Demantoid Versus Tsavorite Garnets

Demantoid Garnets

Tsavorite Garnets

 Photos: jupitergem.com

Did you know that Mother Earth makes 2 types of green garnets? Demantoid garnets were originally found in Russia’s Ural Mountains in 1851 and Tsavorite garnets were later discovered in East Africa in 1967.  

Demantoid - Wikipedia

A demantoid Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3 is an andradite garnet while a tsavorite Ca3Al2Si3O12 is a grossular garnet.

Tsavorite is a rich, deep green like emeralds. Its color is derived from chromium and vanadium. A yellow tint from ferric iron is more characteristic of demantoid garnets.

A demantoid garnet has a higher dispersion and refractive index than a tsavorite garnet, giving it more fire*, brilliance* or sparkle.

A tsavorite garnet is harder, registering 7 - 7.5 on Mohs Hardness Scale compared to the softer demantoid garnet at 6.5 - 7.

While both are rare mineral gemstones, high-quality demantoids (from Russia) are often considered the standard for green garnets and are highly sought after for their intense sparkle and rare horsetail inclusions. These inclusions are feathery golden threads of chrysotile that curve to resemble the tail of a horse. 

Tsavorite

Tsavorites are valued for their vibrant green hues and durability. Tsavorites are brighter and cleaner (meaning they have fewer inclusions) than emeralds.

Here’s an informative link to compare the value and desirability of all 3 green gemstones. If you covet an emerald for less money, a green garnet is worth considering.

At Tiffany and Co, I remember seeing demantoid garnets in a showcase that were yellow tinted and sparkled like crazy. Tiffany is known for its top of the line colored gemstones. Once again, we have to marvel at the spectacular beauty and versatility of Mother Nature!

 

₊˚💎𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ 💚 ‧₊˚ 💠 𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦  🟢 ₊˚ 💎𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ₊˚

Lesson Time: *Gemstone brilliance is the overall white light reflection from a gemstone, contributing to its brightness and liveliness, while fire is the dispersion of white light into rainbow-colored flashes, created by the gemstone’s (especially a diamond’s) internal refraction. Both are key components of a gemstone's "sparkle," but brilliance is about the amount of white light returned, and fire is about the colorful light shows that occur. This is especially key when determining the value of diamonds. Colored gemstones sparkle far less than diamonds. Color is their most important factor.

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High Jewelry Drops From 3 Elite Jewelers

Let’s do another eye candy blog. IMHO high jewelry is beautiful to behold and also the safer category to browse compared to beautiful yet impractical material things at T.J. Maxx -- which ordinary wage earners could afford but shouldn’t buy mindlessly. So lets began our peruse of the more costly finer things in life, shall we?

The above Ocean Flora Necklace features diamonds and un-oiled, un-enhanced Zambian emeralds, celebrated for their bright green color. Five perfectly matched emeralds total 10 carats. It is part of Tiffany & Co’s Blue Book 2025 collection called Sea of Wonder. Created by Nathalie Verdeille, the design is a tribute to the ocean's lush seascape and inspired by the gentle sway of underwater botanicals. 

 🔷.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ 💠 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚🔷 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚💠

Round and pear cut, light and dark sapphires finished with 174 sparkling diamonds

From Harry Winston's Majestic Escapes Collection inspired by wondrous travel locations, the diamond and Sri Lankan royal blue sapphire pieces are named the St. Moritz Necklace and Earrings. The collection, designed by Harry Winston’s artisans, captures the fluidity of the magical snow caped Swiss Alps and brilliant blue sky. If you keep in mind the sapphires are stand-ins representing the mountains, the diamonds are like glittering snowflakes showering the blue gemstones.

  🔷.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ 💠 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚🔷 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚💠

Oscar Heyman crafted this platinum multi-colored and multi-shaped Gemstone and Damond Necklace and Bracelet.

The necklace features a vibrant mix of hues from amethyst, aquamarine, beryl, chrysoberyl, citrine, demantoid, green sapphire, mandarin garnet, periot, pink sapphire, blue sapphire, tourmaline, ruby, tsavorite and yellow sapphire. A complementary bracelet (one of several styles) has 12 carats of (390 round) diamonds and colored sapphires. You might as well select a royal blue sapphire ring to have a suite! 

With its reputation of master craftsmanship, Oscar Heyman was commissioned by other elite jewelers, namely Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co. and Harry Winston to design several of their most iconic pieces of jewelry.

Which high jewelry set would you most like to borrow to wear to a gala?

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Old Navy For Jeans, Cotton & Linen Part II

In part I, I talked about how Old Navy has truly stepped up its game since the retailer first opened its doors in 1994. The range of causal smart and date night aparel is wide and fashionable. Decent quality at unbeatable prices! Not exactly top quality, yet Old Navy dresses, t-shirts, and layering pieces tend to hold up for many machine washings.

In this part II the focus is on denim pieces that give customers plenty of bang for the buck! You’ll own them for years to come because they’re durable, versatile and always in style.

1) First up is the Long Denim Barn Coat in a dark blue wash, perhaps my favorite piece of the offerings. The coat has a spread collar, long raglan sleeves, button front, front welt pockets and a vented back hem. A dark rinse is always dressier than lighter rinses. It’s selling out fast!

2) Fit and flare Sleeveless Denim Midi Dress - Available in 2 dark rinses (black or blue) with a square neck, wide straps and a seamed skirt.

3) Baggy Wide-Leg Jean Overalls - Oversized jeans with a bib pocket, utility and back packets and adjustable buckled straps. 

 4) Long-Sleeve Denim Jumpsuit - It has a spread collar, tie-belt waist, covered zipper; with chest, front and back pockets.

5)  Oversized Jean Trucker Jacket - The jacket has lots of buttons and pockets in all the right places: Long sleeves with buttoned cuffs, a full-button front, button-flap and chest pocket, vertical welt pockets, a button table at the waist and a seamed front. Plus the pants in the matching wash is available.

Old Navy seems to have replaced its pricey sister company, The Gap, offering customers good quality at more reasonable prices. It's what the Gap used to do. Decades ago I bought my lined denim jacket at the Gap and still wear it. Today consumers can turn to Old Navy for similar quality and selections as the old Gap. I love Old Navy’s high-toned additions at affordable price points!

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Cozy Earth Brushed Bamboo Midi Dress

The brushed bamboo midi dress by Cozy Earth is very wearable. Made of 70% bamboo viscose, 26% acrylic and 4% spandex, many of us would likely get our $105 - $128 worth of wear out of it due to its comfort, style and versatility. So yes, we could think of it as an investment piece, but if you don’t wish to spend as much, there are a number of visual matches on the internet for less.

The fit and quality of the Cozy Earth dress is a surer bet over its lookalikes, and at times I've paid the piper for the certainty of a worthwhile classic piece of clothing. Sometimes we take a risk to spend less and at other we don't! 

Another consideration is when you get it right, you just need the one dress. What I like about the Cozy Earth brand of this dress is the cut is spot on -- not too boxy, showy or sexy! The side splits for flexibility are not too high. The dress is feminine and not at all baggy.

The deliberation is: Do you spend $105 - $128 (depending on color) for a dress if it's "just right?” There is a spin the wheel discount on Cozy Earth’s website requring you to sign up for emails to make pulling the trigger less painful.

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Old Navy For Jeans and Cotton & Linen

Old Navy is the place to go for casual smart attire for less than elsewhere, and recently the retailer has really stepped up its game. Take a look at how many styles and shades of jeans, it offers! An absolute steal as its back to school sales are on! You couldn’t match the $15 price tag if you bought the denim then cut and sticked a pair together yourself!

I’m also loving Old Navy’s array of cotton and linen summer dresses of different skirt lengths -- mini, midi or maxi -- that can be dressed up or down. To boot, there are a few rayon or rayon crepe fabrics, which are wrinkle-free and cool to wear on hot summer days. Each style comes in several colors or patterns. Many have pockets!

Of course, you can still find what Old Navy has always sold since opening its doors in 1994 ... 👕🎽👕 t-shirts 👕🎽👕... in crew necks, v-necks, boat necks, sleeveless, short sleeves, or long sleeves. All your summer essentials without breaking the bank!👗

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Pearls Courtesy of the Qatar Museums

Made in 1800, I couldn’t find any history on it. Who made it? Who owned it? Can anyone solve the mystery?

In 2018 The Museums of Qatar put together an exhibition called “Pearls: Treasures From the Seas and the Rivers.” that opened at the State Historical Museum in Moscow as a cultural exchange. It featured a collection of over 100 pieces of pearl jewelry and artifacts from the Arabian Gulf, Europe and Asia. The traveling exhibit showcased the history and cultural significance of pearls with emphasis on their role in Qatar’s history, which was once a major center for pearl diving and trade. The show highlighted pearl fishing techniques and the artistry of pearl jewelry from different cultures and eras. Online media called it "one of the finest collections of pearl jewelry ever assembled.”

I'll show you a few pieces that caught my eye. 

Above 👆is a diamond brooch centered by a cushion shaped rare pink diamond with a gorgeous drop pearl. Breathtakingly beautiful, it is mounted in gold. ©1800

A tiara designed by Koechert was made in 1913 of gold, silver, diamonds and pearls for Archduchess Marie Valerie, the youngest child of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elizabeth (Sisi) of Austria.

The Rosebery tiara was designed in London by Garrard in 1878 for Hannah Rothchild upon her marriage to the Earl of Rosebery, making her Countess Rosebery. It has large diamonds and natural Pacific Ocean Pearls. 

Tiffany designed the above chrysanthemum brooch, one of several, with freshwater pearls from Mississippi in 1880.

 

The wide V-shaped broach is believed to have once belonged to Empress Maria Theresa who ruled Austria from 1740-1780. Set in gold, its 40+ natural round and pear shaped pearls come from the Persian Gulf.

The Millennium Necklace and Earrings Set was designed by Cartier in Paris in 2000. It is made of natural Pacific Ocean pearls and sizable emeralds. The center emerald was carved in 17th century India.

̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆

Close up view of the Pearl Carpet of Baroda

Although the famed Pearl Carpet of Baroda wasn’t in the 2018 exhibit (no mention that it was), it is a centerpiece in the National Museum of Qatar's permanent collection. The opulent carpet was commissioned by Khande Rao Gaekward, the Maharaja (governor) of Baroda, in 1865. It has over 1.5 million Basra pearls, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. The gemstones are embroidered onto a deerskin and silk backing. The Maharaja had it made to cover the tomb of the Prophet in Medina, but then couldn’t part with it, so it stayed in his family until 2009 when it sold at auction.

Pearls are timeless and elegant! What a magnificent show for the lucky folks who saw it! The 1st brooch might be my favorite piece, if forced, forced, forced to choose, even though we don’t really wear brooches anymore. The brooch's pink diamond and pink drop pearl are flawless and gorgeous! Which one is your favorite?𓆉🐌🐚🦀

If you wish to learn more about pearls click the 1st link, below.⚪

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At Land’s End The Classics Are Trending

Wow! Such winning style and comfort at Lands’ End. My picks for the summer are the silky soft Supima© cotton polos and shorts that are the perfect length to be classy and versatile. 

The breezy linen barrel leg trousers and linen peplum tops are a polished outfit for a summer evening out. Many people still spruce up a bit to go out to a restaurant or a shopping area. These would work very well!

The super cute boucle Johnny collar textured sweater with ribbed cuffs is 100% soft cotton. Great for breezy summer evenings in San Francisco and on beaches, and it will take you into the early fall. Pair the textured sweater with so many things, from skirts to jeans to longer shorts. 

Uh-Oh, I’ve done it again! My bias for 100% natural fabrics is showing. In summer clothes, cotton and linen rock. Lands’ End makes cotton and linen pieces that are machine washable. Usually I’d line dry the garments, but in a pinch you can toss them into the dryer too. Frequent machine drying tends to wear clothing out faster. So if there’s time, I machine wash then hang cotton and linen garments on a hanger to dry in the bathroom.

At Land’s End the classics are trending! Not only are they well made and well-priced but you can wear them for years to come.

✐✎✏✐✎✏✐✎✏✐✎✏✐✎✏✐✎✏✐✎✏✐✎✏✐✎✏✐✎✏

I’ll also review a linen tunic from the brand Bodhi that was promoted on The Today Show as a product deal. Here goes: I can’t imagine wearing yards of material in the summer. In hot boiling July or August, yikes! The sleeves have enough fabric to fit a monkey -- too bulky and long for human arms. The tunic's body shallows up the wearer. There’s no front zipper to step into the dress, so you have to ball it up to pull it over your head. High side slits can be problematic requiring an underneath layer. It’s also baggy and not versatile enough to step off a beach to have drinks or dinner with friends. IMHO, this one would be a regret purchase that you’d find too limiting to wear after you buy it even at its advertised bargain price. The linen fabric is spectacular, if only the cut of the tunic flattered a woman's silhouette. Contrast this frumpy tunic with Lands’ End's many stylish summer offerings at much better starting price points. Cute and bouncy routs baggy every time!

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