|
|
Cubic Zirconia Bridal Jewelry Bracelets Earrings Necklaces Sets Tiaras Bridesmaids Everyday Bracelets Earrings Necklaces |
"The wedding was a success and the jewelry was loved by all of the bridesmaids. Also, my tiara looked fabulous! Thanks!!" Antonietta, Coral Springs, FL
|
Shop here for stunning cubic zirconia bridal sets that will complement your wedding gown. Add the perfect finishing touches with tiaras, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and complete sets.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alexandrite appears to change colors, depending on the color of the light it’s being viewed in. In daylight, it appears to be a bluish green, while in incandescent light, it looks raspberry red. This is due to the fact that alexandrite only transmits blue-green and red light – all other colors are absorbed - so whichever color light is predominating at the moment is the one that’s reflected. The finest Alexandrite used to come from the Ural Mountains in Russia, but now most of it comes from Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Tanzania. Alexandrite is an 8.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Care: clean in warm soapy water. Amethyst Back to top Amethysts were thought by the ancients to keep their wearers virtuous in many ways. They were supposed to protect their wearers from drunkenness and evil thoughts, to sharpen their intelligence, and to enhance their tranquillity and piety. They are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, even very large sizes. Amethysts come largely from Brazil and Uruguay. Amethysts are a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Care: Protect from sharp blows. Do not expose to strong sunlight for long periods of time, as they may fade. Clean with a mild dish detergent and a toothbrush. Aquamarine Back to top Aquamarines are thought to be symbolic of the sea: the name literally means sea water. It is said that aquamarines have the power to calm the sea, and that mermaids used them to protect sailors. Aquamarines are said to have a soothing effect on relationships, too. Legend says they make great anniversary presents, because they ensure long and happy marriages. Aquamarines have a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Care: Aquamarines should never be steam cleaned or ultrasonically cleaned. Use mild dish detergent and a toothbrush. Carnelian Back to top Carnelian is a red to reddish-brown variety of quartz. It is valued for its color, and was used widely during Roman times to make signet rings for imprinting a seal with wax on correspondence, because hot wax doesn't stick to carnelian. Its hardness is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Care: Use mild dish detergent and a toothbrush. Citrine Back to top The name “citrine” comes from the French word citron, or lemon. It is prized for its yellow color, which ranges from a bright lemon yellow to a warm orangey brown. The ancients thought that citrines protected their owner from snakebite, and evil thoughts and words. Most citrine comes from Brazil. Citrines often start out as amethysts. When they are heated, they lose their purple color and become yellow. Citrine is a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Care: Protect citrines from high heat, which may fade them. Clean with a mild dish soap and a toothbrush. Chrysoprase Back to top Chrysoprase is a form of quartz that contains a small amount of nickel. It is in the same family as onyx, agate, and carnelian, and is distinguished by, and valued for, its green color. Some of the best sources are Australia, Germany, and Poland. It has a hardness of 6-7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Care: Clean with a mild dish soap and a toothbrush. Cubic Zirconia Back to top Cubic zirconia (or CZ) is zirconium oxide (ZrO2), a mineral that is extremely rare in nature but is widely synthesized for use as a diamond simulant. The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors. It should not be confused with zircon, which is a zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4). Because of its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to diamond, synthetic cubic zirconia has remained the most important diamond simulant since 1976. Its main competition as a synthetic gemstone is the more recently cultivated material moissanite. CZ has a hardness of 8.3 on the Mohs scale. Care: Clean with a mild dish detergent and a toothbrush. Diamond Back to top Because of their extraordinary physical properties, diamonds have been used symbolically since ancient times. One of the earliest symbolic uses of diamonds was as the eyes of Hindu devotional statues. Diamonds were thought to be gifts from the gods and were therefore cherished. In Western culture, diamonds are thought to represent fearlessness and virtue, but have also often been associated with power, wealth, crime and misfortune. About half of the world's diamonds come from central and southern Africa. Other major sources include Canada, India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia. They are the hardest natural material known, with a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale. Care: use the mild-dish-soap-and-toothbrush method, and remember that, although a diamond is the hardest natural material known, the setting it's in is considerably more delicate! Treat your diamond jewelry with the same care you would treat your other jewelry. Emerald Back to top Emeralds have long been valued for their rich green color, which was thought by the ancients to represent spring, and thus birth, fertility, and youth. They are most closely associated with the goddess Venus. Ancient Egyptians often placed an emerald on the neck of mummies before burial, as a symbol of eternal youth. Emeralds are among the hardest stones, with a rating of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Care: There are oils and / or resins in emeralds that improve their appearance. They could be removed by harsh cleaning (as with steam, hot water, or an ultrasonic cleaner), so threat them with care, and use only a toothbrush and mild dish detergent to clean them. Garnet Back to top The name "garnet" comes from the Latin word granatum, which means "pomegranate." The ancients thought that garnets resembled the seeds of pomegranates. Legend has it that garnets protect their owners from accidents while traveling, and from nightmares. Garnets are found all over the world, and come in every color except pure blue (a few greenish-blue stones have been found). Garnets have a hardness of 7-7.5. Care: Clean with dish detergent and a toothbrush. Iolite Back to top Iolite is a violet-blue colored gem whose name comes from the Greek word ios, or violet. It is said that the Vikings used iolite as a sort of polarizing filter. Looking through thin pieces of it helped them determine the exact position of the sun, so that they could safely navigate their way to the New World. Iolite is mined mainly in India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique. It is most commonly cut into oval shapes. Iolite has a hardness of 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale. Care: Clean with mild dish soap. Use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect. Lapis Lazuli (pronounced LAP-iss LAZ-a-lee) Back to top Lapis lazuli is actually a blue microcrystalline rock that used to be used as a pigment in paintings from the Renaissance. In medieval times, it was believed to keep the soul free of envy and fear, and the Romans believed it was an aphrodisiac. Powdered lapis was used by Egyptian ladies as eye shadow. The best lapis comes from Afghanistan. Other sources include Chile, Russia, the US, and Canada. Lapis lazuli is in the middle of the hardness scale (5.5), and as such is relatively easily scratched. Store away from other jewelry. Care: Clean with mild dish soap and a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust collects. Moonstone Back to top The ancients thought that moonstone, because of its moon-like colors, was made of frozen moonlight. They vary in color from blue to yellow, from pink to green, from brown to gray. They can be translucent to transparent. Care: Since moonstones are relatively soft (6-6.5 on the Mohs scale), take care to avoid letting stones rub together. Do not use soap to clean them; wipe gently with plain water and a soft cloth. Onyx Back to top Onyx is a type of agate which features alternating layers of black and white stone. It has traditionally been used for making cameos: it can be carved so that the end result is a face (or other figure) in white stone against a background of black stone. Onyx is only available as a solid black color if it is dyed. The ancients believed onyx could drive away evil and high tempers. The chief source of onyx is Brazil. On the Mohs hardness scale, it is a 7. Care: Clean only with a damp cloth. Do not clean ultrasonically or with steam or chemical dips. Opal Back to top Opals have an iridescent look to them, and come in a wide range of colors, from clear through white, milky blue, gray, red, yellow, green, brown and black. The ancients thought opals had magical powers. They thought opals conferred invisibility upon the wearer. Opals are also said to bring luck and happiness, and to improve eyesight. The flashes of color seen in opals is caused by tiny silica spheres in the stones which refract light like prisms. Most of the world's opals come from Australia. Care: since opals are only a 5.5 to 6.6 on the Mohs hardness scale, they need to be stored away from other jewelry. They should not be exposed to acid or heat. Clean them by wiping with a soft cloth. Pearls Back to top Pearls have long been prized by the ancients, and legends about them are many: the Chinese believed that pearls were made by the moon. The Persians called them 'tears of the gods,' and Muslims considered pearls to be the first things that God created. Pearls come in many different colors besides the most-familiar cream, including subtle shades of pink, gold, green, purple, gray, and black. Since pearls are created by oysters (and other mollusks), they are not actually gemstones, and they are not nearly as hard as most gemstones. Since they only have a hardness of 2.5 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale, they can be easily scratched or stained, and should be stored away from other jewelry. Care: Dampen a soft cloth and wipe them gently. Peridot (pronounced PEAR-a-dough) Back to top The ancient Egyptians mined this green gem on an island called Zeberget. Myth says that the island was infested with serpents, making peridot mining dangerous, until one of the pharoahs succeeded in forcing the serpents into the sea. Peridots are created by extreme heat. They are found in volcanic rocks, and even occasionally in meteorites. In many gems, the color comes from traces of other minerals in the stone, but the color of peridot is an inherent part of its composition. Peridots have a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Store them with care to avoid scratching them. Care: Never have them steam cleaned or ultrasonically cleaned. Use a toothbrush and mild dish detergent. Quartz Back to top Quartz is the second most common mineral in the Earth's continental crust. Its many forms are valued as gemstones. Some of the more popular varieties include: Chalcedony (kal-SED-a-nee) - generally is white or lightly colored. Agate is multi-colored and banded quartz. Onyx is agate with straight, parallel, evenly-sized bands. Jasper is opaque chalcedony. Aventurine is translucent chalcedony with small bits of mica that shimmer. Tiger's eye is gold to red-brown coloured quartz. Rock crystal is clear, colourless quartz. Amethyst is purple and transparent. Citrine is greenish-yellow to yellow to reddish-orange to brown. Prasiolite is mint green and transparent. Rose Quartz is pink and translucent. Milk Quartz or Snow Quartz is white and translucent to opaque. Smoky Quartz is brown to gray, and opaque. Carnelian is translucent reddish-orange chalcedony. On the Mohs scale, quartz is a 7.5. Care: use a mild dish detergent, and gently clean with a toothbrush wherever dust collects. Ruby Back to top Rubies have, for centuries, been considered one of the world's most valuable gemstones. At one time they were considered even more valuable than diamonds. In India, they were called "the king of precious stones." Their bold color is thought to represent courage, passion and desire. Rubies are most commonly found in cushion and oval shapes. Other shapes are hard to find in sizes more than a carat, and they are rarely found in sizes above five carats. Rubies are extremely durable, with a hardness on the Mohs scale of 9. Care: use a mild dish detergent, and gently clean with a toothbrush wherever dust collects. Sapphire Back to top Sapphires are among the most beautiful of the blue gems. In fact, their name comes from the Greek word sappheiros, which means blue. Ancient Persians believed that the earth sat on a giant blue sapphire which gave the sky its color. Because of their color, sapphires are considered the gem of loyalty, trust, and honesty. They are popular choices for engagement rings. "Fancy sapphires" are sapphires in other colors besides blue. They are actually available in every color except red: since both rubies and sapphires are made of the mineral corundum, a red sapphire would be a ruby. Sapphires are a 9 on the Mohs scale. Care: As with other durable stones, sapphires can be cleaned with mild dish detergent and a toothbrush. Tanzanite Back to top Tanzanite is a beautiful purplish blue stone. It is named after Tanzania, which is the only place in the world where it is found. It was only discovered in 1967, but has already become one of the most popular gemstones. Care: Tanzanite is only a 6 to 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. It is somewhat fragile, and not recommended for constant wear. Extreme changes in temperature can damage it. Do not clean it ultrasonically. Use mild dish detergent and a toothbrush. Topaz Back to top Topaz comes in a range of colors, from pinks and oranges to warm browns and golds, which is why the ancient Egyptians thought that their color came from the sun god Ra. For ancient Romans, topaz was associated with their sun god, Jupiter. The most popular topaz color, however, is blue. Topaz has a hardness of 8. Despite its hardness, however, it should not be subjected to hard blows or sudden temperature changes. Care: Do not clean ultrasonically. Use a mild detergent and a toothbrush. Tourmaline Back to top The name "tourmaline" comes from the Sinhalese (a language spoken by the people of Sri Lanka) tura mali, meaning "mixed stone." It received that name because tourmalines are available in a wide spectrum of colors, including magenta, pink, peach, orange, yellow, various greens, blues, and violet. Some forms of tourmaline are dichroic, i.e., they appear to change color when viewed from different directions. According to legend, tourmalines enhance intuition and inspire artistic expression. Tourmalines also have useful electrical properties: they become electrically charged when they are compressed or heated, making them useful in electronic devices. On the Mohs scale, they are a 7-7.5. Care: Tourmalines are durable enough to be worn every day. Clean them with mild dish detergent and a toothbrush. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bezel Setting Back to top A type of jewelry setting where a band of metal is folded over the edges of the gemstone to hold it in place. Briolette (pronounced bree-a-LET) Back to top Any gemstone cut into a teardrop or pear shape, with long triangular facets. Carat Back to top Spelled with a "c", the carat is a unit of mass used for measuring gems and pearls, and is exactly 200 milligrams. The word comes from the Greek word kerátion, which means "fruit of the carob," i.e., the seeds of the carob plant, which were thought to be a very uniform weight, and which were used as weights in past centuries to measure the weight of gemstones. Karat Back to top Abbreviated either "ct" or "k", it is a measure of the purity of gold and platinum alloys. In the United States and Canada, the spelling "karat" is used solely for the measure of purity, while "carat" is used solely for the measure of the weight of gemstones. 24k is essentially pure gold (.999%); 18k is 75% gold, alloyed with other metals (usually copper and silver, which make it stronger), and 14k is 41.2% gold. Pavé Setting (pronounced pa-VAY) Back to top A type of jewelry setting where many small gemstones are held together in a tight group by metal beads or claws. Marquise (pronounced mar-KEYS) Back to top Any gemstone cut into an oval shape with pointed ends. Rhodium Plating Back to top Rhodium is a metal in the platinum family. Rhodium does not tarnish, and since it is harder than silver, it is less likely to get scratched. For this reason, rhodium electroplating is often used on silver jewelry to make it more scratch- and tarnish-resistant. No rhodium plating will last forever, but for items that are not worn frequently (like necklaces) the plating can last as long as ten years. If necessary, jewelry can be replated by a jeweler. Be sure the jeweler cleans and polishes your jewelry before replating it. The smoother the piece is to start with, the better it will look after it is replated. Sterling Silver Back to top Sterling silver is an alloy of silver made of 92.5% silver (hence the designation "925 Sterling Silver") and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. This is done to make the silver stronger, since pure silver is too soft to use for making functional objects like jewelry. Vermeil (pronounced ver-MAY) Back to top Vermeil is a heavy layer of usually at least 18k gold chemically bonded to sterling silver. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dazzling Cubic Zirconia Jewelry For Your Milestone Events!
All site contents copyright © 2006-2008 GetSparkly.com. All rights reserved.
Developing and hosting by InternetOvations.