October Birthstone Spotlight

October’s birthstones are OPAL and PINK TOURMALINE!

Found in Australia, Mexico and the U.S., opals symbolize hope, innocence, and purity. This symbolism influenced the belief that opals aided children, encouraged friendships and feelings, and supported those in theater and amusement professions. Opals have been used as a talisman against evil spirits and one medieval belief said they could render a wearer invisible when needed.

Opals come in two varieties; white opal has a light body color with flashes of many colors and black opal has a dark body with flashes of red, pink, and bright green.

Opal is a fragile gemstone and care should be taken to protect it against scratches and hard blows. Avoid using household cleaners and extreme temperature changes. Clean only with a soft cloth and never use an ultrasonic machine or jewelry cleaner.

An alternate, but accepted, birthstone for October is pink tourmaline. It has the widest range of colors of any gemstone. Tourmaline can be found in reds, greens, blues, and all sorts of combinations of those colors.

Tourmaline is believed to be a healing stone and when worn as an amulet, it will bring you friends and lovers.

To clean your tourmaline, use lukewarm soapy water and a small bristle brush. Do not use a home ultrasonic machine. Be sure to remove your tourmaline jewelry before engaging in housework, gardening, or sports to protect it against sharp blows and scratches. 

September Birthstone Spotlight

September’s birthstone is SAPPHIRE! 

Ancient Persians believed the Earth rested on an enormous blue sapphire, and its reflection caused the blueness of the sky. Sorcerers used sapphires to interpret oracles and foretell the future. For centuries, sapphires have been seen as a symbol of truth, a talisman of protection and guardians of love.

As well as being the birthstone for September, sapphires are also the traditional gift for couples celebrating fifth and forty-fifth anniversaries.

Sapphire is one of two varieties of corundum and can be found in any color except red. The red variety is a ruby. Fancy colored sapphires include pink, green, orange and golden yellow.

  

Although sapphires are one of the most durable gemstones, they should be protected against hard blows and scratches. With proper care, your sapphire jewelry can be an heirloom for generations. 

Stop in to see our selection of sapphire jewelry!

August Birthstone Spotlight

August's birthstone is PERIDOT!

The history of peridot [per-i-doh] dates back to the Ancient Egyptians, who called it “the gem of the sun.” It is now believed that Cleopatra wore peridot gems, having mistaken them for emeralds. The color range for peridot includes bright green, yellowish-green, and olive hues.

After the Crusades, soldiers brought peridot back as spoils of war. Once in Europe, the gems were set in a variety of religious objects.

Traditionally found in Egypt and Burma, more recent sources include the U.S. (mostly Arizona and Hawaii), China, Brazil, Pakistan, Australia, and Norway. Peridot can even be found in some meteorites!

Peridot is said to protect from nightmares, fear, and the evil eye. This protection made peridot a favorite among pirates. A healing stone, it aids in reducing stress and digestive problems. Peridot supposedly stimulates the mind, opens the door for opportunity, and accelerates personal growth. It also is known to attract love and calm anger, appropriate for the traditional stone for the 16^th wedding anniversary.

Avoid sharp blows and scratches, household chemicals, as well as drastic temperature changes. Remove your peridot jewelry before housework, gardening, or active sports. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner on peridot. 

July Birthstone Spotlight

July’s birthstone is RUBY!

Known as “Lord of the Gems,” rubies are steeped in lore and history. The name ruby is derived from “ruber,” the Latin word for red. Myth says rubies were created upon their release from a dragon’s magical egg.

Said to have protective powers, rubies have adorned everything from thrones around the world to Dorothy’s iconic slippers. The ruby has long been used as an amulet for passion and healing due to the belief that it helped its owner avoid all kinds of misfortune. To intensify the Ruby’s powers, set in jewelry and wear on your left side.

Ruby’s lore for passion is aptly applied as the accepted gemstone for the15th and 40^th anniversaries. 

Like its sister the sapphire, the ruby is a variety of corundum. These gems rate a 9 on the Mohs scale, placing them as the second hardest known material, just behind diamonds.

As always, avoid sharp blows and scratches to protect your ruby jewelry. Stop in to see our ruby selection or bring your ruby jewelry by for an inspection and cleaning. 

June Birthstone Spotlight

June’s birthstone is PEARL!

The oyster uses nature’s most wonderful defense mechanism. When a grain of sand or other irritant becomes lodged in an oyster, it surrounds the foreign substance with a nacre coating. This forms a pearl. When the irritant is introduced by man, the result is a cultured pearl.

Pearls can be found in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and luster. All of these attributes affect the value of a pearl. High luster, perfectly round, large pearls are the most valuable. The pearl’s natural colors include white, cream and gold, grey, blue and black with shades of rose, purple and green. Other colors can be created by dyeing, bleaching, and chemical treatment.

A romantic gem, pearls have long been associated with lovers. They have seen centuries of use in love potions and were believed to turn your dreams into true romance if you wore them during sleep. Pearls have come to symbolize a successful marriage and are now recognized as a traditional gift for brides and in celebration of the third and thirtieth anniversaries.

Pearls are delicate and demand gentle care. Store them in a protective fabric pouch or wrap them in tissue paper. Avoid household chemicals, hairspray, cosmetics and perfumes, as these will affect a pearl’s luster. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Only use a soft damp cloth, mild soap and water to clean your pearls. With the proper care, your pearls can be an heirloom piece to pass down through the generations.

Stop by to see our huge selection of pearl jewelry!

May Birthstone Spotlight

May's birthstone is EMERALD!

From King Arthur and Cleopatra to Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor, people have been enamored by emeralds for millennia. Aristotle touted the emerald’s ability to aid in litigation and increase one’s savvy in business communications. Roman emperor Nero supposedly watched the gladiators through an emerald, as he found the color calming and soothing to his eyes.

Many cultures around the world have prized the emerald and attributed fantastic characteristics to this beautiful green stone. According to lore, emeralds could cure low IQ, poor eyesight and infertility.  They were thought to bring good luck, creativity, eloquence and the ability to foresee the future, as well as work against enchantments and spells. Long held as a symbol of fidelity, during the Middle Ages emeralds were believed to keep a woman chaste (the men, not so much).

Like aquamarine, emerald is a variety of beryl. Most are mined in Brazil, Columbia, and Zambia, with some notable stones having been discovered in western North Carolina. Country of origin will affect the variations in color and clarity.

Take care to protect your emerald from hard knocks and scratches by removing them before housework, sports, or gardening. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and harsh detergents.

April Birthstone Spotlight

APRIL’S BIRTHSTONE IS DIAMOND

Few gemstones can match the magic and allure of a diamond. Cherished for more than 6,000 years, diamonds were thought to be pieces of the stars that had fallen to Earth.

First mined in India, diamonds made their way to the Mediterranean by 100 B.C. where they picked up their name from the Greek word “adamas,” which means unbreakable or invincible. In 1870, rich diamond deposits were discovered in South Africa, setting the diamond industry on its current path.

Not just a pretty rock, diamonds are the hardest known substance on Earth. Any diamonds not of gemstone quality become tool parts for industrial applications such as cutting and grinding. Diamond-tipped drill bits and saws are commonly found in factories around the world.

Besides being April’s birthstone, diamonds are known as the gem for romance and have been used in engagement rings since the Middle Ages. Diamonds were believed to uphold harmony between husband and wife. If worn on the left hand, diamonds were thought to ward off evil and attract good fortune. With this bit of lore, it’s no wonder that the diamond has been appointed the traditional stone for a couple’s 75^th wedding anniversary.

History is filled with famous diamonds. The largest diamond ever found was the Cullinan, weighing in at an astounding 3,106 carats! This stone was broken up into many smaller pieces including the Great Star of Africa, a 530 carat diamond set into the Royal Scepter which is part of the Crown Jewels collection. Many have heard of the Hope Diamond and its infamous curse; this stone can be viewed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. With the recent auctions of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry collection, the 69.42 carat Taylor-Burton diamond has received much press lately. 

One of the lesser known diamonds has the most mystery and intrigue surrounding it. The Great Mogul Diamond was discovered in India around 1650 and weighed 787.5 carats. Presented to the emperor and later taken as spoils of war, in 1747 its owner was assassinated and The Great Mogul was stolen. No one has seen it since. Many speculate that this legendary diamond has been re-cut into other stones to hide its location and identity, but no one knows for sure. Maybe one day it will show up on Antiques Roadshow! To learn more about famous diamonds, click HERE.

Although diamonds are the hardest substance, they can still break. Take care to protect your stones from sharp blows; this will help guard against chips and cracks. When set in a ring, chances are your mounting will wear down before your stone will. Have your jeweler check for worn and broken prongs to avoid losing your diamond. Make sure you insure your diamond jewelry against the event of theft, loss, or damage.

March Birthstone Spotlight

MARCH'S BIRTHSTONE IS AQUAMARINE!

Lore has long associated aquamarine with Neptune and the sea. Believed to have originated as a gift from the God of the Sea to the mermaids, ancient sailors first started wearing the stone as a form of protection and a blessing of good fortune. 

Over the years, its symbolism has grown to include love, affection and fidelity - making it an appropriate stone for weddings. It is the traditional gem celebrating the 19th wedding anniversary. 

Aquamarine is primarily found in Brazil, Nigeria and Zambia. Its color should be a cool sea blue (not too light, not too green) and it works well as a larger oval or rectangular gem. Most aquamarines are heated to enhance their color. Like its cousin the emerald, aquamarine can easily be an heirloom gem with the proper care. Protect it from sharp blows and scratches; be sure to remove your aquamarine jewelry before engaging in housework, gardening, or sports.

 Stop in to see our selection of aquamarine jewelry!

Ultimate Proposal Contest - fabulous prizes!!!

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Entries will be accepted from February 21 through April 10, 2012 at 12pm EDT.

Enter your engagement story NOW at http://www.jic.org/

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The “Ultimate Proposal Contest” begins on 2/21/12 at 12pm EST and the Entry Period ends on 4/10/12 at 12pm EDT. Contest is open to individuals who are legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., age 18 or older as of 2/21/12. Air travel to the Sandals Resorts location not included. To enter and view the complete Official Rules which govern the Con­test, visit www.JIC.org/Contest. Sponsor: Jewelers of America, Inc. Void where prohibited.

February Birthstone Spotlight

FEBRUARY'S BIRTHSTONE IS AMETHYST.

A purple quartz crystal steeped in ancient lore, mysticism and age-old magic, amethyst is said to bring good luck and radiate love.

Prized by ancient royalty for its regal color, legend has it that the amethyst originated from Bacchus, the god of wine.

Purple reminds us of passion and hope; besides being February’s birthstone, Amethyst makes an appropriate traditional gift for the Sixth Wedding Anniversary.

Known for its durability, amethyst can be worn everyday. However, care should be taken to remove the piece before any activities that might cause scratches, such as gardening or carpentry. When properly cared for, your amethyst jewelry can be passed down for generations.

Stop by to see our collection of

Fine Amethyst Jewelry.

January Birthstone Spotlight

JANUARY'S BIRTHSTONE IS GARNET

Derived from the Latin word “granatus," or “seed-like,” garnet crystals were so named because of their similarity in color and shape to pomegranate seeds. They are found in all colors except blue, with green garnets known as Tsavorite.

Besides being used as a birthstone, garnets are traditionally given as a Second Wedding Anniversary gift. Garnets have a history rich with lore. Ancient Egyptians used these gems to aid in the treatment of snake bites and food poisoning. Other beliefs about this stone were that garnets kept travelers healthy

and protected, and they warded against nightmares.

Take care to protect your garnets from extreme temperature changes, scratches, and hard blows. To clean, bring your garnet jewelry to us! We'll check your prongs and clean your piece as a complimentary service.