Archive for Birthstones
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
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
Emeralds – Birthstone for May
Posted by: | CommentsEvery month has its own special gemstone and it is popular to give jewellery with the correct gemstone in it appropriate to the month the recipient was born. May has the beautiful green Emerald for its Birthstone.
Back in the Victorian Era the famous Jewellery Tiffany published a poem about the birthstones of the year Mays entry is:
Who first beholds the light of day
In spring’s sweet, flower month of May
And wears an Emerald all her life
Shall be a loved and a loving wife.
I am not sure that this would sell Emeralds to a young girl today!
Ring with Emeralds
The Emerald is the green form of the Beryl class of Gemstones – the darker and clearer the green colour the more valuable the gemstone.
Emerald Jewellery:
Whilst Emeralds can be found in all types of jewellery, they do seem to be particularly popular in both rings and earrings . AntiquesAvenue has a lovely selection of vintage rings : Emerald and gold rings for you to take a look at. Remember emeralds can be very expensive but with their bright green colour a small and less expensive one can make quite an impact.
Care of Emeralds:
Your emeralds need to be treated with care, they are quite a soft gemstone and have often been “oiled” to fill in natural fissures and flaws in the stone. This oil can leak if the stone is put in an ultrasonic jewellery cleaning machine and some strong jewellery cleaners may also force the oil out. I would stick to cleaning your emerald jewellery with a damp cloth – dont soak it and it should remain lovely.
The Emerald in Folk Lore
As with all gemstones the emerald has many properties attributed to it. It is the gemstone associated with Memory and faith and is attributed with healing properties for the eyes and headaches giving enhanced mental capabilities. These folk lore associations may not actually be true but they have persisted down the years.
Aprils Birthstone – The Diamond
Posted by: | CommentsAprils Birthstone – The Diamond
Lucky, Lucky, Lucky April = they have the diamond as their birthstone, that is clear white diamonds, brilliant and sparkling. The diamond itself very hard in fact the hardest mineral on earth and does not wear out easily hence the diamond is also the symbol of ever lasting love ( that’s why it is given in engagement rings). Diamonds are controlled and graded – they are measures by what is know as the 4 c’s – Colour, cut, clarity and carat ( weight).
Diamond amethyst ring
What if you want to give a piece of birthstone jewellery but can afford a diamond? Well perhaps you can afford a diamond. Not all of these stones are large and very expensive. From Victorian times right through to today jewellery has been made with just tiny diamonds set into it. These diamonds shine as tiny points of light in the jewellery and several clustered together make a real impact. Even one tiny diamond well cut and set can give a real shine to a piece such as a brooch or ring.
Take a look at these pieces of vintage jewellery from antiquesavenue on this page - all are set with real diamonds and are quite affordable ( £50 or under)
Vintage diamond earrings
Care of diamonds- Diamonds are tough. If they are just set into precious metal ( gold or platinum or silver) with no other materials or stones you can safely clean them in a proprietary jewellery cleaner or I like to use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Having said that they are tough perhaps the metal they are set into is a little softer. If you have a piece of jewellery with a large and valuable diamond set into it then please do get it checked by a jewellery every year if it is worn regularly. The setting can become loose and the diamond may fall out, regular checking will help to ensure your jewellery is safe.
Diamond Necklace
March Birthstone – aquamarine
Posted by: | Comments
aquamarine ring art deco
Lucky people born in March have the beautiful aquamarine for their birthstone. This gem varies in colour from pale sky blue to a blue / green sea colour. Aquamarines are also the birthstone associated with the Zodiac sign Pisces and as a 19th wedding anniversary gift.
Aquamarines are associated with the sea, giving safe passage to sea journeys . In myth and legend they are associated with mermaids. Its other meanings are courage, faith and friendship.
The pictures show a few nice examples of aquamarine set vintage jewellery available from antiquesavenue:
vintage broochlavalier with aquamarines
lavalier with aquamarines
Amethyst – February Birthstone
Posted by: | Comments
antique amethyst brooch
- vintage amethyst brooch
February Folks are lucky having the beautiful amethyst for their birthstone – not only is it a very lovely colour it is also plentiful compared to many birthstones and so genuine antique jewellery set with amethysts can be obtained at an affordable price. This is also the stone of the astrological sign Aquarius.
Amethysts can be found in a whole range of colours from a pale lilac colour to an almost velvety shade of purple. It is a semi-precious gemstone, a variety of quartz.
The amethyst has a reputation for being able to prevent drunkenness and addictions. The Romans would drink from bowls made of amethyst to prevent them from becoming drunk. The Victorians would wear amethyst to help maintain sobriety and treat alcoholism.
The amethyst is also the stone of romance – St Valentine was said to have worn this gem and of course St Valentines day is in February.
The pictures show just a few of the genuine pieces of vintage jewellery containing amethysts available from AntiquesAvenue.
victorian amethyst ring
The Garnet – Birthstone for January
Posted by: | Comments
Garnet Brooch
This months Birthstone is the blood red Garnet . Garnets get their colour from Iron and Chromium in the crystal. They are a reasonable hard stone ( but less hard than diamond , sapphire or ruby) and so wear quite well in a piece of jewellery.
The garnet can either be faceted or polished to a cabochon shape before being set into jewellery. These are reasonable priced in comparison with the harder gemstones mentioned above – antiquesavenue shop usually has a range of antique jewellery set with garnets.
AntiquesAvenue offers a selection of vintage jewellery set with garnets.
Turquoise – Decembers Birthstone
Posted by: | CommentsTurquoise is this months Birthstone and it is also for the star sign Sagittarius. The turquoise is prized because of its lovely blue to blue-green colour which goes especially well with both silver and gold jewellery. As the turquoise is a relatively soft gemstone and is opaque is is polished into cabochons or hand carved rather than faceted .
Turquoise has been used in jewellery since the ancient times and in mythology is thought to change colour to warn of oncoming illness or danger. So why not seek out some special pieces of turquoise to give as birthday presents at this time of year? Here are a few available in antiquesavenue.co.uk shop you might like:
-
- turquoise silver bird brooch
-
- Turquoise gold ring
-
- turquoise set locket
