Handmade Jewellery

Gemstones such as diamonds and rubies are

regularly used in jewellery because they are both

rare and unique. For the same reasons these

beautiful stones come with enormous price tags

which means that there use is reserved for

jewellery that marks special occasions, e.g.

engagement rings and for luxury products. I am

sure that you will have noticed that many items

of costume and fashion jewellery are often

described as containing semi-precious gems and

that there prices are remarkably less. So what

exactly are these semi-precious gems? Well like

all gemstones they are naturally occurring and

mined from in the ground which means that they

have all the uniqueness of diamonds as no two

pieces are the same. What defines semi-precious

is more to do with the quality and availability

of the stones than their actual chemical make up.

In fact even some rubies and diamonds can be sold

as cheaper semi-precious grade. So semi-precious

stones have all the natural beauty of gemstones

but because they are not as rare they are able to

be sold at much lower prices and this makes them

perfect for use in handmade costume jewellery

where they can enhance unique and personal items.

Turquoise- an opaque blue-green stone is often

classed as semi-precious. It has a stunning and

beautiful colour which has meant that it has been

given ornamental use for thousands of years and

was greatly used by ancient cultures for

adornment - especially those of ancient Egypt and

China. The Aztecs also made great use of

turquoise as part of mosaic inlays for masks,

shields, weapons and sculptures and also of

course for jewellery. This ancient gem has always

remained fashionable thanks to its fresh and

attractive colour.

Quartz is a crystalline rock which is composed of

silicon dioxide and is itself very common but it

occurs in many varieties and some are very

beautiful. Citrine is a yellow form of quartz and

this can occur in the same stone as amethyst- the

most beautiful of quartzes. Amethyst is a

translucent purple, mauve or violet stone and the

very deep and rich varieties are incredibly

striking and seductive. This stone is believed to

have protective properties, especially against

drunkenness an d for protecting crops and driving

out evil spirits. It is also thought to inspire

intellect and as a stone of friendship.

Jade is another beautifully rich stone and this

one is green with a subtle lustre. It has been

known to man since prehistoric times when it was

valued for its toughness which made it a perfect

material for weapons and tools. In China jade has

always been appreciated aesthetically and has had

special significance as ‘the royal gem’ and used

for making fine and luxurious objects. Perhaps

due to its calming green hue, jade has been known

as the stone of inner peace, harmony and balance.

Carnelian is a red or reddish brown variety of

chalcedony which is semi-transparent and has a

waxy lustre. It was used widely by the Romans for

signet and seal rings because of its unusual

property that hot wax doesn’t stick to it.

Carnelian is believed to encourage friendship and

cheerfulness and is also recommended to timid

people because it is said to give them courage.

All semi-precious gems have a unique beauty of

their own and I believe that they will always be

popular for this reason. I think that their

affordability together with their individuality

makes them ideal to use in handmade costume

jewellery where it is important for pieces to be

both personal and unique. For a striking range of

handmade jewellery which makes use of semi

-precious gems, take a look at www

.purpledragonaccessories.co.uk