Gemstones & Gemstone Lore

I love Topaz. Topaz is a fairly hard stone, but it can be cracked or chipped easily due to its internal structure. Chemically, it's an aluminum silicate with chromium. Topaz has wonderful gem qualities. It has a high refractive index and takes a fabulous polish.

Like many stones, topaz changes color when heated: yellow topaz often becomes reddish-pink. The pink color is stable. Although some colors of topaz are due to impurities, many of the most familiar topaz colors are due to irradiation and heat treatment.

I recently encountered "Mystic Topaz" and I wondered exactly what that might be. I've discovered that a recent trend is topaz that displays iridescent colors. Such stones are attractive but the treatment is not permanent. The color effects are the result of nuclear irradiation or diffusion coatings with thin layers of titanium dioxide deposited on the surface of the stone. These coated stones must be handled very gently as any scratch or abrasion can mar the surface layer.

Blue topaz is wildly popular and comes about due to irradiation, which turns the stone blue. The blue color can range from a light color to an almost electric blue. Blue topaz begins as a colorless natural topaz crystals which are irradiated to change the color to blue and heated to stabilize the change.

Bombardment in a nuclear reactor produces the deep London Blue topaz - a slightly greenish or grayish stone, while electron bombardment in a linear accelerator results in the light aqua-like blue known as sky blue. Combinations of both treatments produce the highly saturated Swiss and electric blues.

Topaz of any type makes a good jewelry stone. It is safe to assume that some form of heat and/or irradiation has been used on colored topaz prior to cutting.

I'll be including more gemstones in my designs and also anassortment of CZs in some new pieces. In addition, I will offer several ring designs as well as new earrings and bracelets.

My aqua chalcedony pieces were big hits at the shows this Fall and there will be more designs for next year. There's a luminous quality to the aqua chalcedony and everyone seems to love the color. This stone would make terrific bridal jewelry, too - perfect for a winter or a spring wedding!

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- Beryl - this gem occurs in many different colors - the intense green form is known as Emerald, while the lighter blue form is Aquamarine.

- Bloodstone - bloodstone is a deep green chalcedony with red spots. It's also called heliotrope. Bloodstone is the traditional birthstone for March and is thought to encourage healing, improve decision making.

- Chalcedony - quartz; chalcedony includes both banded "agates" and onyx depending on the structure. I have some beautiful faceted aqua chalcedony to use for my new jewelry designs.

- Carnelian - I love carnelian. Carnelian is a translucent orange/red to red/brown variety of chalcedony and is fairly hard. The red tints are caused by iron oxide impurities. It's one of my favorites.

Carnelian is recommended to improve mental clarity and may assist people overcoming anger and maintaining self-control. It was highly valued for ornamentation by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans It was reputedly used by the Egyptian goddess Isis to protect the dead on their journey through the afterlife. Carnelian was thought to provide increased energy. Ancient Egyptians set carnelian with turquoise and lapis lazuli for enhanced power.

- Chrysoberyl - once widely popular for jewelry, chrysoberyl is now relatively rare. Chrysoberlyl has hard greenish yellow crystals. Alexandrite is one variety that exhibits color change.

- Chryoprase - an apple-green form of chalcedony

- Cinnabar - mercury sulphide ore with distinct red to brick red color.

- Citrine is a member of the quartz family. Most citrine is really heat treated amethyst. Citrine is a fairly hard stone that ranges from light yellow hues to oranges. It's transparent and easily faceted, so it's popular for jewelry.
Many people believe that citrine promotes clear thinking and instills confidence in the wearer.

- Coral is the skeletons of microscopic sea creatures and is composed of calcium compounds. As a result, coral is soft and porous. It's easily scratched and damaged by chemical exposure.

Coral occurs in a variety of colors depending on the specific type of coral and it's frequently dyed. Coral is thought to increase awareness and objectivity. Provides calmness, quiets emotions

- Diamond - made of pure carbon, diamond is the hardest, densest, and rarest gem. Diamond is thought to encourage hope, promote healing, and impart protection.

- Emerald - a beryl stone with traces of chromium and sometimes vanadium providing the intense green coloration. Emeralds are extremely popular for jewelry, but perfect emeralds are hard to find. Most emeralds have intenal flaws

Emeralds have been known since ancient times and were mined as early as 2000 BC. Emerald is a birthstone for the month of May. Many people believe that wearing emeralds attracts money.

- Fluorite - this gem comes in a variety of colors from purple to pink and green and many shades in between. It has a glassy luster and it fluoresces or glows blue under UV light.

Fluorite is thought to increase intuition, to foster harmony and balance in relationships, and may attract abundance and wealth.

- Garnet is a gem that was known to the ancients. There are several different forms of garnet, but they are all chemically related. The most common colors are oranges, reds, and greens.

Almandine and pyrope are the more familiar red garnets. Rhodolite is a raspberry shade, hessonite garnet is orange, and demantoid garnets are green. Garnet is thought to encourage friendship and fellowship

- Hematite is a widespread and relatively hard iron ore. It's steely gray with a metallic luster when polished. Modern hematite for jewelry is often man-made and it's difficult to tell a natural stone from a man-made one. Hematite is thought to focus energy and helps to balance emotions

-Iollite, also known as water sapphire, is a deep purple-blue stone which is transparent. It appears blue when viewed from one direction and may appear almost colorless when viewed from another angle (a property known as pleochroism).

- Jade - long considered a "sacred" stone, jade symbolizes calmness, wisdom, and serenity. There are two recognized "forms" of jade - nephrite (creamy white to green and almost black) and jadeite. The most common colors are green or white (jadeite), but jade can occur in many colors. The various colors are the result of impurities. Jade is often seen in beautiful carvings, beads, and cabochons. This stone is thought to have influence on longevity.

- Jasper - an opaque form of chalcedony, jasper occurs in many shades of brown from cream and beige to chocolate browns and deep grays. Jasper is thought to foster awareness and balances emotional, physical, and spiritual energy

- Labradorite is one of my all time favorite gems! It's a silky appearing iridescent dark grey green stone with flashes of blue, green and occasionally red. This gem was discovered in Labrador - therefore, the name.

Labradorite can appear as colorless or even red, but the dark green-grey color is typically seen in jewelry. Labradorite is thought to symbolize the "third eye".

- Lapis Lazuli is a rich deep blue gemstone, known to the ancients. It often contains flecks of gold colored inclusions (pyrite). It's long been used to create beads and carvings. Lapis is relatively soft and porous and lapis jewelry should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or with chemical cleaners.

Long thought to increase awareness and objectivity, lapis has been considered to have healing and curative properties. In ancient times, lapis found use as a pigment, a cosmetic, and in medicines.

- Malachite is a copper ore and is frequently associated with azurite. Malachite is characterized by patterns of bands of several shades of green. It's an opaque stone that is frequently used for carvings, beads, and cabochons. Malachite is soft and porous. Many think that malachite may enhance insight, clarify emotions. Some think it also attracts money.

- Moss "Agate" - a transparent to translucent chalcedony with green, brown, or black moss-like inclusions.

- Obsidian - deep black volcanic glass

- Snowflake Obsidian - white "snowflake" markings distinguish this obsidian form.

- Onyx - a form of chalcedony. Thought to foster fidelity and resourcefulness, aid in realizing potential, and to promote decision making

- Opal - occurring in a variety of colors, opal often has a gelatinous clarity with flashes of color due to water trapped within the crystalline structure of the stone. Ancient Roman thought opals were symbols of hope and purity.

- Quartz - can be opaque or transparent and is the most common mineral. Many common gemstones are quartz with various impurities and inclusion providing the distinguishing characteristics of the particular gem.

- Rhodochrosite - a fairly soft stone ranging in color from pink through reds to browns and black. Rhodochrosite fosters renewal and expansion of consciousness

- Rhodonite - pink to grayish with a glassy luster. This stone is thought to promote peace, attention to detail

- Rose Quartz - rose red to pink; may bring love and happiness to the wearer, fosters emotional healing. This is one of my all time favorites. I love the softness and delicacy of the look it creates in a piece.

- Ruby - a corundum stone almost as hard as a diamond, rubies are extremely popular

- Rutilated Quartz is one of my all time favorites. Inclusion can be golden in color or black.

- Sapphire - a corundum stone that can occur in a variety of colors. It is almost as hard as a diamond. Typically thought of as deep blue in color, sapphire occurs in a wide spectrum of colors and also in a color change variety (violet) which changes color depending on the viewing conditions.

- Sard - a silicate similar to carnelian but darker brown

- Smoky Quartz - smoky brown to almost black. Many people think that smoky quartz banishes negativity

- Sodalite - a relatively rare stone that ranges from deep blue to light blue and white. Fosters wisdom, logic, healing.

- Spinel - colors include a range of vibrant red tones, pinks, and even blues. Spinel's hardness makes it a popular stone for jewelry.

- Sunstone - a feldspar with a reddish to golden sheen; displays iridescence (similar to Labradorite).

- Tanzanite - (zoisite) Tanzanite's color depends on the orientation of the gem when cut, but it's usually deep blue and generally heat treated. Tanzanite is pleochroic (light traveling through the crystal in one direction is absorbed differently than light traveling in another direction, so there are color differences depending on how you view the stone).

- Tiger Eye - a chatoyant stone that occurs in several colors. (Chatoyancy refers to the bright bands of light across the stone and is a reflection effect) This "eye" effect is due to asbestos fiber inclusions. Tiger eye is reputed to increase peacefulness and clarity in the wearer.

- Topaz - Known since ancient times and available in many colors, the yellow to brownish color of this stone was extremely popular for jewelry in Medieval times. Blue topaz is currently the best known topaz color. Topaz was thought to foster success, love, and health as well as strengthening the mind.

- Tourmaline - available in an impressive array of colors, tourmaline can mimic a variety of other gems and its hardness makes it an ideal stone for jewelry. Some tourmaline contains two or three colors. The tourmaline family includes several separate minerals, one of which is elabite. Elabite accounts for most gem tourmaline.

- Turquoise - a mineral of arid regions. Turquoise varies from light sky blues to light grayish greens due to the presence of copper. The polished stone has a porcelain luster. Turquoise has been considered a gem since ancient times and adorned the rulers of ancient Egypt and also the Aztecs. The Ancient Anasazi of Chaco Canyon and the surround regions traded turquoise and fashioned turquoise ornaments. Turquoise is believed to provide protection and healing for the wearer.

- Zircon - (zirconium silicate) is generally colorless or blue. Brilliance is tremendous due to a high refractive index, but zircon also tends to be brittle and can chip or scratch readily. The ancients thought this stone could protect the wearer from disease. Cubic zirconia is zirconium oxide. Cubic zironia has a cubic crystal structure and possesses exceptional brilliance.

Here are some tips for taking care of your jewelry. These tips apply to all jewelry, not just my handcrafted silver and gold pieces.

Don't exposre your jewelry to perspiration and dirt. You should remove your jewelry before working in the garden or engaging in other physical labor, exercising, swimming, bathing, etc. Avoid exposure to household cleaners and chemicals that can damage your jewelry - remove your jewelry before dealing with chemicals. It seems logical that pearls and other porous stones can be damaged by chemicals, but even karat gold can be discolored by chemical exposure (to chlorine, for example), even from something like a soak in a hot tub.

Apply your cosmetics, make-up, hair spray, and perfume before putting on your jewelry. Remove bracelets and rings before applying hand lotions and creams. Remove earrings when you have your hair done, especially if you are having it colored.

Jade, turquoise, malachite, and lapis are among porous soft stones that should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner or soaked in jewelry cleaner solutions. Softer, more porous stones such as these require extra careful treatment. Avoid using hot water on these stones.

Remember that pearls are precious gems, too. No ultrasonic or soaking in jewelry cleaners - just wipe off with damp soft cloth. If more cleaning is required try soapy water (Ivory flakes) on a soft cloth and dry thoroughly.

Jewelry often comes in a protective bag or box. Store your jewelry flat in a plastic bag. Store pearls in soft bags away from other jewelry which might scratch the pearl's surface. Never put your jewelry away wet - wipe it off with a damp cloth and air dry.

Store your jewelry in a clean dark dry place. Don't just toss your jewelry loose into a jewelry box or drawer. Your pieces will scratch each other. A fabric lined jewelry box is ideal and individual bags and jewelry boxes are excellent, too. Store your silver jewelry in a tarnish resistant bag.