Handmade, hand polished black spinel gemstone beads necklace, with sterling silver toggle and bar fastening. Length 400-430mm, width 3mm. Suitable for use alone or as a necklace for pendants.

Black spinel is not well-known among the gem world, yet its outstanding features make it the ideal choice for an opaque black gem. These days, where most gems undergo routine enhancement treatments, black spinel can stand proud as a gem requiring nothing more than cutting and polishing to bring out its inner beauty. If you want a totally natural and untreated black gemstone – black spinel is the one!

Gemmology matters: Spinel (MgAl2O4) is a mineral similar to corundum (Al2O3) and is often found in ruby and sapphire bearing areas. Spinel comes in a variety of colours but the relatively rare opaque black variety is only found in a few areas – traditionally Thailand is the main source but Australia is also a major producer. With a hardness of 8.0, uniform nature, high reflectance and lack of cleavage, black spinel makes excellent gem material. Black spinel has been often called “black sapphire” or “nin” in Thailand. Miners here often call it Blackjack and regard it as an indicator of good sapphire being present in the wash. Let there be no confusion though as black spinel is an excellent gemstone in its own right.

Mythology and Lore: There is a wealth of mythology surrounding black spinel. It is believed to protect its owner from harm, to reconcile differences, and to console sadness. Some say that black spinel is the stone for people born on Saturday and it is the recommended gift for the 22nd wedding anniversary.  While in Western culture, black may be associated with evil or mourning; in other cultures, black may represent power, fertility or wisdom (source Wikipedia). In any case, black is the essence of style and sophistication with a timeless quality that means it will never go out of fashion.

Handmade, hand polished blue, grey, violet shades of iolite gemstone, bead necklace with sterling silver bar and toggle fastening. Length 420-450mm, width approx 4mm. Suitable for use on it's own or as a necklace for a pendant. The colour goes well with kyanite and labradorite pendants.

Like a crisp, dark winter sky, Iolite, in shifting shades of violet-blue carries the spirit of journey, of dreams and intuition, of exploration and illumination. It is known as the Vikings' Compass, and provides the vision to move us, physically and spiritually, from one realm to the next.

Leif Eriksson and other Viking explorers who ventured far out into the Atlantic Ocean, away from any coastline that would help determine position, used thin pieces of Iolite as the world's first polarizing filter. Looking through an Iolite lens, they could determine the exact location of the sun and navigate safely to the New World and back. 

A property called pleochroism is very pronounced in Iolite, producing different colors when the stone is seen through different positions. Overall, Iolite appears as violet-blue or indigo, but in different positions may shift to a yellow-gray or honey color, and even to a clear light blue. It is also referred to as "Water Sapphire" or Dichroite. Iolite's name comes from the Greek ios, meaning violet, and is the gem version of the mineral Cordierite.

Iolite helps in recovering balance, and is recommended for those suffering from disorientation, lack of motivation, chronic disorganization, and distraction. [Megemont, 96] It strengthens the resolve to take on responsibility and carry through, and provides self-assurance and endurance in adverse situations. [Gienger, 32] It is an excellent source of energy when used for the elimination of debt and the responsible management of money. 

Iolite restores a sense of perspective to those who feel they are jinxed, and inspires anyone with a chaotic life to start to bring order in small practical ways. 

Iolite resonates with the energy of twilight, a beautiful violet-blue that stimulates the astral bodies and psychic awareness. It reveals realms beyond the usual waking consciousness and is ideal for astral projection, dimensional and other inner vision works, and is excellent for past- and alternate-life work. 

Iolite is a stone of the muses, activating the visionary, creative side of the mind, and accessing thoughts and ideas beyond the ordinary. It inspires creative self-expression through writing, song, movement and other artistic endeavors. 

Use Iolite to strengthen family dilemmas. Place in the living area if sibling rivalry or the presence of a new step-parent is causing a child to feel excluded. Use Iolite if family members have over-high expectations of you, or if your career path was chosen for you because of family connections. As an amulet, Iolite brings travelers safely home. Give a piece of Iolite jewelry or a tumblestone as a farewell gift to students leaving home or emigrating family members. 

Iolite aids in understanding and releasing the causes of addiction, allowing for the expression of one's true self, freed from the expectations of others. 

Rose gold plated on sterling silver Vav ( or Waw) necklace. The Vav symbol surrounded by 2 concentric circles set with turquoise cubic zirconia and finished with a trace chain tassel on a fine trace chain necklace. Length 420mm, length of pendant 60mm, width 20mm.

The letter Vav is the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it has many meanings including hook, but the ultimate meaning of Vav is found in the completion of the Cosmos in the creation of Adam on the Sixth Day.

The letter ו Vav is a connector; it makes a connection, a bond. Vav is a channel, the means through which forces go from one place to another. This is why aside from being a letter and the number six, Vav is also the Hebrew word for “and.” Of course, in any sentence the word “and” is a connector, a bridge. We say “you and me,” and what connects us is “and.”

In Hebrew, “and” is a ו (Vav).  This is very very important to grasp about the Vav, because the letter Vav is in the Holy Name of God. The four letter name of God (the Tetragrammaton) is יהוה (Iod Hei Vav Hei).

יהוה

That Vav is very important there. When you look at the Vav as the word “and,” you can discover new meanings in this name of God.  This four letter name is explained in many ways because it has many applications. But when you see the Vav as “and,” then the name יהוה reads יה and ה: “Jah and Hei.” In other words, it means masculine divinity and feminine divinity. You see the two polarities in this name.

Rose gold, plated on sterling silver trace chain necklace with a fish bone design, mobile pendant set with black cubic zirconia stones. Length 420mm, fishbone length 56mm, width 14mm.

Polished sterling silver, cut out leaf pendant on a shiney, squared snake chain necklace. Length 430mm, length of leaf 38mm, width of leaf 18mm. Matches Earrings ES3500, Bracelets B3500 and B3502.

Lovely, polished sterling silver balls necklace, a jumble of 2 different sized silver balls on a solid belcher neck chain.  The balls diameters are 6mm and 8mm, the chain width 3mm. The necklace is available in 2 adjustable lengths, from 410mm-460mm, 460mm-510mm. It is a stunning necklace that is very versatile and easy to wear. There are bracelets, bangles, rings and many ball earrings to match; enter 'ball' into the search box for all to be displayed.

Sterling silver, alternating polished silver and cubic zirconia spirals drop necklace on a fine belcher chain necklace. Length 500mm, width of spirals section 50mm, drop 26mm. Matches earrings E3350.

Sterling silver, drop shaped evil eye pendant, on a fine trace chain; set with turquoise coloured cubic zirconia around the edge and blue, turquoise and clear cubic zirconia in an off centre drop shape. necklace length 420mm, pendant length 26mm, width 17mm. 

Evil eyes are said to protect the wearer from evil or bad fortune. They are supposedly more powerful when received as a gift!

Handmade, hand faceted, triple strand, graduated, genuine sapphire, emerald and ruby beads necklace, with solid sterling silver fastening and beading, with milgrain decoration. The necklace has an adjustable length chain finished with a single ruby bead. Adjustable length 450mm- 485mm, bead width approx 2-4mm, weight 31.9g. This item goes well with Earrings E3000, Bracelets B2404/5.

Pretty, faceted, peach coloured, cubic zirconia heart pendant on a fine sterling silver trace chain necklace. Length 460mm, heart width 20mm.