Archive for Gemstones
Amethysts, The sobriety Jewel
Posted by: | CommentsIs your vintage jewellery set with a purple or violet gemstone? If so there is a good chance that that stone is amethyst. The amethyst is a popular gemstone which varies from a light violet to a deep Royal Purple in colour . The amethyst is a purple form of quartz.
amethyst jewellery
The amethyst in history and legend
The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that the amethyst protected from drunkenness, drinking from an amethyst bowl would keep you sober. In fact the word amethyst is derived from the ancient Greek work for intoxicated. The Legends of the Gods include variations of stories about Dionysus’s tears staining quartz purple to form amethyst.
The amethyst has been worn as a gemstone since at least Egyptian times
Is this a real amethyst or a piece of costume jewellery?
Whilst amethysts are quite abundant and not over particularly expensive as gemstones go, not every purple or violet stone you find is real. Some amethyst coloured stones are made of glass. Look deep into the amethyst with a 10 x magnifying class. Can you see round bubbles? if so it is most likely to be glass. Can you see tiger stripes? If so then your amethyst could well be real. You will need to take your gemstone to an experienced jewellery to be sure.
What makes an Amethyst valuable?
Like all gemstones the larger the better and the clearer the better. Amethysts can be quite opaque and cloudy and such stones are often turned into beads.
Care of Amethyst jewellery.
The amethyst is quite a tough material measuring 7 on Mohs scale . This means that any jewellery set with amethysts will be quite durable and it is suitable for wearing in rings. As with all jewellery you need to take a look at what the stone is set into before you decide how to clean it. If the amethyst is set into silver or jewellery and with no other stones present you may clean it in an ultrasonic cleaner without any real harm. Alternatively a quick dip in liquid jewellery cleaner should be OK ( not silver dip) . Rinse well and pat dry.
Vintage Jewellery set with Amethysts
Here are a few examples of vintage jewellery set with amethysts available from antiquesavenue:
vintage amethyst jewellery
vintage pendant pearl amethyst silver baroque
What an amazing vintage pendant and is in the antique baroque style although it actually dates from the early 1900s. This pendant is made of silver and set with a central real amethyst and baroque and round pearls (I am presuming the round pearls are cultured although I cannot test these without damaging them). The smaller “amethysts” are coloured glass. I have added a newer silver chain so that this pendant is ready to wear.
Material:Silver, amethyst and costume jewellery Size: Pendant is 4 cms long and 3.6 cms wide. The silver chain is 60 cms long-Age:Early 1900s Condition: Excellent
Antique lavalier 9 carat gold amethyst
gold ring diamond and amethysts
A wonderful antique style gold ring made of fully hallmarked nine carat gold and set with real amethysts and diamonds. This ring sparkles wonderfully. The head of the ring measures about 6 mm wide. It is UK ring size just over O, USA 7.5
November Birthstone Jewellery, Yellow Topaz or Citrine
Posted by: | CommentsGiving gifts of Jewellery which is associated with a persons Birthday or star sign is a lovely way of showing you care enough to seek out a piece which is special for the lucky receiver. If someone has a Birthday in November they have a choice of birthstones Citrines or Yellow Topaz . Both have a bright sunshine colour. The Topaz is also linked to the star sign of Scorpio ( November 22 to December 21).
In Myth and Ledgend the topaz has been associated with strength, rejuvination and happiness also loyalty and friendship. Citrines are about joy and friendship as well.
Here are a few pieces of Jewellery which would be wonderful gifts for someone born under Scorpio or in November:
I am mentioning this piece first as it is quite unusual to be able to find a piece of genuine antique or vintage Jewellery which is birthstone set and also suitable as a gift for a gent.A lovely simple old Georgian gold fob set with a real citrine which is quite large measuring 3/4 x 1/2 inch. This fob will date from the early 1800s
Approx Size: a little over 0.75 inch long
Approx Weight: 4.3 grams
citrine jewellery
Vintage 1960s daisy flower citrine pendant 9 carat gold
fashionsboho todays. This is made of fully hallmarked 9 carat gold . This stylish piece of vintage jewellery would really suit a retro outfit or CitrinesWonderful for someone who loves fashionable things: A special daisy pendant dating from the 1960s and made of gold set with
wide at the basecms long including bail, 2.3 cms4.3
Vintage brooch silver citrine
- huge. This brooch is in excellent conditioncms measuring about 1.5 x 1 citrine long with the cms Gemstone in a pale lemon colour. This is typical of the arts and crafts bar brooches popular in the early 1900s. The brooch measures about 6 Citrine is huge. This vintage brooch is made of silver and set with a lovely real citrineFor Mum, Aunty or Grandma – this
The Opal, Octobers birthstone
Posted by: | Comments
black opal brooch
Opals are one of my favourite gemstones for setting in jewellery and so I am delighted that not only are they the Birthstone for October but Opals are also the Birthstone for Libra and so I can claim them for my own even having a birthday in late September.
Opals are commonly seen in a milky white colour with sparkles of green, blue, red and ( less commonly black). Most Opals are from Australia.
In history Opals have has a chequered reputation. Originally they stood for Hope, Purity and innocence. In the middle ages they though that opals had the powers of every gemstone where the colour was found in that opal. So an opal with green in also had the power of an emerald and one with red or blue had the powers of rubies or sapphires. Hence the more colours in an opal the more powerful and sought after it was.
In the Victorian era there was a famous Novel written by Sir Walter Scott in which an enchanted opal causes the death of a baroness. This seems to have been the beginning of the opals reputaion for bad luck and death. In otherwords its poor reputaiton stems from a Victorian novel and I like to think of it more in the traditional medieval way as having multiple powers.
Here are a few pieces of vintage jewellery set with opals available from antiquesavenue:
There is a super oval black opal set into this 9 carat gold brooch. The hallmarks date it to the 1980s. The opal is a doublet
What a beautiful brooch, It is is set with a heart shaped opal. It is marked as 9 ct gold
This vintage ring is made of fully hallmarked nine carat gold and set high with a real opal which measures about 1 cm long. The hallmarks date this ring to vintage 1980s. It is in really excellent clean condition
UK ring size O, USA ring size 7.25
opal pendant
September Birthstone Jewellery, Sapphires
Posted by: | CommentsBirthstone Jewellery always makes a popualr present. If you know someone with a September Birthday the stone to buy is the blue Sapphire set into a piece of vintage jewellery. Remember if you buy a piece of sapphire set vintage jewellery it is the most unique gift as you rarely ever find two piece of vintage jewellery the same.
The Sapphire is the official birthstone for the month of September as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also one of the birth stones for the Zodiac signs of Pisces, Taurus, Virgo and Sagittarius.
Sapphire earrings
Sapphire is the non-red variety of corundum class of gemstone (the red variety of corundum is ruby). A 9.0 on the Mohs scale of hardness, sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral. Only diamond is harder, thus making sapphire a very wearable stone.
Sapphires with inclusions of tiny, rutile needles exhibit an optical property called asterism. This is the star shaped effect seen in star sapphires and is usually only seen in cabochon cuts.
Star sapphires usually have six ray stars, but twelve ray stars are also known. Rarely, when sapphires are cut en cabochon, they can demonstrate a cat’s eye effect. This effect displays a thin band of light down the center of the stone and is known as chatoyancy.
Sources: India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa.
sapphire ring
Hardness & Toughness: Sapphire’s hardness is exceeded only by that of diamond – and the diamond is the hardest mineral on Earth! Thanks to that hardness, and excellent toughness, sapphires are easy to look after, requiring no more than the usual care on the part of the wearer. Care and Cleaning: Warm soapy water is usually considered best, but the ultra-sonic and steam-cleaner are generally considered to be safe.
AntiquesAvenue shop always has a nice selection of Sapphire Vintage Jewellery for you to buy for that September present and if you dont know anyone else I would like a large Sapphire for my birthday later this month ( hint, hint) 
Birthstone Jewellery for August, The Peridot
Posted by: | CommentsBirthstone Jewellery is a popular gift. Buying a present for someone with an August Birthday? If so then look for a piece set with a Peridot gemstone. Peridots are also the gemstone for the astrological sign of Leo ( 23 July to 22 August) and is sometimes given as a alternative gift for a 16 year wedding anniversary gift.
The Peridot is a lime green or bright yellow green colour. Naturally occiring gemstone found in Burma, China and the USA. The green colour is due to traces of Iron in the gemstone
Traditionally the peridot has been said to bring Love, Loyalty and Success. It enhances growth and prosperity and has even been said to ward off evil. One tradition has it that when a Peridot is set in gold it will ward off night terrors.
The alternative gemstone for August is the Sardonyx, an opaque form of quartz.
From time to time AntiquesAvenue has pieces of peridot jewellery for sale like this peridot set daisy charm or these peridot and amethyst earrings:
peridot daisy charm
peridot earrings
July Birthstone – The Ruby
Posted by: | CommentsBorn in July? Thyen you have the Ruby as your months birthstone. The Ruby is also the stone for both the 40th and 50th anniversaries ant the birthstone for Capricorn.
Rubies are a very hard red gemstone , along with sapphires they are second only to diamonds in hardness and durability and so are very suitable for setting into jewellery which can be worn regularly.
antique ruby ring
Rubies were first discovered in ancient India but are now mined all over the world including Australia and the USA. The most beautiful Rubies are said to come from Burma.
The red colour of Rubies varies from a deep pink to a deep red know as Pigeon-blood . Pigeon blood rubies are the most valuable as the deep red colour is the most desirable.
ruby earrings
In gem lore the Ruby is said to stand for love and passion – the ancients used it for a wedding stone rather like we use diamonds today. It is also said to help with courage, devotion and vitality.
Want to see some genuine vintage and antique jewellery set with Rubies. The pieces ion the pictures are all available from antiquesavenue
ruby set necklace
Precious Pearls – Jewellery birthstone for June
Posted by: | CommentsBeautiful precious pearls are the birthstone for those born in June. This is excellent news for those buying a gift for someone with a June birthday as there are a huge range to choose from to suit all tastes and prices ranges.I wrote back in May about how to choose a pearl necklace , this is probably the most popular way to wear pearls ( about 70 % of pearls go into necklaces) but pearls can also be set into earrings, rings, and brooches. If you choose a pearl ring please do be careful and wear It only on special occasions as they are prone to wear and damage easily.
pearls
Pearls have long been endowed with powers in folklore some of which which you may like to pass on with you gift of pearl jewellery:
The Ancient Chinese believed that pearls fell from the sky when dragons were fighting whilst the ancient Greeks thought that pearls were the tears of the gods. Gods first act of creation in some Muslim legends and symbolising innocence and purity to the Victorians
Pearls not to your taste of the giftee already has too many pieces of pearl jewellery? Well the Moonstone is a great alternative to pearls for a June birthday: How about this Victorian spider brooch set with moonstone for its body and a pearl of its head? this just has to be the perfect June gift.
pearl moonstone brooch
Pearl necklaces – How to choose
Posted by: | CommentsPearl Necklaces – how to choose the right one to wear
So you fancy a vintage necklace? Pearl necklace, they are very fashionable now but how do you choose from the huge variety available. As with all Jewellery is is nice to buy vintage Jewellery as you will have something more unique and most likely at a better price and with a wider range to choose from.
Lets take a look at some terms associated with pearls to help guide you:
vintage cultured pearl necklace
Natural pearls:
These have been formed in the oyster without any interference from man. These are the original pearls sought after through the centuries and quite rare and expensive these days especially if you want a large matched necklace. If you are going to buy a natural pearl necklace I suggest that you take some expert advice from a jeweller so as not to be mis-led. Seed pearls are tiny natural pearls and baroque or fresh water pearls are natural but normal mis-shapen
Cultured pearls:
These are formed in the oyster just like natural pearls but the formation of these is started by a tiny bead being introduced into the oyster shell. The oysters are farmed in large beds – The most famous name is cultured pearls is Mikimoto. Cultured pearls are much cheaper than natural pearls and unless you examine them very closely look just the same. If you see the term SouthSea pearls these are also cultured pearls
faux pearl necklace
Faux Pearls:
Faux Pearls, Imitation pearls, Majorcan pearls, costume pearls these are entirely man- made either from plastic or glass. Faux Pearls are costume jewellery, they are much cheaper than natural and cultured pearls and for a while can look the part . “Faux” is the French term for false or imitation.
Pink Pearls, Black Pearls:
Whilst natural coloured pearls can be found these have almost always have been dyed they could be cultured or faux pearls
Knotted String of pearls:
Pearl necklaces are often sold as “Hand Knotted”. This means that each pearl is knotted onto the string so that there is a tiny know between each pearl and its neighbour. Knotting in this way spaces out the pearls and prevents wear when they rub up together and also it prevents you from looking many if the string breaks. Good knotting is to be expected on a string of high quality pearls but beware can also be found on cheaper costume jewellery strings of pearls.
creamy vintage pearls
Creamy Pearls and White Pearls
Pearls can normally be found in creamy colours and in white. It is nice to choose a colour which goes well with your skin tone. Try both colours on and decide which looks best
