Fashion Facts and Tips

What factors make high quality lapis?

Let’s discover what makes lapis qualify as “high quality”. There are a few things to look at when classifying lapis:

Died or not? If it is died the color will look very consistent. Natural lapis should have some variations in color. So in conclusion the more the color varies the lower the quality.

Is it waxed? Waxing the stone is just part of the polishing process. Waxing doesn’t efffect the quality, but it does create a shinier stone. The centerpiece of Butterfly with Lapis Necklace at our website is a good example of a waxed, high quality lapis stone.

Is the Color Consistent? I mentioned above that the more uniform the color, the higher quality… as long as the stone is natural. Some lapis will have streaks of gold or patches of white. This indicates a lower quality, although this can add texture and dimension to the stone.

What is the truth about pearls?

When looking at the value of pearls, there are two main characteristics to consider: size, measured in millimeters, and the quality of the finish, or nacre coating, which gives a pearl its luster.

There’s no need for polishing or faceting for pearls to shine. There are different types of pearls. Natural pearls are made by mollusks without intervention by humans, whereas cultured pearls, which are also grown by mollusks, require the addition of an irritant to the shell in order to make the pearl grow.

Most pearls used in jewelry necklaces, bracelets and earrings are either cultured or imitation. In fact, since the 1920’s natural pearls are very rare. That’s one more reason to know the difference between natural and cultured pearls and to trust the source of your handmade and unique jewelry.

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