The Gem Gallery Blog

Archive for the ‘diamond’ Category

Diamonds are the widely accepted birthstone of the month of April. Aside from diamonds, however, there are other April birthstones. Opal is the Mystical birthstone. April overlaps two zodiac signs, Aries and Taurus. The birthstones of Aries are bloodstone and diamond, jasper is its planetary stone, and all three are considered its lucky charms; the birthstones of Taurus, on the other hand, are sapphire, turquoise, amber, and blood coral, its planetary stones are emerald and aventurine, and its lucky charms are sapphire and diamond.

Diamonds most commonly mined in Africa (such as Ghana and Zaire), Australia, Brazil, and USSR. They are often colorless, but can come in other colors as well. The diamond, also known as the King Gem (the pearl being the Queen Gem), symbolizes purity and eternal love and faith, pertaining to its durability. It is considered by others as an emblem of invincibility and courage. It is believed among the Hindus that a diamond with flaws such as specks is bad luck.

The diamond takes its name from ancient Greek, essentially meaning “unalterable” or “unbreakable.” Due to its hardness—a 10 according to the Mohs Scale—it is considered perfect for everyday wear, immune to scratching and mild blows. Equally good characteristics are its beauty and rarity, making it a very glamorous jewelry gift, especially as engagement and wedding rings for couples. Though it is durable, it still can chip with sharp impact because of their innate brittleness, so it must still be handled with care. It also must be stored separately from other jewelry as it can scratch them and other diamonds as well.

Another one of the April birthstones is opal. Mostly coming from Southern Australia with its black kind coming exclusively from the Australia itself, opal is considered to be very old, even dating back to the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs still existed. It comes in many colors and its highest quality is considered more expensive than a diamond. Its name being derived from the Latin “opalus,” meaning “seeing jewel,” in addition to being able to heal, it is believed to increase mental capacities such as one’s creative imagination and other unexplored, unused mental powers in addition. Black opal is said to be extremely lucky.

Opal’s hardness is 6 to 6.5. Caring for opal jewelry entails avoiding getting it wet, scratched or exposed to heat. They are said to radiate hope, happiness and truth and along with other April birthstones, when turned into rings, they are considered special as they are believed to bestow upon the wearer the virtues of the gem.

We talked to a friend about how she chooses earrings. Her earrings always look great so I am sharing what she said (and how she said it) here.

Earrings With Personality

I have a wide variety of tastes and what I like when looking for earrings. I enjoy ones that are unique, but not extreme. I usually look with a friend and base my decisions on whether those type of earrings have looked good on me. I lean towards medium size silver hoops because I think that they are classic and almost always in style. Plus they are able to dress up an outfit that may be more casual. I also look for studs that fit comfortably and with a dash of color.

What to Do When Have Multiple Piercings

Since I have several pierced holes in my ears, I usually wear at least four earrings at a time. I like earrings that highlight and accentuate what I am wearing or my eyes. I am not a big fan of earrings that are so over the top that they are the main thing that others noticed. I think that small studs with different colored gemstones are adorable and a great accessory. I also think that studs that are small, but creative are awesome. For example, I have worn small studs that were made of sterling silver that were shaped like hands or I also wear a pair that is geckos. I think that adds a hint of fun and humor as well as depicts part of of who I am.

Metals Are Important

One aspect that is crucial for me is checking out the metal. Although it is fun to get some funky cheap earrings, I know I personally am aware that I need to change them because the mental used may cause discoloring. It is important to monitor the amount of time I will be wearing earrings because I want to keep my ears in good shape.

Shopping Tips

I think shopping for earrings can be a lot of fun, it is usually the small details that may attract me more to a pair. I also think it is important to try out what new styles are and I usually have seen someone wearing them or they are displayed prominently at the store. Although I mentioned that I am not a fan of the over the top earrings, it is important to have a few fancy pairs that may compliment an outfit or display some fun. Earrings are a great way to show some of an individual’s personality and it is all about what makes you feel comfortable and confident.