Seduce him with those big Pearls, girl

Welcome Gem Junkies!

Have you listened to this week’s podcast?

We left off with the world as our Oysters, and came right back to that Oyster to uncover the wonderful world of Pearls.

This imagery follows our first part of this two part series. Check out the links below the images to learn more!

An interpretation of Cleopatra seducing Marc Antony by slipping her Pearl earring into a cup of “Vinegar” before drinking it. Pearl was thought of as an aphrodisiac, and this is how our girl Cleopatra shoots her shot to protect her empire from being overthrown.

This image was taken from http://www.grantsjewelry.com/the-real-story-about-cleopatras-banquet-and-that-pearl/ website, but was originally created Jacob Jordaens in 1653, and appropriately named “The Banquet of Cleopatra”

A breakdown of the anatomy of an Oyster. Here you can see where the bead will be implanted for cultured Pearl formation.

Here you can see how the bead is surgically implanted into the Oysters for nucleation.

The Oysters are then placed on lines, or in nets while the Pearl is being formed. This process varies for the different species, and is monitored by the Oyster farmers.

The moment of truth for this Tahitian Pearl- a black Pearl emerges from the Gonads of an Oyster.

A non exhaustive list of Pearl shapes- not all Pearls are created round!

Photo courtesy of http://www.russellandballard.com/knowledge-builder/pearls/

One of our Freshwater Cultured Pearl ring designs

Shop our Pearl Jewelry

August 17November 2

History, Death, Destruction, & Spinel

This week’s episode has been long anticipated. I mean, we had been teasing it for two weeks now…

So to go along with this riveting Pod are some visual representations of what the heck we are talking about!

That insane crystal structure of Spinel is evident here. Like two pyramids stacked on eachother.

http://www.geologyin.com/2014/11/deep-red-crystals-of-spinel-set-atop.html

Spinel color ranges- you can probably see why it might have been seen as quite the “impostor”

https://gem2000.com/news/tag/color-gemstones/

The black Prince’s Ruby is front and center on what must be the lighter version of the crown. Try nodding off during a coronation wearing this

http://www.thepracticalgemologist.com/jewelry-history-1/2016/10/28/not-what-it-seems-the-black-prince-ruby

A true queen! But really, between the hat and her neck dazzle she must really have a strong spine!

http://www.fabulagems.com/blog-ishimoto/2016/8/31/super-special-spinel

Cobalt Blue Spinel- drool worthy color

https://www.google.com/search?q=cobalt+blue+spinel&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7pLOt8vTcAhVUCTQIHZfBDDwQ_AUICygC&biw=1725&bih=850#imgrc=FUhlSxXoKPxMFM:

Some Spinel displays asterisim, but isn’t know as “Phenomenal Gem”

Photo courtesy of: https://www.jtv.com/library/gemopedia/star-spinel

Here is a sneak preview of the Parlé Spinel line coming to you 2019!

This ring will be available to purchase on our website!

July 20November 2

Perido or Peridon’t

Hey Junkies, here for your weekly dose? Well we have something that’s subtle, yet special. You probably know by now we mean Peridot! Lets go on a little journey to a time long, long ago, and to a place far, far away from Idaho.

1st Stop:

Zagarbad, the mysterious, “disappearing” island where Peridot can be found.

Photo courtesy of

Next we visit a time in history where there was enough space in the world to “cast away” our enemies, and literally never hear from them again, (I mean could you imagine?!)

Pharaoh casting away all of the snakes

Next we take you on a ‘wild’ color wheel ride where you can see this particular type of gem is limited in color variation. Everyone has a crazy green lady in their family, right?

Photo courtesy of https://ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/ancient-snake-deities-gods-ancient-mythology-006282

Color range of Peridot

This next one is for Brecken, who insisted i include the lily pads, and well, they are pretty.

Photo courtesy of https://jewelry-secrets.com/Blog/peridot-gemstone-august-birthstone/

Brecken’s fav Lily Pad inclusions.

Photo courtesy of http://theonlinejeweller.org/lily-pad-inclusions-peridot/

This is what they mean by “nodules”- pockets per say where you can find smaller amounts of Peridot all nestled up.

You can find Peridot in small amounts in the nodules of Basalt rocks

Photo courtesy of https://hiveminer.com/Tags/olivine%2Cperidot

Alright, this is pretty metal. Looks like something they would right ANOTHER super hero movie about. Can we ever get enough super hero movies? (yes)

Jonathan’s fav peridot in a meteorite

Photo courtesy of https://reddit.com/r/woahdude/comments/1u676k/pallasite_metorites_contain_olivine_also_known_as/

Last stop but not least, Parle’s vault where I found a more than worthy piece of Peridot jewelry to photograph. They really are beautiful.

July 13November 2

The Tanzanite Diaries

Welcome to the Tanzanite Diaries

Take a peek at all of the pictures from this week’s episode.

How Tanzanite usually looks coming out of the ground before it has been heated.

Photo courtesy of Venus Tears https://www.venus-tears.jp/sg/blog/2016/06/30/tanzanite-the-fifth-king-of-the-gem/

After it is heated you can notice the shifts in colors from shades of brown and yellow to violet and blue.

Without any heat treatment this type of Tanzanite will appear violet, blue, and green. We call it Peacock Tanzanite

The saturation of color depends on how large the gem is, the larger it is the more color it displays, and the richer the color is.

Ruby in Zoisite- We said it was a cute elephant!

You can find Tanzanite in only one locale- Tanzania, specifically in the Merelani region where you can also find our Mint Garnet.

Shades of Tanzanite

Shop our Tanzanite Jewelry

Thanks for listening to the POD! Let us know if you have any questions, and check out our new FB Group where we post all of these images, Podcast updates, and Parle shares. We want to create a community of Gem Junkies and share our love of gemstones and jewelry to help designers, retailers, and enthusiasts alike!

Until next week- Gem Junkies

June 29November 2

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho, Off to Mine Tourmaline We Go.

Welcome fellow Gem Junkie!

This week we discussed Tourmaline, and as we have said before this is a complicated and beautiful gemstone that comes in every color, and sometimes more than one! Have a look.

Like we said, everything but the kitchen sink. Photo courtesy of http://navneetgems.com/tourmaline-wholesale-multi-pink-green-indicolite/

The most commonly found Tourmaline- Schorl- ‘Skroll’- photo courtesy of https://www.crystalclassics.co.uk/product/schorl-tourmaline-with-albite-and-quartz/

Watermelon Tourmaline- Don’t forget the rind! Photo courtesy of https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/14965741-beautiful-polished-watermelon-tourmaline-slices-14-25-ct-3

The coveted Paraiba Tourmaline- Photo Courtesy of https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/paraiba-tourmaline-info.php

As promised, the Namibian Tourmaline Jonathan picked up.

A Parle one-of-a-kind Bi-color Green Tourmaline piece.

Shop our Tourmaline Jewelry

June 8March 26

Cleopatra- Girl Loved Her Emeralds

Rough Emerald in an elongated 6 prism structure

Picture courtesy of https://www.minedirect.com/EnlargedPages/FacetCabbingRough/Emerald/Emerald-12.html

Map of Emerald locations world-wide

Picture courtesy of http://amazonpueblo.org/emeralds-for-amazon-stories-from-jungle/

Jose Elias Vallejo has been a barequero in the ravine of the mining river for more than 40 years. He lives in Matadecafe, an informal settlement of shanty towns in the vicinity of the Muzo mines.

Picture and caption courtesy of https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2017/03/green-land-emerald-mining-colombia-170306110821882.html

Emerald Cut

Cabochon Emeralds

A final Parle product

Shop our Emerald Jewelry

June 1November 2

All Hail The King

Rubies- Every one knows them, but only the fierce don this power gemstone. Are you one of the few?

Find our cover photo https://www.instagram.com/thirdcoastgems/

The Corundum Family

How did you react when you found out Sapphires and Rubies are siblings?

So where is Ruby found?

While not perfectly drawn, (I am no historian or geographer) this does touch many of the locations that we know of today as the Ruby Sources. See for yourself below!

Including the Inclusions

I won’t take any of his pictures off the website, but if you want to see some cool shots of inclusions on Rubies, and other gemstones you should check out https://www.instagram.com/microworldofgems/?hl=en

Rubies & their sources

East African Ruby

Madagascar Ruby

Mozambique Ruby

Shop our Ruby Jewelry

Got any questions Rubies, gemstones, jewelry, and otherwise? Please write to us! Let’s get our nerd on and talk gemstones!

[email protected]

May 18November 2

Opals, Queen Victoria, & a Sassy Shoulder

To go alongside our SECOND PODCAST that introduces the complex world of Opals are some images to help wrap things up for you!

If you still haven’t listened to the Podcast then you can get the episode here http://bit.ly/2KbDobb

Subscribe to our Pod to stay up-to-date on all things colored gemstones! You can subscribe on:

Stitcher:

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/gem-junkies?refid=stpr

iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gem-junkies/id1383312938?mt=2

Soundcloud:

http://bit.ly/2KbDobb

Opal Sources Worldwide

In order for Opal to have the precious play-of-color Silica molecules must settle in such a way for light to pass through.

Australian Opal Mines

Pieces of Opal Rough. Also included is a variety of Opal types with different background colors and transparency levels.

Promise Opals have plenty of Good Luck remedies too!

To see any of our Opal pieces please go to https://www.parlegems.com/collection.php?id=1&collection=Opal

May 10November 2

Out of the Family- The Lotus Garnet Story

Hey, thanks for listening to our Podcast! At least that’s why I am assuming you are here. If you haven’t you should check us out under “Gem Junkies” in the itunes store, or on your podcast app!

Since listening to the podcast you were probably curious to see what the great, big Garnet family looks like. We also promised pictures of the color range & shift of our Lotus Garnet and what the mines look like! Well, we have all of that here. Scroll down to see our charts, and check out the gallery at the bottom! Let us know if you have any questions.

Email us at [email protected]

From left to right:

Lotus Garnet Featured Pieces
Garnet Family Display
Lotus Garnet color range in shade
Lotus Garnet color range in sun
Lotus Garnet color range in shade
Lotus Garnet color range in sun
At the alluvial mine site in Tanzania
At the alluvial mine site in Tanzania
Lotus Garnet rough
Lotus Garnet rough size

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Shop our Lotus Garnet Jewelry