September Gemstone - Sapphire

Sapphires are members of the corundum family of minerals. They exist in nearly every color except red, as red corundum is called ruby.
One of the hardest minerals, sapphires are durable gemstones that have been in demand since ancient times.



© Catherine Marche - 18K white gold ring with sapphires and diamonds

Sapphire Hardness
• 9 on the Mohs' scale; compare to diamonds at 10 and turquoise at 5-6.

Sapphire Colors
• Cornflower blue is the most popular sapphire color, but all shades of blue are found
• Sapphires exist in many other colors, including yellow, colorless white, black, white, orange, pink, purple and brown
• A variety of orangish-pink sapphire is called padparadsha, which means "lotus flower."
Sapphire Treatments
• Heat treatment is commonly used to deepen sapphire color and improve clarity
Where Sapphires Are Found
• Quality sapphires are found in Ceylon, Thailand, Australia, India, Burma, Africa, and Brazil.

Unusual Sapphires
• Some sapphires are cut into cabochons (smooth domes) and produce a star with six rays that stretch across the sapphire's surface.
Synthetic Sapphires
• Like many other popular gemstones, sapphires can be created in a laboratory. Some synthetic sapphires are difficult to distinguish from gemstones formed in nature.

Ruby - July Gemstone

Ruby is a gemstone in the Corundum family.

It exhibits a range of red colors, and the most desired color is pigeon’s blood (pure red with a hint of blue).
On Mohs’ scale of hardness, ruby is 9, which is very hard.


It has a strong luster, like diamonds
Sources of this gemstone include Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Kenya, Madagascar, and Vietnam.

Ruby - July - the Lore

According to gem lore, rubies are believed to bring:

spiritual wisdom,
attainment of values,
economic stability and
protection from distress to the wearer.

Are you wearing one (or many) ?

ring featured : © Day and night, sterling silver with rubies and sapphires
available at http://kalicat.dawanda.com

Treasure - 2 for 1 Offer

This year Coutts London Jewellery Week will host Treasure - an exhibition showcasing the very best of visionary design, cutting-edge technology and new talent. Now is your last chance to get discount on entry

Organised by East London Design Show, it will take place at The Flower Cellars - a fantastic venue right in the heart of Covent Garden off the main piazza. By downloading the voucher and presenting it at the door, you can get 2-for-1 entry to the event (tickets usually cost £5)

Please click here for more details

Eye candy

Lovely Amethyst - February gemstone

Amethyst Gemstone meanings
Crystalline quartz in shades of purple, lilac or mauve is called amethyst, a stone traditionally worn to guard against drunkeness and to instill a sober mind. The word amethyst comes from the Greek meaning "without drunkenness" and amethyst is believed to protect one from poison.

It is used as a dream stone and to help insomnia. Put an amethyst under your pillow to bring about pleasant dreams, or rub it across your forehead to offer relief from a headache.

Ancient Egyptians used the amethyst guard against guilty and fearful feelings. It has been worn as protection from self-deception, as well as a protection against witchcraft. The amethyst has long been used to open the spiritual and psychic centers, making it one of the power stones. It is also used as a meditation aid when worn as a necklace.

The amethyst is known as the Bishop's Stone and is still worn by Catholic Bishops. The amethyst symbolizes piety, humility, sincerity and spiritual wisdom. It is thought the amethyst is the perfect stone to symbolize The Age of Aquarius.

Healing properties of Amethyst
Amethyst is a gemstone often worn by healers, as it has the power to focus energy. A healer will usually wear several pieces of jewelry with amethysts set in silver, especially an amethyst necklace. The person to be healed will have an Amethyst to hold while the healing is being done. The healer will place another piece of Amethyst on the area of the body in need of healing, the heart or lungs usually.
Amethyst is used for problems in the blood and in breathing problems. Amethyst crystal clusters are used to keep the air and life force in the home clean and positive.


Amethyst clusters, points or several tumbled Amethysts placed in a window that receives sun most of the day are very beneficial to use in healing and to heal negativity in the home. Place Amethyst clusters, points or several tumbled Amethysts in moonlight and everyone in the home will be feeling calmer. Using an Amethyst as a meditation focus will increase the positive spiritual feelings. Amethyst helps overcome fears and cravings. It also helps relieve headaches.

Ring a ling

amazing rings in stock and made to order by kalicat  , and other talented jewellers selected by Cindy

Gemstones ....

I Just came across a gemstones dealer who has contacted me.
Of course, beautiful gems to make anyone go wild are de rigueur

Here is a link to their website:
http://www.karunagems.com/

October Birthstones - Opal and Tourmaline

October has been associated with 3 gemstones: Opal, Jasper and Tourmaline.

while the gemstones associated with the zodiac are for

Libra (September 23-October 23) : Opal and smokey quartz
for Scorpio (October 24-November 22) : Topaz and Malachite

I have chosen to introduce you to Opal and Tourmaline.

Opal: Derived from the Latin "Opalus" , which means "Precious stone"

Opal was thought to protect the wearer from disease and to possess the gift of prophecy

They are found mainly in Australia, Mexico and the U.S.A

It is believed that they convey hope, innocence and purity. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the October Birthstone Opal are happiness, faithfulness, loyalty and confidence. The healing properties are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the eyes and eye infections. The Opal is also used to enhance visualization, imagination, dreams and healing.



Tourmalines exist naturally in a myriad of colors: yellow, green, blue, pink, red, brown, black. Some even have bi-colored properties. A valued bi-colored variety of tourmaline, found in Brazil, is called the "watermelon."



Watermelon Tourmaline is a unique stone. It balances the yin and yang in the body. Wearing a slice of watermelon tourmaline will allow you to understand matters in a more balanced way. Watermelon tourmaline draws joyful and understanding love to you. Meditate with a slice of watermelon between your hands and understanding of the beauty of the universe may come to you. Watermelon tourmaline is reddish-pink encircled by green

Exhibition

A Group exhibition organized by the ACJ: Association of Contemporary Jewellers, with
Catherine Marche, Jane Adams, Gill Newton, Alexandra Simpson, Peta Bush, Bea Jareno, Emma O'Callaghan...

Are you ready to get noticed?

Handmade jewels made with Wire. The designer and artist says:

"I was born and partially raised in NB Canada, I fell in love at the tender age of eight when as a christmas gift my grandparents gave me a large beading kit from then on I was always making some form of jewelry or another.

I still very much love making jewelry the only thing thats changed is my range of materials from plastic stretch cord and plastic pony beads to sterling silver and precious stones.

Recently I have realized as an artist you can't completely limit your materials and be happy for to long and I have many ideas for fresh and unique designs using a variety of materials.

Each piece of Jewelry I make is an extension of myself to you, there's no mass produced here just pieces that are as unique and special as you are."

Find her creations here

The curious Lore of Birthstones - October - Tourmaline

Written by Catherine Marche

Tourmaline and opal are the birthstones of the month of October. Tourmaline is the national gemstone of the United States. It comes in many shades of greens, reds, pinks and yellow to brown, including orange.

The main beauty of tourmalines is its varied and magnificent range of colors. Colors in every hue, shade and nuance grace this stone. Some tourmalines even have more than one color. The color depends on the place of origin: SriLanka possesses Rubellite which is blessed with colors of ruby ranging from pink to red. Malawi produces bright yellow tourmalines. Paraiba tourmaline is a turquoise-y blue stone, with copper and sometimes traces of gold. While Brazil is home to green and bluish green tourmaline.

This gemstone has many names: Rubellite for red, Indicolite for blue, Chromolite (rich green), Canary (bright yellow), Watermelon (green-edge and red-heart combo) Paraiba ( intense green to rich blue), Bi-color (more than one colored), Cats eye (variety of colors) and Color-change (Color changes with light from red to green ). Rest of the tourmalines are just called with the color prefix like pink-tourmaline. The color of the stone takes a different hue depending on the mineral and the proportion in which is present in it.
Tourmaline is quite a hard stone with it hardness being between 6.15 and 7.5. Tourmalines must be protected from scratches and blows.

Green Tourmaline meaning
All the tourmalines contain a wide scope of healing effects. The multi-colored tourmalines combine several qualities.

Green Tourmaline (also known as Verdelite) brings a joy for life. It promotes an appreciation for the many wonders that life has to offer. It encourages patience and openness, as well as sincere interest in fellow human beings.

The magical uses of this stone include the stimulation of creativity. It is also used to attract money and success in business.

Healing properties of green tourmaline
Green tourmaline strengthens the heart and offers detoxification effects.

Black Tourmaline (Schorl) Gemstone meaning
Rub black tourmaline for luck and happiness. This is a powerful stone and a very lucky stone. When the tourmaline is rubbed it becomes charged with magnetic electricity and the luck intensifies.
Colored Tourmaline
Tourmaline is black, but also shades of red, pink, green, blue and what is known as watermelon tourmaline, which is a crystal with green on the outside and pink in the middle. The green tourmaline brings success. The pink tourmaline will bring love and friends. Tourmalated quartz aids peace of mind. It is found in many countries including Burma, United States, Brazil and Zimbabwe.
Healing properties of Black Tourmaline
Tourmaline uses differs as its colors differ. All colors are very powerful and it must be used carefully. Each person seems to react differently to Tourmaline. It has been used with intestinal problems, but only a healer should use it. Black Tourmaline pushes all negativity away.
Pink Tourmaline gemstone meaning
Pink tourmaline is a gentle stone that directly touches the heart! The color varies widely from pale pink to deep red
Relaxing and nurturing, pink tourmaline is associated with feminine energies. It vibrates a deep resonance with the heart chakra. It has the potential to heal emotional wounds with its soft, soothinig energy to bring feelings of comfort and safety.
Pink Tourmaline opens your ability to surrender to love!
Emotional balancer and cleanser
Alleviates stress and obsessive behaviour
Assists in changing patterns to better align with spiritual growth
Radiates kindness, tolerance
The watermelon tourmaline is a rare variety that displays three different colors in the same crystal - green (the skin of the watermelon), pink (the sweet fruit) and white (the rind). As in the gem stone ametrine, the colors of the watermelon tourmaline occur 100% naturally. This is a rare occurence in nature.

What watermelon tourmaline can do for you

Attract love
Balance the male and female energies within yourself
Remove imbalances (and guilt) caused by conflicts and confusions
The green part feeds your life force, while the pink soothes and harmonizes

Healing properties of watermelon tourmaline
All of the tourmalines offer strong healing effects. The watermelon variety encourages regeneration of the nerves, helps with paralysis and multiple sclerosis.

Sources of watermelon tourmaline
South Africa, Brazil, Mozambique, Madagascar and Sri Lanka.

Dravite (Brown Tourmaline) meaning
Dravite is a brown variety of tourmaline. It is an ideal stone for self-healing, aids in finding emotional strength and self-acceptance. Dravite inspires courage and persistence. It calms and soothes, grounding and stabilizing the inner self.

Use Dravite with these compatible stones to clear and ground the root chakra and provide psychic protection:

Indicolite is the blue color variety of the tourmaline mineral elbaite (quite rare). Its typical color is a more deeper almost neon blue than other blue gems such as aquamarine and blue topaz. Other varieties include a cat's eye variety, verdellite (green), rubellite (pink to red) and watermelon tourmaline (green outside and a red center). All elbaite specimens are strongly pleochroic meaning that they show stronger or even different colors when viewed from different angles. In indicolite, this causes the blue color to appear darker when viewed down the long axis of an uncut crystal. The gem cutter must be aware of this pleochroisim in order to maximize the color potential of the stone.