Many people collect semi-precious gemstone and sterling silver jewelry - it is an exciting and rewarding hobby. Definitely a marriage made in heaven, I think sterling silver is a glorious backdrop for all semi-precious gemstones from the traditional turquoise to rich red carnelian - the flashing gleam of silver working beautifully to bring out the warmth of these beautiful stones.
Semi-precious gemstone and sterling silver jewelry is certainly one of my favorites and has been for years. And ever since last year when I became interested in gemology and began to collect loose gemstones, my interest has really piqued. There is an earthy quality about this kind of jewelry that inspires me to reflect on nature and its bounty, to ponder how important are earth's myriad resources, and leads me to appreciate its overwhelming beauty. Just think, these semi-precious gems are naturally occurring rock and crystal formations, then cut and polished to adorn human beings from ancient civilizations to contemporary society. In fact, the combination of semi-precious gemstones and sterling silver is one of today's hottest trends in designer jewelry, same as it was back in Ancient Egypt.
In my ongoing search for designers to feature here at the Jewelry Collecting site who work with this combination, I came across Elaine Haydon Jewelryand after a delightful browse through her wide selection of unique one-of-a-kind necklaces, pendants, bracelets, earrings, rings, and watches at her online shop, decided my first purchase would be a pair of iolite earrings. This is my first ever iolite jewelry and I could not be happier. I love them, and everyone who sees them, loves them, too! - their soft violet blue color and exquisite chandelier design makes them real standouts. In fact I hate to put them away at night in their lovely little organza bag that was included with my purchase. I have worn them every day since they arrived last week, beautifully presented in a white box tied with a matching iolite blue organza ribbon.
Although Elaine Haydon Jewelry offers a nice selection of bracelets, rings, earrings, and watches, this is definitely a necklace-lover's paradise. In every style you can imagine, including some stunning pendants, and 13 colors plus pearls, this fabulous array of necklaces are neatly arranged in virtual shelves not by gemstone but by glorious color. Color keying is a great way to present multiple items of jewelry and any fashion or decor item, and has always been my preference for viewing a designer's collection.
A Virtual Parade of Colorful Semi-Precious Gemstone & Sterling Silver Necklaces
Following are some delightful examples (in my favorites colors)you will find at Elaine Haydon Jewelry:
Turquoise and Blue
Aah, blue! My favorite color, because I seem to look best in blue, or so people tell me. And my eye is drawn to blue things in nature, my soul soothed by tiny blue diamond-like patterns that pop out of my Persian carpet unexpectedly amongst all the warm paprikas and wines. I am intriqued by flowing blue and white stripes on a tee shirt, and adore a crisp white shirt worn with light blue jeans. I still can't get that midnight blue Jaguar automobile I spotted the other day, out of my mind. I am inspired by staring up into the sky! My new Elaine Haydon iolite earrings are a perfect example of my fascination with blue, as I did not intend to buy anything blue, it was simply a natural choice. I guess the color blue suits me - my coloring, my nature - something about my style. I have vowed to dress in blue more often, wear more blue jewelry. Doesn't matter if it's turquoise, denim blue, navy, or aurora borealis crystal blue, it seems to work for me. So when I found the blue necklaces at Elaine Haydon Jewelry I was smitten. It was like they were all custom-made for me!
In the Turquoise section, a selection of single and multiple strands from 17" to 35" are presented. Variously made with organic robin's egg blue turquoise, sky blue turquoise, and green turquoise nuggets interspaced and complemented with nuggets of smoky quartz, tigers eye, Pietersite, boulder opal, agate, rich orange carnelian, and Hill Tribe silver wrapped beads, these fashionable necklaces are finished with either a sterling silver hook, sterling silver toggle, or sterling silver marquis-shaped box clasp. Choices, choices!
In the Blue section you will find a multi-strand extravaganza of a necklace made with stunning iridescent Labradorite teardrops and rough cut Labradorite nuggets. This truly substantial necklace is joined by other blue necklaces like the silvery blue kyanite that is linked with Hill Tribe Silver flat discs and deep blue iolite nuggets. A sparkling teal blue apatite necklace will inspire your wardrobe and for you lapis lazuli-lovers there is a beautiful necklace featuring large wavy diamond-shaped Lapis interspersed with lapis nuggets.
Aqua
Aqua is a lovely soft pastel color infused with blue hues which lends itself particularly well to summer jewelry - think beaches, water, summer skies, seashells, wispy cotton dresses, aqua perhaps more than any other color epitomizes summer and offers a welcome burst of refreshing color all year round. Ms. Haydon uses aquamarine nuggets punctuated with smoky quartz in one piece, apatite chips with rich carnelian in another. There is a beautiful Caribbean blue Peruvian opal necklace with rainbow moonstone chips that is joined together by Hill Tribe silver. Another piece features a stunning amazonite center pendant surrounded by smoky quartz, more lush aqua amazonites, and sterling silver spacers. Another piece showcases very unusual opaque aquamarine nuggets.
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