October Birthstones

By on October 8, 2014
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by Judy Ellis, Wire-Sculpture.com

Wire Jewelry Inspiration for October 8, 2014

October Birthstones

Today I thought we’d take a quick look at birthstone colors and particularly the ones associated with this month; Rose Zircon, Pink Tourmaline & Opal.

Ocotober Birthstones:

Rose Zircon Gemstone

Silver Ring with 8mm Pink Rose Heart CZ

Rose Zircon

The brighter deeper rose colored Rose Zircon offers an alternative to tourmaline.

Zircon is a compound of oxides of silicon and zirconium, is fairly hard so as be faceted and polished to a brilliant luster, and has better clarity and fewer fissures or inclusions than tourmaline.

Zircon is more strongly refracting than any other precious stone with the exception of diamond. So brilliant are the colorless or pale-colored hyacinth Zircons, that such stones found at Matura in Ceylon in the eighteenth century were know as “Matura Diamonds”.

Most Zircons are heated to change or enhance their color. Attractive Rose Zircon is available in a faint pink to a dark rose hue.

 

Polished Opal Cabochon

Stacking Ring Set created in our Beginner Metalworking 101 DVD Series with an opal stone set in the center ring.

Opal

Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica; its water content may range from 3 to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6 and 10%.

Because of its amorphous character, it is classed as a mineraloid, unlike the other crystalline forms of silica, which are classed as minerals

Opal can occur in many colors including white, colorless, pale yellow, pale red, gray, brown and black. Diffraction can cause flashes of any color of the rainbow which can be seen in opal’s color play. Yellow, blue and green are most common, whereas violet, red and orange are the rarest colors seen through play of color.

Opalescence is usually milky blue in color, but it can occur in rarer colors. The saturation of body color, the play of color and the transparency determine an opal’s value.

Faceted Gemstone

Rough Cut Gemstone

Tourmaline Beads

Pink Tourmaline

The light red to pink tourmaline is the birthstone for the month of October and the gemstone representing the 8th wedding anniversary.It was once believed that it protects the wearer against bad decisions, many dangers, and misfortune. It is also known to attract friends and lovers.

Tourmaline is a silicate of very complicated composition, is very brittle with most crystals penetrated by numerous irregular cracks and  fissures.It varies in transparency and color to a considerable extent, with perfectly clear and faultless specimens being rare and commanding a high price.

It is found around the world, from the Ural mountains (where on account of its resemblance to ruby it is known as Siberian Ruby), to Brazil (the principal locality for green tourmaline), to the more common pale rose-red or dark carmine color red found both in Burma and in Maine in the United States.

Cubic Zirconia Birthstone Sets

If you’re an artist who enjoys making birthstone jewelry, then this is for you! Instead of picking out each individual birthstone we’ve put them all together in one convenient birthstone set. You can create mother’s and grandmother’s necklaces, bracelets, and rings which include each child’s birthstone. Or make individual pieces for each month. There are so many possibilities, and your customers will love them all.

Swarovski Crystal Beads:

If you love Swarovski Crystal then you’ll want to head over and take look at what what sizes and colors we have available!

(Click on each bead and it will take you directly to it.)

Month Birthstone 4mm Round 6mm Round 8mm Round 4mm Bicone 6mm Bicone 8mm Bicone
January Garnet Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
February Amethyst Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
March Aquamarine Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
April Diamond Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
May Emerald Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
June Alexandrite, Pearl, or Moonstone Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
July Ruby Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
August Peridot Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
September Blue Sapphire Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
October Rose Zircon, Opal, or Tourmaline Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
November Golden Topaz Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski
December Blue Zircon Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski Swarovski

I hope that you enjoy designing with October colors. What could you create?

Happy Wrapping!

 

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