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Styles of Earring Backs

FJU Category: General Info | Tags: Comparison, Earring Backs, Stud Earrings

Earrings come in many different styles. Here we will explore the more common types of earring backs, highlighting some of … the proper name for it. Maybe you are looking for the perfect gift. Maybe you are having trouble with your current earrings and are looking for alternatives. Or maybe you are simply interested in expanding your general jewelry knowledge. … Backs) Also called “butterfly backs,” and sometimes “push backs.” These are undoubtedly the most common style of earring back. They work on earrings with posts, using friction to secure the earring in place–hence the name. Often times the …

Gem in the Spotlight: Opal

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Opal

… best, wiping it clean with a soft cloth is recommended. Avoid the use of home ultrasonic machines or abrasive jewelry cleaners that could potentially damage the stone’s surface. For more valuable stones, setting them in a pendant or earrings instead of a ring will help them last as long as possible. With proper care opals can last for generations. Opals have very high water content, typically hovering around the 5-10% mark. As opals dry out over time they can sometimes …

Gem in the Spotlight: Morganite

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Morganite

… it a great gemstone for jewelry. Its wide range of soft pinkish colors makes it highly desirable as it compliments most skin tones and complexions. It is entirely appropriate for everyday wear, and it can be worn as rings, pendants, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pins, brooches, or whatever else you can think of. Morganite is considered very affordable, especially allowing for its rarity. But, it may be hard to find in local jewelry stores as it is still relatively less …

Gem in the Spotlight: Alexandrite

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Rarity

… hardness of 8.5. Because of its high hardness, alexandrite is suitable for everyday wear. That being said, because of natural alexandrite’s tremendous value and rarity, it is recommended to be worn carefully or put in jewelry such as earrings or pendants that are less prone to impacts than rings, for example. Alexandrite isn’t the only stone to display color-change phenomena. There are color-change varieties of many gems including sapphire, tourmaline, spinel, garnet, etc…

Gem in the Spotlight: Tanzanite

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Tanzanite, Zoisite

…and won’t be harmed under normal conditions the low hardness and poor to fair toughness (and a property called cleavage, which is a tendency to break when struck) means that care should be taken to avoid sharp impacts. Setting it in earrings or a pendant will help protect it if the intended use is daily wear. Rings and bracelets set with tanzanite should only be worn carefully on occasion. We recommend cleaning with warm soapy water and a soft bristle brush. You should …

Gem in the Spotlight: Tourmaline

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Jewelry History, Tourmaline

… Maine and California and praised the quality of the stones they produced. Along with opal, tourmaline is October’s birthstone. Care and Cleaning of Tourmaline Tourmaline makes a great gem in a ring for occasional wear or a pendant/earrings for daily wear. Because it isn’t exceptionally hard (Mohs hardness of 7-7.5), it should be stored away from other gemstones that could potentially damage it. Tourmaline should not be put into an ultrasonic cleaner or steam cleaned, and …