THISTLE & BEE CLASSICS COLLECTION

BAMBOO & GEMSTONE COLLECTION

HONEYCOMB COLLECTION

BABY COLLECTION

Thistle & Bee sterling silver baby spoons, rattles and cups are keepsakes to last generations. Many styles are suitable for engraving.

MENS COLLECTION

Thistle & Bee’s distinctive men’s sterling silver gifts suit every expression, occasion and price point. Finely crafted, many are suitable for engraving.

Explore the entire Thistle & Bee Collection now!

Intense medium dark blue is the most sought after color for blue sapphires. Intensity, uniformity and purity of color are the most important considerations when making a decision about the purchase of a blue sapphire. Fine blue sapphires are extremely rare as they do not contain any overtones or secondary colors, for this will lessen the beauty of this gem. Dark blue sapphires will appear black under low light settings, while fine blue sapphires will maintain their color in any light setting. Blue sapphire jewelry remains one of most sought after jewelry types with rings, earrings, pendants and sapphire necklaces all making a beautiful addition to any jewelry collection.

But sapphires don’t only have to be blue in color to be beautiful. Sapphires also come in beautiful pink, yellow, orange, peach and violet colors. These other colors are often referred to as fancy sapphires. Sapphires are actually found in every color but red, because a red sapphire would be a ruby since both sapphires and rubies are made up of the mineral corundum.

Padparadscha Sapphires

The most sought-after color of fancy sapphire is the rare and beautiful padparadscha sapphire, a pink-orange stone with a distinctive salmon color similar to that of a tropical sunset. Found mostly in Sri Lanka, these ultra-rare and expensive stones are among the most coveted gems in the world. Padparadscha sapphires often draw higher prices than many of even the finest blue sapphires.

Pink Sapphires

Pink sapphires are a current fashion trend favorite. Jewelry designers are setting sapphires in bubblegum hues in platinum or white gold in exquisite styles adorned with pave diamonds. The deeper the pink color the more expensive and more valuable the sapphire is.

Star Sapphires

A star sapphire is a type of sapphire that exhibits a star-like phenomenon known as asterism. Star sapphires contain intersecting needle-like inclusions that cause the appearance of a six-rayed star-shaped pattern.

Color Change Sapphires

A rare variety of sapphire known as color change sapphire exhibits different colors in different light. Color change sapphires are blue in outdoor light and purple under indoor light; they may also be pink in daylight to greenish under fluorescent light.

White Sapphires

Sapphires are also available colorless. White sapphire is an excellent diamond substitute as it is brilliant and second only to diamond itself in hardness. Large white sapphires are rare.

Sapphire has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and is also extremely tough. With hardness just below that of diamonds, sapphires are one of the toughest gemstones, and with no cleavage, breakage rarely occurs. Sapphires are beautiful, durable and timeless gems that are certainly a wise investment.

Gemstone 4C’s

While there are no official 4 C’s for grading colored gemstones, like there are with diamonds, many of the same principals apply. Following are the 4 C’s as they apply to colored gemstones:

Clarity

Clarity in most gemstones does not influence its value or beauty unless it breaks the surface or affects the integrity of the gemstone. In lighter colored stones, clarity may be more important than in darker stones that can mask imperfections.However, flawlessness in colored gems is even rarer than in diamonds.

The four flaws that occur in gemstones are fault, fissure, fracture and gas bubbles.

It is the type and location of a flaw that is more important than the fact that there is a flaw, since some flaws can affect the stone’s durability. Some stones are typically eye-clean such as topaz, while others are expected to have inclusions, such as emerald.

Citrine and Diamond Earrings

Aquamarine & Diamond Earrings

Amethyst Silver Dangle Earrings

Diamond and Amethyst Earrings

Color

Color has the greatest impact on value. The color should be pure, vibrant, even and fully saturated without being too dark or too light.

Sapphire and Diamond Bypass Ring

Green Tourmaline and Diamond Ring

Platinum Orange Sapphire Diamond Ring

Citrine and Diamond Ring

Cut

Cut affects the amount of brilliance the gemstone returns to the eye, the depth of color seen and the size of the stone. Well-cut gemstones will enhance the color of a stone, while poorly cut gemstones can turn out looking dead and lifeless.

Tanzanite and Diamond Pendant

Garnet and Diamond Pendant

Citrine and Diamond Pendant

Green Tourmaline Pendant

Carat

Carat weight determines value in two ways. First, the carat weight multiplied by the price per carat equals the total price for the stone. Second, the rarity of the size of stone compared to the normal size found will affect price.

Amethyst & Diamond Ring

14Kt White Gold Amethyst Ring

Amethyst and Diamond Ring

Modern Amethyst & Diamond Ring

Enhancements

Many gemstones have historically and traditionally been enhanced before bringing them to the customer. Most enhancements have been around for a very long time, some for hundreds of years or longer. The result is an improvement of nature’s beauty. It makes gems available and more affordable. Most of these enhancements are stable and no special care is required.

Gems that are not usually treated include alexandrite, black star sapphire, cat’s eye chrysoberyl, garnets, hematite, iolite, moonstone, peridot, spinel and chalcedonies such as bloodstone, fire agate, onyx and sardonyx.

Gemstone Ring

Grape Garnet Ring

Peridot Pave Diamond Ring

Gray Moonstone Diamond Ring

Hardness vs. Toughness

Hardness describes a material’s resistance to scratching. Mineral hardness is measured using the Mohs’ scale. The higher the number, the harder the mineral is to scratch. The scale goes up incrementally from 1 until it reaches 9. The difference from 9 to 10 is greater than the difference from 1 to 9. For example, a diamond, which is a 10, is 100 times harder than a sapphire or ruby, which receives a 9 hardness.

Toughness refers to how easily a gemstone will chip, crack or cleave. Ratings range from poor to excellent. An emerald receives a poor toughness due to internal fractures, which make emeralds prone to chipping and cracking. However, rubies and sapphires receive very good to excellent ratings.

JR Jewelers - Orange sapphire ring

Mexican Fire Opal – These are not your grandmother’s milky white opals! Bursting with life and vitality, the Mexican Fire Opal is a riot of dazzling color. One of the most vibrant gems of our time, the Mexican Fire Opal is sure to bring life to your jewelry and demand serious attention. Its blazing orange color is one of the boldest of nature’s hues, communicating security and success as well as health and vitality.

Carnelian – Richly colored, deep and intense red to brown tones show abundant orange. Carnelian boasts a warmth and energy that complements virtually any skin complexion. The vibrancy is largely responsible for Carnelian’s reputed ability to help its wearer to think clearly, balancing the creative and the logical sides of the mind. If you purchase one of these beauties, we will all agree that your thinking is well.

Spessartite Garnet – This Garnet is of a cheery orange hued variety. The Spessartite Garnet was first discovered in the German Spessart Mountains. Unfortunately, so little was found that the rare gem was largely reserved for collectors. This remained so for many years, until another source was discovered along the Kunene River between Angola and Namibia in Africa. A later find in Nigeria brought a small supple to market. Supplies of gem quality Spessartite, however, remain limited making it a rare treasure.

Precious Topaz – Topaz was revered by the Egyptians and Romans, who associated it with the setting sun. It was also one of the gemstones that were reported to form the foundation of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. In modern times, large quantities of Precious Topaz were discovered in Russia and placed in the jewels of the Russian Czarina’s, which is where the gem earned the name, “Imperial Topaz” Today, Imperial topaz refers to Topaz that displays a peachy pink hue, which are extremely rare and superbly beautiful.

JR Jewelry had added some more precious jewelry to December’s jewelry collection:

Blue Zircon and Diamond Dangle Earrings

Blue Zircon and Diamond Earrings

Blue Zircon White Gold Ring

Tanzanite White Gold Necklace

Tanzanite and Diamond Earrings

Tanzanite and Diamond Earrings

Tanzanite and Diamond Necklace

Tanzanite and Diamond Ring

Tanzanite Dangle Earrings

Tanzanite Diamond Ring

First of all you have to choose the material, which will make it easier for you to choose the model. Only after you’ve decided what kind of material you want, start looking for some certain thing. Don’t forget to consider your style issues before purchasing a certain thing.

Source: www.mccoyjewelers.com

The most fashionable today is definitely silver jewelry. If you prefer gold jewelry, you should choose white gold. Silver is so popular because it goes perfectly with almost any other material. Moreover, it is less noticeable and helps to create bohemian style, which is very fashionable for this moment. If you want to be really trendy, choose bracelets and necklaces that are made of silver and gems. Such combination is on top.

It is very easy to match silver and gems with any style, for you may choose gems of various colors and types, so it would match the coloring of your wardrobe. You don’t have to purchase a whole complex of jewelry (usually consist of ring, earrings, necklace and bracelet), because such peaces goes together perfectly even if they are different.

Another popular type is surely diamond jewelry. It’s very elegant and creates an image of luxury, so you should prefer appropriate style if you want to wear accessory made of diamond. Diamond is used together with metal. Silver, platinum or white gold incrassated with diamond is the ultimate choice if you want to look really trendy.

You may purchase any size jewelry peace if it’s made of material that creates illusion of lightness. The illusion is usually achieved by using small peaces of material instead of big. For those who don’t like metal, jewelry fashion designers offer accessory made of such materials as stone, pearls, felted wool, wood or even bone. Just like with all materials you have to be very careful while choosing one of those. The benefit of such jewelry is that you’ll surely look very original and fashionable.

No matter what material or color you choose, the most important thing is that jewelry must serve as a fulfillment of your style. While choosing your accessory, the first thing you should consider is whether the jewelry will serve its function and match perfectly with your clothing and its coloring. However, don’t ever purchase the thing you don’t like.

Source: The Jewelry Fashion Trends for 2010

Amethyst & Diamond Earrings

Amethyst & Diamond Earrings

Amethyst & Diamond Pendant

Ruby, Amethyst & Diamond Earrings

Our 2009 Fall discount campaign referes to all October Birthstone jewelry:  Opal and Tourmaline as well.  Have a quick look on our jewelry harvest and tell us what you think. Remember that all prices listed will shrunk with 15%.

In order benefit from the discount is to use the following Coupon Code at the time of checkout:

GEMSTONES09

Here is a selection of blue stone jewelry from JR Jewelers online store. You can browse for more and you will discover different styles, stone dimensions and type. Multi stone settings are our favorite.

Aquamarine and Diamond Right Hand Ring

Blue Topaz Black Diamond Ring

Blue Topaz Diamond Necklace

Blue Chalcedony Diamond Pendant

Blue Topaz Cabochon Diamond Necklace

Blue Topaz Diamond Ring

Blue Topaz Diamond Ring

Diamond Sapphire Ring

Blue Stone Necklace

Sapphire and white gold ring

Sapphire Diamond Ring