Fabergé Egg - Bouquet of Lilies Clock

In my last article on Handmade Gemstone Jewelry(My main website), I actually posted a whole article on the Hen Egg and the history of Fabergé Jewelled Eggs! (Click on Fabergé Jewelled Eggs to come up with my article, which will give you a background to the Banquet of Lilies Clock)

On my blog for the nest few weeks, I am going to discuss and show photos of some of the most famous Fabergé Eggs.

Bouquet  of Lilies Clock

 

Background: Otherwise known as the Madona Lily Egg, the Bouquet of lilies clock is another imperial jewelled Easter egg that was over-seared by the head of the Fabergé House, Peter Carl Faberge, for Nicholas II's wife, Alexandra Fyodorovna, just before the Tsar was exiled.

Where can it be seen: Kremlin Armoury in Moscow, Russia, along with many other eggs.

Materials:

• The Outer Shell has been engraved with a pattern and finished with a translucent enamel. 
• Time Belt: Set with different roman numerals in diamond. As the belt revolves, a small diamond arrow points to the correct time. 
• The Base is decorated with rosettes and also has the year of production inscribed on it. 
• The lily heads on the bouquet are made from onyx while the pistols are set with small rose diamonds. The stems and leaves are made of gold. 

The Way it Works :

The clock is run by a small gold key which is used to wind the mechanism inside.

 

If you enjoy reading my article, please comment!

 

A Late Merry Christmas

Dear readers, I hope you have all had an excellent Christmas! I myself
had a very busy one. A few days before Christmas, my computer took a
bad turn whilst I was in the most of the most thrilling article upon the
history of Faberge eggs. As it turns out, I will have to post that
article on my main website as I am very behind! I wish you all the very
best of New Years. Don't forget to visit
www.myhandmadegemstonejewelry.com

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Tiger-eye Jewelry

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Black Onyx Jewelry

Black onyx and Sardonyx are one of the various forms of quartz and can be found on the earth's crust along with many other gemstones. Black onyx is mined all over the world, so you are likely to come out with a lot of different shades of black and maybe even some tinges of purple here and there.

Black onyx is at its best when it is jet black. Some jewelers dye the gemstone to improve its color and sometimes to make it more opaque since black onyx is slightly translucent.

With a Moh scale hardness of 7, it is perfect for jewelry. Diamond, the hardest gemstone, has the hardest rating, which is 10.

This makes black onyx jewelry just the thing for day to day wear!

 

 

Malachite Jewelry

 

Flickr 

Malachite is one of the oldest gemstones, having a history that stretches all the way back to Hebrew Israel, where beads were found around the walls of Jericho. Perhaps the Israelites wore malachite as they sounded their trumpets!

The Egyptians discovered that malachite powder made very good eye shadow that not only could be used as make-up, but also protected their eyes from the sun. This beautiful gemstone has stripes running through it which sometimes look like an eye.  The Egyptians began to think that this "eye" could scare away "the evil eye".
One of the most luxurious displays of malachite today is found in the Hermitage's Malachite Room. ( See my one of my previous articles about the Malachite room.)More at: Handmade Gemstone Jewelry

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - A Little About Pearls

Pearls are one of the earth's greatest treasures occuring in a large varity of ovals, circles, baroques,  and different shades of cream. I personally prefer pearls to some other gemstones because of their shiny and smooth opaque appearance.
Usually, a pearl is either a freshwater or saltwater. The saltwater pearls are the best and fetch a much higher price. If you are thinking of buying a pearl necklace for fun and don't want to spend too much, I recommend that you try a freshwater pearl because they are much less expensive, but still look beautiful.
A pearl, whether freshwater or not, is created whithin a mollusk's shell.(usually an oyster) It takes a period of 10 years for an oyster to produce a pearl. That is a long time!
Pearls were used centuries ago in Asia and Greece where a number of myths and legends were spun up as to the spiritual and healing abilities of the stone. Pearls, thought the ancient Greeks, were so fascinating and shiny that they could be used to distract the gods from persecuting mankind.

All rights reserved by RayvenRenn  - Ooo! Shiny.

If you are interested in buying pearl jewelry, it is always best to shop with a reputable dealer who you know a lot about. There are many different styles of pearl necklaces and earrings.
The most petite and tradition pearl earrings usually have a single pearl on each earring.
Pearls have such a brilliance of themselves, that they look fine even if you have them on their own!
You may also be interested in reading more of my articles below or visiting my main website:
Handmade Gemstone Jewelry

The History of the Hope Diamond, Victorian Jewelry

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Black Onyx

Black onyx jewelry interests me because it is another gemstone with an extensive history behind it. I have been working on making a history of Black onyx on my main website(Handmade Gemstone Jewelry), but I haven't finished it yet. (Some related posts: Different Black Onyx Styles, Helpful Hints when buying Black onyx Jewelry )

I have come up with a very brief history of Black Onyx to give my readers a feel for this amazing gemstone. 

The first record we have if the gemstone being used was in the old Hebrew Israel. The Bible mentions that black onyx was the gemstone used to signify one of the twelve tribes of Israel in the High Priest's breast-plate in Exodus. 

Centuries later, the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans also used Black onyx for making bowls, jewelry(especially the signet ring), and for decorating clothes. During these ancient civilizations, pharaohs, kings, and nobles usually used gemstones and rich adornment to show their social standing. In Rome, it was used by many of the Caesars in signet rings to stand wax letters.

Today, Black onyx jewelry has jumped back from over the centuries, and is again popular.

Shopping for Handmade Baltic Amber Beads

For a thousand years Gdansk has been an important city and primary port in Northern Poland, due to its strategic positioning where the Vistula River meets the Baltic sea. It’s known as a place for culture, artistic amber jewelry, handmade jewelry, and festivals. Amber workshops have formed an integral part of the cultural backdrop since the 10th century, and the popularity of the native Baltic amber increased during the 14th century when the Teutonic Order began exporting the ancient resin rock to Venice, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Germany. In 1477, Gdansk became the center for the first amber guild. The term Gold of the North is applied to amber mined in that region and it’s famed because Baltic amber is rich in succinic acid known for its curative properties.

Many people come to Gdańsk due to it being the center for the largest world amber fair called AMBERIF. However, a tour any time of the year can awe collections and amber lovers. Starting at the Gdańsk History Museum, with exhibits such as The Polish Sea Gems, and City Hall with masterful amber creations on display by artists such as Lucjan Myrta’s. To see the largest amber sculpture in the world, which weighs 2.5 kilograms, you’ll have to be in Gdansk. Don’t forget to go to the Archaeological Museum to view amber through the centuries and how it’s processed, and the Museum of Amber Inclusions for an up-close view of some of the world’s best prehistoric fossil inclusions in embalmed in the precious resin stone. Then there’s St. Bridget’s Church, where artists are in the process of creating an amber alter, although it’s not yet finished.

Touring the workshops and galleries of the old town is where you can shop for raw Baltic amber pendant designs that are one-of-a-kind and Baltic amber beads in honey color, lemon yellow, cognac, green and even reddish purple. Many artisans who work with silver and Baltic amber beads also blend coral, pearls and turquoise stones to give contrast. When it comes to earrings, bracelets, charms and even genuine Baltic amber pendant necklaces, such as traditional amber crosses, prayer beads and rosaries, there’s no place to shop like the streets of Gdansk.

via handmadejewelryshops.com

I have been a bit busy lately, but here is an article that you may find interesting! I will be posting again on Monday!

Shopping for Handmade Baltic Amber Beads

For a thousand years Gdansk has been an important city and primary port in Northern Poland, due to its strategic positioning where the Vistula River meets the Baltic sea. It’s known as a place for culture, artistic amber jewelry, handmade jewelry, and festivals. Amber workshops have formed an integral part of the cultural backdrop since the 10th century, and the popularity of the native Baltic amber increased during the 14th century when the Teutonic Order began exporting the ancient resin rock to Venice, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Germany. In 1477, Gdansk became the center for the first amber guild. The term Gold of the North is applied to amber mined in that region and it’s famed because Baltic amber is rich in succinic acid known for its curative properties.

Many people come to Gdańsk due to it being the center for the largest world amber fair called AMBERIF. However, a tour any time of the year can awe collections and amber lovers. Starting at the Gdańsk History Museum, with exhibits such as The Polish Sea Gems, and City Hall with masterful amber creations on display by artists such as Lucjan Myrta’s. To see the largest amber sculpture in the world, which weighs 2.5 kilograms, you’ll have to be in Gdansk. Don’t forget to go to the Archaeological Museum to view amber through the centuries and how it’s processed, and the Museum of Amber Inclusions for an up-close view of some of the world’s best prehistoric fossil inclusions in embalmed in the precious resin stone. Then there’s St. Bridget’s Church, where artists are in the process of creating an amber alter, although it’s not yet finished.

Touring the workshops and galleries of the old town is where you can shop for raw Baltic amber pendant designs that are one-of-a-kind and Baltic amber beads in honey color, lemon yellow, cognac, green and even reddish purple. Many artisans who work with silver and Baltic amber beads also blend coral, pearls and turquoise stones to give contrast. When it comes to earrings, bracelets, charms and even genuine Baltic amber pendant necklaces, such as traditional amber crosses, prayer beads and rosaries, there’s no place to shop like the streets of Gdansk.

via handmadejewelryshops.com

I have been a bit busy lately, but here is an article that you may find interesting! I will be posting again on Monday!

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - The Advantages of Going Online!

If you go online and look around on a handmade gemstone jewelry website, you are likely to come out with something that is completely unique and just what you wanted, for a lot less.

There are many products that cannot be bought online or can be bought with great risk. Thankfully, jewelry is not one of those. Many people enjoy to go into a shop to find jewelry, but it has become far more popular to go online and find something very cheap and usually far more unique!

Other things, like clothing or shoes after very hard to buy online, because you have no idea if they will fit you perfectly. For jewelry, all you need to known is what your ring size(they often have ring sizing charts that are downloadable) is and you are ready to go.

This can be a great advantage if you know what you are looking for and don't want to pay too much!

You can never go wrong if you go online looking for black onyx jewelry, as long as you have selected your preferred style of jewelry. If you are ever unsure about a piece of jewelry online, don't buy it!

There are far more opportunities for good handmade gemstone jewelry products and it isn't worth wasting your money on something that isn't very good.

Check out my article about going Online for Bargains at my main website which explains it in much more depth!

Elegant Rings Handmade with Gold

Yellow gold is a classic metal used in creating many handmade jewelry items. This gold is usually made in carat weights ranging from ten to twenty-four with fourteen ct gold being the most common weight to to make average priced fashion pieces. When looking for rings that are elegant and distinctive you will find a number of designs using a higher grade of gold. These 18ct gold rings are available in styles suitable for both a man or a woman to wear. There are many more designs available as ready made items for women then there are for men, although you can have custom created rings made with the higher eighteen carat weight.

In the category of women’s rings there are designs that use a simple gold band with a gemstone setting. The stone can be any number of decorative gems including a diamond. The bands set with gemstones can be formed into decorative shapes or designs on the surface area to enhance the overall look of the piece. The higher carat rings are usually created to be select jewelry items made with special gems or with engraved bands. They will cost more than the lower carat bands and are often found in pieces used for wedding ring sets.

In a wedding band set there will be the woman’s and man’s band with some sets having a matching engagement ring as well. The various men’s styles created with eighteen ct. yellow gold will be found in bands with diamonds set into them as well. Some more formal pieces will use black onyx as an inlay in the metal band and have a diamond set into the onyx. The gold bands used for a wedding will often be engraved with the date of the event on the inside surface of each ring. Most weights of both gold and silver items can be easily engraved because the metal is a softer type of metal than some other types of metal.

When browsing for an elegant ring style to use for engagement you will find the marquise diamond engagement ring. The marquise refers to the cut of the diamond placed into the setting. This particular cut has been around for many centuries and got its name because it was made for the mistress of a prominent Marquise at the time. The shape is somewhat oval in design with pointed ends rather than round ones. This effect helps create more brilliance for the various facets seen within the center of the gem so it shimmers with radiance every time it is moved.

via handmadejewelryshops.com

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Rare Gemstone!

It has been a while since I last posted, but here I am again!

Even though I enjoy writing about the more popular gemstones that are used in handmade gemstone jewelry, I also like to research other rare gemstones. It is my pleasure to write about rare beautiful gemstones that not many people know about!

The gemstone I would like to talk about today is called Indicolite. It is also sometimes known as Blue Tourmaline and is a rare variety of elbaite. (other varieties include verdellite(green) and rubellite(pink to red)- ) It is usually a much deeper blue than blue topaz. The word Indicolite comes form a Latin word meaning "indicum plant".

It is preferred by some people for its rich blue color. Indicolite can occur in in varieties that are transparent or opaque. Indocolite is usually found in Africa, North America, Brazil, Australia, and Siberia.

With a hardness of 7 on the Moh scale, this gemstone is perfect for faceting and jewelry.

For more at Handmade Gemstone Jewelry!

Photo:  All rights reserved by gemstoneJEFF

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Precious Gemstone Rings

 

Jewelry has attracted ladies all over the world for centuries. Even little girls, when they first see it, are bedazzled by it.

There is not only once reason why Marilyn Monroe said that "diamonds are a girl's best friend".

Everybody has a favorite piece of jewelry in their jewelry box. Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds, and Diamonds have always been the most valuable and favorite gemstones. Ruby and Emerald have such a brilliance and sparkle of their own that they hardly need anything else to help set them off. If you want to give them a little more interest, it is popular to have them set with or encircled by diamonds.

It is important not to over-crowd a setting with too many colors. For something as expensive and precious as a ruby or sapphire, you don't want to draw the attention away from them by surrounding them with other colors.

This is not to say that a multi-gemstone ring is a bad idea. Some people like a large variety of colors.

Ruby is the birthstone for July and ranges from a pale pink to a bright red color. Emerald also ranges from a pale green to a dark green. The darker the gemstone is, the more valuable it is.

When you are looking for a precious gemstone ring(precious nearly always means: Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds, and Diamonds.), there is a large variety of different cuts and styles. The cuts and shapes of the gemstones range from oval, pear, round, or princess. When considering the band to have your gemstones set in, you may want to go for white gold, to give your gemstones a sharper look. The reason I am mentioning white gold, is because you won't really want to put a super expensive gemstone onto a cheap silver band. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something more traditional, it is best to try yellow or rose gold. Rose gold has and will always be might preferred gold in a ring. (it gives it a pinkish tinge)

Rose Gold Ring  All rights reserved by Sarah's Custom Jewellery Portfolio

The solitaire style of ring is very popular when looking for an engagement ring. Usually had has one upraised gemstone, usually a diamond. The solitaire ring ranges from a vintage to a modern style.

Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring  All rights reserved by ringshut2009

Handmade gemstone jewelry is not limited to rings, but there are also earrings, necklaces, brooches, pendants, and bracelets; and oodles of them as well!

 

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - What are Gemstones?

Have you ever wondered what gemstones were besides being those shiny things ladies like to wear in jewellery? Well, I have tried to write a comprehensive description of them.

Gemstones are treasures from the earth's crust composed of minerals, rocks, and other organic materials. May gemstones are valued by laboratories like the AGL, which stands for Australian Gemology Laboratory. 

Once they are valued they are cut with a faceting machine into a certain shape. One of the most popular cuts today is the "dome cut". Opal, Variscite, turquoise, and black onyx are a few gemstones that are sometimes cut in this fashion. 

Many gemstones are cut in such a way to reflect back as much light as possible. This means that the gemstone is cut with many different surfaces, all of which catch light in a different way. 

There are many different colors and types of gemstones in the world. Some of which are lapis lazuli, prehnite, variscite, onyx, amethyst, quartz, malachite, etc.

The reason why there are so many different colors in gemstones is because when white light passes through an object and reflects the material's color back to our eyes.  White light is composed of every color in the rainbow. (ROYGYBIV) When the light goes through a gemstone, some of it is absorbed and the rest(whatever color is left) tells our eyes what color the object is. Some gemstones like quartz or topaz have a clear variety wich means that none of the light is absorbed and other varieties that show up to be purple or blue. This is because that gemstone contains a certain impurity, which sucks up a certain amount of light.

Many gemstones that are produced too pale are heated to make them look better and more attractive to the eye. These fixed versions are no where near as valuable as when a gemstone occurs by perfection!

A Black onyx Ring

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry Artist - Cocos Jewelry

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - A few Helpful Tips

Since gemstone jewelry is valuable and not necessarily very cheap, it is important to look after it well. You may also find that it will last longer that fake jewelry. Most people think that if they buy cheap jewelry that it doesn't matter if it is ruined in a few months. If you stick to that sort of mind set, you might spend twice as much on different fake jewelry when you could have spent the same on a valuable piece of gemstone jewelry that would last forever. However, there's no saying that you can't look after your fake jewelry. ;)

Alexandrite Ring(see my Alexandrite Article)

When thinking about buying handmade gemstone jewelry, it best to first research as many gemstone as you can. If you are looking for a certain color, you can search by color. Once you have chosen your favorite gemstone, you should find out how it has to be cared for. This will save you a lot of trouble down the track. It is a good idea to think about when and where you will wear it, as this may have an impact on the style and price of jewelry. If you aren't planning to wear as often as a wedding ring(for example), you could probably get a more delicate gemstone.
Once you have done this homework, it is now time to look for your jewelry. You can look online or go into a store(see one of my posts about this: The Advantages of Going Online.). As I have said in my article many people like to pay a higher price and get something that they can feel first to make sure it is what they want. However, there are still advantages and disadvantages.  If you shop on a website with a good reputation(feedback page, a blog, a Facebook page, etc.), you are sure to come out with something that is valuable. Not many good companies would want to stake their reputation on a piece of jewelry with their name.   Some websites also have a return policy.
If you are shopping offline, you should check the color and appearance of your gemstone/s. Always take note of the amount of carats in your gemstone, because this greatly effects the price.
The history behind a gemstone also adds greatly to its price. You wouldn't want to buy a piece of jewelry with Queen Victoria's jewels in it.(that is never likely to happen to you, but I hope you get the picture!)  It was would be super expensive! (check out my latest article about Queen Victoria's life and jewels!)
Many gemstones have a different cleaning method. Ruby is ceaned by emmersing it in water and then wiping the dirt of, but Malachite is cleaned with a damp cloth. If you cleaned Malachite with water, its protective coating would come off!
Some of my favorite gemstones are as follows: Diamonds(of course), Malachite, Garnet, Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire,Alexandrite and more!
This is just my blog, to visit my website, click Handmade Gemstone Jewelry

Jewelry Photos

I have a great interest in finding bargains online! I especially like to look around for photos and take photos of diamond jewelry. Here are a few photos that I have collected of diamond jewelry. I took the diamond heart pendant photo while other professional photographers on Flickr have taken the rest.

For more lengthy reviews on jewelry, make sure to visit Handmade Gemstone Jewelry, and don't forget to check out my latest article: Going Online for Jewelry Bargains!

The gold diamond rings are  All rights reserved by ringshut2009

Diamond and Silver Heart Pendant

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Imperial and colorful Topaz

 Topaz occurs in a huge variety of colors varying from blue, orange, pink, gold, yellow, clear, peach, red, right through to brown. Topaz is mined in many places, but mainly in Brazil, Russia, and Sri Lanka. 

Red and pink topaz has been know to have been used in the eighteenth and nineteenth century by Russian Czarinas where it became known as "Imperial Topaz". Clear Topaz is its most popular form. When it was first discovered, it was thought to be a diamond until further research was undertaken.

Topaz is a firm gemstone and is perfect for handmade gemstone jewelry with the hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale. However, it can still be shattered by heavy blows and should be treated well like all other jewelry. 

Stay tuned for more articles on Topaz, because this is just the tip of the iceberg! 

Visit Handmade Gemstone Jewelry for even more info!

Photo: Imperial Topaz.  All rights reserved by DBprecious.com

 

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Dragonfly Jewelry

One of my favorite styles of pendants is the dragonfly shape. I've found some very nice photos of dragonfly jewelry in flickr that I would love to share with you!

 All rights reserved by J Sare

 
 All rights reserved by juliaclark42

 
 All rights reserved by Body & Soul Jewelry - peckhamm@etsy.com


 All rights reserved by winding road

If you're a fan of dragonfly jewelry, don't forget to comment!
More of my articles at Handmade Gemstone Jewelry!

Gemstone Jewelry Photos!

 Today, I was doing so research on Topaz jewelry and I found some very nice photos on Flickr!

Please Enjoy!

More at Handmade Gemstone Jewelry. 

Photo Sources. 

 All rights reserved by mothernaturebeauty

 All rights reserved by Jewellery Quarter Store

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Emerald!

Emerald is one of the most valuable gemstones and is sometimes seen as being even more valuable than diamond when at its best. Like diamonds and rubies, emerald is among the most expensive gemstones to be used in handmade gemstone jewelry. This gemstone was first found in Egypt and was Cleopatra's favorite gemstone. She liked it so much that she had her own emerald mine in Egypt. It was also wore by many well known royal people like Alexander the Great, Chalemagne, Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, and many more.

Today, emerald is mainly mined in Zambia, Columbia, and Brazil. Pakistan and Zimbabwe have been know to produce emerald, but in very small amounts. Columbian emeralds are the best emeralds and have set the standard for a valuable emerald. The rarest emerald can be more expensive than a diamond.

Emerald is the birthstone for May and the wedding anniversary gemstone for the 20th and 35th year.

Emerald has such a natural beauty that it looks brilliant in any piece of jewelry and in many settngs. Emerald is one of the three most popular precious gemstones, the other two being Ruby and Sapphire. All these colored gemstones are well worthy of setting with diamonds, or crystals if not diamonds.

If you buy a loose emerald you can have it set in any type of jewelry by a handmade artist and come out with handmade artisan jewelry, which is twice as valuable as commercial jewelry and can be treasured for generations. Emerald gemstones a often cut in oval, round, or pear shapes.

Scientists have found out how to create emerald in a lab. These lab created gemstones are almost impossible to tell apart from the original!  

More articles about Handmade Gemstone Jewelry and another green stone: Malachite. 

Photo Source:

 All rights reserved by theappraiserlady

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Purchasing and Caring for your Gemstone Jewelry

Since Handmade Gemstone Jewelry is a little more expensice and delicate than fake jewelry, it is important that you choose the right kind of gemstone and know how to care for it.
When you are thinking of buying gemstone jewelry, there are a few things to consider. You should choose a gemstone that you like. One of the best ways to find a gemstone that you like is to go to a gemstone encyclopedia and read all about the various gemstones. Often, they will also give you a brief historical background of each stone and tell you how to care for it. You can also pick a gemstone by color if you search for blue or red, etc, gemstones.
The most popular gemstones are diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. These gemstone are very expensive and hard to get. If you look a little further, you can find a very attractive stone for half the price and, above all, it is more unique. If you are in a jewelry store, always ask the seller if they know where the stone was mined, because this will affect the price.
Not every gemstone is cleaned the same way. So, once you have chosen a favorite gemstone or two, you should go online and find out how to care for it. Gemstones such as Malachite are relatively soft and can be damaged quite easily. You cannot immersed these gemstones ine water because it washes off their protective coating. Malachite should be cleaned by using a damp cloth and a soft brush to remove any dirt or oil. Ruby, on the other hand, can be fully immersed in water and wiped with a dry towel after removint the dirt.
If you treat your handmade gemstone jewelry well, it can last for ever. Always store your jewelry in a dry play(certainly not the bathroom) and protect from sudden changing temperature changes(sitting the in the car glove box for weeks) and heavy blows.
More articles at Handmade Gemstone Jewelry.

Caring for Your Handmade Gemstone Jewelry

Since Gemstone Jewelry is a little more expensive and delicate than fake jewelry, you need to make sure that you have the right kind of gemstone and know how to look after it. 

When you are thinking of buying gemstone jewelry, there are a few pointers in what to look for. Firstly, you should choose your favorite gemstone. One good way of finding a favorite gemstone it to go and research gemstones online. Go to a website where they have a large encycopedia of gemstones. Often they will tell you the historical background of each stone and how to care for it.
Obviously, the most popular gemstones are diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. These are quite expensive, and hard to get. If you look a little further you might find a very attractive stone for half the price and above all, it is more unique! If you are in a store, always ask the seller if they know where the stone was mined, because this will affect the price.
Not every gemstone is to be cleaned the same way, so if you are thinking of a gemstone, always make sure that you know how to care for it. Gemstones like Malachite are relativly soft and can be damaged quite easily. You cannot emmerse them in water because you will wash off their protective coating. You have to use a damo cloth and a soft brush to remove any dirt or oil. Ruby, on the other hand, can be fully emmersed in water and then wipe with a dry towel aver removing the dirt.
Your gemstone jewelry can last for ever if it is treated well. Always store your jewelry in a dry place(nearly anywhere but the bathroom) and protect it from heat(sitting in the car for days on end) and heavy blows.

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry by an Artist Rather Than a Machine

Instead of being designed on a computer and then processed through a special machine in duplication, handmade jewelry has been made and deisgned personally by a handmade jewelry artist. Often, handmade jewelry artists come out with a piece of jewelry that is totally different to anything you have ever seen before!

The word "handmade" means that the jewelry has been made by hand rather than through a simple design produced many times over. Some handmade artist do use machines to make a silver or gold band for the gemstone to sit in, but they have to guide the machine and place the gemstones where they are to go.  

Today, handmade jewelry is world widely popular. Are you interested in making or selling handmade jewelry? First make sure to test them market before advertizing  making sure you understand the ins and outs. People are usually attracted to the jewelry market for making money. Even though money is an important aspect of the jewelry market, it is more important to be a servant to your niche and the people interested,  sharing your knowledge with other people to help them learn all about gemstones and jewelry. 

Photo - Example of Computer Design jewelry.

More Articles on Handmade Gemstone Jewelry!

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Why is Silver so popular?

Handmade Jewelry is attracts and snares many ladies of all ages today, so it is important for those people to know as much about handmade jewelry as possible. One of the main reasons that handmade gemstone jewelry is so popular is because an artist is able to take a design and some materials and put together an amazing one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, good enough to be saved for generations! Handmade jewelry is also often worn by celebrities. 

If you purchase handmade artisan jewelry,  you are never likely to see another copy of the same piece! The jewelry artists are making exciting jewelry for people who like the idea of unique jewelry. Many jewelry stores and online websites advertize various artist's jewelry because of it's demand. 

It is amazing how you can create a work of art with gemstone beads and precious metals that can be treasured for generations. Wire wrapped jewelry is also very popular today!

Handmade gemstone jewelry is usually designed so that it has solid and smooth surface and is resistant to scratches and the like. This doesn't mean that your gemstones will last a long time if you treat them badly! It is possible to damage the best and hardiest gemstones with heavy blows, scouring, and harmful chemicals. 

If you are looking for unique gemstone jewelry, you should consider handmade gemstone jewelry! There are a very wide variety of styles of handmade jewelry. This jewelry is made with a very wide variety of semi precious gemstones: malachite, blue topaz, lapis lazuli, black onyx, chalcedony, moonstone, and turquoise jewelry. 

For more articles, visit Handmade Gemstone Jewelry.

Photo:

 All rights reserved by Care More

Rings That Are Handmade, Artistic, and Affordable

Many women enjoy wearing fine handmade jewelry with most of these pieces falling into the category of rings. For those women who are married and already wear a band on their left hand there are new elegant style being promoted for use as right hand rings. Many of these rings use diamonds in the setting, which is why they are referred to as rings for wearing on a woman’s right hand. The styles available are very elegant and artistic in design and can come with one or several diamonds in the setting.

These stylish rings can be made with yellow gold, white gold or sterling silver and can also be found with other gemstones used in the settings. Some of the band designs for these pieces can be very decorative such as the circling leaf design that has the band created of silver with the two side flowing toward the front with tiny leaves inset with diamonds. The various designs used to create unusual and distinctive ring bands can also come with cubic zirconium as the stone. The CZ stone will greatly reduce the price of the piece, while still adding a lot of sparkle to the ring.

You can also find some styles of engagement rings that use the CZ in the setting instead of a genuine diamond. This also makes the ring more affordable for people who may have a limited income. The cubic zirconium will come in the same types of cuts and band styles as the diamonds. You can easily find cushion cut engagement rings that use the synthetic stone. The cushion design has the item resembling a bunched or overstuffed cushion used for a chair seat. This is where the cut actually got its name from and has become one of the more popular cuts for use with engagement rings of all kinds.

Tags: cushion cut engagement rings, handmade jewelry, right hand rings

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 23rd, 2010 at 8:46 pm and is filed under Buying Handmade Jewelry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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Some great pointers here!

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Black onyx history!

 

If you are interested in black onyx jewelry, you probably know that there is white a lot of history behind this gemstone. What with newer and better technology, handmade gemstone jewelry artists have been able to produce a huge variety of different styled bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and rings using black onyx. (Did you know that it was once called Black Diamond.)

In fashion today, black seems to be the favorite color for evening wear as well as many other things. Black onyx jewelry when set with a diamond or pearl is greatly admired because of the stunning contrast between the colors of the materials. Many gemstone are set on a background of black onyx and made into jewelry. Some less valuable varieties of onyx display a combination of white ribbons and stripes. 

The first historical story about onyx is in the Bible were we read that one of the twelve stones(representing the twelve tribes of Israel) on the high priest's ephod was actually a black onxy stone! A few centuries later is was used by the ancient Romans and Greeks who used mainly used such rings as signet rings or just normal rings to show their high standing. There is also a Greek myth behind black onyx jewelry that tells us that the gemstone was named after and came into being when the frisky Cupid cut Venus' fingernails one night as she slept on the sea shore. After cutting them, he threw them on the sand and went away. The fates then came along and turned them into stone because none of the heavenly body was meant to perish. In those days onyx not only referred to a black gemstone up also to any gemstone that was a shade running from a beige brown to a black. When the Romans began to use the gemstone years later, they narrowed the term down to only refer to a black gemstone. 

There is one other variety of onyx called sardonyx. Sardonyx is a redish brown instead of black. It was perfect for seals on letters and was used in Rome because it never stuck to any wax. 

Black onyx gives out such a bright shine that is makes any gemstone with wich it is set with look twice as brilliant. Real onyx has such as smooth and shiny surface this it is very easy for a handmade gemstone jewelry artist to carve it into a gem for a jewelry item. 

 

 

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Is Cubic Zirconia really real?

The shiny gemstone, Cubic Zirconia,  is becomming more and more poplar today in handmade gemstone rings, neckalces, earrings, and bracelets.

Hang on! What is Cubic Zirconia? Is it really a natural gemstone?  No it isn't!

 All rights reserved by newoutlet (plain Cubic Zirconia silver gemstone ring)

 It is actually a  gemstone that is grown in a scientific lab and made to look like diamond. In fact, when it is complete, cubic zirconia is a very attractive sparkly gemstone and can be half the price of a real diamond

! Cubic Zirconia Crystals have been well known quite widely since 1930s. In 1970, some scientists discovered that they could grow these gemstones in their lab! They shaped CZ by heating zirconium and yttrium oxide at at a very high temperature. (reaching as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit.  The mixture was then left to cool very slowly. When the mixture was completely cooled, the result was a slab of shining crystals. Other colors have also been mixed with these mixtures to produce different colored CZ.  The huge slab of crystal can then be cut into lots of smaller pieces by gemologists. Once they have been cut into smaller portions, the pieces of Cubic Zirconia are then faceted for jewelry in such a way as to attract the light on as many different surfaces as possible. And that is the secret to Cubic zirconia and those little shiny gemstones in your jewelry that look so very much like diamonds!

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More of my thrilling articles at Handmade gemstone jewelry!

Rings That Are Handmade, Artistic, and Affordable

Another of Andrew's helpful articles!

Rings That Are Handmade, Artistic, and Affordable

via Handmade Jewelry Shops by andrew on 9/23/10

Many women enjoy wearing fine handmade jewelry with most of these pieces falling into the category of rings. For those women who are married and already wear a band on their left hand there are new elegant style being promoted for use as right hand rings. Many of these rings use diamonds in the setting, which is why they are referred to as rings for wearing on a woman’s right hand. The styles available are very elegant and artistic in design and can come with one or several diamonds in the setting.

These stylish rings can be made with yellow gold, white gold or sterling silver and can also be found with other gemstones used in the settings. Some of the band designs for these pieces can be very decorative such as the circling leaf design that has the band created of silver with the two side flowing toward the front with tiny leaves inset with diamonds. The various designs used to create unusual and distinctive ring bands can also come with cubic zirconium as the stone. The CZ stone will greatly reduce the price of the piece, while still adding a lot of sparkle to the ring.

You can also find some styles of engagement rings that use the CZ in the setting instead of a genuine diamond. This also makes the ring more affordable for people who may have a limited income. The cubic zirconium will come in the same types of cuts and band styles as the diamonds. You can easily find cushion cut engagement rings that use the synthetic stone. The cushion design has the item resembling a bunched or overstuffed cushion used for a chair seat. This is where the cut actually got its name from and has become one of the more popular cuts for use with engagement rings of all kinds.

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Australian Opal

Australia contains the most opal in the whole world. About 95% of all Opal comes from Australia and the rest comes from Mexico, Brazil, Idaho, Ethiopia, an Mali.

Opal is made out of stone sediment and silica that was deposted along the Australian shorline during the big flood about 6 thousand years ago. (Noah's Flood) During this flood, waves of silica stone rich water poured into the nooks and crannies of sedimentary rocks and there the silica turned into opal. Opal is the gell from silica with a 3% to 20% of water. 

Opal was first found in 1849 in the Australian cattle stations in Tarravillia, where the first opal "prospectors" in 1890 were at the White cliffs.  

The best Australian opal fields are called White Cliffs, Lightning Ridge, Andmaooka, Coober,  and Peddy. The most famous mine is the Lightning Ridge mine and mainly produces black opal.

Anadamook is the mine were crystal opal and light opal is mined in 6,843 kilograms. Because of this, the mine is named  "Andamooka Desert fame".

 In the last few centuries, Opal was mined in deep holes or caves and the miners would sleep in the caves to protect themselves and their families from the scortching head of the day and the icy cold winds at night. The miners used tools such as the pick and shovel. They would lower buckets down into the deep holes and would pull up a bucket of dirt and go through it hoping to find some opal. These shafts were often 5-40 meters in depth. Opal mining was not an easy job until modern technology lent a hand with big machines like trucks and conveyor belts. Opal is known as Australia's outback gemstone.

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