Tourmaline Gemstones

Pink and water melon colored tourmaline are my favorite gemstones. If the center of the slice is red and the area around it green, the stone is given the nickname 'water melon'. Although there are plenty of gemstone deposits which contain tourmaline's, good qualities and fine colors are not often discovered among them. For this reason, the price spectrum of the tourmaline is almost as broad as that of its color.

Tourmaline's are gems with an incomparable variety of colors. The reason, according to an old Egyptian legend, is that the tourmaline, on its long journey up from the center of the Earth, passed over a rainbow. In doing so, it assumed all the colors of the rainbow. And that is why it is still referred to as the 'gemstone of the rainbow' today.

In the fascinating world of gemstones, the tourmaline is very special. Its high availability and its glorious, incomparable color spectrum make it one of our most popular gemstones - and apart from that, almost every tourmaline is unique.

Pictured left to right: Green tourmaline necklace by Lauren Schott, faceted pink tourmaline stone and rough water melon tourmaline.

For more information on tourmaline contact your local jeweler or go to the site listed below.

Bibliography: International Colored Gemstone Society http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/gem-by-gem-by-variety.html

Best Online Shops for Art Jewelry

I have blogged for some time now about the virtues of Art Jewelry. So now it is time to share my favorite online jewelry shopping sites.

www.artjewelryonline.com
www.americacreates.com
www.soleyne.com

Pictured to the left one of my favorite artists Hratch Babikian. You can find Hratch's work for sale at any of the online sites listed above. Pendant in photo has a 2 inch in diameter.

New York--The Annenberg Diamond, a 32.01-carat, emerald-cut, flawless, D-color stone boasting the impressive provenance synonymous with the Annenberg name, will be the highlight of Christie's Jewels: The New York Sale on Oct. 21.

London--De Beers saw rough-diamond sales plummet 57 percent in the first half of 2009 as sightholders took less goods in an effort to clear out the pipeline and increase liquidity. In my opinion the value of diamonds is too volatile to consider for investment or collection purposes. I suggest you buy sculptural jewelry from artists that produce quality collectible jewelry. To find these jewelers peruse galleries and museums for the art jewelry that fits your style. An example of quality collectible art jewelry is the work of Shana Kroiz. Shana's work is shown at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. Pictured above are earrings from Shana's Peeciz collection.

Eco-Chic is the New IN Thing

Price-point friendly, eco-chic and utterly original, alternative materials such as wood, drusy and the occasional moose antler are making inroads in the fine-jewelry arena. Check out recycled jewelry from left to right: Gentle Current Bracelet by Julie Jerman-Melka, gemstones, Lake Superior Pebbles and Sterling Silver. Hemidrachm by Lauren Schott, recycled gold and ancient coin. Creamy Mink Ring by Gayle Friedman, reclaimed mink and sterling silver.

Don't Let This Happen to You

I have included an excerpt from an article in National Jeweler. As you can see some poor resident of Baltimore sold what they thought was a mediocre diamond for a lot less than it is worth. Don't be to eager to cash in on the sell your jewelry for cash frenzy without an objective appraisal of your jewelry from a reputable source.

(Photo...Black Diamond Bracelet from Jeweler Shana Kroiz.)

NJ Article

Baltimore--Last year, Ron Samuelson, chief executive of Samuelson's Diamonds in Baltimore, bought an 8.5-carat brownish-yellow round diamond mounted in a men's nugget ring from a customer who was seduced by the "sell your jewelry" offer on the store's Web site.

"It was a big, ugly stone," Samuelson recalls. "When we showed it to our cutter, he said, 'Yeah, I could make this into a fancy yellow.'"

The resulting diamond, a 6.86-carat fancy-yellow radiant, is now part of the store's inventory, and Samuelson is confident that when he eventually sells the stone, it will net him a tidy profit.

"I've almost eliminated my need for diamond dealers," Samuelson says. "For every one person who wants to buy a diamond, 20 want to sell."

As a comment on supply and demand in the high-end diamond trade, the Samuelson's transaction is fitting though hardly anomalous. On Manhattan's 47th Street, it happens countless times a day.

Soleyne, New Online Art Gallery

I have been talking to the owner of a new online gallery named Soleyne. Susan is promoting her sight as "more art than craft". I am pleased with the caliber of artists that she has brought on board in such a brief time. If you have a chance to stop by please do so and let me know what you think. Pictured to the left is an item from their store. Limited Edition Lace Cuff Bracelet by Janet Huddie.