Birthstones: April & May

April's Birthstone is Diamond.

The diamond is a widely known stone with outstanding physical properties, in particular the qualities which originate from the bonding of its atoms. The result is that the diamond is recognized for its hardness (10 on Moh's Scale) and it's thermal conductivity. 

Did you know a large and perfect (aka flawless and having no inclusions) diamond is called a paragon? A diamond with a weight of 12 carats held this title in the 16th century, but today, more than 99 carats are needed.



April's Alternate Birthstone is Quartz.

Quartz in it's purest form is called "Rock Crystal" or "Clear Quartz" because it is colorless and translucent.

Did you know the largest, recorded quartz crystal was 20 feet long and weighed more than 48 tons?

April's Birth Crystal is Cubic Zirconia.

Cubic Zirconium (CZ) is a lab-created gemstone that closely resembles a diamond, yet is heavier. Most people need a jeweler's eye to confirm if the stone is a diamond or a CZ.

Did you know that CZs are the biggest competitior against diamonds since production began in 1976?

May's Birthstone is Emerald.

Inclusions found in emeralds are considered part of their character, and used to assure the purchaser that the stone is natural. Such inclusions in most other gems are not acceptable.

Did you know that the emerald is one of the traditional four precious stones? The other three are ruby, diamond and sapphire.

May's Alternate Birthstone is Chalcedony.

Many precious gemstones are a form of chalcedony and include: Onyx, Avernturine, Agate, Mtorolite, Heliotrope, and Chrysoprase.

Did you know that hot wax will not stick to chalcedony? It was carved and used to make seal impressions.

May's Birth Crystal is Emerald.

Emeralds are considered brittle stones, and internal cracks may develop if the stone is banged against something or subjected to significant temperature changes.

Did you know the "Emerald Cut" was devloped for this particular gem in order to reduce the amount of pressure during the cutting process?

Sources:

www.gemselect.com/gem-info/emerald/emerald-info.php

en.wikipedia.org

Images:

www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-images....

Spring is Here!

....and so are our Speciality Section earrings including some of the below styles and themes!

EASTER, will be celebrated on April 1st of this year.

Here in Indiana, as of this writing,

we have received (hopefully)

our last snow of the season.

Yet, in other areas of the country,

 FLOWERS are popping up,

 BIRDS are singing,

and young ladies are getting ready for Prom- Clear Glitter &  Colored Glitter .

Cliptomania.com is an clip on earring internet only store featuring over 500+ non-pierced earrings in a variety of styles including Gold, Sterling, Hoops, Vintage, CZ, Childrens, Nickel-Free, Designer, Gemstone, Pearls, Museum Reproductions and more.  See our Homepage and begin shopping with us!

Feature Birthstones: February & March

Image: www.Dreamstime.com

 February's birthstone is Amethyst.

Amethyst is the purple form of quartz, and the most desired of the quartz family. Shades include dark purple, lilac, lavender or mauve, yet top quality stones will be a medium deep purple with rose colored flashes.

Did you know ancient Romans and Greeks made drinking glasses of Ameythist in belief it would keep them from getting drunk?




February's alternate stone is Onyx.

Onyx is formed of bands of chalcedony in alternating colors.  The black variety is the most famous, yet not as common as onyx displaying colored bands. 

Onyx is a main feature in these Michal Golan clip earrings

Did you know slabs of onyx were famously used by Mies van der Rohe in Villa Tugendhat at Brno to create a shimmering semi-translucent interior wall?





February's birth crystal is also the Amethyst.

Amethyst stones can fade in sunlight. It is recommended that jewelry not be worn while sunbathing, swimming, in a solarium, or near a black light. Sudden temperature changes can also be harmful.

Did you know in 1993 a 9-foot cave was found near Maine which contained more than a ton of amethyst crystals? 

Amethyst Swarovski crystals feature  on these Michal Golan Clip Earrings

Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amethyst
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onyx
www.gemstone.org
www.dreamstime.com

Aquamarine Solitaire Ring and Aquamarine Earrings

March's birthstone is Aquamarine. 



Aquamarine (Latin's "aqua marina"  means "water of the sea") is a blue or teal variety of beryl though the most desired shade is a deep aqua-blue color. Brazil has the largest mine.

 

Did you know the largest aquamarine ever to have been cut is the "Dom Pedro" weighing 26 kg and designed by Bernd Munsteiner in 1992?




Image: www.dreamstime.com

March's alternate is Rock Crystal.

Rock Crystal is the name given to all clear colorless quartz.  The best source are in the famous Hot Springs area of Arkansas, USA.

Did you know that after the time of the Roman Empire, Persians made large vessels from rock crystal?



March's birth crystal is also Aquamarine.

Aquamarine is a very hard stone (Mohs Scale = 8), and trace amounts of iron give the stone its color.

Did you know that sailors believed wearing aquamarine would protect them from danger at sea, and prevent sea sickness?

Sources:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquamarine.

www.gemselect.com/Aquamarine

www.galleries.com/Rock_crystal
www.ehow.com/about_5481182_rock-crystals.html#ixzz2K9Uj9OGs
www.ehow.com/facts_5464965_aquamarine.html#ixzz2K9WFKMeO

Valentine's Day is February 14th!

The 14th day of February is a time that many present their family, friends and other loved ones with flowers, gifts, candy, jewelry and more.  People celebrate relationships, the joy of being together, of love covering a distance, and family ties. But why?  Actually, it's not exactly known why February 14th is known as Valentine's Day.  A true history is impossible to obtain from archives, and centuries of time have made the day more difficult to trace.  There are several theories and traditions involving a noble named Valentine, as well as three early Christian saints all named Valentine who were, coincidentially, martyed on February 14th.  If you appreciate history, reading articles regarding a probable origin are quite fascinating.

I found out that the British Museum displays one of the earliest valentine's, sent in 1415 from Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife.  He was imprisoned in the Tower of London at the time. The modern version of St. Valentine's Day is said to have derived from both ancient Christian and Roman traditions.  Specifically, the Roman named Valentine who was executed on February 14, 270 AD for refusing to renounce his religion.

Today, Valentine's Day is a major holiday celebrated all over the world as a romantic holiday for many - a time to tell those close to us how much they mean to us, and maybe even a time to let someone unaware know how we feel. However celebrated, we try to make it special. 

If you are considering non-pierced earrings as a Valentine's Day gift, Cliptomania.com has hundreds of clip earrings including buttons, dangles and petite earrings with a heart theme.  Don't forget - Amethyst is the "birthstone" for February and also makes a great gift to remember the month of love.

Sources:

www.theholidayspot.com



FAQ: Should I use my iPhone to order?

We have the capacity to use the internet on our phones and on the run, giving us freedom to "get more done" while we continue to do what we do. It's fantastic in a lot of ways.

However, a few customers have commented that they have had trouble ordering from our website on their iPhone. Problems like the drop down menues not working, or choosing one shipping method and getting a different method. When tested, our website has always been working 100%, so we naturally consider these issues to be phone related.

We are an internet business and support advancing technology, yet we have our concerns when potential customer's cannot use our site to its fullest. Our pages are large and have a lot of information. We strive to give our customers helpful details about the earrings they are purchasing, because we want them to be confident they are choosing exactly what they want with their hard-earned money. We advise customers NOT to rely solely on the image to depict the product, but to read corresponding descriptions which always include sizes, color options and anything we believe might better describe each product.

We do not discourage customer's use of iPhone or any other phone to place orders with us, yet we suggest that it might not be the most practical if errors are to be avoided.  We want to give our customer's the best customer service coupled with quality products, and hopefully add them to our growing, satisfied customer base.

Cliptomania.com offers 500+ clip-n earrings for non-pierced ears. Styles include gold, silver, sterling, pearl, big and bold, bead, designer, kids, sensitive ears and more! Helpful pages on our website include style guide, birthstone and anniversary information, new arrivals, back in stock, a glossary and frequently asked questions. An Advanced Search  will allow customer to filter by designer, keyword, size and price.  Our sister site, www.earringinformation.com gives information on common clip adjustments, earring styles for particular face shapes, earring care, and more.

Birds, Birds & More Birds

Doves:  love, hope, peace, the divine.

Hummingbirds: happiness and delicate beauty.

Owl: silent wisdom, and that which is not yet known.

Swan: loyalty and grace.

Cardinal: fresh perspective.

Bat: death & rebirth, nurturing and sensitivity.

Cliptomania.com has 500+ non-pierced earrings including birds and other Animals including Creatures of the Air.  We also have other "birds" and flying creatures clip on earring located throughout the website. To find them, simply go to the elongated seach products here box.

One "bird" designer in particular is Bamboo.   Search for Bamboo under the Designer filter.

Sources:

symbolism.wikia.com/wiki

www.whats-your-sign.com

www.animal-symbols.com

Gemstone Highlights: Malachite



Image from: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=free+images

What is it?

Malachite is an green banded, copper carbonate hydroxide mineral.  It results from weathering of copper ores, and is found deep underground where the water table fluids provide the perfect formative environment. Malachite is opaque in massive form, and translucent in crystalline form.

Image from: http://skywalker.cochise.edu

The name comes from the Greek for "mallow" a green herb, because of its resemblance to the leaves of the Mallow plant.  Its light and dark green bands make it highly recognizable, and a favorite medium for jewelry and ornamental use. The crystals give malachite a velvety appearance.


Malachite has been mined in large quantities in Russia. However, it is found worldwide with notable mines in Zambia, Mexico, England, France, Australia, Israel, and the United States.

On the Moh's Scale of hardness malachite rates at 3.5 - 4 which is quite a bit softer than some of the gems we have highlighted in previous blogs. Therefore, you'll want to read the care instructions for malachite jewelry below.

Ancient Use.

Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used malachite not only for jewelry, but ground it to use as eye shadow.  It was also the pigment in green paints until about 1800.  Archeological evidence indicates that the mineral had been mined in Israel for over 3,000 years.  The Malachite Room in the Hermitage Museum in Russia features "The Tazza," a large malachite vase, a gift from Tsar Nicholas II.

Earthsong Gemstone Non-pierced Drop Clip Earrings

Care of Malachite Jewelry:

Soft and a little brittle, malachite is also sensitive to acids and heat. Therefore, jewery should not be steamed cleaned or undergo ultrasonic cleanings. Soft and gentle cleaning is recommended. Clean it by wiping it with a slightly damp, soft, clean cloth. Never submerge the stone in water.  As malachite can scratch easily, store malachite jewelry separately from other jewelry.  Also keep it out of constant sunshine due to it's ability to fade.  Spray perfume or hairspray before applying jewelry as these chemicals are harsh on the stones.

Baoule Circle Bead Non-pierced Drop Clip Earrings

Folklore & Mystic Properties:

Malachite can be an alternative stone for May's emerald. Ancient mythical use included amulets to protect against the evil eye and to keep children safe from witches and other dangers.  Malachite is known as "the mirror of the soul" and thus reflects the inner feelings of the person wearing it; therefore, they advise, if you're in a negative mood, don't wear malachite.  On the positive side, malachite was said to get rid of nightmares and help wearer make good business decisions.

www.cliptomania.com is an internet store dedicated to non-pierced, clip-on earrings. 500+ styles, including gold, silver, pearl, sterling, nickel-free, hoops, crystals, designer, gemstones, big & bold and so much more. 

Sources

www.gemsociety.org/info/gems/malachite.htm

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachite

www.galleries.com/Malachite