Blogs

[#1]

I hope you enjoyed my last blog, “Gem Colors of the Season – Hanukkah”. Today, I’ll dive into the colors of Christmas.  (Look for my final “Gem Colors of the Season – Kwanza” blog soon.)

For many Christians Christmas is proceeded by Advent.  Advent is a time of preparation as we await the celebrated birth of Christ.  This year Advent began on Sunday, December 3^rd.

As for the colors of Christmas, they are…drumroll, please…red and green!  Ok, easy, peasy.  But, I had no idea how many theories exist regarding why they are the colors of Christmas.   Some historians believe those colors date back to ancient Roman pagan celebrations; some believe the colors were chosen much later with the 14^th Century Christians; and some believe they were chosen even later with the drawing of Santa Clause, by artist, Haddon Sundblom that appeared on the bottle of Coca-Cola in 1931. As for me, I’ll go with the theory that the deep green of prickly holly is associated with the crown of thorns Jesus wore on the cross, and its bright red berries, with the blood He shed for us.

Strangely, there aren’t as many red gems as there are other colored stones.  There is the red diamond, red spinel, red beryl (I’ve not seen one), garnet, and the King of the Gems – the Ruby!  (Guess which gem will be my focus?)

Historically speaking, Rubies have been one of the most significant colored gemstones.  It seems to reason.  I mean, think about it -  what’s the color you see when you see injustice on a colossal level or when you fall madly in love? It’s red!  Red is a color infused with passion, with anger, with power, with majesty.  It embodies who we are as people.  When you give this, also “included”, gem, do it with intention, with meaning, and, most importantly, with LOVE!

J350403 - There is no doubt passion is burning with this ring.  Tell her why your love for her is stronger than ever!

J345245 - What’s better than sharing your love of Christ in a silhouette that is the very definition of sacrificial love?

J337149 - A classic silhouette for your classy lady!

Green gems varieties are much more plentiful.  There is green tourmaline, green diamonds, chrome diopside, peridot and more. But there is one green gem that stands above all others in prestige, romance & allure – the emerald!

It is estimated that as early as 3500 BC Egyptians mined emeralds.  Within the Inca culture these precious green gems served as offerings to their gods, and they were willing to suffer torture, even death, to protect the place where they were found. It’s stories like these that fascinate me, that draw me into a time when colored stones weren’t common place – but true, holy treasures!

“Hey, what about the “stuff” I see in emeralds? It shouldn’t have all that “stuff”, right?”, you may ask.  Great question! 

Ah…but that “stuff”, called “inclusions” or “clarity characteristics”, should be celebrated by you and me.  (When you can’t see any “stuff”, that either means you’re looking at a fake or a gem so rare it should be in a museum!)  The French word for garden, “jardin”, is used to describe this wonderful mossy, garden-like landscape of an emerald.  I’ve never seen two gardens exactly alike, and I certainly haven’t met two people who were exactly like, which makes gifting an emerald so exciting.

J329403 - No size knowledge needed!  Let this be the last gift she opens!

J302429 - If green is her favorite color, go with a simple simulated emerald band ring at simple price.

J330606 - Heirloom pieces have an important place in my family (I was gifted my Grandma Scharnke’s diamond necklace) and they could have an important place in yours, too.

Thanks for reading my blog! If you want to know more about gems, reach out to me at Nancy Hornback QVC Facebook, I love questions.  If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find out!  Look for my final holiday blog - The Colors of Kwanza.

Merry Christmas, Dear Friends.  May your unique beauty and passion shine!

Lots of Love,

Nancy Hornback

QVC Program Host

Graduate Gemologist, GIA

Stay Connected with Nancy:

Email: n_hornback@qvc.com

Facebook: NancyHornbackQVC