Gemstones are precious stones and semi-precious stones.
All can be called gems. All are minerals that have
hardness, density, refraction, and color.
Stones
of all kinds have played a very important part in the
history of mankind. From the beginning, small smooth
river stones were collected and carried for good luck
when hunting.
Used as talismans and good luck charms throughout
recorded history and before, stones in all their many
forms, are considered the 'bones of the Earth'.

Quartz is said to bring the energy of the stars into the
soul. The natural tendency for quartz is for harmony
and it is recognized as a ‘stone of power.’ The name
‘quartz’ comes from the Greek word krustallos, meaning
ice, because it was thought that quartz was ice formed
by the gods. Since the middle ages, crystal balls made
of rock crystal have been used to predict the future.

To see more of The StarStrings Collection by Molly
Magdalain
click here.
Exciting Finds for Gemstone Collectors
Please Note: The exciting gemstones we feature
here are brand new inventory at Artistic Colored Stones.
However, they are one-of-a-kind and sell quickly. They
may already be sold. We show them to you as
representative of the ever-changing high quality
gemstone inventory found at Artistic Colored Stones.

Amethyst
(J) 27.3 ct. 18 x
25 x 12 mm. [Gec: N] Freeform cut with opposed bar
crown. Just short of flawless at 10x in a medium light
to medium purple color.
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Madagascar Garnet
(J)
1.26 ct. 7.1 x 8.4 mm. [Gec: N] Freeform kite shape. This
eyeclean piece shows proto-typical "Malaya" color: slightly
orangey, slightly purplish medium dark pink.
What Unique and Interesting Stone
Has Caught Our Eye This Week?
Please Note: The exciting gemstones we feature here
are brand new inventory at Artistic Colored Stones. However,
they are one-of-a-kind and sell quickly. They may already be
sold. We show them to you as representative of the ever-changing
high quality gemstone inventory found at Artistic Colored
Stones.

Faceted Citrine Carving
(J) 4.1 ct. 10.1 x 13.7 x 7.5 mm. [Gec: H] Flawless at 10x in
medium, very slightly brownish orange, the faceted carving
suggests a fleur d' lis, appropriate to the French artist who
executed the work.
For beautiful gemstones
please visit Artistic Colored Stones
www.acstones.com
SHOPPING NOTE:
One of my favorite
online stores, E-Pueblo, offers a great selection of
very high quality genuine Native
American jewelry. If you love this kind of jewelry as much as I do,
please take a moment to visit our friends at
www.e-pueblo.com
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Greetings,
There's lots new at the Jewelry Collecting site. In case
you haven't visited for a couple of weeks or so, there are links
below to my newest articles. This issue also focuses on
some of my very favorite jewelry pieces that I wanted to
share with you.
Upcoming Interviews and Collection Reviews
I'm really
excited about the interviews I've got lined up for you.
Next week I will be speaking to Helen and Jenniefer Kirk
of Kirks Folly and Jenniefer's daughter, Kaena, of
DreamKeepers. We will also be featuring an article about
Kirks Folly's new Home Party division. Look for this
sometime around the end of the month.
Also next week, I
will be featuring my interview with Alexa Hirst, lead
jewelry designer for Loopy Monkey, as well as a review
of her simply elegant hand-crafted jewelry.
A couple of weeks ago
I spoke with Lowell Hays, Elvis Presley's jeweler. Our
interview will be appearing on the site in the next
couple of weeks.
As we get into July,
I will be interviewing Fay Cullen about her antique and
vintage jewelry online store. Her success story will
inspire you, and you will love her jewelry. July is
antique jewelry month at the Jewelry Collecting site and several new articles will be
added for collectors of vintage jewelry, in addition to
new articles about a variety of jewelry specialties.
Gemology Expert
This month we will be interviewing
Barbara Smigel, Graduate
Gemologist, GIA, who has graciously accepted our
invitation to be our 'expert gemologist' for the Jewelry
Collecting site at Bella Online. We are thrilled to have
her expertise about gemstones. It will be vastly
interesting, not only for you serious gemstone
collectors, but to all of us who love gemstones and
jewelry.
The Hollywood
Collection
I am pleased to announce that appearing on the site next
week will be my recent five-part interview with Elliot Abbott,
President of
The Hollywood Collection as well as my review of
the collection which also features some of my personal
favorites from the collection. These exquisite pieces are priced just
right for collecting. But, choosing which ones to buy
first poses a real dilemma. It's almost impossible to
choose. You'll love them all!

The Hollywood
Collection is my favorite glamorous jewelry collection
and has it's own section at the Jewelry Collecting site
for which I will be writing an
ongoing series of articles, and updates when new pieces
are added.
Please send along any comments or questions you have.
I'm interested in your opinion and if you have any
article suggestions please send along. I love great stories about jewelry and the
hobby of jewelry collecting.
Best Regards,
Susan
Jewelry Collecting Editor at Bella Online
www.bellaonline.com/site/JewelryCollecting
Rhodium, the
Most Precious of All Metals
Precious,
rare, beautiful, and tough—rhodium is aptly named. A
member of the platinum family (group) it is by far
the most expensive precious metal, costing 6 times
as much as gold—that’s $6,000 per troy ounce as of
May 2006. Often used to simulate the rich appearance
of platinum, many people do not know that of the
two, rhodium is the more precious. It is also
brighter than platinum, and in a specular comparison
of reflected light on highly polished electroplated
metal surfaces, rhodium reflects 72%-80% as compared
to 65% for platinum and 60% for gold.
Read More...
In Praise of
Cubic Zirconias -
Exquisite Diamond Look-Alike
That Doesn't Break the Bank
The cubic zirconia is
a fascinating story about ingenuity and
resourcefulness. For in our quest to simulate the
almighty
diamond,
a new jewel of stunning beauty was discovered.
Inexpensive, but loaded with attitude, the cubic
zirconia is a synthetic gemstone that exudes
brilliance and incomparable fire. The marvelous cz
has revolutionized the costume jewelry industry, and
made it possible for everyone to own dramatically
beautiful jewelry.
Read
More...
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Vivien Leigh's
Amethyst and Diamond Pendant
from
The Hollywood Collection |
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Jean
Harlow's
'Sunset Padparacha Sapphire'
from
The Hollywood Collection
Wow!
This sunset colored stone is such a gorgeous rich color.
The Hollywood Collection includes a couple of different
styles using this uniquely colored stone. |
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