Black Tahitian Pearls and 60" knotted Rhodonite

Princess Rhea, may I ask a question?
Certainly, what's up?

Last year, I came in here and bought my wife a strand of black hand knotted Tahitian pearls, I think she wears them every day. Now her birthday is coming up. I think she has 10 or so rings, doesn't wear bracelets, I like that string of rhodonites, but I don't know if she would wear it.

Well, black pearls do go with almost everything, but there are lots of choices that go with black pearls, even showcase them.

Rhodonites are not that common. There are sites around the world, but nothing huge, because you need metamorphic rock and the black manganese oxide that makes it so interesting. The facet quality crystals are very rare and easy to shatter, so they are not generally fashioned into jewelry. However, the high quality rock with the oxides are fun. As you can see, it doesn't usually take a high polish.
Mohs Hardness is about a 6. Sometimes it is red, more commonly pink.

When you find a specimen with the oxides, it bangs next to black pearls. Since that is a 60" string, you really want something with a knot after each stone, or a break could be disastrous. Remember the ball bearing scene at the end of Animal House? OSHA would not approve.

The 12 classic birth stones

Rhea, what do you think of birthstones?

It's hard to say. I think they have gamed the system so that almost every gemstone is a birthstone. But there is a sentence to remember the originals. Well actually, the originals probably come from the Bible, Exodus 28, "Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; 18 the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; 19 the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; 20 the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. 21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes."

What is jacinth?

People aren't really sure. When I was in Sunday school, they suggested it was a red/orange variant of zircon. Anyway, today the classics are: garnet (January), amethyst (February), aquamarine (March), diamond (April), emerald (May), pearl (June), ruby (July), peridot (August), sapphire (September), opal (October), topaz (November), and turquoise (December).

And the mnemonic sentence to remember them is:
“GREAT ACTORS ALWAYS DEVELOP EVERY POSSIBLE RESOURCE, PERFECTLY SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES TO TRIUMPH”

Where'd you get that?

Mental Floss, I like to go there when the shop is slow.

Rhea, how did 12 tribes become 12 months?

Dunno, tribe of the month?

Pearls multi strand

Pearls are fragile, the string may break, they can never be exposed to the rain, pearls are the last thing you put on, perfume can harm them, Rhea shook her head. Sad.

The real problem with pearls is that people pay way too much for them. Well strung, real pearls, can be had for $100 - $200.  That's what we stock at Bestow. Instead people buy them from boutiques, they buy brands like Mikimoto, pay far, far, too much and the lady never thinks it is OK to wear them.

“I feel undressed if I don't have my pearls on. My pearls are my security blanket.” Quote by Lady Sarah Churchill, I think we should all feel that way.

Every lady should own a string of pearls and feel free to wear them anytime. Nothing is quite so versatile.

Emerald beads 16" and multistrand

Rhea, I have a problem, said John Comfort. I bought my wife a string of emeralds and she doesn't wear them. What should I do?

John, the lady gets to decide what she is going to wear and emeralds are a hard shade to match. Greens certainly are problematic. When customers come into Bestow, I usually tell them emeralds should be one of the last things they buy for their loved one.

Maybe buy her a new top with several colors in it.

But the emeralds won't pop that way?

Yes, John, but she might wear them that way.

But Rhea, a vendor that I trust from Zambia says he has a multi-strand necklace of Zambian and her birthday is coming up.

Well John, the funny thing is more emeralds are easier to accessorize, the single strand can get "lost".

I see what you mean, oh the color is incredible, are those Zambian, asked John?

Yes, replied Rhea, they both are, they always remind me of the rocks they use for camouflage in John Borman's The Emerald Forest, I always wondered . . . that scene where Tomme is picking up the sacred stones, they could be raw emeralds.

John nodded, the multistrand reminds me of Revelation 4:3,A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

Opal Blue Peruvian 18 inch

Rhea, I would like to get my wife an opal.

Jimmy, I would like to get my husband a truck, do you have a recommendation?

Whew Rhea, there are a lot of trucks to choose from, you need more information.

Exactly, other than silica, opals mean different things. What is the application, what do you envision her wearing with said opal?

Blue jeans, whenever she is relaxing, not in work mode, or go out mode, she tends to wear blue jeans.

Blue jeans are one of the most important elements of a wardrobe, everybody's goto choice. And there are a number of options to accessorize.

Blue opals have a soft glow for the look of understated elegance. They come in a number of grades that are often assessed at the mine, so buyer beware. A number of vendors try to sell cabochons set in silver at a fairly high price.  If you love the piece, buy it, but I would think twice if it is a gift. Regardless, in general expect 5.5 on the Moh scale, fine for a necklace, would avoid in a ring or bracelet.















And they can easily be more formal, such as with a dress for date night.

Opal mexican large roundelles

So you don't recommend opals, Rhea, why is that?

Hmm, Clarissa, that is a bit like saying I don't recommend men. I've got my man and he's a good one. At this point in my life I can say there are many males that are best avoided and that is what men and opals have in common.

So what you are saying is that I have to find "my opal?"

No, said Rhea, that would be a fool's errand. There are so many soft, easily destroyed, formed of hardened jelly, but very pretty rocks out there categorized as opal, I would say:
- Don't spend an arm and a leg
- Take time to look at your options, you might try more than one

That is sensible, said Clarissa, what do you have in the shop? Well, here is a blue Peruvian Opal, and what you are holding right now is a Mexican Fire Opal. Those are best to either see before purchase, or get from someone you trust, there is a lot of variance.

But it doesn't sparkle, I thought fire . . .

Fire is the colors, red, orange, yellow, and whiteish, but if you pay enough, you can certainly get sparkly versions of fire opal, just don't expect to bequeath them to your daughter.

Garnet Hessionite

A gentleman came into the shop, wearing the kind of casual clothes that aren't casual, just look at those shoes, Corinthian leather; Ricardo Montalban would salivate. Rhea, my wife and I are traveling in Europe for a couple weeks and we only want to take carryons. She will be wearing a cashmere camel colored batwing shawl, especially for cooler evenings. We only want to take one or two pieces of jewelry with us.

I would like to get her something elegant, that really sets off the shawl, but affordable enough that if something happens to it on travel it's OK. Do you have a suggestion?

Do you have a picture of her in the shawl?

She is beautiful, and so is the shawl. Take a look at this Hessionite garnet necklace, 18" graduated 6 - 11M rondelles. Flawless craftsmanship, desirable color, everything you could ask for. I think your wife, the shawl and necklace will sing together.

May I recommend that we have each stone knotted and a 14k fitting. That would add $125.00 to the purchase price, but it will make it feel right at home on a cruise ship or 4 star hotel. Good?

Rhea, that's perfect, thank you!

Opal "welo" Necklace 16"

He was a strong man, blue collar, pulled up to Bestow in his Ford F150, dual gas tanks, 4WD, I'm guessing the truck was 20 years old.

I came out from the counter, as is my habit, Welcome to Bestow sir, how can may I help you?

My son works for some technology company, guess he is doing good, they want to give him a prize and send him and his wife to Jamaica. He asked if we would sit the dogs, of course we said yes, but now we are invited to his victory celebration party.

I nodded, and said congratulations, you must be very proud of him.

I am, he said, but we don't, we won't, fit in. I need something for my wife to wear, but I don't want to spend every last time we have saved, do you have any ideas?

Sir, I am full of ideas, do you mind telling me your name?
Sam.

Well met Sam, I'm Rhea and offered him a hand; we shook. Do you happen to have a picture of your wife? Maybe even a couple on your phone?

Sam, she is wearing the same diamond studs in her ears in all the photos.
They were a gift from our youngest son, they are pretty special to her.

Rhea continued, earrings are out, that pretty much leaves a ring and a necklace. It's hard to come up with a ring that will show in this crowd. But, I may have a secret weapon as a necklace.  Hold it, watch it do its magic and I will tell you about it.

It is a beaded Welo opal necklace from Amhara  plateau, Ethiopia. The color is brilliant and rivals any top grade opal in the world.

Sam, you lady will stand tall against jewel pieces that cost a hundred times more. It isn't what you pay, it's what you get. Would you like to Bestow this necklace on your lady? It won't break your budget and it will be something she treasures all her days.