The AUTUMN COLLECTION - An unusual combination of Gemstones !

An unusual combination of gemstones put together to make this unusual necklace.
This 20 inch necklace is composed of sliced and cut Seashell that forms a picture frame for light green Jade beads and khaki Swaroski Crystal beads fitted between chocolate colored glass Pearls that these alternate with a camoflage Jasper oval bead surrounded by khaki Swaroski Crystal beads and more chocolate colored glass Pearls. A gold plated Lobster Claw clasp completes the necklace with a 2 inch extender.

Matching gold plate French Hook earrings, each with a dangling chocolate glass Pearl bead, light green Jade bead and khaki colored Swaroski Crystal complete the set.

Jade on todays market is primarily composed of Nephrite; Jadeite Jade has become quite rare and in its emerald-green, translucent form is referred to as Imperial Jade or "gem jade". A small amount of cromium in Jadeite accounts for the color of Imperial Jade. Other color-based names for Jadeite Jade are Yunan Jade, for a uniquely appearing dark green, semitranslucent Jade, Apple Jade for apple (yellowish green) green Jade, and Moss-in-Snow for white Jade with vivid green spots and streaks. Nephrite and Jadeite Jade ranges in color from a somewhat greasy-appearing, white to dark and light shades of green, gray, blue-green, lavender, yellow, orange, brown, reddish-brown, and black. An important dark green variety of Nephrite is sometimes known as "spinach Jade". The chromophore in all Nephrite Jades is usually iron. Nephrite jade is usually opaque to translucent in thinner pieces. The name Jade has been, and continues to be, applied to a variety of materials that superficially or closely resemble Jade but are not composed of either Jadeite or Nephrite. So as the old saying gos "Buyer Beware !".

Jasper Sometimes we have an Agate, sometimes we have a Jasper, sometimes we have a name and not sure which exact gemstone we have. Many times we try to find an "easy answer" where there isn't one. The basic difference between Agate and Jasper is a structural one - at the microscopic level. It has nothing to do with the color or pattern. Agate is composed of microscopic 'fibers' of crystalline quartz. Jasper is composed of microscopic 'grains' of crystalline quartz. Jasper has less-regular patterns and is less defined than the Agates. Another subtle difference between the two is that Agates tend to be translucent (or at least contain translucent bands), while Jaspers are generally opaque. Both are called by many different names depending on colors, design in the stones, or location found and sometimes a commercial nameassigned by someone selling the item.

Seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer created by an animal that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on beaches by beachcombers. The shells are empty because the animal has died and the soft parts have been eaten by another animal or have rotter out. The term seashell usually refers to the exoskeleton of an invertebrate (an animal without a backbone). Most shells that are found on beaches are the shells of marine mollusks, partly because many of these shells endure better than other seashells. These shells can be cut, dyed and polished to be used in jewelry.

Crystals and glass Pearls are also used in this set.

The AUTUMN COLLECTION - Fall colors from Australia !

The golden tones of Autumn make their appearance in several gemstones that are used for jewelry. In this case Mookaite, yellow Calcite and yellow Jade are selected for this purpose.

Mookaite and yellow Jade chips make a double-scallop on either side of a Mookaite tear drop pendant.
Calcite ovals, round beads and silver plate beads add demension to the sides of this 21 inch necklace.

The necklace is closed with a sliver plated Toggle clasp and a 2 inch extender.
Silver plate French Hook hoop earrings have a drop of 2 inches.

Mookaite --- see the previous Blog on September 1st for the explanation about Mookaite.

Calcite, which gets its name from "chalix" the Greek word for lime, is a most amazing and yet, one of the most common minerals on the face of the Earth, comprising about 4% by weight of the Earth's crust and is formed in many different geological environments. Calcite can form rocks of considerable mass and constitutes a significant part of all three major rock classification types. Some of these rock types are composed of better than 99% calcite. Why would a collector be interested in such a common mineral? Because of its extraordinary diversity and beauty! The jewelry industry has become facinated with its beauty and many colors in all shades of the rainbow.

Jade on todays market is primarily composed of Nephrite; Jadeite Jade has become quite rare and in its emerald-green, translucent form is referred to as Imperial Jade or "gem jade". A small amount of cromium in Jadeite accounts for the color of Imperial Jade. Other color-based names for Jadeite Jade are Yunan Jade, for a uniquely appearing dark green, semitranslucent Jade, Apple Jade for apple (yellowish green) green Jade, and Moss-in-Snow for white Jade with vivid green spots and streaks. Nephrite and Jadeite Jade ranges in color from a somewhat greasy-appearing, white to dark and light shades of green, gray, blue-green, lavender, yellow, orange, brown, reddish-brown, and black. An important dark green variety of Nephrite is sometimes known as "spinach Jade". The chromophore in all Nephrite Jades is usually iron. Nephrite jade is usually opaque to translucent in thinner pieces. This particular Jade used in this piece is a shade of yellow. The name Jade has been, and continues to be, applied to a variety of materials that superficially or closely resemble Jade but are not composed of either Jadeite or Nephrite. So as the old saying gos "Buyer Beware !".

SUMMER SENSATIONS - light weight, lilac and pale green !

SOLD Light in color and light in weight all for summer wear. Lilac fabric Cloisonne beads, purple corded beads, crystals, pale green Jade and Amethyst/Citrine chips will float around your neck like a summer garden. The necklace is 19 inches with a 2 inch extender and a gold plated Lobster Claw clasp. Golden French Hook dangle earrings complete the set.

Jade on todays market is primarily composed of Nephrite; Jadeite Jade has become quite rare and in its emerald-green, translucent form is referred to as Imperial Jade or "gem jade". A small amount of cromium in Jadeite accounts for the color of Imperial Jade. Other color-based names for Jadeite Jade are Yunan Jade, for a uniquely appearing dark green, semitranslucent Jade, Apple Jade for apple (yellowish green) green Jade, and Moss-in-Snow for white Jade with vivid green spots and streaks. Nephrite and Jadeite Jade ranges in color from a somewhat greasy-appearing, white to dark and light shades of green, gray, blue-green, lavender, yellow, orange, brown, reddish-brown, and black. An important dark green variety of Nephrite is sometimes known as "spinach Jade". The chromophore in all Nephrite Jades is usually iron. Nephrite jade is usually opaque to translucent in thinner pieces. The name Jade has been, and continues to be, applied to a variety of materials that superficially or closely resemble Jade but are not composed of either Jadeite or Nephrite. So as the old saying gos "Buyer Beware !".

Cloisonné is an ancient technique for decorating metalework objects, but in recent centuries using vitreous enamels, and also inlays of cut gemstones, glass, and even linen. and other cloth materials, has become common place, especially in jewelry beads.

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry and decorative statues and lapidary displays. Amethyst is composed of an irregular superposition of alternate lamellae of right-handed and left-handed quartz. It has been shown that this structure may be due to mechanical stresses. Because it has a hardness of seven on the Mohs scale, Amethyst is suitable for use in jewelry. Amethyst occurs in primary hues from a light pinkish violet to a deep purple. Amethyst may exhibit one or both secondary hues, red and blue. Green quartz is sometimes incorrectly called green Amethyst, which is an actual misnomer and not an acceptable name for the material, the proper terminology being Prasiolite.

Citrine is a variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown. Natural Citrines are rare; most commercial Ctrines are heat-treated Amethyst or Smoky Quartz. It is nearly impossible to tell cut Citrine from yellow Topaz visibly, but they differ in hardness. Citrine has ferric impurities, and is rarely found naturally. Brazil is the leading producer of citrine, with much of its production coming from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Sometimes Citrine and Amethyst can be found together in the same crystal, which is then referred to as Ametrine.

Corded beads and crystals are also used in this set.

GEMSTONE JEWELRY - another use of Turquoise !

As with several of the current gemstones used in jewelry, Turquoise use 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, and is still a favorite among men and women alike.

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In this design an unusual spiderweb Turquoise cabochon is fused with white Jade to form an intarsa pendant. Graduated Arizona Turquoise rounds and barrels complete the necklace with a silver extender and hook clasp. Silver French Hook hoop earrings complete the set.

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Intarsia (also known as Florentine mosaic, or pietre dure) are designs made by using cut gemstnes and precisely fitting them together as flat as possible to form polished pieces of gemstone so that the color, natural pattern and shape of each piece forms all or a substantial part of each item or figure in the intarsia. Intarsia has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years with the fine work of jewelry and wood artists. Working in this way, no two pieces are exactly alike. Modern Intarsia is most often seen today as concentric geometric shapes. Sometimes it can have scenic pictures made up of several precious and semi precious gemstones. Such as Rhodochrosite, Malachite, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Azurite/Malachite, Picture Jasper, Fire Opal, White Onyx, Black Onyx, Mother-of-Pearl and, occasionally, Goldstone in a variety of patterns. Each stone is individually created so it is unique. Thus we have the art of "INTARSIA."

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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. Many times on the edges of the Turquoise fields, other minerals and stones become interwined into the Turquoise or Turquoise pieces are encapsulated into the surrounding rock, thus creating unique and interesting patterns. Spiderweb Turquoise is one of these such found materials.

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Jade is an ornamental stone. The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate materials. Nephrite consists of a microcrystaline interlocking fibrous matrix of the calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole mineral series tremolite (calcium-magnesium)-ferroactinolite (calcium-magnesium-iron). The middle member of this series with an intermediate composition is called Actinolite (the silky fibrous mineral form is one form of asbestos). The higher the iron content the greener the colour. Jadeite is a sodium and aluminium-rich pyroxene. The gem form of the mineral is a microcrystaline interlocking crystal matrix.

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Gemstones in the Rough !

Without going into a long explanation or discussion of where to find, how to find and what you might have to do to find gemstones lying around, or when having to dig them out of the ground, here are some pictures of some "rocks" that one might run into while "Rock Hounding", if you go to the right location.

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For many, it could be a short trip as some of the most important deposits of Amazonite are found in Colorado (since 1876). Other locations where Amazonite is found are in Brazil, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia and Zimbabwe.

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Now if you want to get a sample of Ametrine, it will require a trip way back into the hills of Bolivia. This is a one source stone from the Anahi Mine.

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Although similar red rocks (Jasper) can be found in many locations, some of the best in the Big Bend Area of Texas, this particular piece that contains Red River Jasper and Red Variscite is only found in the 'Outback' of Australia.

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Sodalite can be found in many locations from Africa, to China to South America. This particular piece of blue Sodalite comes from Brazil.

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This unique find of blue Apatite came from the Diamond Mine area of Arkansas, but Apatite comes from all over -- Brazil, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Norway, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the several locations in the United States.

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The name gives this unique find from the Pacific Ocean California beaches away, San Joaquin Green Jade.

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Discovered on the Island of St. Paul, near the coast of Labrador, Labradorite is a very unusual form of Opaline Felspar. Although originally found only in Labradore, it has now been discovered in Madagascar and other locations near volcanic activity.

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Spider Web Jasper can be found in many locations to include Idaho, Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico to name a few. This particular piece came from Arizona.

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Fluorite is very common throughout the world. But rockhounds in Arizona have to look twice so they don't confuse this nice yellow-green Fluorite with Arizona Peridot.

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Chrysoprase is a common find in Australia, but also comes from Poland and the United States. It is considered the rarest form of Chalcedony.

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Rhode Island "Bowenite" !

Bowenite, adopted by the State Legislature in 1966, is a Serpentine mineral, and a close relation of Jade and thusly can be considered a semi-precious stone. It is found in the Northern part of Rhode Island in association with Limestone and is found in different colors; light yellow, canary yellow, light and dark green, gray and blue. As seen in the picture, the green variety looks a lot like Jade and thus why misnamed originally and why it still carries the name "Rhode Island Jade" as of today. It was discovered in the early 1800's by a Rhode Island geologist, George Bowen, and was so named in his honor.

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A variety of Chrysotile Serpentine that is massively shaped and composed of densely packed colorless fibers that is a Serpentine mineral relative of Jade, aka Nephrite. It was first identified as Nephrite 1822, but finally changed a decade later. It has a waxy lustre sometimes translucent appearance and ranges from opaque to translucent and is known also collectively as 'Noble' or 'Precious Serpentine' and many times carried the name "Rhode Island Jade". However, it does not have the same hardness or density as Jadeite or Nephrite. Bowenite can be scratched with a carbon steel knife, but Jade can not. A little bit of mineral oil or oil from your forehead can easily make the scratch invisible again.

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Since there is so much confusion over Bowenite, the State Legislature finally decided to classify it as a mineral, rather than a rock or gemstone when making it an Official Symbol of the State.

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Alaska & Wyoming "Jade" !

The term Jade is generic; it actually refers to three minerals - Jadeite, Nephrite, and Chloromenlanite. “Nephrite”, commonly referred to as Jade, was adopted as Wyoming's official gemstone on January 25, 1967. This same Jade was adopted as the State gemstone by the Alaska Legislature in 1968.

The famed Wyoming jade fields occur in a rectangular band that runs roughly from Lander southwest to Farson, down to the Red Desert in Sweetwater County, east to Seminoe Dam, north to Alcova, and westward back to Lander. Wyoming jade is black, olive green, emerald green, light apple green and sometimes gray to white. The lighter colors of jade, especially apple green, are most in demand for gemstones. Today, most people believe that Wyoming's jade fields have been scoured so thoroughly by six decades worth of jade hunters that the light green variety of nephrite can no longer be found.

Most deposits of Jade are found near the Kobuk River. Alaska has large deposits including an entire mountain of jade on the Seward Peninsula, called Jade Mountain. It can also be found near the Dall and Shungnak rivers. This famous, remote, Arctic jade has an extensive history. Artifacts made from Kobuk River nephrite are hundreds of years old and have been found at archaeological sites along the Bering and Pacific coasts of Alaska and British Columbia, and the Arctic coast of Canada. The quality of Alaskan nephrite is highly variable; the finest material is usually found in smooth, stream-rolled boulders. Many of the boulders are covered by a thin rind of brown material, a result of weathering, which must be removed to reveal the unaltered green nephrite beneath.

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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.

More New Items for Shows

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Shown above are two more unfinished pendant and earring stone sets that are being used to complete new necklaces with pendant and dangle earrings. The first is Chliean Phosphosiderite and the second is Red Rainbow Jade. These along with various colors of Florite Points, a sample as seen below, will be avaiable at upcoming shows.

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