You may not realize it, but many of your everyday activities can damage your gold jewelry. Buildup from soaps and lotions, acid from citrus fruits and other foods, salt and oils from your sweat, and chemicals in everything from pools to cleaning products can all negatively affect gold’s finish and natural beauty. The best way to prevent this is to remove gold jewelry prior to engaging in activities where it may come in contact with damaging substances. If you have difficulty remembering to take your jewelry off, placing pretty jewelry dishes near sinks and exercise equipment will serve as a helpful visual reminder.

Polishing your jewelry at the end of the day before storing it will help maintain its original radiance and luster, and will minimize buildup of dirt and grime.When not in use, lay out your jewelry in a lined drawer, dish, or jewelry box, being particularly careful to keep pieces with gemstones separate as they can scratch other gold and silver jewelry. To keep tarnish-inducing moisture at bay, place a piece of chalk or a silica gel packet near your jewelry—this will be especially important in more humid climates or in homes with humidifiers or evaporative coolers. Taking a few minutes to care for your beloved gold jewelry each night will ensure it is ready to wear whether your outfit calls for an artisan ring, a timeless necklace, or both. Read on to discover how to clean your gold jewelry.

Cleaning Solid Gold Jewelry
Cleaning precious metals regularly is an important part of preserving their inherent luster as well as their value. For light buildup and tarnish, simply buff your gold jewelry with a soft cloth dipped in water or with a polishing cloth to restore its original shine. Resist the urge to reach for paper towels as they contain fibers that can scratch gold. Lint-free cloths such as those used to clean eyeglasses are one example of an appropriate choice.

For heavier buildup and tarnish, the cleaning method will vary based on the other elements incorporated into your jewelry. Begin by separating your exclusively gold pieces from your jewelry with gemstones and follow the appropriate instructions below.

Cleaning Solid Gold Jewelry with No Gems or Stones
In one bowl, mix an extra mild dish soap with warm water. Fill another bowl with only warm water. Place your all-gold jewelry in the soap mixture, and let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. When it’s finished soaking, use a very soft bristle toothbrush to gently remove buildup and tarnish. Take care to clean any recesses and between links. Dip into the bowl containing clean warm water until the jewelry is completely free of soap. Buff and dry with a soft cloth, then lay the jewelry on a towel. Allow to fully dry before putting away.

Cleaning Solid Gold Jewelry with Gemstones
Soaking is not recommended for jewelry with gemstones as it can compromise the settings over time and because some stones, such as turquoise and coral, are porous. In lieu of soaking, mix very mild dish soap into warm water, then clean the gold and gemstones using a soft cloth moistened with the solution. To reach deep recesses around bezels, filigree, etchings, or stamps, use a soft-bristled toothbrush dipped in the soapy water. Use a fresh cloth dipped in clean water to remove all traces of soap. As with unembellished gold, allow jewelry with gemstones to dry completely before putting it away.

Types of Gold-Finished Jewelry and How to Clean Them
Many beautiful gold pieces are not made of solid gold but have a gold finish, and they must be cleaned with a different technique. There are a few types of multi-metal jewelry with a gold finish: vermeil, gold plated, and gold filled. Vermeil is silver that has a layer of at least 10k pure gold that must meet certain specifications for thickness. Gold plated jewelry can have any metal at its core and the purity and thickness of the gold finish can vary depending on the maker’s preferences. The final option for gold-finished jewelry is gold filled. Gold filled jewelry is a misnomer—it’s not filled with gold at all. Its other common name, rolled gold, is more accurate as this type of jewelry uses a metal like copper or brass as a base that is then covered (rolled) in sheets of gold using a mechanical bonding process. Gold of a minimum of 14k purity is typically used for gold filled jewelry.

Cleaning your gold-finished jewelry requires a delicate touch and gentle products. Abrasives or a heavy hand could result in damaging or removing the gold portion altogether. Begin by carefully wiping your piece with a soft, dry microfiber cloth, then briefly cleansing with a solution of water and gentle dishwashing detergent. Do not soak the piece in the solution. Allow to air dry, and then very lightly buff any remaining spots with a clean microfiber or gold polishing cloth.

Enjoy the Glow
Gold jewelry lends a richness and sunny glow to any ensemble, making it a stunning choice season after season. With proper care, your favorite gold accessories will be as radiant years down the road as they were the day you added them to your collection.

*Information Courtesy of Sundance Catalog

Pearl is the birthstone for June and the gem of the third and thirtieth anniversaries. Perhaps the best-loved gems of all time, pearls—natural and cultured—occur in a wide variety of colors. The most familiar are white and cream, but the palette of colors extends to every hue. Natural pearls form around a microscopic irritant in the bodies of certain mollusks. Cultured pearls are the result of the deliberate insertion of a bead or piece of tissue that the mollusk coats with nacre.

What is Emerald?

Before we begin our global travels to find the sources of the May birthstone, it helps to know that emerald is a bluish-green to green variety of the mineral beryl, which ranks 7 ½ to 8 on the Mohs Scale. Traces of the elements chromium or vanadium give rise to emerald’s enviable color. It takes a specific geological environment to produce emerald: the elements beryllium, aluminum, silicon, oxygen and one or more trace elements – chromium or vanadium – must be present. This rare combination is found only in a few places on Earth.

So now that you know a little about the gem, are you ready to discover where emeralds come from?

Emeralds from Colombia

Colombia has been the source of the finest emeralds for more than 500 years – long before the gem was designated the May birthstone. The rich greens of Colombian emeralds are the standard by which all others are measured.

Muzo, Chivor, and Coscuez are three of the most important sites in Colombia for emeralds. Each locality is famed for producing emeralds of different hues. Muzo is known for its darker tones of pure green emeralds. Chivor is noted for emeralds that are lighter in tone and slightly bluish green. Coscuez produces slightly yellowish green emeralds. These classic mines remain historically significant, and continue to produce fine gems. The color of rough found in newer mines is often compared to colors from these principal localities.

The setting of these emerald mines is as stunning as the gems. Craggy mountains carpeted in green surge up from lush valleys. Rivers slice their way through a fantastically rugged landscape. Wisps of pristine white clouds often hang over the jungle setting. And out of this breathtaking panorama, miners find rough that is coveted around the world.Colombia has produced a number of famous May birthstones. The 75.47 carat (ct) Hooker Emerald was once the property of Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1876-1909). It eventually made its way to Mrs. Janet Annenberg Hooker and is now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.Emerald crystals are also prized, mainly for their size, color and symmetry. The American Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles are just a few prestigious institutions that showcase emerald crystals.

Emeralds from BrazilIf you’re hunting for emeralds, Brazil is also a good place to search. Emeralds were only found there in the last sixty years. Now the May birthstone is one of Brazil’s most important gem exports. Minas Gerais, where many emeralds are found, is a landlocked state of changing scenery. Savannahs broken by occasional forests sprawl in the west. Rocky hills and sparse vegetation make up the central and eastern parts. Lush forests and gentle hills are the welcoming landscape of the south.

The Belmont Mine located there is one of the most productive sites for the May birthstone. Capoeirana, in Minas Gerais, is another important locality. Independent miners and workers employed by small businesses dig deep into the earth to find high-quality emeralds. With the ebb and flow of production from Colombia, the classic source, Brazil now offers the world a more consistent supply of the green gemstone.

Emeralds from ZambiaThe May birthstone can also be found in Africa. Zambia has become one of the most important sources of emeralds in the past few decades. While emeralds were discovered there in 1931, commercial mining didn’t begin until 1967. Mines in the Ndola Rural Restricted Area produce emeralds that are darker in tone and bluish green.

Because the Ndola Rural Restricted Area is off limits to those who do not have specific business with the mines, traveling to the source is not recommended. Travel in the region is also challenging. A paved road quickly turns into a rough gravel one, and then a dirt track. The landscape is hilly and hosts thick vegetation. Streams containing crocodiles meander across the plains. Resident crocodiles have found lodging at many of the mine sites. The rough material produced in Zambia is sold to gem dealers and wholesalers through an auction process. The emeralds are then cut and polished and sold on to retailers and designers around the world.

Emeralds from AfghanistanThe Panjshir Valley is the site of most emerald mining activity in Afghanistan – a rocky place split by the Panjshir River and checkered with patches of bright green agricultural land. Stark mountains and fertile valleys make for a territory of breathtaking contrasts, and out of this dramatic landscape, emeralds are found. High on the barren mountainsides, the emerald deposits demand that miners scramble up and down the steep slopes in search of the green gem. What they unearth can rival the finest emeralds in the world.

Our love for the May birthstone goes back millennia. Cleopatra had a passion for emeralds, as did European and Asian royalty a thousand years later. So prized were emeralds that the Incas used them as offerings to the gods. They helped bolster the economy of the Spanish Empire in the 17th century. And emeralds inspired a centuries-long underwater search for sunken galleons laden with the gem.Given the rich green hues of emerald, it was inevitable that we would fall under its spell. And productive mines around the world ensure that all who love green or are born in May will continue to be enchanted.

Credits: GIA.edu

Know what you want to spend. You will be confronted with a dizzying array of choices when it comes to engagement rings. Have a price range in mind. Going in with fairly specific parameters will help your jeweler find the right engagement ring to fit your budget.

What kind of jewelry does she already wear? Is she more classic or modern? Feminine or sophisticated? Does she wear more silver or gold? Do her pieces tend to be more delicate or chunky? Simple or ornate? Have these preferences in mind when you set out to shop. If you buy something similar to what she already likes, you can’t go wrong.

Know her ring size. If she wears rings, borrow one she already owns. Trace the inner circle on a piece of paper, or press the ring into a bar of soap for an impression. You can also slide it down one of your own fingers and draw a line where it stops. A jeweler can use these measurements to identify her approximate ring size.

If she doesn’t wear rings, estimate in the following manner: The average ring size in the US is 6 (based on the ‘average’ US female being 5’4″ tall and weighing 140 lbs.) If she’s more slender, or fine boned, her ring size is probably in the 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 range. If she is heavier, larger boned or taller, her ring size is probably in the 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 range. It’s always better to buy a ring a bit bigger than you think she’ll need, because sizing a ring down is much easier than increasing its size.

Are her preferences hard to pin down? Consider buying an unset diamond. If you choose the diamond first and have the setting made later, you can include her in selecting the style and final details of the ring (always a good idea) and avoid the awkwardness of choosing a ring that’s more to your taste than hers.

Know what diamond shape suits her. If she hasn’t made it easy for you by already voicing an opinion on the subject (or admiring someone else’s engagement ring), here are a few things to keep in mind when considering shape:

– She will be wearing this ring 24/7 every day of your married life. It will need to go with everything from jeans to evening wear. If you’re uncertain about her shape preference, it’s sensible to stick to the classics. They became classics because they appeal to most people most of the time.

– Cutting styles with fewer facets, such as emerald cut or rose cut, require higher clarity. 

– Certain shapes pair more successfully with other gems in multi-stone rings. Round, Oval and Marquise all work well. Pear and Heart shape are more challenging.

– If she prefers clean, modern lines in furniture, for example, it’s likely she’ll react well to the same aesthetic in Rectangular or Square shapes, like the Emerald Cut or Princess Cut. If she tends towards the traditional, a round shape rarely misses. More bohemian types tend to favor more unusual shapes, like Trilliant or Marquise.

What Setting Makes Sense?

While there are an unending variety of patterns, details and metal choices, there are four basic types you are likely to encounter:

Solitaire – A single stone. Still the most popular choice in engagement rings. The head secures the diamond. Prongs allow the diamond to catch the most light. A four-prong-setting shows more of the diamond, but a six-prong setting is often more secure.

Sidestone – Diamonds or other gemstones, flank the main stone for additional sparkle or color. Popular sidestone settings include ‘channel’, which protects stones by keeping them flush, and ‘bar-channel’, which allows more light to enter the sidestones.

Three Stone – One diamond for the past, one for the present, and one for the future. Typically, the center diamond is larger than the two side stones.

Pavee (pah-vey) – The main stone is surrounded by tiny diamonds to add sparkle and the illusion of greater size.

As to actual setting design, consider her lifestyle, and how well a certain setting will fit into it. If she’s more active or outdoorsy, look for lower profile, less ornate, more sturdy choices, which are less likely to get knocked or caught on things. If she’s more of a glamour girl, look for statement settings, with a higher stone profile and more intricate ring detailing or unique motif.

ROUND BRILLIANT DIAMOND

The round brilliant diamond is by far the most popular diamond shape. Perhaps this is because the round brilliant diamond has the most sparkle of any of the shapes. The round diamond is often perceived to have a ‘classic’ style that complements almost any style of setting that it accompanies.

PRINCESS DIAMOND

The princess diamond, like the round brilliant diamond, is cut with a brilliant facet pattern, maximizing the sparkle in the gemstone. Although the length-to-width ratio can vary, princess diamonds are traditionally square in shape.

CUSHION DIAMOND

The cushion diamond features a square shape with rounded corners. They can vary in the length-to-width ratio with some being more elongated than others. The cushion diamond has experienced several refinements since its creation some 200 years ago, leading to a recent resurgence in popularity.

EMERALD DIAMOND

The emerald diamond, unlike the brilliant cuts mentioned above, is characterized by a step cut facet pattern. While emerald diamonds do not give off the same ‘fiery’ reflections as some of its counterparts, the step cut creates a mirror effect that reflects light in a dramatic way. Emerald diamonds are traditionally more elongated, but can also be cut to more of a square shape.

RADIANT DIAMOND

The radiant diamond can range in its length-to-width ratios with some being more square in shape and others being more elongated. With cropped corners and its brilliant facet pattern, the radiant diamond has characteristics similar to both the princess and cushion diamonds.

ASSCHER DIAMOND

The Asscher diamond was first developed in 1902 by the Asscher family from Holland and experienced its peak popularity in the 1920’s. For this reason, it is often perceived to have a ‘vintage’ style. With its square shape, cropped corners and more extreme step cut (than its emerald diamond cousin), the Asscher diamond has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years.

OVAL DIAMOND

The oval diamond is a modified round brilliant cut that offers a similar fire and brilliance as its more popular round diamond counterpart. For this reason, the oval diamond is a great option for those who are attracted to the round diamond’s features but is looking for something a little more unique.

PEAR DIAMOND

The pear diamond is another modified brilliant cut that combines the looks of a round diamond and a marquise diamond. As its name suggests, the pear diamond features a round shape on one end and tapers to a point on the opposite end.

MARQUISE DIAMOND

The marquise diamond is a modified brilliant cut with an oblong shape featuring two points on either end. With its long and narrow shape, the marquise diamond can make the wearer’s finger appear longer and slimmer.

HEART DIAMOND

The heart diamond is a modified brilliant cut that is obviously derived from the universal symbol of love. Symmetry is perhaps the most important quality to look for in a heart shaped diamond.

Goats, Pigs, Chickens, Ducks, Birds, Horses, Dogs, Tractors..etc.. I love them ALL!

It’s so magical and inspirational to have a studio (about half the year) surrounded by neighboring farmland in Hawaii!

During my breaks and evenings, you can find me taking a troll to admire my neighbors or playing with one of these critters– They are just so darn CUTE!!

What a great way to take the stress out of any crazy day! But it’s not all fun and games folks…I find inspiration in their coloring, shapes, behavior…

We should all take time to slow down and get back in touch with nature…a fresh mind = a clean perspective.

There is always time to take in a sunrise or sunset.

It’s amazing how they can rejuvenate the soul.

Each unique and special– Never the same and will always amaze.

They are my muse..inspiring me with their CRAZY color combinations…or Subtle color combinations…teaching me how to capture a mood.

Make the time…for you…enjoy Mother Nature’s gift– It’s Free 🙂

Welcome to my blog!

I’ll try to let you know what inspires me…How to style your jewelry…The energy put forth in a gem…Life’s Lessons…Anything the moves an artist!

…and so here it goes…

Tourmaline – I LOVE this gorgeous GEM! It comes in almost all the colors- Yellow, Green, Pink, Red, Blue, Black…Watermelon, my favorite!

Black Tourmaline is very special in that it serves dual purposes and is able to both heal and cleanse. Black Tourmaline is a powerful and potent tool for eradicating depression and feelings of negativity, whilst also dispelling further negative energy and feelings of fear. In addition to this, Black Tourmaline increases luck, particularly when the stone is rubbed.

Brown Tourmaline is said to help in self-healing, and to aid in finding emotional strength and self-acceptance. It inspires courage and persistence, while calming and soothing, helping to ground and stabilize the inner self.

Yellow Tourmaline is believed to activate the solar plexus chakra which can in turn enhance personal power and intellectual pursuits. In addition to this, Yellow Tourmaline is said to bring heightened intelligence, creativity, initiative, and spiritual awareness.

Green Tourmaline is believed to be particularly useful with energizing and rejuvenating the wearer, which can stimulate creativity and bring success and prosperity.

Pink Tourmaline is believed to represent harmony, joy of life, and lust. It vibrates the heart chakra allowing the wearer to open themselves to many levels of love. It is also believed to inspire spirituality and creativity well enhancing the one’s willpower. Pink Tourmaline is suitable for females as it encourages female balance and security.

Shop our Jewels for Everyday for some Tourmaline Jewelry.