and Zambia. Amethyst from in South America usually is larger than the African stones, but Amethyst from Africa usually has better, richer colour, The very dark, small stones are from Australia. Amethyst is not usually coloured treated, but some of the darker stones can be enhanced. I have read mixed reports as to whether these stones need any special care – so do your own research!

Amethyst is the associated with the month of February and recommended for the 4th and 6th wedding anniversaries. It is also recommended for calmness & ending hostility. Why this is the case I don’t know. Personally while being a Amethyst Lover, I would associated a more pastel coloured gem with ‘calmness’; I think of deep colour Amethyst with richness. Obviously history agrees with me because as everyone knows purple has always been associated with royalty. (I'm unsure how much amethyst Queen Elizabeth owns. One of my favourites of her jewellery set is Royal Amethyst, which is as noted before actually sapphire. Who are you leaving it to Your Majesty?) Personally I prefer Amethyst in yellow gold – but the deep shades look lovely in silver or white gold. You do not need diamond to enjoy Amethyst – but a little goes a long way in enhancing a ring or pendant. And if you can afford more diamond – why not. To view a selection of colourful amethyst in white, yellow gold as well as sterling silver please check out the lists at http://www.thegemlovers.com/Gemstone_Jewellery.php

Understanding & Caring for Sterling Silver Jewellery

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:38:00 +0000

What is Sterling Silver? How do we identify & care for it? Fine silver to begin with is 999/1000 parts pure. Therefore it is too soft to be used in the manufacturing of jewellery. To improve it's hardness it is alloyed with other metals. Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure Fine silver & other metal alloys. Sterling silver is used to make quality jewellery items because it has the added strength that pure silver does not have, but still retains much of the natural bright shine of silver.

To identify if a piece is sterling silver, check for markings. Each piece should be marked either 'sterling silver' or have '925' or .925 engraved on it. Pieces that aren't marked in this fashion may be just plated with German/Nickel Silver. Plated items are basically considered to be "imitation silver" & if the plating wears off you could be left with something quite ugly.
If possible store your sterling silver jewellery in a cool dry place. Some people even like to keep each piece inside a pouch or something similar. There is no need to panic when it tarnishes though, a good polish solution will clean it and bring out its shine again. Personally I like to use a special silver polishing cloth; the same one I use for my good silver trophies & ornaments. At the start of each season when I check my clothes & store away the out of season ones, I quickly polish all the silver jewellery that goes with the clothes I will be wearing. In extremely hot weather I find that after I have worn, say a silver necklace for a few days it is best to polish it to remove sweat & stop tarnish from building up. There are special solutions available to use with heavily tarnished silver, but I have never had to use these for jewellery items. Remember Sterling Silver is the most reflective of the precious metals, that is why it is used in fine jewellery; so take a few minutes to keep it sparkling & shiny. Only top quality sterling silver is used for the items listed on my thegemlovers.com web site. The items illustrated are available for sale there.

Finding Out about Jewelry or Why Read this Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:17:00 +0000

All about Gems & Jewelry is a big, big subject & it would be impossible to say state everything that could be said out precious metals, precious & semi-precious gemstone, jewellery items & their care here. However, one hint at a time, we will increase in knowledge together. I am a lover of jewellery rather than an expert. However, I will endeavour to be as factual as I can. Of course I will state what my personal feeling are – after all this is MY blog! Feel free to disagree if you have different tastes to me. (And let the world know you disagree if you wish.) If any fact I present is wrong, it will only be because the experts disagree. If you have read about me, you will have discovered that I am Australian; hence you will notice the spelling of jewelry & color if you are American. Without getting into a debate about spelling, Bill Gates has decided that if I use any non-English spelling on my machine, a little pink wiggle appears. I find this annoying, so use the spelling I was taught, though I’m finding it amusing that the same thing happens if I type the word ‘blog’. On this site I will cover the following subjects:- Information on Gemstones, Caring for Jewellery, Tips on Buying Jewellery for yourself & others, and anything else which takes my fancy. I hope you find the information enjoyable & helpful. I own the copyright of the above photo which was made for my web-site www. thegemlovers.com If you like it, you are welcome to copy it & use it for any non-commercial purpose. I will be making regular postings at this site. Please come again.

Tips for a Man Buying Jewellery as a Gift for a Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Aprilviolet) — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 23:55:00 +0000

Though this is written for a man - some of you ladies might like to make sure your fellow reads this as well:- There comes a time in every man life when he wants or may be expected to give a gift of jewellery to a female. It might be that first sweetheart, your dear wife, a friend or colleague who has reached a milestone in her life worth celebrating. Or perhaps you have several females relatives who are gemlovers like myself & it is 'gift-giving time' again. Some men feel totally inadequate, therefore chocolate or flowers seem easier! However gentlemen you will never have that excuse again; I am here to help you. Lets consider your questions (or excuses!) one at a time & help with some answers.

What sort of jewellery should I get? Should it be earrings, a pendant, a ring or perhaps a bracelet or brooch? The choice may seem undaunting! Think about your lady. If she has pierced ears, earrings may be a logical choice. What style:- well what have you seen her wear? For an expensive gift conventional styles never date. For a cheaper gift most women will wear the latest fashion in earrings. Most women wear pendants; if you have only known her for a short while they can be an ideal choice. Bracelets are something most women will wear & often not buy for themselves. A bracelet or pendant also are excellent choices for a "special occasion" when the woman is not someone you are romantically involved with. Many wives & daughters love getting rings. As long as you know a woman's tastes rings make good gifts; particularly for anniverary presents. If you aren't sure of her tastes, a ring may not be an ideal choice. For some reason woman can be very particular about the type of rings they wear, far more so than with other types of jewellery.

What next? Gold, silver - coloured stones.....how do I know what she likes? If the woman in your life has a special dislike of yellow gold or silver, you probably know it by now. What does she wear? Look at her earrings & rings. Apart from rings; most women will wear of mixture of silver, white or yellow gold in their jewellery. If you're conservative you should have no problems. eg. black pearls go well with white gold, white pearls with yellow. You will notice for example, (if you’ve ever paid any attention!) most emeralds are set in yellow gold. Next problem - what coloured gemstones to buy? This can be the part some men find the most difficult. How do I decide? Firstly ask yourself these questions:- What colours do you like? (If it’s for a sweetheart this is a fair question.) What colours does she like? What colours does she wear most often? Buy a stone in that colour - or ones that matches it. eg. If she favours 'mauve' amethyst would match it; however amethyst would also compliments (or contast nicely) with pink or yellow as also does sapphire which ofcourse matches blue. Pink Tourmaline or Sapphire matches pink, compliments white, light grey & mauve and contrasts beautifully with black, brown, dark grey & even purple. For a lady who often wears black & white, the rich red of garnet is a lovely match. You may like to buy a gem to match her eyes or hair, such as aquamarine for blue/grey eyes, or citrine for your red-haired lovely. Or the colour may be chosen to compliment a skin tone. eg. blue-topaz set in white gold looks lovely on a lady of African or Oceania descent, or garnet or dark blue sapphire in yellow gold looks great on a fair-skinned beauty. If you're still totally confused about colour; you can choice opal or perhaps white pearl. Diamonds are always welcome, though if it is a more expensive gift it is good to know if the woman prefers diamonds in white or yellow gold (for some reason it is the main stone women can have strong preferences about.) If you take note of what colour earrings, pendants or bracelets you have seen her wear you will be able to work it out. Another idea can be to give jewellery shaped like an animal, bird or flower she is particularly fond of. I have given an example of that.

Don't be scared, most women will be delighted that you thought of them. A tasteful piece of jewellery will always be appreciated & worn even if it is not quite what the lady might have picked herself. In fact it may be treasured for that very reason. Jewellery gifts do not have to be expensive. Many semi-precious gemstones are beautiful, but cheap. Irrespective of your budget, it is always the best idea to buy quality. A quality gold or silver item with a good small stone will be treasured for far longer than a larger item of questionable quality. Happy Shopping and Giving. For more information & specific gift ideas please go to http://www.thegemlovers.com/index.php?pr=Tips_for_Men_Buying_for_Women