Gemstones

Peruvian opal

The word opal is from the Sanskrit upala, meaning precious stone. Peruvian opal is relatively rare, and found in the Andes Mountains of Peru . It is similar in composition to other opals, but different in look from the more familiar Australian opal. The color is a beautiful aqua blue. It does not have the play of color of the Australian opal, but rather a luminous glow. Opal is in the quartz family with a hardness level of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It is mined as thick veins, often with natural crystalline seams present, not cracks. It is very rare to find opal with no presence of veining or matrix visible. Opal is one of the most expensive gemstones, comparable to emerald and ruby.

Opal care

Opals have a water content of about 2% and need to be worn to maintain their moisture content. They should not be exposed to extreme heat, as this can dehydrate them. Avoid oils, as this may discolor them, and ammonia. They can be cleaned with mild soap and water. It is best to store them away from other gems, or wrapped separately to avoid being scratched.

 

Turquoise

The name derives from the fact that it was brought to Europe from the Eastern Mediterranean by traders known as the Turks. It has been mined in Iran , and the United States . There are a wide variety of bluish colors available, varying with the location mined. Hardness levels are usually between 5-6 on the Mohs scale. It has always been one of the most expensive of non-transparent gems, exceeded only by lapis lazuli and jade.

 

Turquoise care

Clean with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner or expose to jewelry cleaning chemicals.

 

 

Amber

 

Amber is a fossil resin of giant conifer trees that lived tens of millions of years ago. It's name is derived from the Arabic word anbar . It has been used since Neolithic times for ornamentation. It has been called the "Sunstone" or "Stone of Victory" with a history so rich as to include a time when the Teutonic Knights of the 13 th century monopolized the amber trade and anyone caught with amber in their possession could be hanged. An entire room, now lost, was even made out of amber by Frederick William I of Prussia and presented to Peter the Great of Russia.

Amber is most often found along the Baltic coasts of the Soviet Union and Poland . It is found in colors ranging from honey-colored to reddish brown and moss green. It's hardness level is 2.5. An interesting characteristic of amber is that it floats in salt water, a sure test of authenticity.

Amber care

Clean with a soft, moist cloth, avoiding perfumes and chemicals that can damage it over time. Protect from scratches.

Chalcedony

This is a microcrystalline form of quartz, whose name derives from Calcedon, an ancient sea port on the Sea of Marmara, in Asia Minor .

Early humans made weapons and tools from the many varieties of chalcedony. There are many stones in the chalcedony family, including agate, chrysoprase and jasper. It is found in all 50 states, in various forms. What is referred to as chalcedony in jewelry design is a sky-blue to whitish gray gemstone. Jasper is a form of Chalcedony known for it's variety of color, bands and patterns. It is the state rock of Massachusetts . It has a hardness rating is 7.

Chalcedony and Jasper Care

As with all other stones, avoid chemicals, scratches and heat. Clean with a soft, damp cloth.

 

Garnet

There are several types of garnets, including rhodolite, almandine, grossular, and spessartine. There are over ten different gemstones with a similar chemical structure. Garnets are available in a wider variety of colors than any other gemstone. The garnets I use most often are rhodolite, from the Greek word rhodon , meaning rose, and lithos , stone. It has a pinkish red color, and is found in the United States , Zimbabwe , Tanzania , and Sri Lanka . The shape of the rough garnet is typically rounded or grain like, hence the origin of it's name, derived from the Latin word " granum ".

Garnet has a high refraction of light, and historically it was used for protection while traveling, because it was believed that garnets illuminated the night. It has a hardness level of 7 to 7.5. They are quite sturdy and resistant to everyday wear and tear.

 

Garnet Care

They may be cleaned in an ultrasonic device, or with mild soap and water. Clean with a soft cloth, avoid harsh chemicals.