Glamorous Emeralds For May
Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of mineral species called beryl, and is the most famous member of the beryl family, along with aquamarine. Emeralds rich green color is the perfect birthstone for the month of May, where it represents the rebirth of nature after the long winter.
Emerald is one of those gemstones that has fascinated and captivated people since the dawn of time. The first known emerald mines were in Egypt dating from at least 330 BC into the 1700s. Cleopatra had a famous passion for emeralds and used them in her adornments.
Emeralds from what is now Colombia were part of the plunder when sixteenth-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World. The Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spanish, who treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded emeralds for precious metals. Their trades opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to emerald’s majesty.
Emeralds, while still a relatively hard gem, is not particularly durable. Many emeralds contain fractures under the service and are prone to cracking during the lapidary process. In order to enhance the beauty of the stones, and minimize the appearance of fractures…emeralds will be treated with substances from essential oils to waxes or resins. These treatments have varying amounts of stability in a stone, so care should always be used with emeralds if the treatment is not known. Most qualified gemologists should be able to detect any treatments given to the gemstone.
***Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia.
Pearls, the gem of the sea.
The sea evokes a sense of mystery and beauty. it’s calming waters can be stormy at times and provides a sense of passion and wonder to it’s observers. I miss the sea. The sound of the waves crashing in a steady rhythm, lulling one to sleep or to a sense of calm. Hopefully, soon, we can travel back to the ocean’s waters and enjoy the beaches again soon.
Pearls are the gemstone for the month of June. Pearls are one of the only gems that make their origin from the sea. Mother-of-pearl is the other one, and is usually gathered from the same shells we collect pearls from. The beautiful colors of the mother-of-pearl shells are the influence for the color of the pearl.
Pearls are one of a handful of gems that are organic in nature, meaning that they originate from a live organism, rather than inorganic, such as coming from not alive, such as rocks.
Pearls have a fascinating history. They were well regarded for their beauty, and valued much higher than diamonds for many, many years. Marie Antoinette’s famous baroque pearl earrings, recently came up for auction. They are large baroque pearls, and highly unusual and definitely beautiful! I suggest googling them to take a look!
We have a lot of pearl jewelry to choose from in our collections. Pearls have always been one of my favorite gems. They always seem to have a quiet beauty about them to me. They don’t sparkle as much as other gems, but have a rich color and depth of tone that draws you in. The range of colors is also fascinating. I love the dark pearls as much as the bright white. They all have beauty.
Because pearls are a natural gem and are created from the nacre of the mollusk, they do require some considerations when it comes to their wear and care. Pearls are not well suited for rings or bracelets unless the stone is well protected in the setting, such as a bezel setting. They are most ideally suited for necklace, earring and brooches. When it comes to cleaning your pearl jewelry, avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach or ammonia. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners as well. When storing your pearl jewelry, it is best to keep it in a soft cloth bag, away from other jewelry, especially diamonds, or harder gemstones, as they can be damaged when they make contact with those other gems.
All the best!
Chrissi