Some of you may know the magnificent gem Spinel joined Peridot and Sardonyx as August’s birthstones this summer. Do you know Spinel? It’s about my favorite gem – at least in the top few.
Gemstones
Of Mice & Moonstones
“Beauty and nature have always supported me, and I find myself turning again and again to the metaphors the natural world provides,” says Cynthia Renée. “I purchased the hand-carved moonstone mice and the cat’s-eye moonstone pairs separately.
Heaven and Earth
The Chinese concept of yin and yang — how seemingly contrary forces are actually complementary — is often explained using metaphors from nature and life. The lightness of air, the solidity of earth; the brilliance of the sun, the dark shadows it frames; the feminine and the masculine.
Origami Origins
Jewelry artist Cynthia Renee, fascinated by the shapes and ceremonies of origami, watched her young daughter create an origami shape. She was struck by the similarities of the two crafts…
Mussel Power
Cynthia Renée’s poetic nature loves the fact that “orient” is the gem trade’s name for the iridescent play of colors that undulate across the surface of fine pearls. After all, cultured pearls were first grown in the Far East more than a century ago…
Blinded by the Light
Collectors seek Sphene for its Light Show
On Earth as it is… on Mars?
Peridot has been discovered not only in the Earth’s mantle, but on the moon, Mars and in fallen meteors. However, a trip to Earth’s nightlight isn’t necessary to add this beautiful gem to a collection…
50 Shades of Red
A garnet…what do you see – bursting pomegranates…flames of crimson cabernet encircling your glass? Garnet comes from the Latin word Granatum referring to the red seeds of the Pomegranate; the true garnet palette extends…
Let’s Play Clue
What ranges in color from butterscotch, to orange, green, to red with some of the most prominent deposits located in the U.S.? Give up? Breathtaking sunstones! One need not travel to Tanzania or Tajikistan to behold a sunstone.
LATEST STORIES
Legacy Jewels: Transforming Birthstones into Heirlooms
Here is a captivating tale of blending birthstones and heirlooms into a singular timeless jewel.“Bubble Ring” bespoke ring creation in 950 platinum featuring the 1.43 and 1.51 carat diamonds from client’s grandmothers and a 9 mm Akoya pearl, the client’s birthstone.A...
Aquamarine: Storied gem of beauty and insight
Aquamarine, named after the sea’s watery hues, has a storied history beginning with the earth’s oceans and water. Most often, aquamarines are in lighter pastel tones blending different hues of blue and green. Photo 1: “La Mer,” a Cynthia Renee bespoke...
How Designers Find Solutions: The Case of the Pearl Gone Too Far
Yesterday, my daughter reminded me of something I'd told her a few years ago, "Our weaknesses are our strengths gone too far." It's so satisfying when your kids are of the age they begin to suspect you may have some wisdom after all, isn't it? Designing is all...
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