Silver Penny Mall

Jewellery Making Supplies - Gemstones
Explained

The inclusion of gemstones in jewellery
making has been part of the craft for
thousands of years. Precious gemstones
are of course the most highly prized,
but the myriad of semi precious
gemstones means that even those new to
the craft can add a bit of colour to
their work for a reasonable price. The
choice is vast and which gemstones you
choose to include in your work is down
to the individual and how adventurous
youre feeling!

Most people start jewellery making by
working in silver, which is far cheaper
than gold and readily available through
all good jewellery making suppliers. A
silver setting can compliment almost any
gemstone perfectly, and certain stones
lend themselves to silver in a way that
would be impossible with gold. One of
the most common semi precious gemstones
used in jewellery making is turquoise 
a vibrant blue semi precious stone that
works beautifully with silver. Although
it may not have the sparkle of a
sapphire, turquoise has its own depth
and warmth and is particularly good in
broaches, earrings and rings. Turquoise
also has a lot of spiritual connections
and has been used in many ancient
cultures as a symbol of water, so if you
want to add an extra dimension to your
jewellery and a hidden meaning behind
the inclusion of this stone, turquoise
is a perfect choice. If you prefer a
deeper hue, lapis lazuli is one of the
most highly prized of all blue semi
precious gemstones. Its cobalt blue
surface (often shot through with iron
pyrites or fools gold) makes this
stone sparkle, bringing it to life.
Again, it complements a silver finding
perfectly and is ideal for wearing with
a more formal outfit.

Emerald is a very special stone
particularly to those born in May as it
is the birthstone of Taurus the bull 
and birthstones are another good way of
choosing which gemstones to include in
your work. Although the best stones are
still expensive, lower quality emeralds
can be much cheaper than you think, but
if your budget doesnt stretch to a
precious gemstone then there are cheaper
alternatives such as peridot. This semi
precious gemstone is paler in colour
than emerald, but is very popular and
works particularly well in more modern
designs. Most peridot are quite small,
so are perfect for multiple settings
such as broaches or pendants, but it may
be difficult to use in a larger, single
setting such as a ring because of the
stones size.

If youre looking for a more golden tone
in your jewellery making, the warm,
orange of amber works particularly well
with silver jewellery. Although not
technically a gemstone, amber has been
prized for centuries  the Russian Tsars
even decorated an entire room in amber!
It can be a little tricky to work with
as it is quite soft and easily damaged,
but the results are well worth the extra
effort. Ambers translucency gives it a
depth and richness that can enhance any
design, whether traditional or modern.
Baltic amber is the most highly prized,
but Middle Eastern amber ranges in
colour from a deep honey gold to blood
red.

There are thousands of precious and semi
precious gemstones to choose from and
plenty of suppliers online who carry a
wide range of stones  from cut and
faceted precious gemstones to uncut semi
precious stones like turquoise and
opals, at prices to suit all budgets.
The only thing that limits you is your
imagination, so including gemstones in
your jewellery making is cheap, easy and
can add a whole new dimension to your
work.

The inclusion of gemstones in jewellery making has been part
of the craft for thousands of years. Precious gemstones are
of course the most highly prized, but the myriad of semi
precious gemstones means that even those new to the craft
can add a bit of colour to their work for a reasonable
price. The choice is vast and which gemstones you choose to
include in your work is down to the individual and how
adventurous youre feeling!

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