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If You Have Jewelry Allergies:
- Look for jewelry with a “nickel-free” label and hypoallergenic jewelry to avoid most types of allergic reactions to jewelry
- Creating a barrier between you and the nickel jewelry. For example for gold rings, coat the inside with clear nail polish, about three coats.
- Test your jewelry to see if they contain nickel. Get nickels testing kit to test your jewelry and other items. You can order a Nickel detection test kit to test jewelry before you wear them, including jeans buttons, and eyeglass frames.
-Thank you HubPages for great info
For help with picking out your perfect rings, earrings or necklaces contact Cornelis Hollander. We offer knowledgeable information in order for you to get exactly what you are looking for. Allergy free plus unique designs.
Cornelis Hollander Design
4151 N. Marshall Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
{480} 423-5000
“April’s birthstone is remarkably simple in composition, yet stunning in its unique ability to reflect and refract light into vivid flashes of brilliant color. The ancient Hindus called the Diamond “Vajra,” meaning lightening, both because of the sparks of light thrown off by this gem as well as its invincible strength. The Diamond is harder than any other substance on earth.
Diamonds have been revered throughout history. Used to embellish such items as crowns, swords and emblems as well as jewelry, they’ve even been part of national holidays. Queen Victoria declared the celebration of her 50th year of reign a “Diamond Jubilee.” Diamonds have also been credited for having certain medicinal properties. During the middle ages, these gemstones were thought to heal illness, but only if the ailing person took the Diamond into bed to warm it up first!
Formed deep within the earth where there is intense heat and pressure, Diamonds are simply crystallized carbon. Volcanic activity of centuries ago brought these gemstones to the earth’s surface, where they are found either within volcanic rock formations or washed out into rivers. India is thought to be the first river-bed source of Diamond mining, but today these gemstones are found primarily in Australia, the Soviet Union, and Africa.
No more notable it its uncut state than a plain pebble upon the beach, the true beauty of the Diamond was not revealed until the 16th century, when gemstone cutting and polishing techniques were perfected. Prior to this time, it was considered taboo to modify the original state of a Diamond. Today, the value and appeal of this stone depends largely upon how skillfully it is cut and faceted.
A gift of a Diamond is symbolic of everlasting love. There is no more convincing a promise of an enduring relationship than the brilliant gemstone that has endured in people’s hearts throughout the ages.”
Thank you “About Birthstones” for sharing this information
AGTA is an association of United States and Canadian natural colored gemstone and Cultured Pearl industry professionals dedicated to promoting the natural colored gemstone trade. The association pursues its aims through the combined use of educational programs, industry events, industry relations and publicity to the trade and consumer; while maintaining the highest ethical standards among its members and within the industry.
A member of AGTA abides by AGTA’s Code of Ethics that is of a higher standard than required by the Federal Trade Commission’s Guides for the Jewelry Industry on disclosing colored gemstone enhancements. Working with an AGTA Member is like having a gemstone consultant at your fingertips.
The AGTA Gemological Testing Center (AGTA GTC) is the natural colored gemstone industry’s premier independent laboratory. The AGTA GTC serves the industry and the public with a complete range of services, including gemstone identification, origin determination and pearl identification. The laboratory is equipped with the latest, technologically advanced, investigative equipment.
The AGTA sponsors some of the most important annual events in the gem and jewelry industry:
The annual AGTA GemFair in Tucson, Arizona is arguably the most important gemstone tradeshow in the world. Fostering the promotion and sale of natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, AGTA GemFair features an unrivaled array of gem materials as well as an extensive lineup of educational seminars and events. AGTA GemFair attracts gemstone buyers from all corners of the world.
The AGTA Spectrum Awards competition is an annual natural colored gemstone jewelry design competition recognizing the creative use of natural colored gemstones in jewelry designs done by North American and international designers. The Cutting Edge Awards is a competition that both acknowledges and celebrates lapidary artistry. Annually, the competition does a great deal to promote the beauty and diversity of natural colored gemstones and to honor the skill of the lapidary artist. Entries in the AGTA Spectrum Awards will be evaluated by a panel of distinguished industry judges on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-base consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones. Spectrum Award categories include Classical, Bridal, Day, Men and Evening Wear.
There are also two special divisions within the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition.
Fashion Forward Honors
Fashion Forward Honors recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl beads in artful, trend-setting jewelry. All necklaces, earrings, bracelets or other jewelry that qualifies for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition will automatically be qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging.
Manufacturing Honors
Manufacturing Honors recognizes outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities. All designs that qualify for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards competition will also automatically be qualified for Manufacturing Honors judging.
The AGTA Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity of the lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, other gem materials and objects of art in North America. A panel of judges will evaluate entries in the Cutting Edge Awards.
Visit: www.agta.org
For more information sales@cornelishollander.com or 800-677-6821.
If you have not been able to come to our location and visit our store we would like to give you a preview of what you’ve been missing out on! Take a look at the photos below and make sure you plan a day to look around. For all other questions please call: 480-423-5000
Cornelis Hollander Design
4151 N. Marshall Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
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Founded in 1984, Cornelis Hollander Designs, Inc., is a full service jewelry design company located in Scottsdale, Arizona. As a well-established jewelry design company, Cornelis’ jewelry has been distributed all over the US and internationally. All jewelry designs are manufactured on the premises, our studio in Scottsdale. Highly-skilled craftsmen work with Cornelis to produce finest quality jewelry. Cornelis also provides custom designs. Often customers bring their own special gemstones or diamonds or old jewelry to upgrade to modern designer look. Cornelius is happy to consult with these clients to discuss to create their dream piece of jewelry. Not only serving locally (Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Ahwatukee, Peoria, Sun City, Tucson and Sedona), custom designs are available for those who live out of state. Please contact us at sales@cornelishollander.com
Cornelis Hollander
4151 North Marshall Way
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
480-423-5000
As most people know, the engagement ring symbolizes the promise between two people to love one another for the rest of their lives. What most people don’t know, however, is how the engagement ring came to be such a popular tradition.
Engagement rings date back as early as the 15th Century. The first recorded engagement ring was a diamond ring given to Mary of Burgundy from the Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1477. They were married within 24 hours, sparking a tradition that has lasted for centuries. While this tradition caught on quickly for royalty and people of wealth, it was almost impossible for the average person to be able to afford a diamond ring. That changed, however, in 1870 with the discovery of diamond mines in South Africa. After this discovery, diamonds became much more affordable and accessible to the public.
Why the left hand?
The tradition of placing the engagement and the wedding band on the left ring finger sprouted from the Greeks. They believed that a vein called the Vena Amoris is located in that finger, and it runs directly to the heart.
People often inscribed messages or love poems into the rings, which later became known as “Posy rings”. While this tradition was mostly popular in the Middle Ages until Victorian times, it is still a common occurrence today.
The smallest engagement ring on record to date was given to the daughter of Henry VIII, two year old Princess Mary. It was given to her on the day of her betrothal to the Dauphin of France, son of King Francis I, who was also an infant, in 1518.
At the start of the 20th Century, platinum was the number one choice for engagement rings because of its durability and strength around the diamond. However, at the start of World War II, platinum was declared a strategic metal and its use was restricted to military purposes. This lead to a rise in sales of yellow and white gold jewelery, but during the last ten years, platinum has made a dramatic comeback to the world of engagement and wedding rings.
Do not confuse diamond “cut” with “shape.” Shape refers to the general outward appearance of the diamond, (such as round, emerald, or pear). When a diamond jeweler refers to the “cut,” that’s a reference to the diamond’s reflective qualities, not the shape. Diamond cut is perhaps the most important of the four Cs, so it is important to understand how this quality affects the properties and values of a diamond. A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance, which is that brightness that seems to come from the very heart of a diamond. The angles and finish of any diamond are what determine its ability to handle light, which leads to brilliance.
When a diamond is well-cut, light enters through the table and travels to the pavilion where it reflects from one side to the other before reflecting back out of the diamond through the table and to the observer’s eye. However, in a poorly cut diamond, the light that enters through the table reaches the facets and then ‘leaks’ out from the sides or bottom of the diamond rather than reflecting back to the eye. Less light reflected back to the eye means less brilliance.
As seen on: http://www.thediamondbuyingguide.com/diamondcut.html
Within the depths of the emerald are tiny fractures or inclusions, which the French call “jardin,” or garden, because of their similarity to foliage. The Egyptians were also known to engrave Emeralds with the symbol for foliage to represent eternal youth, and to bury these jewels with their dead. The ancient Romans associated this gemstone with fertility and rebirth, and dedicated it to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.
The Ancient Egyptians mined Emeralds in the eastern desert region 2,000 years before Cleopatra’s birth, braving extreme heat, scorpions and snakes to search for the beautiful crystals. During Cleopatra’s reign, she claimed the Emerald mines as her own, as this was her favorite gem. She often wore lavish Emerald jewelry, and it is said that she bestowed visiting dignitaries with large Emeralds carved with her likeness when they departed Egypt.
In the sixteenth century, the Spanish Conquistadors were amazed to find the native people wearing Emeralds larger and more magnificent than any they had ever seen. Although the natives attempted to hide their Emerald mines, the Spaniards soon discovered and conquered them. However, it wasn’t until twenty years had passed before they found the abundant mining operation held by the Muzo Indians, and another thirty years to overtake this aggressive tribe. The Muzo mine is in the area known today as Colombia, and it remains the source of the most prized Emerald specimens. Other sources of Emeralds are Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Russia.
The Emerald is a member of the beryl family of minerals. The green crystals grow slowly within metamorphic rocks and are restricted in size by the rock, making large Emeralds rare and costly. Although this gemstone is relatively hard and durable, it must be protected from blows because the inclusions found within make it susceptible to breaking.
The emerald is regarded as the traditional birthstone for May, as well as the traditional gemstone for the astrological signs of Cancer and Taurus. According to legend, the emerald has the power to protect the chastity of the wearer and to ward off evil spirits. It was also believed to cure epilepsy and dysentery,as well as aiding weak eyesight.
In some cultures, the emerald is the traditional gift for the 55th wedding anniversary. It is also used as a 20th and 35th wedding anniversary stone.
According to an article from Joden World Resources and LuShae Jewelry, throughout human history, culture jewelry has existed as an integral form of expression, social status and wealth. While the materials and techniques used to manufacture jewelry have in many ways evolved, there are also many similarities with the very first forms of jewelry worn some 90,000 years ago. For example, necklaces constructed from the same material are still available today and trends like beads on a string are much like charms worn today.
Jewelry functions have evolved and varied over time from a form of fashion accessory and form of artistic expression. Jewelry has even been utilized as a form of currency and continues to do so today. Jewelry has also played an important part of religion denoting membership and status with the religion as well as various social groups.
Egyptian Jewelry has been considered to be the dawning period for our modern form of jewelry. Egyptian craftsman began to utilize artistic skills and increased the variety of materials used. Gemstones and metal color was of greater importance, and gold was used extensively due to it being easy to work work and primarily available. Egyptian beliefs stipulated that every gemstone carried certain mystical powers which would be transferred to the owner when worn as jewelry.
Greek and Roman Jewelry relied heavily upon trade with neighboring cultures and is therefore quite varied in style and construction. Cultural symbolism once again played an important part of jewelry during this period. Metal working techniques evolved and jewlery pieces became more intricate and delicate. These techniques increased the popularity of earrings and other delicate construction methods. These forms of jewelry still remain popular today and has enjoyed a number of resurgences throughout history.
Jewelry during the Middle Ages became popular to symbolize the Christian faith. During the early part of the middle ages Christian monasteries were responsible for producing the better part of the worlds jewelry. The growing demands for jewelry and a booming population resulted in increasly sophisticated forgeries which the guild recognized a threat to their boom trade. Precious stones and metals were once again reserved for the wealthy and were even for lower classes during certain periods.
Jewelry during the Renaissance period was commonly referred to as the “Jewel Age” because jewelry began during the Renaissance to adopt a new found purpose. Increasingly jewelry served the role of body adornment, created solely for the purpose of protecting ones wealth. For the first time in history the use of the Diamond was popularized and a number of cutting methods and shapes were developed.
During the 17th century and onwards, the increasing wealth of the general popluation and relatively relaxed social attributes meant that the gold and silver pieces usually reserved for the rich and powerful could now be afforded by lower classes. The popularity of diamonds continued and so did the methods of cutting them.
The history of jewelry provides an interesting insight into the evolution of human culture.
Contact Cornelis Hollander for Arizona’s Finest Jewelry!
480.423.5000
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