I'm Back

Yes, I did fall off the face of the earth, but luckily it has a double chin. I'll be back with some great (hopefully) Jewelry Post. Until then...

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!

I wish the best to you and your family on this Easter Sunday!



One of my facinations with jewelry has always been the history of Gemstones, Metals and Symbols. With this being Easter I decided to Google "History of Jewelry Crosses". Not surprisingly, thousands of search results and many different ways, religions and cults who have used the cross throughout the ages.



Here is just a couple of the interesting paragrahs I found. I am including a link to their site at the end so that you may read more if you like or do your own search. While you are there take a look at their GREAT selection of Jewelry Crosses.



"What these crosses mean to us today and what they meant when Christianity was new to Celtic Britain and Ireland are in some ways the same and in some ways different. The cross either vertical or diagonal with equal length arms is a universal mark. It is so primal that it exists in all cultures as does the circle. There are no human cultures that have no art or symbols and there are no systems of symbols that do not include circles and crosses. These marks are opposites. The circle contains and is unending while the cross both reaches out and marks a specific, finite point at the center. Contemplation of this yields many possibilities and in this way temps the designer or the viewer to find personal meanings besides the traditional ones. A plain circle is often a symbol for the moon and a circle with a cross within or the arms of a cross without are universal symbols for the sun. The swastika is a related sun symbol. The Druids did indeed worship the sun and moon. These were important symbols to them. The cross by itself relates to other ideas. The four directions or the four corners of the Earth, the vertical and the horizontal coming together imply the joining of forces such as Heaven and Earth. Just as since the swastika became associated with the Nazis and became a symbol for anti-Semitism and hate the strength of that association supersedes its older meaning. The cross likewise when it became the predominate symbol of Christianity is no longer thought of by most people as a symbol for anything else. The older meanings do not entirely vanish. They are waiting to be rediscovered."



"It is my opinion that the story of St. Patrick making the cross over the circular pagan symbol is in itself symbolic of the way things really happened. Celtic Christianity used symbols and ideas that were familiar to the Druids to bring them to Christ. The Celtic monks of the early Church practiced a simple life, close to nature that found joy in the love of God’s creation. This was what the Druids already sought in their worship of nature so the missionaries were able to build on what they already had in common with the Druids to convert them to Christianity."



For more go to: http://religiousjewelryshop.com/Religious%20Jewelry/Christian%20Jewelry/Cross%20Necklace%20and%20Pendants/Celtic%20Crosses.cfm#more



Don't forget Mother's Day is coming. I have many special items for Mom in my Etsy Shop (to the upper right of this page)

Here's a news flash for you. Gas and Coffee Beans are not the only prices heading North. Jewelry prices are heading that same direction and no, I'm not talking about an 3 or 4% increase either. If you are looking at solid Gold, with ounce prices nearing $1000, you can only imagine what you'll be paying.

Even Gold Filled, Sterling Silver, and Vermeil are now starting to experience recent substantial increases in findings and parts and retail prices will follow suit shortly. This was partly what was causing the rush to the Copper Vendors at the recent Tucson Gem Show.

Another factor, the weak, weak, weak American Dollar. My advice to anyone planning on buying jewelry over the next several months, go ahead and buy it very soon and save.


I'll have more on this and more in the days to come so you may want to RSS this blog for easy reference.

The Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

After completing my tour of the recent Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, I think a few things are inevitable. They are as follows:

1) Get prepared for higher Gemstone Jewelry Prices. If you like the higher grades, get really prepared.
2) The increases in the Gold and Silver markets have finally impacted the price of Sterling Silver and Gold fill jewelry.
3) The Hot items at the show were Copper Findings, Larimar Gemstone, and Tanzanite.

I'll have more on these and more in the days to come so you may want to RSS this blog for easy reference.