When I was younger thanks to my grandma, I was taught to bite pearls to ensure they’re real. (Anyone else grow up thinking this was legit?) I cringe looking back because yeah, that totally scratches the nachre but hey it was an easy way to tell. Fast forward many years and with new technology, real gemstones can be grown with the same chemical properties while being more friendly to the...

Gemstones have such unique and interesting histories individually that it’s no surprise birthstones also have an interesting backstory. So where does the idea come from? Birthstones are believed to have a religious origin tracing back to Moses who directed 12 gems to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. They began to gain popularity in the 5th century though when Christians wore ornaments containing the 12 gemstones. The idea of wearing single...

I will start off by saying that while there are a few groups who verify sustainable practices, there’s no single major organization that determines whether jewelry companies are legitimately sustainable or not. That’s why understanding what sustainable jewelry is will help you to make informed and environmentally friendly decisions in the future. Responsibly mined/conflict free gemstones are another aspect of sustainability I didn’t mention because I personally feel as though...

If you're an avid jewelry lover then you probably know the most common types of clasps. But what you may not know are when or why certain types of clasps should or could be used. Sometimes clasps are chosen as the designers preference, but there are times that chosen clasps are more functional. While there are certainly more types of clasps out there but generally they're mostly variations on these common...

We’ve all been there, grabbing a piece of jewelry to wear only to realize it’s turned a dark color or may even begin to smell metallic. Unfortunately the sulphur in air is to blame as it reacts with metals to cause tarnishing. The good news is that tarnish is easy to remove with products you probably already have at home.  There are many, many articles out there suggesting various ways...

We all likely own some gold and/or silver plated jewelry. The cost of plated jewelry is just plain attractive and plated jewelry appears no different then gold or silver pieces. If you're like me (and even if you aren't) then eventually the plated jewelry starts to smell which totally turns you off to ever wanting to wear the piece again. If you're also like the teenage me, you've probably tried...

Before beginning to fabricate pieces myself, I never thought much about those little stamped numbers on my jewelry. Most of us probably don’t give it much thought since we purchase jewelry and assume that it’s what it’s stated to be. However, that’s not exactly the case. Here in the United States there isn’t regulation on hallmarking like in other countries. What does that mean? It means that technically anyone can...

  Moonstones are more popular than ever and for a good reason. Their unique coloring, affordability, and varying cuts makes this a perfect gem to work with in multiple design styles. But how much do you know about moonstones? Here I strive to answer 5 of the most common moonstone questions I receive.   What is moonstone? Moonstones are all-natural gems belonging to the feldspar group. Their unique adularescence makes...