tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50334249485984726482024-03-05T02:46:18.867-08:00Gilded LaneGilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-69687894809434960822018-05-10T14:21:00.001-07:002018-05-10T16:42:04.964-07:00I'm BACK! And I'm about to get all Deco on your asses!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLV74gt2idPjcKpZlcFiXkbfcc5ImuoWwJYWP4rhAgPVYuCAcpGB6bblycMhXOlDRgK83IpuGqCmM1DyGCjIT2hRKNXoaqBbrwweaepih4DBpQne1iBY5JqXEqaAUwuRY-Y-G3krM1R0M/s1600/Chrystler+Building.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="795" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLV74gt2idPjcKpZlcFiXkbfcc5ImuoWwJYWP4rhAgPVYuCAcpGB6bblycMhXOlDRgK83IpuGqCmM1DyGCjIT2hRKNXoaqBbrwweaepih4DBpQne1iBY5JqXEqaAUwuRY-Y-G3krM1R0M/s640/Chrystler+Building.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of dyh.com</td></tr>
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First, I'll start by saying hello! It's been a very long time since I've posted a blog, so bear with me. I'm a little rusty.<br />
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As you may be aware if you've been following my bling journey, I am an Art Deco fanatic. In my home, in my jewelry, in my clothing, hell, if I could, everything I own would have some sort of Art Deco flair, and every decade past the 1920s has a bit of it in its styling. Even mid-century modern gets its graphic lines and simple bold colors from the Art Deco era. It seems that I'm not alone in my love of Art Deco as well. It's seen quite resurgence as of late. In fact I'm having some brand new Art Deco furniture delivered to me soon from CB2. It's a universally recognized style even if you don't realize it. The lines, curves, colors and metals, stand out in a crowd even when a skyline is filled with it.<br />
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One of the most famous and notable Art Deco buildings in the world is that baby right up there: The Chrysler Building. Built in the 1920s during the economic boom of New York City, its construction employed many people during the Great Depression and (and maybe a more than few injuries). It was the first man made building to stand 1,000 feet, thanks to its 'skewer.' When the Chrysler Building was finished it was praised for being "an expression of the intense activity and vibrant life of our day." Not having any documentation to back this up and only using my imagination - I can imagine there were many people who felt the affluence of the building wasn't great for the time, but people held their heads high. Now her sharp lines, bold colors, geometric shape are iconic. There is no public observation deck on the Chrysler Building so she is to be adored from afar, but walking into the lobby can be an Art Deco eye explosion that I highly recommend. I found a great blog/photos here: https://www.thewelcomeblog.com/stories-of-new-york/chrysler-building-lobby/9/6/2016<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcBjhRP-aTGGvP63vOrnidcXbHA3O3Xo2Ppnk1RMScn-e9Zb4Qpk1ZFM6HiJuqY3GmNPLfsirGXmZz-M8SycJE1iAE2VM0NrDJZR1hSdNNTRSXlBxARIAnFRgLZc_iUiykWPxva_hhpM/s1600/AD+crysler.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="803" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcBjhRP-aTGGvP63vOrnidcXbHA3O3Xo2Ppnk1RMScn-e9Zb4Qpk1ZFM6HiJuqY3GmNPLfsirGXmZz-M8SycJE1iAE2VM0NrDJZR1hSdNNTRSXlBxARIAnFRgLZc_iUiykWPxva_hhpM/s640/AD+crysler.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of The Welcome Blog, Linked Above</td></tr>
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The Art Deco trend started in the 20s; post World War 1. The world was itching to show how luxurious and modern it was and it found with Art Deco. Full length movies got their start in the 20s, so movie stars were being made, women were losing their corsets, men were losing their minds over the lost corsets! Technically it was illegal to drink alcohol, but it's hard to imagine the roaring 20s without thinking of a snifter of brandy or a cold martini in the hands of every F. Scott Fitzgerald out there. The style of Art Deco was so popular that it ran into the 30s, when the rest of the country was in a Great Depression, but cheaper materials were used. In the 40s, when the country was involved in another world war, the style had a hold on the world. There was just something about the exorbitance of Deco that held on through the turbulance of the world.<br />
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One thing was certain - big and bold was the way to go in everything you saw . . .<br />
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Cars . . .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnan9Wm4Cj5gSgdiM5sa60H6K8_rKxfwuJCvEnfznl0KRPlcMbnnoHnTHIYtDQO6DCymYpdwRmDOBKqJDXhqWBZzGZHfBKBTYACjfJz-36tQCQ5QeiLTWxfzkrsUtVkgnou_Hs_4HHGuM/s1600/Phantom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1087" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnan9Wm4Cj5gSgdiM5sa60H6K8_rKxfwuJCvEnfznl0KRPlcMbnnoHnTHIYtDQO6DCymYpdwRmDOBKqJDXhqWBZzGZHfBKBTYACjfJz-36tQCQ5QeiLTWxfzkrsUtVkgnou_Hs_4HHGuM/s640/Phantom.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of drivemag.com</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL54AcyUstCL6xY4RRNrtFOaPUIPg__yHmIott8LHJYhA9OpYiZFgCjCpTL6wSdTdzx9xpyk6eZNHdmjXcRhF81e2moT1Sg0Aylx_T6K_AjINkI1qv3NIgY81ihFFi7Qt-J9_ZlIG1TQ/s1600/AD+Car.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1235" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL54AcyUstCL6xY4RRNrtFOaPUIPg__yHmIott8LHJYhA9OpYiZFgCjCpTL6wSdTdzx9xpyk6eZNHdmjXcRhF81e2moT1Sg0Aylx_T6K_AjINkI1qv3NIgY81ihFFi7Qt-J9_ZlIG1TQ/s640/AD+Car.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Huffington Post</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMVNaiU-bCCKRN9j9Cu1KAuBJCdQCQUgCGkc6tmp7mmLq1GtkcLnBJ2c1QeyZ39qkrTNYLf0ObNQTVLMC4Xsp-DFksSV4HeyiTkyzwdWNvLCk6vuu05DHHMjXFKz-fI8KJozeEQJZWok/s1600/AD+Car2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="629" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMVNaiU-bCCKRN9j9Cu1KAuBJCdQCQUgCGkc6tmp7mmLq1GtkcLnBJ2c1QeyZ39qkrTNYLf0ObNQTVLMC4Xsp-DFksSV4HeyiTkyzwdWNvLCk6vuu05DHHMjXFKz-fI8KJozeEQJZWok/s640/AD+Car2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of AutoEvolution.Com</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyu259KfyXj6lEkKmvTmFtmm54B7vjk1pjHRL1JkQrHOCBnZiZPpuWAaIgMavM952xM-PDTvgIWnefP47bJP0WB4-Z-vUMneY9PwrxMczBD8CH6KKMnrARszYjK45yZUMeacuUTOG3QM/s1600/AD+Car3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="868" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyu259KfyXj6lEkKmvTmFtmm54B7vjk1pjHRL1JkQrHOCBnZiZPpuWAaIgMavM952xM-PDTvgIWnefP47bJP0WB4-Z-vUMneY9PwrxMczBD8CH6KKMnrARszYjK45yZUMeacuUTOG3QM/s640/AD+Car3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of 919Raleigh.com </td></tr>
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Trains . . .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XanXgOMU7SdWqmYhMieH7KiNiUfLPF2hMHXJGV7LLjJSDmXu2oVR2f2CxLn0-R6Bwpfy3wT4UIaiK4cpczS5hKGFZv7w8V4_kbEZgd77Spa9xzOAMn7XW7EKBvHAwlSJDZn119K_HEc/s1600/Trains.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XanXgOMU7SdWqmYhMieH7KiNiUfLPF2hMHXJGV7LLjJSDmXu2oVR2f2CxLn0-R6Bwpfy3wT4UIaiK4cpczS5hKGFZv7w8V4_kbEZgd77Spa9xzOAMn7XW7EKBvHAwlSJDZn119K_HEc/s640/Trains.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://i.imgur.com/EAJQ4TH.jpg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFwNAboqCWhXshxnftsiqUZFG9Ay-M1LwEQxAzfnPouaURjZI7_QJE_MOmdE0_GXrzq2I_t2LwZar9RsUxNg5ODXd1b3roAHDxvCbVcssX8CmDstB5zkrHwjg7_TsCj8ZtFThni-FqnQ/s1600/AD+train.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="633" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFwNAboqCWhXshxnftsiqUZFG9Ay-M1LwEQxAzfnPouaURjZI7_QJE_MOmdE0_GXrzq2I_t2LwZar9RsUxNg5ODXd1b3roAHDxvCbVcssX8CmDstB5zkrHwjg7_TsCj8ZtFThni-FqnQ/s640/AD+train.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Streamlinememories.com </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7QRQ5sJPPeXrrpNRnAtW5_F7fk13zOJT62i55dTL8Nho5RBBk5ob6EQSIGxx9PlXmH3zgFlQWyn1gNf8Zt7uV9N1oabZUsX1jok1CCXVwAHGugNlGv5a5JP2f3BtoKNTEx3J-7JFD04/s1600/AD+train2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="887" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7QRQ5sJPPeXrrpNRnAtW5_F7fk13zOJT62i55dTL8Nho5RBBk5ob6EQSIGxx9PlXmH3zgFlQWyn1gNf8Zt7uV9N1oabZUsX1jok1CCXVwAHGugNlGv5a5JP2f3BtoKNTEx3J-7JFD04/s640/AD+train2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of http://www.artdecomumbai.com</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1kJHhmaaN7MmLGRrUdd-jpEG_MOvHSTqZx_XD9mz-CR7YTPEwqHXsiHiU5cAV8A0Er7I-M8aYiHWGIPjUhAX-mCB1XllO7okaaddsG9LTHp61hWQd0-vng01O9aToFMT8Wf7yZajxfA/s1600/AD+Train3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1440" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1kJHhmaaN7MmLGRrUdd-jpEG_MOvHSTqZx_XD9mz-CR7YTPEwqHXsiHiU5cAV8A0Er7I-M8aYiHWGIPjUhAX-mCB1XllO7okaaddsG9LTHp61hWQd0-vng01O9aToFMT8Wf7yZajxfA/s640/AD+Train3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Chicago Art Deco on Twitter</td></tr>
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and most importantly (at least in my opinion)<br />
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Jewelry . . . <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMNhoL17nyy5hLT2oN7Go1ruzr3ezPMpUwRHPJWU7QPDxBQgehSVGuKnsr_RFXtXwYuVFbtJcmG7fych25QkmUbyd_xm_gN-nKV9xTKgTB66cUFwGfzVNeDCzn-Qeu40hSErxOKZIToQ/s1600/AD+emerald+halo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="589" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMNhoL17nyy5hLT2oN7Go1ruzr3ezPMpUwRHPJWU7QPDxBQgehSVGuKnsr_RFXtXwYuVFbtJcmG7fych25QkmUbyd_xm_gN-nKV9xTKgTB66cUFwGfzVNeDCzn-Qeu40hSErxOKZIToQ/s640/AD+emerald+halo.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/530369220/art-deco-antique-cushion-cut-diamond-and?ref=shop_home_active_32 </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhcP46L38AeNdHlUTOPGWmG1C8UBycsbtbwgSIZ4OK6crqMwE2qfqxg-8yvpbwuu5ccXPglfbLNtEILaN8QsEzZ7YIc31Fa3A-nHTRIhjum4IwbwpZY7FyRkNLmqI7Qcmh498TsJird8/s1600/AD+Emerald.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="540" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhcP46L38AeNdHlUTOPGWmG1C8UBycsbtbwgSIZ4OK6crqMwE2qfqxg-8yvpbwuu5ccXPglfbLNtEILaN8QsEzZ7YIc31Fa3A-nHTRIhjum4IwbwpZY7FyRkNLmqI7Qcmh498TsJird8/s640/AD+Emerald.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*sold*</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhknPOaXtOcs21KND1hbuCIqFSdNHAysCXGri_E3l9dqhSw0Fz_5WXs88z5gg5FwZghJ1ynKyRe8eftCFOEQf6r2cekdaLuP7SNw9GgMhaPhQ1VO5cASPT5fTUJQlplPd4x2VNNVtY-8/s1600/AD+Jazz+Ring.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="540" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhknPOaXtOcs21KND1hbuCIqFSdNHAysCXGri_E3l9dqhSw0Fz_5WXs88z5gg5FwZghJ1ynKyRe8eftCFOEQf6r2cekdaLuP7SNw9GgMhaPhQ1VO5cASPT5fTUJQlplPd4x2VNNVtY-8/s640/AD+Jazz+Ring.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/596893128/true-jazz-era-14k-yellow-gold-diamond?ref=shop_home_active_12</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHoEhdy9Czlu5r9OHtvJHfJTqA2vz7G8d3JjLvaMfJqZz4PKJ4kwZ5BUn4psekhErYPYpqt8LSphuigBFdpSeir73OhVTUzDkyy-zF8mADaViq5yIgxhPzH-NRRfnGTTygrOcQqxZf0M/s1600/AD+Sapphire.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="540" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHoEhdy9Czlu5r9OHtvJHfJTqA2vz7G8d3JjLvaMfJqZz4PKJ4kwZ5BUn4psekhErYPYpqt8LSphuigBFdpSeir73OhVTUzDkyy-zF8mADaViq5yIgxhPzH-NRRfnGTTygrOcQqxZf0M/s640/AD+Sapphire.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/610721473/vintage-platinum-art-deco-sapphire-and?ref=shop_home_active_17</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFuHgrzAAADU_SHoR5QDHVo_RCi-8fmKO4a_Kwf_nab1DraC0nW2pCF3o-e2TJhdVXWXrMgypN1If7ucQ_HCId7P3o_CGTenaIeOdY5qAspwJMv6juX7Gu1Yktei5Ky8UzyEM4po-mac/s1600/bracelet+AD.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="540" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFuHgrzAAADU_SHoR5QDHVo_RCi-8fmKO4a_Kwf_nab1DraC0nW2pCF3o-e2TJhdVXWXrMgypN1If7ucQ_HCId7P3o_CGTenaIeOdY5qAspwJMv6juX7Gu1Yktei5Ky8UzyEM4po-mac/s640/bracelet+AD.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*sold*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0yLpxB6KXdQxSyl0iV0ntwowlKxuX2tsBZmJkhcJI8q2c-zdfD6eQ309pG5Dp1uCDXjEMRyUdHkV-eWcn_z8jKdz-RyW7KOz2g8CM1RPzBx3vi1GRiWWQn7TYPV3GXSCNBgho7WZQVc/s1600/AD+Ruby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0yLpxB6KXdQxSyl0iV0ntwowlKxuX2tsBZmJkhcJI8q2c-zdfD6eQ309pG5Dp1uCDXjEMRyUdHkV-eWcn_z8jKdz-RyW7KOz2g8CM1RPzBx3vi1GRiWWQn7TYPV3GXSCNBgho7WZQVc/s640/AD+Ruby.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not currently for sale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In the 20s more colorful gemstones were used and diamonds were cut in less traditional
form. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, coral, onyx, crystals, in geometric lines and striking colors that shows the confidence and free thinking of the 1920s. <br />
<br />
Today the Deco era has a strong influence on the pieces I've designed and sell in the past few years as I have always been drawn to the "simplicity in abundance" of the style. <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCN6itMBwskcdwTbC9wcPfxkiBJEE4d7xG59V2PyZ5MsVqSQVhDAMl45Tih8MOw14aJZqjiDtbcrLUPQcKQmddhjG34ewztvoGl1nbmLrJQz73HSg3lOxAynNvyGF3oon_5xL_7xZThMQ/s1600/AD+Lapis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCN6itMBwskcdwTbC9wcPfxkiBJEE4d7xG59V2PyZ5MsVqSQVhDAMl45Tih8MOw14aJZqjiDtbcrLUPQcKQmddhjG34ewztvoGl1nbmLrJQz73HSg3lOxAynNvyGF3oon_5xL_7xZThMQ/s640/AD+Lapis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/596477271/platinum-lapis-emerald-and-old-cut?ga_search_query=lapis&ref=shop_items_search_1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNleiMHfdUiR46CvitNm2q-XXXEWGrIsPmS3baYFxFyp0P8oTSlUSBeWebVjkeuBY1zlPuCMYihrNlFCWJruBPWMT-1PO3OuwrIGnTs4iuYqy0VESrDg6iHydv6uSpZk2EHIzLyTbXcs/s1600/AD+Onyx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNleiMHfdUiR46CvitNm2q-XXXEWGrIsPmS3baYFxFyp0P8oTSlUSBeWebVjkeuBY1zlPuCMYihrNlFCWJruBPWMT-1PO3OuwrIGnTs4iuYqy0VESrDg6iHydv6uSpZk2EHIzLyTbXcs/s640/AD+Onyx.jpg" width="624" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/546672102/18k-white-gold-welo-opal-and-onyx-art?ga_search_query=opal&ref=shop_items_search_3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1zD_izSwy6fyKAdOhdrWhWewHCGwXojHnvQ-T0fmHapKZjNdD3ZNaxJMpl-up9qq_36QupWa1IP2sZOjWhLwA9V8N9oSmCl34esPnn1-xKUoqiRuNrVTYiRUg5v7_irstmbEI0H4xgw/s1600/AD+Opal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="936" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1zD_izSwy6fyKAdOhdrWhWewHCGwXojHnvQ-T0fmHapKZjNdD3ZNaxJMpl-up9qq_36QupWa1IP2sZOjWhLwA9V8N9oSmCl34esPnn1-xKUoqiRuNrVTYiRUg5v7_irstmbEI0H4xgw/s640/AD+Opal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/477793644/233-ct-solid-lightning-ridge-crystal?ga_search_query=opal&ref=shop_items_search_2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k_rTSP6xSOCKV2SL27_nVlWbRYksoCknDVwupoyhSAG89aXQEv6_-IQo8mkcDbaGubClerhjyLp9ajqHVGnkCh2EC4CcBmXzGCYkdyO7s4RTQ8m2sXNmUgjMvSxSP0g9nfYOkame5mw/s1600/AD+tourmaline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="534" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k_rTSP6xSOCKV2SL27_nVlWbRYksoCknDVwupoyhSAG89aXQEv6_-IQo8mkcDbaGubClerhjyLp9ajqHVGnkCh2EC4CcBmXzGCYkdyO7s4RTQ8m2sXNmUgjMvSxSP0g9nfYOkame5mw/s640/AD+tourmaline.png" width="632" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*sold*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Eu2DmwUW85cZxaBK-ltyq-HOhe7wNduIPXPlXbmJ1_U3VaQe1MA-j4OscIbOMHrCOAd8BJAzYPx572zvEKoGQKof5Xo2RJDzpUXCFKT3KWUyatzYyFHvBSeoyQJgwn2Ta99ZnTPXFwE/s1600/AD+coral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Eu2DmwUW85cZxaBK-ltyq-HOhe7wNduIPXPlXbmJ1_U3VaQe1MA-j4OscIbOMHrCOAd8BJAzYPx572zvEKoGQKof5Xo2RJDzpUXCFKT3KWUyatzYyFHvBSeoyQJgwn2Ta99ZnTPXFwE/s640/AD+coral.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/582680948/platinum-old-cut-diamond-and-coral-art?ga_search_query=coral&ref=shop_items_search_1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkU1GDJC6VWX6JBb30oKClKRYmEwMwdPvKB4klfs3DEkMVl6n4UTGqjV5K1G33sClUqHj1R3RuTWubZX7scpb_0aUWWST6Nr_FyiaibZFwYeWj0uEEu8C4tyPXEJMDl92XhbPmurD22Q/s1600/zelda2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkU1GDJC6VWX6JBb30oKClKRYmEwMwdPvKB4klfs3DEkMVl6n4UTGqjV5K1G33sClUqHj1R3RuTWubZX7scpb_0aUWWST6Nr_FyiaibZFwYeWj0uEEu8C4tyPXEJMDl92XhbPmurD22Q/s640/zelda2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course my Zelda (not for sale)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I continue in my bling journey I continue to find more I love about this era, and also continue to find more pieces to sell (or hoard) in my Etsy shop. I hope that this little write up conveyed a bit of what I love about the era and maybe made you fall in love with it a bit as well.<br />
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<br />Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-4290646138089766972014-05-15T15:36:00.001-07:002014-05-15T15:46:25.964-07:00No Need to Adjust Your Monitor: Blue ZirconFirst thing I need you to know: Zircons are in no way related to that sparkly imposter cubic zirconia (CZs could only be so lucky!). BUT like CZs zircons do come in a wide array of <a href="http://www.africagems.com/zircon-other.html" target="_blank">colors</a>. My favorite, and the focus point of today’s blog is blue.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hCuF0KFaNgcXvMyO_aaZXkGXmOC0GMoQa16SMNnL0RJZ4mUdDUFoblcC91NWIgKU98BCmAsuyB8YQUxdSe6v4agW6V77U1Tu8JQrZ5aecUCmxzHa1yZAWD5qVSBNrlzuoCSlhO9L_G4/s1600/Z10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hCuF0KFaNgcXvMyO_aaZXkGXmOC0GMoQa16SMNnL0RJZ4mUdDUFoblcC91NWIgKU98BCmAsuyB8YQUxdSe6v4agW6V77U1Tu8JQrZ5aecUCmxzHa1yZAWD5qVSBNrlzuoCSlhO9L_G4/s1600/Z10.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie Kate Jewelery rubylane.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJWwoRFUXe0&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Blue Zircon IRL</a><br />
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Totally my opinion and I admit to having no evidence to back this theory up, but I think the name "zircon" and its similarity to zirconia has made the general public look the other way when it comes to blue zircons. Heck, prior to becoming a colored stone snob myself, I would turn my nose up at blue zircons. Since my conversion, however, I’ve learned to covet the unique and beautiful blue stone.<br />
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Let’s get through the boring nitty gritty: zircons are 7.5 on the <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html" target="_blank">Mohs</a> scale, so they are susceptible to damage, especially near the facet edges. Like with all colored stones, you must be careful wearing it and cleaning. I think at this point if you read through all of my blogs, you’ll think I’m starting to sound like a broken record about that, but it's very important if you want to keep your pretties their prettiest. <br />
<br />
Blue zircon is extremely <a href="http://www.ajsgem.com/articles/gemstone-brilliance-and-luster.html" target="_blank">brilliant</a> and has excellent <a href="http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/dispersion-chart.php" target="_blank">dispersion</a>. It was used quite often in older jewelry. Some remarkable vintage pieces can still be found today.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWRhjjf1qpyvTSbW46Ry-VcBJTxrptN81OT8xIHaI68e8GRNiauddiFPSD-wIwFay_eE52jgNAoBBI9zx-Qc16FokHQQeaYqAOgICoBmnxhN5Nif-fOYuZJ9wUPHttj6s3nbi4N1RHNU/s1600/Z9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWRhjjf1qpyvTSbW46Ry-VcBJTxrptN81OT8xIHaI68e8GRNiauddiFPSD-wIwFay_eE52jgNAoBBI9zx-Qc16FokHQQeaYqAOgICoBmnxhN5Nif-fOYuZJ9wUPHttj6s3nbi4N1RHNU/s1600/Z9.jpg" height="410" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Etsy vendor: The Salvages</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MsUjucfFw2SLh2pfoZ0_YHlizPdcIeR7X0p5IoWvoL8N0nDJ_7oq6tsFpvXFuG6Qno57vsHYEwWOyF_NnSDCKSRThnwfETPOm90Jw8e32wOBqv_uyZSmj4dG1S38qg8qgK9OORFWono/s1600/Z3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MsUjucfFw2SLh2pfoZ0_YHlizPdcIeR7X0p5IoWvoL8N0nDJ_7oq6tsFpvXFuG6Qno57vsHYEwWOyF_NnSDCKSRThnwfETPOm90Jw8e32wOBqv_uyZSmj4dG1S38qg8qgK9OORFWono/s1600/Z3.jpg" height="640" width="632" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Etsy vendor: Galaxy Gems</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCRRVo4DV5LV4KyetCdHL3xr4EiH62ToQd7W73w0rKViO-WdjzwrS-kkMYcOD4OcTEMjkTZE2_mhNr3E87EUYDylgDBO4IGQ9F410gcxLIaro8ZSfr4n1nfZKn-R9Z9QBtj-sq-C4DnA/s1600/Z4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCRRVo4DV5LV4KyetCdHL3xr4EiH62ToQd7W73w0rKViO-WdjzwrS-kkMYcOD4OcTEMjkTZE2_mhNr3E87EUYDylgDBO4IGQ9F410gcxLIaro8ZSfr4n1nfZKn-R9Z9QBtj-sq-C4DnA/s1600/Z4.jpg" height="580" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Etsy Vendor: Stowe Gems</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUubkpRzClM_hKr4bP7MntSu4k4IVl2A6b0a9UBZPuO99-4ZLmcJhUA-0ZlwPmcmdgC2rFa9bhpw0yrubI1Nrp-qXN9pJLKDBBBqb_riObi-BLiKMDnxnQJNy2vJeQqN7sFB2VHyF-EM/s1600/Z11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUubkpRzClM_hKr4bP7MntSu4k4IVl2A6b0a9UBZPuO99-4ZLmcJhUA-0ZlwPmcmdgC2rFa9bhpw0yrubI1Nrp-qXN9pJLKDBBBqb_riObi-BLiKMDnxnQJNy2vJeQqN7sFB2VHyF-EM/s1600/Z11.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LangAntiques.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawyHGvh6f4ZK1W0b6f4hkYvMcd5w_GqNAbOB_H8SFw7E4C92rc7_ugJ0ZSZOZXDpxuJUz6eT_CzmAvHfmi3Wq0tVLq3aU_5fYUECBj05q9wco1EvoQc24D-akjGZV4nZ_3jYRMMfzyqU/s1600/Z12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawyHGvh6f4ZK1W0b6f4hkYvMcd5w_GqNAbOB_H8SFw7E4C92rc7_ugJ0ZSZOZXDpxuJUz6eT_CzmAvHfmi3Wq0tVLq3aU_5fYUECBj05q9wco1EvoQc24D-akjGZV4nZ_3jYRMMfzyqU/s1600/Z12.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LangAntique.com </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gmcJDGE7v6U2Urzuet1W0KSi9Fmos0lkp7lqaAGI0uSUYmzVrYs9cIvsrpFP_uPMF_FJwcE1J07RT5o2zcS455mkWDf6qq3wrTpy5foXHsORd07bDhUFA-CgnAlRy9QQZ8_ZWhyphenhyphenxJrw/s1600/Z13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gmcJDGE7v6U2Urzuet1W0KSi9Fmos0lkp7lqaAGI0uSUYmzVrYs9cIvsrpFP_uPMF_FJwcE1J07RT5o2zcS455mkWDf6qq3wrTpy5foXHsORd07bDhUFA-CgnAlRy9QQZ8_ZWhyphenhyphenxJrw/s1600/Z13.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LangAntiques.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Blue zircon can be found in a range of blue tones from very pale to a saturated medium blue. Due to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleochroism" target="_blank">pleochroism</a>, blue zircon can look slightly greenish when view from one direction.<br />
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One of my favorite (and a more unique) features of blue zircon is its eye visible double refraction. Don’t adjust your monitor folks, this is really what some blue zircon looks like. In fact lapidaries (the people who facet the stones) usually cut blue zircons to show this feature off. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSBjJ_8mSYFjHVr0Dj5QT1vtr8ueiSgmcOViD2b7hws7chcpClLko9hjU1Xy3Me_-ipkU4xrxyeDlejffAXDEH0PEuVKS1_H8AwvITeHXCNAxK6awcmj_vyDbeWH3pDVVkjNdmF_uloA/s1600/Z5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSBjJ_8mSYFjHVr0Dj5QT1vtr8ueiSgmcOViD2b7hws7chcpClLko9hjU1Xy3Me_-ipkU4xrxyeDlejffAXDEH0PEuVKS1_H8AwvITeHXCNAxK6awcmj_vyDbeWH3pDVVkjNdmF_uloA/s1600/Z5.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Etsy Vendor: MS Jewelers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HAFYotQOKwpjPex_x4X60BnHAnJEpa1bk-u7f_eZXD0FPf4egw9MpexhhJurl2LBWP_txRXK_S2nZk2Wz0YdRxN5M6FeasF7_91Vit7joBOCMxZkBKbu4JYOb222CUYSyXNcQQU7crI/s1600/Z2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HAFYotQOKwpjPex_x4X60BnHAnJEpa1bk-u7f_eZXD0FPf4egw9MpexhhJurl2LBWP_txRXK_S2nZk2Wz0YdRxN5M6FeasF7_91Vit7joBOCMxZkBKbu4JYOb222CUYSyXNcQQU7crI/s1600/Z2.jpg" height="522" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GemSelect</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN6QtDuYXixo6AhrnY2h1bk_6pp661x0MSio73prabaCnSkaBo93-flnndScnuhQGC4a8yRa-dDrXEPPNrf96BZQYGD0WHyxiRMEkqAn5NjG2w15uP_1hZhBHv2kIb1SXAtLsf9xmUXw/s1600/Z6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN6QtDuYXixo6AhrnY2h1bk_6pp661x0MSio73prabaCnSkaBo93-flnndScnuhQGC4a8yRa-dDrXEPPNrf96BZQYGD0WHyxiRMEkqAn5NjG2w15uP_1hZhBHv2kIb1SXAtLsf9xmUXw/s1600/Z6.jpg" height="640" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Africa Gems</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOQTpMS6ZlQlW9-aG1yPdHQB4tlxSTVTHJkOqQVbXK3-oFD2LBJx8ZG58SikNwWNvBN1JNMGjSyUbn8p8JsXOIjwr-qqOYKHfHTXZE3_E6peJz1BVlAyV5G1N4U6oK5ktCD6L_P5VmEo/s1600/Z7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOQTpMS6ZlQlW9-aG1yPdHQB4tlxSTVTHJkOqQVbXK3-oFD2LBJx8ZG58SikNwWNvBN1JNMGjSyUbn8p8JsXOIjwr-qqOYKHfHTXZE3_E6peJz1BVlAyV5G1N4U6oK5ktCD6L_P5VmEo/s1600/Z7.jpg" height="622" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Africa Gems</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I’ve been noticing that blue zircon prices are starting to go up, so if you’re in the market, always be aware (broken record, anyone?) and remember that knowledge is power. There aren’t any known <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/lets-talk-real-talk-about-synthetics.html" target="_blank">synthetics</a> of blue zircon but there are zircon imposters. Blue topaz and synthetic spinel are among the offenders. Aquamarines can look similar to blue zircons as well, but they tend to be less vivid. <br />
<br />
Thank you for the read and I hope you all have a blingtastic day!Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-71737467411346151482014-04-04T17:07:00.001-07:002014-04-04T17:07:19.658-07:00The Beautiful Truth Behind Tanzanite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">Tanzanites are one of the
most coveted and "youngest" colored stones around. It
was discovered in 1967 in the Mererani Hills in Northern Tanzania, and brought to the US by Tiffany & Co. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKIPi3jfEsyzH6wqNmDPkuMUmZNLEveX86pcIMMVQbJGMo-OpHhl-RxaHxEYfyw9K5tdv81zj1UIbrEzLG1vA3rGydf0mXJjHAfKf7WJxXVKvH47DTiIsnMJ3TTYoEobwztW-euD6utE/s1600/africa_2007_rwh_0938-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKIPi3jfEsyzH6wqNmDPkuMUmZNLEveX86pcIMMVQbJGMo-OpHhl-RxaHxEYfyw9K5tdv81zj1UIbrEzLG1vA3rGydf0mXJjHAfKf7WJxXVKvH47DTiIsnMJ3TTYoEobwztW-euD6utE/s1600/africa_2007_rwh_0938-1.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ruby-sapphire.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyykUAbHkRPd3-yA13eTYnv2HVukoU6ApqhVpIXgjE-wF7manswafThcup6E5HFThc5FULTs_j3apZzZrAZfBQe5z5dxlnvOHkB4o0UnZuAbvaPJWdCrsHKi6eKzJEq8CX95UWPyH46J4/s1600/tanzanite-experience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyykUAbHkRPd3-yA13eTYnv2HVukoU6ApqhVpIXgjE-wF7manswafThcup6E5HFThc5FULTs_j3apZzZrAZfBQe5z5dxlnvOHkB4o0UnZuAbvaPJWdCrsHKi6eKzJEq8CX95UWPyH46J4/s1600/tanzanite-experience.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TripAdvisor.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFBIZEET4Meagn9wGET0bBZbCo8v0nZw6LOyQ0hOuj9Zoyx8xMjS__mv5hCg5wZ5acGbaAAZz1tlI-pMC4NQSxtfa-llLCQxDAOHnKvp7C6iEqArLZybFqyn0kG9wmwXRjUvQD-3Nq3E/s1600/tanzanite_xtal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFBIZEET4Meagn9wGET0bBZbCo8v0nZw6LOyQ0hOuj9Zoyx8xMjS__mv5hCg5wZ5acGbaAAZz1tlI-pMC4NQSxtfa-llLCQxDAOHnKvp7C6iEqArLZybFqyn0kG9wmwXRjUvQD-3Nq3E/s1600/tanzanite_xtal.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PalaGems.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">Tanzanite color can range from light purple to rich
purplish blue color to pure blue. Because of that it's often mistaken for sapphire or <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/februarys-birthstone-amethyst.html" target="_blank">amethyst</a>. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjgyqmQe_HL9yA_zaokcuOgUUq3z6BknUmiVjYRoWTpPTGbEcR9Y0qI7AJy80Svy9y0DpRjeUeikGUUNBtYSRfFUnBFRB5YUmFYEpDJyFuHo6GhjpHN5YbmihYo7IklkMS1BHUXD0Zzo/s1600/%2524%2528KGrHqJHJDgFIJ%252BD8mVCBSFEF8mJpw%257E%257E60_12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjgyqmQe_HL9yA_zaokcuOgUUq3z6BknUmiVjYRoWTpPTGbEcR9Y0qI7AJy80Svy9y0DpRjeUeikGUUNBtYSRfFUnBFRB5YUmFYEpDJyFuHo6GhjpHN5YbmihYo7IklkMS1BHUXD0Zzo/s1600/%2524%2528KGrHqJHJDgFIJ%252BD8mVCBSFEF8mJpw%257E%257E60_12.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">eBay seller abboudjewelry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Bs-6sMuIJehFuTaBsXvdstd7PXMOE4gmB0anj3AK8eqyxntY6flH35KEOkFUtG7iNrq4nF_F2H7tfn2V9aRiI0Hr2pvwzAF4Q3UkB-hrh8G1PwC057bReS7TzZiA-KwyDSxRTd_rJ6o/s1600/9_Tanzanite_Precision_cut_no_heat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Bs-6sMuIJehFuTaBsXvdstd7PXMOE4gmB0anj3AK8eqyxntY6flH35KEOkFUtG7iNrq4nF_F2H7tfn2V9aRiI0Hr2pvwzAF4Q3UkB-hrh8G1PwC057bReS7TzZiA-KwyDSxRTd_rJ6o/s1600/9_Tanzanite_Precision_cut_no_heat.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PrecisionGem.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKij-8lIyg9DvglwT1W6BgKpFtJeVLfIkFxAi2DCo035I2JIIjJEmA3_7x0qoaL_Q7n0BFeiG_RjuCuLEeAVOzQpJHO0EKGg-vjCKH7vq0QXQ9WmdCpDxgwY3IXXuW7I6GOIUbMVllEV0/s1600/IMG_7019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKij-8lIyg9DvglwT1W6BgKpFtJeVLfIkFxAi2DCo035I2JIIjJEmA3_7x0qoaL_Q7n0BFeiG_RjuCuLEeAVOzQpJHO0EKGg-vjCKH7vq0QXQ9WmdCpDxgwY3IXXuW7I6GOIUbMVllEV0/s1600/IMG_7019.jpg" height="496" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wildsglobalminerals.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZVCNVyl3dSqdsuUizhwIiaNpw-0ziq8eky7TxW-RDtdH0W3c6ntstPSd9Fb6-Pl6n0mBiSJEFveEi6SRVnP0xK_YECF7GhJXptDaFGmgFnOxHch55pybLozYqRsN3MgU4usaNWlvu5k/s1600/158831358368967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZVCNVyl3dSqdsuUizhwIiaNpw-0ziq8eky7TxW-RDtdH0W3c6ntstPSd9Fb6-Pl6n0mBiSJEFveEi6SRVnP0xK_YECF7GhJXptDaFGmgFnOxHch55pybLozYqRsN3MgU4usaNWlvu5k/s1600/158831358368967.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AmericanGemSociety.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3MQe8xRPYwZNf8L4UXWHcetcRc9YvR_YxnpCVjB8oe5AXNh-dUhF_8Seq5VLvLyn6r4oSCbXO_w08ggwzzfbJKgbTi0isACG1H7T0UqCqxc6zzppxS1ZkIBzMxSLYGOPo-yvCFX2fpk/s1600/Satellite-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3MQe8xRPYwZNf8L4UXWHcetcRc9YvR_YxnpCVjB8oe5AXNh-dUhF_8Seq5VLvLyn6r4oSCbXO_w08ggwzzfbJKgbTi0isACG1H7T0UqCqxc6zzppxS1ZkIBzMxSLYGOPo-yvCFX2fpk/s1600/Satellite-1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gia.edu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">Even at its "young" age by gemstone standards,
it's quickly become one of the most popular gemstones around. You'll see them sold in almost every department store in a lighter purple shade, but the "collector" color is purplish blue or pure blue color.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKIXFUMtO30khY2E5BWhyphenhyphenM5rCSBXsM9YSciD949r6n8cStdlxMUq1v0a_LA33SzTzbHCnV7mVhL8lQ6oWAm4xLqSqNy1bzC67BkDzkQ8hT5v2CB8M3Vhdd4L1aayjBLhCl1GoQ7eVI9w/s1600/tanzanite-grades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKIXFUMtO30khY2E5BWhyphenhyphenM5rCSBXsM9YSciD949r6n8cStdlxMUq1v0a_LA33SzTzbHCnV7mVhL8lQ6oWAm4xLqSqNy1bzC67BkDzkQ8hT5v2CB8M3Vhdd4L1aayjBLhCl1GoQ7eVI9w/s1600/tanzanite-grades.jpg" height="148" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">krohsnest.net</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgQQ2o2XagI853eNEVkTp1fJFEPzo9VHV0seOlQLhH0iLVJpu7KOVbNXcWvk6XQsiN_FQTM-oSO6y6PH1uJXYYuB0gDRxp5VWeAth5g_yug7B-rVTpb3BlZpBkR1KKLXtXd_cX8hqqvI/s1600/tanzanite-300x247.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgQQ2o2XagI853eNEVkTp1fJFEPzo9VHV0seOlQLhH0iLVJpu7KOVbNXcWvk6XQsiN_FQTM-oSO6y6PH1uJXYYuB0gDRxp5VWeAth5g_yug7B-rVTpb3BlZpBkR1KKLXtXd_cX8hqqvI/s1600/tanzanite-300x247.png" height="526" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RaymondLeeJeweler.com approximately Grade A</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRTAydG81bKaXa3-Eh_Xt1ZilEknmDTyvMVQaIqEg8eD88vxbaTadyfLR7tFCO8OvVJkhxK-AsRT0QSxvUofdTpNKRXpvk5gtN54IhG4ZsGfPqK_3RVT7JpZCNakrMp19fUlfJHLvlEM/s1600/Tanzanite-Ring-1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRTAydG81bKaXa3-Eh_Xt1ZilEknmDTyvMVQaIqEg8eD88vxbaTadyfLR7tFCO8OvVJkhxK-AsRT0QSxvUofdTpNKRXpvk5gtN54IhG4ZsGfPqK_3RVT7JpZCNakrMp19fUlfJHLvlEM/s1600/Tanzanite-Ring-1024x1024.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another from RaymondLeeJewelry.com. This one is definitely top grade!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"></span></span><br />
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">Tanzanites are in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoisite" target="_blank">zoisite</a> mineral family. When mined most Tanzanite is a muddy brown color. The blue color is only achieved through light heating. This is one of those treatments in colored stones that is totally 100% acceptable, and in fact if not for that treatment there would be verrrrry few Tanzanites in the world (there are unheated Tanzanites, but damn are they hard to find).</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLvOROfBRLMEgNMVtL14G_FGjBWh4sKnnOlD8eanQNUJMWyKXT3hDwk2e1cOb5rA8sXH4bbU83MLh6qfMK0_mqxUM9mZGI-HtU4Yp-ClxWOd0MBsh6SfK4SP52XgqtiQmSSQiV39GdB0/s1600/image004.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLvOROfBRLMEgNMVtL14G_FGjBWh4sKnnOlD8eanQNUJMWyKXT3hDwk2e1cOb5rA8sXH4bbU83MLh6qfMK0_mqxUM9mZGI-HtU4Yp-ClxWOd0MBsh6SfK4SP52XgqtiQmSSQiV39GdB0/s1600/image004.gif" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tanzaniteone.com</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vwOxScme3UeHw2jsPDJSCyIxG3C01xoHrHj9U4g5c1GM3ToaNMxxJnhQ66UbYEUBpgSuZEQOXb3TAogbRj86Je0vsJCb7yLq1BpkxkPzhkAijN_8LA9v7-2wRKXqPMrRX6rSH7HmoUM/s1600/image003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vwOxScme3UeHw2jsPDJSCyIxG3C01xoHrHj9U4g5c1GM3ToaNMxxJnhQ66UbYEUBpgSuZEQOXb3TAogbRj86Je0vsJCb7yLq1BpkxkPzhkAijN_8LA9v7-2wRKXqPMrRX6rSH7HmoUM/s1600/image003.jpg" height="186" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tanzaniteone.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"></span></span><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">Tanzanites are incredibly soft at 6.5 on the <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html" target="_blank">Mohs</a>
and must be worn and cleaned with the greatest of care. Ideally
they're best suited for necklaces or earrings, but I know how hard it is
not to see that kind of beauty all of the time. Just be very careful
with them when wearing them because they will scratch, ding and lose
luster. </span></span><br />
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<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">Currently there aren't any <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/lets-talk-real-talk-about-synthetics.html" target="_blank">synthetic</a> Tanzanites. There are CZs that are colored like fine Tanzanites and there are other stones that can simulate Tanzanites, but science has yet to create a method for growing a synthetic stone that has the exact chemical composition of a Tanzanite. That means that testing for genuineness is a lot easier than with <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/blue-sapphires.html" target="_blank">sapphires</a>, <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/let-me-tell-you-little-bit-about-rubies.html" target="_blank">rubies</a> and <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/take-stroll-in-emerald-garden.html" target="_blank">emeralds</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">Now that I've gotten through all of the nitty gritty, here's the reasoning behind my title: <b>The world is not running out of Tanzanite</b>. Yes, as with any other gemstone the world's supply is limited, but there's no real risk of the supply running out any time soon. This was a marketing ploy that began in the 90's and like any good rumor it's just kept on going. It's still being used by TV jewelery sales channels, and it's working because people are buying up the low grade Tanzanite left and right thinking they may have a collector's item on their hands (literally). That's not the say they're not still incredibly rare. Gemstones are rare. So much more rare than diamonds. But they're not going to dry out like Russian Alexandrites or true <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/whats-so-special-about-paraiba.html" target="_blank">Paraiba tourmalines</a>. So you still have the chance to own this gorgeous stone, if you feel so compelled. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofhbpUtiiRs0TNUN0Kc1LYGgcEGwgCIbkb-jJgkOG9zMZNKfPD6RgQk4OBqMVk_tm5rMo4WICOwc4JJZRFSRJ8GVO_ErdsouZqTCuHP6O8yD94Vxqv8U4XJWconSB0DH6ffI795f2V5c/s1600/Satellite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofhbpUtiiRs0TNUN0Kc1LYGgcEGwgCIbkb-jJgkOG9zMZNKfPD6RgQk4OBqMVk_tm5rMo4WICOwc4JJZRFSRJ8GVO_ErdsouZqTCuHP6O8yD94Vxqv8U4XJWconSB0DH6ffI795f2V5c/s1600/Satellite.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gia.edu</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeKbtxVzbndjrNHIYPh6MOyOWCaRgN-cWdns3YltrkI8PXpvok2Egka8rX_spJvpnU9P8TIBkahd4qfdG2b7IyL9WbHwQphWHIexpYbiQxLnugr_nfu4gtpW1KOu3IDMe3cucOsfDLBA/s1600/gr7072-tanzanite-diamond-ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeKbtxVzbndjrNHIYPh6MOyOWCaRgN-cWdns3YltrkI8PXpvok2Egka8rX_spJvpnU9P8TIBkahd4qfdG2b7IyL9WbHwQphWHIexpYbiQxLnugr_nfu4gtpW1KOu3IDMe3cucOsfDLBA/s1600/gr7072-tanzanite-diamond-ring.jpg" height="640" width="546" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzDXIhfOIqPEhqm_maEoVB_cR3mptmykWurmnu8cINt9ln6h_0AQf-YJmeX9KZt7ZpJZiXdSHkE_WwDqErot97_32BtUjmElrcYoxj5vs3TLbOIffHKPHduvnUCyO70plEaRTH4fN_SY/s1600/Tanzanite-Tangent-Ring1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzDXIhfOIqPEhqm_maEoVB_cR3mptmykWurmnu8cINt9ln6h_0AQf-YJmeX9KZt7ZpJZiXdSHkE_WwDqErot97_32BtUjmElrcYoxj5vs3TLbOIffHKPHduvnUCyO70plEaRTH4fN_SY/s1600/Tanzanite-Tangent-Ring1.gif" height="412" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JewelryExpert.com </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOxAcYm2s_Cyv-apcf644AwWv7BXPzBXnKzupgmxI-BJxAf7BldMrcOXXEjvIgeb8XfaEqOby2rJmxbx6vm5XkJFu7Ntz1726giQzdVXgOjev9Gg7PDt5lzZ9YUMIJFec58X2OXBGyy4/s1600/Satellite-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOxAcYm2s_Cyv-apcf644AwWv7BXPzBXnKzupgmxI-BJxAf7BldMrcOXXEjvIgeb8XfaEqOby2rJmxbx6vm5XkJFu7Ntz1726giQzdVXgOjev9Gg7PDt5lzZ9YUMIJFec58X2OXBGyy4/s1600/Satellite-2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tanzanitefoundation</td></tr>
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<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">As always, buyer beware. As I said there are stones out there that are made to look like Tanzanites. Also, just because it is a Tanzanite, know that the premium pricing should only be paid for the premium colors. Shady sellers of this stone will still try to convince you that the mines are drying out and try to rob you blind. Now you can tell them that you know better!!</span></span><br />
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<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">Thank you for reading! I hope you all have a blingtastic weekend! </span></span>Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-5275826047118514822014-03-29T15:33:00.001-07:002014-03-29T16:11:26.557-07:00Take a Stroll in the Emerald GardenAn emerald garden? What? Well, when it comes to natural emeralds, they are almost never completely inclusion free. In fact, emeralds are considered Type III stones, which tells you that you'd better love inclusions if you love emeralds, because you're gonna get 'em. To soften the blow, the term "jardin" is used to describe the inclusions in emeralds, which in French and Spanish means "garden." So there you go. Mystery solved. Well, the first mystery that is. <br />
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Emeralds are a member of the beryl family (along with <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/morganite-engagement-rings.html" target="_blank">Morganite</a> and <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/let-yourself-fall-into-sea-of.html" target="_blank">aquamarines</a>). They rank 7.5-8 on the <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html" target="_blank">Mohs</a> scale, and because of their inclusions are not safe for every day wear.<br />
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Emeralds come from all neck of the woods, but the dream-the-impossible-dream origin for emeralds is Columbia. More specifically the Muzo mines. That is where the perfect slightly bluish green glowing stones are found. Not to say there aren't other perfectly glowish blue green emeralds in other mines, however, as with <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/blue-sapphires.html" target="_blank">sapphires</a> and "Kashmir," using the origin "Columbian" describes the exact color that collectors covet.</div>
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Like with the Kashmir term, "Columbian" is often overused. People will use that term haphazardly and charge more than necessary because of the respect that mine has gained. As I've said before, buyer beware. Make sure you're buying a certified stone if you're paying top notch "Columbian Emerald" pricing.</div>
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Treatments are also something to consider when buying an emerald. Remember that I told you that almost all emeralds have inclusions? Well sometimes their inclusions can be dangerous to the integrity of the stone. The air in unfilled emeralds also causes light rays to bend increasing their visibility. Because of this, light forms of treatment in emeralds is acceptable within the industry. </div>
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Oil filling and resin filling are the most common. Basically the stones are dipped in clear (sometimes colored) oil or natural resin to fill up the cracks making them less obvious and safer for wear.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8GQZPtLmGIjhScvhLCsQKzJXSAmJTOycyweBtq3IxqHWtAwj1VfjLpO11HyS1DNi4Y4WygTiKdS3hCedGQKZfNvB_RTair4Bc0koZ1UeQTv_ArUnfUuRVw23FbGc8pMRwVXI_-7kHHo/s1600/Satellite.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8GQZPtLmGIjhScvhLCsQKzJXSAmJTOycyweBtq3IxqHWtAwj1VfjLpO11HyS1DNi4Y4WygTiKdS3hCedGQKZfNvB_RTair4Bc0koZ1UeQTv_ArUnfUuRVw23FbGc8pMRwVXI_-7kHHo/s1600/Satellite.jpeg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GIA.edu</td></tr>
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This treatment is not stable, however. Oil can dry out, crack and rot. Resins are more stable, but again, if you own an emerald always err on the side of caution when cleaning it so that you can preserve the effects of the treatment. NEVER clean them in an ultra sonic cleaner and never use a steam cleaner. Only use warm water and mild soap.</div>
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There are other treatments that are less acceptable because they inherently change the look of the stone's color (glass filling and plastic filling). If you remember from my previous <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/let-me-tell-you-little-bit-about-rubies.html" target="_blank">ruby</a> blog, similar treatments are in rubies as well. </div>
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You also must be aware of <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/lets-talk-real-talk-about-synthetics.html" target="_blank">synthetics</a>. They are not the Devil, but you should always be aware of the possibility that an emerald you're buying is synthetic because lots of them exist out there. </div>
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Emeralds are an amazing, vibrant and exciting stone that can make a wearer feel like they're glowing just because they're wearing them. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM46IuVLPBhup3n7GuuXARlLyu5JU9W68fFOADl2Cz1XJdW8Ks7CA1tVjrEmBcK614nGZuqWLXzH3yQZigE1q8suyCReJlqXkiqaKKaX0M34LfnABPh4YBw9LcAuve6N80-ZVfwQWkjwI/s1600/2.05-ct-Zambian-Square-Emerald-Cut-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM46IuVLPBhup3n7GuuXARlLyu5JU9W68fFOADl2Cz1XJdW8Ks7CA1tVjrEmBcK614nGZuqWLXzH3yQZigE1q8suyCReJlqXkiqaKKaX0M34LfnABPh4YBw9LcAuve6N80-ZVfwQWkjwI/s1600/2.05-ct-Zambian-Square-Emerald-Cut-2.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zambian emerald, photo from azemerald.com </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSQYxNh2-JRA-7X_LHNltNfkNw2H_KzWzmY_SpP3TewVbRpwqgE8CWfns9FXa2daimLXbYcmi7fwUEnkps3OQqkgtx9FSvNauZt9R7hmeX_A92VKtPQpzAWMfw3BDLZE8r0fwumeKHNU/s1600/1386373712_30_1_5461_Emerald_Platinum_and_Diamond_Ring__1_of_6_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSQYxNh2-JRA-7X_LHNltNfkNw2H_KzWzmY_SpP3TewVbRpwqgE8CWfns9FXa2daimLXbYcmi7fwUEnkps3OQqkgtx9FSvNauZt9R7hmeX_A92VKtPQpzAWMfw3BDLZE8r0fwumeKHNU/s1600/1386373712_30_1_5461_Emerald_Platinum_and_Diamond_Ring__1_of_6_.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbian emerald from langantiques.com</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9LkHgISh3JgpCo0BShDCP4UEtMCao3TvmtGEYN5GMGmzzh9AUuHR-JHlKgwPNoDw0X5HL8fOxZl33ameYCcuoE1tMo2xo2sWna80mTCBKbqZKmStef-VT9H_nwUl_Yk7HOucE6Yc404/s1600/angelina-jolie-oscars-ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9LkHgISh3JgpCo0BShDCP4UEtMCao3TvmtGEYN5GMGmzzh9AUuHR-JHlKgwPNoDw0X5HL8fOxZl33ameYCcuoE1tMo2xo2sWna80mTCBKbqZKmStef-VT9H_nwUl_Yk7HOucE6Yc404/s1600/angelina-jolie-oscars-ring.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbian emerald worn by Angelina Jolie made by Lorraine Schwartz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2V_iHNZ2PymEpbHnmg2uB3yndVb9uM466NypZN96-oeo0v_H3YweeBOuet8BPX0wCm371NMNa8qZNR8uWsRet83QISXpeUAyjkIj_0EeRXpfkmEz5p9dPB1yaVKCcEKZ3Hr3BXa8u5Ko/s1600/Angelina-Jolie-wear-a-pair-of-stunning-emerald-earrings-from-Style-of-Jolie-at-Oscar-2009-Style-of-Jolie-New-Jewelry-Design-by-Angelina-Jolie-and-Robert-Procop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2V_iHNZ2PymEpbHnmg2uB3yndVb9uM466NypZN96-oeo0v_H3YweeBOuet8BPX0wCm371NMNa8qZNR8uWsRet83QISXpeUAyjkIj_0EeRXpfkmEz5p9dPB1yaVKCcEKZ3Hr3BXa8u5Ko/s1600/Angelina-Jolie-wear-a-pair-of-stunning-emerald-earrings-from-Style-of-Jolie-at-Oscar-2009-Style-of-Jolie-New-Jewelry-Design-by-Angelina-Jolie-and-Robert-Procop.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lorraine Schwartz Colombian emeralds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D4SIFhoILCTS126WipYO_TMTQ5eHAqQpyA-PYxDOiH5sFsFmXrtl2wxikJ9iNdYB8K19AllZQb-y67MRqc7AKesRyeGEtO8VMiX0vMPOzujJe2epIAhv5q0zBSABK56yeMgLj1BmUbg/s1600/Beryl-Emerald-Colombia-43mm-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D4SIFhoILCTS126WipYO_TMTQ5eHAqQpyA-PYxDOiH5sFsFmXrtl2wxikJ9iNdYB8K19AllZQb-y67MRqc7AKesRyeGEtO8VMiX0vMPOzujJe2epIAhv5q0zBSABK56yeMgLj1BmUbg/s1600/Beryl-Emerald-Colombia-43mm-10.jpg" height="638" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emerald in the rough, photo from oldirocks.com </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHvURCUgt5SSBOyRIehpqCv-aO7H7uNDbkCdLB9XQ8EMF4yWrBbyD3Nek9AofHGAGKLrmELJqG4fvkT7r8j3eNsZsZuSmgnnF96tKpPvsIKzIgvuOK6yB7EAWfnrt-UHCZ8_AILyQBHQ/s1600/Bracelet11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHvURCUgt5SSBOyRIehpqCv-aO7H7uNDbkCdLB9XQ8EMF4yWrBbyD3Nek9AofHGAGKLrmELJqG4fvkT7r8j3eNsZsZuSmgnnF96tKpPvsIKzIgvuOK6yB7EAWfnrt-UHCZ8_AILyQBHQ/s1600/Bracelet11.jpg" height="640" width="616" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SB621's Columbian emerald bracelet </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4FF03LeLxgg25eAC4ekCd95emgjv2rfMZJbiFtbI9ENSpo7hWYwIQUuS9Xd8OIejUzeO7hmA8MOZTyyQ5Uy0cm2EuvhrMfirFOTidfZgTWkw8WiYeCMe6qVZ4QWBhCOy1PTYBQUPtv0/s1600/Bracelet12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4FF03LeLxgg25eAC4ekCd95emgjv2rfMZJbiFtbI9ENSpo7hWYwIQUuS9Xd8OIejUzeO7hmA8MOZTyyQ5Uy0cm2EuvhrMfirFOTidfZgTWkw8WiYeCMe6qVZ4QWBhCOy1PTYBQUPtv0/s1600/Bracelet12.jpg" height="640" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SB621's Columbian emerald bracelet </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6MWEbe2OJbAgqRDzreen-ye4oAbyq3DZzezZ5PB5Pav7WtxBcg06ggCxSykO8gvB-40ubf8O4Qa2G2RgxXR43cOLKMaHfy4xmsCz9YAHl0_YV5yWOjKuq7WvW_MGLKMXSrfCDYElfS8/s1600/IMG_9320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6MWEbe2OJbAgqRDzreen-ye4oAbyq3DZzezZ5PB5Pav7WtxBcg06ggCxSykO8gvB-40ubf8O4Qa2G2RgxXR43cOLKMaHfy4xmsCz9YAHl0_YV5yWOjKuq7WvW_MGLKMXSrfCDYElfS8/s1600/IMG_9320.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My emerald ring, origin unknown</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1OnyPagO_axq8Adoy7WaMdhF6xbmA-T4Q6EiIkTHFkYYXV1AXQSYN4ZhKscSAGoevt1E3PomjLzcA4TcLGbtNAldsTTIb1OZoWrUp32gNCxv3MZzva2ZvIonM7Vzr-U4Iw7fsqBPrls/s1600/sofia-vergara-lorraine-schwartz-emmy-jewelry--L-3vICGS.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1OnyPagO_axq8Adoy7WaMdhF6xbmA-T4Q6EiIkTHFkYYXV1AXQSYN4ZhKscSAGoevt1E3PomjLzcA4TcLGbtNAldsTTIb1OZoWrUp32gNCxv3MZzva2ZvIonM7Vzr-U4Iw7fsqBPrls/s1600/sofia-vergara-lorraine-schwartz-emmy-jewelry--L-3vICGS.jpeg" height="564" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophia Vergara in Lorraine Schwartz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIbVz9vVmfHrDdOdr7GlpwZZzUpRbcyXgvy8l-ISRMhp_AveTiEoW_IikjlmBp4VyIMb2kBRgDS3BEEsxNsxMeo94-72jODOfh39GpIzLcnXxaOcSsbD4SVm4JYDsUtCZYlHNrzjwvI4/s1600/XXX_442_1393893201_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIbVz9vVmfHrDdOdr7GlpwZZzUpRbcyXgvy8l-ISRMhp_AveTiEoW_IikjlmBp4VyIMb2kBRgDS3BEEsxNsxMeo94-72jODOfh39GpIzLcnXxaOcSsbD4SVm4JYDsUtCZYlHNrzjwvI4/s1600/XXX_442_1393893201_1.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbian emerald from 1stdibs.com </td></tr>
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I hope you enjoyed this week's blog and I hope you all have a blingtastic weekend.</div>
Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-21226437136087361122014-03-23T12:18:00.001-07:002014-03-23T13:20:19.505-07:00Let's talk real talk . . . about syntheticsFair warning: This blog is going to be a little dull. But it's good information for a newbie to the colored gemstone world. <br />
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Let me start this one out by clearing up a common misconception: Synthetics are <u><b>not</b></u> fake gemstones. They're real gemstones with the exact same chemical composition of their natural counterparts that are man made and lab grown. Essentially science has learned how to speed up the natural growth process of gemstones. <br />
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I also want you to know, "synthetic" is <u><b>NOT</b></u> a four-letter word in the gemstone world. As long you're buying a piece with full knowledge that the stone is man made, you can acquire some amazing pieces that are typically more durable and have more vibrant colors than their natural equivalent. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbsKAUkbPxWo7T3mTiS1deqjK2FXP35dW9BI2rwYYspNt-4b0Vr7Tqli4_fm24quS3JeN2G2n8CmQPxzpElHnNj4hEhRCSBCwzRG7ZgPPnyr3pkXz5bfEXC9XbyL_I2DWL3Xbezhf9ZM/s1600/Satellite-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbsKAUkbPxWo7T3mTiS1deqjK2FXP35dW9BI2rwYYspNt-4b0Vr7Tqli4_fm24quS3JeN2G2n8CmQPxzpElHnNj4hEhRCSBCwzRG7ZgPPnyr3pkXz5bfEXC9XbyL_I2DWL3Xbezhf9ZM/s1600/Satellite-1.jpeg" height="254" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from GIA.edu</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXMrFNwSkRQs_3TfBSJcM1yBBhwoWZn_eL0YyXKxU4VMUpQO5vvAbGP1amEvvNk0taD-8GVW7Lcxwfg-vHzrUfT5ruapLhsft6wcBBdoqAYlhmXwW06x1bjwlET2SrfUtPNKBRRbJReA/s1600/Satellite-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXMrFNwSkRQs_3TfBSJcM1yBBhwoWZn_eL0YyXKxU4VMUpQO5vvAbGP1amEvvNk0taD-8GVW7Lcxwfg-vHzrUfT5ruapLhsft6wcBBdoqAYlhmXwW06x1bjwlET2SrfUtPNKBRRbJReA/s1600/Satellite-2.jpeg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from GIA.edu</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e2ztO78xGkUPqr2HD_lOf-e_mSjfmMzni068Bv0hlZczYHIVK0UFxcBPT5pgG2hxZFS0vpXu63X5QMVoVXq79eNoSk-nQtoSgMSQWi3tYPgNnF037aWMd-7ZDAu0rX5tp-ZE7oXDwsc/s1600/Synthetic_Star_Ruby_Sapphire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e2ztO78xGkUPqr2HD_lOf-e_mSjfmMzni068Bv0hlZczYHIVK0UFxcBPT5pgG2hxZFS0vpXu63X5QMVoVXq79eNoSk-nQtoSgMSQWi3tYPgNnF037aWMd-7ZDAu0rX5tp-ZE7oXDwsc/s1600/Synthetic_Star_Ruby_Sapphire.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.alibaba.com </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwDfLvDZCcfv_4i29rEmexql3f3VkQ1VAc66kCn3YPBeGPl2ycxiQLn5Ezdzs2PBKG6IoFKnu9IF2WqB81LTuxXcA73iM1xpYBY5H5JpJzldbhuSL0ZQlEZ1Ds5Ckqb27mPtCYfkTIVA/s1600/Created-font-b-Ruby-b-font-font-b-Ring-b-font-font-b-Synthetic-b-font.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwDfLvDZCcfv_4i29rEmexql3f3VkQ1VAc66kCn3YPBeGPl2ycxiQLn5Ezdzs2PBKG6IoFKnu9IF2WqB81LTuxXcA73iM1xpYBY5H5JpJzldbhuSL0ZQlEZ1Ds5Ckqb27mPtCYfkTIVA/s1600/Created-font-b-Ruby-b-font-font-b-Ring-b-font-font-b-Synthetic-b-font.jpg" height="640" width="578" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ftiNDAR5bVgS2-SMuj4PD0S7tGbK78bR9hxv9PZkRdZJBqUQ7IVTXP507Kpl2R6A6Ushcdw__qVxgM64aYfXwZxMeZPczgqponcEBjGh7j0bbTKzRIPRh6F3RJjE1ngr8DM1TiXF36g/s1600/6478.2L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ftiNDAR5bVgS2-SMuj4PD0S7tGbK78bR9hxv9PZkRdZJBqUQ7IVTXP507Kpl2R6A6Ushcdw__qVxgM64aYfXwZxMeZPczgqponcEBjGh7j0bbTKzRIPRh6F3RJjE1ngr8DM1TiXF36g/s1600/6478.2L.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.rubylane.com</td></tr>
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Synthetics have been around since the early 1900's, so you can get lucky and find amazing vintage settings with original synthetic stones. In fact, they were so popular when they first debuted that High Society often chose to have synthetic stones over natural gemstones. <br />
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However, as all of my blogs tend to be themed: buyer beware. Don't think that because you have a stone that's not so perfect in color and has inclusions that it has to be a natural stone. The creators of synthetics have gotten very smart about their growth process. They grow their stones with inclusions and with lower quality color to try to make them even more similar to their natural counterpart. </div>
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The only way to truly determine if a stone is synthetic is through magnification. If you own a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jeweler+loupe" target="_blank">loupe</a> you can use it to check for signs of synthetic. Unfortunately (you're going to kill me when I tell you this) very rarely natural stones will have similar inclusions to synthetic. </div>
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Head spinning yet? I know mine is.</div>
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Here are a few inclusions to look out for when you buy a stone and suspect it may be synthetic:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHPj9dD6kPJ53eAOMIgkjArShA_YEPGY0awWhNF3nmLRSDR6neKKKUlQHzotXMSj0rhM_nwRjvH26chHjS3DbeMa_Q_G5SM2Ohyphenhyphen-1NNG-vkDpb-pypSp6RPLsYjaYtYqzy3HwZVYLAWk/s1600/chevrons-crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHPj9dD6kPJ53eAOMIgkjArShA_YEPGY0awWhNF3nmLRSDR6neKKKUlQHzotXMSj0rhM_nwRjvH26chHjS3DbeMa_Q_G5SM2Ohyphenhyphen-1NNG-vkDpb-pypSp6RPLsYjaYtYqzy3HwZVYLAWk/s1600/chevrons-crop.jpg" height="314" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo from www.theconcernedgemologist.com </td></tr>
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Chevron patterns are common in synthetic stones. Curved growth patterns and gas bubbles are also common in synthetics. Most natural stones have straight or angular growth patterns. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4p79ZSwvNC6rwino7XQ9hoaNEDkaBVXrJ6MDY4FD6U7o-oQNQlzuyz_N_qepjtH23qeFU7qHdiG0K8Zlb_9-GnngkC20IxzDeQ7O-RhhgHbIuTlfudVrXKEn-aAbQVnm1vY7ESa8WnkU/s1600/figure04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4p79ZSwvNC6rwino7XQ9hoaNEDkaBVXrJ6MDY4FD6U7o-oQNQlzuyz_N_qepjtH23qeFU7qHdiG0K8Zlb_9-GnngkC20IxzDeQ7O-RhhgHbIuTlfudVrXKEn-aAbQVnm1vY7ESa8WnkU/s1600/figure04.jpg" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GIA.edu</td></tr>
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The following inclusion, which is called a nailhead spicule is never found in a natural stone. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVjBkB3gm6BmRLUmcYyL8DaFohEUY9zpN37I70VBaAaJHwKRnFG8hrnR8zxnLvZwiPmrFGlWJokqkJJHg1SMGON4gO6Ng8MEbp1dh3PE14ckDgT3ApJz_53icic7qI5JlthN67sNBlVA/s1600/nailhead-spicules-hydrothermal-synthetic-emerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVjBkB3gm6BmRLUmcYyL8DaFohEUY9zpN37I70VBaAaJHwKRnFG8hrnR8zxnLvZwiPmrFGlWJokqkJJHg1SMGON4gO6Ng8MEbp1dh3PE14ckDgT3ApJz_53icic7qI5JlthN67sNBlVA/s1600/nailhead-spicules-hydrothermal-synthetic-emerald.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Again, as I've said before and will say a million times again, there's nothing wrong with synthetic stones, just know what you're paying for. There are very many unscrupulous vendors who will try to sell synthetic stones as natural which can cost many times more. Sometimes vendors aren't unscrupulous, just uninformed. Colored stones are a tough world to navigate. Beware of everything you buy. If you're buying an expensive Columbian emerald, make sure it has certificate verifying its nature. But if you're buying a nice green stone from Macy's, don't worry so much. Colored stones are gorgeous. Period. As long as you're fully aware of what you own.</div>
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I hope you have an blingtastic rest of your weekend.</div>
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Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-54467931263393692952014-03-14T17:11:00.000-07:002014-03-22T18:09:58.659-07:00Let Me Tell You A Little About Rubies . . .Before I start writing this post, I want to warn the readers: I have opinions, just like anyone else. In fact, when it comes to colored stones, nothing is set in stone (of course the pun is TOTALLY intended). If the color of a stone sings to you, don't let it bother you that the color isn't ideal based on "industry standards." Colored stones are something that should make your eyes sparkle when you look at them and should never be purchased just because someone else told you that you should love them. <br />
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That being said, I have opinions about rubies. <br />
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The word "ruby" makes you think of the most luscious glowing reds. Makes you think of nobility. Makes you think of the colors of love. Let me just tell you . . . sometimes you'll be disappointed. If you really want an amazing, untreated, perfectly colored, inclusion free stone - rubies may not be the one for you; because to find that, you'd have to spend more than an arm and a leg, and you'd probably have to be spend a good chunk of your lifetime looking for it. As I think I've said before: colored stones are a labor of love, so know what you want to put your heart into.<br />
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First thing first in your road to semi-education on a rubies is knowing that rubies are in the same family as sapphire. Basically a ruby is a red sapphire. It ranks a 9 on the <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html" target="_blank">Mohs </a> scale. There are lots of pink sapphires out there that are called rubies, but to be a ruby, the stone has to have some red in it. Sounds like a no brainer, but you'd be surprised what people will do to try to sell you a ruby. Because the name alone commands a much higher price tag.<br />
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Second thing you should know is that rubies are mined all over the world. Rubies are hosted by very common rocks. Some rubies are marble hosted<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BphlKnEOWU5oJZBHml314BEgTU3pG_LKozKYEcRljpgz0gXSYAiXxbt3UAj_BOoMGM5-fWLdPrXpTGsF4EXPkxXR3lmoyeUHyazZ8jSrInE4gFFTkonLdCXxGlLhYaQRlxxD90t80w0/s1600/th.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BphlKnEOWU5oJZBHml314BEgTU3pG_LKozKYEcRljpgz0gXSYAiXxbt3UAj_BOoMGM5-fWLdPrXpTGsF4EXPkxXR3lmoyeUHyazZ8jSrInE4gFFTkonLdCXxGlLhYaQRlxxD90t80w0/s1600/th.jpeg" height="574" width="640" /></a></div>
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and some are basalt hosted</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMLxONRkuZMtXdxRWtUXW-XaJ775m6pgwdQ8mYKuptN6xaA_Rk5HoyUOaQt2_xKYdGrPag99R-PJnPHuBfqSXdN6XC_qDyxi-R1rIo8mXVbFpcColkeGH6jl3PWkNYYvAVaZ-NHQxcRo/s1600/ruby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMLxONRkuZMtXdxRWtUXW-XaJ775m6pgwdQ8mYKuptN6xaA_Rk5HoyUOaQt2_xKYdGrPag99R-PJnPHuBfqSXdN6XC_qDyxi-R1rIo8mXVbFpcColkeGH6jl3PWkNYYvAVaZ-NHQxcRo/s1600/ruby.jpg" height="384" width="400" /></a></div>
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The difference between the rubies found in each type of stone is that basalt has a higher iron content which inhibits the fluorescence in the stone. Fluorescence is responsible for that famous ruby glow</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQW46FPb_xQWMgYTj6IgkvpI1dglbyxl5JdFz9qiOwlWkk3m9vZLUTpItcpb_NrCtK93XwG6OYhB27pxiQA4TJ0-x0lcnr7oZ0xNZCMeHjGYpKm_m6O55T31onvcG73FtWbzPOT53q5PA/s1600/fluor_ruby_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQW46FPb_xQWMgYTj6IgkvpI1dglbyxl5JdFz9qiOwlWkk3m9vZLUTpItcpb_NrCtK93XwG6OYhB27pxiQA4TJ0-x0lcnr7oZ0xNZCMeHjGYpKm_m6O55T31onvcG73FtWbzPOT53q5PA/s1600/fluor_ruby_6.jpg" height="238" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Pricescope</td></tr>
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Why this is important to know is because if you're going to buy a ruby and the deal knows its origin (always get a report from a reputable source - I like AGL) then you will begin to know if you're finding your holy grail stone. Some origins that have marble hosted rubies are Tanzania (Winza), Burma/Myranmar, and Mong Hsu (Vietnam).</div>
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Even as a newly established colored stone lover, I'm sure you've heard of Burmese rubies. The stuff dreams are made of. Unfortunately it's currently illegal to buy Burmese rubies in the US. There are still some Burmese rubies floating around out there that came to the states before the ban, but you would DEFINITELY want an origin report if you're seriously considering buying it. Just to be mean though, I'll tease you with a few pictures of Burmese rubies.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv26yiOLXhAjoaNB2NcgW2UfmIo9-IaY7dZEBSOKo37VdfpeIGEoAv8ebyzZMO4ISQyYof6UFie_1jAv0ODD0nzhvS5A4cE4udGd2XC1qPMFFxgM5OoQZceCGf3Q0ZF_fJXrcml42DMnY/s1600/bulgari3_125657b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv26yiOLXhAjoaNB2NcgW2UfmIo9-IaY7dZEBSOKo37VdfpeIGEoAv8ebyzZMO4ISQyYof6UFie_1jAv0ODD0nzhvS5A4cE4udGd2XC1qPMFFxgM5OoQZceCGf3Q0ZF_fJXrcml42DMnY/s1600/bulgari3_125657b.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Pricescope</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to Fortekitty for the Elizabeth Taylor ruby photos</td></tr>
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Rubies from regions that have basalt hosted stones are Thailand, and Sri Lanka. They'll be a little darker customarily.</div>
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There is a relatively new mine in Tanzania (often referred to as Winza) that has a great supply coming out of it and they are marble hosted. They're also incredibly inclusion free and are almost always untreated (including heat)</div>
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Third thing you need to know in your ruby semi-education is about treatments. Many of the treatments for rubies are very similar to those of <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/03/blue-sapphires.html" target="_blank">blue sapphires</a>:</div>
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<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Heat:</u> Like with blue sapphires, heat is a common practice to brighten colors of rubies and free it from inclusions. It will melt away rutile needles which give that hazy glow effect (sometimes referred to as a sleepy stone) and will also clean up many crystals and minerals in the stone. Almost all rubies are heat treated (except for Winza rubies). Because the heat treatment makes the stone "prettier." Just know right now, you are more than likely never going to find a natural and unheated/untreated ruby that's completely inclusion free. You've gotta learn to love those flaws in our colored stone babies though. It's what makes them unique and who they are.</div>
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<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Fracture/Cavity Filling:</u> Like with blue sapphires, some rubies are dipped in fillers and soaked until they appear to be cleaner and brighter than they would've been naturally. Often times rubies are filled with red glass. As you can imagine this makes a stone that would seem to be safe and gorgeous VERY brittle and dangerous. This is a treatment that lots of chains use on their rubies and how they get those bright colors. If it's too good to be true, that's because it probably isn't true. There's also a technique called <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">quench crackling</u> which takes an otherwise ugly corundum and soaks it in red dye. The effect can be seen with a 10x loupe and looks like the broken up skin of an overtanned 80 year old.</div>
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<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Beryllium Diffusion:</u> H<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eat treatment of corundum involving lattice diffusion of beryllium has become prevalent in rubies and blue sapphires over the last few years. Initially only orange to orangy pink sapphires were seen with this treatment, it is now known that a full range of corundum colors. Only a qualified lab can detect this treatment, and even for them it's not an easy treatment to see. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are a LOT of synthetic rubies out there. Their chemical composition is identical to a natural ruby so be very wary of purchasing rubies from unreliable sources. There are a few tricks to determining whether or not a ruby is synthetic. First, a lack of inclusions can be an indicator. But the makers of synthetic rubies are getting smarter and are growing rubies with inclusions just to trick people. Curved color banding and gas bubbles are another indication of synthetic stones. If you see those things under close loupe inspection, be prepared to discover that you may have a synthetic stone on your hands. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, buyer beware. You should know by now if you've been reading my blogs that there are some shady sellers out there. Just know what you're getting. If you want a pretty ruby colored stone but don't want to pay ruby prices, that's fantastic. Just don't get taken for a ride. Get what you're paying for.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you all have a blingtastic day!</span></div>
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Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-14161372081874665452014-03-11T10:40:00.003-07:002014-03-11T16:36:06.227-07:00Blue SapphiresToday I finally decided to talk about a colored gemstone that you CAN wear daily (but of course always treat it with care): Blue sapphires. <br />
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They seem to be everyone’s favorite, and let me tell you, that glowing velvety purplish blue makes me heart go pitter patter. But as you probably already know, buying sapphires can be tricky. There are lots of them out there that’ll look gorgeous to you, but may be heavily treated or even synthetic. </div>
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Sapphires are part of the corundum family. They rate a 9 on the <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html" target="_blank">Mohs</a> scale, just below diamond. But as you should already know, the Mohs scale isn’t exactly linear. There’s a big drop from the hardness of diamonds to sapphires. <br />
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There are lots of different fancy colored sapphires that are super dreamy in their own right<br />
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but for industry purposes when you hear sapphire, just assume that it’s the blue variety that’s being referred to. <br />
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The ideally colored and most expensive sapphire in the world is the Kashmir sapphire.<br />
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however, actual Kashmir sapphires were only mined for less than 10 years in the late 1800's, so if someone is claiming to have a real Kashmir sapphire, they’re most likely lying. There are several sapphires out there that resemble the Kashmir sapphire but people will search high and low for it and spend a pretty penny.<br />
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Treatments of sapphires are a scary subject because often times when buying them, sellers won’t disclose the treatments. Lots and lots of chain retailers sell treated stones. Don’t get me wrong, they can make a sapphire quite pretty but some of the treatments aren’t stable and in fact can mask some very major flaws in a sapphire that can risk its integrity (one good hit and BAM your sapphire is cracked in half). <br />
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<strong><u>Heat treatment:</u></strong> Heat treatment is a totally acceptable treatment by industry standards. Hell, most sapphires today are heat treated. If you do find one that’s not heat treated and has a gorgeous color, you’re looking at paying some big dinero for it. <br />
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There are some sapphires that are not normally heat treated. Montana sapphires are the first ones that come to mind. Montana sapphires have a wide array of colors and some of their blues resemble denim, but it is nice to know you have a completely conflict free sapphire. Montanas are rarely larger than a carat though. So they are small, but mighty.<br />
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<strong><u>Diffusion treatment:</u></strong> Sapphires that are treated by diffusion are usually heated to almost a melting point and elements are melted into the sapphire. Beryllium is the most commonly used element. The color only penetrates just under the surface of the stone though and can be rubbed off during faceting, and may eventually wear off with wear.<br />
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<strong><u>Lattice diffusion:</u></strong> Historically, vivid orange or yellow sapphires were almost always lattice diffused. Recently, however, the process has been used to turn dark inky sapphires to cornflower blue. This process is similar to old fashioned diffusion but the color penetrates deeper and is more permenenant. The most important thing for consumers to know is that any sapphire which has been heat treated may have been beryllium diffused as well. Only a gemological laboratory with the right equipment can determine if that is the case. Even a well intentioned dealer can easily be mistaken about sapphires in his inventory, since he may have received incomplete information from his supplier. </div>
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<strong><u>Fracture filled/surface dyed:</u></strong> Often times highly included stones will have their fractures filled in with glass that is dyed the color of the stone. This is sort of like dipping it in Elmer’s glue. Yes it’ll make the stone look prettier at first, but the filling can come out if it’s cleaned in a jet cleaner and then you’ll have a not-so-pretty stone that probably has some pretty bad damage to it. <br />
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<strong><u>Assembled stones:</u></strong> I guess technically this isn’t a "treatment" but it’s something to look out for. Sapphires can be made into "doublets" (similar to opals). The top of the stone may be a real sapphire, but the bottom may be synthetic spinel or garnet. A good way to tell is to look at it from the side. Sometimes you can tell that there’s a cap on the stone that way. Although some manufacturers are really good and have made the stones blend together nicely. <br />
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<u><strong>Synthetic stones:</strong></u> There are A LOT of synthetic sapphires out there and some of them are damned good. They have essentially the exact same chemical composition as a real sapphire so they can be really hard to spot (which is why they’re so scary). Just make sure to have it looked at by a very competent jeweler because there are telltale signs that can often be seen under magnification.<br />
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As always, buyer beware. If you’re buying a sapphire, just know what you’re getting. There’s nothing wrong having a pretty blue stone, but don’t pay for a heat treated only sapphire (or unheated for that matter) if you don’t have to.<br />
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I hope you all have a blingtastic day.<br />
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Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-82785281755607995032014-03-09T11:00:00.000-07:002014-03-31T10:00:51.775-07:00Morganite Engagement RingsI'll admit it right now - I don't know a lot about Morganite. OK, I <i>didn't</i> know a lot about Morganite, but I know a little now. <br />
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My interest became piqued when I noticed that there's been a trend towards having Morganite as an engagement ring. Of course my antenna raised because I know they're not incredibly high on the <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html" target="_blank">Mohs</a> scale (7.5-8) and thus must be treated with great care, and I've also noticed that most of the engagement rings I've seen with Morganite center stones are quite large, so even more susceptible to damage. <br />
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Morganites were named after the famous bank tycoon and financeer JP Morgan and discovered in 1910. They are found in large and relatively clearly crystals so they can be faceted into large stones. </div>
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Morganites can be incredibly beautiful. They're a pale pink and are almost always completely eye clean. They're a member of the beryl family, so they're the siblings of aquamarine and emerald. In fact, they are sometimes referred to as pink emerald, but of course that's a misnomer. They have to be kept clean or they can become foggy (like aquamarines), but they should really only be cleaned with hot soapy water and a toothbrush. As with most colored stones, chemicals can be too harsh on them and can abrade their surface making them lose their luster.<br />
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Morganite is typically heat treated to improve color. The heat treating is hard to detect and is stable BUT the color of Morganite can <u style="font-weight: bold;">fade in sunlight or high heats.</u> That's why you'll almost never see them in the window of a street facing jewelry store. They're already pretty light, and when exposed to too much sun they can fade even more.<br />
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I can totally understand why someone would want a Morganite as an engagement ring. They're usually larger, cleaner and ALWAYS less expensive than diamonds, and the delicate pink is such a feminine dainty look. Perfect for engagement rings. I just hope anyone who decides they want one, will remember that they can't wear it 24/7. They need to be treated with great care and babied. They can last a long time if worn correctly and can make any woman proud to have one.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj96u5EFQrvE40Bydp6Mzbj04kbuBlhnaoPoUuDC9zMYP0N1crTXjnVagDUh7M8ZBztA8BC4BNj1iSGkN5x1OJiYN6CXkDUSgkU4vjYXceJC-hZe6I4ZZQKSSs9u66lcVrYV1wN_0ex94/s1600/MorganiteRingRose4Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj96u5EFQrvE40Bydp6Mzbj04kbuBlhnaoPoUuDC9zMYP0N1crTXjnVagDUh7M8ZBztA8BC4BNj1iSGkN5x1OJiYN6CXkDUSgkU4vjYXceJC-hZe6I4ZZQKSSs9u66lcVrYV1wN_0ex94/s1600/MorganiteRingRose4Small.jpg" height="640" width="588" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Pricescope.com</td></tr>
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Of course I always have to end with a "buyers beware," but be careful. Lots of online sites sell Morganite rings. I've yet to see any synthetics, but a lot of sites photoshop the Hell out of their pictures. If you're going to make a purchase online, make sure it's from a reputable seller and that you have a return period in case the color of the stone is not to your liking. That should be your shopping rule of thumb anyway, but I thought I'd just reiterate it here.Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-18483821201689441612014-03-04T13:58:00.000-08:002014-03-04T15:57:41.917-08:00And you thought an opal was JUST an opalOpals are one of my favorite gemstones. No two opals are the same and let me tell you, when you see a really good one, you can get lost in its colors.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoTp35fjMtA" target="_blank">Lightning Ridge Black Opal in Action</a></div>
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What makes opals so unique are their "play of color, (POC)" or that twinkling of different colors that happens from all angles when viewed. There are several types and patterns of POC but for this beginners blog on opals I’ll just let pictures do the talking. <br />
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You wouldn’t believe it if I told you, but you kinda have to since it’s my blog, but there are a LOT of different types of opals out there. <br />
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White, the most common type. Found in most commercial quality jewelry.<br />
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Black, the most valuable and rare. Found in Southern Australia, more specifically, Lightning Ridge. Black opals aren’t "black" per se. They have a wide array of different "body colors." The darker the better. I may have to do an entire blog on just black opals at some point.<br />
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Fire, the only opal that doesn’t display POC. It’s found primarily in Mexico and is translucent and usually red to orange’ish in color.<br />
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Boulder, also found in Southern Australia and when fashioned in jewelry can strongly resemble black opals. Boulder opals grown in ironstone crevices, so the ironstone can be seen on its backing.<br />
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Crystal, an opal with transparent to semi-transparent body color. Also mined in Southern Australia, the POC in crystal opals can sometimes look like it's floating on air.<br />
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Ethiopian opals are a newly discovered opal that have excellent body color and POC. They’re relatively less expensive because of the abundance of supply. <br />
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Opal are the national gemstone of Australia, and all of the finest opals are found in Southern Australia. They're made up of silica spheres and consists of 3-21% water. They’re rated 5.5-6 on the <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html">Mohs </a>scale so you have to be super careful with them when wearing them. They are also susceptible to dehydration which causes irreparable cracking. This is called "crazing." <br />
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Like any other colored stone, opals require a lot of care. You should never clean them in any chemicals and should keep them in a lined jewelry box and away from your other jewelry. <br />
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As with most other colored gemstones there are synthetics. But opals buyers have yet another bugger to look out for: the doublet and triplet. Doublets and triplets are still technically opals, but they’re a super fine layer of opal glued to a backing that’s usually black to make the POC show up more. Usually these are easy enough to identify by just looking at the stone from the side:<br />
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However when set they can look just like a solid opal. So of course, as I always say: Buyer beware. <br />
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I hope you've had fun exploring opals. They really are a miracle. Have a blingtastic day!<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-65339236754127287972014-03-03T12:37:00.001-08:002014-03-04T14:36:19.085-08:00Let yourself fall into the sea of aquamarinesTo my March birthday beauties, happy birthday to you. I’m sure you all know how lucky you are to be March babies because you get to have the lovely aquamarine as your birthstone. But did you know that aquamarines and emeralds are "related?" Hard to imagine that big beautiful sea of blue can come from the same family as that empress of green, but it does - the beryl family.<br />
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Aquas rank a 7.5-8 on the <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html">Mohs</a> scale so they are ok to wear in a ring, but you still must be careful with them because they can scrape, chip, and loose their luster. <br />
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Aquamarines are occasionally lightly heat treated to remove the greenish color in them. Heat treatment is an acceptable treatment and won’t diminish its value, BUT finding a highly coveted color that hasn’t been heat treated will help increase the value (does that make any sense at all?). <br />
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Aquas can come in a range of color from super light almost white blue to slightly greenish blue to deep beautiful blue. They also are customarily very eye clean and can be found in very large sizes. I’ve only seen one aqua that is the amazing coveted deep blue and unfortunately it’s only been in a photo. FORTUNATELY she’s been kind enough to let me share it with all of you!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DiamondSeeker2006's beautiful aquamarine in Beaudry setting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DiamondSeeker2006's aqua and her August Vintage Round diamond from Goodoldgold.com</td></tr>
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To find that color is pretty epic. As you can see, aquas are normally a little lighter and less saturated. Interestingly enough, many collectors prefer the lighter ocean blue color and would choose that over the darker and more saturated blues. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.<br />
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As always, buyers beware: there are synthetic aquas out there that very closely match an aqua’s shade. Although most aquamarines aren’t insanely expensive, but the highly coveted colors get a little pricey, so just be sure to buy from a trusted source. Also, the synthetic aquamarine (actually it’s a synthetic spinel grown in the color of an aquamarine) have been produced since the early 1900's so you’re not guaranteed a real aquamarine just because it’s set in a vintage setting. If in doubt, give me a shout out and I can help you. <br />
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I hope you all have a blingtastic day.Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-80076062309441606992014-02-27T11:02:00.003-08:002014-03-04T14:37:02.315-08:00What's so special about Paraiba tourmalines?It’s 1989. Don Johnson is the hottest thing on television. Everyone and their mother is wearing bright glowing colors and Mother Nature decides to grace us with the stone that makes every colored stone junkie’s insides vibrate: the Paraiba tourmaline.<br />
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Paraiba (pair-a-eee-ba) tourmalines come from Paraiba, Brazil. One man is credited with their discovery: Heitor Dimas Barbosa. He just KNEW there was something amazing in the hills of Paraiba and put his reputation on the line (and I believe every cent) to find them. He spent 5.5 years digging (with a crew, of course), but was too sick to witness the amazing first discovery when they finally struck gold (or in this case, neon glowing turquoise). <br />
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What makes Paraiba tourmalines so special and makes them glow is the copper inside of them. They can be found in many colors (emerald green, turquoise to sky blue, sapphire blue, indigo, bluish-violet, and purple) but the colors to end all colors is radiant blue, turquoise and green.<br />
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Large Paraibas are extremely rare and can command prices of up to 5 figures per carat. Even small Paraibas of electric colors can cost an arm and a leg (who needs two anyway, right?). There are blue/green tourmalines out there that are amazing in their own right, but that glow, like someone has a neon flashlight on a ring - that’s the stuff dreams are made of. I’ve yet to see one in person, but I imagine there will be more than one blingasam when I finally do.<br />
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Just a note: there are a lot of Paraiba imposters out there. Apatites resemble Paraibas but are extremely soft/brittle and really should only be worn as a necklace or earrings. So please don’t be fooled by eBay sales. If you truly want a Paraiba, remember to buy it from a trusted source and have it tested through a reliable lab (I like the American Gemological Lab "AGL"). <br />
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Hope you enjoyed the eye candy.<br />
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Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-35500808305274995682014-02-26T11:29:00.004-08:002014-03-04T14:37:41.249-08:00Mahenge SpinelToday I’m going to tell you about my holy grail stone: Mahenge spinel (maa-hen-gay) (spin-el). <br />
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Mahenge is a region in Tanzania where my holy grail is mined. Spinels can come in just about any color but what makes Mahenge spinel my holy grail color is the very rare neon red pink to neon pure pink colors that were mined from it. I mean, just look at this puppies:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art Nouveau's Leon Mege Mahenge Pricescope</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chrono's Mahenge Pricescope</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX3hDfTXxUI&noredirect=1">WATCH IT IN ACTION - DROOOOOOL</a><br />
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They were discovered in 2007 and have almost been completely mined out. There are still spinels mined in Mahenge, but that perfect glowing specimen has all but been depleted. Every once in a while you’ll hear stories about some "old mine" Mahenges hitting the market, and the scramble to get one is epic! <br />
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I spent two years buying stones and returning them (I probably went through about 20 different stones). <br />
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I’d basically given up hope until I got a call from a vendor in New York who remembered my quest and told me he had my holy grail. Long story short I now have it and it makes me blingasam every time I look at it.<br />
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I’ll probably go into some more technical details about spinels at some other point in time, but since I’m wearing my holy grail today and I seem to be on a pink kick, I thought it’d be fun to introduce you all to my baby and I why I love her so.Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-51791162136693760802014-02-25T17:15:00.000-08:002014-02-25T17:15:05.396-08:00What's your color IQ??As you probably can already tell, the most important thing when buying a colored stone is its COLOR. So how well do you see color? <br />
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<a href="http://www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?pageid=77&lang=en">Test your color IQ</a><br />
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<br />Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-6387240442889337322014-02-25T09:56:00.001-08:002014-03-04T14:38:03.253-08:00February's birthstone: Amethyst <br />
Purple is considered a royal color. Because of that, fine amethyst are found in the Royal Jewel. Ancient Greeks also believed that amethysts could prevent intoxication, but I bet they never had martinis ;-)<br />
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Amethyst is a member of the quartz family. <br />
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There is a green variety of quartz that is incorrectly referred to as green amethyst but since true amethyst is defined by its purple color, it cannot be considered amethyst.<br />
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Amethyst ranks a 7 on the Mohs scale <a href="http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html">http://www.gildedlane.com/2014/02/what-is-mohs-scale.html</a> and if worn in jewelry should be worn very carefully as they can scratch/chip easily.
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Amethyst is considered semi-precious and is readily available in many pre-made peices. The cost to synthesize it for jewelry is too high so more than likely if you purchase any pre-made amethyst jewelry in a store, you are getting real amethyst.
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Amethyst and citrine are very closely related. In fact, some lighter colored amethyst is heated to produce heated golden citrine.<br />
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Amethyst's colors range from purple, violet to pale red-violet. The deep colors are the most valuable, particularly a rich purple with rose flashes. "Siberian" deep purple amethyst with red and blue flash command the highest prices.<br />
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I have a few amethyst pieces myself. They're not "ideal" or "top" color, but they're some of my favorites because they were given to me by my husband. I thought I'd lost my necklace for about a year and found it hidden in an old purse (apparently I really like stuffing things in purse pockets). Happy birthday to all February babies out there and I hope you have a wonderful year.</div>
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Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-41387623155628413632014-02-24T14:54:00.000-08:002014-03-04T14:38:14.924-08:00Buying loose stonesBeing an avid collector of colored stones can be exhilarating, exhausting and expensive, but that feeling you get when you see the perfect stone in that white fluffy gem box will be well worth the search. <br />
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You may notice throughout my posts that I only refer to loose stones and not pre-made jewelry. I don’t knock pre-made colored stone jewelry at all, and sometimes you can find a perfect ring/necklace/earrings/stone combo and all of your work is done for you, but if you truly want a quality piece, you have to know what you’re getting and who you’re getting it from. There are definitely vendors out there that you can trust to give you quality pre-made pieces, but if you don’t know the vendor or trust its source, you could be spending a ton of money on a heavily treated or even synthetic stone. And as you learn more, I promise you’ll become quite snobby about colored stones and those words will become 4-letter words in your mind.
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Often times folks will have oodles and oodles of loose stones and never set them. Sometimes they’re just fun to look at. I mean, look at what I have in my purse right now.
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I love being able to pull them out at lunch and stare at them, or bring one out for a friend to show them how spectacular a type of stone can be. I may never set these, and honestly it’s OK. I love them for their rarity and color, and honestly, I don’t have enough fingers to set them all anyway.
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However there is the random stone that you may have been searching for for what feels like an eternity and have finally found. That’s the one that you want set and that’s the one that your friends will comment on and love right along with you. When you find your holy grail, you’ll know it, and you’ll love it.
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I hope that I can help you learn to love every stone for its rarity, the millions of years its taken to get to you, the love that’s been put into its cutting, its size, the hours you’ve spent learning about it and the luck you feel when you finally find what you love and have it in your hand (or purse). Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033424948598472648.post-63559587108520655722014-02-23T17:39:00.001-08:002014-02-24T14:54:26.797-08:00What is "The Mohs scale?"I've thought and thought about how I should start educating my friends about colored stones. The world is so vast, so exciting, and so intricate. Unfortunately, I really should start with the boring stuff. <br />
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Any person who safely wants to wear their colored stone jewelry should always know where it ranks on The Mohs scale. Every description I give of a colored stone will start with where it ranks on The Mohs scale. Knowing and understanding the importance of The Mohs scale will help you care for your colored gemstone and keep it beautiful for years to come.<br />
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The Mohs scale essentially rates how hard a stone is and how easily it can resist scratching and/or damage. The scale ranks from 1-10, 10 being the hardest: diamond. But it's a bit confusing because corundum (sapphire, rubies) ranks a 9, and topaz ranks a 8, but corundum is twice has hard as topaz and diamonds are four times as hard as corundum. Confused yet? :-D<br />
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You wonder now how this applies to your colored gemstone jewelry? Think of it this way, a copper penny has a hardness of 3.5. You're not going to wear a penny as jewelry (well you might, hmm, that could be interesting) but you may one day see some fluorite and think about wearing it in jewelry. I'm not saying it can't be used, but knowing that it ranks a 4 on The Mohs Scale, you will know that you need to be extra careful with it because it will damage easily. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUi_kOuV3mrfdDZLB5_4-__QW7f-CouQf6sbHeyjzX_k6lVPFR7KKmme_lYWwqlGOCOe-Hc8btkOuttf5qEoF71dNUFcuzZu2Wgdmqovh9LTtftyhFIAe1pe1k2cz65UUrzNzJLcQ5sM/s1600/683px-3192M-fluorite1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUi_kOuV3mrfdDZLB5_4-__QW7f-CouQf6sbHeyjzX_k6lVPFR7KKmme_lYWwqlGOCOe-Hc8btkOuttf5qEoF71dNUFcuzZu2Wgdmqovh9LTtftyhFIAe1pe1k2cz65UUrzNzJLcQ5sM/s1600/683px-3192M-fluorite1.jpg" height="280" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fluorite</td></tr>
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Some of the most popular colored gemstones are also extremely soft and should be worn and cared for with great caution. For example, Tanzanite - which is one of the most popular gemstones today, is a 6.5 on The Mohs Scale. If you are wearing a Tanzanite ring and wave your hands around, you can knock it against something and break it. It's also incredibly easy to scratch while cleaning. You may notice that your Tanzanite ring seems dull and not as bright as when you first bought it. That could be because your cleaning methods have caused abrasions on its surface making it lose its luster. Knowing it's hardness will help you know that you have to take care to clean it with warm soapy water and a baby toothbrush at most (I'll discuss Tanzanite in more detail later, but for now you've got the general idea).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_A76mk3qm1Zw7fWdPfnRLqtIAhShACaHTy76HzhyphenhyphenRmYBOqV6KKUSslOp8zA4QWMPJwE81RgaWlvV8v9a9HxRP44VtVhZvG7GZXpzEksltFhM69_S6be_SiDKAKnH0gy2I9BMENKBNDc/s1600/gr7062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_A76mk3qm1Zw7fWdPfnRLqtIAhShACaHTy76HzhyphenhyphenRmYBOqV6KKUSslOp8zA4QWMPJwE81RgaWlvV8v9a9HxRP44VtVhZvG7GZXpzEksltFhM69_S6be_SiDKAKnH0gy2I9BMENKBNDc/s1600/gr7062.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanzanite</td></tr>
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Knowing and understanding Mohs hardness is just the first step in your colored gemstone education. Soon you will be well on your way to becoming a colored stone junkie, just like me!</div>
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Gilded Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17572592241615147688noreply@blogger.com0