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Serpentine, Pearl and Drusy Quartz Necklace
by Jacqueline Gala
Serpentine gets its name from the word 'serpent' because it resembles the skin of a snake. It is sometimes called New Jade and occurs in a variety of colors including red, green, brown-red, brown-yellow and white. It has been used since ancient times to guard against disease and sorcery. The pearls in this necklace that complement the serpentine stones are called freshwater potato pearls and the stunning pendant is a druzy quartz. A drusy, whether it's golden or not, is the term that refers to a blanket of tiny, sparkling crystals often found inside a geode or an agate. The sparkling appearance of drusy is like that of spilled salt or sugar. The formation of the tiny crystals occurs after molten rock begins to quickly cool, trapping gasses within it as it solidifies. The trapped gasses cause crevices and cavities in the cooling rock. Nutrient-rich groundwater later flows through these gaps and crevices, depositing layer after layer of minerals which crystallize on top of each other. The resulting encrustation is called drusy. This process doesn't take days or weeks, but a few hundred or even a few thousand years.
View More Work by Jacqueline...
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MNMF Shops Gift Cards
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Gemstones!
Gemstones are fascinating! Their colors, properties, myths, and legends are diverse and fascinating. Folklore about stones has been revered and honored for centuries in all cultures. There is much jewelry a woman can have to adorn herself. Diamonds, gold and gemstones can add intrigue to any person who wears them. The shining, shimmering and splendid beauty of these magnificent stones is such a delight to see and to wear especially if it has been made as earrings, necklaces or bracelets. Each gemstone has its own beauty that captures the heart of every woman who has the passion for beauty.
Don't forget Mom on Sunday, May 13th!
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Opal, Amethyst, and Pearl Necklace
by Richard Lindsay
Opal is the modern October birthstone and the accepted gem for the 13th wedding anniversary. Most opal is 50-65 million years old, dating back to the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Opal formed as silica from decomposing rocks mixed with ground water which formed a silica gel that collected and hardened in underground cavities and fissures. Opal takes its name from the Latin word Upala meaning precious stone. The Roman scholar Pliny described opal as having the fire of carbuncle (a deep red garnet) and the brilliance of amethyst with the green color of emerald. The Romans believed opal was the symbol of hope and purity. They called it cupid paederos (child as beautiful as love) and thought the wearer safe from disease. This Desert Chime Necklace also contains double drop amethyst faceted beads and a simple pearl.
View More Work by Richard...
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Amethyst Fern Earrings
by Katherine Jetter
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and the most valued member of the quartz family. It must be purple to be amethyst, but it can display a range of shades including deep purple, light lilac, lavender and mauve. Top quality amethyst, as shown in these fern earrings, is a deep medium purple with rose-colored flashes. Its purple color made it a stone of royalty for many thousands of years. Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio engraved gems.
The Greeks believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication, while medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle - the reason for this being that amethysts are believed to heal people and keep them cool-headed. Beads of amethyst were found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England.
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Double Onyx & Carved Rose Necklace
 Onyx is a chalcedony quartz that is mined in Brazil, India, California and Uruguay. It has a fine texture and black color; however some onyx also displays white bands or ribbons against a black or brown background and this variety is known as sardonyx. The name comes from the Greek word onyx which means nail of a finger or claw. Legend says that one day while Venus was sleeping Eros/Cupid cut her fingernails and left the clippings scattered on the ground. Because no part of a heavenly body can die, the gods turned them into stone which later became known as onyx. This necklace has two strands of onyx beads to hold its turquoise colored rose! View More Necklaces...
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