|
|
Gemstones
Most of the gemstones we use are natural shaped,
polished, non-cut.
Agate: dark green opaque.
Amber: yellow-orange clear.
Amethyst: light violet, clear.
Apatite: blue/turquoise clear.
Aquamarine: light blue clear.
Aventurine: green opaque.
Carneole: orange opaque.
Citrine: yellow clear or opaque.
opaque=not clear
Fluorite: different pastel colors as yellow, green, blue, violet.
Garnet: dark red opaque.
Howlite: red as blood, opaque.
Iolite: gray-violet, clear.
Labradorite: light gray with a touch of blue.
Lapis lazuli: deep blue opaque.
Onyx: black opaque.
Peridot: green clear.
Rock-crystal: clear as glass.
Rose quartz: pink opaque.
Smoky quartz: clear gray.
Topaz: light blue clear.
Tourmaline: different colors pink and green, clear and opaque.
Tourmaline quartz: gray opaque.
|
|
|
Pearls
We use freshwater pearls, which are cultured in China. They
are colored by special laser-techniques. Cultured pearls result from a
small irritant (usually a natural shell bead) implanted into living
oysters or mussels.
The oysters or mussels secrete a substance called
"nacre" which bonds to the irritant the resulting layers of
nacre form the pearls.
inside
of a 9 mm black pearl
with a
small irritant in the center.
As
cultured pearls are organic
gemstones formed by nature, no two pearls are exactly alike. For a beaded
pearl necklace it is important to use pearls which look alike as much as
possible. For our design jewelry we prefer naturally
shaped pearls which are good matching but not necessarily
round and not
exactly alike.
A variety of
factors go into determining the price of pearl jewelry.
Some
characteristics that determine cultured pearl costs are:
Luster:
Luster is the glow of the pearl and its brilliance to the human eye. The
longer the pearl is left in the oyster to grow its nacre casing the higher
the luster.
Surface condition:
The fewer the natural markings or spots on the pearl’s visible surface,
the more expensive the pearl.
Shape:
The more spherical (rounder) and symmetrical the pearl the more valuable
it will be. Baroque pearls (any unusually shaped and asymmetrical pearl)
can be very attractive and are usually less expensive than round pearls.
Color:
Pearls are available in a rainbow of colors, for example, pinkish (often
called rose), silvery white, greenish white, creamy, golden, gray, cognac
and black. Color enhancement is considered the norm for both colored and
white base pearls. Color consistency effects value; however, current
fashion trends and color demand conditions also effect pearl prices.
Size:
Pearl diameter is measured in millimeters. Generally, the larger the pearl,
the more rare it is and the more valuable.
Matching:
For pearl necklaces the overall look is very important, regardless of the
quality of the individual pearls. The more uniform and aesthetically
pleasing two or more pearls look together the more time was spent matching
the pearls. This time to match pearls is reflected in the cost.
Rarity:
Because pearls are not cut or polished when removed from the oyster or
mussel, certain sizes, qualities and colors may from time to time be in
scarce supply. Overall health of pearl growing oysters and mussels effect
pearl size and quality availability.
|