jewelry « Queen Of Gems

December 10, 2009

Famous gems – diamonds

Filed under: Gemstones, jewelry — Tags: diamonds, famous diamonds, history of gemstones — admin @ 3:55 am

Here’s a pretty interesting site on famous diamonds of the world.

http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/

I’m interested in the history of gems and their wearers, so this typie of information is fun to read.

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November 27, 2009

Precious metals and jewelry settings

Filed under: jewelry, precious metals — Tags: Gemstones, gold jewelry, gold jewlery, platinum jewelry, precious metals — admin @ 10:00 am

Although gold has long been considered the setting for precious and semi-precious gemstones in jewelry, silver and platinum have also been very popular.

In particular, silver superseded gold for the setting for gemstones during the 18th and 19th centuries, because experts felt that silver set off the stones better than the overpowering colors of gold.

Most of the silver used iin jewelry prior to the 1900s was imported from Mexico, Peru, Chile and Bolivia. In the late 1800s, the Comstock Lode of silver was found in west Nevada in the USA, and jewelry production was able to increase dramatically.

Platinum was first discovered in South America. Although it was found to be a strong metal, and never tarnished, it took a while before it became used in jewelry.

Its first use as a setting for diamonds is recorded to have occurred in 1870, and it became very fashionable in the 1920 and 1930s.

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November 25, 2009

A history of gold and its use in jewelry

Filed under: jewelry, precious metals — Tags: carat, fineness, gold, jewelry, precious metals — admin @ 7:37 am

Gems and gold as jewekry have been indivisible since at least the third millenium BC. All civilizations that have known gold have prized it for its beauty as well as its rarity. And because it is a soft metal, which allowed it to be easily worked, it was easy to use it for jewelry.

The earliest gold was found by panning river beds for it, but by Roman times, open-cast and tunnel mining were used in Europe. And then the New World was discovered, and the Spaniarfs brought great quantities of gold from the conquered nations.

Subsequent gold discoveries
California – 1848
Australia 1851
South Africa – 1880s

Until 1975, the purity of gold was measured in karats, with 24 karat being the purest (and the most seldem used, because of its softness).

After 1975, the term used became “Fineness”.

In Europe, for example, pure gold is stamped 1000 fine. 18K is 75 percent or 750 fine. So, an 18K ring made in Europe would be stamped 750.

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October 28, 2009

Take a look at Tribal Jewelry

Filed under: jewelry — Tags: tribal jewelry — admin @ 6:04 am

Tribal jewelry, when it comes to that being auctioned at jewelry-auctioned.com, consists of:

Jewelelry made the traditional way from Nepal, Afgahnistan, Pakistan ,Iran, and India.

Tribal silver differs from sterling silver in that it is a century’s old traditional method passed down from one generation to another. It uses 40% silver combined with local alloys to produce this natural style and is reputed to polish naturally when worn.

When it tarnishes, the color is not green but a natural earthy tones.

These traditional craftsmen also use bronze.

Tribal jewelery is made the traditional way with techniques passed from one generation to the next from the mountainous regions of Nepal to Afghanistan with craftsman making hand made jewelery as their ancestors did, but is now dying art form as not many young people are doing apprenticeship in this ancient craft.

Take a look at the tribal jewelry at jewelry-auctioned.com.

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October 26, 2009

An introduction to Boulder Opals

Filed under: jewelry, opal — Tags: boulder opals — admin @ 4:43 am

Take a look at the boulder opals available at jewelry-auctioned.com.

What are boulder opals, you are asking yourself.

97% of the opal today comes from Australia. Of this, 90% is white and crystal opal, or “light opal.” That breaks down to 60% white opal, and 30% crystal opal or pure hydrated silica, 8% is black. Only 2% is boulder opal.

When precious opal forms in veins and patches within brown ironstone boulders, it is called boulder opal. It is cut out, with a portion of the boulder as a backing, to ensure strength.

There are two types of boulder opal – seam, and matrix. In matrix boulder opal, the opal is mixed thoroughly into the ironstone.

Check out all the varieties of boulder opals on offer.

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