September Sapphires

Sapphires are the traditional birthstone of September, and also the colored stone most requested for engagement jewelry by our clients. 

This is fine with us, because we think sapphires are a great choice for engagement rings. They are sparkly, they come in all of the colors of the rainbow (surprise, they are not just blue!), and they rate a 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. For those of you who are not geology nerds, that means sapphires are quite durable and will not scratch or chip as easily as most other gemstones.

A popular betrothal gem in Victorian England, sapphires purportedly change color if the wearer is unfaithful to their intended, making them a beautiful AND practical choice for wedding jewels. 

June is busting out all over!

Once upon a time, pearls were rarer than diamonds! They were tricky to find in nature, and thus were extremely expensive and reserved for royalty. But today, the favorite gem of kings and queens is much more accessible, largely in thanks to Kokichi Mikimoto. He and his associates invented the ability to farm pearls around the turn of the 20th century, creating “cultured” pearls.  

Given this history, it comes as no surprise that antique jewelry is a great place to look for fabulous examples of natural pearls. They dangled from cameo pendants, were set into gold brooches, and mounted into rings with the same care as any gemstone.

Cultured pearl, Old European cut diamond and platinum Art Deco ring, at Gray & Davis

Victorian 14K brooch with seed pearls and a diamond, at Gray & Davis

Natural pearl, rose cut diamond and 14K gold Victorian ring, at Gray & Davis

Because pearls are the June birthstone, we’re showing them some extra love this month. Of all of the gems represented when birthstones were standardized by the National Association of Jewelers in 1912, June’s pearl is the only one that does not need to be cut or polished to be appreciated.  In fact, pearls are also one of the only organic gemstones, not stones really, but formed by a biological process, along with amber and coral.

Help us wish all the best for our friends with June birthdays, and put on your pearls!

And, if you want to learn more about how pearls are formed and their fascinating history in jewelry, check out Anna's pearl guide over at The Hairpin!

References:

http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/organic-gems.php

http://thehairpin.com/2013/11/ask-a-jeweler-a-beginners-guide-to-pearls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthstones