GEMSTONE JEWELRY - From the Sea !

"From the Sea, From the Sea, From the Beautiful Sea" or however that song goes and depending on where one travels, it is possible to find jewelry that comes totally from the sea. Most is faily inexpensive, but designs that contailn items such as Black Coral can run hundreds, even thousandss of dollars.
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In this design, shells from the sea that have been cut into large 30mm rounds highlight a necklace of Poppy Jasper ovals, Black Agate (Onyx) barrels and heishi shell beads. A copper lobster clasp can connect to a copper chain to allow for varying necklace lengths. Two styles of French Hook dangle earrings complete the set.
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Seashell - Jewelry made from seashellsd are absolutely stunning, and so calming. Seashell jewelry continues to grow in popularity, especially since no two shells are alike, so each piece is as unique as you are! There are millions out there to choose from, so getting some to even match a little bit can be an exciting discovery and bit time consuming.Seashell necklaces and Mother of Pearl (MOP) are quite the favorites, along with some pretty Sand Dollars. Shell jewelry tells everyone you love nature.
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Black Agate (Onyx) which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx. Onyx is a crypyocrystalline form of Quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). A picture of a true Black Onyx specimum is seen at the left. True specimens of Onyx contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. As stated, the pure black form which most people know as Onyx, is not a naturally occuring variety. Black Agate or poorly colored Onyx is heated and dyed black to come up with the pure black form so well liked within the jewelry industry.
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Poppy Jasper is found in two places - Spain and the Morgan Hill area of California. Poppy Jasper exhibits stones of brick red mingling with shades of brown or black. These beautiful gemstones also often show shades of golden yellows, cream, or white in a single bead. Poppy Jasper is a famous, but increasingly rare orbicular jasper with red and yellow dots of "poppy flowers". It is a brecciated jasper, meaning it probably came from sun-dried and oxidized iron-rich clay. The cracks were filled in by other substances. Jasper, a form of Chalcedony, is an opaque impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color. Blue is rare. This mineral breaks with a smooth surface, and is used for ornamentation or as a gemstone. It can be highly polished and is used for vases, seals, jewelry and at one time for snuff boxes. When the colors are in stripes or bands, it is called striped or banded jasper. When the colors are in circles or long tubes it is called plume jasper. Jasper is basically chert which owes its red color to iron inclusions.
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Heishi - The literal meaning of heishi is "shell" and specifically refers to pieces of shell which have been drilled and ground into beads and then strung into necklaces. More and more frequently, however, heishi (pronounced hee-shee) has come to refer to hand-made tiny beads made of any natural material. The origin of heishi is fascinating indeed, and is inescapably linked to the ancient history of the people most proficient in its making, the Santo Domingo and San Felipe Pueblo Indians. It is safe to say that this is the oldest form of jewelry in New Mexico (and perhaps in North America), pre-dating the introduction of metals. Centuries ago, the shells used by the Pueblo Indians to make beads were obtained in trade from the Gulf of California. When one looks at a string of heishi, the first reaction is frequently "how on earth can a person do that?" or "to be so perfect, it must be done by machines." The truth is, if it seems exquisitely perfect, it was most likely made by the hands of a highly-skilled, extremely patient craftsperson. Knowing the steps involved in the creation of a good string of heishi can help a potential buyer distinguish—and appreciate the difference— between excellent hand-made jewelry and imitations. First, the raw materials are chosen. The most commonly used are seashells of all kinds—dark and light olive shells, spiney oysters, mother-of-pearl, melon shell. Coral and stones such as lapis, turquoise, jet, pipestone and serpentine are also used to create exquisite contemporary heishi necklaces.
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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - an old Southwestern Combination !

Due to the limited availability of certain materials, the Indians of the American Southwest were somewhat limited in the colors that they used with the Turquoise and Silver that they dug locally. These same colors, with a few new added, are the basis of Southwestern Jewelry to this day.

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This particular design incorporates the main Southwest Indian colors, Turquoise, Red, Black and Silver. A stabilized Arizona Turquoise in free form shape is strung with Silver Beads, Turquoise rondels, black Agate (Onyx) rondels and red Sponge Coral barrels. A two inch extender gives the necklace extra length if needed. A choice of two styles of coordinating silver French Hook earrings complete the set.

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Stabilized turquoise - Turquoise that is soft or normally referred to as "chalk" Turquoise is infused with a clear epoxy resin. This resin, under pressure, is absorbed into the rock, which permanently hardens the rock and deepens the color. Unlike the collectible natural Turquoise which deepens in color over time by gradually absorbing oils from the skin as it is worn, the colors in stabilized Turquoise are permanent. Most of the Turquoise on the market today is stabilized and should not cost as much as natural Turquoise. Stabilized turquoise can be very beautiful, and is a good buy. Because of it's hardness and consistant color, stabilized Turquoise wears much better in Jewelry.

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Sponge Coral is a natural organic substance that is considered a newcomer to the jewelry industry. It is related to the more traditional red/pinkish coral, thus Sponge Coral is not on the endangered species list, plus it is a sustainable product. Sponge Coral is a farmed product and thus is not removed from the Coral Reef and does not cause the environmental damage associated with traditional corals. Traditional coral is usually used in its natural shape which resembles a twiglet whereas Sponge Coral is reconstituted into different shapes. These shapes can either then be used as they are or used to produce a mosaic effect or other patterns. Sponge Coarl is used extensively in Silver Inlay and Intarsa products. Sponge Coral must be stabilized. Without the stabilising and polishing the sponge coral would be very brittle and dull in appearance. Sponge coral should not be placed in hot water or come into direct contact with perfumes or other chemicals. When wearing sponge coral, perfume should be applied prior to wearing so that you are not applying perfume directly on to the sponge coral. Sponge Coral may be cleaned by using a moist soft cloth and do not use any abrasive or chemical cleaners. Some dealers confuse Spiney Oyster with Sponge Coral, which ar two totally different items.

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Black Agate (Onyx) which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx. Onyx is a crypyocrystalline form of Quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). A picture of a true Black Onyx specimum is seen at the left. True specimens of Onyx contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. As stated, the pure black form which most people know as Onyx, is not a naturally occuring variety. Black Agate or poorly colored Onyx is heated and dyed black to come up with the pure black form so well liked within the jewelry industry.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - a man-made Gemstone !

Not all gemstones seen on the market are from Mother Nature. There are a few, that are called gemstones despite the fact they are not, they are creations of man. A few of these are quite beautiful and very pretty when combined and used in jewelry.

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It so happens that this jewelry set is constructed out of one of these man-made stones - Goldstone. Flat Goldstone discs form the center and highlight the sides of this necklace. Round Blue Goldstone combined with black Agate (Onyx) are used to complete the necklace along with a copper toggle clap. French hook dangle earrings with matching Blue Goldstone and Onyx finish the set.

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Goldstone is a type of glittering glass made in a low-oxygen reducing atmosphere. The finished product can take a smooth polish and can be carved into beads, pendants, figurines or other artifacts suitable for a semiprecious stone, and in fact Goldstone is often mistaken for or misrepresented as a natural material. The most common form of Goldstone is reddish-brown, containing tiny crystals of metallic copper that require special conditions to form properly. The initial batch is melted together from silica, copper oxide, and other metal oxides to chemically reduce the copper ions to elemental copper. The vat is then sealed off from the air and maintained within a narrow temperature range, keeping the glass hot enough to remain liquid while allowing metallic crystals to precipitate from solution without melting or oxidizing. After a suitable crystallization period, the entire batch is cooled to a single solid mass. The best material is near the center or "heart" of the mass, ideally with large, bright metal crystals suspended in a semitransparent glass matrix. Goldstone also exists in other color variants based on other elements. Cobalt and manganese can be substituted for copper; the resulting crystals have a more blue or silvery appearance and are suspended in a strongly-colored matrix of the corresponding ionic color, resulting in Blue Goldstone or Purple Goldstone respectively. Green Goldstone forms its reflective particles from chromium oxides rather than the elemental metals, but is otherwise fairly similar.

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Black Agate (Onyx) which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx. Onyx is a crypyocrystalline form of Quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). Specimens of Onyx contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. As stated, the pure black form which most people know as Onyx, is not a naturally occuring variety. Black Agate or poorly colored Onyx is heated and dyed black to come up with the pure black form so well liked within the jewelry industry.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - stabilized Turquoise !

This design is based on a full strand of graduated rondel blue-green stabilized Turquoise beads. Small black Agate (Onyx) round beads separate the larger Turquoise rondels. Larger Onyx rondels are placed each side of silver-plated highlights. A hook and loop clasp completes the necklace and silver French Hook earrings match the necklace.

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Stabilized turquoise - Turquoise that is soft or normally referred to as "chalk" Turquoise is infused with a clear epoxy resin. This resin, under pressure, is absorbed into the rock, which permanently hardens the rock and deepens the color. Unlike the collectible natural tTrquoise which deepens in color over time by gradually absorbing oils from the skin as it is worn, the colors in stabilized Turquoise are permanent. Most of the Turquoise on the market today is stabilized and should not cost as much as natural Turquoise. Stabilized turquoise can be very beautiful, and is a good buy. Because of it's hardness and consistant color, stabilized Turquoise wears much better in Jewelry.

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Black Agate (Onyx) which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx. Onyx is a crypyocrystalline form of Quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). Specimens of Onyx contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. As stated, the pure black form which most people know as Onyx, is not a naturally occuring variety. Black Agate or poorly colored Onyx is heated and dyed black to come up with the pure black form so well liked within the jewelry industry.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - common gemstones !

Agates, Jaspers and Obsidians are found world-wide. They come in so many varities, colors and consistencies that it takes many books to try and identify the various types. Because of their commonality world-wide, names can also be confusing as many are named for local places or people or designs within the stones, and thus do not carry a common name world-wide.

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This design encorporates a black Druzy Agate off-center heart shaped wire-wrapped pendant hanging on a necklace constructed of black Agate (Onyx) hearts and snowflake Obsidian beads with silver highlights. Matching French Hook hoop earrings complete the set.

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Druzy is the term that refers to a blanket of tiny, sparkling crystals often found inside a geode of Quartz or an Agate. The sparkling appearance of druzy is like that of spilled salt or sugar. The formation of the tiny crystals occurs after molten rock begins to quickly cool, trapping gasses within it as it solidifies. The trapped gasses cause crevices and cavities in the cooling rock. Nutrient-rich groundwater later flows through these gaps and crevices, depositing layer after layer of minerals which crystallize on top of each other. The resulting encrustation is called druzy (drusy, druse, druses). This process doesn't take days or weeks, but a few hundred or even a few thousand years.

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Jewelers use the term Druzy for all gemstones with the crystalline structure referred to above. Golden druzy is often of Quartz, but other colored druzy gemstones were made in nature by the depositing of different minerals, which give them their unique colors of blue, pink, lemon yellow, turquoise or blue. Jewelry labeled "golden druzy," has actually been put through a special process to create the golden look. A shiny golden druzy gets it glitzy looks thanks to a process known as 'vapor-coating' or 'vapor-deposition'. '''Vapor-coating begins in a vacuum chamber. The high-karat gold (or platinum, titanium, silver or copper) is converted to a vapor and then mixed with oxygen. The gold-oxygen vapor settles on the crystals of the druzy and bonds with them at the molecular level. Other minerals have also been used to give blue, red and green colorations. So when obtaining a Druzy, be sure to ask if natural or vapor treated.

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Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly without crystal growth. Obsidian is commonly found within the margins of Rhyolitic lava flows known as Obsidian flows, where the chemical composition (high silica content) induces a high viscosity and polymerization degree of the lava. The inhibition of atomic diffusion through this highly viscous and polymerized lava explains the lack of crystal growth. Because of this lack of crystal structure, obsidian blade edges can reach almost molecular thinness, leading to its ancient use as projectile points and blades, and its modern use as surgical scalpel blades. In some stones, the inclusion of small, white, radially clustered crystals of Cristobalite in the black glass produce a blotchy or snowflake pattern (Snowflake Obsidian). It may contain patterns of gas bubbles remaining from the lava flow, aligned along layers created as the molten rock was flowing before being cooled.

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Black Agate (Onyx) which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx. Onyx is a crypyocrystalline form of Quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). Specimens of Onyx contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. As stated, the pure black form which most people know as Onyx, is not a naturally occuring variety. Black Agate or poorly colored Onyx is heated and dyed black to come up with the pure black form so well liked within the jewelry industry.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - An Old Favorite, Turquoise !

Turquoise use in jewelry goes back to the early Egyptain times and maybe earlier than that. The Native American's use of Turquoise in their jewelry, especially from the southwestern United States, where it is plentiful, is still a favority among men and women alike.

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This design incorporates southwestern stablizied Turquoise tear-drop shapped pendant hung on silver from a necklace of Turquoise oval and Ivority barrel beads with Black Agate (Onyx) chips, silver plated highlights and a silver hook and loop clasp. Silver leverback earrings with matching Turquoise ovals complete the set.

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Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium. It is rare and valuable in its finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. In recent times Turquoise, like most other opaque gems, has been devalued by the introduction of treatments, imitations, and synthetics onto the gemstone marketplace. The substance has been known by many names, but the word Turquoise was derived around the 16th century from the French language 'turquie', for a Central Asian material which was a very early imported through Turkey from Persia. Today, Persian and certain southwestern United States Turquoise, especially Sleeping Beauty, commend some of the highest prices paid for this gemstone.

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Black Agate (Onyx) which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx. Onyx is a crypyocrystalline form of Quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). Specimens of Onyx contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. As stated, the pure black form which most people know as Onyx, is not a naturally occuring variety. Black Agate or poorly colored Onyx is heated and dyed black to come up with the pure black form so well liked within the jewelry industry.

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Ivoryite is a unique variety of an extremely fine grained mineral called Magnesite. It is a naturally occuring mineral and not man-made. It is found in Arizona and quarried by hand. Ivoryite has the creamy color, smooth texture, and satin luster of natural Ivory. It is slightly harder however than natural ivory.

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BLACK ONYX - a manmade variety of Chalcedony (Agate) !

Every now and then, a real surprise comes along and makes one step back and wonder about many other things. One such rendering took place this past weekend at the Southwest Gems and Mineral Society Show. Was told by a knowledgable lapidarist when looking at a display I had, than there isn't such a thing as "Black Onyx" which was included in several of the necklace sets I had on display. So started checking around, and the Earth Science Department from Trinity University was present with a booth, so chatted with them for a bit, and yep, no such thing as natural "Black Onyx". To make things easier to understand, here are some definitions of "Black Onyx" off of several different sites on the Internet.

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"Black onyx" is neither truly onyx nor truly black, but it is actually dyed chalcedony. According to some experts, it is produced by boiling slabs of gray chalcedony in a sugar solution. The sugar permeates the stone's "pores" between the submicrocrystallites and darkens the appearance of the stone. This dye/treatment is stable and requires no special care.

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Black Onyx - unknown in nature, it is produced by warming chalcedony in a sugar solution for several days or weeks. The stone in then placed in warm sulphuric acid. The acid reacts with the sugar, precipitating the free carbon. The black color is permanent.

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Black Onyx - Mohs Hardness: 6.5-7 - Treatment: Dyed for color uniformity - Color: clear to browns (See also Chalcedony as no such thing as Black Onyx). Onyx and Sardonyx are similar to agate, but Onyx has straight rather than curved bands. These bands may be in shades of browns, reds, tans, yellow, greens and rarely blues and will always have white. Since ancient Egyptian times, onyx has been stained to improve or change its color to an all black gemstone. All totally black onyx has been produced by soaking black agate (chalcedony)or other Onyx, especially clear, in a sugar solution, then heating it in sulfuric acid to carbonize the sugar particles. Found worldwide. Onyx is formed by the deposition of silica in gas cavities in lava, which results in the distinctive bands.

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So from now on the proper term to use with the 'little or big black stones' used in jewelry, should be either black Agate or black Chalcedony with the added comment "enhnaced by chemical treatments and is called black Onyx". One learns something new every day if you listen good.

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GEMSTONE COMBINATIONS !

To be a bit different and let my designing juices flow a bit, decided for this Spring and the upcoming ROSC Joint Services Luncheon at Lackland AFB on March 25th, to come up with some changed variety in gemstone combinations for several new Jewelry Sets..

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Turquoise, Coral and Silver is an old standby, but this time I added some Wild Horse Magnesite to the mix.

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Combining Russian Amazonite with some Denim Lapis, and an Ocean Jasper Pendant with Silver Accent Chain, makes for a totally different look.

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Silver Fresh Water Pears, Pink Zebra Jasper highlighted with pink Crystals and then twisted with a Pink Zebra Jasper Pendant gives a striking demension to this necklace.

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Peppermint Jasper inserted between various shapes of Ivoryite and Black Onyx provides a dynamic and bold look.

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And for the Classy, a Blue Chalcedony Marquise Pendant hanging from Kyanite discs, Montana and Clear Crystal rondells, provides the evening-out look.

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These and other new designs will be available on the Web-site over the next week and for those in the San Antonio area that will be attending the luncheon, please come and look at these and other new items close-up.

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RAFB ROSC Welcome Get-Together !

Lapis Lazuli and Kyanite

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This coming Thursday Aug 27th, the Randolph AFB Officer's Spouses Club will host their Fall Roundup Get-together. The meeting will be held at the RAFB O'Club from 1000 until about 1230 hours in the main meeting room. Several vendors will be present with jewelry, craft items, snacks and household items. Jewelry by CnC will be there with some new jewelry pieces, show above and below, made especially for the show.

Yellow Turquoise & Pipe Stone-------- - Turquoise and Silver

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Onyx, Jasper & Quartz---------------Onyx & Agate

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Randolph AFB Tri-Service ROSC Luncheon

On March 26th the Randolph AFB Officer's Spouses Club (ROSC) is hosting the annual TriService Luncheon at the RAFB O'Club. 'Jewelry by CnC' and our sister company 'Timeless Designs' has been asked to show our designs during the luncheon. We hope thoses attending from Lackland AFB, Ft Sam Houston, Brooks City Base, Camp Bullis, Wilford Hall MC, BAMC and of course Randolph AFB will stop bye and see our items.

The following new designs have been created especially for review by those attending the ROSC TriService luncheon.

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Chrysocolla Pendant, Heische Turquoise Beads and Gold Tubes Set

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Wild Horse Magnesite Pendant and Beads, Peruvian Turquoise and Silver Beads Set

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Ruby in Zoisoit, Black Onyx, Ernite Crystals and Gold Set

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We hope to see many of our San Antonio area Military friends at the luncheon and please stop bye and pick up our coupon for discount on future purchases.

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ADDITIONAL NEW DESIGNS !

The following new sets use combinations of Agate, Arizona Turquoise, Bronzite, Ceramic Beads, Czech Crystal, Arizona Magnesite (Wild Horse), Onyx and Tiger Iron in varying designs with silver and gold highlights and clasps. All the sets have matching Earrings.

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All these sets will be placed on the web-site over the next week.

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Fall & Holiday Colors - For Long Seasonal Wear !

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The colors of Fall, Thanksgiving and the Christmas Season all come together to provide for Jewelry Sets that can be worn for an extended period of time and still be in Season the whole time. Rainbow Jade, Carnelian, Red Jasper, Poppy Jasper and California Green Opal along with Black Onyx fill this requirement very nicely.

Halloween Fun !

Join in the fun this Halloween with some new jewelry. The top picture is a Red Coral, Orange Lampwork and Orange-Red-Yellow Glass Pendant 21 inch Necklace and Dangle Earring Set (GS121).


These last two pictures are Black Onyx and Orange Cat-Eyes Necklace and Dangle Earring sets, 22 (GS159) and 18 (GS158) inches respectively.
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