American Indian jewelry is worn by men, women, and children all around the world. The jewelry is appealing for a number of reasons. There are not many jewelry pieces that can be considered elegant and mysterious at the same time. One of the many mysteries surrounding American Indian jewelry is the meaning behind each piece.
A large number of stones and other materials are used to make American Indian jewelry. The types of materials used all depend on the type of jewelry piece being made and the preference of the jewelry maker. A large number of necklaces, bracelets, earring, pendants, and rings have been made using amethyst, amber, turquoise, coral, opal, jasper, quartz, pearl, and more.
Almost all of the materials used to make American Indian jewelry have significance, in one way or another. This significance may only come from old wise tales or it may be a belief that still exists today. Below is a summary of three American Indian jewelry settings and the meanings behind each.
Turquoise
American Indian jewelry is made from a wide variety of different materials and stones, but turquoise is one of the most popular materials used. Turquoise received it name, not because it was developed in Turkey, but because it was transported through Turkey. In today’s society, most of the turquoise comes from the Untied States and Mexico.
Ancient beliefs state that turquoise has powers that protect those who wear it. This protection is believed to be in the form of physical and emotional harm. It has been said that turquoise stones are powerful all on their own. However, many believe that the powers of turquoise can be greatly increased when combined with copper.
Amber
Amber, which is often used in American Indian jewelry, is not actually a stone. Despite the fact that it is not scientifically considered a stone, there are a large number of individuals who classify it as a gemstone.
Throughout the past and in different areas of the world, amber developed a wide variety of uses and meanings. It was said that amber cured a wide variety of medical illness including headaches, kidney troubles, and heart problems. In the Middle East, this stone was thought to symbolize the presence of the lord, keep one’s body whole, and symbolize courage.
Amethyst
American Indian jewelry containing a beautiful purple setting most likely contains amethyst. Amethyst was once considered a valuable stone; however, the value has diminished over the years. Since a large supply of amethyst was discovered in Brazil, a large number of individuals are now able to afford beautiful pieces of American Indian jewelry with an amethyst setting.
In the past, an old wise tale stated that amethyst prevented individuals from becoming overly intoxicated. This wise tale stated that those who drank alcohol from a cup made of amethyst would not become drunk. Amethyst is most commonly known for the ability to provide spiritual insight and promote good behavior. It is believed that individuals wearing amethyst are more likely to be honest and keep a quiet and peaceful mind.
Many individuals purchase a piece of American Indian jewelry without even considering the meaning behind that piece. On the other hand, there are some individuals who shop for American Indian jewelry solely based on the significance of each setting. Whatever reason you choose to shop for, it is possible to purchase American Indian jewelry that may benefit you in more ways than one.
Edward Charkow is the administrator for American Indian History. For more information
please visit http://www.americanindian-history.com
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Celebrating a Special Occasion with Jewelry
Jewelry and Gems; The Buying Guide
Colored Gemstones
When you go to buy colored gemstones, you will find yourself immersed in color; every hue, every shade of the spectrum. There has never been a more exciting time to search for a colored gem because there have never been so many alternatives. Whatever color you prefer, and whatever your budget, there is a sparkling natural gem waiting your discovery.
You will see new gems only newly discovered; emerald green garnet (tsavorite), blue and green tanzanite (technically, the green variety should be called green zoisite, since blue zoisite is what we know as tanzanite, “neon” tourmaline from Brazil (Paraiba, also called Hetorite) in blue and shades never seen before. Sapphires abound in virtually every color, as do tourmaline. Even diamond can now been seen in a wide variety of natural “fancy” colors (some at very “fancy” prices).
The new colors are exciting, but so are the new cuts; there are unusual shapes in both faceted and cabochon (or non-faceted cuts) cuts, “fancy” and “fantasy” cuts, “sculpted” cuts.
In the following we will present some of the most popular gemstones alternatives, by color, and guide to how they compare in terms of availability and wear-ability. Then the gems will we discussed individually.
Guides to popular gems
The following charts show what gemstones are available in various colors, as well as their wear-ability, price, and availability. In coming articles we will describe the gemstones; beginning with “precious” and followed alphabetically by the other popular gems families, and provide important information particular to each. It should be noted that the terms precious and semi-precious are discouraged today since they can be misleading; rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are only “precious” in rare qualities, and there are many “semi-precious” gemstone today that are rarer and more valuable than so-called “precious” gems.
Cabochon cut gemstones often cost less than faceted gemstones. Gems used in mass-produced jewelry sold in many jewelry stores (including online stores) are often “commercial” quality and may cost significantly less. Rare gems in exceptionally fine quality and rare gemstones of unusual size can sell for much more. If the price of a gem you are considering is usually high, it is strongly recommended to take extra steps to confirm its exceptional quality prior to purchase; including obtaining a quality grading report from the American Gemological Laboratory.
The guide’s purpose is twofold: to help you understand how prices for different gems in a given color compare with on another; and to demonstrate how significant the price range might be for a given type of stone, so that you will have a clearer understanding of the importance of quality differences.
How to use the following guides
The guides can be especially useful; and help you avoid mistakes, if you follow these steps:
- Decide what color you want in a gem and then make a list of the gems available in that color. If you want an emerald green gem, for example, and cannot afford emerald itself, you would use the guide to see what other similarly colored emerald green gems are available; tsavorite garnet, chrome tourmaline, or green tourmaline, green sapphire.
- Compare their prices to get a sense of the relative cost of each. In comparing prices for these green gems, you would immediately see that tsavorite garnet is the most expensive (but still much more affordable than emerald), chrome tourmaline is next in cost, then green tourmaline, and finally, the most affordable, green sapphire.
- Note availability to determine how easy or difficult it might be to locate the particular gem you think you want. In this example, you would see that of the choices, and might be difficult to find.
- Note the range in price for the gemstones that interest you. The larger the price range in a given gemstone, the more critical any differences in quality becomes. A wide price variance would indicate that you must be especially careful to spend time comparing and learning about the stone, developing an eye to spot subtle quality differences.
- Read about each gem individually. Now turn to the next articles (or click on each gems to link) and read about each (or particular gems) of the gems you’re considering individually. You may find there is something about the stone, its history, mythology, or wear-ability, that makes it an even more interesting choice for you. Here you will also learn if there is anything special you need to know, to look for or look out for, as you shop.
Now, you are ready to embark o a sparkling search. But always remember: being genuine does not mean a stone is “gem” or that it is “valuable.” A gem must be beautiful and rare, attributes that are related to quality. The finer the quality, the more beautiful, and the more rare. The quality of an individual stone is what determines whether or not it is a “gem,” and it is the quality that determines its value. The range in price for any colored gemstone is directly related to quality differences; and it can be enormous. Be sure you have read the previous articles carefully, and understand the factor that determine quality before making any decision.
After reading these articles you will know what to ask the jeweler to show you. But do not forget to a lot shopping and asking questions until you really have developed a feel for that particular stone and its market.
The article above can be used on your web site or newsletter.
When it is published, May I request that you include my name and resource box (the bio., contact and copyright information that follows the article. I would also appreciate if you could send me an e-mail of notification along with a complimentary copy of publication.
Bijan Aziz is the owner and Web Master for The Jewelry Hut.
http://www.thejewelryhut.com
The best source for fine Diamond, gemstone, and Pearl Jewelry on the Web
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Catholic jewelry has a long and rich history. It has taken on many forms and many meanings over the millennia. From the hidden meanings of anchors and Ichthys, to the development of the crucifix in the 5th century A.D., Catholic jewelry has played a large part in the faith of millions.
Early Catholic jewelry:
While the cross has always been the most important Christian symbol, it was not openly used as such until the 4th century A.D. Early Christians feared persecution for their faith, and so developed several symbols that were not easily recognized as Catholic jewelry in order to recognize each other. The two most prevalent of these symbols were the anchor and the Ichthys. The Ichthys, two intersecting arcs resembling the profile of a fish, was probably used in Catholic jewelry as a reference to Christ as “the fisher of men”. The anchor, or mariners cross, was used in Catholic jewelry as a symbol of hope based in the faith in Christ. By using these forms of Catholic jewelry early Christians were able to avoid persecution.
The cross and the crucifix
It was not until the Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity in the 4th century A.D. that the cross became openly and widely used in Catholic jewelry. More than fifty variants of the cross would later develop, but the four most important were: the Latin cross, a cross with a horizontal bar intersecting a longer vertical bar near the top; the Greek cross, a cross with equilateral arms; the Tau cross, a cross in the shape of the letter T; and the Saint Andrews cross, a cross shaped like the letter X. The crucifix, a Latin cross with the body of Christ (corpus) and the inscription INRI or “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” upon it, did not become prevalent in Catholic jewelry until the 5th century A.D. Whereas the Protestant churches use a Latin cross left blank to symbolize the Resurrection, the Catholic Church uses the crucifix to symbolize the sacrifice of Jesus.
Saint medallions:
The tradition of wearing Saint medallions is derived from the pagan practice of wearing talismans depicting their gods as a form of protection. The Catholic Church, instead of banning it, embraced this practice, substituting the pagan gods with Catholic saints. Saint medallions are now one of the most popular forms of catholic jewelry. They are worn as a way to invoke the protection of a patron saint. Patron Saints include: St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, ecology, and peace; St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland and excluded people; St. Helena, patron saint of archeologists and converts; St. John Bosco, patron saint of students and laborers. Here is a good page to view all styles of Catholic jewelry.
Where is the best place to purchase Catholic jewelry:
To get an idea of the different styles and prices that are available in Catholic jewelry it is more convenient to view them online before shopping around at local jewelry stores.
Retail jewelers will sometimes carry a small selection of Catholic jewelry, but you are most apt to find a greater selection online. Just type “Catholic jewelry ” into an Internet search engine like Google or Yahoo and you will find several reliable websites that specialize in Catholic jewelry.
The cost of Catholic jewelry is dependant upon many variables. In solid 14K yellow or white gold, crucifixes should cost about $50 to $300 depending on size. Saint medals should cost between $40 and $200, depending on the size.
The ultimate expression of faith:
Catholic jewelry is the ultimate expression of faith. Whether a pendant, cross, crucifix, Ichthys, or anchor, Catholic jewelry always has and always will proclaim the proud heritage of Christians around the world.
Casey Buell is an expert in the field of religious jewelry, and a contributor to the award winning religious jewelry website located at http://religiousjewelryshop.com/
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