Jewel Envy classes are back! From newbie intro classes to professional enhancement, make sure you get our newsletter to see what is open.
You can register on our website, and you are welcome to call or drop by during business hours to ask your questions and find the best type of class for you.
I was so excited to recently work on a gemstone cut that I don’t get to see that often – tablet cuts! I also have had an increase of working with gemstones people are purchasing on their own and I get to design around them.
Some of my favourite gemstones come from Brooke’s Customs. This family run business is a wife and husband team that source interesting rough gemstones that they meticulously cut into interesting shapes that are outside of what you would typically find, take a look!
All gemstones are from Brooke’s Customs
Today is a slower day in the store, but lots of great work is being made in the studio still! Like these fantastic silver hand forged earrings by Jamie Rosario. Each one of these elements is hammered out by hand and then meticulously put together to form these Alexander Calder-esk balancing earrings.
The beautiful garnet is the birthstone for those born in January! Garnets are well known for their deep red hue but they also come in a range of colours, including yellow, orange, green, and purple.
Pictured is a garnet ring by Pash Jewellery Design.
Below are a couple of antique garnet pieces in green and orange!
Demantoid Garnet Snake Brooch, c.1890.
Victorian Style Spessartine Garnet and Diamond Ring.
Vandervelden, Bibi. Siren Tail. 2025. BIBIVANDERVELDEN, https://www.instagram.com/p/DEcqfGLTeAs/?img_index=2
The name opal is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word upala, which means ‘jewel’, and later the Greek derivative opállios.
There are many types of opals and countries of origin. The most popular being Australian and Ethiopian opals. However, you can find opals from Mexico, Peru, Nevada and Brazil.
In terms of cost, Ethiopian opals are cheaper because they don’t control the market like Australian opals. However, they are just as beautiful.
That said, Ethiopian opals, unlike Australian opals which are sedimentary, are hydrophane. They can absord water and potentially lose their brilliance.
Definition of ring: a circle band worn on the finger.
Rings are not only used as adornment but they are used to symbolize authority, fidelity or social status.
Earliest existing rings were found in the tombs of Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians used them primarily as seals or signet rings, to identify documents from the wearer.
Ancient greeks wore rings mostly as adornment and were the originators of rings as gifts of affection.
During the Hellenistic period, bezels started being used to hold cabochon stones.
In Rome, rings were an important symbol of social status. Only certain classes could wear gold rings and everyone else wore rings of iron.
Nowadays, rings are worn as adornment and also a symbol of love or friendship. Rings nowadays are not only made with precious metals like gold and silver but base metals too for fashion jewellery like copper and silver and stainless steel.
At Jewel Envy, all goldsmiths use silver or gold to make jewellery as it can be resized and repaired, creating an everlasting piece of jewellery for the wearer.
Are you in Toronto before Hannukah and Christmas and looking to explore local shops?
Whether you are feeling topsy-turvy, on a mission, or relaxed and taking in the sights and sounds of city, you are welcome to come and see us at the Jewel Envy Studio today (until 6pm), tomorrow (10am-6pm), and Tuesday (10am-4:30).
We have lots of unique gifts and lovely pieces to look at that will have you spinning or centered, depending on your preference.
Just look for the biggest blue house in Roncesvalles, on the corner of Roncesvalles and Marion Street.
Happy Holidays!
Today at Jewel Envy we are thinking of shapes and forms that fit the theme of winter and holidays!
As ready-to-wear items earrings make great gifts, come by and take a look at our variety of beautiful earrings here in studio.
Knot earrings by Tomoe Akiba
Earrings by Eunice Lin
Pearl studs by Hyewon Jang
Earrings by Hyewon Jang
Earrings by Shafiq Sarwari
Earrings by Edna Milevsky
Earrings by Alexis Kostuk
Gemstone Basics – Part 2
Colour is not the best way to determine what a stone is. The colour is a clue, but not the answer as gemstones usually come in a variety of colours for each species. Just because it is blue doesn’t make it a sapphire, red doesn’t make it a garnet and purple doesn’t make it an amethyst.
These are the most commonly recognized colours for each of the mentioned stones, but gemstones have a specific chemical composition and the presence of different minerals within the composition creates different colours.
Some examples of gemstones that are easily confused include sapphire, ruby, garnet, beryl, iolite and amethyst. Sapphires come in every colour of the rainbow except red with the red being referred to as ruby. Beryl comes in a variety of colours and the red variety can closely resemble garnet and ruby. iolite and tanzanite are purple stones that can be confused with amethyst.
Most people have a particular colour I mind when looking for a gemstone rather than a concern over the species of the stone. Ask your jeweller about your options for stones based on what colour you want. Different stones have different price points and contain different properties that will affect how you wear and care for them.
Conversely, if you know you want a particular variety of stone (for working properties, historical significance, rarity etc.) ask about colour options so you know the full range of possibilities for the stone in your new piece.
If you are uncertain about the types of stones in your jewellery, ask a jeweller to get an appraisal for you before doing any work on the piece of jewellery. Most jewellers are not gemologists, but many will be able to identify stones based on their personal studies or experience. Goldsmiths will rarely give you a definitive answer on an expensive stone without an appraisal.
See last month’s blog for part 1. An overview of the different types of gemstones and their suitability in jewellery.
Two in one this year! For the end of 2024 Christmas and Hanukkah arrive at the same on December 25th. This is a great chance to get gifts that can be given for both holidays. Here are a few new wonderful pieces under $150 that may be perfect for your loved ones. (In the store look for the red and green bows marked under $150).
