"Birthstone of the Month"

Stunning "Aquamarine" crystal from
Minas Gerias, Brazil

Picture courtesy of Orbital Joe click the crystal to view more of his stunning photos!

From the beginning of time we adorned ourselves with accessories, which are often some form of jewelry using metal, sterling silver, gold and everything in between. Some of the most stunningly dramatic pieces are designed with "gemstones".

Every woman has a favorite gemstone…I have many!!!
This is the first of a monthly article entitled “Birthstone Of The Month”…March is the fascinating “Aquamarine”, which is also the gemstone for the Zodiac sign Scorpio. It is the suggested gift for the 16th and 19th wedding anniversary …some say it has positive influences in love and relationships.

The name for this gemstone is fitting, “aqua” Latin “water, marina, Latin “sea”, because of the green, blue-green to blue colors, with the blue being the most sought after and valuable. This gemstone is a member of the beryl (mineral) family, which comes in many shades starting with pure beryl being colorless, green (emerald), yellow, greenish yellow blue to blue green, red and pink.

Aquarmarine from the Gilgit area of Pakistan, picture courtesy of "Orbital Joe"

Lower qualities gemstones are often found greenish but with heat treatment of 725 F to 850F (450C) the color can be permanently changed to blue, care must be taken in the heating, as anything higher will cause discoloration. Aquamarine is 7.5-8 in hardness and is brittle…working with it requires sensitivity to this fact.

Aquamarine is found in Australia, (Queensland), Burma (Myanmar), China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and the United States but the most important location is Brazil.

The largest gemstone quality aquamarine was found in Marambaya, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910 weighing 243 lbs., (110.5kg), 18 in. (48.5 cm) long and 15.5 (42 cm) in diameter…the many stones it was cut into accounted for 100,000cts…can you imagine???

Aquamarine is complemented by both gold and sterling silver, (both bright and oxidized)…and makes for wonderful pieces of jewelry!

All stunning pictures courtesy of "Orbital Joe"
Information source:
http:/ca.Encarta.msn.com - “Aquamarine”
Gemstones of the World, Walter Schumann, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
www.agta.org - AGTA

Been away and going again!!

I was away from Feb. 22nd to March 2nd which is why I haven't updated for some time...I will also be absent from March 11th to March 20th so the up dates I do today will be it until I've had a few days to gather info for my features I plan on doing.

Here is a little of what I have planned for future articles!

• "Birthstone fo the Month", I love gemstones so articles on gemstones will be informative but interesting as well... I hope to have Aquamarine up for March before I leave! I may also add "healing properties" and anything else that I think may be of interest...if there is something you would like to know/see drop me a note...I would be happy to do research for the information!

• Above is a necklace made with tumbled amethyst and purple jade...a favorite color of mine!

• "How To" feature...if anyone out there has a How To" they would like to share please contact me and I will get back to you when I return!
• Would like to feature Artisans from all walks of life and all mediums...again...contact me and I will get back to you when I return!

Please don't be shy if you would like to be featured contact me, because I will be actively looking for artisans when I return on the 20th!!!

• More interesting information to come later today!!!