Rainbow dreams

Joopy Gems 3mm rainbow moonstone cabochons

It’s so hard to keep this material in stock. 3mm rainbow moonstone cabochons, clean quality. I also try not to run out of it, and re-order before it’s completely gone, but then someone comes along and buys up the entire stock, and we can’t find the rough and before I know where we are, I’m out for months! Anyway, this is the first of the 3mm and 4mm restock – plain cabochons, now $1.55 per stone. There’s so much of the cloudy, fractured material about, that when you see a clear stone with bright adularescence (or flash) it can take your breath away. In fact, a customer said to me just yesterday, having received her stones ‘is this real?’ Because the extreme, billowing flash can have an almost unreal appearance. It’s truly astonishing. (Answer, by the way, is yes, it is real. As far as I am aware, this is not synthesised at all). Harder and harder – and very expensive – to find in larger sizes, I can still just about put my hands on it for smaller sizes. Now, I’m not a fan of AAA etc grading systems as it is so subjective, and not standardised, but I do use it for moonstone as I carry such a wide range of qualities. This is AAA material, and for that you can expect clean stones with great adularescence. As for what to do with it, below is a lesson in perfect, understated elegance from one of my lovely customers. This sterling silver and rainbow moonstone ring from Brightsmith features a 3mm moonstone on a narrow, hammered silver band, $28.

Brightsmith 3mm Tiny Rainbow Moonstone Stacking Ring in Sterling Silver - Super Thin Micro Stacker with Smooth or Hammered Band

To shop 3mm AAA cabochons, click here; to shop all my AA and AAA rainbow moonstone, click here. To shop my entire range, click here.

www.joopygems.com

Turquoise cabochons

Joopy Gems 3mm turquoise cabochons

Now back in stock, ever popular 3mm turquoise cabochons! These are one of the (actually many now) stones that I struggle to keep in stock. This material is light greenish-blue with a bit of a colour range going from a bit more green to a bit more blue – do shout if you have a preference. It’s stabilised, as is very common with turquoise, but not dyed. There’s a bit of matrix on the underside of some of the stones, but not across the top and hey, at least you know it’s real! It’s pale tan matrix, so for those of you who are interested, this tells you that the turquoise formed in sandstone. Now, turquoise is quite strongly linked with the ‘southwestern’ style of jewellery, but it also lends itself very well to smaller, sleeker designs, and works equally well with both silver and gold. For inspiration, below are some examples of small-scale, perfectly formed turquoise jewellery. From left: Holly Presley’s turquoise ring features a 3mm turquoise sitting on an organic drop of silver; Rita Moehler’s sterling silver turquoise bangle features six turquoise stones on a solid silver ridged band; Melanie Casey’s set of 5 gold stack rings features 3mm and 4mm turquoise stones (and one green chalcedony!) set in solid 14k gold and Thalassa Jewellery’s silver pod earrings feature 3mm turquoise stones set in oxidised silver pods.

Holly Presley turquoise ringRita Moehler Sterling Silver Turquoise Bangle Bracelet, Handmade Silver and Turquoise MetalworkMelanie Casey 5 gold stacking ringsThalassa Jewellery Tiny Turquoise Earrings

To shop 3mm cabochons, click here; to browse all turquoise cabochons, click here.

www.joopygems.com

Joopy Gems 8mm cabochon african amethyst round

Purple Velvet

Sometimes I can’t believe all the stones I have. And sometimes I can’t believe what I don’t have. Like today, listing for the first time plain African amethyst 8mm cabochons. Well, I say plain, but these lovely, velvety-dark purple stones need nothing fancy to set off their beauty and in fact will work equally well in a sleek, clean setting or a something more complex. Some inclusions on these stones, as is common with this material; a bit of colour zoning, wispy veils and some crystals, but the colour is dark enough that it’s not obvious. $11.50 per stone; to check them out, click here. To shop all African amethyst, click here.

Inspiring pieces, from left to right, Laura Wilson Gallery one of a kind amethyst sterling silver brooch or pendant, my lovely customer L. Sue Szabo’s hollow form sterling silver and amethyst ring, and Stowe Gems amethyst cabochon 14k stack ring.

Laura Wilson Gallery amethyst and sterling silver broochlsueszabo silver and amethyst ringStowe Gems Amethyst Cabochon 14K Stack Ring

 

 

Multi-coloured Chrysocolla

It’s not the most well-known gemstone, but Chrysocolla is endlessly fascinating, with its patterning and array of different colours. It’s the copper in it that is responsible for the vivid blue-green colours and it often combines with other copper-bearing minerals which give it its unique mix of colours and characteristic mottled patterns, such as turquoise, blue azurite and malachite. Just listed I have these gloss finish 7-8mm rondelle beads, at $20 per strand. These are B grade, and I think that the range of colours, textures and patterns on these stones are just amazing.Joopy Gems Chrysocolla rondelle beads, matte finish, 7-8mm I also have these in a matte finish, same size, which are equally multi-coloured, but with an amazing soft and silky finish (see left). These are also $20 per strand. Joopy Gems Chrysocolla rondelle beads, AB grade, 7-8mm, matte finishAnd finally, some AB grade beads, which are much more uniform in terms of colour leaning firmly towards the blue-green end of the spectrum, again same size. These are also matte finish, and these are $37 per strand. I can see these looking great with some chunky silver accents – let your creativity go wild! Beads are a  relatively new venture for me, and all of the ones I have are funky and wonderful – to check out the full range, click here. To shop check out Chrysocolla beads click here.

www.joopygems.com

500 stones!

Joopy Gems gem id picture

It’s gem ID day today, and that means polariscopes and microscopes; dicroscopes and spectroscopes; loupes and colour filters and not forgetting my personal favourite –  and arguably the most important piece of kit; the refractometer. Why all this? Well, as some of you may know, I have been working towards Graduate Gemologist status with the GIA, and I am currently on the Gem Identification element of the course. This is entirely practical and involves the correct identification of 500 stones. Yes, 500! Fortunately they come to me in neat little boxes of 20 and I am currently 400 stones through the course! Then at the end of it I sit a 20 stone exam which requires 100% pass. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, and it’s been a struggle finding the time to do it on top of running the business. But it’s been amazing so far and I’ve learned so much; it’s great to be able to not only separate one stone from another, but to be able to separate natural from synthetic and identify even what kind of synthetic, as well as treatments such as heat and glass-filling. I feel really confident now, and the main barrier to me stocking more precious has been removed. After this I justt have to do a couple of diamond modules and I should be a fully paid up GG with the GIA! The end is in sight!

www.joopygems.com

Rose Quartz and Serenity

Quartz and chalcedony composite 2 sml.JPG

Pantone has for the first time this year chosen two shades to be their colours of the year; Rose quartz and Serenity. With this they are striving to demonstrate a balance between the warmth of pink and the cool celestial quality of pale blue reflecting the current preoccupation with mindfulness and well-being. These colours are perfectly represented by the gemstones rose quartz and blue chalcedony. This post is dedicated to the pale beauty of rose quartz; look out next week for blue chalcedony. I’ve been putting together a Pinterest board on this theme with a selection of jewellery that has caught my eye; the bold, the beautiful and the truly unique!

Nicole Scheetz rose quartz ring resizeNicole Scheetz is the inspiration behind Luxuring, based in Alberta, Canada. Specialising in rings, her pieces speak to a feminine, minimalist aesthetic. I love this delicate ring of 14 carat gold set with a rose cut rose quartz cabochon. Nicole uses recycled metals; solid silver and 14k gold in her work and hand-forges all of her pieces. Nicole is a customer of mine and it’s wonderful to see the many amazing ways in which all you talented designers incorporate my stones into your art.

Engelken rose quartz white gold ring resizeChris Engelken is a US designer based in Wisconsin who has been designing and making jewellery for over 20 years. Right is his amazing Rose Quartz White Gold ring. This setting really showcases the beauty of this unique sculpted piece of rose quartz. Rose quartz can be quite pale but this 30 carat chunk really demonstrates a superb density of colour, which with the cool, white gold setting is a match made in heaven!

Ben Proctor rose quartz necklace resizeBen Proctor of Benati jewellery is based in Israel. Inspired by nature and architectural forms, he blends old gold-smithing techniques and modern technology to create fine, individual pieces with an emphasis on quality and perfection. This approach is encapsulated in the rose quartz pendant pictured left; a combination of fine, delicate gold mesh-work and a classic bezel set rose quartz.

For more examples of exciting and inspiring rose quartz pieces, check out my Pinterest board, including, below from left to right, ‘French Kiss’ Lip necklace by cliffandb, Madagascar Rose Quartz and 14k gold earrings by Marie Wu Designs, Winged Rose Quartz ring by Agrigento Designs and Rose Gold and Rose Quartz Sun Necklace by Snowflake Designs

Cliff and B kiss necklacemariewu rose quartz earringsAgrigento winged quartz ringSnowflake Rose Gold & Rose Quartz Sun Necklace

Why not check out our range of rose quartz and blue chalcedony; we have cabochons and rose cuts in a range of sizes. Pictured top are 10mm rose cut rose quartz and blue chalcedony.

www.joopygems.com

 

Pure brilliant white (topaz)

White topaz 8x10mm rose cut pear, Joopy Gems

Not the rather unforgiving Dulux paint colour, but that crowd-pleasing favourite White Topaz. Just listed I have rose cut pears and ovals, with – due to popular request – flat backs. White topaz is such an excellent choice for a white stone – easy to obtain in clean quality with really excellent brilliance. It’s great value for money, so you can go really large with your stones, and who can resist a big chunk of glittering clear rock? It’s also just a little bit more gemmy than, say, rock crystal, helping to maintain the value of your catalogue. Here I have 8x10mm and 10x12mm pears, and an 8x10mm oval, all good, large sizes to make show-stopping pieces, all of fantastic, eye-clean clarity. As stated, these are all cut with flat backs, so will set neatly in a bezel setting. Prices start from $11 for the 8x10mm faceted pear; click here to shop all white topaz.