Since ancient times, gemstones have been coveted for their beauty, value, and even supernatural powers. They have signified wealth or status within a society and been used as currency. Today, it is probably safe to say people aren’t using them to heal diseases, but they are definitely worn as signs of beauty and even bought as investments. Three very popular gemstones today are peridot, blue topaz, and iolite. These stones are affordable and beautiful. What more can you ask for?
Iolite (EYE-oh-lite)
Iolite ranges in color from light to dark blue and violet with dark blue being the most valuable color. Iolite, unlike most other colored gemstones, is not treated in any way. Its color comes from iron.
Even though iolite is not a well known stone it has been around for a very long time. Early Vikings used thin slices of it as glare reducing filters to protect their eyes when they checked the sun’s position. Today it is sometimes used as a less expensive alternative to tanzanite and sapphire.
Stats
Wedding Anniversary – 21st anniversary
Mohs scale – 7 to 7 ?
Cleaning – only clean with soap and water (ultrasonic cleaners and steamers can be risky)
Identifying features
RI: 1.542 – 1.551
Birefringence: .008 – .012
SG: 2.61
Pleochroism:
Violet stones: light violet, dark violet and yellow brown
Blue stones: colorless to yellow, blue-grey, dark violet
Learn more about Iolite Gemstone Jewelry at www.gemstone-n-jewelry.com.
Peridot (PEAR-ih-doe)
Peridot is a transparent gemstone that ranges in colors from a brownish or yellowish green to greenish yellow. It is easy to find and very affordable. It is one of the few gemstones that are not heat treated. Its color comes naturally from iron.
There are two grades of Peridot. “A” quality is eye clean (you can’t see any inclusions in the gem stone with the unaided eye) and it contains no brown color. “B” quality can be eye clean but be pale in color or it can be a good color but show inclusions.
The world’s most commercially important produce of Peridot is San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona. It can also be found in Myanmar (Burma) and Pakistan. Most peridot was formed inside the earth and came to the surface by volcanoes. However, a very rare type of Peridot has made its way to earth in meteorites. Because of its rarity you will most likely not see this kind of peridot in a retail jewelry store.
Stats
Birthstone – August
Wedding Anniversary – 16th anniversary
Mohs scale – 6 ? to 7 (best used in pins, pendants, and earrings)
Cleaning – only with soap and water (never use in an ultrasonic cleaner or a steamer)
Other – is sensitive to temperature changes and chemicals
Identifying features
RI: 1.654 -1.690
SG: 3.34
Clarity Characteristics: moderate doubling, disk-like liquid and gas inclusions (called lily pads), dark colored chromite crystals
Learn more about Peridot Gemstone Jewelry at www.gemstone-n-jewelry.com.
Blue Topaz
Blue topaz is a beautiful gemstone that is mined in several places across the world. High quality stones are produced in Brazil. It’s a very plentiful stone and is usually fairly affordable. Most all blue topaz is heat treated to create its beautiful blue color. The color is stable and is not detectable.
Sometimes when you are shopping for blue topaz you will come across names like “Super blue”, “Maxi blue”, “London Blue”, and “Swiss Blue” which are trade terms that describe darker color blue topaz. The term “Sky Blue” describes a paler shade of blue.
Topaz comes in a wide variety of other colors including brown, orange, pink, red, purple, and yellow.
Stats
Birthstone – November
Wedding Anniversary – 4th
Mohs scale – 6 ?- 7
Cleaning – soap and water only (never use in an ultra sonic cleaner or a steamer)
Identifying features
RI: 1.619-1.627
Birefringence: .008-.010
Clarity Characteristics – 2 or 3 phase inclusions
Learn more about Blue Topaz Gemstone Jewelry at www.gemstone-n-jewelry.com.
There is just something about jewelry that catches and holds the attention of the human eye. Sometimes it’s the exquisite beauty and fire of a finely cut diamond. For others it may be the smooth and deep white gloss of a strand of pearls.
Then there is the age factor – many people love the history that radiates through antique jewelry.
Buying antique jewelry can be a great way to obtain high-quality stones and pieces that are dazzling, rare and hard-to-find in contemporary retailers. You can also find great deals, though buyers should be wary of any deal that seems too good to be true.
In this article, we’ll cover the basics on how to protect yourself when purchasing antique jewelry and what to look for in a good piece. So, if you want to learn more about antique jewelry shopping, keep reading.
So, is it antique or vintage?
There’s actually a distinction between vintage pieces and antique pieces. Typically, a vintage piece of jewelry may be about 30 to 70 years old, while an antique piece could be hundreds or thousands of years old (in which case it should be in a museum).
What are the most popular antique jewelry pieces?
Most dealers offer a range of antique pieces, but collectors tend to prize pieces from the Victorian era and the Art Deco period of the early twentieth century. Jewelry from the Victorian period (1837-1901) tends to exude grace and history, while still exhibiting modern craftsmanship and quality. Pieces from earlier periods tend to be cruder and the stones of a lower grade, which is why jewelry collectors focus on the Victorian age.
Meanwhile, the antique jewelry from the Art Deco design era (1920-1930) attracts a lot of attention thanks to its unique shapes and overall style. Because of the industrial aesthetic, these pieces are distinct and highly valued amongst collectors.
What about modern “antiques?” What are they?
Because these styles are so popular, many jewelers are carrying pieces that look like antiques, but are actually made today. They’re not original Victorian brooches or Art Deco bracelets, but they’re made to look like it. These can be a great option for someone who wants the wearability and durability of a modern piece, but the look and style of an antique.
If I’m buying an antique, how can I be sure it’s real?
Always get every aspect of the piece in writing from the retailer, including the stone carats and quality. Then, have the piece appraised by an independent appraiser. If it doesn’t match the description given to you by the retailer, return the item for a full refund or ask to renegotiate the purchase price.
To prevent potential fraud or misrepresentation problems, always deal with reputable and respected dealers who offer a clear and easy-to-understand return policy.
If you have pierced ears or wear rings on your fingers, you are probably aware that there are times when you have saved money on something only to have to throw that something away after just one use. There are some bodies that can wear cheap body jewelry, and there are others that can not. This depends on your body chemistry and your history. If you have had things turn green on your skin, you may not be able to buy inexpensive pieces. If that has not been a problem for you, you may be okay no matter what you spend.
The thing about jewelry for the body is that it can be rather expensive, depending on what you want and what you need. When you find that things are getting out of control, you can look for good cheap body jewelry and find some great pieces. The trouble is going to be what your body is going to do when you put that cheap body jewelry into your piercing. Your body may reject it, or it could cause an infection. It could also see it the same as the more expensive and safer metals and you will have nothing to worry about.
It might be best to save the cheap body jewelry until after you have had your piercing for at least six months. You may even want to wait a year. You want it to be totally healed before you try to put anything in there that may not work out so well. The cheap body jewelry can be okay after a period of healing is over. Even then though, you want to keep a close eye on things when you put the jewelry in for the first time. In fact, that is a smart move no matter how much you have paid for the new piece you are trying out.
If you find that you can wear cheap body jewelry with no problem, you can get whatever you want. You can find this stuff everywhere, but you may find some places won’t carry the cheap versions because they fear that they will have too many problematic returns. If you can’t find what you want in the way of cheap body jewelry through your local stores, you can find what you need through the Internet. Just make sure you are not getting something so cheap that you are going to get an infection no matter what you do. Saving a few bucks will mean nothing if you get sick.
More articles about Jewelry And Gems
It is a known fact that women love wearing jewelry. The many different styles of jewelry that you can see worn by a woman will state her taste in many areas of her life. The various types of jewelry which appeals to a woman, you will find come in various shapes, sizes and colors. Many of this jewelry will come from fashion jewelry wholesale stores.
You will sometimes be able to choose these fashion jewelry from the same places that you can buy costume jewelry. Since these types of jewelry are popular with women of all ages you can buy them at affordable prices from fashion jewelry wholesale stores. These wholesale dealers will be able to show you a wide range of styles that you might like to own.
Before you buy just a few pieces of fashion jewelry however, you should see the different design styles that are available in fashion jewelry wholesale stores and choose the various ones that appeal to you. Fashion jewelry wholesale centers will have a wide selection of jewelry from various countries and periods for you to wear if your tastes run to that type of jewelry.
You can also see about buying fashion jewelry that look best when they are mixed and matched. You might want to see about buying different jewelry pieces in different styles to create a unique look. You can select these types of fashion jewelry from reputed fashion jewelry wholesale centers.
When you are considering the numerous ways that you can wear fashion jewelry wholesale centers will have items that can let the jewelry designer in you loose. This way you can see how you can combine ethnic styles of jewelry with modern or antique jewelry to create the look that screams “unique”.
This means that you can see about making your fashion jewelry a statement that will be remembered for a long time. One other fact that you should consider with your venture into fashion jewelry wholesale centers is that they might also have costume jewelry.
You can choose the best costume jewelry pieces and decide how you can incorporate these dissimilar styles together. Since your aim is to look wonderful in your fashion jewelry you should choose the various elements so that they mesh together perfectly.
This look will be very stylish if you have selected good quality fashion and costume jewelry from a reputed fashion jewelry wholesale store. With the vast selection of items that you can buy from these places you can be assured that you are choosing fashion jewelry that you will love to wear for quite a long while.
For the discerning jewelry shopper the need to buy high quality jewelry is a must. To fulfill this need Kays jewelry has over 90 years of experience. You will find that the Kays jewelry store personnel are able to answer your queries regarding the different jewelry that you can select from while you are at Kay’s jewelry. This assistance will make your task of choosing the jewelry that you want easier.
To make the task of choosing your jewelry easier you can visit a Kays jewelry that is located near you. You can also choose to buy your Kays jewelry from the internet as well. The wish list that is on their web site will help you with this task. You might want to use the internet as a source of what you can find in the Kays jewelry. With branches in many locations you are sure to find a store that is near you.
As you look though the many products that are in the various Kays jewelry stores you will be struck not only by the friendly and helpful staff but also by the sheer beauty of the many jewelry that you can find in the Kays jewelry stores. These stores will have a wide range of jewelry that you can war for different occasions like engagements, wedding, anniversaries and formal dinners.
For all of these occasions you will be able to find affordable pieces of jewelry. Since Kays jewelry has a wide selection of jewelry pieces you can find all of these designs in their store catalogue which you can look at while you are online. This will make the selection process very easy for you especially since you are at home.
Once you have made your jewelry choices all that you need to do is to decide if you are buying from home via the intent or if you are going shopping to their stores. Regardless of how you buy your Kays jewelry you can be sure that you are getting high quality jewelry at prices that you can afford. Once you have your quality Kays jewelry you can wear them for a special occasion.
The compliments that you will receive will make you realize just how special your Kays jewelry really is. With your satisfaction assured you can recommend Kays jewelry to someone that you know. Let them share in the joy and magic that owning a Kays jewelry piece can bring to their lives.
If you are on the lookout for jewelry – whether it be a chain for yourself, or a bracelet for your significant other – Washington DC has quite the offerings. And I am not talking about pawn shops either (although they sometimes make a great steal). Here are some of the finest Washington Jewelry stores in the DC area:
Alan Furman & Co
(202) 331-0671
Washington, DC 20001
Shah & Shah Inc
(202) 223-6001
1001 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
Boone & Sons Inc
(202) 785-4653
1025 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
Continental Jewelers
(202) 833-3366
1010 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
I Gorman Jewelers
(202) 775-8544
1120 20th St NW
Washington, DC 20036
The Jewelry Factory
(202) 638-4949
Washington, DC 20001
Mervis Diamond Importers
(202) 293-0600
1828 L St NW
Washington, DC 20036
Mervis Diamond Importers
(202) 293-0600
1700 K St NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phoenix
(202) 338-4404
1514 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007
Afram Jewelers
(202) 347-0332
803 15th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tabandeh Inc
(202) 244-0777
5300 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20015
Judy Diamond Assoc
(202) 728-0506
1155 15th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
Jewelry prices can fluctuate wildly with the market- whether its gold, diamonds, or platinum.
Jewelry comes in many different styles and sizes. You will be able to find jewelry from various countries and periods of time being mentioned in history books. Many of these jewelry styles are still being worn by men and women today. One type of jewelry that is very popular with both sexes is that of finger rings or as we simply call them rings.
These finger rings can be simple in design or they can be extravagant. You will be able to find a vast array of styles and designs to suit your tastes. In addition these finger rings can be of the expensive variety with intricate design work and high quality precious stones mounted onto settings that have been made to enhance the beauty of the finger ring.
For the person who wants to wear finger rings that can be changed with the various clothes an inexpensive style will be more appropriate. To buy these finger rings you should take into account the type of ring that you are trying to purchase. The expensively designed finger rings will be found at high end jewelry stores. Here you will find these finger rings in a variety of styles and you may be able to buy customized finger rings with beautifully intertwined gemstones embedded in.
The prices for these types of finger rings will depend on the ring and the style that you choose. There will be occasions where you will not be able to buy such high quality jewelry. To let you buy good quality but inexpensive finger rings you can see what is available from jewelry stores that sell jewelry for lower prices. While you will not get the same selection of jewelry you can see some interesting pieces in these stores.
You can also choose your finger rings from various online jewelry stores and places that sell certain types of finger rings. These singular looking finger rings can rightly be called finger rings as they have been designed to fit over the entire finger of the person. You will find these finger rings come in many different looks and they all bear interesting names. The way to know if one of these finger rings will fit you is to try one in a costume jewelry store.
You will find that the Celtic Claddagh ring is also called a finger ring. This branch of finger rings dates back to the middle ages. The rings that were worn at this time symbolized the exchanged of engagement vows. Today you can still find many different finger rings being worn. While the styles and looks may be different, many of them still have the idea behind them that the Claddagh ring of Ireland still carries – faith, trust and pure love.
There is an air of sophistication that can be found in beautifully crafted jewelry. For the most part you will see these types of jewelry at reputed and ordinary jewelry stores. You can also buy fashion jewelry that is not as expensive as the other higher priced jewelry which may have precious gemstones mounted on them. These fashion jewelry pieces can be bought from wholesale jewelry stores. From these places you will be able to choose a variety of jewelry that appeals to you.
The many different wholesale jewelry stores will have a different selection of goods. You can find good quality and reasonable jewelry that you can afford at these places. While they are not made with precious gemstones or other types of expensive metals you will still find some unusual pieces of jewelry in these wholesale jewelry stores.
Generally you can find bead jewelry, silver jewelry and ethnic jewelry at these wholesale jewelry stores. There may be times when you can find jewelry making tools and equipment for sale at these wholesale jewelry stores too.
Depending on the type of wholesale jewelry store that you are considering buying these jewelry pieces from, you will find jewelry that you can mix and match or ones that have the look of understated elegance that is found in high end jewelry stores. Many times you will find that wholesale jewelry stores have a wider selection since they cater to many different types of jewelry lovers.
These wholesale jewelry stores can be found when you look for them in your local yellow pages or even the internet. Before you make any actual choices you should look through the entire range of a number of wholesale jewelry stores. This way you will have an idea of the selection that is available. You will also be able to find the comparative prices and what sort of policies these places have in regard to returns, defects and exchanges.
Once you are satisfied with your purchase choice and you have no problems with the price that is needed to be paid, you are ready for your wholesale jewelry delivery. There is only one thing that you need to do and that is to wait until you have received the jewelry. This way you can judge if you will be buying any more jewelry from the various wholesales jewelry stores.
With wholesale jewelry you have the added advantage owning remarkable pieces of jewelry at very affordable prices. These pieces of jewelry will allow you the satisfaction of mixing and matching these wholesale jewelry pieces to make fantastic jewelry creations that are yours alone.
Rings are a type of jewelry that every woman loves to wear. The many ring designs can be found in patterns from every culture. Sometimes you will see new and modern interpretations of ring designs that were worn by earlier cultures. These types of ring designs were resurrected because they have unusual looks.
When you are looking for the perfect ring for someone that you care about you should look at the many different types of rings designs that you can find in various jewelry stores. Careful inspection will reveal many interesting designs in a variety of styles and time periods. As many of these ring designs will be carefully hand-worked you can expect these jewelry pieces to be a little on the expensive side.
You will also be able to find ring designs that cover the whole finger. These ring designs are designed for the people who love unusual looking rings. As you look at the many different types of ring designs you will be able to find ones that are expensive reflecting the nature of the ring. You can find inexpensive ring designs that are fanciful or even fun themed.
These different ring designs are just a small way that you can show your tastes in jewelry to the world. The best way that you can look at the many different styles of ring designs is to look at what is available on the internet. With this facility you can find the many ring designs that are used throughout the world. All that you need is some time and patience to look for the various ring designs that should appeal to you.
Once you have found the ring designs that you might like to own you should see if you can order the ring from that online store. You will need to make enquiries about the various policies that may be found with these stores. You will also have to find out the length of the delivery period.
When you are satisfied with the quality of the service that you are getting you can see about ordering your ring designs secure in the knowledge that you will be receiving the ring that you have ordered. When you know the quality of ring designs from that store to be superior you can keep that store name and address safe and ready for the next time that you will be buying new rings with unusual ring designs.
As many people will know, while you can buy your jewelry at various jewelry stores, there is still something very exciting about making your very own jewelry. To make these designer jewelry pieces you will need lots of equipment. For the most part you can find these tools at your home. The main item that you will need to locate is that of the jewelry or “gemstones”. These are usually beads which come in many different types. The best way to get these wholesale beads is from a store that sells quality products like these beads.
When you look at the various wholesale beads you will find that there is quite a variety for you to choose from. These wholesale bead stores will be able to supply you with high quality beads like Cats eye beads, semi-precious gemstone beads, sterling silver beads and many others.
The quality of these beads depends on the place that you bought them from. This means that if you want your jewelry to look fantastic you should buy wholesale beads that are of an exceptional value and look. One of the places where you can buy wholesale beads from is costume jewelry stores or craft stores. At these places you can find a large amount of beads in different styles and shapes.
Before you buy these wholesale beads you should take the time to inspect the beads for good quality. Choosing only the best ones you should see what other items that you can buy to complement these wholesale beads. This is important because you will soon have the chance to make these wholesale beads that you have bought, into glamorous jewelry designs that no one else has.
You can also buy your wholesale beads from various internet wholesale dealers. While you can’t look at these beads in person you can see if the price of these wholesale beads is reasonable. With an affordable price on these wholesale beads you can choose the many different designs that you would like to buy and make into great looking jewelry. The next time around that you need more wholesale beads you will know the best places that you can get them for at affordable prices and high quality products.
All that remains is for you to buy a good book on jewelry making and the various tools that you may need. With some imagination you can transform these wholesale beads into magnificent creations that are distinctly you and something that no one else owns.
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