M's Guide to Stones

My love for stones is personal.  Each holds a story and fascination that drives me to design with them.  Below are some of my favorite stories about some of my favorite gems.

Once upon a time, I sold to a very fancy big box retailer that everyone knows.  I worked with them for over 10 years.  I LOVED LOVED LOVED the woman who was my buyer.  She made me laugh, constantly.  My favorite thing about working with her- she always thought I made up words.  For example, she refused to believe chatoyancy was a real word until I Googled it for her.  She then went about every meeting asking me, facetiously, if every stone was "chatoyant."  I miss working with her.  

For those of you who don't know, Chatoyancy is the quality that gives "fire" to a stone.  Definitively apparent in Feldspars (the parent family of Rainbow Moonstone and Labradorite), it lends both stones the opalescent blue light refraction that makes them so lovely and hypnotic.  And, every time I see them, I think of the word "Chatoyancy" and laugh.  That and they absolutely mesmerize me!

My love of pearl and opal are also particularly personal.  I became obsessed with pearls when I realized they were so much more than what my grandmother and mom wore.  Instead of round white, common pearls, I find those that have unique shapes and colors.  Sometimes, I go for the ones that look like animal teeth.  Sometimes, they are just too cute and tiny to pass up.  At any rate, the pearl dealers love me because I'm always on the hunt for something out of the ordinary.  I mean who else has a collection of pearls that look like animals (email me if you want a pic of the one that looks like an elephant!)

As to opals- again, these are gems that just hypnotize me.  I mean, who knew that they came in 18 different varieties?  Growing up, I had really only seen the ones in cheap plastic boxes at the mall.  Or those that were in vintage pieces and that I was afraid would break.  Cut to the now, and my fascination with opals is apparent.  I use them every season and embrace every color and shape I can find.  From one of a kind Mexican Jellies, to Australian Blacks- I'm always keeping an eye out for those specimens I know I haven't seen, and those I won't ever see again.

Whether you like a non traditional pearl, a rare opal or a Chatoyant stone (yes- they are REAL!)- I've got you covered.  May you find the same love for these stones as the passion I hold- the one that drives me to make you beautiful jewels.  And for you to, hopefully, wear & treasure.