Moonstones have their origin in Sri Lanka although some specimens are found in India, where it is considered to be a sacred stone. The enchantment of the moonstone comes from the mysterious gleam of light that it emits. The shimmer changes color when the stone is moved. In ancient times it is believed that the light comes from the moon, hence the name. Moonstones are a kind of feldspar called adularia and the changes in color are called adularescence, which is attributed to the intergrowth of two different feldspars having different refractive indices. Since the indices are different, when light strikes the stone, it is refracted, scattered and reflected in different angles. As the stone is rotated, the angle of refraction and reflection changes, resulting in the fascinating shimmer of light. This also explains why the best gleam may be seen only at a particular setting or angle.
Moonstones may come in a variety of colors such as gray, brown, pink, orange, black and red. Some also have a smoky color. Rainbow moonstones emit a light with rainbow hues. The best specimen however is colorless and transparent but emits a blue shimmer. Specimens with exceptional quality are becoming rare and so the prices are also shooting up.
This gemstone is surrounded by stories of mystery and magic. In many cultures, moonstones carry symbolic significance. In India, it is believed to bring beautiful visions during the night. It is also a popular gift among lovers as it is said to arouse tender feelings. The wearer of the stone also has improved intuition and enhanced ability to understand. Moonstones are also believed to have healing and medicinal properties. When applied to both temples, the stone has the ability to cool a fever. It is also used to prevent epilepsy, alleviate headaches and treat nose bleeds. When worn, men also come in contact with their feminine side.
At present moonstone prices vary greatly. Moonstones are more highly priced when they are larger, more transparent and have more intense color. Excellent specimens, that which emits a wonderful blue shimmer especially when worn and moved about, are more expensive than moonstones of other colors. Indian moonstones emitting different colors other than blue are not as popular and are therefore more reasonably priced.
Moonstones are becoming increasingly popular because of its feminine and seductive appearance. These gemstones are nature’s creation and as if alive, delight in being admired but more so in being worn. It is only when worn that the best gleam of light can be truly beheld.
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Jewelry fashion is dynamic. Jewelers are always coming up with new designs and new materials from which jewelry can be fashioned. Even stunning pieces of jewelry may lose their popularity after a few years. Gold jewelry however is always in fashion. Jewelry collectors and even simple wearers like gold because it is beautiful and long lasting. Gold does not discolor because it almost never reacts with any other material. Rarely is someone allergic to gold so it always a good choice to go for gold.
When you are considering buying gold jewelry, you have to be familiar with the terminologies used. The purity of gold is measured in karats and the mark on the ring indicating this is a number followed by K (such as 24K, 18K, 12K). K stands for karat. 24K is pure gold. 18K is a mixture of 18 parts gold and 6 parts of a metal or a mixture of metals, making 18K 75% gold. 14K is 14 parts gold and 10 parts of a metal or a mixture of metals, making it 58.3% gold. The percentage of gold for 12K and 10K jewelries is also computed in the same way. In the United States, 10K is the minimum karat used in gold jewelries. Europe marks its gold jewelry differently. When the jewelry is 18K, it is marked 750 in Europe, indicating that it is 75% gold. 14K jewelry is marked 583 and 12K, 500, for 58.3% and 50% respectively.
Most gold jewelries should have a mark identifying its maker. This is really helpful when choosing your jewelry pieces. You might consider doing your research on gold jewelers before purchasing any jewelry. This way, you have a basic idea on jewelers that you prefer. If the piece you’re considering doesn’t have a trademark, it is better to look for another one.
Gold is not always alloyed with other metals. Sometimes it is just used as a coating for a base metal. Gold filled jewelries have a layer of karat gold wrapped around a base metal. The base metal used may vary. The gold content should be indicated on the piece such as 1/20 12K G.F. This indicates that the jewelry is 1/20th 12K gold by weight. Gold overlay and rolled gold plate are also terms used to indicate that a layer of gold (a minimum of 10 karats) is electronically bonded to a base metal. Abbreviations such as 12K Gold Overlay or 14K RGP indicates the percentage of gold used and the process of binding the gold to the metal. Gold plated jewelries are also available and the coating is usually thinner than in gold – filled jewelries so they easily fade.
When buying gold jewelry choose solid gold (even alloys are called solid gold) when you intend to wear it frequently. Gold-filled and gold-plated jewelries should be considered when they are only to be worn occasionally.
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Although traces of jewelry have been found as far back as the Neolithic era, it was the Egyptians who carved jewelry making in history. The brilliance of these ancient Egyptian jewelers is evident in ancient tombs which contain both engraved stones and pieces of jewelry that were kept with the mummies. The jeweler at that time is not only capable of creating pieces for adornment, but is also skillful in metal engraving such as the minting of coins.
The materials used for jewelry making was not limited to a few. A wide variety of minerals were fashioned into jewelry including amethyst, carnelian, jasper, hematite, lapis lazuli, onyx, serpentine, soapstone, turquoise and quartz crystal. The use of a mineral or metal is dependent on the meaning that it carries. Lapis lazuli is associated with joy while turquoise, with delight. Green jasper guarantees rain while gold is connected with the sun and solar deities.
Jewelries produced at this time were almost never used for adornment alone. Most were used as amulets or talismans, and the figure that it carries has symbolic significance. Initially, these amulets were kept with the mummies to ensure protection of the dead. Soon however, these were also used to protect the living. Beads were a major component of amulets – anyone in any order can wear beads but the material used is dependent on what one can afford. The designs on these talismans were symbolic. The Four Sons of Horus were a favorite design for funeral jewelries as they were believed to protect both the dead in their journey to the afterlife and their internal organs which were removed during the mummification process. The eye of Horos on the other hand symbolizes eternity and the fly with the human head gives one the ability to rise to heaven. But perhaps the most famous figure, which had become an ageless motif for jewelry designs, is the scarab or the dung beetle. The scarab represents renewal and resurrection and is used both by the living and the dead.
The scarab can come in many forms and a variety of materials ranging from gold to clay can be used to shape it. It can also be engraved from stone like amethyst, carnelian, jasper or any gem that can be afforded by the owner. From its initial use as an amulet, the scarab evolved to become an official seal. It is usually mounted on the finger ring and was used by high ranking officials in this era.
It is said that the Egyptians mastered the craft of jewelry making, especially of goldsmithing, during the Middle Kingdom. Glass also became a major component of jewelry at this time resulting to more colorful pieces. Glass took the place of stones and was soon popularized when they were placed in rings.
Chances are that buying a diamond ring may intimidate you. You might have no idea what you should be looking out for when it comes to buying a ring. Here, we will take a closer look at some things that you should consider before you decide to purchase a diamond ring.
Cut
One thing which may determine how beautiful any diamond will be is the diamond cut. The most ideal diamond should not be too shallow because light will be lost out the bottom, but it should also not be too deep because light escapes out the sides which will cause a darker effect. An ideal diamond will reflect all of the light that it captures.
Carat Weight
One thing that you need to take into consideration when you decide to buy a diamond is the carat weight. Carat weight is the mass of the diamond on a scale, and it really has nothing to do with the actual size of the diamond. One of the main reasons that carats are so important is because they will determine what you can and cannot afford - diamonds with a larger carat weight are more expensive.
Clarity
How clear a diamond is can also determine how beautiful it will be. Diamonds which are the most clear tend to be the most expensive, since they are the most in demand. They are a number of standards which are used to describe the clarity of a diamond. For example, FL, IF diamonds are the clearest that there are. They are very rare diamonds which have absolutely no flaws. They are the most expensive. 11, 12, and 13 diamonds are the least clear, as well as the least expensive.
Color
Another very important factor of diamonds is their color. By color, we mean what they appear to have a hint of. There is a scale in which diamonds’ colors can fall upon. For example, diamonds that fall between the range of D and F are colorless. Diamonds that fall within G and J are near colorless. Diamonds between K and N are faint yellow. Diamonds between O and R are very light yellow, while diamonds between T and Z are light yellow. “Fancy” colored diamonds, which can be found on the color scale between Z and up include bright yellows, pinks and blues. Typically, most diamonds are somewhere between the colors of faint yellow and light yellow.
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