Lush, Exotic, and Untamed!

This is no ordinary, Garden-Variety, green gemstone.  Emerald pulses with life and vitality.  As May’s birthstone, it is as refreshing to the eyes as a spring garden after a rain.  Within it’s depths are often tiny fractures or inclusions, which the French call "jardin," or garden, because of their resemblance to foliage. The Egyptians were known to engrave Emeralds with the symbol for foliage to represent eternal youth, and to bury these jewels with their dead. 

 The Ancient Egyptians mined Emeralds in the eastern desert region 2,000 years before Cleopatra’s birth, braving extreme heat, scorpions and snakes to search for the beautiful crystals.  During Cleopatra’s reign, she claimed the Emerald mines as her own, as this was her favorite gem.  She often wore lavish Emerald jewelry, and it is said that she bestowed visiting dignitaries with large Emeralds carved with her likeness when they departed Egypt. 

 More valuable than diamonds, fine quality Emeralds of significant size are among the world's most bewitching jewels.  The incomparable dark green crystals grow slowly within metamorphic rocks and are restricted in size by the rock, which make them rare.  Although this gemstone is relatively hard and durable, it must be protected from blows because the inclusions found within make it susceptible to breaking. 
 As a member of the beryl family of minerals, cousin to Aquamarine and Morganite, Emerald is found in Afghanistan, Columbia, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, and Russia. 

 Some people believe that wearing an Emerald brings wisdom, growth, and patience. And as any couple in a long-term relationship would agree, all of these qualities are essential for a successful and lasting love. This may explain why a gift of Emerald for an anniversary -- or anytime -- is considered symbolic of love and fidelity.

Emerald care

Because emeralds are seldom found without fissures and
surface cracks, it’s common for them to have been oiled, waxed or filled with
resin. Because of the likelihood of those treatments, special care is called
for when cleaning and handling emeralds.


Everyday cautions

Avoid situations where your emerald could knock against
things and be damaged. In addition, remove your emerald rings when doing dishes
or immersing your hands in water as soapy solutions and hot water can damage
the finish on the stone. Finally, avoid sudden temperature changes which could
cause color change and cracking in your emerald.


Cleaning your emerald jewelry

Use warm water with a very mild detergent and a soft brush

to clean your emerald jewelry. Between washing, clean emerald jewelry with a
soft, dry cloth. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner or steam cleaner on emerald
jewelry, and avoid harsh chemicals. Every 2-5 years, have an experienced
jeweler re-oil your emerald to keep it looking its best.


Storing your emerald jewelry

Store emeralds in velvet lined boxes with individual
compartments or inside cotton bags in a jewelry box. Avoid storing them in the

same compartments of bags as diamonds and sapphires to prevent scratches to the emeralds. Also avoid extreme temperature changes and prolonged exposure to bright light which can change the color of your emeralds.

If you have questions about caring for your Emeralds please give Parkers' Karat Patch Jewelers a call. 828-645-7111, Asheville, NC 28804.

Aquamarine: The birthstone for March

 

Imagine taking a dip in a crystal blue mountain lake – the morning air crisp and expectant, the sky soaring high and cloudless overhead.

The name literally means “Ocean Water,” with tales of Aquamarine dating back to ancient seafaring days. Sailors of old believed that these glittering, watery gems came from the treasure chests of mermaids. It’s no wonder then, that Aquamarine is said to bring good luck to all who sail the seas. Aquamarine also promises love, health and youthful energy to those who wear it.

Modern – day etiquette suggests Aquamarine as the gem of choice to celebrate March birthdays and the 16th and 19th anniversaries. Most Americans choose blue as a favorite color and Aquamarine’s powdery hue is a perfect gem for blue lovers.

Aquamarine is a member of the Beryl family. A cousin to Emerald and Morganite, its color is more pure and its attributes less brittle than Emerald, making it a desirable gem for special occasion wear.

Consistent supply of Aquamarine is available in sizes ranging up to and between 7mm to 10mm with some shapes and sizes being limited in availability. Aquamarine is mined in South America, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Russia, Africa, and China. Whatever the reason for purchase, Aquamarine is a fabulous fashion choice.

The Four Major Pearl Types

Akoya Cultured Pearls

Timeless and popular, the akoya cultured pearl probably comes to mind when you think of pearls. (Because akoyas are easier to match than other pearls, they are a popular choice for bracelets and necklaces.) These saltwater beauties are typically small (they range between 2mm and 11mm; average is 6mm-7mm), and are most commonly white or cream-colored.
Akoyas are produced in the akoya oyster, or P. fucata, the smallest of the saltwater pearl oysters. The main animals used for saltwater pearl culturing in Japan, these small oysters typically reach only 8cm to 13cm in diameter, but they can accept multiple nucleations—up to five at a time. (If a larger pearl is desired, however, only one bead is inserted.)
Akoya pearls were the first round cultured pearls—called “spherical” in the jewelry trade—that were produced. Approximately 70%-80% of a given akoya crop is spherical. Typically white or cream with rosé or green overtones, akoyas typically grow from eight months to two years before they’re harvested. A jewelry staple, the simple and classic white akoya strand is a popular choice for brides.

Tahitian Cultured Pearls

If you think of black pearls, you probably picture a peacock-blue-sheened Tahitian. This is a desirable hue for a Tahitian cultured pearl, but they can also be black, gray or brown with hues of blue, green, and purple and overtones of rosé, green or blue. Marketed just since the 1970s, Tahitians are revered for their exotic colors and large sizes, and, as you may have noticed, their large price tag reflects their relative rarity.

Tahitian pearls are produced mainly in French Polynesia in the so-called “black-lipped” oyster, P. margaritifera, a large saltwater mollusk that can grow up to 12 inches in diameter, weigh up to 11 lbs. and live up to 30 years. These oysters produce pearls that reach 8mm-14mm in size in a growth period that takes about two years.

Tahitian cultured pearls typically show fair to excellent luster, and achieve this by natural means, unlike akoyas and freshwater cultured pearls, which require treatment—usually bleaching—to bring out their sheen. When Tahitians are harvested, farmers wash them in fresh water, dry them and lightly buff them, usually by tumbling the gems with ground salt and bamboo chips.

P margaritifera can be nucleated, or implanted, several times over its lifetime, but in general, the first harvest produces the finest quality pearl. Unlike its smaller cousin, the akoya, Tahitian cultured pearls are spherical less than half the time. For this reason, it may take years to find just the right pearls to match for a necklace. This is one of the reasons why a matched strand of Tahitian cultured pearls is so costly. Because they can often come in unique shapes, however, Tahitians are used by many jewelry designers in pieces that feature a single pearl. These pieces are uniquely beautiful and can be as breathtaking as a costly Tahitian strand.

South Sea Cultured Pearls

P. maxima, one of the world’s largest mollusks, produces the magnificent South Sea cultured pearl, generally the largest cultured pearl on the market. As its name implies, the South Sea cultured pearl is produced in Australia, Indonesia and the Phillipines. (The cultured pearl is the national gem of the Phillipines.) Most South Sea pearls are silver, white, or a gorgeous and coveted golden color. Farmers do not treat these pearls after harvest, although some wholesale buyers do so after export.

Unlike a freshwater pearl mollusk, P. maxima can accept only one nucleation at a time; however the oyster can be nucleated up to three times in its lifetime. After nucleation, the South Sea cultured pearl requires 20-24 months to grow, and typically produces a pearl around 13mm, although some reach 15mm or larger. Between 10%-30% of any given crop contains spherical pearls. Australia produces about 60 percent of the supply of South Sea cultured pearls, although Indonesian farmers produce more of the golden variety than Australian farmers do.

Freshwater Cultured Pearls

Unlike their saltwater cousins, freshwater pearls are produced in mollusks rather than oysters, and, like their name implies, are grown in ponds, lakes and rivers rather than in the ocean. Most of today’s freshwater cultured pearls are produced in China, and, thanks to improvements in culturing techniques, the round, high-luster gems of today are a vast improvement over the inexpensive, squishy rice-krispie-shaped gems typical of the freshwater crop of yesteryear. Indeed many experts maintain that today’s freshwater cultured pearls rival the beauty of saltwater cultured pearls—a far cry from the freshwater pearl’s humble reputation from the not-so-distant past.

Freshwater cultured pearls are produced in mussels belonging to the family Unionidae. Most are grown in China, yet the United Sates produces its fair share. In fact, the mother-of-pearl beads used to induce the pearl growing process worldwide are made from ground American mussel shells.

Many freshwater pearls are nucleated, or implanted, with mantle tissue only, which is taken from a donor mussel. Because they do not contain a starter “bead,” tissue-nucleated freshwater pearls are 100% nacre. This gives them a beautiful luster and a durable surface that won’t flake or peel to reveal the inner bead. By contrast, pearls that are bead-nucleated and prematurely harvested often have only a thin coating of nacre that is prone to flaking and chipping. Unfortunately, pearls cannot be polished back to perfection once they’re destroyed.

Freshwater pearl-producing mussels can accept up to 50 implants at a time. They typically require 2-6 years to grow, and the finished pearl typically ranges in size from 4mm to 11mm. Larger freshwater pearls do exist, although their bigger size will likely be reflected in a bigger price tag. Approximately 60% of a typical freshwater pearl crop is made up of button pearls (flat on one side) or oval pearls. Only about 2% of the harvest is round, according to the latest information from the Gemological Institute of America. Baroque (no symmetry) and semi-baroque pearls typically make up the remainder of the crop. As with Tahitians and other pearl types, in a skilled designer’s hands, these unique pearls can be turned into extremely beautiful jewelry.

When it comes to color, the freshwater cultured pearl offers a wonderful variety. Pastels like cream, white, yellow, orange, and pink are common; as well, universally flattering lavender pearls are enjoying a surge in popularity today. When deciding which color freshwater pearls to buy, keep in mind that the wearer’s skin tone should be the most important consideration. Choose a color that will flatter and not detract. Overall, freshwater pearls are more plentiful than other pearl types, thus they are usually more affordable. Your budget may allow you to choose a few different colors.