Solid Black Opal
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US $54.79
If you know your gemstones, then you will know that there is an even cheaper alternative to Black Diamonds: Spinel. The gemstone industry's best keep secret, with it's great fire and brilliance, with fewer inclusions than Ruby and indeed it's hardness equals Sapphire, but is 50% less. Like Tourmaline, Spinel comes in many colours and refracts like a diamond, the black Spinel being incredibly sparkly under lights equal to black diamonds and we are starting to see designers using these instead of expensive black diamonds. You can usually tell if they are Spinel or Diamond by the size. They are difficult to get hold of in bead form and still so remains a secret in the industry for Designers and is a highly desirable commodity for Collectors, so certainly one to watch.
In addition to the new quality gemstone beads comes the advent of Gold Vermeil, for those who want to remain loyal to their 'precious' label, but without the high price tag. Gold Vermeil is a beautiful handmade jewellery product using solid Sterling Silver as the base material then micro-plated with 22 or 24ct Yellow Gold. The price is significantly less than solid gold, even 9ct, and with only a hand full of manufacturers around the world, it remains relatively exclusive which is why only a select ground of independent handmade jewellery designers prefer to incorporate it into their designer jewellery. These specialist manufacturers often produce more up-to-the-minute designs, allowing budding designers to ride the wave of precious contemporary jewellery.
Whilst we have seen the trend of blacked silver chains mixed with bright 925 Sterling silver jewellery and/or gold, there is bound to be a resurgence of mixed Gold and Silver contemporary jewellery in the near future. Where blacked silver jewellery loses it's lustre and shine, the metallic soft hues of gold and silver shimmer with Nude, this year's top trend. The stunning mixed tones of silver and gold offers versatility and style against soft beiges, creams and tans. Not forgetting it's longevity in terms of trend-hold as it can be worn with almost anything, day or night, summer or winter. As the Baby Boomers become of mid-age and silver jewellery has been their staple diet of fashion, 30+ women are likely to experiment with fashionable gold handmade jewellery as their expendable incomes increase. Change is on the horizon and with Gold Vermeil in the mix, Gold is certain to be a lady's mid-something fast track to sophistication and is set to be the next must have designer jewellery trend of the twenty-teens.
When buying gemstone jewellery, you get what you pay for. For the more expensive the piece, generally the better quality of gemstone and better cut, you can certainly tell the difference between micro-faceted and basic faceting of a gemstone. If you are paying for cheap gemstone jewellery but the gem quality appears excellent with no flaws or inclusions, chances are you are buying Chinese glass which replicate real gems and are therefore fake.
Chalcedony is a relatively new stone and has become the staple choice of many designer of gemstone jewellery due to it's wide and vivid colour choice. Suppliers use it for it's availability and hardness, but more importantly for it's ability to take heat treatment for the purpose of changing it into amazing bright colours like vibrant Aqua similar to a Peruvian Opal and fuschia pink which is usually only available as a ruby etc. There is however, a major flaw to this gemstone, as after a few wears close to the skin, the gemstone often implodes internally, loses colour and goes back to it's natural nothingness grey colour state and appears like a smoke bomb inside it.
Solid Black Opal Cutting
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