Stone Information

Ranges from transparent to opaque and occurs naturally in many colors. Agate is named after the Achates River in Sicily which is still a major source for this stone. Agate is often dyed to produce brilliant colors such as blues and greens.

Amber is the hardened, fossilized sap or resin from ancient pine trees. It is an organic gem. Amber often contains bubbles and other inclusions such as small plant or animal fossils. It’s color and transparency can vary, but most commonly it is orange, yellow and brown.

Amethyst is purple in color and ranges from a deep purple (highest quality) to a light lavender shade. Amethyst is the best known and most valuable form of quartz.

A very beautiful transparent to opaque stone with a vivid greenish to bluish color.

Aquamarine is a member of the Beryl family (same as the Emerald). It is a light blue colored gemstone that sometimes has a slight greenish tint. The stone gets its name from the two Latin words "water" and "sea". Aquamarine is usually heat treated to remove yellow components thereby producing a purer blue color.

This is a quartzite gemstone composed of interlocking grains of quartz and small mica crystals. The color is most commonly a light to mossy green, but is sometimes seen in a dark forest green.

January	Garnet
February	Amethyst
March	Aquamarine
April	Diamond or Cubic Zirconia
May	Emerald
June	Alexandrite or Pearl
July	Ruby
August	Peridot
September	Blue Sapphire
October	Opal or Pink Tourmaline
November	Citrine or Topaz
December	Blue Zircon or Turquoise

Translucent to opaque quartz crystals have naturally occurring black tourmaline inclusions. No two are ever alike.

This stone ranges in color from a deep blue to a very pale blue. The shades of blue are often labeled as London blue (intense dark blue), Swiss blue (aqua hue) and Sky Blue (pale blue). Blue Topaz is the most popular irradiated gem because this stone almost never occurs naturally in blue. Pure topaz is colorless, but the stone is also seen in yellow, brown, pink, red, and green. Other stones that can be irradiated to enhance their color are quartz, aquamarine, sapphire and diamonds.

The best method for cleaning gemstone jewelry is to wipe it with a clean untreated cloth. It is recommended that the stones listed above not be steam cleaned or cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner. Jewelry cleaner and soap should not be used on Amber, Iolite, Pearls, or Peridot. Topaz and Turquoise should not be cleaned with jewelry cleaner, but soap is ok to use. Sterling silver will tarnish over time and there are many ways to keep it polished and looking nice. I recommend the Sunshine Polishing Cloth. These cloths have a cleaner built into them and will last a very long time provided they are not washed. They are great for many things including silver, gold, brass, copper, mirrors and glass.

Is red/orange in color. It gets is name from the Latin word cornum (cornel berry or cornelian cherry. The stone’s redness comes from iron.

This stone belongs to the quartz family. The name citrine comes from the French word "citron" referring to it’s yellowish color which comes from the presence of iron. The coloring of Citrine ranges from light to medium gold. The larger the stone, the more golden the tone.

Fluorite has extremely variable color with some zoning. It is a translucent to transparent stone with coloring in shades of greens and purples. Rainbow Fluorite contains a mix of all shades. Fluorite should be handled carefully because of it’s softness.

This stones gets it name from the Latin word "granatum" (pomegranate) referring to it’s color and seed like crystal formation. Garnet is one of the world’s most ancient gems. Garnets come in many forms and range in color from very dark red to a rose color.

I use a variety of glass in my jewelry. There are many types of glass - Czech, lampworked (art glass), pressed, molded, vintage, and dichroic. Czech glass is made in the Czech Republic and is readily available in many varieties of shapes and colors. Czech glass may be molded, pressed or lampworked. Old German glass or vintage beads are not being produced anymore and are unique because of their color and/or style. Vintage beads are more difficult to find and therefore are more expensive. In the Pacific Northwest, we are very fortunate to have many wonderful glass bead artists who make beautiful beads using different methods of glass blowing and lampworking. Some glass bead makers use a glass called "dichroic" glass. This glass has special properties that make it iridescent.

Is a iron oxide, a common iron ore. It is blackish grey in color with a metallic luster. Aside from it’s sheen, hematite is also known for it’s heaviness.

Its name comes from the Greek meaning violet stone and has been referred to as water sapphire. Iolite is sometimes called Dichroite referring to its dichroic properties. The gemstone changes colors depending which angle it is viewed from. It displays colors ranging from deep blue, to violet and light blue to greyish blue.

Jasper is a variety of microscopically crystallized quartz that is heavily pigmented with colorful minerals. There are many types of Jasper. Leopard Poppy, Red ,Picture and Dalmation are some. Dalmation Jasper has dark spots against a pale, creamy background which resembles Dalmatian spotting.

The name labradorite comes from the province of Labrador in Canada, which is a famous locality for labradorite with an iridescent play of colors. Iridescent labradorite is sometimes referred to as spectrolite. Labradorite shows an iridescent play of blue, green, orange, yellow or red colors.

Onyx is a type of opaque chalcedony that comes in various colors. Black onyx is one of the most popular stones on the market today. The stone occurs naturally in black, but it is generally dyed to achieve a more uniform color. Onyx also comes in other colors including green and blue.

There are two main categories of pearls. The Natural pearl and the Cultured pearl. The natural pearl is the most rare and most valuable. A pearl is created when an irritant such as a piece of coral or shell positions itself inside an oyster. As a defensive measure the oyster secrets layers of nacre, or iridescent calcium carbonate covering the irritant. The nacre forms the pearl. The amount, quality and shape it takes on determines the quality of the pearl. Cultured pearls are created the same way only the irritant is introduced into the oyster with the assistance of a pearl farmer. Japan, China and various places in the South Pacific have traditionally been major suppliers of cultured pearls. Freshwater cultured pearls are farmed in freshwater and are grown in mussels rather than oysters. The irritants used in making freshwater pearls are often smaller than those used in saltwater pearls, which results in a pearl with more nacre, and less core irritant. Salt water cultured pearls are farmed in saltwater and usually grown in oysters. Freshwater pearl farming is less expensive because the mollusk usually produce more than one pearl, often many, whereas saltwater pearl farming in oysters produces one pearl at a time. Pearls come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Every pearl is unique and it’s beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The pearls I use in my jewelry are Freshwater Cultured Pearls. The pearls are imported from Overseas. I have a large variety of pearls in many colors and shapes. Shapes include semi-round, buttons, rice, potato shaped and flat. If you are interested in a particular type of pearl, let me help you.

Caring for your Pearls:

Protect your pearls from coming into contact with chemicals such as perfume, makeup, hairspray and similar products. These types of chemicals can alter your pearl’s luster or color. Pearls are softer than other gems so treat them with care. To clean them, wipe them with a clean, untreated cloth after wearing them. Do not clean pearls in jewelry cleaner.

Peridot is the gem variety of Forsterite, a magnesium rich member of the olivine series. Peridot ranges in color from apple green to an olive green color.

A slightly translucent and sometimes clear stone with blue, green, yellow and pink sheen. Stone has a rainbow-like array of colors and will pick up colors you wear.

This stone is often incorrectly called smoky topaz. Quartz is a common mineral with valuable electrical and optical properties. Quartz comprises a large group of stones. Smoky Quartz ranges in color from a rich brown to a light brown color. Crystal Quartz is clear and sometimes referred to as rock crystal.

Is a volcanic glass formed by the rapid cooling of lava. It is a popular black stone patterned with greyish white inclusions that resemble snowflakes.

Over 100 years ago in a small town in Austria, Daniel Swarovski created a machine that could cut crystals with perfect precession and consistency. Today, Swarovski is one of the largest family run and operated companies in Austria with a presence around the world. Swarovski (also known as Austrian) crystals are clearly some of the most beautiful on the market and are known for their perfection. There are many imitations called crystals but they are not crystals, they are usually Chez cut glass or fire polished glass. Swarovski crystals are of high quality, come in beautiful colors, and have incredible sparkle. In 1955, Swarovski introduced the Aurora Borealis (AB), a coated crystal stone, flashing with a rainbow of colors. This finish is seen on many of their crystals and also on many glass pieces. Many people are familiar with Swarovski’s name because of their crystal figurines, but over time Swarovski has produced road reflectors, the first prototype binoculars, and impressively chandelier parts for the chandeliers in the Metropolitan Opera House and the Palace of Versailles in Paris.

Sometimes seen as Tigereye. It is a variety of quartz with very fine, similarly oriented fibrous inclusions. When the stone is cut properly you can see the brilliance of it’s changeable luster. The most common Tiger Eye is a golden brown color. Red Tiger Eye is a mahogany/dark chocolate color.

Ten mineral species comprise the tourmaline family. Pink Tourmaline has a lovely color that comes from the presence of manganese. Green tourmaline comes in varying shades of green from light blue/green to dark olive depending on the presence of iron, chromium or vanadium. Watermelon Tourmaline is a stone with a mixture of these colors.

Is one of the first gems ever used to make jewelry and has been dated back to 5000 B.C. It often has a lovely blue color due to the presence of copper. The presence of iron will provide a more green tone. Turquoise sometimes has a rock matrix and varying shades of grey, brown or black veining due to inclusions or oxide stains. Natural turquoise is a mineral that has not been treated. Enhanced turquoise means it has been treated to improve its color. Stabilized means resins have been used to harden and darken the turquoise.