Sunday, 31. January 2010
Way before the American Dollar, the British Pound, or the Indian Rupee came on the scene there was another measure of wealth. Gold has been valued as a currency practically since it was found. It is still used today to denote one’s wealth. Rare and very heavy, it’s been used as a status symbol for kings and merchants alike. This is our guide into the world of gold, and we hope you enjoy this journey into the world of this precious metal.
Denoting itself as one of the worlds most valuable and precious metals, gold sets itself apart from the rest of the precious metals. It is so malleable and soft that just one mere ounce of it will produce a wire that can stretch 5 miles in length. If you would prefer to pound it rather than stretch it, you could create a sheet that will cover 100 square feet. Because it cannot corrode or rust it will last almost indefinitely.
Gold is all around us. It can be found in our rivers and seas, in the earth’s crust beneath our feet and in our plants as well. It is very expensive and difficult to extract, and this is why it is so pricey. It takes about 2.5 to 3 tons of gold ore to produce a mere ounce of pure gold…what a percentage! Read more... (602 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Betsy Johnson -
Friday, 1. January 2010
You have probably read of our heart jewelry articles in the past. Today we will take a step backward and write a more “generic” on the history of jewelry in general. Jewelry as an art form has been around for thousands of years, and different cultures have used it in different ways. As we examine these pieces of jewelry we will gain insight into how these ancient cultures actually worked.
If we take a look at the homo sapiens in Ancient Africa we see the first signs of a culture creating jewelry. Snail shell beads have been found at Blombos Cave in South Africa that date back to 75,000+ years ago. On the other side of Africa, at Enkapune Ya Moto in Kenya, beads made from ostrich egg shells have been found that date back to 40,000+ years ago. Read more... (549 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Betsy Johnson -
Thursday, 31. December 2009
Beautiful jewelry can come in various forms and shapes and types. Beautiful heart jewelry is no exception to this rule. It is very popular these days to incorporate gemstones into jewelry. Do you know of all the various types of gemstones that are often used? In this short article we will be focusing on the various gemstones that are often used in the creation of pretty jewelry.
Amber is an ancient gemstone that is composed of compressed tree resin. In fact, it has to harden over 1 million years before it can officially be classified as amber. The Baltic States (such as Lithuania) are leading producers of the world’s fine resin. Some amber can be up to 120 million years old.
The most prized gemstone in the quartz family has been amethyst for many years. Prized for its purple hue, it can range in tone from light to dark.
Emeralds are a very ancient gemstone. It is believed that the Ancient Egyptians mined these fine gemstones as far back as 3500 B.C. They are known for their fine green to bluish green color. Read more... (534 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Betsy Johnson -
Wednesday, 30. December 2009
When we think of the “heart shape” we more often than not think of romance and love. It has managed to work its way into our treasured holidays such as St. Valentine’s Day, into our greeting cards and gifts, and into our designs of jewelry as well. This jewelry is often made out of precious metals (such as gold and silver) and gems (such as diamonds and rubies), and when we incorporate the “heart shape” we are creating an object that portrays the eternal ideas of not only romance and love, but caring and belonging as well. We will now explore the origins of the “heart shape symbol”, heart jewelry, and learn about the world’s most famous heart-shaped diamond.
The “heart symbol” has been around for years, used to refer to the spiritual, emotional, moral, and intellectual core of humans. It’s often depicted as “red” as this symbolizes blood (as it is the heart that pumps blood through the body) and strong emotions…and what emotion can possibly be stronger than that of true love? Read more... (470 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Betsy Johnson -
Saturday, 28. November 2009
The first true examples we have of Ancient Greek jewelry utilize beads shaped in the form of various animals and shells. Around–00 BC the Greeks started to incorporate gold and gemstones into their jewelry designs. By the year 300 BC the Greeks had ventured into the area of colored jewelry utilizing emeralds, amethysts, and pearls. The Greeks also made cameos from a striped brown pink and cream agate stone known as the Indian Sardonyx. Greek jewelry started off with some simple designs (when compared to other cultures of the time) but as time progressed, the designs grew increasingly more complex with varying materials.
Jewelry in Ancient Greece was not worn in the daily lives of the people. It was to be worn during special occasions or while on public appearances. It was a common gift, and women often used it to show off their beauty, social status, and degree of wealth. Jewelry was often deemed to have mystical powers. It was thought to provide the wearer with protection from the “Evil Eye” (i.e.: a look by another person that is thought to send injury or bad luck), or other supernatural powers. Most Greek jewelry of the time was made from gold and silver, with gemstones and ivory, clay and bronze utilized as well. Read more... (572 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Betsy Johnson -
