Admiring Rubies In The Raw

Today I want to feature high quality rubies in their natural state. I’d be trilled to find such a precious red crystal before it was cut and turned into jewelry. I’m not sure I’d want to cut or polish it. Previously I’ve written about rubies detailing their properties and value, which I’ll link below.👇The main purpose of this blog is to fawn over uncut rubies!

In the jewelry world, rubies are one of the rarest and most coveted gemstones. The red corundum derives its color from traces of chromium. All other colors of gem-quality corundum are classified as sapphires, including pink corundum. Gemologists and jewelers expect a medium to medium-dark red color tone for a gemstone to be considered a genuine ruby. Corundums of lighter coloration are pink sapphires. A ruby's exclusive red color can reach high levels of saturation. Due to their rarity, premium quality rubies are among the world's most expensive gemstones, selling for over $1 million per carat.

Historically, Myanmar (formerly called Burma) was the most renowned source for high-saturation with fluorescence, or "pigeon's blood," rubies. But in 2009 major deposits of high quality rubies were discovered in Mozambique to rival Myanmar rubies. Vietnam and Madagascar also grow similar high quality rubies.

Since there are few gemstone quality high saturation rubies in nature, rubies undergo more treatments than nearly all other gemstones before being turned into jewelry, greatly affecting their market value. Most commercial rubies are at least heat-treated, an accepted practice as long as it’s disclosed and reflected in its retail price. Without treatment there would be few rubies to sell.

A lovely affordable raw ruby bracelet here from an unfamiliar retailer.

Aren’t these blocks of uncut vibrant red gemstones beautiful? Especially when knowing that not all natural ruby crystals are gemstone quality. If you want to know more about gemstone quality rubies, you can click the links below.

If you found a raw ruby would you treasure it or have it cut and polished into a piece of jewelry? 

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What Is A Shacket?

Photo: ShortStoryBox

It’s a new word I recently heard uttered by Willie Geist, the NBC News anchor, and it’s trending. The word is shacket for shirt-jacket.

A shacket combines the lightweight, relaxed style of a button-up shirt with the heavier fabric and functionality of a jacket. Often featuring larger pockets and made from sturdy materials like wool, denim, or cotton twill, shackets work as a versatile, casual-smart layering piece that can be worn in 3 ways (1) solo or (2) as an outer layer or (3) under a heavier coat, ideal for transitional weather.

Here is a peek into my closet. 

As it turns out I have 8 shackets in my closet: 4 are wool, 2 are denim, 1 is cotton and 1 is cotton/modal, all bought years ago (Shhh!, I’m not telling how many:) before the word came into existence. Without knowing, I was trending before the trend! I wear mine in the fall or spring when you need warmth but a coat is too warm. Because I wear leggings in the fall, winter and spring, I like the longer length of a shacket to balance the skinny fit of leggings (or skinny jeans). 

A shacket can also bump up a comfortable relaxed look to casual-smart by pulling together all the pieces of an outfit and covering up your butt. A longer length complements long legs also.

Although a shacket can be worn alone, I always wear a color coordinated t-shirt under mine. That way all I need to wash frequently is the t-shirt, and if I get too hot, I can remove the shacket and not have to leave it on for decency.

So a shacket is a smart layering piece, and proof that everything old is renamed and new again!

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Anticipation + 6 Ways To Save For Big Ticket Items

In 2023 interviewer Bruce Bozzi on Table for Two asked actress Sarah Jessica Parker what she’d most like to give to her children. She responded she wants her children to have the ability to “pine for” or “want things,” believing it to be a positive trait. Sarah’s childhood of sometimes in want taught her the value of hard work and gave her the motivation to earn things through her own efforts.

Moreover, compared to instant gratification, sometimes the anticipation and sacrifice of saving up for a purchase, whether a necessity or a splurge gives us additional pleasure, endorphins, or satisfaction as we get closer and closer to reaching our goal. Often we appreciate a yearned for article all the more because we worked and saved to have enough moola to finally buy it.

6 Ways To Save Extra Cash may involve cutting back on other luxuries and impulse buys such as:

(1) [Never signing up or] cutting the cable. The average cost of cable tv bundles for an American family is $1,600 per year, and another increase is expected before 2025 ends.

(2) [Never signing up or] cancelling subscriptions. Watching the sum of not spending grow in a piggy or bank account gives you a buzz.

(3) Cooking at home and eating out less, plus looking at the supermarket flyers for sales.

(4) Walking to our destinations whenever possible to save transportation costs and the price of a gym membership!

(5) Washing, reusing and repurposing what we already own when an item is re-useable. 

(6) Researching and keeping an eye on the item we are pining for to catch it at a discount. Never buy anything without looking for deals!

In a similar vein, European parents with their young children along may shop in the morning at a pastry shop with the understanding that it won’t get eaten until after dinner. They are teaching their children to plan and wait for treats.

It’s been noted that instant gratification and over consumption don’t make people happier. When you never work or wait for anything, food and material things seem to lose their value -- their specialness.

In fact, waiting can double the pleasure: Often the anticipation brings us as much joy as the actual purchase. Then we can savor it all the more! Sarah Jessica Parker, you are one wise mama!

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The Cambridge Sapphire Parure

In 1934 when Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, granddaughter of George I of Greece and great granddaughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia married Prince George of Kent, the 4th son of George V and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom, her mother-in-law gave her the beautiful Cambridge Sapphire Parure, a family heirloom that was made for Queen Mary's grandmother, Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge, who left the jewels to her daughter, Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen Mary’s aunt. In 1916, the aunt willed her sapphire parsue to her favorite niece, Queen Mary, who presented the set to her new daughter-in-law.

The tiara could also be worn as a necklace.

A parure is a set of jewelry that is meant to be worn together. Princess Marina received a tiara, a necklace, 2 bracelets, 2 brooches, earrings, and a corsage jewel. I’ve combed the internet for photos to show the jewelry, most of the images were taken in black and white or later in life as Princess Marina wore her Cambridge Sapphire Parure for decades to carnations and state dinners.

When Princess Marina died in 1968 she left the Cambridge Sapphire Parure to her daughter-in-law, Katharine, the new Duchess of Kent, who in 1961 had married Prince Edward, Marina’s eldest son.

Unfortunately as time passed, the Kents couldn’t afford to keep the parure in tact. Some of its stones were sold and eventually all of its pieces disappeared from public view, presumed auctioned and bought by private collectors. It’s sad to see these historic pieces broken up and not end up in a museum. 

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

Ordinary people could never afford such magnificent pieces of jewelry consisting of a set of so many heirloom quality sapphires. Also, we never attend royal galas, so where could we wear them? A Trip to Walmart, down in the subway, or a TIME magazine pour?

Savvy Shoppers on a budget settle for commercial grade smaller stones but honestly can easily enjoy them just as much. Inspired by the Cambridge Sapphire Parsure, I picked a few lovely pieces sold by Macy’s, Belk, Saks and other department stores to illustrate how much we can love lesser pieces of jewelry! Each department store offers a wider selection to match every taste, and they run frequent sales making a jewelry splurge more affordable to an average Debra, um Jane!😛

Tips: If you do splurge on jewelry never pick pieces so fancy they stay in a box most of the year. Don’t be afraid of lab-grown stones either. Lab-grown gemstones are physically, chemically, and optically the same as natural gemstones, but cheaper. People will pay more for natural gemstones, yet jewelry is never an investment. You will rarely make a profit by selling your jewelry. Find classic pieces within your budget that you can pair with a little black dress, as well as, blue jeans. When jewelry stays in a box, it's a complete waste of money -- a splurge gone wrong!👑

Be sure to visit Tiffany, as well as, the gemstone wings of the Natural History Museum in New York and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. to see the heirloom gemstones when you're in the towns, and Macy’s Herald Square for the commercial grade sparklers. Also, inexperienced buyers are more apt to get taken than to score a good deal in NYC's diamond district. The vibe is to sell and it's not much fun to browse there.

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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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