Sunday, September 26, 2010

OPAL - October's Birthstone

Opal is the birthstone of October. It is classified as a "phenomenal" gemstone because of the play-of-color that some types of opals possess. This play-of-color is different on every stone, depending on the body color, which can be almost any hue, and it can be either transparent, translucent or opaque.

Play-of-color occurs when light interacts with precious opal's orderly arrangement of silica spheres. As the light waves travel between the spheres, the waves bend. And as they bend, the break up into spectral (rainbow) colors, causing the play-of-color.The most prized of these colors are red, orange, blue and green. The flashes can occur as small dots or can be large, and brush stroke-like, across the face of the stone.

Most precious opal comes from Australia, including the precious black opal. This type commands the highest price of all and usually sell by the piece rather than by the carat. These opals have a dark grey background color which can be opaque, translucent and even transparent.

White opal has a white translucent to opaque background. This opal makes up the bulk of commercial opals and is the most familiar type. You can find commercial qualities in pale and cloudy yellows or browns with faint, scattered play-of-color as well as top quality almost transparent gems which can have distinct patterns of crisp, lively play-of-color.

The pattern is the arrangement of the play-of-color. The industry uses three general catgories: pinfire, which are small patches or dots, flash, which are large areas of the play-of-color, and harlequin, which are large, distinct, usually rectangular patches with the edges touching each other. Harlequin patters are the most desirable.

Some opals can be assembled in to doublets or triplets. The doublet have a gemstone base, usually black chalcedony, to which the opal is attached. The triplet has the gemstone base and also a piece of crystal quartz on top of the opal to protect it.

There are also synthetic opals on the market as well as imitation opals made of plastic which can be effective and affordable alternatives to the real thing. These can be separated from the real gemstone by a gemologist using a 10x loupe or a microscope.

In the world of metaphysics, opal is considered to be a a stone of inspiration which can enhance imagination and creativity. It helps one release inhibitions and it can enhance memory. Opal is also a very spiritual stone, and can help one be "invisible" in situations where they don't care to be noticed. Opal brings happy dreams. It also eases the process of change. Physically, opal is said to be helpful for eyesight and Parkinson's disease.

By: Pamela McCombs
PZM Designs

Monday, August 9, 2010

Shots from PZM Designs July Trunshow in Texas!




Pamela McCombs of PZM Designs Thank you message.

Texas ROCKS! A huge thank you to all of the Texas beauties who attended our trunk show last Saturday in Duncanville. We had a great time and made some new friends. Thank you to Patricia, our hostess, for providing her amazing home for our party. Thank you all for your love and support. Hugs and kisses!

Rings 'n things....new rings and bracelets! Ooooohh! Sparkle.

Check out PZM Designs new creations!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The Feldspars

One of my favorite gemstone families is the Feldspar group. Feldspars are the most widespread minerals on the crust of the earth. They are also very diverse. They can include common rocks as well as the gorgeous pinks of Kunzite, the dreamy, billowy clouds of moonstone and the rainbow-like quality of the Labradorites.

My favorite of the feldspars are the phenomenal one....moonstone, labradorite, and the gorgeous blue color of the microcline feldspar, Amazonite, which is a wonderful turquoise alternative.

Moonstone
has a property called adularesence. It is a blue sheen which billows across the surface of the gem. It is caused by the scattering of light by stacked alternating layers of the mineral. It has a delicate almost magical quality. Moonstone was very popular in the early 1900's in Europe and the United States, where the people appreciated it for its sheen and rarity. The finest moonstone is a gem of glassy purity with a billowing electric blue shimmer.

Moonstones can be semitransparent to opaque, colorless to white and have a blue, silver, or while adularescent effect. Moonstone body colors can range from green, yellow to brown or gray to nearly black. Some may have chatoyancy, (cat's eye effect), and some may even display a star.

Another one of my absolute favorites is Labradorite. It was discovered by a missionary off the coast of Labrador in Canada, around 1770. Gemologists know it for its labradoresence. The phenomenal colors, which can resemble the iridescent pattern on a butterfly's wing, are caused by light interference reflecting off the layered structure of the mineral.

Moonstone and Labradorite are both fairly soft and rate a 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. Labradorite cleaves easily so I prefer to design my Labradorite and moonstone jewelry in to earrings and necklaces to guard against breakage and scratching. Labradorite has been relatively unknown until recently. But once you see labradorite, you will fall in love with it and marvel at its natural beauty.


By: Pamela McCombs of PZM Designs

http://shop.pzmdesigns.com/main.sc

The Feldspars

One of my favorite gemstone families is the Feldspar group. Feldspars are the most widespread minerals on the crust of the earth. They are also very diverse. They can include common rocks as well as the gorgeous pinks of Kunzite, the dreamy, billowy clouds of moonstone and the rainbow-like quality of the Labradorites.

My favorite of the feldspars are the phenomenal one....moonstone, labradorite, and the gorgeous blue color of the microcline feldspar, Amazonite, which is a wonderful turquoise alternative.

Moonstone
has a property called adularesence. It is a blue sheen which billows across the surface of the gem. It is caused by the scattering of light by stacked alternating layers of the mineral. It has a delicate almost magical quality. Moonstone was very popular in the early 1900's in Europe and the United States, where the people appreciated it for its sheen and rarity. The finest moonstone is a gem of glassy purity with a billowing electric blue shimmer.

Moonstones can be semitransparent to opaque, colorless to white and have a blue, silver, or while adularescent effect. Moonstone body colors can range from green, yellow to brown or gray to nearly black. Some may have chatoyancy, (cat's eye effect), and some may even display a star.

Another one of my absolute favorites is Labradorite. It was discovered by a missionary off the coast of Labrador in Canada, around 1770. Gemologists know it for its labradoresence. The phenomenal colors, which can resemble the iridescent pattern on a butterfly's wing, are caused by light interference reflecting off the layered structure of the mineral.

Moonstone and Labradorite are both fairly soft and rate a 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. Labradorite cleaves easily so I prefer to design my Labradorite and moonstone jewelry in to earrings and necklaces to guard against breakage and scratching. Labradorite has been relatively unknown until recently. But once you see labradorite, you will fall in love with it and marvel at its natural beauty.


By: Pamela McCombs of PZM Designs

http://shop.pzmdesigns.com/main.sc