Maire Loughran's Blog
Posted by Maire Loughran
Last month I wrote an article about my favorite jewelry designer, Todd Reed. Reed's signature is the use of raw diamonds in his designs.
Coincidentally Blood Diamond, a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou, has just hit the theatres. This movie details the use of 'conflict diamonds' to fund rogue military action against established governments - In this movie that of a horrendous civil war that took place in the late 1990's in Sierra Leone.
One of my prior blogs discussed the Kimberley Process - the self-imposed industry sanction.
The diamond industry response to the movie has been aggressive via print and electronic media campaigns. Their response is also online at www.diamondfacts.org.
Industry experts claim varying degrees of success with controlling the conflict diamond issue in Ivory Coast, Liberia and the Congo.
Posted by Maire Loughran
I just got back from Barnes and Noble after purchasing the latest edition of Jewelry W. The Right Hand Diamond Campaign was prominently placed on the back cover.
I previously noted that this campaign, when it was run the first time, was not reported as being a success in many jewelry trade magazines. After the results of the holiday season buying patterns are in I will keep you posted as to it's success this time through.
I also picked up a copy of January '07 Bust Magazine. There was a nice two page ad spread for Indie Finds that displayed some very nice pieces of hand crafted jewelry. Check out the entire collection and you just might find that perfect piece of jewelry for yourself or to give as a gift.
Posted by Maire Loughran
Ruby is one of the choices for December's birthstone.
I purchased the ruby beads shown in that article at The Earth Bazaar about a year ago. Over the years I have occasionally purchased ruby gemstrands from Earth Bazaar ranging in price from $30 to $140 (wholesale) for a 15 inch strand.
The Earth Bazaar does not always have every type of gemstone bead in stock so if you see something you like it is best to buy it immediately. Their return policy is reasonable - however, I have yet to receive any gemstones I felt were not as shown on the website and needed to be returned.
The gem strands come temporarily strung so you will have to restring them and attach a clasp for wear.
Posted by Maire Loughran
My last couple of articles gave instructions on how to make a sterling silver and akoya pearl necklace and also two online shops that I recommend for purchasing jewelry.
Here is another alternative - find out how you can answer a few questions and win a piece of artisan handcrafted jewelry.
I received an email yesterday - this contest will only run through January 17, 2007. I will see if I can find similar offers and will post to the blog my results.
Thrifty Boutique is conducting a weekly contest in which you answer 3 questions, respond by email and if you are the first person to correctly answer the questions you win the jewelry.
The contest posts every Wednesday morning at 8:00am PST
I have also volunteered to contribute a piece of jewelry. My week will not be until next March or April - as we approach that time I will be posting a poll to get feedback on what piece of jewelry you would like me to contribute that you can potentially win.
Posted by Maire Loughran
Every holiday season I design an easy to make yet expensive looking piece of jewelry to give as a gifts to friends and family members.
This year the design is an akoya pearl on a filigree sterling silver bail hung on a sterling silver curb style chain.
Akoya pearls are cultured salt-water pearls - usually obtained from Japan or China. They have a deeper luster than their cultured freshwater pearls equivalent. However, this necklace would look great substituting freshwater pearls for the akoya pearls.
You could also fabricate this gift using a 14k gold filled bail and chain - although that would nearly double it's cost to make.
Posted by Maire Loughran
NOTE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW OVER
My last couple of articles gave instructions on how to make a sterling silver and akoya pearl necklace and also two online shops that I recommend for purchasing jewelry.
Here is another alternative - find out how you can answer a few questions and win a piece of artisan handcrafted jewelry.
Thrifty Boutique is conducting a weekly contest in which you answer 3 questions, respond by email and if you are the first person to correctly answer the questions you win the jewelry.
The contest posts every Wednesday morning at 8:00am PST
I have also volunteered to contribute a piece of jewelry. My week will not be until next March or April - as we approach that time I will be posting a poll to get feedback on what piece of jewelry you would like me to contribute that you can potentially win.
Posted by Maire Loughran
My latest article is about my favorite jewelry designer, Todd Reed.
In anticipation of writing the article I purchased some raw diamonds which are Reed's trademark gemstone. I usually head to ebay first if I am unfamilar with where to get a particular item.
Sure enough there was a 10 carat lot of cubed raw diamonds for sale. They were advertised as being conflict free under the Clean Diamond Trade Act.
This act and the Kimberley Regulation Process was put in place to monitor the sale of diamonds (conflict diamonds) that might be used to fund terrorist activities in the Congo. It is estimated that the proceeds of about 3% all of diamond sales are used to fund terrorist activities and that the USA purchases about 65% of the world's supply of diamonds.
Experts claim varying degrees of success with the process.
Posted by Maire Loughran
Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette opened in theaters a few weeks back amid much discussion about the oppulent, feminine gowns worn by Kirsten Dunst in the movie.
I've never been too much of a fan of 18th century jewelry (distinguishing feature - diamond studded bows and floral shapes worn as pendants and earrings).
However, I thought I would look up a gallery of portraits of Antoinette to check out the jewelry worn. It was a little disappointing. Most portraits of Marie-Antoinette showed little to no jewelry.
My favorite pair of earrings is shown in a portrait painted in 1787 by Louise-Elisabeth Vigée-Le-Brun.
They were gold drop earrings set with a single large gemstone per earring. In the portrait the gemstone appears cloudly - like a moonstone. However, due to the proliferation of Brazilian diamonds during that period and since Marie-Antoinette was a known to be a big fan of diamonds I am relatively certain these are diamond drops.
If you look at a close up of the portrait, these earrings appear to be hoops with a drop - another twist on the fabrication of earrings.
Posted by Maire Loughran
Topaz is regarded as a very protective gemstone of the sun. This is pretty logical as most topaz comes from the earth in shades of golden yellow to brown.
Most gemstones are a symbol of a saint or angel. Topaz is the gemstone of St. Matthew.
Ever hang a horseshoe over the doorway leading into your home? Horseshoes are examples of protective charms. Topaz is an example of a protective gemstone.
In legend it is said that to keep a piece of topaz in your home will protect your household from harm. Likewise, to ward off bad dreams, you should place a piece of topaz under your pillow at night.
Posted by Maire Loughran
In my article Voodoo Jewelry I give some insight into the design and purpose of the voodoo jewelry sold at Erzulie's in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
If you are looking for Halloween items that are a bit more in the mainstream check out Neiman Marcus' Christmas catalog. On page 23 Neiman's offers skull and crossbones items made with jet black and clear Swarovski crystals. Of course, the items are pricey - the cheapest is the pill case at $170.
You can also view these items online.
Posted by Maire Loughran
I was flipping through the current edition of the MJSA (Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America) Journal and they also remarked on the color combinations of gemstones at the Emmy Awards.
As I note in my article explaining how to coordinate gemstone jewelry with your outfit, muted jewel like colors are very popular this winter.
Rather than use the complementary color method to choose gemstone jewelry you can also use the mono-chromatic method. This method was used to good effect at the Emmy's - pairing muted plum colored gowns with amethyst gemstones.
Mono-chromatic means to select hues using any shade, tint or tone of that particular hue. A tint = the color plus white; tone = the color + gray and shade = the color + black.
So to pair amethyst gemstones with a muted plum gown would be an example of a hue (the purple amethyst) with a shade: plum (purple + black).
Posted by Maire Loughran
My maternal grandmother worked at Gorham Silver in Providence, RI - manufacturers of sterling silver flatware and jewery - for many years. Gorham had a company store and while working there she slowly added sterling silver charms to a link bracelet.
You can view this charm bracelet at my article about the charm of charm bracelets.
The theme of her charm bracelet was charms with movable parts. Over the years she eventually purchased a bike, a pair of scissors, a washing machine, sewing machine, truck, movie camera and my favorite as a child - a tea kettle with a top that opened and closed.
She eventually gave the charm bracelet to her daughter, my mother, and it was passed down to me a few years ago.
As I work with tools and machines with moving parts I rarely wear bracelets or rings. However, on special occasions and holidays this piece of family jewelry always makes an appearance.
Posted by Maire Loughran
Chrysoprase is not a gemstone that is very widely recognized by those outside the jewelry industry. However, the use of chrysoprase in jewelry dates back at least to early Egyptian times when it was set in the jewelry of the royalty - usually next to Lapis Lazuli.
Like all gemstones the hue of chrysoprase can vary based upon the mineral and chemical composition of the particular gemstone speciman. In this case - the amount of nickel oxide and hydrated silicates determines the color range of chrysophase from yellow to deep green.
I use Chrysoprase and Iolite as an example of combining diad colors in my article about how to use a color wheel to coordinate gemstone jewelry with your outfits.
Chrysoprase and Iolite are two colors apart on the color wheel which makes them diad colors. Lapis Lazuli, like Iolite, is a blue stone - proof that even back in ancient times the principles of the color wheel were being used to create striking gemstone combinations.
Posted by Maire Loughran
Posted by Maire Loughran
If you have purchased a piece of jewelry that has been stamped with 'ster', 'sterling' or '.925' this is an indication that the jewelry is at least 925/1,000ths pure silver. In other words - sterling silver.
Unless this strict criteria is met it is considered a deceptive practice by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to use even the term silver to describe the jewelry.
Any silver colored jewelry is more properly referred to as being made from 'base' metal. Examples of base metals are copper and steel.
Check out my article on Winter's Color Forecast to see what colors look good with sterling silver.
Posted by Maire Loughran
This is one unusual idea for jewelry. However, the concept of making jewelry from the dead dates back to Victorian times when a snip of a deceased loved one's hair was woven into various pieces of jewelry or worn in lockets.
The modern day procedure consists of shipping your loved one's ashes to England for incorporation into custom blown 24% lead crystal that can then made into a brooch, charm or necklace.
According to the owner of Winnie Glass, Co., Wendy Redmore, the whole procedure takes between eight - 12 weeks and any unused ashes are shipped back to the family with the order. Redmore researched the idea and started her company after the death of her mother.
Honestly, I find the idea a little too outside the mainstream for myself but interest from funeral companies has apparently been quite high. The price of the jewelry I viewed ranged between $450 to $600 dollars per piece.
For more information about the whole procedure and how to order you can visit the Winnie Glass Co. website.
Posted by Maire Loughran
The opal pendant shown in the article about October's Birthstone is a very good example of an opal doublet. This doublet is made of Australian opal glued to an agate base. It's just a little over 4 karats and measures about 5/8 inch by ½ inch. It has brilliant red, blue and green flashes and due to its size appears to be a very pricey gemstone - however it cost less than $50.
While I was constructing the bezel around the opal I chipped off a piece of the opal at the bottom. Now you can see why I never wear opal as a ring. The good thing about doublets is that if you can find the sliver you can just super glue it back in place, which is what I did.
Of course, this would never be appropriate to do if this pendant was not for my personal wear only. I subsequently glued a tiny emerald gemstone over the damaged part of the opal that picks up the green flash of the opal beautifully.
I purchased the doublet at Jamming Gems.
In case you are wondering - Opal is not my birthstone. I wear it frequently and have never had any bad luck associated with wearing it.