Shop by Gemstones
The Nature of Gemstones
Rainforest Rhyolite in its Natural Green Colortones and Splashes of Bright Red-Orange.
More than 40 popular gemstones and perhaps 100 or more varieties and gemstone combinations can be found all over the world - as well as rare collector gemstones. So far, Miriam has more than 80 different semiprecious gemstone jewelry examples in her Private Gemstone Collection! Some gemstone varieties have been treasured since the dawn of woman, and Miriam loves reading about them – and describing the history, magical legends, and the metaphysical nature or "essence" of the stones in her jewelry descriptions. We hope you will also enjoy reading about them.
There are three major stone types: Jaspers, Agates, and Chalcedony. Can you tell the difference between Jaspers, Agates and Chalcedony? Sometimes a stone may show all three characteristics, depending on how it is cut.
Sounds simple enough, BUT the difference between Jaspers and Agates is not always straightforward. The whole story of Mother Nature’s fascination is far more complex!
- “Absolutely delighted with what you did with the charoite. Earrings are a very good match too. As always, thank you for your fine work and dedication to pleasing me!” [Custom-designed Necklace & Earrings Set] JF, Kentucky
- “The Miriam creation came today and it is really beautiful. I loved the pictures but seeing it in person really shows all the nuances. It is wonderful.” [Custom-Designed Multi-Strand Pearl Necklace] MP Chicago
- “I gave this fabulous ocean jasper necklace to my friend, and she was absolutely floored. It looks stunning on her. She loves the necklace...[said] it feels like the ocean came right to her." [Ocean Jasper necklace sent as a gift] MGP, Maryland
- "These [Red Creek, Howlite, and Bloodstone necklaces] are every bit as wondrous as I had hoped. Gasping with joy... Thank you, Miriam." SBB, Oregon
There are three major stone types: Jaspers, Agates, and Chalcedony. Can you tell the difference between Jaspers, Agates and Chalcedony? Sometimes a stone may show all three characteristics, depending on how it is cut.
- The primary difference is in their diaphaneity - or how easily light passes through a material.
- Is the stone Transparent (light and images pass through), Translucent (light passes through), Opaque or solid (no light passes through)?
- Jasper is opaque.
- Agates may show both translucent and transparent areas, as well as more solid areas. If you put light behind a stone and can see through it, then it is an Agate.
- If the light does not shine through the stone, it is a Jasper.
- Sometimes Jasper intergrows with Agate - but the Jasper portion will always be opaque.
Sounds simple enough, BUT the difference between Jaspers and Agates is not always straightforward. The whole story of Mother Nature’s fascination is far more complex!
- There are Moss and Plume Agates, which have fluffy inclusions that often make the stone appear to be soft and have depth.
- Both Agates and Jaspers are comprised of Quartz, which is one of the most common minerals on our plants.
- Quartz is comprised of two major types of Crystals: Macrocrystalline (large crystal) and Cryptocrystalline (small crystal).
- Some small Crystal Quartz are called Chalcedony. When Chalcedony is concentrically banded,it is called an Agate (probably because you can see some solid bands in addition to translucent and transparent bands). For example, Blue Lace Agate is a small crystal Chalcedony. It has both translucent and solid banding. Examples of large crystal Chalcedony, which are clear (and not banded) are Smokey Quartz, Amethyst, and Citrine - They are not considered Jaspers nor Agates.The Imperial Jasper stones used in Miriam's Imperial Jasper jewelry has areas of translucent banding (like an Agate). Its patterns are much less regular and defined than those of the other Chalcedony varieties, like Blue Lace Agate.
- Other “stones” are not stones at all, but Mica. An example is Lepidolite Mica. Another non-stone is Tektite, which forms when a hot meteorite crashes to Earth and explodes into pieces.The pieces may even differ in shape, depending on where the meteorite lands!
You will see some of these unusual varieties in Miriam’s collection of one-of-a-kind necklaces, with descriptions of each stone and its special features. Many times, people only refer to stones by their major types. "It's an Agate" or "It's a Jasper." Miriam goes further... She researches each stone in her Collection, so she can provide the names geologists use by virtue of where the stone was discovered, or the "nicknames" given to the stones by the people who discovered them.
Miriam has literally hundreds of gemstone varieties in her private collection, too many to list here. Sometimes she buys only enough of a single stone type to produce one necklace! If you don’t see the color, gemstone, or design you're looking for – Contact Us and take advantage of Miriam’s Custom Order feature! Estimates are free. Using her vast resources and Private Gemstone Collection, Miriam will find just the right colors and natural gemstones to design and create your special one-of-kind jewelry! Go to our Contact Us page and send Miriam a message... If you prefer to search by color, please go to our Shop by Gemstone Color Gallery.
Miriam has literally hundreds of gemstone varieties in her private collection, too many to list here. Sometimes she buys only enough of a single stone type to produce one necklace! If you don’t see the color, gemstone, or design you're looking for – Contact Us and take advantage of Miriam’s Custom Order feature! Estimates are free. Using her vast resources and Private Gemstone Collection, Miriam will find just the right colors and natural gemstones to design and create your special one-of-kind jewelry! Go to our Contact Us page and send Miriam a message... If you prefer to search by color, please go to our Shop by Gemstone Color Gallery.
