All Entries in the "Facts & Useful Info" Category
February Birthstones – Amethyst
February’s birthstone, the amethyst, is a form of quartz, which varies in color from pale lilac to dark purple. It is found in Canada, The U.S., Australia, India, Russia, and Sri Lanka as natural crystals within rocks.
Amethyst has been a foundation of royal jewels throughout the ages, as intense violet is a associated with royalty. [...]
January Birthstones – Garnet
Anyone born in January knows their birthstone is a warm deep red garnet. My first thoughts are of Bohemian garnets found in antique jewelry from the late 19th century. What most don’t realize is that garnets are found in almost all colors except blue.
November Birthstones – Topaz
There are three traditional birthstones representing the month of November, smoky quartz, citrine, and orange topaz. I have a November birthday and When I was growing up the topaz was considered the November birthstone and it’s still my favorite.
Fake Enamel Charms – A Disgraceful Practice
I’m a big advocate of full disclosure when selling vintage jewelry on the internet. I think it’s contemptible to lie about the condition, origin, or age of jewelry to make a buck. It happens a lot so it’s very important to learn as much as possible as a buyer.
Vintage Jewelry – Is It Real Gold Or Silver?
When buying vintage jewelry, the best and most surefire way to ensure the piece is truly the metal quality you are expecting, is of course to view a hallmark of the metal purity, such as 14K or Sterling Silver somewhere on the item. For those of us who buy collectible fine vintage jewelry that’s not intended to be heirloom or investment quality, there are other methods that are often used to establish the value of an item.
Sapphire Birthstones and September Birthdays
A deep blue sapphire is the traditional and modern birthstone for those born in September. Read more to find out about this lovey stone and the September born….
Gemstone Hardness and The Moh’s Scale
Gemstones are rated by levels of hardness using the Mohs’ scale. This method was developed in 1812 by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs. He used ten commonly available minerals and classified them according to their hardness, and their ability to scratch and be scratched by other minerals.
Diamond, which is the hardest naturally occurring substance, is [...]
Gold Fun Facts
A while back I purchased a diamond and gemstone testing machine from IGEM Instruments. Turns out it’s quite a handy and useful gadget. Anyway I must have signed up for their mailing list because this week I began receiving newsletters from them. Volume #1 was filled with a bunch of gold trivia and I thought I would share with you.
