Larsen Jewellery - Other Jewellery

Wedding Earrings

Lars — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:27:00 +1100

What kind of earrings should I wear at my wedding?

The earrings you choose to wear on your wedding day will be photographed just as much as, or perhaps even more than, your wedding rings; therefore you should make sure that they complement your other wedding jewellery as well as your hairstyle in order to pull your whole look together.

Most brides tend to choose earrings set with either diamonds or pearls and will select a style that reflects their personality. These are both very elegant options that will look timeless in your wedding photographs.

In terms of design, the common choices are studs, drops and chandeliers. Of course, there are no set rules; however this general guideline is a helpful starting point.

Studs
Studs can be made with two pearls, two diamonds or a cluster of diamonds. Pearls come in a range of colours including pink, peach, white, cream and black. The size you choose will depend on your personal taste.

If you decide on diamond studs, you have a range of setting options to choose from including ‘claw’ and ‘bezel’ settings.

Alternatively, having a cluster of small diamonds in each earring will cost significantly less than having one larger diamond and you won’t be missing out on any sparkle. With this option you will also have to choose between the settings mentioned previously and the shape of the overall earring (square, round, triangular etc). Stud earrings will complement an up-style and can be worn with a matching necklace.

Drops
Drop earrings can be set with pearls, diamonds, neither or a mixture of both. Drops fall somewhere between chandeliers and studs in terms of size and are usually 2cm - 4cm long. Often they will be very narrow in width and will ‘drop down’ with a pearl hanging on the end or often with diamonds set from stud to base. Drop earrings will suit all hairstyles and are best worn without a necklace.

Chandeliers
The largest earring option, chandeliers are generally wide, long, dangling and delicate. They demand attention and will decorate your neckline also, replacing the need for a necklace. Chandeliers look great with any hair style but are usually reserved for those who like to wear statement jewellery. When purchasing chandelier earrings, make sure they’re not too heavy otherwise they’ll become uncomfortable and will drag down the earlobes. Many styles are very lightweight and will feel no heavier than drop earrings.

Larsen Jewellery specialises in custom made jewellery design and can work with you to create a beautiful pair of wedding earrings for your special day. For more information or to book in for a no-obligation design appointment, please contact us on 02 9223 2006.

Peridot Gemstones and Jewellery

Lars — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 05:59:00 +1100

Peridot is a precious lime green coloured gemstone. The most abundant source of this gemstone is Peridot Mesa, on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. Other sources of Peridot can be found in Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan and China. One of the earliest documented Peridot deposits was discovered in ancient times, in Zebirget, Egypt. Peridot was also used in history to adorn medieval churches.

It is a form of the olivine mineral and forms under extreme heat and pressure, such as in volcanic rock during eruptions and more rarely in fallen meteors. Its colour scheme ranges from a yellow-green colour, to dark grass-green. Brown tinted variations are found, but are not as desirable.

Peridot gemstones smaller than three carats are affordable and easily sourced. Stones larger than this become significantly higher in value. Stones above ten carats are rare to find and are expensive, although they are reasonably affordable in comparison to most other gemstones of large carat size.

Peridot is vulnerable to temperature change and therefore should only be cleaned using dishwashing liquid and warm water.

The vivid green hues of Peridot gemstones are great for statement pieces such as dress rings and earrings. For more information, or to book an appointment to view a range of loose Peridot gemstones to suit your budget, please call Larsen Jewellery in Sydney on 02 9223 2006.

Topaz

Lars — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 05:57:00 +1100

Topaz is a beautiful gemstone and is usually found in shades of light yellow and brown. These shades are naturally occurring and are often sold under the name Golden Topaz.

These precious gems are a much more affordable alternative to coloured diamonds and are often used in fine jewellery.

One of the most common colours related to topaz is light blue, which is created through heat treatment. Most topaz, like the majority of coloured gemstones, are heat treated for colour enhancement. While these stones are less expensive than natural colours, they offer an excellent option for fine jewellery and can be quite affordable.

The most valuable variety of Topaz is Imperial Topaz, which shows tones of orange and red. Unfortunately, in some international markets Citrine is sold as Imperial Topaz as the stones are similar in colour. This practice is illegal and misleading.

Topaz is not an abundant mineral although it is found in numerous countries such as the USA, Sri Lanka, Russia and Mexico.

To care for Topaz stones, try to avoid knocking them as they are not resistant to physical trauma.

For more information, or to view a selection of beautiful Topaz gemstones, please call Larsen Jewellery in Sydney: 02 9223 2006.

Amethyst Jewellery

Lars — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:19:00 +1100

Amethyst is the purple / violet variety of quartz that has been widely used in jewellery for thousands of years. Colour ranges from very pale pinkish-purple to beautiful deep, rich purples that can have a secondary colour of red or blue. Generally speaking, it is probably the most valuable in the quartz family, but is still a moderately priced stone. However, prices can be somewhat high for large stones of exceptional quality. It is a fairly abundant stone and is commonly used for faceting, cabochons, beads, carvings or as an ornament in its natural crystal form.

The folklore surrounding amethyst often refers to alcohol, and the Romans believed it would prevent drunkenness, indeed its names derives from the ancient Greek meaning ‘not drunk’. It is worn by most catholic bishops and is said to symbolize piety and wisdom… so it is sometimes called the Bishop’s Stone. The believers in the healing powers of stones will give you a long list of its health and magical benefits.

Synthetic amethyst does make its way onto the market but can be difficult to detect and the cost of testing is considered prohibitive compared to the value of the stone.

Amethyst occurrence is extremely widespread but the most notable locations are Brazil, Madagascar and the US.

Larsen Jewellery sells a wide range of coloured gemstones, including Amathyst, and makes a wide range of custom made jewellery. Click here to read more about our engagement rings and other customer made jewellery.

Coloured Gemstone Jewellery

Lars — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:21:00 +1100

It is said the ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were the tears of God. But for those who want to add a touch of colour to their outfit there are other precious stones that can be just as spectacular. An exciting array of choice awaits those who would like to take a step away from the traditional and delve into the rich sea of coloured gemstones we have today.

For thousands of years, coloured gemstones have piqued the interest, desire and greed of kings, pirates, men and women all over the world.

Although diamonds have become a timeless icon for women and men everywhere, these days many coloured gemstones are used to create unique and eclectic jewellery. Emeralds, Sapphires and Rubies enjoy being the three most popular coloured gemstones in the world. But other stones such as Peridot, Amethyst, Citrine, Aquamarine, Garnet and many others can be just as striking.

As with diamonds, the majority of coloured gemstones are also graded and priced in a similar way - based on colour, clarity, cut and carat.

COLOUR

The colour of gemstones is usually the most important in determining its value and rarity. This is based on three criteria - Hue, Saturation and Tone.

Hue: The hue refers of the subtle shades of colour that combine to make up the overall colour of the stone. For example, a blue Sapphire might also be made up of shades of green or violet that adds to the richness of the overall shade.

Tone: The tone of a gemstone is described by how dark or light a colour appears when the stone is first glanced at.

Saturation: The saturation refers to how intense or strong the colour of the stone is. This combined with the tone of the stone helps to determine its market price.

CLARITY

The clarity of a stone refers to how many imperfections there are. This also helps to determine the value. The fewer the inclusions the higher the set value is of the stone.

CUT

How a stone is cut will also help determine its value. Factors such as depth, polish and symmetry all play a part in the overall finished look. Coloured stones are often treated to improve their appearance and this is also taken into consideration when appraising a stone.

CARAT

How much a gemstone weighs is measured in the total number of carats. One carat equals 200 milligrams. The larger the stone, together with the colour, cut and clarity will determine its market value.

The Ruby

The Ruby has long been known as the king of gemstones. Coming from the multi-coloured mineral corundum it is one of the hardest precious stones found on Earth. Ruby colours can range from pink to pigeon-blood red. The deeper the shade of the Ruby, the higher the price it yields. Interestingly, chrome is the element that gives a Ruby its red colour yet is also guilty of causing inclusions in the stone. Therefore Rubies with barely any inclusions and of that deep red colour are so rare that prices can top even that of diamonds!

The Sapphire

As blue as the deepest oceans and as romantic as the evening sky, not many people are aware that the Sapphire has the colour range of a rainbow. From dark blues to yellow, pink, orange, black and purple, this magnificent stone caters for any look you want to achieve. Click here to view a selection of Sapphire rings.

The Emerald

Nothing can beat the intensity of an Emerald shimmering in the light, its various shades of green second to none in the gemstone world. All Emeralds are formed with inclusions or bubbles, yet these are regarded as an indication of their genuineness rather than a flaw.

Emeralds

Lars — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +1100

Emeralds were first discovered in a collection of mines near the Red Sea in Egypt in what came to be known as Clopatra's emerald mines. The first discovery of emeralds in Australia was in 1890 in New South Wales.

The word "emerald" derives from the Persian word smaragdus which means green.

Emerald belongs to the beryl family which also includes gems like aquamarine. The colour of the highest quality emeralds is almost pure spectral green, sometimes with a faint touch of blue. Emeralds derive their green colour from chromium and vanadium.

Emeralds are rarely found as clear crystals and often contain fine inclusions that are evidence of it being a natural stone.

Even though emeralds are a fairly hard stone, they can chip easily as they are slightly brittle.

Emerald is the birthstone for May and the 55th wedding anniversary gemstone.

Click here to view a few examples of emerald rings.

Sapphire and Ruby Cuts

Lars — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 02:23:00 +1100

Sapphires and rubies belong to a gemstone family called corundum, also known as crystalline aluminum oxide. As they both have the same chemical composition, their physical characteristics are very similar. The presence of small amounts of trace elements however creates noticeable differences in colour.

Ruby is red corundum while sapphire can be all the other colours, including blue, green, pink, yellow, orange, purple and others. As they share the same physical characteristics, a similar approach is taken to both when cutting the gemstones.

Perhaps more than any other type of coloured gemstone, rubies and sapphires are often cut to retain as much weight as possible, while still aiming to retain a pleasant shape. Weight is important because rubies and sapphires can command prices in the thousands per carat. Unfortunately this tendency can lead to stones that are disproportionately deep or overly shallow for their girdle size, and therefore lack brilliance due to light not being reflected up through the crown of the cut stone. A well-cut stone should have pleasing proportions, good internal reflection and a symmetrical girdle regardless of the shape.

Both sapphires and rubies are well suited gemstones for jewellery. They are tough stones, right behind diamonds on Moh's scale of hardness, and are therefore suitable for all types of jewellery, including engagement and wedding rings.

Please click here for a selection of sapphire engagement rings and sapphire wedding rings.