Whether you’re thinking of making your own jewelry or curious about what jewelry makers do, there are certain gemstones that are better than others. Learn more about these gemstones and why they make for good jewelry! Quartz Quartz is a stone that is said to have positive energy and healing properties within its ice-like appearance. On the Mohs scale, it ranks at 7 which reveals a high hardness and makes it resistant to scratching. You can find quartz in different shades like pink, white, smoky, and aquamarine. No matter which color you choose, it looks beautiful with silver, gold, or rose gold. Often, rose quartz is seen as a stone of love, making it a special choice for jewelry settings. Whichever type of quartz you choose for your jewelry, it is sure to be a stunning design! Tiger’s eye Did you know that tiger’s eye is merely a version of quartz? It also ranks at 7 on the Mohs scale, making it stand up to all your activities. It gets its name from the dark brown color with golden-yellow stripes that look much like the eye of a tiger. As such, anything with gold or gold-plating is a lovely match for this gemstone. Pendants make a great statement piece with tiger’s eye. It has an ease of versatility too, allowing it to be sensual in women’s jewelry while being an edgy hint of strength for men’s designs. Onyx Black onyx has that silky sheen that makes it an instant classic. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, it’s another durable gemstone that will hold up in your jewelry. It’s a bold choice though depending on the design, jewelry can have a classic and elegant look with black onyx. The universal hue of black onyx makes it pair beautifully with any setting from gold to silver. Since it has a deep and entrancing charm, it can hold a masculine feel too, making it a great choice for crafting men’s jewelry. Jade Treasured for centuries, jade has been used to make ancient artifacts we’ve come to love in museums. From combs to vases and tools to weapons, once it became jewelry, it was coveted around the world. With a 6.5 to 7 ranking on the Mohs scale, this stone of wisdom, fortune, and balance is one that will help you feel your most confident and at ease. While most people are familiar with green jade, it also comes in pink, amethyst, and orange hues. Jade helps create some of the most beautiful bracelets, necklaces, and rings you’ll ever see. It’s both durable and breathtaking, something that you’ll be pleased to pass down as an heirloom to following generations in your family. Amber Technically, amber is not a gemstone, but rather, fossilized organic resin. Only jewelry makers that know what they’re doing will work with it because it is extremely soft. Despite this softness, amber is still strong enough to handle cutting, drilling, and polishing. Amber is hardy too, for it can resist scratches and cracks. Every step to making amber into jewelry requires intense concentration and commitment. As such, it’s hard not to fawn all over amber jewelry. Not only is it exquisite, but it also showcases extreme practice and care for turning it into splendid designs. Why Natural Gemstones are Best It’s hard to beat the beauty that comes from nature. All of these stones and amber too come from the earth in a natural way. With amber, it takes millions of years for it to form. Each piece you hold is history in your hands. As such, you can feel a bit more magical when you wear natural gemstones like these. However, you should also know that there is a difference when buying jewelry that is called “real” or “natural.” Natural gemstones like the ones mentioned above and genuine amber are created through natural processes in the earth. They have a specific mineral composition which gives each gemstone a unique color as well as clarity. And they are real, no doubt about it. With synthetic gemstones made in a lab, they have a mineral makeup that is identical to the naturally-found ones. These too are real as long as the mineral composition is the same as the ones from nature. Then there are simulated gemstones. If gems are created in a lab that have a different mineral composition or include traces of other minerals that don’t belong in the gemstone, then this is a man-made stone that is not considered real. There’s one you’ll often see, cubic zirconia, which is the synthetic simulated creation to represent the diamond. If you’re not using the correct equipment and lack training, you’ll never be able to tell a real gemstone from a synthetic one with your naked eye. Generally, clarity is better than natural gemstones with fewer inclusions and better color. For amber jewelry, it is easy to tell if you’re getting something real or not. There are simple tests you can do at home, though if you have an intricate piece, you may want to bring it to a professional jewelry to be sure. Additionally, when you buy your amber jewelry, you should make sure that the seller provides you with certificates of authenticity. To avoid buying fake amber and to get beautiful amber jewelry that is truly authentic, Holiday Gift Shops has what you need. For gifts or for yourself, you’ll find that this naturally unique creation is a beautiful choice for any occasion! |