Fun Fact: The Natural Pearl Industry was a by-product of the Button Industry

18. November 2015 · Comments Off on Fun Fact: The Natural Pearl Industry was a by-product of the Button Industry · Categories: Fun Fact, Pearls · Tags: ,

Today, nearly all pearls, whether they are Akoya, freshwater, Tahitian or South Sea, are cultured, meaning that a pearl formed as a result of human intervention. Prior to pearl culturing, which began around 1900, pearls were completely natural. They were formed by the mollusks on their own as a result of an irritant getting inside their shell. The farming of natural pearls was not a business in and of itself because divers would sometimes have to recover hundreds and hundreds of mollusks just to find one pearl. It just wasn’t cost effective.

9.7mm Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Ring in 18k white gold

Stunning 9.7mm Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Ring in 18k white gold

The natural pearl business was actually a by-product of the button business. Buttons were once made from natural mother of pearl, the nacreous layer inside the shell of a mollusk. Whenever the mollusks were harvested and a natural pearl was present, it was set aside. Natural pearls were a symbol of status and wealth and were highly coveted. By the 1920′s, the button business had transformed and buttons were being manufactured in mass quantities from plastic. This caused a huge decline in the natural pearl market since the mollusks were no longer being harvested. Today, it is too costly to dive for natural pearls and the business isn’t really viable. So natural pearls are very very rare. Today almost all pearls in pearl jewelry are cultured pearls. This includes all pearls sold at MyJewelrySource.

Myanmar (Burmese) Rubies and Sapphires

18. November 2015 · Comments Off on Myanmar (Burmese) Rubies and Sapphires · Categories: Gemstone Mining, Gemstones, Ruby, Sapphire · Tags: , , , , ,
2.46 ctw Burmese Ruby and Trapezoid Diamond Ring in 18k white gold

Myanmar (Burmese) Ruby set with trapezoid diamonds in white gold

Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is known for its exceptional rubies. It is not widely know that Myanmar also produces very fine quality sapphires.

Sapphires from this country command very high prices for the top quality gemstones with intense or vivid saturation with rich royal blue color. The best sapphires maintain their exceptional color under all lighting conditions, incandescent, daylight and fluorescent, something you rarely see in sapphires. These sapphires do not have the velvety appearance that Kashmir sapphires are known for. Just as with any origin, not all sapphires from Myanmar are so outstanding. Some sapphires are dark or even very light in color.

Fine Burmese Sapphire (from Myanmar)

Fine Burmese Sapphire (from Myanmar)

Rubies and sapphires have been mined in Myanmar for about 800 years. Sapphires are about 10 percent of the output. Mining has been sporadic over the years due to the remote location. Even today, political and economic troubles limit mining activities. Mining is done by government-run and private businesses using both mechanized and primitive techniques. Once the rough is mined, it often heads for Thailand, where the majority of sapphire and ruby fashioning (treating and cutting) is done. Some gems leave Myanmar through unauthorized channels and smuggling is common.

Most Burmese sapphires are heat treated to remove or reduce the silk inclusions. Heat treatment improves the luster and clarity and it can also lighten the darker stones. Because of their origin, fine Burmese sapphires do command higher prices than sapphires of other origins like Madagascar or Montana, but identifying the origin can be difficult if not impossible. Origin identification is most often possible through the identification of that origin’s characteristic inclusions. But since inclusions can be significantly altered by heat treatment, identification can become impossible after heat treatment has been performed.

More Tips on Gem Care and Jewelry Cleaning

18. November 2015 · Comments Off on More Tips on Gem Care and Jewelry Cleaning · Categories: Gemstone Care, Gemstones, Tanzanite · Tags: , , , ,

The purpose of this post is to add to the information we provided on March 17, 2012 about gemstone hardness and cleaning methods. Below are a few more tips and additional information about gemstone and jewelry cleaning.

Striking 3.88 ctw Marquise Shape Tanzanite and Diamond Ring in 14k white gold

Tanzanite is susceptable to thermal shock, therefore, avoid rapid changes in temperature such as occurs during steam cleaning (image: Tanzanite ring from MyJewelrySource.com)

Tanzanite is susceptable to thermal shock, therefore, avoid rapid changes in temperature such as occurs during steam cleaning (image: Tanzanite ring from MyJewelrySource.com)

When a gemstone is subjected to a rapid temperature change it is referred to as thermal shock. Thermal shock can actually crack stones like tanzanite and peridot so don’t use hot water when cleaning them. Other gems that can be damaged from hot cleaning solutions include opal, lapis lazuli and turquoise. Thermal shock is one reason to avoid having your jewerly steam cleaned at your local jewelers especially if your jewelry contains any of the gemstones metioned above.

Organic gems like amber, pearls and coral, can be damaged by lotions, perfumes and especially ammonia, so that’s why you probably have been told to put your pearls on after you are completely finished getting yourself ready in the morning. Although most gems stand up much better to chemicals, it is best to remove jewelry when using cleaners or solvents and it is not recommended that jewelry be cleaned with them.

Chlorine can attack gold alloys and acids can etch gemstones so it is best to remove your jewelry before enjoying your pool.

Ultrasonic and steam cleaners can do a great job at cleaning jewelry but they have many drawbacks and we do not recommend them. Ultrasonic cleaners can loosen stones from their settings and damage porous stones like lapis or turquoise. Because most emeralds are oiled, they should never ever be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner because this will cause the oil to leak out of the stone and severely damage the gem’s appearance. This is also true of any fracture filled gemstones. Additionally, the vibrations caused by ultrasonic cleaners may loosen the stones in the settings, expecially rings with the pave setting of many small stones.

In summary, it’s best to avoid having your jewelry cleaned with an ultrasonic or steam cleaner altogether (even if you are offered a free cleaning by your local jeweler). We clean all of our jewelry at MyJewelrySource with a soft-bristled tooth brush or a cloth using plain luke warm or slightly soapy water or gentle jewelry cleaner.

A Quick Introduction to Sapphires

18. November 2015 · Comments Off on A Quick Introduction to Sapphires · Categories: Gemstones, Gemstones 101, Sapphire · Tags: ,

An Introduction to Sapphires:

Although sapphire means blue in Latin, sapphires can be found in a rainbow of colors. Kings once believed these stones offered protection form harm and envy. Sapphires are calm and relaxing. Until the discovery of extraordinary stones in Kashmir in 1880, Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) was the standard bearer of sapphire. The Kashmir supply was essentially exhausted by 1930, leaving Sri Lanka as the location of the world’s most beautiful sapphires. In the 1990′s Southern Madagascar became one of the top sources of good to fine quality sapphires. Sapphires are also mined in the US (Montana), Australia, Thailand, Cambodia and Northern Madagascar, however these locations don’t produce as fine a sapphire and are mainly used to supply “commercial grade” sapphires to the industry. Sapphires come other colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink. Colors other than blue are referred to as “rainbow sapphires” or “fancy sapphires”. Sapphire is the traditional gift for the fifth and forty-fifth wedding anniversaries and the birthstone for September.

Buying a Sapphire:

2.83 carat Oval Ceylon Sapphire Solitaire Engagement Ring in 14k white gold

A Beautiful Blue Sapphire Ring

Overall, sapphires can be considered the ideal colored gemstone. Besides the amazing selection of colors, sapphires are highly durable with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Sapphires in sizes of more than 1 carat are considered to be important. Minor inclusions are generally acceptable although certainly not as many as with ruby or emerald. Nearly all of the sapphires sold by MyJewelrySource are eye clean and most important, all are very pleasing to the eye. We offer a wide range of colors from a traditional Ceylon blue, to rich lustrous royal blue, to many styles with bubble gum and baby pink, orange, and yellow sapphires.

Care of Sapphires:

Since sapphires are tough and durable, they can withstand most cleaning methods. While steaming and ultrasonic cleaning will not damage the gemstone, these methods are not recommended by us as they may loosen the setting, and subsequently, stones may fall out. Your jewelry may be cleaned with a soft-bristled brush or a cloth with plain or soapy water. Sapphires should not be put in hot or boiling hot water since a stress fracture due to thermal shock my result. Avoid exposure to hairspray, perfume and chlorine, which can dull gemstones.

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