Queen Of Gems

November 29, 2009

The Providence Jewelry Museum, Provincetown, RI

Filed under: Jewelry Museums — Tags: , , — admin @ 7:59 am

The Providence Jewelry Museum is a fascinating place, with a collection of fine and fashion jewelry from the 18th century to the present.

Their holdings also include samplings of related pieces, such as match safes, pen and fruit knives, card cases, and dresser items.

Most of the pieces originated in Providence and its environs.

Unfortunately, their website is rather skimpy when it comes to delineating their collection…they want you to visit, instead.

In order to see the museum, you do need to make an appointment.

The Providence Jewelry Museum is open by appointment.

Email them at info@providencejewelrymuseum.com , or telephone
them at 401-274-0999, or 401-781-3100.

Interestingly, the address below is not listed on their website, presumably because they want to make sure you call for an appointment first.

The address:
1 Spectacle Street
Cranston, RI 02904-2404

November 27, 2009

Precious metals and jewelry settings

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In particular, silver superseded gold for the setting for gemstones during the 18th and 19th centuries, because experts felt that silver set off the stones better than the overpowering colors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

November 25, 2009

A history of gold and its use in jewelry

Filed under: jewelry, precious metals — Tags: , , , , — 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.

November 21, 2009

Moonstone earrings available today

Filed under: Earrings — admin @ 12:55 pm

Here are the moonstone earings up for auction at http://gemrockauctions.com

TRADE DEAL 5 MOONSTONE SILVER EARRINGS MYT 261
Mygems
33.00 - 1 hour 17 minutes
TRADE DEAL PARCEL5 MOONSTONE SILVER EARRINGS MYT 195
Mygems
19.00 - 7 hours 2 minutes

November 19, 2009

Doublet Opal Gold Earrings on Auction

Filed under: Earrings — Tags: , , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

Below is a sample of doublet gold earrings on auction at http://gemrockauctions.com.

Check them out, and more, by clicking on the link above.

SUNSET RED SHIMMER DOUBLET OPAL 18K GOLD EARRINGS SCA361
Creative Jewellery
99.00 - 1 day 21 hours
DOUBLET OPAL 18K GOLD EARRING SCO956
Creative Jewellery
199.00 - 2 days 7 hours
BEAUTIFUL DOUBLET OPAL 18K GOLD EARRINGS 1 CTS SCA1700
Creative Jewellery
59.00 - 2 days 21 hours
RED SPARKLING FIRE DOUBLET OPAL 18K GOLD EARRINGS SCA362
Creative Jewellery
99.00 - 3 days 21 hours
GREEN FLASH DOUBLET OPAL 18K GOLD EARRINGS 0.30 CTS SCA1410
Creative Jewellery
89.00 - 7 days

November 17, 2009

Pandora Style Bracelets on Auction

Filed under: Bracelets — Tags: , — admin @ 10:40 am

Below are a few of the pandora style bracelets on auction at www.gemrockauctions.com.

 

Pandora Style Bracelet Murano Glass & Alloy 7.5 inch PB132
Designergem
7.90 - 2 days 11 hours
Pandora Style Bracelet Murano Glass 7.5 inch PB72
Designergem
5.90 - 2 days 11 hours
Pandora Style Bracelet Murano Glass & Alloy 7.5 inch PB131
Designergem
7.90 - 2 days 11 hours
Pandora Style Bracelet Golden Eyes & Alloy 7.5 inch PB86
Designergem
6.90 - 2 days 12 hours

November 13, 2009

Investment Opal at auction today

Filed under: Investment opal — Tags: , , — admin @ 10:24 am

In today’s economy, many people believe that investing in gemstones, or precious metals such as gold, will yield a better return on their money than the stock market.

Black opal from Lightning Ridge, with red fire, is an excellent gemstone investment. Boulder opal with spectacular colours is also good investment.

Here’s just a sample of investment opal available:

AAA QUALITY GEM INVESTMENT BLACK OPAL L RIDGE GEM 10.7 CTS
INVESTMENTOPALS
15,000.00 - 10.7 2 hours 41 minutes
BLACK OPAL GEM GRADE RUB 13.8 CTS TB-2
INVESTMENTOPALS
4,140.00 - 13.80 2 hours 41 minutes
YOWAH OPAL NUT PAIR RARE PATTERN 180CTS CTS TON-3C
INVESTMENTOPALS
6,000.00 - 180 3 hours 21 minutes
VIDEO-QUALITY N1 RICH RED ORANGE SOLID OPAL3.50 CTS [S102 ]
quality opals
6,500.00 - 3.50 3 hours 41 minutes

November 12, 2009

Paua Shell Pendants on Auction

Filed under: Pendants — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 6:03 am

Make an offer on Paua Shell Pendants on auction today.

Paua is the Māori name given to three species of large edible sea snails, known in the USA as abalone, and in the UK as ormer shells.

The shell is oval. While the exterior is often covered with greyish incrustations, the interior layer of shell is an iridescent swirl of intense green, blue, purple, and sometimes pink colours.

A sample of what’s available:

THREE NATURAL LARGE SHELL PENDANT AAA1800
AAAgems
15.00 - 7 hours 2 minutes
NATURAL LARGE SHELL PENDANT AAA1801
AAAgems
6.95 - 7 hours 2 minutes
PARCEL 3 NATURAL PAUA SHELL PENDANT AAA1785
AAAgems
15.00 - 7 hours 7 minutes
PARCEL 3 NATURAL PAUA SHELL PENDANT AAA1784
AAAgems
15.00 - 7 hours 7 minutes
PARCEL 3 NATURAL PAUA SHELL PENDANT DOUBLE SIDED AAA1786
AAAgems
15.00 - 7 hours 22 minutes

November 9, 2009

The Queen of Gems

Filed under: opal — Tags: — admin @ 6:03 am

Which gem is the “queen of gems”? Well, it all depends on who you are talking to.

Many experts will say that it is the pearl that is the queen of gems. This is because the peal isn’t actually a stone, it is found within a living creature — the oyster — and is the only one that typically requires no cutting or polishing. Nowadays, unfortunately, most pearls on the market are cultured pearls – not accidentally discovered treasures.

But the opal is also called the queen of gems. (Some sources say that William Shakespeare bestowed this title, but I haven’t been able to find proof of that. He only mentions opal once, in Twelfth Night, and not in a very complimentary way!

Most often, though, it is the opal that is referred to as the queen of gems.

November 6, 2009

Cats Eyes Earrings Available Now

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 6:55 am

Don’t miss the opportunity to pick up these cats eye earrings.

TRADE DEAL 5 BLUE CATS EYE SILVER EARRINGS MYT 292
Mygems
19.00 - 8 hours 3 minutes
TRADE DEAL PARCEL5 CATS EYE SILVER EARRINGS MYT 204
Mygems
19.00 - 12 hours 3 minutes
TRADE DEAL PARCEL5 BLUE CATS EYE SILVER EARRINGS MYT192
Mygems
29.00 - 12 hours 3 minutes
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