From Earth's Treasures to Dazzling Adornments: Exploring Gemstone Jewelry
The right piece of jewelry is so much more than just something to wear. It’s a way to express your unique personal style, boost your self-esteem, and tell others a little bit about who you are. Jewelry can carry incredible sentimental value when gifted or passed down through generations, and just wearing it is often empowering.
Learning to make your own jewelry as a hobby or a potential side hustle can be extremely rewarding, as well. Here we’ll take a closer look at what every emerging gemstone lover and jewelry maker should know about different gemstones, including how to choose the right beads and suppliers.
Why Go with Gemstone Jewelry?
The wide, wonderful world of gemstones goes well beyond the diamonds, sapphires, and rubies most people are familiar with. In fact, there are actually over 300 different types of discovered gemstones out there, just waiting to be explored.
So, whether you choose to do that by making jewelry yourself or simply collecting and wearing it, you’re in for a real treat. The following are just a few of the biggest reasons people find themselves falling head over heels in love with gemstones.
Unparalleled uniqueness
Not only does every type of gemstone bring its own signature charm to the table, but individual gemstones are also all unique. Each one features one-of-a-kind visual quirks. Each has its own clarity and cut. Colors can also vary slightly from one stone to the next, with some stones actually changing color over time.
Every gemstone is a little piece of the earth you call home, and each brings a story to the table. In other words, gemstones are a lot like people – every example unique and unlike any other.
Investment value
As with precious metals like gold or silver, many gemstones are quite valuable. However, their value doesn’t fluctuate as much over time. For that reason, well-crafted gemstone jewelry made with high-value stones can be an excellent way to safeguard financial value and invest in the future.
Beautiful jewelry often represents sentimental value, as well. This is especially the case when pieces are created or gifted to commemorate memorable occasions and passed down from one generation to the next.
Symbolic meanings
Gemstones come attached to a long cultural history. Over the years, different varieties have acquired symbolic meaning, become associated with certain health benefits, and so forth. For example, citrine is strongly associated with healing, emeralds represent intuition, and rose quartz symbolizes love.
As for the health benefits, some people swear by gemstones as a way to support balance, confidence, inner healing, and a strong ongoing connection to the earth.
What Are Some Essential Gemstones to Know?
Discovering and getting to know the many types of stones out there is part of the fun of getting into gemstones as a hobby. The following stones are a few examples most people have heard of, worn, or wished they knew more about.
- Diamond: Considered by many to be the quintessential gemstone, a diamond represents status, strength, and wealth. Diamonds also come in many different colors, including yellow, pink, blue, and purple.
- Pearl: Pearls have long been associated with concepts like purity, elegance, and wisdom. They also come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, colors, and types, including baroque pearls that are ideal for jewelry-making.
- Sapphire: A sapphire carries connections to nobility and higher enlightenment. And although classic sapphires are famous for being deep blue, they also come in shades like pink, yellow, white, and even green.
- Topaz: Healing and spiritual protection are just two timeless concepts people associate with topazes. And although golden or amber topazes are the best known, pink, orange, or blue topaz options can be equally stunning.
- Opal: With their signature iridescent finishes and longstanding connections to the mysterious, opals represent luck, good fortune, and wisdom for many people. They’ve also been rising in popularity for many years.
- Garnet: A garnet’s signature pomegranate tone makes it a popular choice for people who love elegant jewelry that makes a statement. Many people associate garnets with truth, substance, and destiny.
- Moonstone: Fertility, true love, and infinite wisdom are just a few of the potential meanings you could attach to moonstone. Although classic white moonstones are the most popular, they also come in orange, blue, and other beautiful colors.
What Are the Benefits of Making Your Own Jewelry?
Spend much time studying gemstones and learning about their various benefits, and it’s only a matter of time before you wind up bitten by the jewelry-making bug, as well. The following are just a few great reasons to go ahead and give jewelry-making a try.
It’s relaxing
You don’t have to be a born artist to benefit from having a creative outlet in your life. All people have the ability to be creative, and jewelry-making is a fun, approachable way to explore yours. Plus, taking regular time to indulge your creativity, entertain new ideas, and go through the process of making something is relaxing and a great way to manage stress.
It’s great for your health
Hobbies that engage the mind and encourage you to refine your motor skills carry tremendous mental and physical health benefits. Jewelry-making can help people improve their hand-eye coordination, memory, and mental acuity, as well as retain those functions as they get older.
It adds beauty to your life
A person’s choices as far as the jewelry they wear are already incredibly personal. But learning to make your own stunning gemstone jewelry is a rewarding way to take the concept of personal style to the next level. It’s also a terrific way to upgrade your gift-giving game by giving some of your creations to friends and loved ones.
How to Start Making Gemstone Jewelry
Ready to try your hand at making gemstone jewelry yourself? Keep the following tips and best practices in mind to ensure a rewarding, enjoyable experience.
Develop an understanding of different gemstones
While considering the appearance, value, and potential meaning behind a particular gemstone is certainly important, there are other practical factors to keep in mind, too. For example, many gemstones (like opals and pearls) are gorgeous but may not resist changes related to chemicals and other physical phenomena as well as certain alternatives (like jade).
Some gems are also tougher, harder, and less prone to chipping or breakage than others. Consider the needs, preferences, and lifestyle of the person who’ll be wearing the jewelry.
Educate yourself on the process
If you like learning with other people, signing up for a jewelry class or workshop is always an option. But there are also plenty of resources online that can help you learn the basics and get started. Compile a list of basic resources and tools you’ll need – like pliers, ring clamps, etc. – as well as a way to organize them.
Find a trustworthy gemstone source
It’s not just what you buy that matters when it comes to the gemstones you choose. Where you buy gemstone beads and other key supplies is just as important. Choose a trusted supplier with a longstanding reputation for excellence and reliable customer service. Their catalog and selection should be varied and comprehensive, as well.
The right gemstone bead supplier should be a resource you can turn to for creative inspiration and new ideas, in addition to basics like refreshment supplies. Explore one of the best selections of fine gemstone beads available anywhere when you shop The Bead Traders today!