Product of the week 18/6 - Pearls!

Since we are still in the lovely month of June (and it's actually starting to feel like it, weather-wise!) what better product to have as our Product of the Week than exquisite pearls?

Pearls are the birthstone for June, so if anyone special has a birthday coming up, they would make a perfect gift! Though even if their birthday isn't in June, everyone deserves to have pearls of their own.

As everyone knows, pearls are produced by oysters and other similar molluscs. What you might not know is that they are a minute cristalline form of Calcium Carbonate - CaCO3 for any sciency types out there. But although they share their chemical formula with chalk, they are certainly nothing like it!

Known as the "Queen of Gems", the Pearl has a history which goes back centuries, we have had a fixation with them for quite some time! Natural pearls were treasured by both the Egyptians and the Romans, and pearls also feature in several religious texts, so they are truly highly valued.

In 1917, after collecting them for years, Pierre Cartier sold a double strand of natural pearls in exchange for a mansion on Fifth Avenue, New York - now the Cartier store. At the time, they were valued at $1m!

Natural pearls are therefore obviously pretty hard to come by these days, and would be extremely expensive to acquire any way! However, the process of producing 'cultured pearls' was perfected in 1916 by Japanese researchers. This process has made pearls far more accessible to those of us who aren't royalty or very rich!

Here at The Diamond Studio, we stock Jersey Pearl, a stunning collection featuring lots of different styles, so you will definitely find something to your liking!

Come in and see us, or you can always arrange a private appointment if you would prefer!

The Sapphire

The Diamond Studio is excited to get in some gorgeous new sapphires. The Sapphire is part of the corundum family of gemstones, along with the ruby which is essentially a red sapphire. In its most desirable state the sapphire is an intense blue. The deep hue of the sapphire led the ancient Persians to believe that the Earth rested on a giant sapphire, and the colour of the sky was a reflection of this precious stone.

It is the second hardest gemstone- diamonds being the hardest. This property has meant that throughout the ages the sapphire has been associated with strength of virtue, sincerity and faithfulness, making it perfect for wedding and engagement rings and deserving of its place as the traditional gift on 45th anniversaries. It is said that the tablets the 10 commandments were written on were made of sapphire, and were so durable that a hammer hit against them would shatter.

The sapphire is the birthstone for September and is associated with Pisces, Taurus and Sagittarius.

At the end of the day, the sapphire is a beautiful stone with a deep colour rarely seen in nature. It sets of any piece of jewellery and works amazingly with white diamonds. Coloured stones like the sapphire add an extra bit of flare and character to any piece, and we love working with them!

Store: Suite 2/2, Argyll Arcade, Buchanan Street, Glasgow
Visit: http://www.thediamondstudio.co.uk/
Like: www.facebook.com/thediamondstudio
Tweet: @DiamondStudio
Phone: 0141 248 2389

The Rise of the Gem Stone

A new craze has been sweeping the Diamond Studio, and that craze is colourful Gem stones.

Gem stones are precious or semi-precious stones or jewels that are cut and polished from natural minerals. They have been used as an embellishment for centuries and it looks like they are another fashion which is coming back again.

Gem stones are popular as they are affordable, colourful and come in many styles to match all personalities. Perhaps you should consider your birthstone and ways you could wear it as it comes back into fashion?

January: Garnet

February: Amethyst

March: Bloodstone

April: Diamond

May: Emerald

June: Pearl

July:Ruby

August: Peridot

September: Sapphire

October: Opal

November: Topaz

December: Turquoise

However, don't feel obliqued to stick to your birthstone! It's very fashionable to mix and match to create a style all of your own! Stones can also be worn for superstition, zodiac signs, luck and confidence.

Stones can be set in all jewellery including pendants, rings and bracelets.

The most popular style in The Diamond Studio is currently the pinky ring. Fashionable, classic and stylish, a pinky ring is a design that will endure. Set with a colourful stone of your choice, they are truly personal jewellery designs.

In stock just now we have the most amazing green cocktail ring and several stunning aqua stones. They are well worth a look.

Store: Suite 2/2, Argyll Arcade, Buchanan Street, Glasgow
Visit: http://www.thediamondstudio.co.uk/
Like: www.facebook.com/thediamondstudio
Tweet: @DiamondStudio
Phone: 0141 248 2389