Gold, Sterling, Fine Silver, Vermeil and how to handle the rise in Metal Prices

20K Designer Beads

Metals have made the news recently with the upward spiral in prices.  Gold seems to be the focus but silver has been steadily gaining in value since 2005.  It has reached a height unheard of since the Hunt Brothers.  It now is hovering at nearly $40 per ounce!  Even once lowly copper has skyrocketed.

What does all this mean for people that make jewelry for a living or a hobby or the customers that purchase their products?  It of course, means the price is going up and staying there for the foreseeable future.  Ways we can deal with this are cutting down the quantity of metal we use in our designs, use old stock or do what we must do eventually pass it on to our customers. It does raise the intrinsic value of the items we design and this is always a plus.  Make the metal the focus and this will bring to the mind of the viewer that it is a thing of value.  I use metal as a way to bring in light and sparkle which just needs a touch here and there to achieve the desired effect.  Being creative people, beaders will come up with innovative ideas as they work this new factor into their creations.


GOLD!!! is rated in various purity amounts such as 10k, 14k, 18k, 20k or 22k.  Pure GOLD is 24k.  10k designates that it is 10 parts pure gold and 14 parts other metal this holds true for 14k, etc.  The total of parts always adding up to 24.  Adding other metals to gold increases durability and the choice of metal effects the resulting color.  Silver, platinum, palladium, zinc and nickel create a white gold while copper creates a rose gold.  The choice of metal of course does not effect the purity of gold and there is no way of knowing exactly what metal has been added. 

Brushed Sterling Beads

Some other facts: Sterling is .925 parts pure silver and .075 parts copper.  There is also another silver bead that we carry on our website www.silverrosebeads.com which is fine silver that is .980 to .999 pure silver.  Fine silver does not tarnish as does sterling.  Sterling silver tarnishes due to the oxidation of the copper content.  I've noticed that there are some dealers selling silver filled.  A filled product has a heavy covering of the metal either gold or silver applied in a top layer to the item.  There is nothing wrong with this as long as the metal you are purchasing is clearly denoted.  It might be a bit of a task to keep them separated if you have a large amount of stock in various metals as beads as a general rule are not stamped as to content.

22k Vermeil Bead Cap

Another very useful metal for jewelry crafters is Vermeil which is solid silver with a covering of gold.  The thickness of the gold must be 2.5 micrometers thick (or approximately 1/10000ths of an inch) .  The base metal must be solid sterling or it is not considered Vermeil.  The thickness is fine for jewelry making as most items are not worn for an extended period of time.

All metals will keep well if stored in an airtight container!  They stay bright and shiny without exposure to air (oxygen).

Hope this article has added to your knowledge of precious metals and how to manage them in your jewelry designs.

(Please click on the caption under the image of the bead to go to that item.  Clicking on the image leads to an error message.:)

Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson
Owner
The Silver Rose
silvrerosebeads (www.silverrosebeads.com)

What's Happening at Silver Rose Beads! (Re-Discovered!)

 

Recently added items are some exquisite British Columbia Nephrite Jade Beads.  They are sprinkled with attractive dendrites that make the most interesting patterns!  We were able to acquire these beauties at reasonable prices when they were purchased some years ago on a trip to the far East.  Recently we moved our warehouse 33 miles to our house at a small lake and in the processes found many dynamic beads that had been 'hidden'.  The move was an enormous job but full of amazing 'surprises'!  The good news is the items were purchased when the dollar was much stronger and the cutting and quality of gemstones beads on a higher scale than are now available for purchase.  Synthetics and ? materials were not available for purchase at that time.  I have been in the jewelry and gemstone business for 35 years.  Stone energy is a very real for thing for me and the manufactured, altered and synthetic material is glaringly apparent to me.  These beads are incredible Natural British Columbia Nephrite Jade.

As New (re-discovered) items are added to our website our BLOG and ads on Facebook will keep you posted on our latest additions!

The Nephrite Jade comes in three distinct cuts, square coin, smooth briolette or teardrop and round coins.  The beads are listed in 16" strands, 8" or half-strands and a parcel size that is approximately a quarter of a 16" strand or 4" of beads.  This is done to make it possible for you, our customers to purchase exactly the quantity you desire.  If you are in need of some amount other than what is available do not hesitate to contact us with your needs at: silverrosebeads@silverrose.net.


Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson

Stone Intuitive and

Owner
The Silver Rose
www.silverrosebeads.com

Fossilized Coral - Gift from the Pre-Cambrian Era

 

Fossilized Coral

Fossilized coral is also known as Agatized coral and Petoskey stone!  This gemstone can add a wonderful  dimension of earthiness and the marvelous healing energy of nature  to your creations.  The intricate patterning is so fascinating adding texture and interest to your designs. 

When made into jewelry the neutral color Fossilized Coral comes goes well with other stones and complements many intense colors worn in clothing .  The stone energy also is compatible with almost all other stone energies so I use it freely with everything from Aquamarine to Quartz.  This is also a green stone as the animal that inhabited this marvel of nature left 452 million years ago.  So one can use it without worry!

In the distant past coral reefs were more abundant than today and this is where much of the Fossilized Coral we see today was formed.  Some of these ancient reefs lie in sedimentary rock or in places such as England's Gault clay formation.   Found predominately in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the northwestern portion of Michigan's lower peninsula is Petroskey stone.  Petoskey stones are masses of fossil colony coral called Hexagonaria percarinata. 

Let this amazing gift from the Pre-Cambrian era bring the incredible creative force of 452 million years ago into your creations of today!

Fossilized Coral

Fossilized Coral

SODALITE - Enlightment through Delight!

Sodalite

As soon as I touch it’s smooth deep blue velvet surface kissed with constellations and galaxies of snow-white calcite a feeling of ecstatic peace permeates my being.  This lovely stone brings all the galaxies into choirs of praise about the very nature of who we are.  It will help you to recognize and verbalize your true feelings.  It will connect you to a part of yourself that enables you to ‘know” the sacred laws of the universe.  Sodalite wants to charm people into looking inside themselves and experience the incredible wonder that they are.  It call for us to look at the potential that we are.  That life is here now, savor it, taste it, live!

We all are on journey but it’s not the destination that holds the most potential for growth but the trip itself that Sodalite gently and calmly tells the careful listener.  Whether your travels are physical emotional or spiritual, Sodalite will make them smoother and delightful while revealing the true nature of your journey. 

Because of its ability to reveal to you your authentic self, Sodalite positively affects one’s self-esteem.
Physically it is said to balance the endocrine system.  It also has been reputed to be calming and regulating to the central nervous system.  It assists with calcium absorption.


It can be smoothed on the body to dissipate fears and anxiety.  Might I recommend a quiet private place, as you reactions to this incredible gem can be startlingly exquisite and you want to make sure you enjoy them!

Written by: Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson


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Sodalite Art cut Beads

Purple Flower Sodalite

Sodalite Turtle Pendant

Sodalite Pyramids

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

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           Black Coral
  

  










            Gold Coral

          Fossilized Coral

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

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