I know what you are thinking now... What IS a cabochon and why would someone be crazy about them? [tweet_dis_img][/tweet_dis_img]Here's the simple answer to both those questions. A cabochon is a gemstone that is highly polished, raised and rounded but not faceted. It features a flat bottom. The word is derived from the middle French 'caboche' meaning head. Now for the other … [Read more...]
Vibrant Malachite: Legends and Fascinating Tidbits
Malachite is the rich deep green gemstone that is often seen in Southwestern Designs. It is always found mined with copper.... which is why you often find malachite settings in copper. The two are just meant for each other. Malachite is derived from the Greek malakos, meaning soft. This gemstone is one of the softer stones so it needs to be set into pieces that won't … [Read more...]
Jade: A treasure through the Ages
[tweet_dis_img][/tweet_dis_img]Throughout recorded history, Jade has been the most highly esteemed stone in China. It is valued for it's beauty, strength and powers of healing. First of all there are two different minerals that we call jade. One is Jadeite. It is found mainly in Burma. It is more rare than it's counterpart, Nephrite. Imperial Jade is a translucent emerald … [Read more...]
Hematite Gemstones; Gorgeous but NOT Magnetic
Yes that's right. Contrary to popular belief, hematite is metallic but NOT magnetic. However, many specimens contain enough magnetite to be considered such. What is so special about Hematite?? A lot! Hematite is a dense material with over 70% iron content. it's metallic luster when polished is beyond beautiful Many suggest that this gem will stimulate our … [Read more...]
What’s so Special about Peruvian Opal?
and the Answer is... everything! For starters this vibrant blue/green gem is the national stone of Peru. I just love knowing that these gems are only found in the Andes mountains. How amazing is that? This rare stone can be as clear as the color of the Caribbean sea. Or it may feature some darker inclusions as you can see in the stones shown here. One single specimen of … [Read more...]
