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malakjewelers-blog · 6 years

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The Brief History Of Jewelry & Valentines Day

Valentine’s Day, a celebration of love and affection that is observed around the globe. Everyone hopes to receive something special and sparkly for this love filled day. Jewelry has long been a popular gift item to give your special someone that they can cherish for all of time. But have you ever wondered why jewelry became associated with Valentine’s Day? The history of jewelry and this day of love may surprise you.

It all began with Roman Emperor Claudius banning all engagements and weddings ceremonies in Rome in an effort to increase his militia. With fewer men married with families this meant there were more eligible bodies to serve in the Roman army. One priest however, defied the emperor by continuing to marry couples. St. Valentine believed that deserving couples still had the right to get married if they chose. Emperor Claudius soon found out about the illegal marriages and had St. Valentine beheaded on February 14th. This began the long beloved tradition of Valentine’s Day on the 14th day of February in honor of St. Valentine.

Cupid has an interesting story to tell dating back to 700 BC, Cupid was said to be the son of Venus, the goddess of love. He carried two arrows, one that brought desire and one that brought disdain. Cupid’s ties to Valentine’s Day began during the Renaissance when artists and poets started using him as a reference to love. This has led to Cupid’s modern day image and ties to Valentines day.

So how did jewelry and other gifts become associated with this day?

It is believed that St. Valentine had fallen in love with the jailor’s daughter while he was imprisoned. He sent her a final note before his death that was signed, “From your Valentine.” Inspired by this, the Duke of Orlean sent the first Valentine’s card in 1415.

Roses became a popular Valentine’s Day gift in the 17th century with reference to Venus and her love for the red rose.

Chocolate was first imported to Europe in the mid 1600’s but didn’t become a popular gift item until 1847.

Jewelry became an iconic gift item because of the eternal beauty it can provide. The metal press was first used to mass produce jewelry in 1840. And around the 1920’s, designers like Coco Chanel and Krementz started to notice that jewelry was quickly becoming a Valentine’s Day staple and created the first imitations of fine jewelry. Box stores like Macy’s and Sears utilized the metal press and began producing and marketing jewelry for this holiday in hopes that sales would increase. Roses will eventually wilt and chocolate will be eaten but a beautiful piece of jewelry will remain forever as a symbol of the special someone that gave it to you. At first it was costume jewelry that was being advertised as Valentine’s Day gifts, but by the 1980’s it had shifted to more expensive items. The diamond industry promoted jewelry sales with the popular slogans, “Hearts on Fire,” and “Let Your Love Sparkle This Valentine’s Day.” Marketing helped Valentine’s Day become the gift giving holiday that it is today. These tactics launched diamond sales so now whenever you think of Valentine’s Day you think of diamond jewelry.

The history of Valentine’s Day has stemmed from tales of love, lose, and symbols of affection. St. Valentine’s passion for fairness, love, and happiness to uphold couple’s commitment to one another should give singles and couples hope that deserving love comes with risk and reward.

From Your Valentine,

#happy valentine's day #from your valentine

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malakjewelers-blog · 7 years

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Tali photography

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malakjewelers-blog · 7 years

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by Lisa Klassen Photography

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malakjewelers-blog · 7 years

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malakjewelers-blog · 7 years

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Cleaning and Caring for Your Favorite Gemstones

Amethyst

Generally, Amethyst has good wearability. Amethyst has moderate scratch resistance, rating 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Steps should be taken to avoid storing Amethyst with harder gems that can scratch it. Amethis possesses good resistance to chipping and breaking. Gem owners should note that Amethyst may fade if exposed to intense light, such as direct sunlight, for extended periods.

Cleaning: Liquid cleaner or detergent and water. Ultrasonic is safe unless there are notable clarity characteristic present in the gem.

Aquamarine

On the whole, Aquamarine has very good wearability. Aquamarine has moderately high scratch resistance, rating 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. The gem is very tough and is resistant to chipping and breaking, and its stability requires no routine concerns for gem owners.

Cleaning: Liquid cleaner or detergent and water. Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe.

Diamond

Diamond has good to excellent wearability. Diamonds are near impervious to scratches and rate 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Diamond is widely considered to be the hardest material aside from some man made nanomaterials. Diamonds normally possess good resistance to chipping and breaking, but diamonds possess cleavage, which is a tendency to break in certain directions due to crystal structure patterns, so protect your diamonds from sharp impacts on any surface. Inclusions and other clarity characteristics may also affect diamond’s toughness and durability. There are no routine stability concerns for gem owners.

Cleaning: Liquid cleaner or detergent and water. Ultrasonic is considered safe except for fracture-filled diamonds.

For more check out the full Cleaning and Caring for Your Favorite Gemstones article on the Malak Jewelers’ Blog!

#amethyst #diamond #aquamarine #emerald #onyx #opal #pearl #sapphire #tanzanite

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malakjewelers-blog · 7 years

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Gem Color Choices and Symbolism

Gemstones have great symbolic value and meaning. Different colors can symbolize different things. A beautiful red star ruby can signify intense courage and dynamic power. A stunning green peridot can signify the rebirth of youth in spring. The more you know about gemstones’ color significance the more easily you can find the perfect piece for you or your loved ones.

Red

Gems: Alexandrite, Almandite, Coral, Fire Opal, Rhodolite, Ruby, Spinel, Star Ruby, Topaz, Tourmaline, and Zircon.

Associations: Life force, heart, heat, intensity, courage, nobility, dynamic power, emotional impact, and passionate love.

Pink

Gems: Coral, Diamond, Pearl, Rhodolite, Rose Quartz, Sapphire, Shell, Spinel, Star Sapphire, Topaz, Tourmaline, and Zircon.

Associations: Dawn, freshness, expectancy, faith, and femininity.

Orange

Gems: Amber, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, Fire Opal, Jadeite, Malaya Garnet, Moonstone, Pearl, Sapphire, Shell, Spessartite, Spinel, Topaz, Tourmaline, and Zircon.

Associations: Sunset, glowing embers, autumn, cheerful, warmth, strength, friendliness, and joy.

“Ruby and diamonds ring” by Lunialaura / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Yellow

Gems: Amber, Cat’s-eye, Citrine, Diamond, Fire Opal, Jadeite, Moonstone, Nephrite, Pearl, Sapphire, Shell, Tiger’s-eye, Topaz, Tourmaline, and Zircon.

Associations: Sunshine, summer, the intellect, enlightenment, radiance, honor, richness, generosity, and happiness.

Green

Gems: Alexandrite, Cat’s-eye, Diamond, Diopside, Emerald, Jadeite, Malachite, Nephrite, Pearl, Peridot, Sapphire, Tourmaline. Tsavorite, and Zircon.

Associations: Nature, spring, hope, rebirth, youth, fertility, growth, vitality, creativity, emotional balance, and domestic love.

Blue

Gems: Aquamarine, Coral, Diamond, Iolite, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Sapphire, Spinel, Star Sapphire, Tanzanite, Topaz, Tourmaline, Turquoise, and Zircon.

Associations: Water, sky, heaven, infinity, spirit, royalty, quality, achievement, coolness, sincerity, serenity, peace, transcendence, and secret love.

Violet

Gems: Iolite, Jadeite, Pearl, Sapphire, Spinel, Star Sapphire, Tanzanite, Topaz, and Tourmaline.

Associations: Evening, hidden energy, complexity, depth of feeling, and spirituality.

Purple

Gems: Amethyst, Jadeite, Pearl, Rhodolite, Sapphire, Spinel, Star Sapphire, Tanzanite, Topaz, Tourmaline, and Zircon.

Associations: Self-assurance, pleasure, indulgence, wealth, luxury, sensuousness, and intoxication.

“Sapphire Ring” by Stanislav Doronenko / CC BY 3.0

Colorless

Gems: Diamond, Quartz, Sapphire, Topaz, and Zircon.

Associations: Purity, water, peace of mind, emotional calm, mental or spiritual clarity or insight.

White

Gems: Coral, Jadeite, Moonstone, Nephrite, Opal, Pearl, Sapphire, Shell, and Star Sapphire.

Associations: The moon and stars, light, life, purity, innocence, openness, and integrity.

Black

Gems: Diamond, Hematite, Jadeite, Nephrite, Onyx, Opal, Pearl, Star Diopside, and Star Sapphire.

Associations: Night, mystery, drama, gravity, dignity, elegance, and sophistication.

Gray

Gems: Diamond, Hematite, Jadeite, Moonstone, Nephrite, Opal, Pearl, Sapphire, Shell Sapphire, Star Sapphire, and Tourmaline.

Associations: Cloud, shadow, winter, rock, machinery, ingenuity, intelligence, and wisdom.

Brown

Gems: Amber, Cat’s-eye, Coral, Diamond, Fire Opal, Jadeite, Moonstone, Nephrite, Pearl, Sapphire, Shell, Smoky Quartz, Tiger’s-eye, Topaz, Tourmaline, and Zircon.

Associations: Earth, wood, solidity, security, dependability, and comfort.

https://www.malakjewelers.com/blog/gem_color_choices_and_symbolism/

#gemstones #emerald #sapphire #ruby #diamond #color #beautiful #precious

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malakjewelers-blog · 7 years

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Stunning Sterling Silver Fun Facts and Cleaning Tips

1. Silver is one of the oldest metals humans have used! The metal was discovered around 5000 BCE, and archeologists have found silver artifacts dating to 4000 BCE. Pure silver came into vogue in 3000 BCE when mankind discovered how to separate silver from lead.

2. Silver is the best electrical conductor of all the elements and is the bar against which all other conductors are measured.

3.In addition to its conductive properties, silver is the most reflective element, able to reflect 95% of the visible spectrum! This has lead to silver being used in mirrors, telescopes, microscopes, and solar energy cells.

For more fun facts and cleaning tips, read Stunning Sterling Silver Fun Facts and Cleaning Tips!

#sterlingsilver #silver #jewelry #history

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malakjewelers-blog · 7 years

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How do you keep your diamond ring dazzling and secure!

1. Touch your diamond as little as possible! Your skin contains enough oil to alter the way the light interacts with your diamond, and frequent handling will cause the diamond to appear dull and dirty.

2. Clean your diamond regularly! Some people recommend using an ammonia based household cleaner and a soft, clean toothbrush to clean the dirt and oil off your diamond once or twice a week. However, if you have a an older antique ring or a ring that features a tension setting, be careful with using a toothbrush, as it may damage the prongs or cause the diamond to become loose in the setting. We recommend a soft cloth and warm water for fragile or older jewelry.

3. When cleaning the diamond, always clean the back and inside of the ring. Most of the dirt will build up there and a few extra seconds cleaning harder to reach areas can make all the difference.

For more tips check out A Dozen Tips to Keep Your Diamond Ring Dazzling and Secure!

#diamond #engagement ring #engagement rings #diamond engagement rings

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malakjewelers-blog · 8 years

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Browse gorgeous engagement rings and fashion jewelry at Malak Jewelers