Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Malachite: My Favorite Semi Precious Gemstone!

Malachite is an opaque, banded stone that is used for ornaments and handmade gemstone jewelry. The bands of colors vary from light green to dark green.

The word "malachite" comes from the Greek word "malakos" meaning soft. Another theory is that "malachite" comes from the Green word "malke" translated "grass".

The best malachite is mined in Zair and Katanga in the Kongo.

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Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Alumina Minerals: Rubies and Sapphires!

~Alumina Minerals~

Rubies and Sapphires

Both Rubies and Sapphires are gemstone varieties of corundum, a natural aluminium oxide. The difference between ruby and sapphire is that ruby is red and sapphire is blue. All corundum gemstones that aren't red are considered to be sapphire even though sapphire is always thought to be blue. Ruby also varies from shades of bright red to brown/red.

Ruby and Sapphire are among the most precious gemstones next to emerald and diamond and can be set with all sorts of gems. 

The "pigeon blood" red ruby is mined in Mogok, Burma and Thailand. Sapphire is mined in India, Sri Lanka, and Burma.

All corundum gemstones except for ruby are sapphire. Sapphire has been used in jewelry for centuries, being used in necklaces, earings, bracelets, and rings. It is usually set with diamonds. (as in the photo)

The more deep the blue is in sapphire, the more valuable the stone is. 

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Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Cubic Zirconia Silver Gemstone Rings

If you are looking for an inexpensive and valuable handmade gemstone jewelry ring, the best choice is a silver gemstone ring. Silver rings are also available in plain bands with no stones set in them, or a band with some gemstone set in them.

Now days, it is very popular to buy rings with bands that are made out of a cheap metal with a gold coating on them and gemstones made of fake glass or even plastic that is made to look like a gemstone. Sterling silver rings are sill popular because they are a little more hardy and valuable.

When the word "gemstone" is mentioned, don't freak out! For a sterling silver ring, since it isn't quite as valuable as gold, you can use semni-precious gemstones like cubic zirconia, amethyst, peridot, onyx, and many more.

Cubic zirconia is a gemstone that is semi precious and looks like a diamond. It is also said to be a much harder and stronger gemstone than diamond. This gemstone is also available in colors that are very much the same as ruby or sapphire. All up, cubic zirconia is an inexpensive semi-precious stone that resembles a diamond, ruby, or sapphire, and is actually harder and stronger!

When shopping for silver jewelry, it is important to choose something that suits you well even though it might not be what is thought to be "fashionable". Not everybody is a slim model with olive colored skin. 

It is all very well for some designers to choose something that they think it very nice looking, but it is no use to you unless it suits you! (going with the trends...doesn't always suit)

Many people use a sterling silver gemstone ring as an engagement ring. Silver is also used because it makes the gemstone it is set with look more brilliant and clear. Many of the percious and semi precious gemstones used in silver gemstone rings are rubies, Sapphires, emeralds, onyx, malachite, beryl, and many more! Turquoise is often set in silver to create a Native American style of jewelry. Pearls are also used and the black onyx stone is a great backdrop to this smooth creamy white.

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FlickrPhotos:

Examples Cubic Zirconia in silver gemstone rings. The dark blue stones in the alternating stone ring are sapphire. All the other stones used are CZ!

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Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - Lapis Lazuli: An ancient and popular stone.

Lapis Lazuli is one of the oldest semi precious gemstones stones known to us. Over the centuries, it has been used in handmade gemstone jewelry, boxes, mosaics, ornaments, vases, and even sometimes to clad the wall of a church or palaces. During the Middle ages, it was used as a pigment for paint.

It is know to have been used as early as the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations.

In ancient Egypt, Lapis was uses to  carve scarabs for tombs or ornaments.

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Handmade Gemstone Jewelry - The many styles and types!

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry is worn in many different styles of necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets, usually featuring a gemstone or a cluster of gemstones.

Some of the many gemstones that are used in jewelry to make a colorful variation are garnets, peridot, lapis lazuli, jade, quartz, turquoise, black onyx, and many more.