A beautiful ring, made of 925 Sterling Silver with 0.60cts of amazing Australian Opal, 0.79cts of awesome AA Tanzanite and 0.11cts of glistening White Topaz.
Precious metal: 925 Sterling Silver
Average Weight: 2.48g
Number of Gemstones: 9
Shape: Oval, Triangle and Round
Total Carat Weight: 1.50cts
Birthstone Month:
Opal is the birthstone for the month of October.
History & Lore:
Opal is derived from the Latin word 'Upala' and the Greek word 'opallios', both meaning "precious stone".
The Roman scholar and famous author Pliny described Opal as a gemstone that combines the best possible characteristics of the most beautiful of gemstones: the fine sparkles of Almandine, the shining purple of Amethyst, the golden yellow of Topaz and the deep blue of Sapphire, so that all colors shine and sparkle together in a beautiful combination.
In Greek mythology, Opal was believed to be formed from the joyous tears wept by Zeus after he defeated the Titans. The Greeks also believed the owner of Opal would obtain the power of giving foresight and the light of prophecy.
In ancient Arabic times it was believed that opals fell from the heavens in lightening, the flashes giving the stone its fire and flare. It is said Opal was part of Cleopatra's famous jewelry collection, and she used the stone to attract the attention of Mark Anthony.
Opal is said to be a symbol of faithfulness. It is believed to assist the wearer with finding true love. Opal is also believed to cure depressions and bring confidence to the wearer. It helps to open unused parts of the mind in order to increase creativity and mental capacities.
The physical structure of Opal is unique. Tiny spheres of silicon dioxide form a pyramid shaped grid interspersed with water. Tiny natural faults in this grid cause the characteristic "play of color". The effect is similiar to the rainbow colors displayed on a soap bubble, only much more dramatic.
Australia is the World's most important source of fine opals, and is estimated to account for almost 95% of all mined Opals. There are also known Opal deposits in Brazil, the Czech Republic, England, Honduras, Mexico, South Africa and the United States.
Opals vary widely in body color, with white the most common. Black is considered the most valuable as it enhances and accentuates the play of color. Fire Opal (yellow, orange or red), is often faceted and can resemble Ruby. Green and Blue Opals are very rare.
Special care should be taken when wearing Opals because they are prone to scratching and chipping because they are relatively soft gemstones. Always avoid sudden temperature changes with Opals as this can cause the stone to crack or craze. Opals are composed of a small percentage of water, therefore, one should be careful not to allow them to freeze of dry out. Cleaning should be done with room temperature water and a mild detergent. A soft brush or cloth can be used safely.
Tanzanite
Birthstone Month:
Tanzanite is one of the accepted birthstones for the month of December.
History & Lore:
1000 times rarer than a diamond, the gemstone's name is taken from its place of origin, the country of Tanzania. It was discovered in 1967. It is a very young gemstone in terms of when it was discovered. It is widely attributed to a Portuguese geologist named Manual D'Souza who had traveled to Tanzania with the intention of propspecting for Rubies.
The only widely accepted tale regarding the find relates to how it was found. It is believed Tanzanite was in fact originally discovered by Masai cattle herders who noticed that previously brown crystals had been turned blue after having been exposed to the intense heat from the ravaging fires and lightening strikes that take place on the flat and insular mountains surrounding Mount Kilimanjaro.
There
is very little, in the way of lore surrounding Tanzanite, however, it does have
a special meaning to the Masai Tribesmen. The Masai's believe
Tanzanite is the stone of birth, and it is for this reason they frequently gift
their wives with Tanzanite gemstones following the birth of their first child.
Real concern regarding the long-term future of the Tanzanite gemstone is happening today. No new finds have occured for over a year and already demand outstrips supply. Additionally, due to the single location of this gem, there may realistically be as little as ten years of mining production before the supply of all jewelry grade Tanzanites have been depleted. It may not last even ten yars.
Known mostly as a blue gemstone, it is also found in shades of brown, gray, green and purple. Probably the most predominant factor explaining the high demand for this gemstone is that Tanzanite is a stone that exhibits beautiful color changes, and depending upon the angle that it is viewed, it most commonly exhibits changes between reddish-purple, blue and deep purple colors, with the most desired and therefore, the most valuable color being blue.
Currently, the prices of Tanzanite fluctuate wildly and overall prices per carat of good, gem quality Tanzanite have more than doubled over the past yeaer. This gemstone represents a real opportunity for investment. It is predicted that prices will continue to rise and that these rises will likely be very steep once the known deposits have been depleted. Nothing has been sourced from the mine since December 2013.
Tanzanite in its natural form is mostly a dull brown color. However, when heated to around 600 degrees Celsius an amazing transformation occurs and the gem changes color to a vibrant blue or purple color. It is noteworthy, that while other gemstones are routinely enhanced / heat-treated in order to create additional color, Tanzanite is heated simply to bring out the color already present in the stone, not to create a better quality gemstone. Heat-treated Tanzanite is considered to be the same quality as non-heat-treated, only a richer color.