Semi Precious Stone Jewellery

Traditionally, gems classified as precious were those that were both rare and revered.  While market availability or lack therof, was one characteristic of a precious stone, the more important factor was how that stone was used.  Gems that held ceremonial or ecclesiastical value for royal or religious figures were substantially more valuable.  These "cardinal" gems included diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. 


Originally, amethysts were also considered precious, but generous deposits of the purple gem found in Brazil made it available and affordable for the public, and it was no longer labeled a precious stone.  Only these five types of gems were ever considered precious, and today, there are more than 130 types of stones that may be considered semi precious gemstones.

Blue Stone Rings

The rings you see below are all set with blue coloured stones, ranging in hue, hardness, density, refraction of light, cut and size.

Tanzanite:  Discovered in the Merelani district of Tanzania, near Mount Kilimanjaro in 1967. So far, all tanzanite discoveries have been limited to a six kilometre strip in this area, which was divided into four blocks, labelled A, B, C and D. Block C is the only site still commercially producing rough tanzanite at this time.  The stone has never been found in another locality, so it is indeed a depleting resource.  Governmental challenges, flooding, hand mining limitations, and tremendous popularity have now created a worldwide shortage of tanzanite.

 Aquamarine:  Its name is derived from the Latin words for water and sea.  In ancient times, it was believed that sailors wearing aquamarine pendants would be protected from the perils of the sea. The stone symbolized happiness and eternal youth. It was viewed in Christian symbolism to bring moderation and control of passions to its owner. It is a gentle and peaceful gemstone, and it is said to fortify one's sense of self-esteem.

Alexandrite:   Alexandrite is a stone of good omen. Alexandrite can assist one in centering the self, reinforcing self-esteem, and increases one’s ability to experience joy.

Iolite:  It is believed that the Vikings used the Iolite gemstone to help them navigate on the high seas when very far away from the coastline. Looking through the gemstone at a certain angle, the Vikings could determine the exact position of the sun and never got lost when on the high seas. Iolite is believed to be the gemstone of happiness and joy. It is also believed to possess Feng Shui properties that help build relationships with others.

Sapphire:  Sapphires were reputed to protect kings from harm and envy.  In the 13th Century, it was written that sapphires had the power to protect against poverty, make a stupid man wise and an irritalbe man good-tempered.

Earrings

The construction of these earrings vary in style from huggies, studs, and drops to sheppard's hook configurations and are different in design too, from simple single stone suspensions, geometric and linear, and ornate multi-stone cluster to those inspired by the art deco era.


Interestingly, among sailors, a pierced earlobe was a symbol that the wearer had sailed around the world or had crossed the equator.  In addition, it is commonly held that a gold earring was worn by sailors in payment for a proper burial in the event that they might drown at sea.  Should their bodies have been washed up on shore, it was hoped that the earring would serve as payment for "a proper Christian burial".  Regardless of this expression, the practice predates Christianity and can be traced back as far as ancient Greece where the gold paid the ferryman, Charon, to provide passage across the river Acheron to Hades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18ct White Gold Rings

18 carat white gold is comprised of an alloy of 18 parts pure 24 carat gold and 6 parts of at least one white metal, usually nickel, manganese or palladium.  Like yellow gold, the purity of white gold is given in carats.

White gold's properties vary depending on the metals and proportions used.  As a result, white gold alloys can be used for different purposes; while a nickel alloy is hard and strong and therefore good for rings and pins, palladium alloys are soft, pliable and good for white gold gemstone settings, sometimes with other metals like copper, silver, and platinum for weight and durability, although this often requires specialised goldsmithing.

The term white gold is used very loosely in the industry to describe carat gold alloys with a whitish hue.  It is believed that the colour of the rhodium plating, which is seen on many commercial pieces, is actually the colour of white gold.  The term "white" covers a large spectrum of colours that borders or overlaps pale yellow, tinted brown and even very pale rose.  The jewellery industry often hides these off-white colours with rhodium plating.

 

 

Pearl Jewellery

In 1916, Kokichi Mikimotot obtained the first patent for producing cultured pearls.  Today, the practice is common, and most marketable pearls are cultured.  Creating a cultured pearl is actually the technique of giving Mother Nature a little extra something to work with.  Shell beads or other irritants are placed inside a small cut in an oyster or mussel, triggering the mollusks to begin covering the offending intruder with nacre.  The thicker the nacre becomes, the more lustrous the pearl will be.  The longer a pearl has been allowed to grow, the thicker its nacre.  Cultured and natural pearls are considered equal quality, but cultured pearls are typically less expensive because they are more common.

When most people think of pearls, they think of a creamy white, luminescent colouring.  However pearls come in a variety of colours, including gold, cream, black, grey, blue, pink, and green.  Many pearls actually have a main colour with a second shade as an overtone or highlight.  The combination of these colours influences the value given to a particular stone.  A white body with pink hues is one of the most expensive and most popular pearl colours.

Gents Wedding Bands

Today, a revolution is taking place with engagement rings, and men's engagement rings are increasingly popular. While men's rings have distinctively different styles than a typical engagement ring, they serve the same purpose: to declare privately and publicly the love a couple shares and their intent to revere that love together for the rest of their lives. 

Choosing the metal for an engagement ring is a critical decision that affects not only the ring's appearance but also its strength, durability, and price. Titanium engagement rings are quickly gaining notoriety for their hypoallergenic properties, strength, and generally inexpensive price.  Other increasingly popular metals to use for gent’s bands these days are palladium and steel.

Of all engagement rings, none are so laced with meaning as Celtic engagement rings.  Publicly, it announces the commitment a couple has made to build a life together.  Privately, the ring design can incorporate many intimate details significant to the couple through the type of gemstone, intricate metalwork, or engravings.

Engagement & Wedding Rings

It is believed that the ancient Romans began the practice of placing the engagement ring on the left ring finger, which they believed contained the "vena amoris" or vein of love which supposedly connected directly to the heart. Other ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, also used such symbolism, and even today the tradition persists both with engagement rings and wedding bands. In fact, wedding bands are placed first on the left ring finger to be closest to the heart.

All of these were specially commissioned, bespoke pieces of jewellery.  I particularly enjoy this avenue of work, as it allows me to interact on a very personal level with the client and ascertain what their specific requirements, desires and needs are.  I find it incredibly rewarding to be a part of the creative process when working with bespoke clients, because of the attention to detail and constant communication throughout the design and manufacturing progression, from the conceptual phase to the final and ultimate wearing of the piece of jewellery.  One thing that also especially stands out in this experience is that I’m always able to see the client’s reaction to their jewellery – something which I don’t have the privilege of enjoying when manufacturing for the trade.

Eternity Rings

Eternity rings are also called "dress" wedding rings, diamond infinity rings, and diamond bands.  Lined with diamonds, eternity bands often appear to be a circle of gemstones.  The continuous loop of diamonds is symbolic of unending, eternal love, making them popular gifts for significant occasions in a couple's relationship, such as a monumental anniversary, overcoming tremendous obstacles, or celebrating a child's birth.

In the two first photos below you can see the metamorphosis from unset (without diamonds) ring to set (with diamonds) ring - reminding me of the beautiful transformation between catepillar and butterfly.