Of a clear and vibrant green color, peridot is prized as a healing stone, one which calms the emotions and soothes the spirit. It is thought to stimulate the intellect and  More »

Of a clear and vibrant green color, peridot is prized as a healing stone, one which calms the emotions and soothes the spirit. It is thought to stimulate the intellect and fire up creative energy even as it relieves anxiety and stress. According to eastern belief, the peridot favorably affects the endochrine glands, improving the entire physical system of the wearer. According to myth, peridot can mend damaged relationships, especially those between lovers. Any person who sees its lush and radiant color cannot help but feel happy and touched with energy. The garnet was highly prized in the classical world. Its rich color, the reddish purple associated with royalty, made it especially sought after for jewelry. Therapeutically, garnet is believed to keep the wearer free from wounds, and to promote good health in general. It is especially useful for preventing skin disorders and for giving a glowing complexion. Medium: Peridot-Garnet   « Less

Warm and glowing as a candlelit room, smoky quartz has a rich, subtle color that is flattering to the wearer. On a spiritual level, it is among the most valuable of crystals,  More »

Warm and glowing as a candlelit room, smoky quartz has a rich, subtle color that is flattering to the wearer. On a spiritual level, it is among the most valuable of crystals, useful especially for dispersing negative thought patterns and for releasing mental blocks. Smoky quartz is excellent for enhancing meditation, and promotes an awareness of dreams. Anyone wearing this radiant gem is certain to feel as if a dream has come true.In the Orient, rock crystal is considered the perfect jewel, symbolic of purity, infinity, patience and perseverance. Throughout history, in every part of the world, man has valued this transparent, colorless quartz for its benevolent power and faultless beauty. As an amulet, rock crystal is thought to cure ailments of the glands, the eyes, the intestines and the heart. Worn by a sleeper, it is believed to prevent bad dreams. Its chief appeal has always been its transparent purity, the very personification of virtue, goodness, and innocence. Those who wear it are kept pure in body and spirit. Medium: Quartz-Crystal   « Less

During the late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb  More »

During the late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb vessels and jewelry which were valued throughout the known world. It was also during this period that Venice became the most powerful trading nation in Europe, a city whose ships visited every port both east and west. Venetian traders used glass beads for barter, and these jewels became especially prized in Africa, where they were traded for gold, ivory, rare woods and spices. Venetian beads quickly became a medium of exchange throughout Africa, and in some tribes were used as a bridal dowry. The rare and subtle beauty of these beads continues to dazzle the senses even after the passage of centuries. Medium: Quartz-Garnet   « Less

For thousands of years, men and women have ornamented themselves with jewels and amulets made from jasper and glass. The early Egyptians first brought these jewels into  More »

For thousands of years, men and women have ornamented themselves with jewels and amulets made from jasper and glass. The early Egyptians first brought these jewels into favor, and they have remained popular ever since. Red jasper is believed to help circulate the blood, to calm anger, and to bring courage to the wearer. Glass is prized for its brilliant colors and its flexibility of form. These glass beads, created by the artisans of Venice, were first used as a medium of exchange in Africa. So popular and sought after were Venetian trade beads that they became the standard of wealth in areas of Africa, used as part of the bridal dowry. Combined together, red jasper and antique glass create a necklace of dramatic beauty, rare as a jungle flower. Whoever wears this piece will be updating an ancient tradition in a completely contemporary way.Circa: 17 th Century AD to 20 th Century AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Beaded Necklaces Medium: Glass, Lapis, Jasper   « Less

For thousands of years, men and women have ornamented themselves with jewels and amulets made from jasper and glass. The early Egyptians first brought these jewels into  More »

For thousands of years, men and women have ornamented themselves with jewels and amulets made from jasper and glass. The early Egyptians first brought these jewels into favor, and they have remained popular ever since. Red jasper is believed to help circulate the blood, to calm anger, and to bring courage to the wearer. Glass is prized for its brilliant colors and its flexibility of form. These glass beads, created by the artisans of Venice, were first used as a medium of exchange in Africa. So popular and sought after were Venetian trade beads that they became the standard of wealth in areas of Africa, used as part of the bridal dowry. Combined together, red jasper and antique glass create a necklace of dramatic beauty, rare as a jungle flower. Whoever wears this piece will be updating an ancient tradition in a completely contemporary way.Origin: Africa Circa: 1200 BC to 1600 BC Collection: African Medium: Glass-Jasper   « Less

During the late Middle Ages and throughout the renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb  More »

During the late Middle Ages and throughout the renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb vessels and jewelry which were valued throughout the known world. It was also during this period that Venice became the most powerful trading nation in Europe, a city whose ships visited every port both east and west. Venetian traders used glass beads for barter, and these jewels became especially prized in Africa, where they were traded for gold, ivory, rare woods and spices. Venetian beads quickly became a medium of exchange throughout Africa, and in some tribes were used as a bridal dowry. The rare and subtle beauty of these beads continues to dazzle the senses even after the passage of centuries. Soothing as a Spring morning, aventurine is a green variety of quartz. It is thought to possess powerful properties as an all-purpose healing stone, improving the physical and psychological well being of those who wear it. It stimulates muscle tissue and strengthens the blood. Aventurine aids in relaxing the anxieties and fears of the wearer, and provides emotional tranquility and a positive attitude toward life. It symbolizes independence, and promotes health and well being. It is also symbolic of the dawning of love. Pale pink like the first blush of dawn, rose quartz bas long been prized for the way it flatters the wearer with its soft tones. Found in masses rather than crystals, its major sources are in central and northern Europe. Though the gem was known in antiquity, it was generally quite rare. An early bead dating to the 7th century B.C. comes from Megiddo, and rose quartz was used for intaglios and other jewelry from the classical Greek period through late Roman times. It creates a soft energy that is bath emotionally and physically soothing to the touch. The stone is symbolic of Venus, ancient goddess of love, and promotes happiness, harmony and balance. Origin: Africa Circa: 1400 AD to 1800 A Collection: African Medium: Glass-Aventurine   « Less

Of a clear and vibrant green color, peridot is prized as a healing stone, one which calms the emotions and soothes the spirit. It is thought to stimulate the intellect and  More »

Of a clear and vibrant green color, peridot is prized as a healing stone, one which calms the emotions and soothes the spirit. It is thought to stimulate the intellect and fire up creative energy even as it relieves anxiety and stress. According to eastern belief, the peridot favorably affects the endochrine glands, improving the entire physical system of the wearer. According to myth, peridot can mend damaged relationships, especially those between lovers. Any person who sees its lush and radiant color cannot help but feel happy and touched with energy. The garnet was highly prized in the classical world. Its rich color, the reddish purple associated with royalty, made it especially sought after for jewelry. Therapeutically, garnet is believed to keep the wearer free from wounds and to promote good health in general. It is especially useful for preventing skin disorders and for giving a glowing complexion. Medium: Peridot-Garnet   « Less

Necklace composed of antique coral, turquoise, and gold beads all dating to the early part of the 20th century. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By  More »

Necklace composed of antique coral, turquoise, and gold beads all dating to the early part of the 20th century. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself. By wearing jewelry that is unusual or unique, we define ourselves as individuals and set ourselves apart from the crowd. Throughout antiquity, in every great culture, beads were formed from colored gems, glass, ceramic, shell, bone and metal in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes they were worn for their magical or curative powers, at other times simply for their beauty. People, highborn and low, the citizen of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Judea, Greece, Rome and Byzantium, wore them. Frequently these jewels, so prized in life, were buried with their owners to adorn them through eternity. When we wear them today, we add another chapter to their long and fascinating history. Collection: Jewlery Style: Beaded Necklaces Medium: Coral, Turquoise   « Less

In Matthew, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a single rare and costly pearl for which a man would sell all he has. The delicate, lustrous beauty of the pearl has captured  More »

In Matthew, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a single rare and costly pearl for which a man would sell all he has. The delicate, lustrous beauty of the pearl has captured the imagination of men and women since the dawn of time. Early cultures worshiped it as a symbol of the moon goddess, a token of perfection. This exquisite gem is formed when an irritant becomes trapped inside the shell of a mollusk, most often an oyster. To protect itself, the animal forms a coating of nacre around the intrusive object, and this eventually may become a pearl. The gem ranges in color from pale white, to rosy pink, to gray or black. In the classical world, the finest pearls came from the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, sometimes traveling for years to reach the palaces of Greece and Rome. Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, is said to have dissolved an enormous pearl in wine, which she then drank to impress her lover Marc Antony with her extravagance. In the courts of Renaissance Europe, status was often measured through the size and beauty of one's pearls. Over thousands of years, pearls are one of the few jewelry items to remain continuously in fashion. It is easy to see why. They delight the eye and flatter the wearer, a true gift from nature.Collection: Jewlery Style: Beaded Necklaces Medium: Pearls and Unikite   « Less

Amber, the fossilized resin of extinct trees, is one of the oldest gems known to man. Amulets made from it have been found in tombs dating from the Stone Age. Of rich color,  More »

Amber, the fossilized resin of extinct trees, is one of the oldest gems known to man. Amulets made from it have been found in tombs dating from the Stone Age. Of rich color, its electrical properties made it magic to primitive man and this fascination has continued to the present day. Widespread trade in amber began over 9,000 years ago, when it traveled from the Baltic region to the palaces and cities of the ancient Mediterranean, such as Knossos and Mycenae. It was believed in Antiquity-- as now-- that amber could cure numerous ailments and avert evil or prevent witchcraft. Ancient myths ascribed its origins to the rays of the setting sun, cooled in the ocean; to the tears of rare birds; or to the urine of the lynx. Homer makes mention of amber in the Odyssey. In prehistoric times, the resin oozing from trees sometimes encased insects and other specimens of natural life. These inclusions are highly prized today. Amber varies in color from pale yellow, to rich honey brown, to deep orange to red. Soothing to the touch as well as to the eye, it is still one of the most popular gems after the passage of millennia. The deep, rich blue of the nighttime sky, sodalite is valued for its ability to refresh and revitalize the wearer. Its therapeutic effect has been compared to a good night's sleep. It is especially useful for stabilizing the mind and allowing rational thought to triumph. It is thought to improve perception and intellectual understanding, and to offer a clearer perspective on life. Whoever wears this heavenly blue gem will be rewarded by the spirit as well as the senses. The garnet was highly prized in the Classical world. Its rich color, the reddish purple associated with royalty, made it especially sought after for jewelry. The garnet was also favored in the jewelry of the European Dark Ages and Medieval period. The famous Sutton Hoo Treasure found in England contains over 4,000 cut and faceted garnets. As with many gems, the finest varieties come from India, which was true in Antiquity as well as today. According to Talmudic legend, the only source of light on Noah's Ark was a single large garnet. Therapeutically, garnet is believed to keep the wearer free from wounds and to promote good health in general. It is especially useful for preventing skin disorders and giving a glowing complexion. Medium: Amber-GarnetSodalite   « Less