Grandma’s Pearls Become Heirlooms

Family traditions or rituals are our link to the past, to our family present enjoyments, and to the hope that this special family will continue on in the future. Patterns of the way we do things do simplify life. I was asked to create a new family tradition of sorts. A while back I got a call from my mom with what I thought would be an easy request. She wanted to know if she sent me grandmothers’ pearls would I make something out of them for her to pass down through her family. The five strand necklace had long since seen better days and several strands had broken many years ago. It was a harder request than I originally thought, as when I received them I just couldn’t get past the thought of cutting up my grandmothers’ five strand pearl necklace.

Needless to say they sat on my working bench for some time until I got the inspiration after attending the International Gem & Mineral Show in Tucson (while passing numerous booths full of birthstones) to create something very unique and original from my grandmothers’ pearls…I would create birthstone necklaces using the birthstones of each family member. After months of trial and error in finding the right size and colors of Swarovski crystals, I finally got the inspiration and took the plunge to break up the five strand necklace. Much to my mom’s delight, I’ve finally finished the project and this is the result.

For My Mom (to the left):  The first set is my mom’s, it has all the birthstones of the family starting with my grandparents (center), my mom and dad on either side and up one side with my family (my husband, me, and my two sons) and the other containing my brother’s family (my brother, his wife and their daughter); between the pearls and Swarovski crystals are silver rondelle crystal spacers. Her bracelet reflects the same birthstones of the entire family in three separate strands. She will pass this set down to her oldest grandson.

For My Niece (to the right): The next set is for her granddaughter (my niece), this one is a little different as it reflects the generations of the family. As I was trying to figure out how to get the crystals coordinated it dawned on me that I had grandmothers and grandchildren so why not just do that.  On one side grandmother (my mom) to granddaughter (my niece) and on the other is grandmother (my grandma) to grandson (my brother); between the pearls and Swarovski crystals are silver rondelle crystal spacers. Her bracelet is the same generation of birthstones. She will pass her set down her daughter.

For My Sister-in-Law (to the left): The last bracelet is for my mom’s daughter-in-law and this one has all the birthstones of her family, my niece in the center with her parents on either side; between the pearls and Swarovski crystals are silver rondelle crystal spacers. She will pass her bracelet down to her granddaughter.

Still In Development – My Set: Not to worry, I got a set in development! My mother also sent me a couple of her pearl necklaces, which I’ll be taking a part and putting together with my families birthstones, her pearls and a mixture of other gemstones hooked to the antique clasp from my grandmother’s five strand pearl necklace. My set will be passed down to my youngest son.

Grandmas’ pearls come to life and given new birth, yet still reflect the generations of a traditional family….one heirloom created into several to be enjoyed for many generations to come between many family members. Who knows, maybe someday someone will add to necklaces for new family heirlooms.

 “If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Loads of Fall Bling in Crystals & Pearls

Fall is in the air and so is the thought of parties and the holidays! These two necklaces are all about the fall bling for this season or any season really!

Each is a triple strand necklace, strung with freshwater cultured pearls and faceted crystals all in coordinating colors. One style is all about the pink and I mean hot pink; while the other is more of a statement in black, platinum and gray.

Browse our jewelry collections for your necklace set to wear to that next big event!

Chic Blended Navy Crystals

More and more I’m working with crystals; either in pure crystal designs or a mixture between natural stone and crystals. Crystals are a very versatile bead and I like them because they come in an array of colors, blending easily with just about any jewelry design.

In this particular necklace I did a double strand to get more of a unique look with the pearls, but not charmed. I’ve blended together a graduated strand of metallic navy blue, almost sapphire colored faceted rondelle crystals and add a few light blue crystals at the bottom of the necklace. Pewter star fancy bead caps have been added to the crystals and little clear round crystal spacers are between for a bit more ‘bling’. Between I’ve mixed again are freshwater cultured pearl irregular nuggets in colors of yellow, champagne and cream.


Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.


Browse our collections for to find your chic, trendy uniquely handcrafted jewelry!

Bridal Classic Elegance Chic Statement

Looking for a bridal necklace that is a little different, yet still very classy and elegant; brilliantly faceted crystals in tans and blues mixed with freshwater cultured pearls of peacock, white, cooper and tan; three strands make up this stunning necklace set.

I’m working a little more outside the box with this one; the clusters are all hand charmed and in-between is set tan bicone and oval faceted crystals. The earrings are just as grand with 12 cluster charms using the same stones and crystals.




This one is definitely meant to be a head-turner, eye-catcher for anyone who is looking to make a chic and bold statement.


Visit our exclusive online shop to choose your next statement in jewelry!

Ruby Red Quartz Elegance

All about the elegance of deep ruby red quartz rounds with open centers; for flare Gayle has added freshwater cultured pearls in both rounds and sticks; then hinted with textured silver beads and a very large toggle.

Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility. Quartz: Love, peace, happiness, gentleness, healing emotional wounds.
Browse our collections for custom design uniquely handcrafted jewelry.

Bling in Pearls & Crystals

This necklace designs is a lot about bling handcrafted with freshwater cultured pearls and purple faceted crystals in a graduated strand. The highlight is an ex-large trapezoid mother-of-pearl pendant in soft shades of a pale purple tint.

Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility
Browse our collections for a design that fits your attire and personality.

Yummy Yellow Calcite

Sweet summery shade of yellow Calcite in graduated rounds and then accented with creamy pearls and golden saucers. A beautiful set from Gayle, available in our collections with many other distant designs.

Calcite: Purification, peace, calming, memory, awareness, appreciation of nature.
Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.

Mother-of-Pearl Crystal Bling

Classy, sassy and chic design that says Bling in a big way; the highlight is a huge mother-of-pearl pendant that is slick on one side and concave with the blister pearls on the other (could wear either direction). The crystals are faceted metallic black diamond that has an almost shimmer effect; crystal spacers and fresh water cultured pearls, some charmed above the pendant and also in the earrings.

Mother of Pearl: Mental clarity, intuition, sensitivity, imagination, adaptability, cooperation.
Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.
Find many designs to fit your personality are available on our website.

Feldspathoid Minerals – Lapis Lazuli

The feldspathoids is a group of minerals very similar to feldspars, including solidate, hauyne, nepheline, lazurite, leucite, cancrinite, and nosean. They are all minerals that would have become feldspars if there was more silica present when formed. Feldspars tend to contain three times as much silica, so feldspathoids do not occur in silica-rich rocks such as granite but typically form in volcanic lavas.

Its beautiful, rich blue color makes lazurite one of the most distinctive and attractive of all minerals. Its chemical make-up is quite complex, but the blue color comes from the sulphur that takes the place of some silicate atoms. It is soft and brittle and easily ground to make the rich blue pigment ultramarine, but it is most famous as the major ingredient of the gemstone Lapis Lazuli, famed since the days of Ancient Egypt. Little spots of gold pyrite look like starts in the deep blue lazurite of Lapis Lazuli.

Lapis Lazuli is one of the oldest, most treasured of all gemstones. Its name is a combination of the Latin Lapis for ‘stone’ and the Arabic Azul for ‘sky’ or the ancient Persian Lazhuward for ‘blue’. It usually occurs as lenses and veins in white marble. Consisting largely of Lazurite with spots of pyrite, it has a mottle look. Crystals are sometimes found, but more usually it is massive, and carved to make jewelry, cups and other decorative objects. It was first mined over 6,000 years ago at Sar-e-Sang in the Kokchua valley in Afghanistan, still the source of the world’s finest and most sought after Lapis Lazuli. The ancient royal tombs of the Sumerian city of Ur contained over 6,000 beautifully carved lapis lazuli statues, and it was a favorite stone of the Ancient Egyptians, much used in the tomb decorations of Tutankhamun. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder described it as ‘a fragment of the starry firmament’.

Today, lapis lazuli is mined near Lake Baikal in Russia and at Ovalle in Chile as well as in Afghanistan.

Lapis Lazuli: Wisdom, intuition, awareness, objectivity, clarity, creativity, expanded consciousness, dreams, purity, courage, serenity.
Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.

Custom designed gemstone jewelry available at our website.
Research from various gem-rock-mineral books.

Our Best Year the Sea Offered

Another posting of this year’s best of our collection; this time we are highlighting our best designs using what c comes from the sea; pearls, mother-of-pearl, and shells in all shapes and sizes.

(to the left) Black Agate Pearls Silver Mother-of-Pearl Pendant

Philippine Shells Pearls Dragon Skin Pendant (to the right)

Purple Spiny Oyster Ivoryite (to the right)

(to the left) Turquoise Pearls

Wisdom in Pearls

Next to diamonds, I think Pearls are a woman’s second choice or best friend. There is just something about the sophistication, nostalgic innocence, and classy look of pearls either simply alone or stung into any jewelry design. They can bring a dull necklace incorporated among stones or crystals and give it a trendy or classy look. Don’t get me wrong, my single strand grandmother’s pearls are still the best thing, especially since they have been handed down thru the family.






This design has freshwater pearls strung together with crystals, among goldtone caps and Wood Jasper stones; a 2 strand set that is complete with a dangle set of fishhook earrings in the same stones and gold caps.






Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.
Jaspers: Protection, nurturing, joy, awareness; balancing of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies.

For more of these classy, trendy and custom designs, visit our website.

Classy Pearl Jade Look

An elegant and classy look in this set; all natural Arizona Black Jade that highlights freshwater cultured Pearls, adding a sterling silver toggle and end-spacers, with dangle matching earrings completes the look. Choose your look as casual in jeans, t-shirt/jacket or dressy with that little black dress number.

Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility. Jade: Fidelity, dreams, realization of potential, peace, accord, resourcefulness, accomplishment.

For more custom handcrafted natural stone jewelry, visit our website.

Pearls Freshwater MOP Blisters

A beautiful Mother-of-Pearl pendant with blister pearls still intact on one side. Three strands of floating freshwater coin pearls in an olive and burgundy color; accented with creamy yellow potato pearls. Matching dangle earrings from gold-tone posts; wear the pendant with blister pearls or slick side and get 2 styles in one necklace!









Mother of Pearl: Mental clarity, intuition, sensitivity, imagination, adaptability, cooperation.
Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.

Visit Timeless Designs for more gemstone jewelry.

The New Take on Pearl Necklaces and Earrings

Pearls are classic and beautiful – known for their timeline elegance. They will always be in fashion, yet this season, there's a different take on jewelry made from these stunning natural stones. Designers and celebs are putting their own modern twist on pieces – ranging from drop earrings to multi-tiered necklaces and lariats. Enter the new age of pearls.

Necklaces – Typically, pearl necklace favorites have included single short strand, or a sole pearl dangling as a pendant. However, it's not just limited to your grandmother's style of pearl necklaces anymore. These days, pearls are being mixed with different types of chains and metallics and are being placed in settings that are fresh and unique. Today, thanks to style-setters like Michelle Obama, pearl necklaces are making a comeback in a big way. The stones are getting larger – some even as big as gumdrops. One of the best ways to incorporate a contemporary pearl necklace is to pair it with an LBD or a sleek blouse. For something different, try a lariat style chain, with pearls on either end. Or, for something a little edgier, opt for pearls on a thick chain link necklace, either asymmetrical or layered with other mix and match pieces.Earrings – Pearl stud earrings have their place, but this season, it's all about incorporating new takes on these old favorites. Look for earrings that have settings in rope-like chain, where the pearl is actually being held inside the metal. Another option is a thin wire hoop with pearls dangling from the end. This style is feminine and interesting. Pearl earrings also pair well with rhinestone encrusted clasps and florals, for a glamorous statement.So, if you're thinking about wearing pearl jewelry for a wedding, an everyday look, or a special night out, consider the new take on pearl jewelry that will keep you looking current and fabulous.

Read related articles:
How to tell if your pearl necklace or earing is real or fake

Bold Favorites

These are favorites from the gemstone jewelry collection.

Lapis Lazuli Freshwater Pearls Kyanite w/Sterling Silver Set

Cherry Quartz Chocolate Jasper Silver Set

Turquoise Beige Glass Seed Beads Set

Dichroic Glass Pendant FW Pearls Butterscotch Quartz Set

See these and many other gemstone wired jewerly designs at Timeless Designs!

Pearls

Pearl and specifically Mother of Pearl are beautiful stones with their illuminating iridescent colors; they go with just about anything and never seem to go out of style. You can mix them up with just about any other gems, like Sapphire, Diamonds or Rubies; semi-precious stones like Turquoise, Coral, and Onyx just to name a few.

This month’s issue of Color Stones magazine is dedicated entirely to Pearls and if the writer’s reviews are correct, there has been no slow in the purchasing of pearls and pearl jewelry. The majority of pearls come from China; though they also are sought in Japan, South Seas and off the shores of the United States and Mexico. They range from the highly sought Tahitian pearl that come in shades of black, purple, green, blue and bronze. Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls usually grown on farms in Japan and are traditionally white or cream in color with some ranging in the pink tints; they are known for their perfectly round, smooth surfaces and mirror-like luster.

According to the main article, freshwater pearls account for over 90% of the world’s pearl production coming out of China. These pearls are fairly inexpensive and found in a wide selection of color (often dyed reds, green and blue); some ranging from white, pink, lavender or peach in any size or shape.



These popular jewelry designs don’t last long on the market, this 3-strand chocolate freshwater pearls and mother-of-pearl pendant was listed on our website less than 24 hours before being snatched up by a lady for Easter!

Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.

Visit Timeless Designs for more pearl jewelry designs mixed along or mixed with semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals and metal beads.

PEARL JEWELRY-TRADITION OR FASHION

People often describe pearl jewelry and the women who wear them as class, style and timeless and other similar words. So many famous women of modern times wear sparkly pearl jewelry, which can make a big comeback. Pearl jewelry is enjoying resurgence today.

Celebrities and other famous women influence much of the look and style in today’s fashion world while also guiding the fashion trends. Jackie O and Princess Diana, two style masters, projected a glamorous elegance that so many women have strived to emulate. There are also other women dressed with fashionable jewelry. One of the earliest known pearl collections is the Mary Queen of Scots pearls which have more than 600 pearls.

So, do you want to be a fashion standout? There is a large amount of supply of costume pearl jewelry on the market. Wearing pearl jewelry might even inspire you to be a fashion trendsetter. Pearl jewelry is available in many hues – you could get several colors, lengths and styles and wear them to match your little black dress for many distinct looks.

The most familiar type of pearl jewelry is freshwater pearl jewelry. This is probably the most common type of pearl jewelry sold. You can be most likely to see these sold in normal department stores as well as high end jewelry stores. Freshwater pearls range from average sizes to larger than usual. They are usually 4mm to 11mm. So you are going to be finding more and more freshwater pearls that are closer to being identical in size rather than previously.

Pearl jewelry will never go out of style – it is always a classy and a traditional wardrobe accessory that will never disappoint. You would not be wrong in saying that pearl jewelry is forever.

How to tell if your pearl necklace or earring is real or fake?

My colleagues and i love pearl jewelry very much, sometimes we will talk about how to tell if our pearl necklaces or earrings are real or fake, i will list our methods to distinguish between real pearls and fakes. I hope they will be helpful to you too.

First, real pearl necklaces or earrings feel rough or gritty, but fake pearls feel smooth.

In order to test them, we can rub two pearls gently together, if the surfaces are glassy smooth, these pearl necklaces or earrings are probably artificial. However, if the surfaces are texture, these pearl necklaces or earrings are probably genuine. Another funny test is to test by rubbing a real or fake pearl against your tooth. If the pearl is made of plastic or glass, it will feel smooth. If the pear is real, we can see natural texture on the pearl necklace or earring.

Second, if the pearl necklace or earring is sold at an unbelivable price, i think we need to test it more carefully, as we all know, there are no pies dropping from the sky.

Third, imitation pearl necklaces or earrings are usally made by glass or plastic beads, the coating will chip over time. So we can check pearl necklaces or earrings near holes drilled trough them for tiny chips or flakes. If you see some chips, your pearl necklaces or earrings may be fake.

Fourth, real pearls can be either natural or cultured. Natural pearls are usually irregularly shaped and not very attractive, so the naturally round pearls are precious. However, the majority of perfectly shaped pearls are cultured.

At last, if you have better methods to test if pearl necklace or earring is real or not, please share with us! Good luck!