Aquamarine Engagement Rings

Finding a Good Item to Resell on E-bay

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:36:38 +0000

Finding a quality seller or drop shipper can be a very tedious task. There are thousands of companies that claim they are selling items for pennies on the dollar, and a little research willl show you that these companies have saturated the market with these items.

When you are starting a business it is best to find a desirable item that holds a value, and appears more valuable than what your selling price is. Loose gemstones, coins, and colored diamonds are the prefect solution!

Loose gemstones and diamonds can be purchased for as little as 20 cents a carat and sold for a 500% mark up. Great places to sell these items are e-bay, personal websites, craigslist, yahoo auctions and more. As a test try comparing prices on e-bay to our wholesale website www.e-gemstone.com. We also offer a resale discount to volume buyers.

Never use a drop ship company that charges you a membership fee. You should never habe to pay somebody to sell something to you. Membership websites also rarely have prices any lower than what you would see the same item priced at on e-bay.

In closing, take your time when finding a drop shipper, or wholesale supplier.

Please visit this authors website: www.e-gemstone.com

Find And Customize Beautiful Cubic Zirconia Jewelry

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:31:30 +0000

When looking for that perfect piece of jewelry for someone special, why not consider buying cubic zirconia jewelry? It has all the fire and beauty of the more expensive stones, but it costs only a fraction of the price. A lot of dramatic advances have been made in these gemstones over the past several years so that it is really difficult to see the difference from the most costly gems you can buy.

There are a range of fabulous pieces that are available for you to choose from. Regardless if you are looking for bracelets, rings, earrings, or pendants, you can find the perfect piece of cubic zirconia jewelry for yourself or to give as a gift to a friend or loved one.

Whether you want your piece in white or yellow gold, fourteen or eighteen karats, or platinum, you will find choices available like never before. Many items are customizable so that you can choose the style, shape, bracket type, and color that fits your particular taste.

You need not worry about falling in love with a piece only to discover you cannot get it in the color of gold you want. Are you thinking about something with a little more color in your gems? There is a wide variety of colored stones from your typical aquamarine, peridot, synthetic sapphire, or synthetic ruby to tanzanite, blue green, pink, purple, and many more.

Regardless of what color is your favorite, there is cubic zirconia jewelry to match your desires. It is also possible to have old jewelry repaired, and you can replace tired, worn-out old stones with the newer, higher quality ones that are available, thanks to improvements that have been made to the stones over the past several years. You no longer have to worry about your stones becoming dull with age, crazing, or changing colors.

Remember, there is more than one type of quality stone you can buy when you are in the market for a piece of jewelry. Make her eyes light up with joy when she opens a present from you that is sure to delight her for years to come. Surprise her with a gift that tells her how much you love her each and every time she wears it.

So if you know all about the improved quality of cubic zirconia jewelry, and you are serious about wanting to check out some of the pieces to purchase for yourself or someone else, visit FreeCZ at http://www.freecz.com for an extensive selection of unique products and designs. You will not be disappointed with the wonderful selection offered at this exceptional resource. With over thirty years of experience, this detailed jeweler is ready to offer you only the best.

For more information on cubic zirconia jewelry, cubic zirconia rings visit www.freecz.com.

Handmade Gemstone Jewelry

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:08:51 +0000

Hello I am Going to tell you about a place that has the higest quality gemstone jewelry also a little history and some of the famous gems that have been mined there. this place has a lot of history the info below is from the site that you will get to see later that tells of the rich history and how they make handmade gemstone jewelry.

Manufacture of handmade gemstone jewelry in intricate designs is a craft that has been around in different parts of the world for over a thousand years. This technology has been passed down from generation to generation and is preserved and practiced in many different countries, including Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has been renowned for its gem stones and gem studded jewelry since ancient times.

The gem stones of Sri Lanka have adorned the crowns and jewelry of royalty around the world for many centuries.

The wedding ring given to princess Diana by prince Charles was set with a large blue star sapphire from Sri Lanka.

A Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye of Sri Lankan origin, weighing 105 carats was purchased for the British Royalty from a reputed London Jeweler around 1900.This Cats eye was cherished by four British Monarchs-Edward VI, George V, Edward VII and Queen Elizabeth II-due to its exceptionally fine quality.

The Great Aqua of Sri Lanka, with a weight of roughly 1,890 carats is the largest gem found in Sri Lanka. This aquamarine yielded a sparkling gem of 946 carats, which became part of Saudi Prince’s royal collection.

The antiquity of the gem trade in Sri Lanka is clearly established by the fact that two technical terms used for two popular gem stones, Tourmaline and Padparascha are of Sri Lankan origin. Tourmaline is derived from the Sinhala and Tamil word “Toramalli’ and ‘Padparascha” is a Tamil word used to refer to a pinkish orange Sapphire found only in Sri Lanka. These terms were also used by the early Moor traders who were the descendants of Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka in the eighth century AD

(1)Hopes cats eye- over 500 carats.

It is the largest chrysoberyl Cats Eye in the world previously owned by Thomas P.Hope,the wealthy British banker and gem investor. This enormous cats eye is carved to represent an altar surmounted by a torch. It is hemispherical in shape and measures about one and a half inches in diameter.

(2)Blue giant of the orient-466 carats

This is the largest blue sapphire in the world-466 carats. Is was mined in the Ratnapura (Gem City) District of Sri Lanka in 1907.It is a treasured possession of a famous American Gem Collector.

(3)Logan Blue Sapphire-423 carats

It is the second largest blue sapphire in the world. It has a rich deep blue colour and is completely flawless. It was gifted to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC by Mrs. John A Logan.

(4)Rosser Reeves Star Ruby-138 carats

This is the world’s largest star ruby, and it combines the rare features of excellent colour,good transparency and a well defined star. It is one of the outstanding exhibits of the U.S National Gem collection at the Smithsonian Institute.

As you can see the people here know what they are doing and offer the best handmade gemstone jewelry that you will find. all natural gemstones are of course the best they are getting more popular by the day.

So whether you are a serious collector or just want quality handmade gemstone jewelry that you can bragg to your friends about . Now you know where to look for the best.

Adorn a Colorful Look This Season

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:29:17 +0000

Fashion trends in jewelry are ushering in another excellent season for colored gemstone jewelry. Vivid colors and bold designs dominate the trend. Sapphire, emerald and pearl are currently the most popular gems for jewelry. Ruby and aquamarine are also important and all indications are that rich color will continue to dominate the holiday season. Amongst metals, white gold happens to be the hot trend.

Fashion jewelry blooms when bold designs are in vogue which is very much the trend this season. The bold and beautiful look is popular in necklaces, earrings, and bracelets with natural gemstones adorning the designs. Gemstones of lively colors matched with diamond accents are becoming the popular choice. The fashion conscious choose elegant gemstone jewelry to complement their costumes, some choose gemstone jewelry according to their birthstones and some adore it for the sheer aesthetics.

While fine jewelry in bold designs and rich colors forge the way for leading fashion, there is still a niche for more traditional and classic looks. Gemstones in classic settings and vintage designs are also the hot fashion trend this season. Theme jewelry in pendants, earrings, and charm bracelets has an appeal that goes beyond fashion alone because it identifies with the wearer’s personality. In addition, traditional designs, especially for bridal jewelry, have a classic look with timeless appeal.

This season, jewelry designs and colors are luxurious, feminine, and sensual. Fashion embraces a strong element of fantasy and escapism, making it the perfect time to have fun experimenting with a range of jewelry materials, colors and styles.

Suggestion for purchase –

With so spectacular a range to choose from, it becomes very difficult to go hunting for the perfect ring, pendant or bracelet to adorn your look. Internet comes to the rescue. Choose a website that offers a vivid range of colored gemstones and jewelry. Websites like www.angara.com allow you to design your own jewelry allowing you to indulge you artistic expression and create a piece of jewelry that is as unique and special as you are.

Sapphire ? September’s Gemstone of Brilliant Blue

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:01:05 +0000

Sapphire is a semi-precious gemstone frequently incorporated into some of the most modern, beautiful handmade jewelry in the world. It is most often found in shades of deep blues, and is widely recognized as the September Birthstone as well as zodiac signs of Taurus and Virgo, the 5th, 45th, 30th, 15th, and 50th anniversaries, the time of 10 am and Thursday and Tuesday. But beyond its modern-day uses and associations, sapphire holds a decadent mythological, spiritual and etymological history that adds nostalgic value to its already strong aesthetic worth. Read on for more information that will help you fall in love with your sapphire jewelry – or inspire you to buy some today!

Sapphire is the mineral variety of the species corundum. Although many people associate Sapphire with the color blue, this precious colored gem comes in a vast array of hues and saturations, in just about ever color of the rainbow and clear as well, except for red (red ones are Rubies!). These other colors are called “Fancy Sapphires.”

The beautiful blue Sapphire is immaculate, pure and heavenly. Throughout history, the Sapphire has been associated with qualities like sympathy, harmony, friendship and loyalty, permanency and reliability. Not surprisingly, in some cultures sapphires as more popular than diamonds as the center stone for engagement rings.

Sapphire gemstones look best as parts of formal evening jewelry when paired with diamonds, quartz or pearls. More casual combinations include softer contrasts with green peridot, light aquamarine, citrine or ruby. To see a selection of handmade artisan jewelry featuring sapphire, click here. Sapphire is typically considered a sophisticated gemstone that works well with any outfit. In earrings, it works especially well to enhance the luster of blue eyes.

The word Sapphire comes from the Hebrew Sapir. Centuries ago, the Persians believed that the sky was one big, sparkling Sapphire, and called the stone “the gem of the heavens.” People believed that the power of wisdom was held within the Sapphire, promoting mental clarity, enabling the wearer to find the answer to their problems, and let go of grudges, increasing tranquility in everyday life that is sent from the heavens.

A Sapphire’s value is determined by the richness and purity color of its color. Most Sapphires are heat-treated to eliminate impurities and improve color and clarity. Throughout history, the majority of the world’s sapphires were mined in Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Myanmar. Today, some of the finest Sapphires come from mines in Montana.

Mohs’ Hardness score is based on a 10 point scale where 10 is the most resistant, like a diamond, and 1 is easily scratched, such as Talc. Sapphire gets a score of 9, meaning that it is very scratch resistant and therefore suitable as a component of everyday jewelry. Sapphire gemstones should be regularly cleaned by a professional or with a soft rag and mild soap and water, or an ultra-sonic cleaner or steamer. Other methods, including solvents and harsh chemicals should be avoided when cleaning your handcrafted jewelry as exposure to these elements can damage semi-precious and precious gemstones and pearls.

Learn more about all semi-precious gemstones, including amethyst, apatite, black onyx, blue topaz, carnelian, chalcedony, citrine, coral, garnet, white topaz, crystal, diamond, emerald, iolite, jade, Labradorite, moonstone, pearl, peridot, prehnite, rose quarz, ruby, sapphire, smokey topaz, tanzanite, tourmaline and tourquoise when you check out this gemstone chart.

Decorating Yourself With The Colors Of Christmas In Jewelry

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:48:45 +0000

Christmas is an annual holiday that is accompanied by many traditions. From trimming the tree to wrapping gifts and singing tunes that represent the meaning of the holiday, there are many happy moments that December brings every year. In addition to those longstanding traditions that many of us have grown to love, there are also certain colors that will forever remind us of this precious holiday. Among the most popular are, of course, red and green. Other classics include silver, gold, blue and even white.

If you love to adorn yourself with the colors of the season, you can easily incorporate a variety of gemstones (simulated or genuine) into the perfect accessories that will leave you feeling festive. Silver is a popular color for the holidays as it’s found in gift wrap, icicle strands for trimming the tree and even ornaments. If you want to decorate yourself with silver, you can do so easily and affordably with the help of genuine sterling silver. If you want to add some color to your jewelry wardrobe, consider the following options:

Red. This is one of the most popular colors of the holiday, and can be celebrated with garnet, ruby or a simulated version of either. From the color of Santa’s suit and a certain reindeer’s nose to the twinkling lights on the tree, red has a very special place in the hearts of all who love the holidays. Cubic zirconia is available in a variety of colors, including red. From rings to earrings and even necklaces, this is the perfect color to add a very festive feel to your wardrobe.

Green. It’s the color of your perfect Christmas tree, a stunning wreath that you use to adorn your front door and it’s also a popular choice in gift wrap. Green is one of the traditional colors of the holidays, and you can create your own cheer with the help of peridot, emeralds or a simulated version of either. Because both of these natural gemstones can be quite pricey, an affordable alternative is cubic zirconia designed to simulate these popular jewels.

Gold. If you love gold ribbon, bows, gift wrap and holiday ornaments, you can decorate yourself affordably with the help of simulated champagne diamonds and either genuine or simulated citrine jewelry. In addition to being a popular winter color, these gems are also a smart pick in terms of the current jewelry trends.

Blue. We all love blue; it reminds us of the perfect afternoon when the sun is out and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. But, we also love blue for its significance during the holidays. Snowflakes are often associated with the white and blue color combination, but blue is also a beloved decoration in terms of ornaments, gift wrap, ribbons and bows. What does this mean for jewelry lovers? Blue topaz and aquamarine, or a simulated version of either, will be the perfect compliment to your winter wardrobe.

White. The icy cool color of snow translates beautifully into the crystal clear cubic zirconia or white topaz gemstones. Reminiscent of the beautiful icicles that form on your window on a cold winter morning, either of these are a perfect example of just how beautiful a colorless feature can be. Both of the aforementioned gemstones will give the appearance of a flawless diamond, which is always the perfect compliment to any wardrobe and a traditional choice for every occasion.
If you’re looking to add the colors of Christmas to your very own jewelry wardrobe, those mentioned in this article will serve you well during the upcoming holiday season and for many years to come.

For more information on sterling silver jewelry and cubic zirconia jewelry, visit Almost Diamonds at http://www.almostdiamonds.com

A Lariat Necklace is a Great Way of Boasting With Some Little Exquisite Diamonds

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:36:55 +0000

Among other jewelry items a lariat necklace occupies a somehow privileged place due to the elegant but very simple design and wear style. A lariat necklace depends on an open, long strand that hangs free from a flexible ring or drop in the front part. This type of accessory has been considered a great fashion trend by the great looks it lends to the cleavage of a dress for instance; it also makes the lines of the neck stand out, accenting fragility and elegance at the same time. A lariat necklace can be wrapped around the neck at least twice or three times by they could also be worn in a tie or a knot like an artistic “tassel”.

Fashion critics often insist on the way a lariat necklace keeps reinventing its modernity, if we were to speak the truth, there is nothing new in the design. Lariat necklaces have been around ever since people started wearing long string beaded necklaces, either tied in front under the form of a knot or doubled around the neck. The lariat necklace is present for almost all the fashion stages, but it stills fascinates the designer’s imagination, and remains always new by the variety of combinations between the basic materials it is made of.

Delicate and feminine, a lariat necklace is a great way of boasting with some little exquisite diamonds. Such jewels definitely go well for special occasions, most often in the evening since, they require some form of fancy dress one way or another. The presence of the special clasps of the lariat necklace turn it into an adjustable jewelry that can be worn either close around the neck with the rest of the chain hanging down or a lot looser, thus contributing to a casual look.

You can find a lariat necklace advertised at a bargain price, but the figures usually rise way over $1,000, depending on the material the jewel is made of and the features of the stones included in the design. Nevertheless, for casual wear, you can always pick a lariat necklace that basically relies on the charm of gemstones such as agates, aquamarine, crystal quartz and the like. For such jewels, the prices will definitely be somewhere lower than $100, depending on the design complexity and the manufacturing procedure. It goes without saying that a handmade necklace will be more expensive than a series one.

Theresienthal Handcrafted Glasses

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:47:58 +0000

A fresh series of handcrafted crystal glassware created by the artisans of Theresienthal. Delicate hand-blown crystal water glass with weighted bottom receives a delicate ring of lavender and flowering rosette accents. These crystal glass tumblers you will be a match for any of your guests. These delightful items, which come from the Theresienthal crystal glass manufactory, will impress your visitors with their lavish diamond cut and their chequered base, both crafted using historical designs. What is more, the tumblers sparkle in six fascinating colours such as fuchsia, mandarin or aquamarine. The lively tones of colour can be combined with each other in any way you like. The carafe is only available in fuchsia or clear glass.

Everything that leaves Theresienthal manufactory is handcrafted by Theresienthal only. All of the steps in the creation process, from melting the raw materials to coloring the crystal, require an exceptional level of expertise, care and precision, and have a very long history, dating back thousands of years. Every piece is one of a kind and unique down to each detail. Most of Theresienthal’s glassmakers have been working for the company for many years, and even decades. That is how Theresienthal’s secret is kept alive and handed down from generation to generation. Theresienthal‘s crystal sparkles with a very special lustre.

The new collection crafted by designers Peter Kempe and Thomas Kuball is strongly inspired by Theresienthal’s great epochs and creative phases. Rediscovered shapes from the periods of Historicism, Art Nouveau, and New Objectivity are being carefully adapted to a modern sense of style timeless crystal glass design never loses its lustre. Please purchase on online www.etabletop.com

Chinese Snuff Bottles ? Sensations in Glass!

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:38:05 +0000

The first bottles we decided to buy that were not carved out of stone were made of glass. A huge range of glass bottles is to be found in all shapes and colours as well as a variety of manufacturing techniques.

Much more research is needed in order to date these bottles, but it is generally now agreed that glass and metal bottles were the earliest materials to be used. The problem is that glass has been used throughout the whole snuff bottle period right up to the present day.

The Chinese had little use for glass prior to the 17th century mainly because of their highly refined porcelain skills. They had no glass windows, favouring translucent paper. We are not sure if glass had been used centuries earlier in China but it was certainly introduced to them by Europeans in good time for snuff bottles.

Cameo Glass

They considered it as a valuable material and excelled in producing very fine works of art. Sometimes they treated it just like a stone and carved bottles out of a solid piece, otherwise they blew glass into moulds. Creating many unusual bottles ranging from transparent to white as backgrounds for colour overlay work. They were also able to control bubbles and by the addition of white flecks in the glass, colours such as these apt names suggest were created: – Sodden Snow, Camphor, and Snowflakes.

These bottles would then be dipped into bright coloured molten glass which later would be carved away to leave a cameo style of design. Some were dipped more than once to provide more than one coloured layer. Another technique was to apply to different areas of the bottle coloured molten blobs of glass. When these were carved the bottle could have up to as many as eight different colours cameo carved without increasing the number of layers.

Quality Counts

To a connoisseur, the number of colours or layers is not so very important, as it was not such a difficult process and a far softer material to carve than stone. What really should be valued is the quality of the carving and the overall design. Quite often a wonderfully carved and well-designed single colour overlay will be worth far more than a multicolour but poorly finished bottle.

To assess these bottles the colour is a consideration but great attention is paid just as with stone cameo carving, to the quality of the carving and especially to how well the background is finished close to the edge of the overlay. I have selected a ruby red single overlay as a good example to photograph. It shows a coiled `Chih Lung’ or dragon on both sides; also having mythological animal mask and mock ring handles on each shoulder 1750 – 1860. The dragon is a birth sign used rather like our zodiac signs. (See the photograph by clicking on the link at the end of this article).

There is a group of rather special, very finely worked overlay bottles known as the `Seal School’ because they always include a seal with the design. They were made later and date back from the second half of the 19th century.

Although these were made in the same way, the overlay is far more delicately carved and often even the thickness of the overlay is controlled to create shading. They normally used opaque white bottles as the background but some were also worked on other opaque colours. So far, I have never seen any on the clear or snowflake backgrounds. The photograph* shows a fine seal school bottle depicting a pair of cats at play with hovering insects amongst the flowers. On each side there is a bowl of fruit on a table and on the reverse is another scene of a drunken poet asleep in a garden. (*See the photograph by clicking on the link at the end of this article).

Layers of Glass

Apart from these overlay types there are many interesting mottled, swirling and colourful designs as well as the plain colour bottles, both uncarved and carved.

Many of these were quite complex in the way they were made: some were blown into moulds then finished by hand; others involved blowing a clear glass into a mould but then another layer was blown inside the first bottle. This layer was a thin colourful one, sandwiched by yet a third clear layer that was also blown in. When looking down at the neck of one of these bottles you can clearly see these three layers.

A variety of colours were successfully used, together with gold in the creation of snuff bottles. There is no doubt that their advanced knowledge acquired in firing porcelain, and how metallic oxides react, was put to good use in glass.

It has also been suggested that apart from mixing in metals, even small particles of precious gemstones such as Sapphires, Emeralds and Rubies were added to the molten glass.

Particular attention was given to the feel of the finished material, which was achieved by the type of polishing and even the weight was controlled by the addition of lead. With transparent bottles the inside could be controlled and made to appear crazed as these names suggest – Cracked Ice, Fish Net or Sea Spray.

Most of the really fine snuff bottles were made in the Imperial Workshop and other small glass works around Peking.

Stone Imitations

With such expertise the Chinese were able to make astounding imitations of other materials. There are many bottles that look and feel just like Jade, Aquamarine, Agate and other stones. There has been a view in the past that the Chinese made these as fakes with the intention to deceive. I am sure that this was not the case, as it was far too easy to find them out by careful inspection. Under magnification little holes on the surface that could not be polished out and tiny bubbles would be seen proving it must be glass. Lastly, glass unlike the stones can be scratched quite easily by steel.

The Chinese enjoyed making convincing imitations of highly valued minerals as a demonstration of their skill. One other mineral cleverly copied was Realgar with its bright red and yellow swirling colours, impossible to use because of a high arsenic content, so these copies would have caused a lot of intrigue.

Imperial Yellow

I have already mentioned that a wide range of colours was used for glass bottles. Such colours as sapphire blue and ruby red seem to have been the most popular of the earliest ones. However the Emperor Chien-Lung had a favourite colour that he decreed could only be used by the Imperial family and this was an opaque shade of yellow that is now referred to as `Imperial Yellow’.

Not all bottles of this colour really are Imperial as after his death this colour was available to all. A true `Imperial Yellow’ bottle must be one from his period and that can only be confirmed by the quality of the bottle and the carving. The `Imperial Yellow’ bottle pictured is well carved with an archaic design on both sides and is of the period 1736 – 1795. (See the photograph by clicking on the link at the end of this article).

Painted On The Inside

There remains one other area of glass bottles that really amazes everyone, these being the `Inside painted’ bottles. I have only a couple of examples in the collection, as I do not generally favour them as in my view they were never made for use. Once snuff was put into them the picture would not show up well, and the spoon would soon ruin the painting.

I should also explain that they did not restrict inside painting to glass but have applied the same techniques to Crystal and Chalcedony. The vast majority however are in specially designed glass bottles of a uniform shape.

What is remarkable is that through such a tiny hole in the neck they could paint on the inside landscapes, animals, calligraphy and even portraits. In order for the image to show through the glass the painting had to be done in reverse, all such fine details as the eyelashes for example, had to be painted first! All of these bottles are signed by the artist and many, some very attractive ones too, are still being made today.

For our own collection I felt that we should have one or two examples and I was lucky enough to buy the earliest known, dated and signed inside painted bottle by Kan Huan-Wen. He is one of the first well-known artist and highly respected. He has painted inside a rock crystal bottle, a scene of Buddhist Lions with a poem on the reverse. This bottle is signed and dated 1822. (See the photograph by clicking on the link at the end of this article).

Later we acquired another rock crystal example, and these two are the only inside painted bottles that we have. I think that this one is quite remarkable, as the interior space is so limited, it is hard to imagine how such a beautiful painting was achieved on one surface without completely ruining the other.

It originally would have been a rather poorly made double bottle. I do not know if the damaged half that has been removed was done so before it was painted, but I believe that it would have been. This was a very badly hollowed out bottle, of little value, before it was painted.

To my mind it is the fact that it was so poorly hollowed that makes the painting even more amazing! Have a look at the photograph. A continuous scene of fish amongst aquatic plants was painted in red, gold, pink; white, green and grisaille dated 1896 and signed Chu Chan-Yuan. This crystal has a natural flaw in the stone that adds to the under water appeal of this picture. (See the photograph by clicking on the link at the end of this article).

Most of the glass bottles purposely made for inside painting are much larger than this crystal one. Some of the paintings achieved however are hard to believe possible. There are even portraits that are so well done that they just look as good as black and white photographs!

Some Beautiful and Extraordinary Birthstones

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:12:37 +0000

In astrology, birthstones are associated with twelve months of the year with each stone representing different healing powers and mystical properties. Some gemstones are common among modern, traditional and Ayurvedic astrology. Some extraordinary gemstones are also listed under 15th-20th century stones including carnelian, sardonyx, cat’s eye, beryl and chrsolite. In this article we will explore some of the most beautiful and unique gemstones used in jewelry articles and planetary talismans for gemstone healing. This guide will be helpful in choosing a lovely gift for your loved one.

Carnelian is the gemstone of the month August. It is a beautiful orange stone and occurs naturally as a variant of chalcedony. This stone is listed in ancient Arabic, Italian and Hebrew astrology. It sometimes shows the color of flesh and hence the name carnelian derived from caro which means flesh. In ancient times, this stone was believed to bring good luck and good fortune and also had religious connections. You will find carnelian in the popular Indian and vintage jewelry. It is often used to complement other precious gemstones and metals. Carnelian is also used for mental and physical healing in alternative medicine.

Cat’s eye is one of the most beautiful alternative birthstones which is also known as tiger eye and comes in black color with yellow and golden stripes. This stone is known to mitigate the evil effect of certain objects. It is used as a healing stone in Hindu astrology and has many unique qualities which make it an extraordinary gemstone. It is a heavy stone and shines in the dark just like a cat’s eye. It is also used as one of the nine gems in navaratna or planetary talisman, in which it is given the name ‘ketu’ or the descending lunar node.

Beryl is one of the alternative birthstones of October. It comes in a variety of colors and each color is given a different name. The green beryl is commonly known as emerald which is very popular in jewelry making. Aquamarine, peach beryl, heliodor, blue beryl and morganite are also very beautiful and lovely stones. Emerald represents loyalty and commitment. It is widely used in engagement rings to express pure love and devotion. Emerald is also connected with religion and has many mystical powers associated with it.

Heliodor is also known as the mother of gemstones and is a gorgeous yellow stone. Morganite is commonly known as pink emerald and it comes in a soft and lovely pink color. It is a rare gemstone and therefore used for making expensive and one-of-a-kind jewelry articles. Peach beryl is the orange pink variety of morganite and is equally beautiful and extraordinary. Blue beryl resembles tanzanite and is known to bring tranquility and harmony.

Among traditional birthstones, peridot, blue zircon and white spinel are gorgeous and unique. Peridot is the gemstone of August, while blue zircon and white spinel are associated with December and April respectively. All these lovely gemstones are used in modern jewelry designs and are regarded as powerful and mystical stones.