Genuine Gemstones for Your Jewelry Projects - Part 2

Nature's Best Buys

More and more people are discovering the creative satisfaction and rewards of making their own unique jewelry. Once beading captures your imagination, it's hard to stop looking for new, exciting material to fabricate your hand made distinctive treasures. For some, jewelry making has evolved into a profitable endeavor as a home based business.

In Part 1 of this article we discussed the eternal allure of real gemstones beads and looked at how they can be highly affordable and practical to use if we keep in mind some simple buying guidelines. Be aware of what to expect when ordering online, know common sizing and grading practices and be knowledgeable about gems that have been enhanced or altered from their natural state.

Certain gemstones stand out as exceptional values in today's market because they offer beautiful colors, patterns or markings. Some have been treasured for millenniums and have endured as special possessions, yet each of us humble crafters can make these gemstones part of our own palette of tools when we create. Let's consider a few examples:

Aventurine - This is a translucent quartz stone with inclusions of other material that give it a bit of shine and sparkle. It comes in a range of light and dark green shades, as well as peach and an orangey-red tone. Usually mined in Brazil, India or Russia. Only buy the natural stone, as there is no need to treat or dye aventurine. Experiment with different green tones in your jewelry designs. Expect to find 6 mm round bead strands for about $5 from online dealers.

Sodalite - This beautiful navy blue stone with white streaks could almost pass for Lapis, but costs much less. Lapis typically has golden flecks caused by pyrite inclusions, which are absent in sodalite. Looks great with sterling silver or pearls. A 6mm round bead strand 16" long can cost around $8.