March Birthstone: Aquamarine

I should have been born in March. It's only logical, other than the fact that I was born in December of course. I have many reasons to support my argument ranging from my love for the month of March (especially because I get so say goodbye to February which is easily my least favorite month) to my natural draw to Aquamarines.

Aquamarine is the birthstone for all of those lucky March babies out there. It is also recognized as the gift for the 18th wedding anniversary (it is thought to have a soothing influence on married couples, making it a good anniversary gift).

When I began to research Aquamarine the first thing that I learned is that its name is derived from the Latin word aqua marina, meaning seawater. Aqua is known for it's range of serene, oceanic shades. Understandably it is known as the gem of the sea. Considering that salt water runs in my veins it makes complete since that I would feel such a deep connection to Aquamarines. As Wilmington natives, beach dwellers and boat lovers you may be able to relate to my deep love for Aqua.

Legend says that it was Neptune's gift to the mermaids and it was originally found in a mermaids treasure chest. It holds the power to keep sailors safe at sea and guard against storms.

Hooked yet? Just wait...Aquamarines are also believed to reawaken love, kindle friendships and elevate the spirit. It is the gem of youthful outlook and glints the fresh, young-at-heart qualities of those who wear it. It is believed to bring hope, health, harmony and happiness.

As a Beryl, Aqua is a sister to Emerald and Morganite. The color of Aqua can range from pastel blues, to blue-greens to deep sea blues. It is routinely heated to remove yellow components. Unlike Emerald, Aquamarine is almost entirely free of inclusions. It is a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which makes it good for all types of jewelry and everyday wear. It has wonderful shine and brilliant color. Iron is what gives it it's lovely color.

Aquamarine is a stunning gemstone for many reasons. It is absolutely my favorite gemstone! I hope that what you learned today will help you fall in love with Aquamarine as well.

We have an absolutely stunning collection of Aquamarines from loose stones to Starsong jewelry and fine designer jewelry.

Here is a sampling of what we have at Spectrum:














Symmetry SS and 18ky Ring
with rough cut Aqua













Barbara Heinrich Aqua and
Peridot Earrings in 18ky

Aqua and Tourmaline Ring in
yellow gold made at Spectrum



-Taylor

Susan Drake 2012 Vision Award Winner!

We are proud to announce that Susan Drake

has won her second jewelry design award for Spectrum Art & Jewelry!

Susan is the 2nd place winner for Palladium Distinction in the 2012
MJSA Vision Design Competition. (Susan recently won a 2012 AGTA Spectrum Award for the category of business/day wear for platinum innovation.)


MJSA, the association for Jewelry Makers, Designers and Related Suppliers, stands for Manufacturers, Jewelers, Suppliers and Artisans. Each year they hold the Vision Awards competition to recognize and celebrate outstanding talent in the field of jewelry design.

"The winning designers represent the future of the jewelry manufacturing industry, and the Vision Awards competition showcases their creativity and boosts their careers." -MJSA


Press:

National Jeweler
Accessories: The Voice of the Industry
INSTORE Magazine

-Taylor

Gems, Gems and More Gems! (The Spectrum adventures at the 2012 Tuscon gem show)

Hello from the Tucson Gem Show,

For the past five days Nancy, Susan and I have been walking miles of aisles through the many shows that comprise the annual Tucson Gem Show, the biggest gem show in the world. Every year the population of Tucson about doubles as people come from around the globe to buy, sell and trade gems, jewelry, minerals, fossils, artifacts, antiques, collectibles and every imaginable thing. There are miners, cutters, manufacturers, retailers, designers and more all converging on this sunny city. This is one of the few places where you can see people in business suits mixing with folks in fringed buckskin boots or colorful velvet dresses or saris.

Some of the highlights of our trip have been meeting with other folks in the biz that I only see here to trade stories, ideas, referrals and more. One of those referrals was to an amazing pearl supplier from Japan. This guy is an ethnic Indian, born in Tokyo, and he is the one that the other pearl vendors buy their goods from. I was able to get some incredible Acoya, Tahitian and South Sea Pearls from him at outstanding prices. I look forward to many years of sourcing top quality salt water pearls from this man.

Because everyone is concentrated at these various shows it is a golden opportunity to shop and compare and learn. Susan and I will be returning with so many design ideas and gem inspirations! For the first time, I purchased onyx carvings from Steve Walters, a very talented gem carver. These black drusy sculptures just cry out to be included in unique jewelry. I have admired his work for years and I can't wait to show them to you.

Every year there are new exotic materials introduced by the various bead manufacturers. Many stones I can identify and then there are some that are so obscure that I can't place them, even after 25 years experience in this field. Obscure or not, they are gorgeous! There were lots of banded and figured agates, jaspers and onyx out there made into dramatic and stylish beads and pendants. On the high-end side, we purchased stunning faceted beads in aquamarine, all colors of sapphire, emerald, pink morganite, lapis, kyanite and more.

Most of these items will only be revealed when we include them into a finished piece of jewelry. However, for a very limited time, since we are so excited about this trip and want to show off our goodies, a selection will be on display. This will be your opportunity to pick out your favorites and work with us to design something special. Or you can pick up exquisite materials and make something for yourself. These gems, beads and pearls will only be on display for two weeks so come early for the best stories and selections.

We also purchased some small collections of unique jewelry. Special treasures from around the world that include hand-made silver and ebony links, ancient roman coins set with gems and labradorite pendants from a Dutch designer. Soon to come will be new designs from Barbara Heinrich and Michael Sugarman.

That sums up some of the highlights. Feel free to drop by the gallery and ask any of us about our trip. We'll be happy to share our many stories. Be sure to ask about our coyote encounter or the Gem-Jam at The Hut or the Spectrum Award Dinner where Susan received her design award from the American Gem Trade Association!

-Star Sosa

February Birthstone: Amethyst

Amethyst is February's birthstone and the birthstone for the Zodiac sign Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20). It is also the appropriate gemstone gift for the 6th wedding anniversary.

Amethyst is probably the most recognized variety of quartz. A few other varieties of quartz are citrine, rose quartz and smoky quartz. It is a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness making it safe for every day wear. Amethyst has long been loved for its beautiful purple hues. The stone can range from a pale lilac to a deep purple. The deeper colors are the most valuable.

According to Greek legend Dionysius, the God of wine, was angered when a mere mortal insulted him. He swore revenge on the next mortal to cross his path and created fierce tigers to carry out his bidding. Along came the beautiful young maiden Amethyst on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a crystal quartz statue to protect her from the tigers of Dionysius. Dionysius wept tears of wine in remorse over the beautiful statue staining Amethyst purple and creating the gem we know today.

The Greek word "amethystos" basically can be translated as "not drunken." Amethyst was considered a strong antidote against drunkenness. As a result it became associated with upright, sober thinking. Wine goblets were often carved from it and during the Middle Ages it was used as ornamentation in churches. Because purple has long been associated with royalty it's not surprising that Amethyst has been in high demand throughout history.

Amethyst Jewelry at Spectrum:

Tony Maccabi Amethyst and White Gold Ring

Starsong Amethyst and Garnet wrap bracelet/necklace

Tana Acton Amethyst and Gold Fill Ring

Amethyst and Diamond Earrings

-Taylor

Valentines Day...fall in love all over again

Want to really make her eyes sparkle?
Tuck one of these into her box
of chocolates this Valentines Day...


Don't be blue, my heart belongs to you
Blue Topaz Starsong Necklace
with SS heart Charm


Bee MineFreshwater Pearl Starsong Necklace
with SS Bee Charm

You are the key to my heartKathy Bransfield SS and GF Necklace

Heart earrings
B&R SS and GF Earrings

Wrapped Around Your Finger
Starsong Hematite wrap necklace/bracelet with SS Heart Charm

-Taylor

January Birthstone: Garnet

Pyrope Garnet

Garnet is the official birthstone of January as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also the stone for the Zodiac sign Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 18) and the gemstone given for the 2nd and 6th wedding anniversaries.

The name Garnet evolved from "granatus", Latin for "seed-like" because the small round crystals reminded the Greeks of pomegranate seeds. Garnet is said to keep travelers safe, promote a long-lasting love, and prevent depression.

What if Garnet is your birthstone but you're not crazy about red? You're in luck! Most people think of Garnet as a brownish-red stone but Garnet is actually a diverse group of stones that includes several species that range from hues of red, orange and yellow to pink green and brown. The only color that Garnet does not occur in is blue. Most varieties are named for their color.

Here are a few varieties of Garnet:
Rhodolite is a purplish red
Hessonite is an orange or pinkish variety
Tsavorite is green
Pyrope is purplish red, orange red, crimson or dark red
Spessartite garnets range from yellow orange to red brown to black brown

Tsavorite Garnet

Garnet is one of the few gemstones that doesn't require any heating or enhancement. They range from a 7.0 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness (scale of 1-10) making them quite sturdy and resistant to everyday wear and tear. Garnets have a high refraction of light resulting in amazing brilliance.

Garnet Jewelry at Spectrum...

Andradite Garnet pendant by Spectrum with matching ring











The Golden Eye Garnet Ring

Gold Fill Tana Acton Ring with Garnet Beads:











Starsong Garnet and Amethyst wrap bracelet/necklace:












We can also make custom Garnet jewelry!

-Taylor

The Family Jewels

“Stories behind the Stones” by Star Sosa of Spectrum Art & Jewelry

The Family Jewels

Family “His-Story” or “Her-Story” as Told by Your Jewelry

We invest our jewelry with unique attributes unlike

any of our other possessions. We use it to make commitments, seal contracts and to celebrate accomplishments and personal milestones. It is portable wealth, elevates our social standing and provides heirlooms for future generations. So much of jewelry sends messages to the people we meet about who we are. It tells the casual observer if we are engaged to be married or have celebrated a big anniversary, that we have children or grandchildren, if we prefer unique and artistic designs or are drawn to classic familiar brands or love antique collectibles.

Ask anyone about some jewelry they are wearing and they’ll likely have a story to share. “This was my mother’s”, “my dad bought this for me when I turned 16”, “I found it in an antique store”, “bought it on a special trip (birthday, anniversary, etc.)”, “I designed it myself”. There are a million special tales. So many of those tales encompass family history and mythology and many more are very emotional, uplifting or touchingly tender. And in many cases the tale is as valuable, if not more precious, than the item itself!

If you find yourself the proud caretaker of such a piece, you owe it to yourself and your family to document those stories. Don’t count on the casual conversation to convey the personal importance that jewelry has for you. Your family may not remember or the facts may morph over time into a completely different idea. Write it down! Keep it with your important papers and jewelry appraisals. Thes

e things are so much more than the sum of their parts. Your kids might never appreciate the funny little brass pendant your Grandfather brought back from a trip to Peru in the 1920’s, because they won’t know that odd little object has that fascinating history unless you share it with them.

In my years as a professional jewelry designer, I have come across some amazing stories about jewelry. I have encouraged those people to document their personal histories. The longevity of metal and gemstones make jewelry a perfect vehicle for family history. And it is a delightful conversation starter when someone comments, “say that’s a lovely, or interesting, or unique, etc……”

And sometimes, jewelry really is just metal and stones. When you find yourself with a collection of old jewelry that doesn’t speak to you, doesn’t suit your taste or style, then it is time to restyle it into something that does. Then you will have created your own story to share about those objects. About the time you took your materials to the jewelry designer and working together you created this special new piece. Make your own mark in your family history and create something memorable and fun. Wear your story and share it with the world. What do you have so say?

Spectrum Custom Designs