Hobbies And Pastimes

What factors make high quality lapis?

Do you know what makes lapis qualify as "high quality"? There are a few factors that go into it's classification:

Is it died? If it is died it will appear to be too uniform in it's color. Natural lapis should have slight variations in color. Basically, the larger the variations, the lower the quality.

Waxed or not? During the polishing process, waxing the stone is a normal part of this procedure. Waxing doesn't alter the quality, but it does create a nice shine to the stone. Visit our website store below to view a good example of waxed, high quality lapis - especially the centerpiece of Butterfly with Lapis Necklace.

Is the Color Uniform? Above I mentioned the more uniform the color, the higher quality, as long as it is natural. Some lapis will have streaks of gold or patches of white. These indicate a lower quality, although they can add texture and dimension to the stone.

What is the real truth about pearls?

When looking at the value of pearls, there are two main characteristics to consider: size, measured in millimeters, and the quality of the finish, or nacre coating, which gives a pearl its luster.

Did you know there are several types of pearls? Pearls require no polishing or faceting to shine. Both natural and cultured pearls are made of mollusks but natural pearls are made without human intervention and cultured pearls need an irritant added to the shell in order for the pearl to grow.

Since the 1920's, natural pearls are very rare. Most pearls used in jewelry today are either cultured or imitation. That is why it is very important to understand the difference between the two and to trust the source of your jewelry.