I hope that everyone is enjoying Gem Week so far! There are so many exciting and new pieces this week that it's hard to keep up. I wanted to give you some background on several more gems.
I love the fiery, warm glow of
Fire opals. It is considered the national gemstone of Mexico and was admired as a symbol of the most fervent love in ancient times. Fire Opals are said to give us vigor and fills us with the joys of life and opens our senses to the beauty of Nature. After all, fire opals are themselves a piece of Nature in its most beautiful form.
Opals also come in other colors and are associated with inner beauty. It is the birthstone for October and is found in Australia, Mexico, and the United States. In Australia, many opals are found in Coober Pedy, a vast underground town with mines, homes, and shops. The heat is so intense that the miners virtually live underground. They do have an above ground golf course that can only be used at night with glow in the dark balls.
Tiger's-Eye is a stone having a changeable luster due to the way it reflects light. It is called Chatoyancy named a the French “chatoyer”, meaning to shimmer like a cats' eye. Tiger's Eye is found in South Africa and may be yellowish-brown, bluish, or a deep rich red in color. It is thought to balance negative and positive energy bringing clarity.
Apatite is seldom found in jewelry stores and is beloved my many collectors for its rich color. The color has often been described as a deep ultramarine teal, a liquid blue/green with constantly moving or shimmering colors. Like other gemstones available in the QVC gemstone assortment, apatite has been associated with mythical powers: said to enhance one's insight, learning abilities, and creativity. The mines in Madagascar are known for their neon blue apatite.
There is only one source in the world for
tanzanite. The mines in Tanzania are at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the northwest portion of the country. Tanzanite or blue Zoisite as it was called at that time was discovered by Manuel D'Souza who was originally looking for Sapphires in Eastern Africa in 1967. In 1969, Tiffany & Co. renamed the stone tanzanite to honor its single source, Tanzania. Tanzanite is a trichroic stone meaning it exhibits different colors when viewed along different axes. It also has its share of legends and love, thought to balance emotions and calm people down.
This week's Gem Week has been wonderful so far, and I hope that everyone continues to enjoy the programming. Be sure to stay tuned for the other jewelry events throughout this month and the months to come!!
Take care,
Peyton
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