Archive for Gemstones
Gemstones in your jewellery, Whats in a name?
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve been looking at a lovely piece of vintage jewellery today made of French Jet. Did you know that French Jet is not actually real Jet at all but an imitation made of black glass? There are lots of similar gemstone terms that have the name of the gemstone with an additional name alongside. This can be quite confusing and its only fair that when you are looking to buy a piece of jewellery you know what you are getting for your money.
Here are the names that I have come across, the list may not be complete so please do let me know if you come across any and I will add them here.
Gemstone Ring
These are not real Diamonds
- German diamond: quartz
- Herkimer diamond: double-terminated quartz
- Bohemian Diamond: quartz
These are not real Emeralds
- African emerald: green fluorite
- Bohemian emerald: green fluorspar
- Broghton emerald: green glass
- Chatham emerald: synthetic emerald
- Cape emerald: Prehnite
- Gilson emerald: synthetic emerald
- Emeraldine: chalcedony that’s dyed green
- Oriental emerald: sapphire
- Evening emerald: peridot
- Spanish emerald: glass
These are not real Rubies
- Adelaide ruby: Australian garnet
- Australian ruby: garnet
- Bohemian ruby: garnet
- California ruby: garnet
- Cape ruby: garnet
- Montana ruby: garnet
- San Diego ruby: red tourmaline
- Siberian ruby: tourmaline
These are not real Sapphires
- Brazilian sapphire: blue tourmaline
- Burma sapphire: synthetic sapphire
- Hope sapphire: synthetic blue spinel or lab grown sapphire
Real Opals
This is not real Jade
- African jade: garnet
- Colorado jade: feldspar
- Honan jade: soapstone
- Indian jade: aventurine
- Manchurian jade: soapstone
- Swiss jade: jasper
These are not real Pearls
- Atlas pearls: calcite beads
- Delta pearls: imitations
- Roman pearls: glass beads
- Swarovski pearls: glass beads
This is not real Opal
- Ceylon opal: moonstone
- Blue opal: lazulite
- Gilson Opal: Synthetic opal
- Opal Doublett or Tripplet, part opal part glass
Not real Lapis Lazuli
- Swiss lapis: chalcedony or dyed jasper
- German lapis: dyed jasper
- Canadian lapis: sodalite
Turquoise Immitations
- African turquoise: jasper
- Chinese turquoise: calcite, soapstone
- Sacred turquoise: smithsonite
- Utah turquoise: variscite
- Vienna turquoise: simulated at one time but may contain reconstituted turquoise
- Yellow turquoise: often jasper or serpentine
Jet Immitations
- French Jet: Black Glass
Remember also that anything with the term “Faux” is not real. It is a term used a lot ( including by me) . The word “Faux” is actually French for false.
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
March Birthstone – aquamarine
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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
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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
Birthstones – Gemstones for your birth month and star sign
Posted by: | CommentsBirthstones are gemstones which are associated with the months of the year and with the signs of the Zodiac. It is often a popular gift to give someone a piece of Jewellery set with the gemstone associated with their special time of year.
| Month | Star Sign | Gemstones | Colour |
| January | Capricorn | Garnet | Deep Red |
| February | Aquarius | Amethyst | Purple |
| March | Pisces | Aquamarine | Light Blue |
| April | Aries | Diamond / Crystal | White |
| May | Taurus | Emerald / Crysoprase | Deep Green |
| June | Gemini | Pearl / Moonstone | Cream |
| July | Cancer | Ruby / Cornelian | Red |
| August | Leo | Peridot / Sardonyx | Light Green |
| September | Virgo | Sapphire / Lapis Lazuli | Deep Blue |
| October | Libra | Opal | Varigated |
| November | Scorpio | Topaz / Citrine | Yellow |
| December | Sagittarius | Turquoise | Medium Blue |
Amber – gemstones
Posted by: | CommentsAmber
Amber is an organic gemstone , it is made from the fossilised resin of pine trees which lived millions of years ago. It can be carved or polished so that it has a smooth polished surface and in this form it is popular in jewellery. Occasionally an insect, small leaves or a pine needle can be found embedded in the amber this is quite rare.
How to tell amber from its imitations:
Amber has several characteristic which enable it to be told apart from plastic and glass imitations, it is light weight, warm when touched and easily produces static electricity when rubbed . Also when viewed under a black light amber glows a strange greenish yellow colour. It has a characteristic smell when heated and will float in strong brine where plastics will sink.
Amber in Jewellery:
Here is a nice antique piece of amber jewellery( a Lavalier) available from antiquesavenue.co.uk. It is a superb Edwardian pendant made of amber with gilt overlay. This is in art nouveau style and dates from the early 1900s. On one side there is a faux lock. The amber measures 3.7 cms. A genuine antique piece of jewellery in lovely condition
amber lavalier