by Rose Marion, Wire-Sculpture.com

Wire Jewelry Idea for
February 1, 2012

Name: Jennifer’s Mother Ring
Submitted by: Joan Huck

Technique used: snapsets, ringmaking

Materials used:

• 20-gauge square sterling silver wire
• Citrine and Garnet CZs
• Snapsets
• Ring mandrel

Jennifer's Mother's Ring, a wire wrapped snapset family ring by Joan Huck

Joan said, "Mother’s Rings and Birthstone Rings are a "hot item" for me. I just started making them recently and I can’t make them fast enough! I made several different designs and then allow my customers to pick out their stones, style, type of wire (silver, silver filled, or craft wire depending on how much they want to invest).

"I made this one for my niece as a Christmas present from her husband. The outside stones are citrine CZs, and the middle stone is a garnet CZ."

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
March 22, 2011

Question:

I recently bought some CZ multi colored Lucky Stones and they are truly breathtaking. My question is, will I be able to tumble them in my tumbler after creating them in wire? I have so many ideas popping up in my head since I first opened up my package. Thanks, Dale!

-Maura in Harrisburg, North Carolina

Answer:

Hey Maura, yes – I also LOVE the Lucky CZ stones I bought! As you all know, I do not use a tumbler on ANY of my finished jewelry (which is why I use half-hard most often, and clean it with a polishing cloth as I go, then touch-up with denatured alcohol and finalize in a Speed Brite ionic cleaner). I would imagine that they would respond in a tumbler like any other CZ stone, because the glass is fused together. However, personally I can’t guarantee it. I am hoping that some of our readers have already tumbled their finished Lucky CZ jewelry pieces and will let us know for sure? (Thanks so much folks!)

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
March 19, 2011

Question:

What are some of the ways I can tell a real gemstone from a CZ or synthetic stone? I would just like a few hints that I can use such as what to look for with a magnifying glass, to tell the difference. Can you give me a few pointers?

-Lynne in Sutherlin, Oregon

Answer:

Oh my goodness, Lynne! Really, there is no sure way to determine between the stone types you list without gemological equipment. One option is to send valuable, questionable stones to the GIA (Gemological Institute of America).

Any good gemstone identification book will tell about a natural gemstone’s properties, including any natural inclusions or flaws (such as feathers, silk, lily pads, etc.) that you can look for by using either a microscope or a 10x loupe.

Of course, there are a few home tests that are not to be counted on, such as:

• Hold a cut stone to the sun, table toward your eye. if you can see straight through it, it is a form of glass, because glass reflects light, while gem material refracts light.
• Weigh it: Diamonds weigh more than cubic zirconia.
• Does it have flaws or inclusions? Lab stones (aka "synthetic") are no different than natural stones, except that lab stones are perfect: they have no flaws or inclusions.
• The warmth test: If you hold a stone to your upper lip and it stays cold, it is a rock; if it gets warm really quickly, it’s plastic; and if it warms slowly, it’s glass.

One of the least expensive ways to help identify gemstones is to use a combination short and long wave, ultraviolet light, as described in this awesome book: Gem Identification Made Easy, by Antoinette Leonard Matlins. (If the link doesn’t pull up, go to books.google.com, and search for "Easy gemstone identification tests")

You could also find and join a local Rock and Mineral Club. There you will meet people with all types of knowledge about rocks, gems and fossils, as well as those with lapidary and jewelry making interests. Like me, they are always happy to "talk rocks."

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 27, 2011

Question:

What’s the difference between simulated stones and Cubic Zirconia Stones?

-Robert in California, Maryland

Answer:

In many cases, simulated stones are made of faceted glass. Glass is made of silicates mixed with a variety of ingredients such as potash, lime, etc. Glass is very brittle and considered a “super cooled liquid”, rather than a “solid.” Also, glass will reflect light rather than refract it.

Cubic Zirconia is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide, and was created in 1976. Cubic Zirconia, or CZ, stones, have a hardness of 8.5 to 9 and a refractive index of 2.15-2.18, which is why they sparkle so.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
January 15, 2011

Question:

I’m very interested in the Lucky Stone multi colored CZs. I finally figured out the light and dark difference. Will there be a consistent color in them? Also I like the baguette style, but I am not familiar with the concave version. What is half-drilled? I was wondering if you could answer this quickly since you have a sale on them now. Thank you so much.

-Sue in Lacey, Washington

Answer:

Hi Linda, my order arrived the other day and as I look at these "Lucky" CZ stones to answer your questions, I am seriously impressed!

1. Yes, the consistency of color is uniform when looking at two stones of the same size, shape and cut (so earrings will not be a challenge).
2. When a faceted stone is concave cut, it means that the pavilion has been scalloped, giving an almost sunburst effect when viewing the stone from the front (concave cut is my personal favorite).
3. When an item (usually a bead) is described as "half drilled," it means that a hole has been drilled on one side that goes from 1/3 to 1/2 of the way through the item. Most often half drilled beads are used at the end of a wire/eyepin/headpin, and adhered using a good epoxy.

I hope these answers help you choose your selection of "Lucky" CZ stones; just remember, when they are gone – they are gone!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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