How to Choose a Colored Gemstone

Diamonds are a girls best friend, so it is said.  But they are as ubiquitous as blades of grass.  Choosing a colored gemstone offers a huge range of options, making it a rather daunting task!  Recently, more and more colored gemstones are mined and faceted, offering a larger array of choices than ever before in history.

Let's help narrow the focus a bit with these helpful tips.

22-carat Four Peaks Amethyst, by master faceter Bill Booze

Alone or with neck ring

Pendant only $1,000.00 USD Pendant with neck ring $1,100.00 USD

The same Four Cs apply to gemstones as they do for diamonds:  Color, Clarity, Cut, Carat.

Color is almost always the first consideration when choosing a gem for yourself.  We each have favorite colors.  These colors show up in our wardrobe, in our decorating, in our car color, and of course, in our jewelry.

In a gem, the intensity, tone, and evenness all affect the price.  Take the 22-carat amethyst shown above.  Nature doesn't make very many amethysts in that size, that are of such an even hue.  Amethyst grows with rock crystal, and often has clear or white elements, making it difficult to find large specimens where all the right elements come together.

Different parts of the world produce different hues of the same gemstones as well.  Let's take that 22-carat Four Peaks amethyst again.  It is the only mind in the world that produces amethyst of this particular hue.  It is an especially bright purple, with flashes of magenta, red and fuschia as the light bounces off the facets.  Brazil is known for very deep, dark purples.  Other mines produce pale-hued amethyst.

Left: darker, more blue Brazilian amethyst.  Right: pale amethyst

This is true of nearly all gemstones.  Check out this array of color choices!

Just about any color you can imagine can be found.  Isn't it glorious?  So think of your favorite color, and go on a hunt to find a beautiful gemstone in that color.

Clarity is important here, but with some caveats.  In some cases, inclusions are a valued part of a stone, such as rutilated quartz in which golden hairs are captured inside a clear crystal.  In other cases, a rougher version of a stone can have its own raw beauty because of the inclusions.  It becomes a matter of personal taste in this case.  In fact, in the case of a star ruby, for example, it casts a ray of light because of tiny inclusions that bounce light back to the eye.

Example of a star ruby

However, when searching for a colored gemstone without inclusions, take a look at the stone in various kinds of light to make imperfections more visible.  A crack near the surface can affect the durability or brilliance of a stone, while inconspicuous inclusions may have no affect.  In some cases, like emerald or red tourmaline, the lack of inclusions is very rare, and of course, it will be reflected in a higher price.

Cut, when it's good, gives a gem some real charisma! A bad cut makes a gem appear dull or washed out.  Look at the overall balance of a gem's shape, surface condition, and brilliance.  A well-faceted gemstone reflects light back evenly across its surface when held face up.  If the stone is too deep and narrow, areas of the gem will appear dark.  If it is too shallow and wide, it will seem washed out and lifeless.  Do some investigating on your own, and you'll begin to notice the variations easily.

We are so lucky to showcase a large selection of colored gemstones by master faceter Bill Booze.  Faceting of gemstones is almost a lost art in this country.  Most is now done in China and India.  Bill's 30-plus years of mastering this skill are evident in his collection.  You must stop by to enjoy them sometime!  Plus, it will help you learn how to recognize all the things we're talking about here.

Chrome Tourmaline by master faceter Bill Booze.  14k gold prongs, sterling band.
The stone is .84 carats in weight.  The ring is a size 7.

 Carat weight doesn't necessarily have to be a top priority, unless size really matters.  In addition, some stones are heavier than others, which can be confusing when you see two 3-carat stones who appear different in actual physical dimensions.  Again, it comes down to a matter of personal taste and what you feel comfortable wearing.  Do you want to wear it every day?  You might choose something a bit smaller.  Want a real show-stopper for fun?  Then a large gem is definitely called for.

As mentioned above, in certain stones, finding a large one with enough clarity to cut is rare.  Others are more common in larger sizes.  Naturally, this will be reflected in the price.  In the chrome tourmaline stone set in a ring above, such stones are not often found very large, and the particular shade of green (called "chrome" tourmaline because it is the mineral chrome in the earth that gives it that particular hue) is also much more rare than other shades of tourmaline.

Trio of red garnets by master faceter Bill Booze, in unusual cuts with superb clarity.
Even though set with bezels instead of prongs, there is a lot of life and play in the stones.
Set in 14-karat gold bezels with a sterling band that is size 7.

Of course, Compromise is the 5th "c", and will help you select the best gem for yourself.  Budget dictates the range of qualities you can afford.  Try to get the best gem you can get.  And remember, there's often more than one option within a color family.  If ruby is too expensive, then spinel or garnet are excellent, and much less expensive, choices in the red family.

We hope these tips are helpful.  It's a fun adventure to embark upon, and you'll learn so much in the process!  Of course, we invite you to stop by and start your learning adventure at MaJe Gallery, and enjoy our large selection that covers just about every price point, too, with earrings starting at $28!

Your Beauty Ambassadors,

Jeff and Manya
 
www.MaJeGallery.com

What is Contemporary Fine Craft?

Guest blogger Rani Richardson posted this excellent response to a question we frequently get at MaJe Gallery too.  Rani owns a gallery featuring all handmade in America products, made by artisans all across America.  Her gallery is called Random Acts of Art.  Isn't that a great name?

Here's how she answered that question: What is contemporary fine craft?

***

That is a question I frequently get asked, and it's a hard one to answer. When I say that I have a contemporary craft gallery people mostly ignore the word gallery and assume I have a store that sells scrap booking and knitting supplies. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against scrap bookers and knitters (some of them are my best friends), but it's not what I do. I've searched the internet for a definition of contemporary crafts. Most of what I found was extremely limited or so esoteric as to not make any sense. Now, I'm not promising to make any sense, but I'll do my best.

The things I look for in contemporary crafts and craft artists are:

1.Utility---Not everything that is contemporary crafts is functional, but most can trace its roots back to something that was (or still is) a part of everyday life. A perfect example of this would be blown glass. The work of Dale Chihuly is in no way utilitarian. It was never meant to be anything other than beautiful and decorative. Yet, you can trace the roots of glassblowing back thousands of years in the making of drinking glasses, bowls, windows, and more. 

 2. Vision---The ability to see something in a common object that wasn't readily visible to others. When you see a piece of scrap wood, do you see fuel for a fireplace or do you see the figure of an angel with something to say? When you see an old muffler, do you see something to throw away or do you see the body of a dog?

3. Mark of the Hand---Contemporary craft should show that it was made by a person, with skill and care. Even when something is made with the most cutting edge machinery, it should still show something of the artist in it.

My description of contemporary craft is by no means definitive. Some people will disagree with it totally. Some will say it is too broad. Some will say it's too vague. I challenge them to come up with their own definition (it's not as easy as you think.) These are just the guidelines I use for choosing work for my gallery. After that, it just comes down to what I love. And even then I've been known to throw the rules out the window for something I truly love!

***

Thanks, Rani, for offering this definition.  We definitely use those concepts when choosing work for our gallery too.

What about you, dear readers?  What do you think?  Let us know in the comments, or with an email directly to us at info@majegallery.com!

Jeff and Manya

MaJeGallery.com
 

How To Wear Scarves - part one

A scarf can turn a pair of pants and a top into an OUTFIT.  It can tie the pieces together, and make you look so much more put together.  And it is a super simple way to Beautify Your Self!  Of course, an artisan-made scarf is even better, since it will be as unique as you, too.

Everett, Washington, fabric collector and master seamstress/designer Susie Howell just brought in a new collection for us (since the first batch sold out so fast).

Susie Howell - encompassed by all the new scarves

she

 brought in for us the other day.

She's a bit of a ham, too, so we had a lot of fun putting this photo together!

Many of our customers don't really know how to wear a scarf, so we're going to give you a few ideas!  You probably don't want to copy Susie up here, so instead, check out this one...

Manya in a double twist tie

This versatile scarf is made from a lovely and soft French cotton that's got a sheer quality to it.  It is very lightweight and comfortable.  The multiple colors make it go with just about anything.  I've paired it here with a black dress.  It is tied with a variation on the most typical scarf tie.  That most typical tie folds the scarf in half so there's a loop at one end, and the two ends at the other end.  Wrap it around your neck and put the two ends through the loop.


However, this one is even better!  Check out the video below to learn how to do it yourself...

Okay!  You are now armed with a tried and true way to wear a scarf!  But wait...there's more!

Look how pretty, and different, that same floral scarf with the black background looks when opened up and thrown across the shoulders as a shawl...

I opened it up and draped it across one shoulder.  One end hangs down the back, and the other down the front.

Doesn't that turn a very plain black dress into a piece of wearable art?  To do this, you must make sure the scarf is wide enough to carry it off.

One benefit of wearing a scarf like this - as opposed to an actual shawl - is that it's not so bulky and full.  You get to see a lot more of the outfit with a scarf.


Take a look at this picture below to get a close-up view of the pattern in this scarf.  And then below that, the full view of the scarf plus an opportunity to purchase it.

The scarf, as mentioned above, is a charming floral print on a very fine and soft cotton.  Susie says the fabric is from France!  You won't be finding it on anyone else nearby!

Black with floral print, fine cotton from France.

This next scarf is even more fun!  It's pieced from various black and white knits that Susie cut on the bias.  This lends it some beautiful fluid movement that's very compelling.

It's also an extra-long scarf, meaning there are even more ways to wear it and have some fun.

Here I am in that same black dress, but with the black and white scarf this time.  See how the personality of this scarf makes the entire outfit have a more funky feel?


In this image, I am wearing it in perhaps the most simple way people wear scarves - one loop around the neck with both ends in front.


You can play with this method by making the loop tight and close to the neck, or pulling it down a bit to show more fullness.

In this picture, I'm actually wearing it the exact same way as the above photo.


What's different, you ask?


I have one end a bit shorter than the other.  Because of Susie's clever pieced design, it looks almost like a completely different scarf.  Isn't that fun?


Look just below to see the scarf in its entirety....

Black and white pieced scarf

This extra-long scarf is 90" long and 14" wide.  It's made of various interesting cotton knits and can be hand washed.  It is $89.And it is now SOLD!












Sometimes we need very bright colors in our life!  Check out this vibrant floral print with so many fun colors in it!

I'm wearing it here with my lime green and coral top.  I've looped it around my neck...

but...

instead of having the ends hang down in front, I flipped them over my shoulders to stay in the back.  Isn't it great how it ties those two bold colors together and makes it an outfit?

If I were wearing a longer skirt, another favorite way to wear a scarf like this is to wrap it around my waist like a sarong.  The chiffon fabric lets the under color of the skirt show through, and looks so pretty and fluttery.

In this picture, I put it on in that simplest of ways - around the neck with both ends hanging down in front.


It just makes you feel like a summer day!


Check out the pictures below to see detail and a full image of this scarf.  This scarf is 75" long and 14" wide.  It's made of a polyester chiffon that is as soft as silk.  You can wash it by hand.  It is $49.  Only one available.

Stay tuned!  More scarf ideas coming soon!

In the meantime, enjoy playing with your scarves, and make a commitment to wear at least one each week!

Your Beauty Ambassadors,

Jeff and Manya