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 ELEGANCE COLLECTION - Pearls, Pearls and more Pearls !

If you like Pearls, this necklace is for you.
A combination of ivory colored freshwater cultured Pearls, various colored glass Pearls and Amethyst round beads are combined in this 24 inch necklace set.
A silver plate Toggle Clasp completes the necklace.
2 inch silver plate French Hook drop earrings match the necklace to complete the set.

Freshwater Cultured Pearls are a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. They are produced in Japan and the United States on a limited scale, but are now almost exclusive to China. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires that freshwater pearls be referred to as "freshwater cultured pearls" in commerce. Although the Japanese freshwater pearl industry has nearly ceased to exist, it holds special historic value as the first country to cultivate whole freshwater pearls in Lake Biwa, using the Biwa pearly mussel. The industry attempted a comeback with a mussel hybrid in Lake Kasumigaura in the last decade, but this venture also met with failure, with production ceasing in 2006. The pearl farm in Tennessee also holds special historic value as it is the only freshwater pearl outside of Asia, it continues as a tourist attraction. Today China is the only commercial producer of freshwater pearls, producing 1500 tons using a triangle shell mussel and several hybrids that have shown heterosis from several mussel species.

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.

Glass Pearls and Czech Crystals are also used in this set.

The AUTUMN COLLECTION - The Big and Bold Look !

A large Dichroic turquoise/copper donut pendant is the strong focal point of this Autumized necklace. The necklace also has two shades of teardrop glass pearls surrounding copper coin beads with mystic topaz and copper AB Crystals.
This 21 inch necklace has an oversized copper circle Toggle clasp. Copper French Hook 2 inch dangle earrings with mystic topaz Crystals and a copper ball complete the set.

Dichroic glass is glass containing multiple micro-layers of metal oxides which give the glass dichroic optical properties. The invention of dichroic glass is often erroneously attributed to NASA and its contractors, who developed it for use in dichroic filters. However, Dichroic glass dates back to at least the 4th century AD as seen in the Lycurgus cup. Dichroic glass is an example of thin-film optics.

AB Crystals are also used in this set.

The ELEGANCE COLLECTION - Champagne and Chocolate !

Nothing can be more elegant than Pearls, even today's Glass Pearls.

Elegant strand of large champagne glass Pearls woven with same color ribbon highlight the center of this necklace.

The necklace coninues with smaller chocolate and champaign colored glas pearls and silver plated daisy spacers.

The 19 inch neckace is finished with a silver plated heart Toggle clasp.

Coordinated silver plate French Hook earrings complete the set.

SUMMER SENSATIONS - light weight Chinese look !

Summertime light weight whites, blues and golds in Cloisonne highlight beads with blue cord fabric beads, ivory glass Pearls, Lapis ovals with Czech crystal bead mix on a 19 inch necklace with a 2 inch extender and magnetic clasp. Matching golden French Hock earrings complete the set.

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.

Czech Glass Crystals or perhaps better known as Bohemian glass, or Bohemia crystal, is a decorative glass produced in regions of Bohemia and Silesia, now in the current state of the Czech Republic, since the 13th century. Oldest archaeology excavations of glass-making sites date to around 1250 and are located in the Lusatian Mountains of Northern Bohemia. Both Novy Bor and Kamenicky Senov have their own Glass Museums with many items dating since around 1600. These locations were especially outstanding in its manufacture of glass in high Baroque style from 1685 to 1750. In the 17th century, gem cutters in Prague, adapted to glass the technique of gem engraving with copper and bronze wheels. In the second half of the 19th century, Bohemia looked to the export trade and mass-produced colored glass for shipment all over the world. Today the Bohemian Glassworks Company is the producer of fine Czech crystals, Bohemian glass and Swarovski crystals. The latest project has been the firing of glass nail files.

Lapis Lazuli is a rock, not a mineral: whereas a mineral has only one constituent, Lapis Lazuli is formed from more than one mineral. The main component of lapis lazuli is Lazurite, and a feldspathoid silicate mineral. Most Lapis Lazuli also contains Calcite (white), Sodalite (blue), and Pyrite (metallic yellow). There can also be other possible constituents and trace amounts of other minerals. Lapis lazuli usually occurs in crystalline marble as a result of contact metamorphism. The finest color is intense blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden Pyrite. Stones with no white Calcite veins and only small Pyrite inclusions are more prized. Patches of Pyrite are an important help in identifying the stone as genuine and do not detract from its value. Often, inferior Lapis is dyed to improve its color, producing a very dark blue color with a noticeable grey cast which may also appear as a milky shade. Lapis takes an excellent polish and can be made into jewelry, carvings, boxes, mosaics, ornaments, and vases.

Cord beads and glass Peafrls are also used in this set.

GEMSTONE JEWELRY - Mixed materials !

As previously discussed, many times using different textures can create interesting designs. In the same way different materials can also be used to give depth or balance to a design or highligh specific colors or parts of a highlighted piece in the design.
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Using the latter idea, here we have a necklace set with a multiple highlight pendants of five Spotted Agate trillion cut polished gemstones, with matching copper colored AB crystals and chocolate colored glass pearls interspersed with silver highlights. The matching French Hook earrings use the same chocolate glass pearls and copper AB crystals.
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Now then what are AB crystals ? Aurora Borealis, usually abbreviated AB for short, is a name that has been given to faceted glass crystal beads that have an added iridescent coating placed on the outside of the facets. This coating produces a multi-color reflection which changes color as the beads are rotated. One must be careful when cleaning AB crystal beads, as sometimes in the lower cost varities, this coating can be scratched or come off. AB coating is also used on larger glass pieces to give them the iridescent reflective property also.
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