Tourmaline is not really just one gemstone. Tourmaline is actually several different, but closely related minerals, members of what is called The Tourmaline Group. These gems come in rich and vivid colors and are often a mixture of more then one color. Black opaque tourmalines can Sparkle nicely and produce sharp crystal forms. Tourmalines can [...]
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1. Diffusion 2. Heating 3. Be Heating Diffusion it typically done to Star Sapphires to increase the Asterism (star effect). It is also typically done with Titanium + Sapphires to give them a much deeper blue. The main problem with this type of treatment is that the color is only on a very thin layer [...]
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There are a few different ways to clean your pewter. First we will start with Antique Pewter which usually contains lead may develop a dark patina. This is a result of the lead. This patina creates an antique look that many manufacturers try to imitate. That patina layer acts as a protective layer and should [...]
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Genuine Diamonds Beads have recently become available at affordable prices for Jewelry Designers and Beaders. Diamond beads add amazing sparkle and elegance to any design. A majority of these diamond beads are made from exotic colorful diamonds that are cut and faceted in India. HISTORY: For many years colorless diamonds were the only diamonds readily [...]
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Regular glass is mainly made of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), with the addition of other ingredients, such as sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO) and Aluminim Oxide. The resulting glass contains about 70 to 72 percent silica by weight and is called a soda-lime glass. Soda-lime glasses account for about 90 percent of [...]
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A Bit of History Amethyst comes from the Greek word Amethystus, meaning “not drunken”, probably due to the wine-like color, and often symbolized sobriety. The most highly prized of the quartz family, amethyst is seen in the jewelry of royalty and adorning Bishops and Cardinals, and was one of the twelve gemstones of the breastplate [...]
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JUMP RINGS Open Jump Rings are not soldered closed. They generally come in light, medium or heavy. The following will give you an idea of the different types. Light – Usually .020-.025 inches diameter (.645mm to .511mm) in wire thickness or 22 – 24 gauge Medium – Usually .030 inches (.813mm) which is about 20 [...]
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Natural and cultured pearls are real pearls, whereas faux — or false pearls are not. A pearl, like coral, is an organic gem because it comes from a living source. Unlike other gems, pearls do not need to be polished or cut: they are perfect straight out of the mollusk. The technique for growing a [...]
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PURPOSE The purpose of this guide is to help you find a good quality stone,after all this is a buyers guide. i am not here to slander other sellers. Lets keep this simple and informative, i have been making ammonite ,or ammolite gemstones since 1990 and selling it to a few select retailers on a [...]
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Argentium Sterling Silver is a modern sterling silver alloy which modifies the traditional sterling silver alloy (92.5% silver + 7.5% copper) by replacing some of the copper with a rare metallic element called germanium. Argentium Silver came about as the result of research by Peter Johns at the School of Art & Design, Middlesex University, [...]
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