Winter - Village Silversmith

W I N T E R
N E W S L E T T E R
2 0 0 9 -
2 0 1 0
Three New Stones You’ll Find in our
Stores!
Shattukite, Sonora Sunset Stone, & Australian
Print Stone
Great Gifts
On a Budget
for This
Holiday Season
Fabulous Feldspars
Labradorite & Rainbow
Moonstones
Beaded Necklaces
A Necklace Full of Stone Variations
Amber
Golden Treasures from
The Baltic
WINTER 2009
WINTER 09
Fabulous Feldspars
Many of you may know of Moonstones but whst
you may not know is there are multiple types of
Moonstones. At Village Silversmith we carry a
handful of different types but our most popular
Moonstones are Labradorite (pictured on the
cover page) and Rainbow Moonstone (pictured
to the right). These two stones are in the genre of
feldspar moonstones and have been favorites
since we opened our doors many years ago.
Feldspars crystallize from magma in many
different forms of rock such as sedimentary rock.
They are in the formation of veins when they are
mined and are comprised of aluminum and
silica. They are found in many places on Earth
but Labradorite (sometimes called Gray
Moonstone) is mined in Canada, mainly in
Labrador but also in Newfoundland. Rainbow
Moonstones are also mined in many places
across the globe, but the best quality pieces are
found in Sri Lanka and Madagascar, where
Village Silversmith gets its supply.
out the colors in each outfit. Because the main
color in the flash is blue they look particularly
beautiful with blue tones such as cobalt blue or
even sky blue. They also look beautiful with
colors such as plum, navy, burnt orange, and
teal. Moonstones received their name because
they look exceptionally good at night and
reflect the light of the moon impeccably, so
wearing these stone at night is a tradition and
the best time to get a gorgeous flash of color.
Labradorite and Rainbow Moonstones are
known for their vibrant flashes of color. How
you cut each stone will change the amount of
flash and the color of the sheen. It is easy to pick
out an experienced stonecutter by the quality
that they cut these stones. The flash of color
tends to be mostly a bright blue tone but in gem
quality pieces you can often find hints of green,
yellow, and even peach colors. Throughout each
of these stones there is pattern of slight lines,
which tend to intersect each other. These
striations through the stones are what give them
their sheen and flash. These two stones are very
similar looking but the difference is in the overall
tone of the stone. Labradorite has a gray tone
that gives a darker look to the flash, and the
Rainbow Moonstone is primarily a light white or
clear color, which gives a lighter flash of color.
These feldspar moonstones have very strong
metaphysical properties. Labradorite is known
to increase serendipity and aid in
synchronizing one’s life. It also is said to allow
the knowing that the path of true fulfillment is
self- mastery. Rainbow Moonstone helps to
protect from out side forces and is said to
heighten female’s natural intuition.
At Village Silversmith we carry pendants, link
bracelets, cuffs, earrings, rings, and polished or
rough chunks in both Labradorite and in
Rainbow Moonstone. You can find these
stones at all of our locations.*
These stones are some of the easiest stones at
Village Silversmith to wear. Each stone has so
much color that when wearing them they pull
By: Katie Lovasco
2
For more information check out this months issue of Colored
Stone Magazine with our Moonstone’s featured.
WINTER 2009
WINTER 09
Beading at Village Silversmith
At Village Silversmith, we are known for our
unique stonework. Many know of our stone
pendants, but not many are familiar with our
extensive collection of beaded necklaces, which
offer much more stone variation than our
pendants.
Leah, a Village Silversmith Manager, strings our
beads in our workshop above the Rockport
Bearskin Neck store. She has been stringing for
three years and learned from the owners of
Village Silversmith and our previous stringer how
to perfect the craft. She starts every strand by
grading the beads. This is a process that is done to
choose the best gem quality stones. She inspects
approximately fifty beads of each stone to pick the
best for each necklace. Then she will pick the best
three of the chosen beads to put in the front of the
necklace. Leah tries to keep similar variations of
the stones together, or in a pattern for each
“ I love my beads because they make a
statement! Every time I wear them, they spark
conversation.” – Joanna, Village Silversmith
Manager, pictured below wearing Pink Salmon
Coral beads
Leah at our workshop in Rockport beading an Onyx Necklace
necklace. Next, she cuts the jewelers wire to the
length that she wants for the necklace, with a few
extra inches for attaching the clasp. She then
picks the sterling spacer beads according to the
shape, pattern and size of the stone beads she is
working with. “If I am stringing funky shaped or
heavily patterned stone beads I’ll pick a simple
small spacer bead. With the larger simple
patterned and shaped stones, I can experiment
with the texture of the spacer bead and use a
larger size spacer bead,” said Leah. Next, she
aligns the beads as she desires on her bead board,
“I tend to work in odd numbers for the pattern of
the strand. For example, I’ll place three stone
beads then one silver spacer bead, and so on and
so forth.” Finally, “I attach a clasp to the end of
the necklace and a stamped Village Silversmith
logo, so everyone knows that it is a true product of
our stores.”
Village Silversmith carries many different types of
stone beaded necklaces. We have almost every
stone that we work with in our silver and stone
setting as well as a bead necklace variation. You’ll
find everything from Rubies and Sapphires to
Jaspers and Agates. We also make many
matching bracelets and earrings to complement
the beaded necklaces.*
By: Katie Lovasco
3
WINTER 2009
WINTER 09
Three New Stones in our Collection: Shattuckite,
Sonora Sunset Stone, and Australian Print Stone
Shattuckite
Shattuckite is a rare stone that forms when Malachite
crystallizes. It was found in the copper mine in Bisbee,
Arizona. It receives its name from the specific mine that it was
found in named Shattuck. The stone is a composition of
copper, which brings out the bright blue color and the silica,
which gives the stone its shine and great polish. Shattuckite
has great healing properties and is often called a stone of
reconciliation and renewal. The color of the stone is a great
compliment to the colors worn in the winter and will give
your wardrobe a pop of brightness.
Sonora Sunset Stone
Sonora Sunset Stone is also known as Chrysocolla Cuprite for the
two most significant minerals found within the stone. It is found in
the Millpillas mine in Senora Mexico. The stone was found in 2008
below 1,000 feet of gravel. It is known for its distinct differentiated
color of teal and brick red. This coloration gives the stone its
nickname “Christmas Stone”. Many say that this stone looks like an
abstract piece of art and become very intrigued with its pattern. This
stone has a very strong healing quality, which aids in grounding and
relaxing. It is also known to balance the energies throughout the
body. Its coloration is often a predominatly brick red color, with
touches of teal and black. These colors are perfect for the holiday
and winter season and will bring warmth to every outfit.
Australian Print Stone
This interesting stone is a type of Sandstone found in North
Western Australia. It is named after its unique print pattern that
tends to repeat itself several times throughout one stone. The
pattern on these stones can be very interesting depending on how
it is cut. This stone also has high silica content, so the polish that it
receives is impeccable. The tones in this stone are very warm.
Some pieces have a tan base with an orange brown print and
others have a dark peach base with a deep brown print. These
colors are nice and warm for the fall and winter season. They look
particularly nice against burgundy or reds, but their neutral colors
can be worn with almost any color and in any season.
By: Katie Lovasco
4
WINTER 2009
WINTER 09
Baltic Amber
becomes the insect and the detail that it has.
When there is a large species of insect in the
amber the value of the piece increases. Many
value amber because it sometimes holds the
key to identifying prehistoric life. How long
the species has been extinct will change the
value of the amber.
Baltic amber is a fossilized tree resin up to
50 million years old. It comes from an
extinct species of conifer tree known as
Pinus succinifera. While amber is popularly
referred to as fossilized tree sap, there are
many differences between tree resin and tree
sap. Sap is located inside the wood of a tree
and is used to provide a tree with nutrients,
while resin is located under the bark and is
used to protect the tree from insects.
Amber does not have a strong healing energy
but it is said to help pull negative energy out of
the body. It is recommended to put amber on
a part of the body that is in pain to draw the
pain out. It is also said to be a good stone for
people with depression.
Occasionally, insects or other small creatures
became trapped in ancient resin and became
preserved in the fossilized amber for millions
of year. Certain geological formations
allowed for the resin of the Pinus succinifera
tree to dry and fossilize, becoming the gem
we know as amber. While amber is found in
numerous locations, Village Silversmith
considers Baltic material to be the highest
quality amber and uses it for a majority of
our sterling silver pieces.
Since there are so many tones of amber, there
is a variation that appeals to almost every one.
The golden tone is particularly popular this
season and can be worn with silver metal or to
mix with gold metals. The warmer tones of
amber go great with the colors worn in the fall
and winter seasons
At Village Silversmith we carry, cuffs, link
bracelets, pendants, rings, beaded necklaces,
earrings, and display pieces in amber. We have
a varied selection of settings in the amber,
some with very antique style settings and some
with modern settings. You can find it at our
Bearskin Neck, Northshore Mall, and
Gloucester locations.*
When one thinks of amber, usually a golden
color will come to mind. However, amber
can actually come in several different tones.
The traditional color of amber is a bright
golden tone with some hints of orange
(pictured in a cuff to the right). There is also
a very yellow translucent colored amber,
butterscotch amber, which is a soft mostly
opaque yellow color. There is a deep
burgundy translucent amber, and green
amber, which is modified to receive that
tone. We carry many different pieces in all
of the colors of amber and we carry some
pieces that have multiple colors of amber in
one piece.
Depending on what is trapped in the amber
also depends on the overall look. When
vegetation is trapped or there is minor
fractures throughout the internal structure
of the stone, the stone tends to have sparkle
or and interesting pattern throughout it. If
there are insects entrapped, the focus
By: Katie Lovasco & Curtis Sarkin
5
AFFORDABLE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
WINTER 09
Affordable and iconic fossils are great gifts for
anyone interested in Earth science or unique
home décor.
Trilobites were highly successful sea creatures that appeared
over 500 million years ago during the Cambrian Period. Their
fossils have been found globally, and many come from
Morocco.
They belonged to a group of hard-shelled
invertebrates called arthropods. Trilobites evolved into over
15,000 species, making them the most diverse extinct animals
ever found. They ranged from under an inch to almost three
feet in length. Many trilobites had advanced calcite crystal
eyes made up of multiple lenses. The last trilobites died out
about 250 million years ago at the end of the Permian Period,
when volcanic activity killed about 95% of species. After this
mass extinction, the dinosaurs appeared.
Ammonites were squid-like sea creatures which lived inside
spiral shells much like the living nautilus. They belonged to a
group of intelligent mollusks known as cephalopods, which
includes octopus, squid, nautilus, and cuttlefish, as well as the
prehistoric Orthoceras and belemnites.
Like squids,
ammonites propelled themselves through the sea by shooting
water and they would squirt ink if threatened. Their shells
had chambers, like a nautilus, which allowed them to control
their buoyancy and sink and rise in the water. Ammonites
were very successful animals, and their fossils have been found
across the globe. They first appeared over 360 million years
ago, and went extinct alongside the dinosaurs about 65 million
years ago when an asteroid collided with Earth.
The Green River Formation of Wyoming is the richest deposit
of fish fossils on Earth. Dating back to the Eocene Epoch,
the fish of this formation lived about 55 million years ago,
roughly 10 million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Common Green River fish are the herring-like Diplomystus
and small Knightia, while rarer types include the spiny-finned
Priscacara, sharp-toothed Phareodus, and the Heliobatis
stingray. Certain Green River fish have been found with
smaller fossil fish in their stomachs, indicating that they were
predatory species. In addition to the Green River Other
notable fossil fish formations are located in Brazil, China,
Germany, and Lebanon.
New Lines At Village Silversmith!
With the start of this holiday season, The Village Silversmith has
brought some new fashion jewelry lines to bring even more
diversity to our collection and some smaller gallery pieces that
are a bit more affordable.
Fashion jewelry has been part of culture for almost 300 years.
It came into being in the 1930s during the Art Deco movement
as an inexpensive accessory meant to be worn with a specific
outfit. The Art Deco movement was an attempt to combine the
harshness of mass production with the sensitivity of art and
design. Coco Chanel was the designer who introduced fashion
jewelry in order to complete a particular fashionable garment or
“costume”, hence the term “costume jewelry”.
Another aspect of fashion jewelry was that at the time of its
creation, jewelry was a fine luxury that was only attainable by the
upper class. With the creation of fashion jewelry, even the
working-class woman could purchase her own piece of
adornment. Women could acquire and wear a
considerable amount of this mass-produced jewelry that was
both affordable and stylish.
While we at Village Silversmith pride ourselves in our gallery
work and its quality, we also like to offer our customers fun and
funky options. Also, we have always been in tune to our
customers’ ideas. So for particular items, such as earrings,
customers want big funky earrings, but they want them to be
able to wear them. Well, if we made a large pair of silver
earrings, the metal alone would provide a lot of weight. If you
have the same size of earrings made out of an organic material
such as wood, or feathers, you can enjoy the size without the
weight!
We have also recently made gallery pieces of the same quality
and with the same stones, but in a smaller version of what we
usually produce. They are still one of a kind, but they are easier
on your pocket. Some of the stones that we have set in this
manner are Jade, Larimar, Moonstones, Lapis, Aquamarine, Fire
Agaate, Ammazonite, and many more!
So overall, the motto behind these new lines is “Just have fun”!
By: Curtis Sarkin
By: Alyssa Cataldo