BEAUTIFUL GEMSTONES: Here you'll see breathtaking gemstones, and there are many: Topaz, Citrine, Amethyst, Garnet, Peridot, Aquamarine, Kunzite,
Cornflower Blue Quartz,
Zircon, Tourmaline, Sapphire,
Ruby, and
Emerald. 
EASY SPARKLE: CASUAL TO DRESSY: Whether breakfasting at IHOP, lunching at an exclusive restaurant, attending a power dinner party, or just running around town in jeans and a tank top, hand-wrapped gemstones and crystals offer a fashionable look. The design easily swings from casual to dressy. Hand-wrapped gemstones and crystals give most other jewelry a run for the money in terms of originality, rarity, and sheer beauty. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but white diamonds alone can be a bit boring. You need some color ... semi-precious colored gemstones are popping up more and more in fine faux jewelry. This is reportedly because consumers are spending less, and are considering fine faux jewelry over fine jewelry. Whether you like a simple, dainty, super thin chain -- or a thick, bold, chunky chain -- a big, sparkly semi-precious gemstone or crystal dangling around your neck will make a unforgettable jewelry statement. Fine gemstones and pearls are seriously sexy, but so are hand-wrapped gemstones ... true jewelry fashionistas are enouraged to experience wearing a gemstone or crystals wrapped in my CrystalHugger Twistwrap™ design.
At CrystalsCrystals.com, custom-made crystal and gemstone jewelry has never been more beautiful or affordable. CrystalsCrystals.com creates dream jewelry, that is versatile and timeless. I can incorporate your ideas and preferences for beads, stone, cuts, color combinations into a beautiful one-only hand-wrapped gemstone jewelry. I source fine diamonds in small and large carat sizes, as well as fine pearls.
ADD A HAND-WRAPPED GEMSTONE DESIGN TO YOUR JEWELRY COLLECTION:Certain designs are made available for purchase via Buy Now links distributed throughout the website. These are original, beautiful hand-wrapped gemstone and crystal designs available for purchase. The Buy Now links allow individuals to purchase select hand-wrapped gemstone and crystal designs from CrystalsCrystals.com.
Various types of lighting will reveal all of the colors in a gemstone. In the beautiful gemstone Tanzanite mother nature combines the hues of blue sapphires with rich hues of purple amethyst, and adds tinges of every other color in the rainbow in the prism sparkle.
Tanzanite is actually a mineral called fosterite. It was discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, so it is a "new" gemstone. It is classified as a "semi-precious" stone because only diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds are classified as "precious" stones by the gemology profession. It is a very popular gemstone because of its trichroism. As the crystal is rotated its color shifts from blue to violet to red to green, even hues of gold are found in the fire of Tanzanite. Trichroism is a most a unique type of beauty in gemstones, and adds to their "captivating" power.
Jewelry can be a small (or large) extension of one's jewelry fashion persona. We're all different, with different tastes and senses of fashion, that's why there is such variety in jewelry, there truly is something for everyone. 
My mother was a trailblazer of sorts in African-American dance troupe history, she was a featured showgirl as one of the original Moulin Rouge Dancers. Mom nurtured my creative talents, including my love for jewelry. Her favored gemstones were emeralds, diamonds and pearls. I have memories of people complimenting her and talking about her jewelry. The Moulin Rouge Dancers were and are true original dance DIVAS. My grandmother enjoyed jewelry and Grandma Clara's favored gemstone was ruby, it was the gemstone in her wedding band. As so many of us who own beautiful gemstones do, I regard my gems as my special friends - they go through everything I go through and are special to me. I can relate to a comment Elizabeth Taylor made about a canary diamond she owns, the drama of life will never get a beautiful gemstone down, no matter how terrible the day's events, "the stones will continue to sparkle, uplift, and represent." 
Owning the Finest of Gemstones ... it was Liz Taylor who once shared "... there hasn't come a dark day yet that my 26 carat canary diamond doesn't brighten. It's like having my very own piece of sunshine."
Interested In A Particular Gemstone or Crystal?
The only way one can truly learn gemstone quality is to study and view a lot of gemstones. You must observe natural gems regularly to develop and maintain an eye for top clarity, color and cut in diamonds and colored gemstones. This holds true for simulants as well, as all simulants are not created equal. Today's gemstone and diamond simulants often look better than their natural counterparts, thus the enormous growth in simulated gemstones and diamonds. I feel privileged to have seen some of the most beautiful diamond and gemstone material mother earth produces. I can appreciate the masterful cutting work of world class gem cutters. Because my art so heavily depends on beautiful stones, I am grateful for the cutting machines the jewelry technology industry employs today, which exquisitely cut crystals and simulated gemstones. No doubt, there are gemstones you have to see to believe - words could never describe their divine construct and brilliance. Because I know of the stunning beauty of rare gems, I completely appreciate and honor that excellence in my work with both gemstones and crystals. I am a stickler for sparkle. The clarity and play of light in the stones I use must be flawless. A small stone (.25 carat in size) with top clarity and top color will out sparkle a larger stone of poor clarity and color. Quality matters. When it comes to the transparent gemstones and crystals I choose for my clients, they must be top quality and possess great clarity and sparkle.
ANGELINA IN THE MOGUL EMERALDS Marvelous work by jeweler Lorraine Schwartz. Who can ever forget world-class beauty and power maven Angelina Jolie in these spectacular 115 carat emerald earrings on the red carpet at the 2009 Oscars. Stunning. 
And how much would these royal baubles cost ... try a cool million, or more. These stone have history. Rarely are emeralds this large, fine and inclusion-free seen outside of a museum setting. 
The settings are nearly invisible, all you see is emerald. The hue of green is captivating, and there aren't visible inclusions as would normally be the case in emeralds. The emerald has been a gem of fascination in many cultures for over six thousand years. It is so prized, that carat for carat, a fine emerald may be two to three times as valuable as a diamond. It was known that Emerald was a favorite gem of Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, and the Emerald mine in Upper Egypt, rediscovered a hundred years ago near the Red Sea, was one of the earliest Emerald occurrences in the human history. Emeralds also adorned Russian crown jewels. The Irani State Treasure contains an exquisite collection of Emeralds, as well as the Emerald tiara of ex-Empress Farah. Shah Jahan, one of the moguls of India that built the Taj Mahal, loved Emeralds so much that he had sacred texts inscribed into them and used these gemstones as talismans. The ancient writings of Veda, the sacred text of Hinduism, testifies to Emerald as being the “gem of good luck” and the “gem that improves one’s well-being”. Large, prized quality emeralds such as these are called “Mogul Emeralds." There was much lavish bling about on Oscar night ... much ... but Angelina in the Mogul Emeralds ... unforgettable. 
Few manufactured designs showcase the luster, color, fire and clarity of a gemstone or crystal as does the open, naked, and artsy design of the CrystalHugger TwistWrap™. 
DESIGN INSPIRATION:The CrystalHugger TwistWrap™ was inspired during a brief study of architecture which brought me to photographs of early architecture - i.e., tribal huts, where I came upon photos of "tools" used by hunter-gatherer tribes. 
I developed an interest in the ways in which they twisted, tied, knotted, weaved and looped various types of soft bark twigs, tree vines, and flexible leaves around river boulder to create flatbeds for dragging wood stacks across the terrain. Other tools were used to hunt animals. These wrapping techniques were used to construct huts and other parts of housing such as flooring and walls for protection from the elements. Wood stacks were tied with heavy vines and used to lift heavy materials from the trees down to the ground.
The various tying, looping and weaving techniques helped them greatly. I sat down with my wire and stones and began twisting and looping and discovered a way to "lock in" a faceted(and some cabochon) stones within the wires. It was through my studies that the exposure to that early ingenuity inspired me to create what is now the CrystalHugger TwistWrap™. stone-wrapping technique is classic and unique. The TwistWrap is crafted based upon the specific measurements and faceting of a gemstone or crystal. A specific gauge of wire is used and precise "pressure points" on the stone are located or sometimes created. These pressure points are important to securely lock the stone in place within the wires. Locating or creating the wire-locking points on a gemstone or crystal was imperative to this design or the wire would loosen allowing the stone to slip out. I learned to sauter because oddly cut or shaped, non-calibrated stones require it. In some designs the bale of the TwistWrap is then embellished with gemstone beads or Swarovski crystals to compliment the the gemstone or crystal. Learning from the environment, the tribes used nature to survive the elements. What is most fascinating about evolution is that this early ingenuity was developing at all points across the planet (north, south, east and west); tribes of completely different genealogical origin were simultaneously developing unique survival methods. This time of imprinting in evolution is today still being discovered. Examples of wire and beaded jewelry made using wire wrapping techniques date back to thousands of years BC. The British Museum has samples of jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty, found in the cemetery of Ur that contain spiraled wire components. This jewelry is dated at approximately 2000 BC. Other Roman samples of jewelry from Ancient Rome show wire wrapped loops (one of the important techniques in making wire wrapped jewelry). This jewelry is dated to approximately 2000 years ago. In the manufacture of this early jewelry the techniques for soldering did not exist. Later, as the technique for soldering developed, the wire wrapping approach continued because it was an economical and quick way to make jewelry components out of wire. Today, even though wire wrapping techniques are not frequently used for mass produced jewelry because of simple economics and the fact that machines can cast jewelry components much faster and cheaper, there are still millions of artisans showcasing their creativity and skill by crafting jewelry by hand. 
Rare and beautiful. My signature hand-wrapped crystal design. AAA+ grade crystals that possess a rainbow of color and sparkle. These stones are blinding with sparkle - from any viewpoint - the design offers a 360° view of the stone as there very little metal covering the sparkle of the stone so light in the stone "always" dances within view. All eyes will attract to your beautiful hand-wrapped crystal earrings or pendant. The best way to describe the pendant is to have a small blazing ball fire around your neck. AAA+ Round White (Colorless) crystals are very special stones. Indeed. You will enjoy the most brilliantly cut crystals showcasing the best lab-created crystal technology has to offer. The design is light, simple, very elegant and earthy. This is the most popular item I craft, available to you via the link below, but there is a waiting period. The design is perfect for daytime to evening. Hand-wrapped crystals can sweeten your days and nights with a blaze of easygoing twinkle. The pendant is a great try-me piece to experience the beauty and allure of my hand-wrapped crystal design. My pendant design offered below features a sterling silver and gold-filled wire TwistWrap. Colored wire combinations also are available. NOTE: If you like canary diamonds ... I also have ultra light AAA+ canary crystals available! DELIVERY: Pendants arrive eloquently gift boxed and ready to wear with an included 16-18" Silvertone Chain. EARRINGS: Matching hand-wrapped crystal earrings are available! Please E-mail CrystalsCrystals.com. You will always receive a prompt response. SHIPPING: $6.00 Standard Domestic Shipping, 5-7 Business Days. Overnight Flat Rate and Next Day Air Shipping are also available. RETURNS: 7-Day "Same Condition As Sold" Return Policy.
Zircon has no relation to Cubic Zirconia (a simulated diamond crystal). It's a birthstone alternative for December birthdays, and top quality ZIRCON is used as an alternative to the sparkle of diamond. It has been mined since the Middle Ages. The oldest known zircons are from Western Australia some 4.4 billion years ago. The name zircon is thought to come from the Persian word "zargun" which means "gold-colored." Although zircon comes in a wide range of different colors, including colorless white, the most popular zircon color is the electric blue variety. My favorite is the light yellowish gold zircon. Zircon comes in many exceptional colors, including colorless, green, red, violet, yellow, honey gold and orange. I have seen truly remarkable zircons from Cambodia, as beautiful as any other gemstone on the planet. This gemstone is highly underrated, but when one tries to purchase a large, top quality zircon they quickly discover how rare and pricey they are. Large quality zircon in exceptional colors such as pink, electric gold, electric blue, electric blue-green, violet and red are of my very favorite gemstones. They are rarely sold once obtained. It is a highly dense gemstone and though a Zircon will look much smaller in size than another gemstone, both stones could have the same weight. Due to its high refractive index and very strong dispersion, zircon has a great brilliance and intense fire. The luster is vitreous and quality zircons are absolutely brilliant. Although zircon is relatively hard, (rating 6.5-7.5 on the MOHS gemstone hardness scale, it must be worn with care. If you are looking for a special zircon gemstone, e-mail FindItForMe@CrystalsCrystals.com! 
Hand-wrapped gemstone and crystal jewelry transcends just about every jewelry period in history, in that it offers its own unique and easily blendable look. The design can compliment jewelry from any of the classic jewelry design periods, including the Georgian Jewelry Period, known for its highly dimensional repose, floral and scroll motifs and use of garnets, precious topaz, coral and faceted diamonds set in distressed silver. The Victorian Jewelry Period incorporated the most varied and eclectic motifs, with influences which included Egyptian, Renaissance and Etruscan. This era featured almost exclusively the use of yellow gold often designed with contrasting black and colored enamel. The Art Nouveau Jewelry Period featured natural colors, natural materials, and hand-made native jewelry. Art Nouveau also brought out the beauty of human forms, notably female forms, dancers, nymphs, mermaids, water lilies, flowers, dragonflies, and flowing lines as recurrent motifs in jewelry design. Stained glass jewelry emerged during this period.
The Edwardian Jewelry Period offered designs which were delicate, romantic, feminine and lacy. Edwardian styled fashions to this day blend wonderfully with CrystalsCrystals' Platinum Lace hand-wrapped gemstone design. Take a look at Platinum Lace - it has that Edwardian antique look design - lovely indeed - right at home with Edwardian styled jewels. The Edwardian Jewelry Period was an exceptional decade in jewelry design, particularly detailed workmanship. Lacy, dainty, delicate, openwork, micro filigree and gemstone encrusted designs from this Period are collector favorites. With the coming of the Art Deco Jewelry Period, following closely came the modern age of jewelry design. Abstract, lines, bold geometrics, curvy curves, and "symmetry" became more common. Art Deco jewelry is also known for a highly stylized, architecture-like look. Many designs feature a heavily "stacked" baguette cut stones. The most popular gemstones during this Period were diamonds, opals, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. The Retro Jewelry Period is known for its heavy use of rose gold. Silver too was heavily used because platinum was scarce due to the war. Retro designs were popular with Hollywood royalty; the really big movie stars wore over-sized, dramatic, asymmetrical, whimsical designs featuring bright sparkly stones in bold colors. Semi-precious gemstones were readily available in the United States and jewelry got bigger and more illustrious. Citrine, Topaz, Aqua, Amethyst and Moonstones in large carat sizes were common. Finally, the Mid-Century Jewelry Period, as it is called, represents jewelry designed in the 1950's. During the early fifties conservative designs returned to the forefront as two conservative women from the Midwest lived in the White House, and these women set the fashion tone for the country. Everyone wanted diamonds, platinum and pearls. During the end of the 1950s jewelry design started to get more modern and trends got younger and bolder. Abstract jewelry design took hold, pavé set diamonds became the rage, and the success of mass-manufactured "affordable," and "popular" jewelry styles was realized. This success paved the way for the "expansive" jewelry departments we enjoy today. It is common to find twenty or more lines of jewelry on display in an average department store jewelry center.
GIVING ART ... HAND-MADE JEWELRY: To give to others a beautiful, personalized, hand-made gift such as a hand-wrapped gemstone or crystal is to give wearable art. You are giving a beautiful strist's creation they can get nowhere else, an item made with the recipient in mind.
Perhaps you've seen a photo in our Photo Design Galleries featuring a design that you like ... right click the photo and select "E-mail picture" to send it to us at sales@crystalscrystals.com with your question or comment. LADIES ... LOOKING FOR A CLASSIC PLACE SETTING GIFT FOR THE LADIES COMING TO YOUR PARTY?: Debut hand-wrapped gemstones and crystals as place setting gifts for the ladies attending your next private party ... present an original, custom crafted and beautiful jewelry design gift to your guests.
This huge 72.22-carat, "D" flawless white diamond went up for auction with a pre-sale reserve of $10-12 million through Sothebys. As is always the case with stones of this caliber, the phenomenal diamond was sold to a private buyer from Hong Kong for an undisclosed sum. The blazing pear custom cut gemstone is the third largest pear-shaped, IIA type diamond ever auctioned by Sothebys. The IIA rating is given only to the most brilliant of colorless or white "D" color diamonds. Recent years have seen rare polished diamonds achieve all-time highs in per carat prices. 
AMETHYST 101: Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and is a popular gemstone. If it were not for its widespread availability, amethyst would be very expensive. The name "amethyst" comes from the Greek and means "not drunken." This was maybe due to a belief that amethyst would ward off the effects of alcohol, but most likely the Greeks were referring to the almost wine-like color of some stones that they may have encountered. Its color is unparalleled, and even other, more expensive purple gemstones are often compared to its color and beauty. Amethyst usually grows as crystals that are six sided on either end, and it also can form as drusy which are crystalline crusts covering the host rock surface. It is found inside geodes and in alluvial deposits all around the world and occurs in both crystalline or massive forms. It is the manganese present in clear quartz that produces amethyst, and it is the amount of iron contained in the specimen which determines the depth of purple. Although it must always be purple to be amethyst, it can and does have a wide range of purple shades. Amethyst also is produced in shades of green, known as Prasiolite. Amethyst can occur as long prismatic crystals that have a six sided pyramid at either end or can form as druzes that are crystalline crusts that only show the pointed terminations. As a mineral specimen, amethyst is popular for its color and nice crystal shapes that produce a handsome, purple, sparkling cluster. Often cut gems of amethyst are graded using the terms: African, Brazilian, Siberian, Uruguayan or Bahain; to represent high, medium and low grades respectively, regardless of the actual source. Because of the patchyness of the color distribution in the crystals, Amethyst is often cut as brilliant round cuts to maximize the color. Other custom and exotic cuts can be used when the color is better distributed. The color purple is traditionally the color of royalty and amethyst has been used since the dawn of its history to adorn the rich and powerful. Monarchs and rulers were attracted to the hue of fine purple sparkle Amethyst produces. Today, amethyst is a lovely and affordable gemstone that is available in a wide variety of cut and uncut stones. We can all possess and admire it. The markings of gemstones can often tell where they came from. Amethyst is not the same everywhere. Different geographic localities can produce a unique amethyst to that particular region or even to that particular mine. Also expert cutting and polishing is always key in producing the best specimen of a gemstone. Gemstone experts can often identify the source mine that a particular amethyst came from. The key to this is the specimen's color, shape of crystal, inclusions, associations and character of formation.
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Hand-wrapped gemstone and crystal jewelry brings smiles. CrystalsCrystals.com hand-wrapped jewelry designs feature beautiful beads designed and crafted by independent artists throughout the world. Many of the artists are women in villages who are involved in various women's empowerment programs. We support their efforts by purchasing their beads and incorporating them into the original designs created for CrystalsCrystals.com. Art made by special hands in far away places such as SriLanka, Gulu Uganda, Kumasi Ghana, Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal and Honduras. The art of these woman is both beautiful and pride-inspiring to own and wear. Many times these beads are a perfect fit in the jewelry visions I create, and for me supporting the art of indigenous artisans is an honor, and a welcome benefit to my artistry. A CrystalsCrystals.com purchase can be good for the soul.
If you would like information about having a hand-wrapped gemstone item donated to your charity organization for a silent auction or other fundraising event, please contact Customer Service at CrystalsCrystals.com. Aren't we all looking for a meaningful purpose in life? Hand-wrapped gemstones are beautiful, one-of-a-kind, rare and truly stand on their own in the virgin jewelry design arena, which makes them wonderful items of jewelry to own, and to gift to your special recipients for fundraising purposes. 
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