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
Sunday, September 26, 2010
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!
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
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
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
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Pamela's love for amazing earrings and jewelries
I have always loved long amazing earrings since I was a young girl, with newly pierced ears, in San Francisco. It seems that I have always been on the hunt for cool earrings. The dainty things don’t really do it for me. So when I learned how to work with silver, one of the first things I made were earrings.
In this collection I have used some exotic gemstones, like Amazonite and some other gemstones with phenomenal qualities, like Tiger’s eye and aventurine quartz which contains little red disk-like inclusions.
Amazonite is a beautiful turquoise color with some white grid like matrix running through it. I think it goes really well with Tiger’s Eye and red aventurine quartz. I have done this combination in a long drop earring.
I was also able to obtain some gem quality faceted aquamarine beads. They are very sparkly and the color is nicely saturated. I made these in to drop earrings which really showcase the face.
Since I love working with silver so much I have made some tassel earrings using the silver with gemstones. I have picked black spinel which look amazing with silver and also a combination of the black spinel with some gorgeous opaque natural ruby beads. These are long and stunning.
Also in the collection are a couple of pair of agate slices hanging from peacock colored fresh water pearls and another pair suspended from beautiful milky aquamarine. You won’t find these earrings in a store or on the ears of others.
The pieces are all one of a kind and since we designers have to wait until the gemstones are available you never know what to expect next. But it is always fun and exciting.
By Pamela McCombs, AJP, GCS (GIA)
Friday, June 11, 2010
PZM Designs on Facebook
You can also visit PZM Designs Facebook Page.
Feel free to join and leave your comment.
Thank you for all the support. It is greatly appreciated
PZM Designs Facebook
Feel free to join and leave your comment.
Thank you for all the support. It is greatly appreciated
PZM Designs Facebook
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Necklaces and Earring Sets by: PZM Designs
Hi all jewelry lovers, and lovers of hand made adornment. We invite you to browse through our store and shop with confidence. You can create an account with us, if you like, or shop as a guest. Either way, your shopping cart will be active until you leave the store. We stand behind all or our merchandise and are confident that you will LOVE what you purchase.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
How To Clean Your Gemstone Jewelry
Stones have different levels of hardness. Diamond, aquamarine, sapphire, topaz, emerald and others have the point 5 in the level of hardness. Jewelry with these stones should be cleaned in the solution of any washing powder with the help of a soft brush, if the metal is gold or platinum. Then you can wash the jewelry in distilled water. Stones with the level of hardness under 5 are moonstone, malachite, turquoise, opal, apatite. They should be cleaned in the same way as the previous group with the only difference that instead of washing powder you should use soap. This method can be used with anything except coral and pearls, as the soap foam is extremely harmful to them. Try not to expose them to perfume, soap and hot water.
Never take medicinal baths wearing the jewelry. Don’t forget to take off the coral jewelry before going to a sauna, as the heat is destructive to it. Pearls and turquoises don’t like high humidity. At home you can wash them in the solution of ethyl alcohol and water (1:1) and then flannel them dry. However, it’s much better to have your jewelry cleaned at the professional jeweler's.
credit: http://magazine.gem-fashion.com/jewelry-care1.html
Monday, May 10, 2010
Paintings by Pamela
Pamela began painting later in her life and found that "the color just exploded onto the canvas. It seemed to have a life of its own." She prefers using acrylics as they dry rapidly and therefore allow the inspiration to come through without interruption.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Rhodonite
Rhodonite, from Argentina! Just look at those PINKS. All natural, set with faceted hematite and sterling silver.
About The Artist
Pamela Zeibak McCombs is in love with color. Not only does she paint but she creates gemstone jewelry, and a colorful line of knit/crochet wear. Living in the Middle East for 25 years and traveling the world inspired her use of color and texture in all of her mediums. Her love of jewelry and gemstones has taken her to the Gemological Institute of America, (GIA) where she has earned her Accredited Jewelry Professional diploma, a Graduate of Colored Stones diploma, and where is she now working on the big prize, Graduate Gemologist.
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