Skye's Diamond Dust Jewelry

02/20/2024

01/19/2024

There is still time! Do something extra special for your Valentine!!!

01/31/2023

The January birthstone, Garnet, is surrounded by folklore and was known for its healing properties. This beautiful gem’s name references the bright-red pomegranate fruit, although it actually comes in a diverse range of colors. While best known for its deep red hue, garnet naturally occurs in a range of colors, including greens, yellows, and even blues. Garnets can range in appearance from completely opaque to transparent.

A great amount of folklore surrounds the garnet, stemming from a diverse range of cultures and time periods. One common thread is the idea that Garnet protects its wearer from something—be that enemies, illness, or bad dreams!

One of the oldest known gemstones, Garnet’s history dates back to the Bronze Age. The tombs of ancient Egyptian pharaohs were discovered to include garnet necklaces and talisman, an inscribed ring or stone, thought to have magic powers and bring good luck. It was highly valued by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who used garnet signet rings to wax-seal important documents.

Its popularity continued through the Victorian Era before it was no longer a sought-after gem. Today, though, its beauty and color diversity make it ideal for all types of jewelry, including earrings, brooches, pendants and engagement rings. (Note: With a Mohs Hardness rating of 6.5 to 7.5, be sure to store garnet jewelry in a way where it does not come in contact with harder stones, which will cause scratching!)

Due to its tendency to break into irregular grains, garnet is not simply for fashion—it is also used as an abrasive. Garnet is used in sandpaper for bare and unfinished woods, along with sanding belts, discs, and strips. It’s also utilized for water filtration in abrasive blasting material, a process called water jet cutting.

12/30/2022

Those born in December are lucky enough to claim four birthstones for their month. Zircon, turquoise, tanzanite, and blue topaz are all December Birthstones. All four stones feature different looks and qualities, from the vibrant blues of turquoise and tanzanite to zircon’s wide range of hues.

Zircon is the most notable and famous among the December Birthstones.Unbelievably, zircon is the oldest dated material on Earth. The oldest fragment of zircon was found in Australia. Zircon Mines are in Burma, Brazil, Cambodia, Korea, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and Vietnam. Some believe that the stone protects its owner from harm, death, and poison.

Turquoise may not be the most famous among the December Birthstones, it is the most beloved by devoted birthstone enthusiasts. Turquoise is the second oldest December birthstone. It is also the 11th wedding anniversary stone. Ancient cultures considered turquoise to be a holy stone, and it often adorned royal figures and leaders. In most cultures, turquoise has deep meaning and was believed to hold protective powers. The stone was often placed on weapons, crowns, jewelry, and buildings. In Native American culture, it was also carved into shapes, which were used as family heirlooms and in rituals. In addition to protection, the stone was also said to cultivate happiness, health, and harmony.

Tanzanite is a stunning stone, and by now almost as famous as Zircon. It is one of the most desired semi-precious stones on the market and its rich and deep color is one of the most recognizable. Tanzanite is December’s third oldest birthstone. Its discovery is very recent. The first eruption of Mount Kilimanjaro formed the stones. Tanzanite comes only from Tanzania, and because we have only known about the stone’s existence for about 50 years, folklore and legends have not yet developed.

The latest addition to the December birthstone collection, blue topaz is often confused with aquamarine due to its crisp, cold blue colouration. Mined predominantly in Brazil, Sri Lanka and China, cool blue topaz has become associated amongst various cultures as a powerful symbol for love and fidelity. People believe that this gemstone will help them live a long, beautiful, and smart life. It also comes in other colors. The ancient Greeks thought the stone gave them strength, and in Europe during the Renaissance, people thought it could break magic spells and get rid of anger.

11/30/2022

Those with November birthdays have two beautiful birthstones to choose from: topaz and citrine. Topaz comes in a rainbow of colors; citrine is prized for its charming yellow and orange hues. Both November birthstones are known to have calming energies while bringing fortune and warmth to the wearer. Most topaz and citrine birthstones are affordably priced, as good-quality gems are not as rare as for many of their counterparts. This means that those born in November have many options to choose from. Your challenge will be deciding which one to pick.

09/16/2022

The September birthstone is sapphire – a gem that’s been cherished for thousands of years. Although the term sapphire usually refers to the blue variety of corundum (ruby is the red variety), this birthstone comes in a rainbow of other colors. Sapphires have been long associated with royalty and romance and are also said to symbolize fidelity and the soul. “Sapphire” comes from the Greek word sappheiros and blue sapphire is one of the most popular colored stones.

The September birthstone has traditionally symbolized sincerity, truth, faithfulness and nobility. For countless centuries, sapphire has adorned royalty and the robes of the clergy. The elite of ancient Greece and Rome believed that blue sapphires protected their owners from harm and envy. Clerics of the Middle Ages wore sapphires because they symbolized Heaven. Ancient Persians believed the earth actually rested on a giant sapphire, which made the sky blue.

The September birthstone was reputed to have healing powers as well. Medieval Europeans believed that sapphire cured plague boils and diseases of the eye. The sapphire birthstone was also thought to be an antidote to poison.

Kashmir, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Sri Lanka are three historically important sources for the September birthstone. Significant quantities of the September birthstone have also been found in Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Madagascar and the United States (Montana), among other countries in Asia and Africa.

08/05/2022

Owner/Operator/Designer - Amber DeAngelo