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Divine Planet Kapaa Town: 821-1835 |
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| Happy Thanksgiving! | |||
Christmas
is a Comin'! Heading into November, we have Christmas on our minds, and so should you. Handmade jewelry is a really special gift that shows you care enough to devote both your inspiration and your perspiration. We are proud to announce the arrival of designer handbags by local artist Denise Tjarks. Denise is part of the Made on Kauai program, and makes her contemporary handbags from vintage muumuu fabrics. I'll be headed to Thailand on Nov. 6 for almost two weeks. Look for lots of great new clothing, beads and gifts in our stores around Thanksgiving time. Speaking of which, we will be having our Thanksgiving Weekend sale at both locations November 24-26. We'll be offering 20% off everything in the store, so drop in and see what's new and save a chunk! If you have any requests for me, I'm all ears. Just email me and I will do my best to get what you want.
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Article: Stone Enhancement I sometimes have customers ask for stones that haven't been "treated." With trends like simplifying your life, feng shui, and "going organic" gaining mainstream approval, it's no wonder this concept would find a place in the jewelry world. The idea that something comes straight out of the ground and into a ring has a certain pristine appeal. But after years of dealing with jewelry and gems from all over the world, I have discovered that there is no such thing as an unaltered gemstone. I can already hear cries of "foul" coming to me through the ether, so let me explain why I believe this and why I think this actually a good thing. For the sake of this discussion, we are referring to what is commonly called "commercial grade" gemstones: semiprecious stones that are moderately priced and used in large quantities. Rainbow moonstone, labradorite, all the agates (like onyx, chalcedony, carnelian, etc.), jasper, jade, peridot, citrine, garnet, amethyst, iolite, lapis, quartz, some topaz and a handful of other stones that we carry are all used by the jewelry trade in vast quantities. Unless that stone in your ring still has the dirt on it from the mine, has not been polished, tumbled or cabbed, it has been enhanced. For thousands of years, man has made gemstones more attractive by carving, drilling, cutting and setting them in jewelry. Just polishing a stone is a form of enhancement. Gemstone enhancement is in fact what we have come to expect. Like any technology, the procurement and processing of gemstones has undergone change over time. Mining techniques have improved to increase productivity and quality. Likewise, techniques used to improve the appearance of gemstones have also become more sophisticated. Enhancing stones is nothing new, and enhancements are market driven. Most people wouldn't be happy with un-enhanced jewelry. You may be thinking about a certain jewelry seller you have bought from in the past that offers a promise or guarantee regarding his or her stones. Consider that the vast majority of the stones used in commercial jewelry making come from places like Brazil, China, India or Russia, where there is a huge economy of scale happening. There is no "provenance" as antique dealers call it. Police refer to it as a chain of custody. Whatever name you give it, there is no telling exactly what has happened to a particular piece of rock once it enters the vast confluence of the commercial gemstone system. So there is no way to trace exactly what has happened to the stone between when it was plucked from earth to when it was set in jewelry. You can perform tests that will tell you if it is dyed or irradiated, but even then you can't be sure because many of the treatments are not 100% detectable. What is the net result of enhancement? Nice looking stones that feed the demand for good quality, appealing jewelry and beads at an affordable price. Technologies like heat treatment, irradiation, dying, etc., are not deceptions. They are not meant to trick an unsuspecting public into paying more for a lesser quality piece. Quite the opposite, treated stones are inexpensive but often look as nice as much more expensive specimens. November Birthstones: Topaz and Citrine Topaz Topaz derives its name from one of two sources-- it might be derived from the Sanskrit word tapas meaning fire, or from the Island of Topazos in the Red Sea. In ancient times, the figure of a falcon carved on topaz was thought to help acquire the goodwill of kings, princes and magnates. Topaz comes in a wide range of colors, from colorless (the most common) through light blue to golden orange and even pale red (the most highly prized color). Modern technology allows us to make in the lab what occurs only rarely in nature. Blue topaz is generally clear topaz that has been heat treated or irradiated, while green and multicolored Topazes are coatings applied to clear Topaz. The Egyptians believed that topaz was colored with the glow of the mighty sun god Ra. They made topaz into amulets with the power to protect the faithful from harm. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, also is god of the sun. It is said that you should only wear Topaz if you wish to be clear sighted. Legend has it that it enhances both clarity and eyesight! Ancient Greeks said it was useful to increase one's strength and could make a person invisible in times of emergency. Topaz is also said to cure insomnia, asthma and to stop hemorrhaging. The Braganza, the Portuguese Crown, contains a giant specimen that is said to be the most famous piece of Topaz. It was originally thought to be a diamond. Naturally occurring blue Topaz is found in Texas and the Ural Mountains of Russia. Colorless Topaz, used for enhancement into blue Topaz, comes from mines in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and China. Citrine Mental powers are thought to be stimulated by this sunny yellow stone. It is thought to enhance creativity and intuition, and to bolster self confidence. New age practitioners also say it inspires warmth and prosperity, as well as assisting in the the realization of personal goals. Healers say it should be used in times of stress or when a decision is being made as it helps to calm the mind and improves insight. Powerful stuff! On a physical level, Citrine is used as a cleanser. It is meant to cleanse the body of toxins and help in the regeneration of tissues. Many believe it is essential in maintaining the health of the digestive, circulatory and urinary system. Other properties ascribed to this beautiful stone include relief from the effects of radiation and chemotherapy, and as an assistant in the absorption of antioxidants. Calendar
of Events November Classes: schedule available online or in the stores |
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Kapaa Holiday Chandelier
Earrings Peyote Stitch
Seed Bead Bale Precious
Metal Clay Intro With PMC, you
can mold, shape, layer and emboss an artistic creation like you
would with ceramic clay. Once the piece is air dried, it can be
placed in a kiln or heated with a butane torch to burn off the organic
binder. What remains is a finished product that is 99% pure silver,
a wearable piece of precious metal art. See sample in Kapaa store. |
Lihue Garnet Jingle
Earrings- Textured Metal Two-toned
Jade Looped Bracelet Holiday Chandelier
Earrings
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Please let me know if you have any thoughts or suggestions on what we can do to improve. We are always open to new ideas and constructive criticism. Aloha, Mike McGinnis |
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