Materials

A description of the materials used at Anica Lin Jewelry.

Precious Metals:

Silver

Anica Lin jewelry uses sterling silver 925 and Brittania Silver 950, this means that 92.5% (sterling silver) and 95% (Brittania silver) of the item is made of pure silver whilst the remaining 7.5% and 5% is made up of alloys.

Fine silver (99.9%) is normally softer than we would like and can easily be dented when worn over long periods of time so we add other alloys to increase the hardness and durability of the silver. 

Gold 

There are three different types of gold: Yellow, Rose and White. 

There are different measures of purity of gold which we refer to as Karats: 

In its pure form (24K/99.99% since it is a natural element we leave the 0.01 % for naturally occurring impurities in the metal), gold is a very soft metal. It’s too delicate for everyday wear, so it’s often alloyed (or mixed) with other metals such as silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to improve its strength and resilience.

Levels of purity in different Karat gold jewelry: 

10K Gold = 41.70% Gold - great for someone who is looking for gold jewelry on a tight budget. 

14K Gold = 58.30% Gold - great for people who are more active as this one is a lot more durable. 

18K Gold = 75% Gold - my personal favorite to use in gold jewelry. 

22K Gold = 91.70% Gold - for those who are looking to buy gold jewelry as close to 24K/99.99% Gold purity as possible without compromising its structure and resilience. 

Diamonds

Origin: South Africa | Birthstone Month: April

Diamonds are one of the cardinal gems*. 

The Diamond, otherwise known as a woman's best friend has endured the test of time. As an extremely popular choice for engagement and fine jewelry, many jewelers prefer to use diamonds as they are extremely durable. Diamonds are in fact the hardest known natural materials and can only be scratched by other diamonds. This doesn't mean that they are infinitely indestructible as they are sometimes worn away over time. 

Diamonds are graded under four categories: carat, color, cut and clarity. 

Carat: Is the measuring of carat weight for diamonds. The rarity of it depends on the size of the diamonds, if the diamonds are larger in size with the same quality are worth a lot more. 

Color: The less color, the higher the grade and therefore the more expensive the diamond. 

Cut: Proportion, symmetry and polish is a measure of how the diamonds facet interact with light. 

Clarity: Is an assessment of the number, size, relief and positions of the inclusions and blemishes found in the diamond. 

Gemstones and crystals: 

Amazonite 

Origin: South Africa | Birthstone Month: March 

 

Amethyst 

Origin: Zambia | Birthstone Month: February 

Amethysts are one of the cardinal gems*. 

A purple/violet variety of the quartz crystal. It has been around since antiquity (and earlier) and was once believed to ward off intoxication. Amethyst was also found to be present in ancient Egypt. There would be sculptures carved out of amethyst and used as protective amulets. 

The value of an amethyst is almost entirely based on its color. The highest in value feature a rich, deep purple that reflect flashes of red and blue. While the lighter, pinkish violet shades are known as the "Rose de France" 

Amethysts are extremely sensitive to heat. 

Aquamarine

Origin: Mozambique | Birthstone Month: March 

The original talisman for seafarers the aquamarine is a favorite amongst many including the British Royal Family.

Aquamarine's are part of the Beryl family and are a greenish blue to blue variety as suggested by the name. Aquamarine is derivative from Latin meaning 'seawater.' 

Aquamarines require no special care, you can always use a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water to clean your aquamarines safely. But like all precious gemstones, are not immune to cracking under extremely rough handling and are considered quite brittle. 

Black tourmaline 

Origin: Mozambique   | Birthstone Month: October 

Tourmalines can be found in a variety of colors and has some of the widest color ranges found associated with any gem. 

Black - Brownish black is known as the Scholr species.

Opaque black Scholr (black tourmaline) are sensitive to magnestism due to the respectively high concentrations of iron and manganese. 

Tourmaline becomes electrically charged when heated. Also when squeezed: it’s piezoelectric too. They have pyroelectric properties, which means they can generate a temporary voltage when heated or cooled. 

Citrine

Origin: Zimbabwe | Birthstone Month: November

A transparent pale yellow, to brownish orange variety of quartz. Citrine is a rare gem in nature and is a result of heat treated amethyst. It is known to be the most popular and frequently purchased yellow gemstone.

Citrine is often referred to as the "merchant's stone" due to the belief that it would bring prosperity to its owners. 

Emeralds 

Origin: Zimbabwe | Birthstone Month: May

Emeralds are one of the cardinal gems*.

Pharaoh Cleopatra was well known for her appreciation and passion for emeralds.

Emeralds are a green to greenish blue variety of the beryl family. Although if the gemstone is too light in color it is often referred to as a green beryl rather than an emerald. 

There are other green gemstones but emeralds are known as the lushest landscapes and richest greens, often depicted in poetry and prose. 

Legend also states that emerald was one of the four precious stones given by God to King Solomon. These four stones were said to have endowed the king with power over all creation.

Pearls 

Origin: Japan | Birthstone Month: June

Akoya cultured pearls

Pearls are one of the best-loved and most popular gems of all time. Pearls are hard, glistening objects produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk making them organic matter. They require special care when cleaning and wearing. 

Meteorite 

Origin: Namibia | Birthstone Month: August

Is a solid piece of debris that has broken off from an asteroid, a comet or a meteoroid in outer space. Meteorites are unusual as they originate in outer space and survive their passage through Earth's atmosphere. Upon entering the atmosphere, it undergoes copious amounts of friction, pressure and chemical reactions that turn into a meteor, a fireball or otherwise known as a shooting star. 

Meteorites (because of their Iron composition) are sometimes prone to rust and require to be maintained in areas of low humidity. If you are not planning to wear your meteorite jewelry please ensure they are packed away in airtight, sealed bags, using small ziplock bags are fine. 

Peridots

Origin: Tanzania | Birthstone Month: August

Peridot it one of two gems that are observed not to have formed in the Earth’s crust but instead in the molten rock in the upper mantle. 

In the middle ages, peridot was believed (like most gemstones) to provide healing powers, such as aiding with depression and opening the heart. 

Peridots are also one of the few gemstones that only occur in one color, which is olive-green. The intensity and tint of the green depend on the percentage of Iron present in its structure.

Culturally, peridot has been prized since the earliest civilizations for its powers to drive away fears and nightmares. 

Pink tourmaline

Origin: Mozambique | Birthstone Month: October 

Tourmalines can be found in a variety of colors and have some of the widest color ranges found associated with any gem.

The presence of manganese is what causes the tourmaline gemstone to refract reddish, pink colors. 

Rubellite is a name used for the pink, red, purplish red, orange like and darkish red tourmalines. 

Very few gemstones are found in such a vast variety of dazzling colors.

Ruby

Origin: Thailand | Birthstone Month: July

Ruby is a variety of the mineral Corundum and is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone. 

Rubies are one of the cardinal gems*. 

Ruby is also one of the most popular traditional gemstones. It is also extremely durable with a 9.0 on the Mohs scale. They are sometimes used in the construction of watches. 

Rubies can also command the highest price per carat of any colored gemstone. The strength of the red shows how much chromium is present within its structure. 

The most renowned rubies, like those from Myanmar, the Himalayas, and northern Vietnam, typically form in marble and are found to fluoresce red under U.V light. 

Sapphire

Origin: Thailand | Birthstone Month: September

Sapphires are one of the cardinal gems*. 

Sapphires are part of the corundum mineral variety. Sapphires can be found in a variety of colors but are most well known for their blueish color. 

For centuries, sapphires have been associated with royalty. It has been discovered in ancient Greece and Rome and were said to protect their wearers from harm and envy. In folklore, art and poetry sapphire was believed to represent blue but in actual fact, sapphires are found in a variety of other colors (also known as fancy sapphires).

Sugilite 

Origin: South Africa

Sugilite is a rare pink to purple gemstone and was only found in 1944 (by a Japanese petrologist Ken-Ichi Sugi hence the name) on an islet in Japan. It is mined in only a few countries around the world and has been known to be called several other names: Lavulite, luvulite and royal azel. 

It is a rather new and rare gemstone that information is scarce. 

Tiger's eye 

Origin: South Africa | Birthstone Month: June

Is a member of the quartz family and is a chatoyant (cat’s eye) gemstone that is usually a metamorphic rock with a golden to red brown color and a silk luster. 

Turquoise 

Birthstone Month: December

Turquoise is often porous, with the ability to absorb liquids. These liquids can include perspiration, body oil, cleaning products, or any liquid that accidentally comes in contact. Once absorbed, these liquids can damage the turquoise or alter its color. If contact with cosmetics or potentially damaging liquid occurs, the turquoise should be washed with a soft cloth that is dampened with a very mild soap solution, followed by cleaning with a soft cloth that has been dampened with plain water. Then, after the turquoise is dry, store it in a jewelry box away from bright light or heat.

Watermelon tourmaline 

Origin: Mozambique | Birthstone Month: October

Tourmalines can be found in a variety of colors and have some of the widest color ranges found associated with any gem. 

The watermelon gemstone is named after an actual watermelon as it has a pink center and a green perimeter much like the fruit.

 

 

Footnote

*Cardinal gems are gemstones that have been considered precious above all others since antiquity and has since fallen out of use.