Jewelrybyheart2heart

Jade

2011-07-10T13:56:00.000-04:00

Jade has been treasured for thousands of years and has a great significance culturally. The stone is considered pure and enduring to help a person with their spiritual aspirations as well as sensuous and luxurious to help with remaining down to earth. We use the term “jade” but this is really a generic term for two distinct minerals which are nephrite and jadeite. These two minerals look similar and feel similar but because they have separate chemical compositions they are really classified as separate species.

Jadeite

Color is jadeite’s most important value. We usually associate it with green but it also comes in lavender, red, orange, yellow, brown, white, white, black and gray. The most desirable color is a specific shade of green referred to as Imperial Jade. Imperial has a very pure and vivid color and will look very intense even from a distance. Imperial green jadeite is very rare. Lavender is the second most valuable color. In order to be more valuable it needs to have a very saturated color. If a lavender is pale , or if they have blue in them has a lower value. We are also starting to see more black jadeite on the market. In Jadeite no matter what color it needs to be evenly distributed and uniform to be more valuable. As far as the transparency of the stone goes it can range from completely opaque to a semitransparent. We rate the best transparency in jadeite as semitransparent. The finest quality jadeite is usually cut into cabochons to be used in rings. Jadeite as all stones have treatments both those that have been around for a long time and are accepted and some that have caused a great deal of concern. Jadeite has three different types depending on the treatment. Type A is done by dipping the piece into melted wax after it is cut and polished to improve luster and to fill surface imperfections. This is a very traditional treatment and is extremely common and does not affect value. Since the mid 1970’s there has been a treatment where jadeite is soaked in hot acid for long periods of times to leach out any undesirable colors. This does compromise the durability as it can become brittle. In order to improve the luster of this treatment it is then filled with paraffin wax which makes it more attractive. This type of jade ite is referred to as Type B. This treatment should be disclosed to the consumer. The final type of jadeite type C often is type B that has been dyed. The problem is that these colors often fade, so knowing this makes it easier when buying a piece to negotiate a fair price.

Nephrite

Nephrite is a less expensive than Jadeite as nephrite is not as rare. One of the factors in a gemstones value is its rareness. Also you do not see the same color green as with jadeite and that will reduce the pricing as well. Nephrite also comes in many colors, yellow, red, brown, white, gray, black and sometimes blue. It has lovely colors and a great toughness so it is wonderful for carvings. Nephrite carvings were once reserved for royalty. Nephrite is really an excellent price alternative for jadeite. You should look at the other quality factors the same way you do Jadeite. Although many carvers will work with the uneven colors to add to the value of their piece by using it in their design.

Rubies

2010-12-06T11:01:00.000-05:00

Ruby is one of the most significant of the colored stones. We find that they are mentioned in the bible and associated with beauty and wisdom. In the Sanskrit language ruby is called ranaraj which is King of the precious stones. Ruby is from the gem species corundum. Ruby is the most valuable of the corundum and they get the highest price per carat of any colored stone on the market. Rubies are also very popular and much of that is due to their hardness. Ruby rates 9 on the Mohs scale. Because of this rubies are perfect for frequently warn jewelry.

Color- Color is the factor that most affects a rubies value. The color of a ruby ranges from orangy red to purplish red. The best rubies have a vibrant, pure red to slightly purplish red. Medium to medium-dark tones are the most preferred as long they don’t get dark enough to have a negative effect on the brilliance. The opposite is if a stone has too light of a tone it becomes a pink sapphire.

There are many trade terms used to describe rubies. The problem is that these terms can be misleading as to the origin of the stone. It is very difficult to tell the origin of a stone. When you hear the term Burmese ruby it refers to rubies from what is now Myanmar. The term Burmese color has been used to describe the finest-quality stones no matter what the origin of the stone is. These rubies will have a red to slightly purplish color.

It is rare to find fine quality rubies that are over one carat and rare. You can find commercial quality rubies in these sizes . Almost all rubies today are heat-treated. This is done to help develop the color or even intensify it. Sometimes it can help the clarity by removing or making the inclusions look less visible. The jewelry trade accepts that heat treatments to enhance the color of a ruby. You should assume that a ruby is heat-treated unless you have evident that it has not been.

Colored stone inclusions continued again

2010-10-08T12:27:00.000-04:00

Needle- A long thin inclusion that can be solid crystal or hollow tube and it might be filled with liquid or gas.

Silk-Groups of fine needle inclusions. This type of inclusion can create very attractive stones. An example of this is a star stones and cats eye stones.

Fingerprint- This type of inclusions is exactly as its name sounds. It forms a pattern that often resembles a fingerprint. Also they are like a fingerprint in that no two are ever the same. They are actually a partially healed fracture plane. Droplets of fluid were trapped in the crystal before it stopped growing.

Feather-This is the general term for a break in a stone. The term includes any separation or break in a stone. It includes cleavages, parting and fractures if they have not been healed by the natural process. This can be a serious inclusion as it can affect the durability of the stone. If the feather is large this really becomes an issue.

Colored Stones Inclusons continued

2010-10-04T16:31:00.000-04:00

Included crystal-A mineral crystal that is trapped within a gem while it is growing. This crystal can be the same crystal as the gem it is trapped inside. It can also be many shapes such as angular or rounded. It can also be different colors, light, dark, transparent or opaque.

Negative Crystal- This is a space that might have liquid, gas or both inside a gemstone. It resembles a mineral inclusion but does not have the mineral. You see these in the beryl gemstone like an emerald.

Gemstone Quality

2010-09-15T18:27:00.002-04:00

Blemishes- these are irregularities or clarity characteristics that are on the surface of a polished gemstone.

Inclusions-Inclusions are clarity characteristics that are inside a gemstone. They can reach to the surface of the stone.

Linda
http://www.jewelerybyheart2heart.com/

Marketablity of Gemstones

2010-09-11T16:24:00.000-04:00

Are you starting to shop for the holidays. Stay tuned for a series of articles about gemstones

There are five factors that affect the marketability of a gemstone

Nature,

Size

Number

Position

Relief

The first thing you should consider is the nature of the inclusion. Think about how much the particular inclusion will affect or even threaten the stones durability. A large feather in a soft stone is much more important than a fingerprint in a hard stone. Next you want to think about size. A large single inclusion is often more important than if a stone had many small inclusions. The number of inclusions is important but may not always be negative. However, in large numbers small inclusions can reduce clarity, reduce brilliance and therefore reduce value. The position of the inclusions within a gem matter as well. Brilliant cuts will conceal inclusions better than step cuts. Also inclusions are easier to see under the table face than under a crown facet. The last thing to think of is relief and this is an important one. It is how noticeable the inclusion is against the color of the gemstone. An inclusion where the color is a contrast or darker than the gem is going to be more visible than one that is large but colorless. If the inclusion is very noticeable in the gemstone it can lower the value of the stone considerably.

Namaste,
Linda
http://www.jewelrybyheart2heart.com/

Energizing your First Chakra

2010-09-10T18:15:00.000-04:00

If you need to reenergize your base chakra you can try some of the following:

Take a warm bath.

Get a massage or have an aromatherapy treatment.

Go out into nature; touch a tree and feel a connection to the earth.

It is possible to have excessive base chakra emotional energy and you can try the following suggestions if you want to rid yourself of some of this energy:

Describe your strong feelings by writing them down. Don’t judge yourself; just write. When it is done, destroy the writing.

Try running, drumming or even dancing to music that has a strong rhythm. This will keep your energies flowing in your body while releasing the excess energy to relieve tension and anxiety.

Namaste,
Linda
http://www.jewelrybyheart2heart.com/

Art Show

2010-09-09T11:33:00.000-04:00

I just had the opening of my second solo Art Show. Doing a solo art show really tests how much art an artist can make and making art that works together as a cohesive show. Last year I did a show based on spiritual jewelry which is what I do . This year I collaborated with two fellow artists who do photography to do a garden themed show. All the jewelry was related to a garden or color as we did bring in the spiritual side of colors. I was very lucky and received a write up in today's local paper about the show. Online it doesn't show a picture but they used the piece above and below is the link to the article.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/2010/sep/09/w-gall09-ar-495863/

Color of the First Chakra

2010-09-06T12:04:00.000-04:00

The color red is associated with the root chakra and taking a moment to focus on an everyday red object, such as a flower, will help to keep this chakra in tune. We can also use red crystals or gemstones, such as rubies and garnets, to work with the root chakra.

First chakra continued

2010-09-04T15:43:00.000-04:00

Chakras are more than just physical connections, however.

The first chakra connects the spirit with the physical world. To find a spiritual balance in the root chakra, focus on connecting your body and soul with the earth. Begin by grounding yourself by standing tall with your eyes closed. Imagine roots growing from your feet and into the earth, grounding you with the land below you. Meditate quietly on being grounded while you visualize yourself becoming one with the earth.

First Chakra continued

2010-08-27T08:17:00.000-04:00

Located at the base of the spine, the Muladhara, also known as the root or base chakra, helps us relate to life force energy and helps to ground us. “Muladhara” actually means “foundation,” which really tells a lot about this chakra.

This chakra is linked to survival instincts. When our energy flows easily through our first chakra, we feel that we can meet all our needs without worry. When it is blocked, we will start to worry and feel anxious.

The base chakra is what starts us on any new venture and motivation happens because of our base chakra. You will often hear the first chakra referred to as the “tribal chakra,” as it also relates to how we deal with our family or our “tribe.”

The root chakra governs the spinal column, kidneys, feet, legs and immune system, so a blocked chakra can cause physical problems in these areas. Exercises such as power squats and the yoga position known as "bridge" can help to keep the first chakra open and balanced. The warrior position is also very good for stabilizing your base chakra.

First Chakra

2010-08-20T08:24:00.000-04:00

Sanskrit Name: Muladhara

Location: Base of Spine

Color: Red

Mantra-LAM

Located at the base of the spine, the Muladhara, also known as the root or base chakra, helps us relate to life force energy and helps to ground us. Muladhara actually means foundation which really tells a lot about this chakra. This chakra is linked to survival instincts. When our energy flows easily through our first chakra we feel that we can meet all our needs without worry. When it is blocked we will start to worry and feel anxious. The base chakra is what starts us on any new venture and motivation happens because of our base chakra. You will often hear the first chakra referred to as the tribal chakra as it also relates to how we deal with our family or our “tribe.”

More on Meditation

2010-08-15T10:17:00.000-04:00

In Buddhism, meditation is often enhanced by meditation or singing bowls. As the name suggests, these instruments are bowls that produce a clear vibrant tone when played. The soft, continuous singing sound is produced by rubbing a mallet around the rim, much the same way a crystal goblet can be made to ring by rubbing a finger around its mouth.

The mallet can also be used to gently strike the side of the bowl to produce a ringing like that of a bell.

Meditation Continued

2010-08-11T19:39:00.000-04:00

Meditation has other benefits. It is almost impossible to fully focus on two things at once and a mind that is completely absorbed in the feeling of each breathe, or in the vibrations of a chant cannot also be focused on its own troubles or unhappiness.

Meditation will not fix the cause of our problems but it can help us to adjust our own attitudes and responses. As Sri Swami Venkatesananda said, “A problem that is forgotten does not exist, unhappiness that is forgotten is happiness. It can come back again, but never mind.” A person who is unhappy all day but who takes 20 minutes to meditate and clear his mind will find that for those 20 minutes at least, his unhappiness is gone. “That is marvelous; the unhappiness was a mental state, nothing more than a mood.”

Meditation

2010-08-09T14:26:00.000-04:00

Meditation

Meditation is the millennia-old practice of calming the mind through prayer, chanting, focused breathing or other means. Every religion has its own form of meditation---Catholics recite the rosary, Muslims pray toward the east five times each day and Hindus chant the word “om.” While the ways and means are different, the goal is the same – to relax and free the mind, opening our consciousness and bringing us closer to the divine.

Birthstones

2010-07-13T07:30:00.002-04:00

January-Garnet

February-Amethyst

March-Aquamarine

April-Diamond

May-Emerald

June-Pearl or Alexandrite

July-Ruby

August-Peridot

September-Sapphire

October-Opal

November-Topaz or Citrine

December-Blue Zircon or Blue Topaz

Balance and the Chakras

2010-06-16T19:03:00.000-04:00

Word circle made of pure silver from Jewelry by Heart2Heart

I feel very strongly that our life is all about energy. Have you ever walked in a room and you could feel something wasn’t right? Your boss calls and tells everyone to be there in the morning for a meeting. Everyone is gathered not sure, but worried. The room feels of worry. That is energy. The same goes for a baby’s first birthday party. Everyone is smiling and happy. People are laughing. If you walked in that room you would feel a joyful energy. Life is made up of energy. Chakras are energy. Energy is moved from the earth into our chakras. Like a plant that absorbs sunlight or water. It goes to the roots and then spreads the water and light through its limbs. This is what the energies of our chakras do. We all have chakras and they all are spinning. They are operating as a flow of energy. One of the things that I have most learned while studying the chakras is that I must have balance in my life. The Tree Posture in yoga is wonderful for helping with balance. To do this you will stand on both feet. Ground yourself and feel the earth. Wiggle your toes and have equal weight on your heels. Lift one leg up and either rest it on your ankle or above your knee (just never on the knee). I often put my hands in a prayer position in front but you can raise them over your head. At first you will wobble. Eventually your body will figure out what it needs to do to keep your tree from being windy. We need to be balanced in other aspects of our life. We need to let our mind and emotions figure out what they need to do to be in balance. We need to look at our reactions to things and decide if they are coming from a place of balance or imbalance. Are you simply reacting to something, or coming to the decision from a place from balance.

2010-06-06T18:11:00.000-04:00

Last night I attended an event for Alzheimers to raise money sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, National Capital Area Chapter in Virginia.

This group put on a truly wonderful event. My friend Tara invited me to go with her as she had been invited as a special guest. It was a wonderful evening full of music and a reminder of this disease and that we all need to do what we can to help the research continue. I lost my mother to this disease 2 years ago. In her honor I started a line of jewelry that I call the forget-me-nots. It is the official flower of the Alzheimer’s association. They are hand made out of pure silver. Each leaf is sculpted and the flower is created petal by petal. Then a sapphire is hand set in the center of each one. These are truly a labor of love and I think they can honor someone special.

In honor of my mother a percentage of all sales are donated to the Richmond Alzheimer association. To see our press release click on the link.

http://www.jewelrybyheart2heart.com/images/h2hpr20090707.pdf

Oms-What do they mean

2010-05-25T21:48:00.000-04:00

Om is a sacred syllable in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions. The meaning of the symbol is complex and differs somewhat in each religion but it can be viewed simply as a representation that helps us to realize the divinity and the energy that run through the entire universe.

Indian spirituality holds that God first created sound and the rest of the world sprang from its frequencies. Om is the most sacred of all sounds – the syllable from which the gods were created and the syllable that existed before the universe. The syllable “om” is also said to be the cosmic vibration that holds together the atoms of the world and of the heavens.

In Hinduism, each of the curves of the om carries its own symbolism. The largest lower curve –the bottom half of the 3—symbolizes the state of wakefulness, where consciousness is turned outwards through the senses. This largest curve represents wakefulness because the majority of the human consciousness occurs while we are awake and aware. The upper curve – the top part of the 3 – denotes the unconscious state of deepest sleep; that without desires or dreams. The middle curve – the hook on the right – symbolizes the dream state where consciousness is turned inward and the world is viewed through the eyes of the dreamer.

Indian mystic thought holds that all of reality springs from these three states of consciousness. Therefore, the three curves of the Om represent out entire physical phenomenon.

The dot signifies the fourth state of consciousness, which looks neither outward, nor inward. This is the quiet, peaceful state of bliss that is the aim of spirituality. The semi-circle beneath the dot represents the maya, which separates the state of bliss from the three states of consciousness. The illusion of the maya keeps us from realizing the state of bliss but just as the semi-circle is open at the top and does not touch the dot, so the maya does not touch or affect the state of bliss; It merely seeks to block us from reaching the ultimate goal.

The Om is dualistic in nature. On one hand, focusing on the symbol and sound helps us to look beyond the reality before our eyes to seek instead the abstract and the unknowable. On the other hand, focusing on an Om also helps to make the abstract more knowable bringing us closer to the divine.

When we meditate, we chant the syllable “Om.” This deep sound resonates throughout the body, vibrating and attuning us to the cosmic vibrations of the universe and uniting us with the Divine. This helps our minds and souls to reach toward the untenable as we seek deeper truth.

No matter what our spiritual beliefs, the Om can help to bring us closer to the Divine as we understand it.

The Om is also a symbol of spiritual perfection and wearing an Om helps us to focus on the divinity and light that are in ourselves and also in everyone we meet.

Colored Stone Hardness

2009-12-05T16:31:00.000-05:00

When we talk about hardness in a colored stone we are talking about its resistance to scratches. We need to think about the hardness of a stone when we decide what type of jewelry the stone will best be used for. The Mohs scale was created by a professor from Germany named Friedrich Mohs. Stones are rated from 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest. Diamond has a rating of 10 and is harder than any other gemstone. Rubies and sapphires which are both corundum have a rating of 9 and they are fine to be used as stones in rings. Those with a rating of under 7 will wear if used in a ring or a bracelet. That’s not to say you can’t do it but that you should wear them carefully.

Mohs Scale Examples

10. Diamond

9. Corundum

8. Topaz

7. Quartz

6. Orthoclase feldspar

5. Apatite

4. Fluorite

3. Calcite

2. Gypsum

1. Talc

Tahitian Cultured Pearls

2009-11-10T22:38:00.000-05:00

Tahitian cultured pearls have been on the pearl market since sometime in the 70’s. They are what we think of as newcomers in the world of pearls. The majority of Tahitian cultured pearls come from the lagoons of Tuamotu Archipelago and the Gambier Islands. In the 1960’s the investigation started on how to culture the P. margaritifera in the French Polynesia. This is the type of oyster (a black lipped) that produces Tahitian pearls. They first had to produce a gem-quality and then they needed to establish a market to sell the pearls to. In the 1960’s and early 1970’s Tahitian pearls were not known outside of French Polynesia. A campaign to promote the pearls was successful but the farms faced the challenge to create quantities that were large enough to serve an international market. Tahitian cultured pearls are usually harvested in the spring and summer from May to November. Approximately 40% of the pearls that are implanted produce gem-quality cultured pearls. Only approximately 5% will be round and the top 1 to 2% will be of the finest quality. These pearls take approximately 22 to 26 months for their growth.

Tahitian cultured pearls are larger in size and seeing them as a size of 14 mm is common. The have colors like an eggplant purple, peacock green, metallic gray and some grayish blue. When they were first marketed they were marked as “black” because of their dark colors. There are three colors that are associated with Tahitian pearls. Peacock is a term for a color that is highly valued. It is a dark green gray to blue gray with rose to purple overtones. Aubergine which means eggplant in French is most often used to describe dark grayish purple. Pistachio is a term for yellowish green to greenish yellow Tahitian pearls.
Tahitian cultured pearls stand out because of their high value which is comparable to South Sea pearls but higher than other types of pearls. Their value is higher due to many factors including their larger size and unusual color. There are also fewer of them being produced than other types of pearls. A top quality Tahitian cultured pearl can cost in the thousands. If you had a pearl necklace with sizes that were graduated fro 10 to 14 mm it might retail for 40,000. Most Tahitian pearls measure between 8 mm and 14 mm.
Unlike Akoya pearls which are almost all spherical less than half of the Tahitian pearls are spherical. Tahitian pearls that have excellent luster are almost metallic. Surface quality can range from spotless which are extremely rare to heavily blemished. Because Tahitian pearls have a cultivation period of 2 years they usually have a 2 mm nacre all around the pearl. These pearls rarely have a visible nucleous or a chalkey appearance.

Symbols in Jewelry

2009-11-05T20:19:00.000-05:00

As a person who has been in the "fine"jewelry industry for years I would never have thought about wearing much less making jewelry for healing. I also never really thought about its meaning. There are many symbols that different groups wear and people from every culture have used spiritual symbols to focus their energies connect tot he metaphysical world and touch the divine. A sybol is symply an object, picture word sound or makr that represents something else. In spirituality and religion, symbols are instant cues that remind us of the Eternal. From the cross worn by Christians to the Om drawn by Hindus to the lotus flower portrayed by Buddhists, symbols help us to channel our throughts and intentions on spirituality. These spiritual representations also identify us to others who share our same path and journey. Finally, each symbol, whether a hamsa or a yin yang, is an immediate reminder of the divinity in ourselves and all those around us.

Making over my Blog

2009-08-19T20:13:00.003-04:00

I have been trying to learn to be a regular blogger for quite awhile. I wasn't sure when I started why I wanted a blog. After all I'm not a writer. I struggle with spelling. However, I study gemstones and believe in their metaphysical properties and if I sat with you for half an hour you would understand that about me. I decided to take a class from Alyson Stanfield and Cynthia Morris. It is a 4-week class that I hope will help me to become a better blogger and really connect with my readers. In fact that is the assignment for today, to identify the people that I want to visit and read my blog. My hope is that anyone who visits will take an opportunity to read a bit but mostly I hope that anyone looking for information on gemstones will be a reader. I want to educate about the properties of gemstones as well as the metaphysical energy in them. Even if you just want to know what your birthstone should look like my hope is you will find that here. I do have a jewelry business that is based on gemstones but here I really hope to educate or help answer questions that people might have and haven't been able to find an answer.

Gemstone Basics

2009-08-02T14:49:00.001-04:00

Colored stones have had a very special desire by people for many centuries. Most gems come from the earth and they are inorganic. This means that they are from non-living matter. Some gems are organic which means they are produced by something that was or is a living organism. Pearls, coral and amber are examples of organic gems. No matter which they come from they are called natural gems to help point the difference out between a man-made stone.

South Sea Pearls

2009-07-29T06:09:00.001-04:00

South Sea Cultured Pearls
South Sea pearls come from the largest mollusks in the world. The mother-of-pearl lining on the shell is used to make buttons and sometimes inlay work. This was the original focus of the harvest of the South Sea pearls.

South Sea Pearls are harvested in three major areas. Approximately 61% come from Australia, 29% come from Indonesia and about 10% from the Philippines. The Australian oysters tend to be the largest of the three producing the majority of the largest pearls. In Australia the harvest is done during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter which is June, July and August. During this time the water temperature is very low and the pearls have their most luster and color. The Indonesian pearls closely resemble the Philippine pearls. The largest difference is the size as the Indonesian pearls range from 8 to 13 mm rather than the 10 to 20 mm that the Australian pearls range. The harvest for the Philippine pearls is done during the wet season which is June through November. The other difference is the color. Indonesian pearls will produce more cream and yellow pearls as they focus on the gold-lipped variety. Australian pearls focus more on the silver-lipped variety and will produce more of the white pearls with overtones of rose’, blue or green.

One of the characteristics of a South Sea pearl is their large size. South Sea pearls range from 9 mm to 20 mm in diameter with most of them being around 13 mm. The growth period of a South Sea pearl is around 2 years. A South Sea oyster can be nucleated (have a bead inserted) up to 3 times and very often the third time will produce the largest pearl.

Because the South Sea oyster lives in warm waters they deposit a very thick coating of nacre 2 mm to 6 mm and this is done much more quickly than an oyster in a cooler climate. This thick nacre gives the pearl a soft glow rather than a metallic sheen. The glow also gives color. Silver, white and yellow are the most common colors that you will see. The color depends largely on if it is a silver-lipped or gold-lipped oyster. The edge of the mantle tissue will influence the pearl color. The silver-lipped variety will produce predominately white to silver pearls that might have a rose’, blue or green overtone. The gold-lipped variety will produce pearls that range mostly from yellow to yellowish orange which the trade may refer to as golden.

Strands of pearls are what we think of when we think of pearl jewelry. A strand of South Sea pearls would be very expensive so a lot of jewelry made with South Sea pearls uses individual pieces. Round and near round South Sea pearls only make between 10 to 30% of the harvest. Ovals, buttons and drops make 40 to 60% of the harvest with baroques making between 20 and 40%. Because of this you will find that other shapes than round give a greater opportunity for designing jewelry. Even though baroques don’t make up the majority of the harvest their prices are not pushed up so you will see them in many unusually designed pieces using South Sea pearls but at a reasonable price. Large Keishi pearls are very rare and a strand of keishi South Seas are in demand.
Typical rating for South Sea pearls luster is excellent, good and fair. The surface quality is considered either clean or lightly blemished and the nacre quality is graded as acceptable or not acceptable

Akoya Pearls

2009-06-24T21:44:00.002-04:00

Akoya
Akoya is what we generally think of when someone talks about pearls. They speak of a white round gem. Akoya oysters are the main ones used for saltwear pearl culturing in both China and Japan. Most are cream or white and some have a tint of rose or green. The oyster itself is relatively small so it doesn’t produce a cultured pearl larger than 11 mm. What we see as the traditional strand of pearls are generally an Akoya pearls. They lend themselves to matching very well.

Akoya pearls were the first round or spherical cultured pearl and were introduced in the twentieth century. Japan and China are the primary sources for Akoya pearls but there are other areas that grow them including Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia the Persian Gulf and the Caribbean. In the 1940’s pearls were not readily available in all sizes for strands. Because of this graduated strands of cultured pearls were strung. Almost all necklaces before and immediately after World War II were graduated necklaces. U.S. servicemen brought home many of these necklaces for their moms, girlfriends and wives. This helped to create a demand and knowledge of the cultured pearl.

The Japanese growth period for Akoya pearls is 8 months to 2 years. Farmers will harvest Akoya pearls in the winter. The water is the coldest then and it will lead to a better cultured pearl quality. The longer the pearl grows generally the better the pearl.

The size of Akoyas are relatively small. They are available in sizes 2 to 11 mm in diameter but a 10 mm Akoya is very rare. The average size of an Akoya is 6 to 7 mm.

Most Akoya pearls are sold as strands and they are very well matched. A very high amount of pearls will receive an excellent rating in matching. This happens because a very high amount of Akoyas are round or near round. If all other value features are equal in an Akoya their value will raise as their size gets larger.

Pearl Value-Shape

2009-03-26T09:18:00.000-04:00

Shapes
Round

In general the round pearl is the most valuable pearl shape. This is partly because a well formed round shape is relatively hard to find. Also most people recognize a round chocker of pearls.

Symmetrical
A symmetrical pearl also should have well proportion symmetry. The outline should not have irregularities.

Baroque

Baroque Pearls can have all different shapes; they can be shaped like a cone or a wing. Many times they are formed in the muscle tissue of the mollusk rather than its softer organs. If a pearl looks like it could be round but has an irregular deposit of extra nacre it is classified as a semi-baroque pearl. If all is equal in the valuing a baroque pearl will rank third behind spherical and symmetrical pearls.

Pearl Value - Matching

2009-03-20T09:46:00.000-04:00

Matching – Pearls are organic and no two will be alike. You often need to look at the design of the piece as many designers intentionally mismatch their pearls. Matched pearls are rated as …

Excellent – The pearls will be drilled in the center and they have a uniform appearance.
Good – The uniformity of the pearls has a minor variation.
Fair – The uniformity of the pearls very noticeable uniformity.

Pearl Value - Nacre Quality

2009-03-16T17:21:00.000-04:00

Nacre Quality – A thicker nacre does not always guarantee that you will have a better pearl. However, in most instances thicker nacre will also tend to be a more lustrous pearl. If you look at your strand of pearls and they appear to be chalky they probably have thinner nacre. Also rotating your pearl and seeing blinking which is the pearl’s nucleolus showing through is also a sign of thin nacre. If you can look at the end of the pearl around the hole and it you see chipping that shows the bead it is a sign of thin nacre and will probably not be very durable. There are three classifications for nacre quality
Acceptable - The nucleus is not able to be noticed. You might see a very slight blink upon rotating it. The appearance is also not chalky.
Nucleus Visible – The pearl will blink, you will see a flicker of light to dark when rotating. You also see evidence of the bead through the nacre.
Chalky Appearance – The pearl has a whitish appearance and it is dull.

Pearl Value- Surface Quality

2009-03-13T11:08:00.001-04:00

Surface Quality –Cultured pearls an organic material s they are going to show surface characteristics. This is perfectly normal and there are many different types of irregularities.

Abrasions – These are going to be scratches on the surface that a result of damage to the pearl.
Bump –this is a very small little blister, welt or bulge that is normally very small and does not change the basic shape of the pearl.
Chip – A place on the pearl where there is an opening in the surface.
Crack – This is a fracture in the nature that reaches the surface of the pearl. It can also be a fracture in the nucleus.
Flat – A spherical or symmetrical pearl that has a small flat section. It needs to be too small to change the overall shape of the pearl.
Gap – The nucleus is not covered by nacre in a specific area.
Pit – A small depression or indentation. Looks like a small pinprick. They can be found just as a single or in a group.
Scratch – A depression or thin grove that is in the surface of the pearl.
Spot – An area in the nacre that is either darker, lighter or even more dull that the surrounding areas.
Wrinkle – This can appear as a crease or even a ridge in the surface of the pearl.

For evaluation pearls are divided into four categories.
Clean – A trained person will examine the pearl and find them to be spotless or have a very minute surface characteristic.
Lightly Blemished – The trained person will find minor surface irregularities.
Moderately Blemished – The trained person will find noticeable surface irregularities and characteristics. Heavily Blemished – The trained person will find obvious surface issues. The durability of the pearl might be affected by these blemishes.

Pearl Value-Luster

2009-03-10T18:31:00.001-04:00

Luster-The luster of the pearl is where you find the true beauty of a pearl and is thus its most important value factor. There are four categories of luster that are used when grading pearls.
Exellent – the reflection is distinct and sharp.
Good –Reflections are not as sharp but they are bright. The edges are a bit hazy.
Fair – Reflections are blurred, hazy and weak.
Poor – Your reflection will be dim. Luster is also different for the type of pearl. An akoya will have a very bright-mirror like luster and a South Sea parl will have a satiny soft luster

Pearl Value-Color

2009-03-07T12:14:00.000-05:00

Color- A Pearl’s color is the same as anything else we look at color in. It is made of three basic componenents
Hue- the first impression of clor that we see.
Tone – The lightness or darkness of the pearl
Saturation - The intensity of the color.

To really understand the color of a pearl think about anything that nature it is made up of a blend of color. Look at a beautiful flower and it isn’t just a solid color. It is a blend of colors even if all of the same basic color. Pearls are the same. The color of a pearl will have 3 main characteristics.

Bodycolor- This is the dominant color of the pearl that you see overall.
Overtone- This is a translucent color that will appear over a pearl’s surface. It can be more than one color.
Orient- Iridescent, ranbow colors that will shimmer either over or just below the pearl’s surface.

You will see a bodycolor for all pearls but they will not all have an overtone or orient.

There are many trade names that are used for pearls. However, remember that each manuafacturer might have a different take on this name and it is simply for a reference point.
Apricot- These refer to a light pinkish orange Freshwater pearl from China.
Aubergine-A Tahitian cultured pearl that has a dark grayish purple body color.
Golden-This cultured pearl has a strong greenish yellow to orangy yellow color.
Lavender – A Chinese freshwater cultured pearl that is light pinkish purple in color.
Peacock – A Tahitian cultured pearl that has a dark green to gray to blue gray body color. It also has overtones that are rose and purple.
Pistachi – A Tahitian cultured pearl that has a yellowish green to greenish yellow bodycolor.

Pearl Value Factors

2009-03-06T08:43:00.002-05:00

Size – Pearls are sold in millimeaer sizes and they are usually rounded to the nearest 0.5 mm. As with most gems the larger the pearl generally the more valuable. However, also as with all pearls this can change depending on how all the value factors of the pearl itself work together. Also each type of cultured pearl has a different range of sizes.

Shape- Round pearls are the ones that we think of the most when we think of a pearl. There are many different shapes from tear drops, coins and irregular freeform shapes. There are seven standard shapes although they are by far not all that we see today. These shapes are…
Round- This pearl appears round to our eyes.
Near Round – This pearl is almost round when we look at it. They can be out of round, flattened a bit and even elongated.
Oval –These are symmetrical. They appear rounded but with an oblong shape.
Button- They are symmetrical. These are flattened or slightly flattened in shape. The button can be high-dome or low dome.
Drop –This is a symmetrical rounded pear shaped pearl. It can be long or short.
Semi-baroque – This is a non-symmetrical, slightly irregular oval, off-round button or drop pearls.
Baroque – This is a pearl that is non-symmetrical in shape and has noticeably irregular appearance.

Any shape other than those 7 standard shapes they should be described by their shape, like a cross, a bar or a coin.

Pearl Information

2009-03-05T17:58:00.002-05:00

Saltwater Cultured Pearls
There are approximately 3 different types of a saltwater cultured pearl.
Akoya
Tahitian
South SeaThey look very different and each comes from a different type of oyster.

Value Factors- Each type of pearl has its own unique types of ranges for value factors. The total worth of a pearl depends on how all the value factors mix together.
Size
Shape
Color
Luster
Surface Quality
Nacre Quality
Matching

Metaphysical Properties of Pearls

2009-01-01T21:49:00.002-05:00

Metaphysical Properties of Pearls.

Pearls usually come in a pale white or a cream color but you can find pink, darker blue, sometimes gray and even black. Pearls are in tune with women, and especially so with pregnant women. Pearls relate to inner growth and form. Pearls absorb by nature so you need to remember this when wearing pearls. If you have having a day where you feel that you have a lot of negative energy and you are wearing the pearls they will absorb this energy and will hold it. You should cleanse the pearl regularly. Pearls can be very nurturing and if we use them in a proper way they can lessen stress and the results that stress can have on our body. If you are going to use pearls with other stones consider using a diamond which will help to amplify the energy and purify. Emeralds will bring out the negative energy and disperse it. This stone is recommended for a variety of occupations including artists, chiropractors and farmers. The white color is a symbol of a pure heart and mind. It is of the sea so it has the water and lunar elements and because of this will help to balance emotions. It is especially good for water signs. Fire signs are not as compatible with a pearl unless they feel drawn to it.

What we are thankful for

2008-11-25T22:00:00.002-05:00

I have asked my friends to continue giving me things that thy are thankful for. In times like these it is easy to focus on all the problems in the world. Changing our focus to the things that we are have and living in an attitude of gratitude can help us to go through tough times. Here are what my friends are grateful for.

I am grateful that I didn't have to pay off my speeding ticket!

I am also grateful for the people who have influenced me in my life for the better that surround me daily.

I am thankful for having such supportive friends who are always there for me.

I am thankful for being a part of a team who has grown into more of a family.

I'm grateful for a working body and brain.

I'm grateful to have a mother that cares enough about me to bug me almost daily. :-)
I'm grateful to be working for a company that appreciates what I do.

I'm grateful that I got my heater working this morning!

I grateful for my two children that keep me young even though I'm growing old.
I'm grateful for love I get from my friends and family everyday.

I am grateful to have a job that I like that pays my bills.

I am grateful to have my house which I love that is in a location and a neighborhood that I love.

I am grateful for the love of my life...Wyatt. He is more human than feline and the calm in many of my storms.
I am grateful that I was raised in a very loving tight knit, albeit dysfunctional family.
I am extremely grateful for all the new friends I have made since returning to VA.

I am grateful for a beautiful sunny day with a yard full of crisp autumn leaves and a holiday chill in the air.

I am grateful for a warm friendly house full of soft fuzzy dogs and a sweet, loving wife.

Namate,

Linda

Gratitude

2008-11-24T22:58:00.004-05:00

Today I asked my good friends if they wanted to share what they were grateful for. This week I want to honor the spirit of gratitude and my good friends. They know who they are.

We are grateful for :

I'm grateful for every experience I've had this year.

I'm grateful for the many good friends I have.
I'm grateful that I have enough to eat and a warm place to live.

I'm grateful for my lovely wife and her beautiful pregnancy. :)

I'm grateful to be dancing in two troupes with such wonderful insane people. I fit right in.
I'm grateful my mom and stepdad have moved back here from TX...now they just have to get they're own place.

I am grateful that I'm not the one who has to cook for 37 people on Thursday. (I'm sure they're grateful for that too).I

am grateful that I sneezed twice this morning and didn't pee either time.

I am grateful for such a wonderful group of friends that I have in PURE.
I am grateful for my child’s college fund.

Create Peace

2008-11-12T22:55:00.001-05:00

Create Peace

We must create peace within ourselves. We have the ability to do this each day by experiencing joy. We have the power to look at things through peaceful eyes rather than angry eyes. Try the next time you are angry with someone, stopping and thinking through the situation with love not anger or hate. Be friendly to a stranger by simply smiling through a heart filled with peace and joy.

Namaste

OM

2008-09-30T18:25:00.002-04:00

If you look at the symbol it is made with three curves, a semi-circle and a small dot. The bottom curve is said to represent the waking state. This can also relate to our material world. The upper curve represents deep sleep and the right curve represents dream. The dot is said to symbolize the absolute and illuminates the other states.

OM

2008-09-27T22:04:00.001-04:00

OM can be thought of as universal music. Many people refer to it as the symbol of the absolute. OM represents what is spiritual. Since God, and spiritualism of any sort can not be described in words it can be described in the symbol OM. The OM can represent the Infinite and very essence of the Universe itself. For those who practice Hinduism and Buddhism it is a very important symbol. Many other religious practices use it as well. In our modern culture it has become important to many. In the Western culture it often means to some Peace.

Meditation

2008-09-09T18:48:00.001-04:00

OM is often a symbol that is used in guiding meditations connecting, man, God and the universe. While we meditate if we chant OM it can create a vibration that will help us to quiet our mind and connect with the universe. It is difficult to think while you chant OM. If you do start having thoughts the sound will stop. The sound is divine as it comes from within ourselves.

Trunk Show

2008-09-03T19:53:00.002-04:00

I have been lucky enough to be working with a new Yoga studio in town. Grace Yoga opened in August and is now carrying my line of jewelry. To celebrate we are going to be having a trunk show this Friday September 5th. It will run from 6 to 9 and there will be goodies to eat as well as my full line of jewelry to look at in a very relaxed setting. There will also be my two favorite yoga teacher there Iffett and Arlene. They would be glad to show you the studio and answer any yoga related questions that you might have.

SaturdayJune 13th

2008-06-14T20:51:00.004-04:00

I have been very busy with Art Shows and have not had a chance to write much. I am currently working on my Yoga line. One of my favorite words is Namaste. I love the fact that it means we honor the light within someone. I created a new ring that is free form in nature but works well to show the words. I think this could make a lovely wedding ring design for someone if they were looking for a special set of wedding rings for those that are spiritual in design. However, I really like bands of all styles. This ring will probably be one of the cornerstones of my Yoga Line.

Namaste,

Linda

Monday November 5th

2007-11-05T23:18:00.000-05:00

Today I spent the day finishing some pieces that I have been working on. I seemed to be focusing either on Tourmaline stones which are for the heart chakra or light blue Ceylon sapphires. I also seemed to be clutzy today as I broke a few things while making them. I also dropped stones and spent time finding them.

The fourth chakra is located near the center of the sternum. The physical attributes are characterized by their pulling in and pushing away. Our arms and hands are executors of our heart chakra energy. They can reach out for things or reach out to keep things away from us. One of the functions of the heart chakra is to balance our personal needs and the needs of others. The ultimate in balance is following our own path while allowing others to follow their own.

The fourth chakra moves us out of physical and into the spiritual. More on the spiritual aspect of the fourth chakra tomorrow.

Namaste

Sunday November 4th Forget-Me-Not

2007-11-04T22:47:00.000-05:00

I have been working on jewelry most of the weekend. I recently danced in an Alzheimer’s walk. I say danced because I am a belly dancer that dances in P.U.R.E, which is a dance troupe to promote peace and positive energy in the community. It was an overwhelming event emotionally as my mother is in her final stages of Alzheimer’s. She had some issues the week before and I knew being there would be difficult. I have also lost a grandmother and grandfather from Alzheimer’s as well as have an Uncle with it. This is truly something that is in my family and my heart. I work hard to promote positive energy to them but often find it difficult. After doing some research I found that the forget-me-not flower is the flower that is used by many Alzheimer’s groups so I went to work creating some. I entered 2 flowers into juried art shows and both were accepted. I named this group of work “Joan” after my mother. It gave me great peace to be able to do this and have it turn out so well. Seeing her name on the wall was so wonderful. It renewed my spirit to be able to work with her on something, even though she is lost in her own world.

I spent the weekend creating different forget-me-not jewelry to try and expand on it. Forget-me-nots from the wedding flower definitions mean remember me forever. I have decided to add them to my line in honor of my mother as well as a symbol for remembering. It can be someone that we may have lost and wish to remember or someone special in our lives now. I made myself a ring this weekend to see how the style would work and I placed my mother’s name on the inside so every time I wear I will think of her.