JEWELCAT ARTICLE ARCHIVE

AUGUST 2006 ~ VACATION MONTH

Instead of reading about rocks this month ~ go a'treasure-huntin'! Head to the beach for some shells or beautiful quartz rocks... head to the mountains for some incredible sites in Agate stones ~ or even Amethyst (also Quartz) if you're in the Pacific Northwest USA region! Travel to Colorado and explore the many shops with gorgeous geodes (rocks with crystal structures naturally occurring inside.) Have an adventure; have fun! Happy Summer, everyone! Sincerely, -JC

JULY 2006 GEMSTONE ARTICLE

This month's topic is a departure from the often focal topic of birthstones upcoming...

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the term "Bi-Color Tourmaline" and "Watermelon Tourmaline", so I thought I would try to briefly shed a little light on the subject.

So many folks out there call any Tourmaline with two colors in a single stone, "Watermelon" if the two colors are Pink and Green. This is not necessarily accurate. It's true that Watermelon Tourmaline is Pink and Green, but that is not the only defining characteristic. It also must have a green/brown rind or actual stone border in green, around part or all of the edge of the stone... with a pink or peachy color core, or inner portion of the stone. Technically, the classification "Watermelon Tourmaline" applies to both color and form.

There are times, however, when folks use the term "Watermelon" to define the colors within a gemstone or bead... it's not technically correct, but it is visually correct on the basis of color. A better classification for such gemstones would be Bi-Color as Bi-Color gemstones can have two colors combined in the same gemstone. So a Watermelon Tourmaline with its rind and core colors in place naturally, is also a Bi-Color gemstone. But there can be other Bi-Color gemstones, Tourmaline among them, that are not classified "Watermelon". Clear as mud?

It's simply important to know what you're buying... a true Watermelon Tourmaline gemstone is worth far more than a simple Bi-Color properties in a Tourmaline gem alone, because it's not just color, it's also composition... and when it's naturally occurring, it drives the actual value and collectibility through the roof! The scope on this conversation about Bi-Color gemstone value pertains to Tourmaline only, as Bi-Color Sapphires and Chrysoberyl as with Color-Change Alexandrite, can be incredibly collectible, rare and of course, expensive!

As with anything, if you like the gemstone, buy it... no matter if it's labeled Bi-Color, Watermelon, or both. But just knowing the correct terms may assist in the buying process ~ knowing when to pay the price, and when the price tag is too high for stone you are considering. Watermelon Tourmaline is a great gemstone for Summer, for most obvious reasons... it looks like Watermelon which is a beloved Summer treat. It's colorful, and it goes with so many different color schemes. Not to mention it's something that not everyone has, so step out from the crowd a little with a gemstone that charms with its color and its lesser known form.

Till next time... try to stay cool out there! -JC

JUNE 2006

They say there's a sucker born every minute. It's also been said that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

But there's an exception in the gemstone world that we love to call Feldspars! It seems too good to be true that they light up from within ~ displaying gorgeous colors and interesting patterns within each gem on such a unique and eclectic basis, all naturally! But how does this form of fairly common Feldspar turn the world on its ear with color that takes our breath away? (Get ready for a little gem geek speak here... but just a little, I promise!)

There are several kinds of Feldspar stones that are most popular in the gemstone marketplace, including Rainbow Moonstone, Labradorite, and Sunstone. All have similar properties, but each has their own distinct brand of inner sheen. Rainbow Moonstone is often credited with a sheen coming out of the stone in colors such as green, yellow, blue, purple, and often a full rainbow... this is called "adularescence". I have heard this be compared to the psychedelic color combinations of oil and water. It is the result of light refracting off of tiny "plates" or inclusions and chemical combinations in the gemstone, that actually give it the character and beauty we all know and love. A similar effect is true in Labradorite, which is a sister to Moonstone in the Feldspar family... the sheen in Labradorite, however, has been given its own name which is "labradorescence".

Sunstone is truly fascinating as well... a neighboring Feldspar to both Moonstone and Labradorite, Sunstone is gaining in popularity like crazy! Illusion Sunstone has adularescence and labradorescence, both. While Indian Sunstone mainly shows off beautiful labradorescence only. Oregon Sunstone is known for its copper color ordinarily, and doesn't have an inner sheen... though there are some rough cuts coming from Oregon that possess some of the sheen as well.

This is a sickeningly short overview of the fascinating world of feldspar gemstones... there are chemical nuances in these rocks that I find totally amazing, but I don't want to bore you to tears... (a few of you gals mocked me for putting in the chemical structure of Garnet in December, so I'll spare y'all this time ~ wink, wink!)

Let's just say that if you want sparkle, go faceted gems, but if you want a glow from within? Go with Feldspar Cabochons, in the form of Moonstone, Labradorite, or Sunstone for those lovers of warmer colors! You can't go wrong! Oh, and did I mention that this month's modern Birthstone is MOONSTONE? Gotta love it!

I hope you're out there enjoying the Summer Weather... -JC

MAY 2006

Emeralds ~ you gotta know by now, that I absolutely love 'em! Aquamarine Beryl already comandeered the March Gem Article, and I have spoken out in the JC Notes about Emerald being harder than some marshmallows, therefore great for jewelry. ;-)

The green form of the gemstone family Beryl, Emeralds were a favorite of Egyptian Royalty, namely Cleopatra. She was an avid collector of these fine gems, and many royal treasuries around the world hoard this gemstone, and prize the Emerald above so many others.

Currently mostly mined in Colombia, Brazil, Africa and India, it is becoming difficult to find Emerald in any kind of good clarity, as a part of this Green Beryl's nature is the inclusion. Good thing that an Emerald is more valued for its vivid green color. That brings us to our gemstone moment here, for May...

When choosing an Emerald, color is of the utmost importance! You are looking for a gemstone that has NOT been dyed or heated for color. There are gems where this is acceptable practice, but Emerald is NOT one of them! Oil is often used to condition Emerald as is often done with Boulder Opals as well... to prevent chipping and drying out ~ which can cause breakage and undue wear on the gemstone. Often the oils applied to Emerald are for the stone's protection, and do not contain any color ~ this is an accepted practice within the gemstone industry... as long as the Oil does not contain any color, it is still considered a natural, untreated Emerald. The second they add color or other finishing agents to that moisturizing oil treatment, it's no longer considered "untreated". Also beware of vendors selling look-alike stones like Jade or Aventurine as genuine Emerald... they are the gemstone equivalent of "snake oil salesmen" and should be avoided.

Emerald can be beautiful in any cut, whether cabochon or faceted... and even in the rough form before polish, Emerald has a distinctive rich color that is not to be missed! Try some Emerald from our eBay Store... and start your collection... you'll be glad you did. It may be the gemstone for the month of May, but its gorgeous green color is "in-season" and in fashion year-round. Happy May, Everybody! Until next time... -JC

APRIL 2006

Let's talk trash for a minute. Every Spring, it's the same thing. Folks ask about alternative birthstones for April, because April's traditional and modern birthstone listing is Diamond ~ and that scares people off. Pricing on those little sparklers in any kind of quality can range higher than one might want to think for a birthstone item. Or is it?

The reality is that while Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite are very popular stand-in's for those diamond babies out there, there's a time and place for real diamond; I would say a birthstone piece is one of those times. As Moissanite gains popularity in lofty gem circles, and CZ distributors get better and better at marketing their products, it may seem like there's no real reason to go with Diamond any more.

Let's look at a little folklore to ease our minds on this point, as the Diamond has a beautiful history. The diamond has been associated with success, fortune and long life; it has also been associated with happy marriages and eternal love. Many of the famous and most costly diamonds have been found in the area now known as India. Traded as early as four centuries before the birth of Christ Diamonds were desired for their beauty, but they were also collected for what many cultures considered "magical powers".

When Diamonds entered as prominent decoration in the Roman Empire their popularity was fixed, which enhanced their mystic and value as the gemstone of the elite. Arabian and Persian traders brought diamonds into China where they were used as jade-cutting and pearl-drilling tools. Diamond is still used today in many drill tools for gemstone refining and cutting processes, as of course diamond is known as the ultimate hard, unbreakable gemstone resource.

In some Eastern Cultures, Diamond was ground to a fine powder and swallowed, which was said to insure good health and long life. For these medicinal purposes, only the finest whitest diamonds were used, as they were considered "pure".

Plato, the Greek philosopher, believed in life among gems and rated diamond as the most noble of gemstones, as did other figures in history. This can be evidenced in many royal treasures from around that world that incorporate this regal gem in their timeless designs.

And perhaps the most interesting fact about diamonds is the most basic: Diamonds are pure carbon ~ and carbon is an essental element for all life forms.

The truth about Diamond and Moissanite and Cubic Zirconia (Oh My!) is what it is. Diamonds are steeped in tradition, an amazing natural heritage, and is considered the King of Gemstones. Moissanite has other charms similar yet distinct from Diamonds, and Cubic Zirconia is simply a substitute for the first two... much like a medicinal placebo. It depends on what you are looking for:

~ If you are buying a piece to be a signature piece to wear and enjoy for a lifetime, which may be passed to future generations as heirloom? Perhaps it would be a good idea to seek out a lovely loose Diamond, and have it fashioned into a piece custom made for you, in your particular style choice.

~If it's something you want for sparkle, and something that still retains some value, Moissanite is a good stand-in for diamond. Again, it has charms of its own, but is also somewhat pricey.

~As far as CZ is concerned, its value is short-lived and has a place at proms, cocktail parties and in candlelight for a little sparkle... but it has little lasting value.

So where's the real trash in all of this talk about Diamonds and choices for those April babies? The only trash would be if you purchased something you really don't want, in order to save a few bucks. Save your money; get what you really want the first time by doing your homework about your birthstone, and enjoy the fruits of what you find, in the long-run!

If you have questions I can help with, let me know. Until next time... -JC

MARCH 2006

Many may already know that the Aquamarine is the Modern Birthstone for the month of March. It is also fairly common knowledge that the Aquamarine is in the Beryl family of gemstones along with Morganite (Pink Beryl), Emerald (Green Beryl) and Bixbite (Red Beryl) and Goshenite (White/Colorless Beryl). Aquamarine's hardness is generally on the Moh's Scale for hardness, at 7.5 - 8 range ~ many claim that this is soft, but this is a nice middle range hardness to work with in setting. Aquamarine is mined (75 - 80% of all rough) from Brazil in the region of Teofilo Otoni in the western part of Minas Gerais, but is also found in the U.S. (Maine, California, Idaho, etc.), Madagascar, Pakistan, China and in other areas around the world.

Aside from the trivia lesson that can be learned from just about any website on the net, many people just want to know the best way to clean their Aquamarine jewelry without damaging it. Many have turned to the ultrasonic jewelry cleaners, and then there are those harsh chemicals to blow the tarnish right off the metals and eat the crud off of their gemstones. Some of it's pretty scary stuff to be honest, no matter what the sales force may tell you. Ultrasonic is okay for some gemstones, and is wonderful for precious metals in most cases, but not for Aquamarine.

One of the best ways to clean Aquamarine is just by using an ionic cleaner, but if you want something that doesn't require research, shopping, and quite a bit of money out of pocket? Here's something better. Luke-warm, soapy water and a very soft brush (not a coarse toothbrush!). Or even a wash cloth will work. Just clean gently, and with a little time, your gemstone will be good as new. Cabochons are the easiest to clean of course, and those may just require a little polishing to shine them up. Hydrofluoric Acid is the one thing that will eat through your Aquamarine and attack the very makeup of the gemstone.

Aquamarine is a gorgeous gemstone, steeped in History. Aquamarine-encrusted artwork showing Poseidon in a chariot has historically been used in nautical circles to render sailors fearless, and the early Christian Church believed that wearing Aquamarine symbolized control of passions and moderation in daily life. Today? Even more folk lore has been assigned to the gemstone, and each culture has its own history with the stone. But the truth is, many wear it for its instrinsic beauty and mild-mannered color pallette.

I have been asked to conjecture on untreated vs. heat treated gemstones when it comes to Aquamarine, as well ~ so here it is. Aquamarine is found very RARELY in the mild blue/green (aqua) colors in which we are accustomed to seeing the gem. Most of the time nowadays, a permanent heat treatment is applied to nearly internally flawless green or yellowish Beryl in order to achieve the Aquamarine color ~ and then sold as natural or in cases of reputable sellers, it is disclosed as natural/heat-treated gemstone. Some Cabochon stones are actually natural/untreated color, but the cabochon gemstones are mostly included (I Clarity Rating), not internally near flawless/flawless(VS/VVS/IF Clarity Ratings). Also know that some less than reputable gem dealers sell colored Quartz in the place of Beryl as "Aquamarine". That happens a lot with online auction sites, so if you see a deal on Beryl that's too good to be true, it probably is.

When we sell "natural Aquamarine" at JewelCat, we mean natural/untreated. If the Aquamarine has been heat-treated, or treated in some other way, we will disclose those treatments as is the case with all reputable gem dealers, jewelers and jewelry artists.

Basically, Aquamarine has year-around appeal, and it goes with just about anything. It's a beautiful stone, included or internally flawless, and its charms appear to be timeless as History is filled with folk lore heralding this gemstone's virtue. It's the gemstone for March and the 19th Wedding Anniversary ~ or for anytime you feel like it. LOL! Great chatting with you again... -J

FEBRUARY 2006

It shocks some people to know that Amethyst is really in the Quartz family ~ and while many Amethyst stones are found in places like Africa or in South American locations like Brazil, the Amethyst has always been an American Native stone as well. Most people think of Amethyst as a semi-precious gemstone (which it is) rather than a common rock that you could find in the hills or on the ground (and it is that also). Quartz is one of the most common "gemstone" rocks on the continental land masses on Earth.

Technically, rock types of Granite and Basalt are the most common rock forms on Earth's continental land masses. A great example of Granite (igneous rock) is Mount Rushmore, as well as pretty much through most of the U.S. Rocky Mountain Range. An example of Basalt would be generally liquified and would flow up through the Earth's crust in a volcanic eruption, then cool and set as stone. They call Basalt the "blood of the earth", because of its generally liquid, closer to the core of the Earth function. Granite is more of the rock we get to see, walking around up here on the Earth's crust. And there's so much to see!

For fun, you can find treasure hunting books from any book dealer that talk about vacations you can take to scour the hills for native gems right here in the good ol' USA as a matter of fact. A few States you might want to treasure-hunt for gemstones first? Arizona, Colorado, Washington, and California. Each one of those places will have a treasure trove of excellent finds and in many cases, tour guides and excursion companies to teach you all about the rock formations you are seeing. And this gem hunter's favorite secret spot? Oregon.

No matter if a stone is common like Amethyst, or incredibly rare like the Natural Padparadscha Sapphire, gemstones are a reminder of the color and beauty God created ~ and how truly blessed we are to be on this planet to explore and learn about Him. Here's hoping that you get to have an adventure this year... Happy Hunting! -JewelCat

JANUARY 2006

"GOLDSTONE" is a commonly sold stone on many ecommerce sites, including Ruby Lane, eBay, and many vendors don't even know what it is. They sell it, it sparkles, that's enough for them. But let's clear up the mystery behind this stone... Goldstone now comes in Blue, Black, Purple, Green and the original orange/brown, which was actually a result of a mining operation mistake. Let's just say they had a bad day at the mill and some equipment was lost in the shuffle, along with some lives if I remember the story correctly. There was this sparkly dust everywhere which was from copper in the machinery that had exploded in the milling accident, and with a little innovation a new "gemstone" was born.

Many argue that Goldstone is a bonified gemstone, standing next to natural wonders like Amethyst (in the Quartz family)... but still others say, "Man touched it ~ it's no gemstone."

Goldstone was originally a medium brown/orange color with tiny glitter, which is actually tiny copper chips imbedded in a glass stone base. Now, many times the glass stone base is NATURAL glass, such as Aventurine or Obsidian. Most of the time, however, additives are mixed in, and only remnants of the natural glass remain, becoming a man-made product more than any kind of gemstone.

Some of you have asked me what I think ~ to tell you the truth, it doesn't matter what I think. The question is, do you like it? Is it something you want to wear and enjoy and give as a gift? That's what is important...

"Yes," some folks have persisted with me, "but do YOU own any in your collection?"

Why, yes I do, as a matter of fact. ;-)

Thanks for your interest... until next time, happy trails! -JewelCat247

DECEMBER 2005

We had item with Ruby, Sapphire & Garnet in it here during the Christmas season, which is now sold out, but available for backorder should anyone be interested. ;-) When looking at the photo, some of my buyers said, "Red for Ruby ~ check. Blue for Sapphire ~ check. ORANGE FOR GARNET? What?"

There are many forms of the semi-precious gemstone that we commonly lump into one category called "Garnet". The Garnet most people think of is the "Mozambique Garnet" with it's dark amber,rusty-red color combination. In my book, the Mozambique is nice, but it's just not the only option when Garnet is your birthstone! There are two major groups within the Garnet "family". the Pyralspites with a main ingredient of aluminum(i.e. Spessartite Mn3Al2(SiO4)3 ) and Ugrandites with a main ingredient of calcium (i.e. Grossular Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 more commonly known as "Rhodolite".) So what?... Spessartite is Pyralspite, ... What distinguishes Spessartite Garnet from other garnets in the same group? Glad you asked. Ha ha...

Generally color in a gemstone, when occurring naturally, is derived from a singular element or chemical compound being present or absent from the stone. Spessartite Garnet gains its orange color from Manganese... if it doesn't have the Manganese, it's not Spessartite ~ period. Adding iron in the mix would create a darker, more orange-red tone in the Spessartite, and there are further variations in structure from there.

These garnets in all of their various colors are mined around the world, from Nigeria to California USA to NW Bavaria (Germany)!

Hopefully I haven't bored you to tears, but you are happy to have learned that Garnets are not just limited to a dark rust color, but can be many varied hues of pink/purple, purple, variations of red, red-orange, and bright orange like the Spessartite!

And this knowledge comes to you just in time... as January is right around the corner, and guess what January's birthstone is? Thanks for reading. until next time, happy trails! -J

More fun facts for you, in case you were curious...


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