Beads & Baubles Cafe

The traditional and modern birthstone for the month of July is Ruby.  The cabochon is Jasper.

The Zodiac stones are

Emerald – July 1^st through July 22^nd

Onyx     - July 23^rd through July 31^st

Ruby:
Pronounced: ru·by (rū‘bē)
A deep red, translucent variety of the mineral corundum, highly valued as a precious stone.

The finest ruby is the transparent type with a medium tone and a high intensity of slightly violet-red, which has been likened to the color of pigeon’s blood. Star rubies do not command comparable prices, but they, too, are in great demand. The ruby was among the first of the gemstones to be duplicated synthetically and the first to be used extensively in jewelry.
Rubies are mined in Africa, Asia, Australia, Greenland, Madagascar and North Carolina. They are most often found in Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Kenya, Madagascar, and Cambodia, but they have also been found in United State, in the states of Montana, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Mogok Valley in Upper Myanmar has produced some of the finest rubies in the  past, but in recent years very few good rubies have been found there. The unique color in Myanmar (Burmese) rubies is described as “pigeon’s blood”. They are known in the trade as “Mogok” rubies. In central Myanmar the area of Mong Hsu also produces rubies. The latest ruby deposit to be found in Myanmar is situated in Nam Ya. In 2002 rubies were found in the Waseges River area of Kenya. Sometimes spinels are found along with rubies in the same rocks and are mistaken for rubies. However, fine red spinels may approach the average ruby in value.
 
Rubies have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Among the natural gems only diamond is harder.
 
Rubies occasionally show an optical phenomenon called asterism(light forms a star pattern) when cut into a cabochon (A highly polished, convex-cut, unfaceted gem). These are called “star rubies” are valuable because asterism is rare. They also very rarely show color change and chatoyancy (Having a changeable luster. Pronounced, (shə-toi‘ənt).

Although the pearl is the modern birthstone for June there are two other stones that those born in June can wear and call their own. One is Alexandrite the traditional stone and the other is a Moonstone cabochon.

The Zodiac birthstones for those born in June are:

 Gemini - Agate

 Cancer – Emerald

Pearls are a wonderful birthstone to have in this day and age. There are so many colors, shapes and sizes to choose from and there are grades that fit all budgets. You can purchase pearls from the least costly cultured freshwater type to the ultra expensive natural south sea varieties. A pearl is said to impart purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, and fertility to the wearer. This is why in the past the simple string of pearls was the choice of brides on their wedding day.

Pearl History

Pearls have been known and valued in many cultures throughout history. As far back as 2300 BC, Chinese records indicate that pearls were prized possessions of (and gifts to) royalty. Ancients Hindu texts from India also repeatedly refer to pearls, stating in one place that the god Krishna discovered the first pearl. In ancient Egypt, mother-of-pearl was used for decorative purposes as far back as 4000 BC, although the use of actual pearls did not come until much later — perhaps the 5th century BC.

The ancient Romans valued pearls highly, especially as a symbol of wealth and prestige — so much so that an effort was made to prohibit the wearing of pearls by those not deserving of them. Perhaps the most celebrated incident involving pearls in Roman history has to do with a banquet given by Cleopatra, the last Egyptian queen, for the Roman leader Marc Antony. The banquet was described by the Roman historian Pliny the Elder in his book, Natural History. Although some current historians dispute the details and significance of the banquet, there is general agreement that the incident described did indeed take place. The essence of the story is that Cleopatra wagered Antony that she could give the most expensive meal ever provided. When the only thing placed in front of her was a vessel of sour wine (i.e., vinegar), Antony wondered how she would be able to win the bet. Whereupon Cleopatra removed one of her pearl earrings — said by Pliny to have been worth 10 million sesterces, the equivalent of thousands of pounds of gold — and dropped it into the vinegar. The pearl dissolved in the strongly acidic solution, and Cleopatra drank it down, winning her wager.

The ancient Greeks also valued pearls, using them especially at weddings, where they were said to bring love. With many natural oyster beds lying along the Persian Gulf, the Arab peoples also placed a high value on pearls, which are described in the Koran as one of the greatest treasures provided in Paradise.

 Be sure to visit our Pearls for Girls collection.  Here are a few of our pearl creations for your viewing pleasure

Congratulations to Jeff B, he is the winner of our Mother’s Day drawing.  All of or clients who purchased jewelry between April 11th and May 11th were entered.  Jeff has won a set of wine charms.  We hope he enjoys them.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today. Autism is treatable. Children do not “outgrow” autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes.

Beads & Baubles has decided to create a collection to raise awareness of this disability and help to raise funds to support research to find the cure and support programs that help the families of those with the disability 20% of the proceeds of the jewelry in these collections will be donated to Autism Society of America.

Modern      - Topaz

Traditional – Citrine

Cabochon  - Opal (see article on October’s birthstone)

Zodiac

Oct 24 – Nov 21 – Aquamarine (see article on March’s birthstone)

Nov 22 – Dec 21 - Topaz

Topaz – pronounced (tō‘păz) is a  gemstone that has been used for centuries in jewelry. The gem comes in a variety of colors.  Clear, blue, yellow, yellowish orange, pinkish orange to golden brown. It is confused with the less valuable citrine, which sometimes is sold under the name topaz by unscrupulous jewelers. You should always check and make sure the stone you are looking at is Topaz and not Citrine.  It is perfectly acceptable to substitute Citrine for Topaz if you wish, just don’t pay Topaz Prices   Another misnomer is “Smokey Topaz”  this is actually Smokey Quartz.  By naming is Smokey Topaz, jewelers felt people would pay more.  Smokey Quartz is a very popular stone and the better cuts are moderate in price.

The blue topaz that is often confused with aquamarine is rarely natural and is produced by irradiating and then heating clear crystals. Yellow Topaz is the traditional November Birthstone. Blue Topaz is sometimes used as the birthstone for the month of December.
 
A gift of Topaz is said to symbolize friendship and to strengthen one’s capacity to give and receive love.
 
The Egyptians said that topaz was colored with the golden glow of the mighty sun god Ra. This made topaz a very powerful amulet that protected the faithful against harm. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, who also is the god of the sun. Topaz sometimes has the amber gold of fine cognac or the blush of a peach and all the beautiful warm browns and oranges in-between. Some rare and exceptional topaz is pale pink to a sherry red.

Ancients said that you should wear Topaz if you wish to be clear-sighted: legend has it that it dispels all enchantment and helps to improve eyesight as well! The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. Topaz was also said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. Its mystical curative powers waxed and waned with the phases of the moon: it was said to cure insomnia, asthma, and hemorrhages.Brown, yellow, orange, sherry, red and pink topaz is found in Brazil and Sri Lanka. Pink topaz is found in Pakistan and Russia.Today we also have blue topaz, which has a pale to medium blue color created by irradiation. Pale topaz which is enhanced to become blue is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and China. In early 1998, a new type of enhanced topaz made its appearance, the surface-enhanced topaz, with colors described as blue to greenish-blue or emerald green. These are called exotic names such as “Mystic Topaz”, “Caribbean Topaz” etc.Topaz is a very hard gemstone but it can be split with a single blow, a trait it shares with diamond. As a result it should be protected from hard knocks.
 
The name “topaz” is derived from the Greek topazos, “to seek ,” which was the name of an island in the Red Sea that was difficult to find and from which a yellow stone (now believed to be a yellowish olivine) was mined in ancient times. In the Middle Ages the name topaz was used to refer to any yellow gemstone, but now the name is only properly applied to the silicate described above.
 
Citrine - pronounced Ci·trine (sĭ-trēn‘, sĭt‘rēn’)
 
A pale yellow variety of crystalline quartz resembling topaz.
 
Transparent, coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz. Citrine is a semiprecious gem that is valued for its yellow to brownish color and its resemblance to the rarer topaz. Natural citrine is rarer than amethyst or smoky quartz, both of which are often heated to change their natural color to that of citrine. Citrine is often marketed under various names that confuse it with topaz to inflate its price; it may be distinguished from topaz by its inferior hardness. It occurs mainly in Brazil, Uruguay, the Ural Mountains, Scotland, and North Carolina.

In ancient times, citrine was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts.

 Here are a few of our items that make good gifts for those born in November.

Modern & Carbochon Birthstone –             Opal
Traditional Birthstone -                             Tourmaline

Zodiac Stones for October

Libra               Sept. 23 – Oct. 23              Chrysolite (Peridot)
Scorpio            Oct.  24 – Nov. 21              Aquamarine

 
OPAL - pronounced (ō‘pəl) . 
A natural hydrated form of silica. Opal is a relatively common mineral in its common form, which is known as common opal and lacks the play of color for which gem, or precious, opal is known. All opal is of relatively simple chemical composition, SiO₂ · nH₂O. The hardness of opal on the Mohs hardness scale ranges from 5 to 6.
The color of common opal ranges from transparent, glassy, and colorless to white and bluish white. The luster of the stone can go from vitreous to pearly. Precious opal has a play of color that is the result of white light being diffracted by the relatively regular internal array of silica spheres.  Semiprecious Opal is beautiful but it does not have the fire and brilliance of a precious opal.  Because opal is a hydrous mineral, certain opals from specific geologic occurrences may crack because of water loss. Therefore, considerable care is required in the polishing and handling of opal.
Several trade terms are used to describe the appearance of precious opal based on transparency, body color, and the type of play of color. Some of these terms are black opal, which is translucent to almost opaque, with dark gray to black body color, with play of color; fire opal, which is transparent to semitransparent, with yellow, orange, red, or brown body color and with or without play of color; harlequin or mosaic opal, in which the play of color occurs in distinct, broad, angular patches; and matrix opal, which consists of thin seams of high-quality gem opal in a matrix.
The name opal probably is derived from the ancient names for the stone.  Sanskrit;  upala which translates “precious stone”, the Greek; opallios which translates “color change”, and the Latin; opalus which translates “stone from several elements”. It has been mined for centuries, at least since Roman times when they extracted the opal from areas now within the Czech Republic. The Aztecs made use of local Mexican sources as did the Spaniards when they exported the material back to Europe.
Australia produces around 97% of the world’s opal. 90% is called ‘light opal’ or white and crystal opal. White makes up 60% and all the opal fields produce white opal; Crystal opal or pure hydrated silica makes up 30%; 8% is black and only 2% is boulder opal.
The town of Coober Pedy in South Australia is a major source of opal. Common, water, jelly, and fire opal are found mostly in Mexico and Mesoamerica. Another Australian town, Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, is the main source of black opal, opal containing a predominantly dark background (dark-gray to blue-black displaying the play of color).
 
Boulder opal is found sporadically in western Queensland, from Kynuna in the north, to Yowah and Koroit in the south.
 
A source of white base opal in the United States is Spencer, Idaho. A high percentage of the opal found there occurs in thin layers. As a result, most of the production goes into the making of doublets and triplets.
 
The state gem stone for Nevada is precious black opal, which is named for the true black opal found in Virgin Valley, Humboldt County, Nevada.

OTHER TYPES OF OPAL
Fire opal is a translucent to semi-opaque stone that is generally yellow to bright orange and sometimes nearly red and displays pleochroism at certain angles.
Peruvian opal is a semi-opaque to opaque stone found in Peru which is often cut to include the matrix in the more opaque stones. It comes in various shades of blue and pink.  It does not display pleochroism.
 
African Opal is a semi-opaqie to opaque stone found in Africa.  It is found in various shades of white, yellow and brown. 
 
The Traditional birthstone for the month of October is Tourmaline.
The two Zodiac signs that fall into October are Libra and Scorpio.  For Libra the birthstone is Peridot or Chrysolite and for Scorpio it is Aquamarine.
For ages people have believed in the healing power of Opal. It is reported to be able to solve depressions and to help its wearer find the true and real love.
Opals are supposed to further enhance the positive characteristics for people born under the zodiac sign of Cancer. Black Opal is recommended to those born under Scorpio, and Boulder Opal is the lucky stone for Aries.
 

Tourmaline - pronounced: tour·ma·line (tʊr’mə-lĭn, -lēn’)

Tourmaline seems to have a special place in the hearts of mineral collectors as well as in that of gem and gemstone enthusiasts. Its nearly universal popularity is based on two very important facts: first, it is a bright and beautiful gemstone that can be found in just about any color; and second, materials that are of acceptable quality are affordable to most purchasers.
 
The word “rainbow” is used figuratively to describe tourmaline. In reality, it is a well recognized fact that tourmaline’s diversity in color is not limited to the seven colors of the rainbow. Tourmaline can be colorless to just about any color, hue, or tone known to man. And if range of colors among different tourmalines is not enough, individual crystals can vary in color along their length or in cross-section.
 
The variations in color along a crystal’s length give rise to the bicolor and tricolor tourmalines which have multitudes of color combinations. The variation in color in cross-section can be concentric, as in the case of “watermelon” tourmaline, a pink core surrounded by a green rind. Or the variation may have a distinct triangular pattern as in the case of liddicoatite
 
The United States is a large producer of Tourmaline as is Brazil.
 
California has ranked as high as second and as low as sixth in the value of natural gemstone produced in the United States. The State’s fabulous tourmalines were discovered by the gemstone industry in the late 1870’s or early 1880’s. The caveat, discovery by the gemstone industry, is used because Native Americans discovered and used these beautiful tourmalines long before that.
 
Since their discovery, the tourmaline deposits in Riverside and San Diego Counties have had more tourmaline produced and of greater value than any other deposits in the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, it is probable that only the deposits in Brazil have been more productive.
 
One of the reasons for the productivity of the area is the longevity of the individual mines. Many of them have operated intermittently from the 1890’s until the present. The famous Himalaya Mine is quite likely the best example.
Records indicate that from 1898 until 1914, the Himalaya was the world’s largest producer of tourmaline. Furthermore, the records indicate that in 1904 production from the mine was at least 5.5 metric tons. In 1989, 84 years later, a single pocket in the mine produced more than 0.5 metric ton of tourmaline.
 
The mine operated continuously from 1898 until 1914, after which it operated sporadically until 1952. At this time, it once again began continuous operations that lasted until 1964 when it returned to intermittent operation until 1977. Since then the mine has been in operation under the direction of Pala International.
 
California tourmalines come in all colors except certain shades of blue and yellow. They also occur in bicolor, tricolors, and concentrically and laterally zoned combinations. Because of the large size of the crystals available, some large stones have been cut from California tourmaline. A 400-carat pink-red stone has been cut, as well as a flawless 75 carat green to pink bicolor and flawless 30- to 40 carat green to colorless to pink tricolor stones.
 
California deposits should continue to produce quantities of faceting, carving, and cabochon grade, as well as specimen-grade tourmalines for some time into the future. In late 1992, a new deposit of tourmaline was discovered in Riverside County that could result in greater production over even a longer period of time.
 
Maine - Tourmaline was the first gemstone mined in the United States by miners other than prehistoric man or Native Americans. Tourmaline mining began at Mount Mica, ME, in 1822 and, with starts and stops, has continued to the present. In 1992, operations at Mount Mica produced both gem-quality and mineral specimen tourmaline.
 
Over the years, mining operations on Mount Mica produced hundreds of kilograms of tourmaline. Museums and private collections around the world contain outstanding examples of tourmaline from the deposit. The largest reported crystal from the site apparently is one that is 39.4 centimeters long, 17.8 centimeters wide, and weighs about 14.3 kilograms. Apparently, a flawless, blue-green 256-carat stone is the largest cut stone from Mount Mica.
 
Mount Mica may have been the first tourmaline producer in Maine, but it is by no means the largest. Newry Hill, a spur off Plumbago Mountain, or more specifically the Dunton Mine on Newry Hill, is the most prolific tourmaline producer in Maine. Since its discovery in 1898, production from the mine has exceeded thousands of kilograms of high-quality tourmaline. The mines ability to yield large quantities of quality tourmaline was clearly demonstrated by Plumbago Mining Corp. The company reported that from October 1972 until the Fall of 1974, it produced more than one metric ton of fine-quality tourmaline.
 
Maine tourmalines come in a wide variation of colors, deep grass green to light green to yellow-green to blue green. They are also found in all shades of red, from pink to deep red, and blue-green to light blue to deep blue, and as colorless crystals. The State’s mines also produce bicolor and watermelon crystals. The colors can be very fine and some believe that Maine tourmalines set the standard for non-chrome green tourmaline.

Congratulations to Kathleen Luongo on winning our “Ancient Atrifact” earrings, we hope she enjoys them

This month our prize is our Buttered Rum earrings.  CLick on our win free jewelry icon at our webiste and enter today! You may also wish to check out the matching necklace.  Just click on the pictures below

SAPPHIRE - pronounced sap·phire (săf’īr’)

Sapphire (from Hebrew: Sapir) is the single-crystal form of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), a mineral known as corundum. It is the second hardest natural mineral known to man. Still Sapphires can be chipped or fractured if handled roughly.  It can be found naturally as gemstones or manufactured in large crystal boules for a variety of applications.Sapphire is said to be the gem of destiny.  It can bring out the best within you and help make your dreams come true.
In ancient times people believed  that the sky was just a gigantic blue Sapphire stone into which the earth was embedded . When one gazes into a beautiful blue sapphire gem you can easily see why this belief came about. Sapphire exists in all the shades of blue skies, from the deep blue of evening skies to the bright blue of a clear  summer sky. Sapphire also comes in many other colors, not only in the transparent blues, but also displaying the bright fireworks of sunset colors – yellow, pink, orange and purple. So Sapphire is truly a heavenly stone.
Blue is also the favorite color of about 50 per cent of the population, men and women alike. The color blue is linked to emotions such as sympathy and harmony, friendship and loyalty.  Sapphire blue has thus become a color related to anything permanent and reliable, and this is one of the reasons why women in many countries settle on Sapphire for their engagement rings. Sapphire symbolizes loyalty and faithfulness, while at the same time expressing love and yearning.
Sapphire includes any gemstone of the mineral corundum other than the red ruby. Sapphire is most commonly blue but also occurs as purple, yellow, orange, pink, green, color shift and white varieties. A sapphire that is colored orange-red is sometimes called padparadsha.Sapphires have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and do not cleave which makes them perfect for faceted gemstones. Sapphire was said to represent truth, sincerity and consistency and therefore many engagement rings of old were made with Sapphire to convey the commitment and loyalty of the giver. Kings wore large sapphires around their necks as powerful defense against harm.  Sapphire was also said to preserve the wearer from envy and attracted divine favor.  Sapphire’s healing properties are said to relieve mental depression, promotes peace and happiness, and stimulates motivation and goal orientation.SourcesOriginally, the best sapphires and rubies came from Burma, where they are believed to have been mined possibly from prehistoric times. Kashmir is another source of very fine sapphires, famous for its cornflower blue stones. Thailand, previously called Siam, is an important source of attractive sapphire. The term Ceylon sapphire is frequently used to denote pale to medium sapphires. Unless the stone is known to originate from Sri Lanka, as it is now called, such sapphire should accurately be called “Ceylon-type” sapphire. Darker colored sapphire is mined in Thailand, Australia, and Nigeria. Other mines are in Brazil, Cambodia, Columbia, Kenya, and Malawi. Currently most dark sapphires come from Australia, and the term “Australian sapphire” is often used to denote dark colored sapphires, in a similar way to the term “Ceylon sapphire” for lighter stones. Sapphires are also found in Montana (noted for the cornflower blue color stones) and Colorado in the USA, India, with small quantities being found in numerous other countries.CleaningSapphire jewelry can be cleaned using mild dish liquid with a little ammonia, rinse thoroughly afterwards as detergents can cause dermatitis and allergic reactions. Enzyme cleaners should be avoided for the same reasons. Brushing with an old tooth brush to remove dirt and grease will also help. Cleaning agents containing chlorine may have a detrimental effect on low carat gold alloys, so are best avoided.

Fall fashion trends are really exciting.  The colors that will be making a big splash are absolutely yummy!  Browns will once again be prominent, but they will be accented with luscious burnt ochre, red chili pepper and even shades of Aqua.  Blues will be making a big splash too and they will be accented with shale green, green moss and even some dusky lavenders.  The big hit though will be your purple wine color clothing accented with lemon curry and cashmere rose.  With these colors although your wardrobe will tone down with the advent of the Fall season it won’t be totally lacking of stand out color. 

Super long and multi-strand necklaces will also be used to add pizzazz to your fall wardrobe, as well as lariats of different lengths.  Also due to the use of the three quarter length sleeve this fall you can once again wear multiple bracelets along with your layered necklaces.

Here are a few pieces that will go nicely with your fall wardrobe.

Congratulations to Linda Baca, winner of our July contest!  This month’s prize is our “Ancient Artifacts” earrings.

Here are some matching cord necklaces that go well with these earrings.