Gemstone Highlight: Garnet - January's Birthstone

cut garnets from commons.wikimedia.org

What is it?

Garnet, the most well-known red gemstone, comes from the Latin word "granum" meaning "grain." This not only refers to the rounded shape of the garnet crystals, but is also suggestive of the small red seeds of the pomegranate.

Garnets have also been called "carbuncles" relating to the color and refers to a boil or blister.  Used since the Bronze Age, garnets are silicate minerals used as gemstones and abrasives.  There are many forms and varieties of garnets, but the six main garnet types are Almandine, Pyrope, Spessartite, Grossular, Andradite and Uvarovite.  It is the harder species, Almandine, that is used for abrasive purposes.  Garnets can be found in other colors including, yellow, orange, red, blue, brown, purple, black, pink and colorless. The rarest is blue, found in Madagascar in the late 1990s. The color changing garnets - pyrope and spessartite - are often mistaken for Alexandrite.


On the Mohs scale, it has a hardness of 6.5 - 7.5, polishes to a vitreous (glass-like) luster, and if fractured it will produce a conchoidal (shell-like) to uneven split.

This jewelry set features Pink Garnet

Where is it found?

Types of garnet deposits vary by location.  The most notable mines are located in the United States, Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Canada and a few others.  The most valuable come from the Ural Mountains of Russia.

Ancient Uses:

Garnets have been prized for over 5,000 years. Ancient use of garnets is extensive and I have only listed a few interesting notations.

A necklace with garnet beads was found in a grave that dates back to 3000 B.C.  That's a long time, thus proving the durability and hardness of these gemstones.

The bracelet features garnet, ruby, and citrine

The King of Saxony was said to have a garnet that was 465 carets! That's a lot of stone considering one round 10mm garnet is the equivilent of 5.75 carets!

Plato had his portrait engraved on a garnet by a Roman engraver. I wonder how long he had to sit still.

Garnets were also used in the late antique Roman world, and the Migration Period art of the barbarian people who took over the territory of the Western Roman Empire. In a cloisonne technique, garnet was inlaid in gold cells, also known called garnet cloisonne.

In old Spain, where pomegranates were popular, so was the garnet. Spanish astrology used the garnet to represent the sun.

Bohemia was a large source for garnets at one time making it a very rich industry for that country. Bohemian castles and some churches have interiors decorated with these precious gemstones.

Chipita Non-pierced Earrings 

(Spessartin a type of Garnet)

Current uses:

Besides being an object of beauty, garnets have an industrial use as a good abrasive.  It is a common replacement for silica sand in sand blasting as the grains are rounder and better suited for it. Garnets can also cut steel and other materials when used with water jets.

Garnets are also used for gem identification purposes. A pick up response to a strong magnet separates the garnet from all other naturally transparent gemstones. Susceptibility measurements can also distinguish garnet species.


Care of Garnet Jewelry:

Care of your garnet jewelry is quite simple, with only a few do nots.

DO NOT expose garnet jewelry to extreme temperatures to suddenly.
DO NOT expose your garnet to chemicals, which includes cosmetics and perfumes.  As with most gemstones jewelry, it is suggested that jewels be put on last for this reason.

KJK's Pearls & Gems  Clip on Drop Earrings (Left has garnet) 

DO use warm water and a soft brush, keeping the brush gentle on the stone's surface.
DO use a cotton cloth to pat dry.
DO store it in a dry place separate from other jewelery.

Also, at-home ultrasonic units can clean garnet jewelry with proper care and caution.


Folklore & the Mystic:

Garnets are the traditional birthstone for January and the anniversary stone for the 2nd year of marriage.

During midieval times, garnets were believed to cure depression, relieve liver diseases and protect against nightmares. The Bible refers to Noah's use of a glowing garnet to illuminate the ark, as well as garnet being one of the twelve gems in Aaron's breastplate. The Koran holds that the garnet illuminates the Fourth Heaven of the Moslems. Greeks believed it guarded children from drowning as well as being a potent against poisons.  Greek mythology references garnet as a gift of love and associated with eternity.

Some carried a garnet as a protective talisman, as it was said to warn the wearer of danger, and if the garnet loses is luster, it is a sign of a coming disaster.

There are also beliefs of "garnet blood magjc" with ancient connections to feminine life forces, and therefore believed that only women should wear them.

Cliptomania.com offers over 500 pairs of clip-on earrings in a variety of styles and colors including gemstone, crystal, gold, sterling, nickel-free, hoops, faux pearl, hoop and many, many more!  Site includes FAQ page, style guide, guide to clips, and other helpful pages.




Sources:
www.gemselect.com
en.wikipedia.org
www.jewelsforme.com
www.jewelvalley.com
www.minerals.net

The Gemstone: Ruby

Multi Gemstone Earrings, Bracelet and Ring

Note: Ruby is the lighter red stone in the ring and the one on top of the citrine and garnet

The gemstone ruby is a corundum or aluminum oxide whose name comes from the Latin word ruber which means red.  This gemstone is found in over a dozen countries worldwide including in the United States.  Other varieties of gem quality corundum known as sapphires.  All natural rubies have imperfections in them including color impurities and inclusions of rutile needles called silk. Gemologists use rutile needles to distinguish natural rubies from synthetics, stimulants, or ruby substitutes that lack silk.

Natural ruby colors include all shades of red including pink.  They also have primary hues in addition to its natural color these include a vibrant shade of red called pigeons blood as well as other colors such as  orange, yellow, green, violet, or the most popular hue blue.  And rubies can also have a secondary hue or color. The possible colors include: orange, purple, violet, or pink. Determination of a ruby's grade through analysis of their color, cut clarity and weight.  Color is the most important evaluation specifically from hue, saturation and tone.

The most common cuts for rubies are oval and cushions which hold up best.  However rubies can also be cut circular, triangular, emerald cut, pear, marquise cuts all of which do not always hold up as well. Generally the size of a ruby is under a karat to keep cost reasonable any larger and its price will vary greatly.

Rubies are generally heat-treated to cut down on or eradicate impurities inside of the natural fractures in the gemstone. Or a rough ruby is only given a pre-polish and maybe a cleaning with hydrogen fluoride.   If there are fractures in the specimen lead glass fills them in.  Or if the gemstone’s color is lacking a glass powder with copper and another metal oxide like sodium or calcium are given a try to enhance the natural color of the ruby.  Otherwise rubies are left as natural as possible.

Cliptomania.com carries ruby jewelry including rings, bracelets and earrings from designers such as Michelle Pressler, Michal Golan, ThereseMade , and Emilie Shapiro Contemporary Metals.

All gemstones including ruby can safely be cleaned with warn soapy water with or without using a tooth-brush.  After cleaning the gemstone wipe it with a soft cloth.  Avoid contact of any type of gemstone with household cleaning chemicals and protect them from extreme heat to prevent permanent damage to the gemstone.

Always store gemstone jewelry inside a fabric lined box or wrap it in a soft cloth then store it separately from other gemstones.

References: gemselect.com and minerals.net

 

The Gemstone: Tourmaline

Tourmaline & Sterling Silver Hoop Non-pierced Clip Earrings

Tourmaline is one of the most versatile gemstones on the planet. It comes in a wide range of colors, is very durable, tough, and is widely available throughout the world.  Most tourmaline gemstones display two or more colors in a single piece. It can be for example two shades of a single color or two different colors.   Or like watermelon tourmaline have a clear ring in it to separate the two colors comprising it:  the most common being pink and green or black and red. The least valuable and hardest to find is clear tourmaline and the most readily available is black tourmaline. 

Tourmaline exhibits a strong pleochorism meaning its crystals display different colors depending on the angle it is viewed at.  The gemstone is commonly opaque and the inclusions in it vary depending on the type and color of tourmaline it is. It has elongated crystals and because of this it is often cut into rectangular shapes to match. However, tourmaline can be cut into more traditional and fancy shapes. For example, darker tourmaline is cut to the table parallel and along the main axis, and watermelon tourmaline is sliced to exhibit its attractive multiple coloring. 

Most tourmaline is left untreated however yellow, pink or red varieties maybe irradiated to enhance color.  The treatment does not affect the value of the gemstones.  Lastly tourmaline is easy to care for but it does attract dust and will need to be wiped often with a soft cloth.  

All gemstones including tourmaline can safely be cleaned with warn soapy water with or without using a tooth brush.  After cleaning the gemstone wipe it with a soft cloth.  Avoid contact of any type of gemstone with household cleaning chemicals and protect them from extreme heat to prevent permanent damage to the gemstone.  

Always store gemstone jewelry inside a fabric lined box or wrap it in a soft cloth then store it separately from other gemstones. 

 References: gemselect.com , minerals.net, and Wikipedia.org

Aquamarine @ cliptomania.com

Aquamarine Solitaire Ring & Aquamarine Earrings

The gemstone aquamarine is blue-green to blue and is a variety of the mineral beryl.  This group of minerals is most famous for the green emerald.  Yet despite this association aquamarine is transparent and full of clarity whereas emerald tends to be hazy and have inclusions.  Also aquamarine gets its color from iron impurities within colorless beryl crystals whereas emerald gets its color from trace amounts of chromium and vanadium.  

Most aquamarine comes from Brazil with smaller deposits found in Australia, Myanmar or Burma, China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nambia, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as in several US states. 

Aquamarine Spring Loaded Hoops & Gold Ring

The more saturated the color of aquamarine is, the more valuable it is in price. The most popular cut for the gemstone are round, oval, pear and cushion.  Aquamarine can be heat treated to enhance its color but most times when you see aquamarine it is in its natural form.

Aquamarine gemstone jewelry can safely be cleaned with warn soapy water with or without using a tooth brush.  After cleaning the gemstone wipe it with a soft cloth.  And be sure when wearing this jewelry to avoid contact with household cleaning chemicals and keep it away from intense heat to prevent permanent damage to the gemstone.  

Always store gemstone jewelry inside a fabric lined box or wrap it in a soft cloth then store it separately from other gemstones.   

References: gemselect.com  and, minerals.net

 

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

Birthstones: December & January



Image from: www.dreamstime.com

December's birthstone is Blue Topaz.

Natural occurrences of blue topaz are quite rare.  Usually, colorless, pale yellow, gray or blue material are heat treated and irradiated to produce the darker blue desired stone.

Did you know that blue topaz is also the state gemstone of Texas in the United States?





Image from: www.ohmydollz.com

Each month also has an alternate birthstone.
December's alternate is Lapis Lazuli.

Lapis was known as sapphire in ancient times, which is the name used today for the blue corundum variety of sapphire.  Lapis was also used in the Taj Mahal in India.

Did you know that powdered lapis lazuli was used as eyeshadow by Cleopatra?




 

Image from: www.bidorbuy.co.za



December birth crystal is the Blue Zircon.

Most blue zircon is pastel blue and heat treated to darken the color. Other zircon colors include colorless, red, pink, brown, hazel and black. However, the most popular zircon color is blue. 

Did you know that zircon played an important role in the evolution of radiometic dating?  Radiometric dating methods are used in geochronology to establish the geological time scale.



Image from horoscopeplanet.blogspot.com

January's birthstone is Garnet.

Most garnets come from African countries, yet also mined in Russia, India, and South and Central America.  It is a gem that is not artifically enhanced.

Did you know the first industrial use of garnet appears to have been as coated sandpaper made in the United States in 1878 by Henry Hudson Barson, of Barton Mines Corporation?

Image from www.greenchicafe.com

The alternate is Rose Quartz.

Rose quartz is pink quartz that is often called the "Love Stone," and is considered one of the most desireable varieties of quartz.

Did you know the pink color of rose quartz is photosensitive and can fade in sunlight?

Image from astrologyandfortune.com

January's birth crystal is Garnet.

Garnets are from a family of gems that come in every color except blue.The red wine colored garnet is the most popular.

Did you know that people used to believe that when danger was near, the garnet would lose its brilliance?

Sources:

en.wikipedia.org

minerals.usgs.gov

www.gemstone.org

www.galleries.com

www.ephemerala.com

Gemstone Highlights: Agate

What is it?

Agate is a microcrystalline variety of silica, namely chalcedony. It is known by its fine grain and bright colors.  Usually associated with volcanic rocks, it can also be common in metamorphic rocks. It was given its name by a Greek philosopher, Theophrastus, who discovered it on the river Achates (now called the Dirillo in Sicily) about the 3rd century.

Image: www.dandennis.com

Many agates are hollow. The last deposit commonly consists of quartz, often amethyst, in which the apices of the crystals are directed toward the free space.  With this crystal-lined cavity, it is referred to as a 'geode'. In the blue or gray agates, clear quartz cystals, or "drusy" can be found, and is usually treated separately.

Image: www.worldwidestore.com

In the ancient Persian culture, items created with these gemstones were considered talismans, as the gem was associated with preventing storms and increasing crops. Agates were also popular with European royalty in the Renaissance as well as with the rulers of the Byzantine Empire. Agate has also been discovered in many ancient sites as one of the most commonly used materials in hard carved art and practical items including paper knives, inkstands and seals (picture on right). Due to its hardness (Mohs Scale 7) and acid resistance, it has been used for making mortars and pestles to crush and mix chemicals.



Image: vibrate.wordpress.com

Colors.

Common colors include yellow, black, purple, green, red, brown, orange, white, blue and red-brown, with green and blue agates being the rarest.  When it is cut transversely, it exhibits a succession of parallel lines, giving it a banded appearance, which is also known as riband agate or striped agate. Although sporting a waxy luster, agate polishes well.

Where is it found?

Agates can be found all over the earth. However, the more important mines are found in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Russia.

Types of Agate.

There are thousands of named agates based upon where found, who discovered them, composition, color and other characteristics. There is a classification of nine types of agates that are based upon how they form which I found interesting in helping to gain a basic understanding.

• Fortification Agates are the most common and are formed when bands crystallize into layers that follow the shape of the cavity. The banding is rigid-looking, and if viewing it from above, resembles a fort.
• Water-line Agates are formed by silica rich water entering the cavity slowly with the excess water draining away creating separate layers forming a stack of parallel bands.
• Shadow Agates are formed when the alternating translucent and opaque bands exhibit a shadow appearance when the agate is rocked back and forth (or by your orientation of view), and are considered an interesting optical effect.
• Tube Agates begin when tiny hair-thin mineral rods grow first within the silica gel along which micro-crystals form. Sometimes the inclusions remain and other times they are hollow tubes.
• Eye Agates have a mysterious appearance believed to be formed when the silica drains from the cavity leaving only a droplet to bead up on the cavity wall. The droplet then crystalizes into a solid chalcedony "eye."
• Plume Agates have outside layers that form prior to the chalcedony bands. They are a filament growth of mineral inclusions that look like ferns or feathers. They are sometimes referred to as dendritic agates.
• Geode Agates form when silica-rich water stops filling the cavity leaving a hollow center with a crystalline fill.
• Moss Agates have clusters of mineral inclusions that resemble plants, trees or landscapes. Most inclusions are comprised of iron or maganese oxide.
• Seam Agates form in the cracks of host rocks rather than rounder pockets. The deposits form parallel bands that fill the crack or seam.

orange & white agate clip earrings by KJK

Caring for your Agate Jewelry.

Tips for keeping your agates beautiful and scratch-free include putting it on after you've applied make-up, hairspray or perfume. The chemicals in these cosmetics can damage the shine and create a build-up. Agate jewelry should be cleaned after wearing with a soft brush and cotton cloth, and each piece stored separately in a cotton cloth to avoid scratching with other agates or gemstones.

blue agate, jade, and pearl clip earrings by Museum Reproductions

The Mystical and Forklore of Agates.

For thousands of years people have believed agates possess metaphysical properties.  In researching the previous gems I have highlighted on this blog, agates by far have the most mystical properties attributed to them.  Similar to other gems, the more common attributed properties of agates include protection, harmony, ability to calm, divert storms, stimulate fertility and personal creativeness.  Some of the odder attributes include relieving thirst, helping one be truthful, keeping blood & bone marrow healthy, making one less disagreeable and more persuasive, and relieving allergies.  Historically, agate was placed in water for cooking and drinking to dispel sickness.

Cliptomania.com offers hundreds of affordable pairs of non-pierced, clip-on earrings. To see gemstone earrings, including agates, click here. 

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agate

http://www.agatelady.com/agate-basics.html

http://agates.org/

http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14