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What Are Chocolate Diamonds?
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Did you know that the majority of natural diamonds actually come in a brownish color? Mines all over Africa, Australia and Siberia routinely give up diamonds in this particular shade. Originally, this coloration was so unattractive that mine owners and jewelers considered these stones to be either worthless or only fit for use in some commercial applications. In the 1980s, the clever marketing of a sharp jeweler changed this perception.
He realized that this brown tinge marks the stone as a possible contestant for the designation of a fancy color diamond. In the past, jewelers had discovered that treatment with irradiation could change the brown coloration of the stones to yellow or even green. As an authority in the business, he began to sell brown diamonds in their own rights. The Le Vian Company introduced the Chocolate Diamonds brand to the public in the late 1980s and still heavily markets the brown color as a desirable quality in the stones.
Australia’s diamond mines in particular are the most famous source for brown diamonds. Scientists believe that the dark color is the direct result of nickel content and deformities within the structural makeup of the gems. Owners of Australia’s Argyle mine tried to give their own proprietary monikers to the brown gems. Marketed as “Cognac” and “Champagne” diamonds in the 1980s, the sellers gave up on the campaign after a short decade. The Chocolate Diamonds brand, however, persisted.
The brown diamond color developed a loyal following, and it did not take long for manufacturers to create synthetic versions of the gems. These are now available in shades reminiscent of honey, cinnamon and cloves. Since prices for brown diamonds are lower than those charged for other fancy color hues, the market saturation of synthetics is still fairly low.
Today, the brown diamond comes in a variety of shades and tones. There are light brown and dark brown stones. Some jewelers sell gems that feature a faint pink or orange tone. Others begin the old irradiation treatment but do not continue for long. This maintains the brown coloring but lightens it or gives it a slightly green tinge.
There are now several brown diamonds that have become popular. Case in point is the 546-carat Golden Jubilee, which is considered the world’s largest faceted diamond. It was discovered weighing 756 carats in 1985. Initially, cutters used the stone as a means to test out new cutting techniques and tools. In spite of its brown color, cutters worked on the stone for close to two years. At the end of this time, they had fashioned an astonishing gem that became so popular that it was fit as a present for Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s reigning king. At this time, experts place the value of the gem between $4 million and $12 million.
Peter Suchy Jewelers, located on 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut are experts in vintage and estate jewelry so we invite you to stop by our showroom.
If you enjoy browsing and purchasing estate and vintage jewelry online, check out our eBay store. We also hope you’ll like us on Facebook and check out our amazing Pinterest Boards!
When Did People First Start Piercing Their Ears?
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It is doubtful that there has been a civilization that did not include ear piercing in its practices, rites or daily aesthetics. Thus far, the oldest mummified body is the Iceman, which scientists believe to be 5,300 years old. This Copper Age mummy shows evidence of an ear piercing. Discovered in the Alps, the man who was 45 years old at the time of his death was thought to have lived near modern-day Austria or Italy.
Persian tribes were known to pierce the ears of their soldiers. Wall illustrations show platoons of fighters with their ears prominently pierced. Other local discoveries note that in 2500 BC, the adornment of the ears with jewelry was not uncommon even among those who were not in the warrior classes. Falling into the same period are earrings that have been recovered as burial offerings in the Biblical city of Ur. The Bible mentions the earrings of the Israelites that Moses had led out of Egypt.
During the times of the Roman Empire, pierced ears were a sign of status. Since these piercings would be in the way of the average worker, wives of patricians would usually show off their punctured ears. Roman women favored gemstones for their earrings. The Mayans, too, engaged in piercing. Favorite materials for earrings included bone fragments, pieces of wood, ivory and stones. Since they ascribed supernatural powers to some of the materials used for jewelry, it is fair to say that piercings held a ritualistic aspect germane to the religion of the time. Thus, it was involvement in the rituals rather than status that dictated who wore earrings and who did not participate in the practice.
Male European nobles of the 16th century routinely pierced their ears. Considered rakish and symbolic of virility, Spaniards and French courtiers would wear only one earring. Among female European nobles, earrings were not in great demand. Elaborate wigs and high collars made it difficult to show off this type of jewelry. Women also wore bonnets or elaborate hats, which further made earrings impractical. Body decorations therefore focused on necklaces, rings and clothing choices. In addition, there is evidence that earrings were associated with the pagan practices of so-called uncivilized tribes and therefore frowned upon by pious members of society. In some cases, earrings were also associated with outlaws such as pirates.
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The popularity of piercings went down even further when in 1920 the inventor of the ear clip introduced the new way of wearing jewelry. Clips continued to become the choice of “good” girls who would abide by the norms of a more restricted society. Piercings once again became popular during America’s hippie movement. Counterculture demanded a return to the old practice of piercing versus clipping. When the punk rock movement came into existence not long thereafter, the piercings stayed and became extreme. To this day, pierced ears are so commonplace that even young girls still in the toddler years wear earrings.
Peter Suchy Jewelers located at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut offers a wide variety of vintage and estate earrings and we invite you to visit our showroom.
Like to browse for vintage or estate jewelry online? If so, please visit our eBay store. We hope you’ll like us on Facebook, add us to your circles on Google+ and follow us on Twitter!
What Is Tourmaline Jewelry?
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Unlike jewelry featuring other gemstones, tourmaline pieces come in more than one or two colors and hues. There is the rubellite tourmaline, which runs the gamut of red tones into purple. Verdelite denotes green and turquoise-colored versions of the gem. Dravite features the familiar ochre and brown tones. It is not unheard of to find bright yellow pieces. Indicolite starts at the violet end of the spectrum and then crosses into the greenish blue portion of the color chart.
The quantity of blue as opposed to green determines the gem’s membership in the verdelite or indicolite groups. Some jewelers resort to heating their pieces, which helps the blue and green properties to stand out more. It is interesting to note that clarity of the gems depends in large part on the tourmaline variety. For example, the rubellite type is inexorably linked to presentations of inclusions, which are largely absent from verdelites. This sometimes helps experts to determine the original look of a jewelry gem after a jeweler has treated it.
The inner structure of the gems reveals tetrahedral rings, which identifies the tourmaline as an a-centric rhombohedra borosilicate. Because of the crystals’ lengths, jewelers like to cut the gems into slim finishes, which works great for brooches, oblong pendants and larger rings. Of course, consumers can also find other cuts, which is frequently the case when the tourmaline is mistaken for a different type of gemstone.
Jewelry-grade tourmaline comes from mines in California, Eastern Russia, Namibia and Brazil. Additional metals found in the ground largely determine the coloration of the stones. Titanium and iron lead to a green coloration as well as some blue hues. Manganese is present in stones with yellow and reddish properties. Brazilian mines have led to a rich discovery of all types of tourmaline. Brazilian Paraiba stones feature blue and green colorations, which sets them apart from stones found elsewhere.
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Looking back over the course of history, it is clear that tourmaline jewelry is among some of the most misunderstood examples of wearable art. When 15th century Spanish conquerors ran across a green version of the gem, they mistook the gems for emeralds. Other colorations have similarly been mistaken for rubies, sapphires and other stones. It is therefore virtually impossible to adequately mark tourmaline’s rightful spot in history. What is known, however, is Empress Dowager Cixi’s fondness for California tourmaline. During her lifetime between 1835 and 1908, California mines sent plenty of gems to her.
Although tourmalines are not rare, some tinges are more difficult to find than others. A while ago, the Smithsonian added a 40.10-carat tourmaline to the National Gem Collection. Mined in Mozambique, it is a unique purple color that had not been heat-treated to transform the gem into a stone with the sought-after blue tone.
Peter Suchy Jewelers is located at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut and we carry many tourmaline pieces. We invite you to visit our showroom to browse a variety of estate and vintage jewelry.
If you enjoy shopping for vintage and estate jewelry online, please visit our eBay store. We also hope you’ll like us on Facebook and check out our stunning Pinterest Boards!
Are Opals Lucky and Where Do They Come From?
Gorgeous colorations have turned opals into miniature works of art. Colors commonly seen include white, dark blue, turquoise and various color mixes. In some rare cases, the color scheme changes with the onlooker’s perspective. Scientists have traced back the inimitable color displays to silica gel spheres that refract the light at differing intervals. The resulting displays of color mimic a rainbow in a small setting. This look was so unique that Roman writer Pliny commented on it with wonder in 75 CE.
Origins of the stones also influence the coloration. The copper that is present in Peru’s mines has lead to a pink and turquoise variety, which differentiates the stones from those found in Nigeria. That said, Australia is traditionally associated with the mining of these gems and to this day supplies about 95 percent of the market’s opals. Not surprisingly, most of the famous gemstones of this variety come from Australia.
The clarity of the gems ranges from translucent to opaque. Jewelers have learned to manipulate the colors to suit the tastes of the buying consumer. For example, adding oils to the stones will heighten the color display while treating the gems with certain dyes makes them look considerably darker. Foil backing also darkens the appearance of the gem but also increases the display of the colors. Since the gems are extremely susceptible to breakage when faceted, jewelry makers prefer the cabochon cut.
Like other gemstones, opals have their respected place in folklore. The ancient Greeks believed that owning and wearing an opal would increase a person’s odds of good health. Some believed that the gods used the opal to allow wearers to prophesy. Europeans believed that opals would give their wearer a spirit of truth and a pure mind. Some folklore made opals desirable for those with blond hair. The gem was said to preserve these tresses.
Unlike many other gems, opals were not as plentiful in circulation, and owning one of the stones was a rare treat. In the 19th century, the gems became more readily available on the open market. As a result, jewelry buyers were in a frenzy to own these pieces and the gems were at the center of buyers’ attention for a while. It is no accident that the Art Deco era placed the opal front and center in its most celebrated pieces.
There are a number of famous opals that have made headlines throughout the decades. The largest opal ever found is the Olympic Australis, which was mined in 1956 in South Australia. Weighing in at 17,000 carats, its current market value is $2,311,750. The Flame Queen opal was discovered in 1914 in New South Wales. It weighs in at 263.18 carats and changes coloration depending on the onlooker’s point of view.
Located in Stamford Connecticut on 1137 High Ridge Road is Peter Suchy Jewelers where one can find a wide variety of opal jewelry—we hope you’ll visit our showroom.
If you love buying jewelry online, we offer many vintage and estate opals in our eBay store.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, add us to your circles on Google+ and check out our Pinterest Boards for stunning pictures of all types of estate and vintage jewelry!