beads pearls metal beads chains findings pendants jewelry making supplies jewelry product list

Appreciated!!!
Thanks for looking after me! Greatly appreciated! - Trudy



Moonstone Beads.

Moonstone is considered the “National Stone of Sri Lanka.” Anuradhapura, the first capital of Sri Lanka (previously Ceylon), was known for its “moonstone temple,” whose altar steps were said to be decorated with shimmering mosaics made of moonstone. Although the ruins of this temple still exist, none of the moonstone remains. As for the stone’s origins, according to Ceylonese legend, every 37th year the sea, under the influence of the moon, hurls opalescent blue moonstones onto the shores of the island. 

The Romans used moonstone in their jewelry as early as 100 A.D. A great deal of the lore about moonstone seem to be based on the writings of the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder. It was Pliny who recorded the belief that the moonstone contains the image of the moon, and as the actual moon waxes and wanes, the image in the stone mirrors it. This link between the moonstone and lunar cycles, made the stone a popular talisman for women, who wore it as an aid in fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth. Since it was connected with the lunar goddesses, Isis, Selene, and Diana—it was believed that Diana’s image could be glimpsed in the stone--moonstone amulets were hung in fruit trees to assure fertile crops. Interestingly, moonstones—often paired with opals-- became very popular during the 1890s and early 1900s in Art Nouveau jewelry, much of which harkened back to the classical world. 

In the Far East, moonstone was once believed to be made of solidified moonlight. The glimmering light inside it was thought to be a good spirit who lived inside the stone. 

In Venice, during the Renaissance, the moonstone was considered a stone of prophecy. It was believed that if you held the stone up to the waning or Crone’s moon, you would see a vision of the future in it. During the waxing moon, the stone was said to excite lovers’ passions, especially if held under the tongue. Known as “the traveler’s stone,” moonstone is said to be a protection for travelers, especially those swimming in the ocean. 

The Jewels of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

by Ellen Steiber

Part 3

No one can ever really know what goes on inside another person’s marriage. However, one thing that can be said about Jackie’s second marriage is that Aristotle Onassis gave her the equivalent of a royal dowry in jewels. There was a bracelet that he gave her for Easter, tiny 18-karat gold eggs set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. The diamonds alone weighed approximately 15.00 karats, with another 13.00 karats in colored stones. Sotheby’s estimated the bracelet’s value at $15,000-$20,000; it was sold for $96,000.

As one of her engagement presents, Mr. Onassis gave her another jaw-dropping trinket from Van Cleef & Arpels, an emerald and diamond necklace, which probably has to be seen to be believed. Each of the five pear-shaped emerald drops (totaling approximately 132.00 karats) are capped by gold and diamonds, and then each of these drops is attached to a gold-flower set with diamonds. Valued at $100,000-$125,000, it sold for $277,500. Presumably to go with this necklace, he also gave her (as a Christmas present) a Van Cleef & Arpels ring, featuring a huge cabochon emerald, weighing 61.17 karats, surround by diamonds. With an estimated worth of $10,000-$15,000, it sold for $85,000. Jackie’s actual engagement ring from Mr. Onassis was the Lesotho III Diamond from Harry Winston. A marquis-shaped “potentially flawless” diamond (40.42 karats) with an estimated worth of $500,000-$600,000, it sold for $2,587,500. Aristotle Onassis also gave her many lavish wedding presents, including a Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond ring. The oval faceted ruby weighed 17.68 carats and was surrounded by round diamonds. Estimated at $20,000-$30,000, it sold for $288,500.

Another extravagant wedding present from Onassis consisted of a pair of Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond earclips. The diamonds were set in gold flowers, and hanging from each flower, edged by diamonds, was a gorgeous pear-shaped ruby cabochon. Valued at $25,000-$35,000, the earrings sold for $360,000. One of her most spectacular wedding gifts, also from Van Cleef & Arpels—did the man buy out the store?—was what Sotheby’s describes as a “cabochon colored stone and diamond-pendant necklace.” The pendant features a heart-shaped ruby cabochon with a border of emerald cabs and diamonds, topped by a cabochon sapphire. The necklace itself is every bit as stunning as its pendant. Each link features a cabochon ruby, sapphire, or emerald surrounded by diamonds, so that each link of the necklace looks like a jeweled flower. Valued at $75,000-$100,000, it sold for $288,500. I imagine many people go through auction catalogs and think, “If I could just buy one thing . . . ” For me, the unspoken rule in this game of Jewelry Lust is that the item has to be something I would actually wear. Truthfully, I couldn’t picture myself in some of the more extravagant pieces, but there was one pair of earrings I couldn’t help coveting. Given to Jackie by Artemis Garofalides, Aristotle Onassis’ sister, they were deep-red faceted tourmaline briolettes hanging from amethysts set in matte 18-karat gold. Estimated at a modest $800-$1,000, they sold for $34,500.

Another piece whose beauty and simplicity fascinated me was a ring that dating from the 19th century—a heart-shaped garnet carbuncle surrounded by old-mine diamonds. (Carbuncle was term popular in Victorian times to describe a cabochon-cut almandine garnet.) The ring’s estimated worth was $1,200-$1,500. It sold for $33,350. And if, like me, you love the luscious deep red and purple stones, there was stunning necklace of graduated, smooth pear-shaped amethyst drops, spaced with gold beads and gold roundelles, the sort of thing I imagine a goddess might wear. Estimated at $1,500-$2,000, it sold for $57,500. One of the loveliest pieces in the catalog—and one that stands quite alone in its poignancy-- is a kunzite and diamond ring, which President Kennedy bought for his wife but never gave her. The pink faceted kunzite is a cushion-shaped stone, with a weight of approximately 47.00 karats, surrounded by twenty round diamonds and set in 18-karat gold. Clear, sparkling, and extraordinary, it seems to be a reflection of the woman herself. The ring’s estimated worth was $6,000-$8,000. It sold for $415,000.