Unfortunately in today's world, fraud happens. Glass and synthetic gems are sold as real stones or natural stones. If you aren't a lapidarist then you might not know how to tell whether the stone you have is real or fake. As a general rule of thumb, real gemstones no matter what kind they are have inclusions. You may not be able to see the inclusions without a loupe or...

There are so many gemstones that can be used in jewelry.  Choosing appropriate gemstones to use in jewelry pieces depends on the Mohs hardness scale.  Harder stones are more durable and can withstand everyday wear and tear.  Light is another factor because some gemstones will never fade or change color with light exposure while others will.  These are all considerations I think about when creating jewelry pieces.  Depending on how...

  Amethyst is the birthstone for February, meaning it's the perfect time to delve deeper into this gemstone.  Amethyst jewelry today is quite popular but amethyst hasn't always been so abundant.  The rich purple hues of amethyst are entirely unique and while there are other purple-hued gemstones, amethysts stand out because of their affordability.  Purple sapphires can look similar to amethyst but they are much more rare, costly, and their...

I've been incredibly busy lately at my workbench designing and putting together new rings!  I'm happy to say that quite a few of the new designs are now live and you can purchase them.  I thought I'd highlight the new rings and give you a little more information on each. Twin Gray Moonstone & White Topaz Sterling Silver Ring I really loved the thought of a dividing line.  I at...

All gemstones (which includes diamonds) come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Cutting gemstones is actually an art called lapidary and while there are different methods to the trade, I'll be focusing on faceting.  Faceting is done with machinery and is meant bring out the brilliance of a gemstone because the bottom reflects light so that when you view it looking down you can see the light.  Faceting creates...

What are gemstones? What's a semi-precious gem compared to a precious gemstone? How are gemstones measured/graded? What's a good gemstone? How are gemstones cut? Ever wondered about any of those questions?  I'll be striving to answer them and provide background on gemstones in honor of my new line of rings being slowly rolled out and added to the site. What are gemstones? Gemstones all began as minerals. Minerals occur when...