Thursday, September 23, 2010

Let Coral speak to you . . .

 Red Branch Coral

Ever imagine what stone energy could do for you?  That is what I am going to talk about mostly in this particular article.


Coral when farmed is good for the environment as it helps keep the waters cleaner and is an easily renewable product.  The best prices are for clean blemish free coral and this is best obtained by clean water.  The coral is carefully harvested.  Explosives are not used therefore leaving the surrounding flora and fauna unharmed.  Thus with careful harvesting Coral can be beneficial to the environment, our healing, and our adornment, a happy marriage indeed. 


On the healing side Coral is said to aid in cleansing the blood when applied as a healing gemstone.  Coral is also said to bring a feeling of well being, a connection to our inner purpose.  As far as specific ailments it will bring healing to all areas of the body with specific attention to the eyes, bone, bone marrow, blood, circulatory system and the respiratory system.  As an organic gemstone it can help us connect to nature and all the benefits she holds.  It also brings prosperity and attracts love to the wearer.  Red coral is particularly good for attracting love because it is a stone of passion.  It is an all purpose edifier, healer very beneficial for the body, emotional health, physical well being and even our good fortune.


Design wise coral is a wealth of ideas, a designer's dream.  So many colors, red, pink, white, salmon or coral, black, gold, fossilized coral as well as a wide variety of shapes, branches, tubes, rounds and every shapes known can be cut from it branches.  Play, let your imagination run down the path of creativity.  Maybe letting your designs echo the shapes of what you are using the piece you are designing to bring into fruition.  Let your pieces bring this marvel of the sea into contact with the skin where it can begin is healing work.  


Please share some of your ideas about this incredible gem of the seas and any healing ideas you may have experienced with the particular gemstone.



White Branch Coral



  




           Black Coral
  


  










            Gold Coral












          Fossilized Coral

Monday, September 13, 2010

Are Fresh Water Pearls eco-friendly or green?

Fresh Water Pearls
Once one of the most highly valued commodities on the planet, the freshwater pearl is now available to almost everyone. The catch phrase
in all we do should be , “is it a green product or green?”. You can rest assured Freshwater pearls are. Rivers, streams and lakes are kept clean so this ancient creature can grow breathtaking pearls to adorn the most discerning palate.


The oyster is taken care of in a manner to assure that it lives a
normal healthy life span for the larger it grows; the larger the
pearls. Large pearls bring in more revenue. The cleaner the water; the healthier the oyster and with this comes more beautiful, iridescent luster and smooth blemish free nacre. In this manner pearl or oyster farming encourages keeping the waterways clean and free of pollutants.


After the first crop of pearls is harvested from the oysters a pearl
sac or pocket is left in the oyster. It doesn't need to be seeded for
the oyster will now produce the very valuable and sought after Rose Petal or Corn Flake Keishi pearl. 


Keishi Pearls
A Keishi pearl is composed entirely of nacre as no seeding has been done. After the Keishi is harvested the oyster is now ready to grow to the truly spectacular 10mm to 12mm pearls that are the reining divas of the pearl world. As this is the sought after outcome, safely guarding the life span and health of the oyster has now come full circle.


Through farming practices that bring premium harvest of the highest quality pearls, one can witness this amazing gift of nature as a truly green product. It is a renewable resource that keeps small independent groups of individuals employed, keeps the waterways clean and assures that the oysters producing this treasure of nature are carefully tended indeed.
So relax and enjoy pearls in all their varied form. These gems of nature are an absolute delight to design with and as the hues they come in compliment every skin tone.

Biwa Stick Pearls
















Blister Pearls





Champagne-Beige Pearls













Coin Pearls






Green Pearls















Peach-Pink Pearls















Peacock Pearls

















Platinum-Silver Pearls
















Purple Pearls

















Red-Cocoa Pearls









Monday, September 6, 2010

Sapphire - Birthstone of September!

Multi-Hue Sapphire Beads



Sapphires are corundum in any color of the rainbow except red. Red corundum is known as Ruby. Sapphires are a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale and are also the birthstone for the month of September. Madagascar is the world leader in sapphire production (as of 2007) specifically its deposits in and around the city of Ilakaka, but Sapphires are also found in the USA, Myanmar, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Australia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Kenya and China.


Lucky you if this magnificent gemstone is your Birthstone.  You can choose from an amazing array of colors.  Don't care for clear stones? In this incredible family, you have the choice of a star sapphire. A star sapphire is a type of sapphire that exhibits a star-like phenomenon known as aster-ism. Star sapphires contain intersecting needle-like inclusions (often the mineral rutile, a mineral composed primarily of titanium oxide) that cause the appearance of a six-rayed "star"-shaped pattern when viewed with a single overhead light source.  Just pick your favorite one and that can be your special Sapphire birthstone.   Blue became the "official" color for Sapphires when is was promoted by the Jewelers of America, the American national association of Jewelers, in 1912.  Now you know that you can choose the one that appeals to you! 

Personally I love the Padparadscha an unbelievable brilliant pink/orange.  The name derives from the Sinhalese  word for lotus blossom.  Along with rubies,  they are the only type of corundum to be given their own name instead of being called a particular colored sapphire. 


I hope this information has helped you to better understand Sapphire and some of it many facets! 

Autumn Hued Sapphires



Yellow Sapphire Briolette Bead
Blue Sapphires