b y
CA R O L
B E S L E R
& beautiful
exotic gemstones:
Mexican Fire Opal earrings
dream in color Mexican Fire Opal necklace
62
Gemstone jewelry has never been more in sync with mainstream fashion.Today’s most treasured pieces contain rare,exotic gemstones crafted in unique shapes and sizes.
Exotic gemstones are so-called because they are usually rare,
The world of colored gemstones is full of romance and mythol-
either because they come from a single source or they are har-
ogy. Ancient civilizations believed them to be important talis-
vested in finite supplies, and because they possess unusually
mans, capable of many magical feats, from protecting men at sea
vibrant or phenomenal colors.
to preventing drunkenness or making their wearers pure and
Color has long been a powerful factor in jewelry design, and
good. In fashion, color is considered one of the most important
gemstone jewelry is currently the fashion world’s most fascinating
elements of the season, often ahead of texture and style.
accessory. Exotic gemstone jewelry also represents a wise invest-
Gemstone jewelry, therefore, represents a great opportunity to
ment, since rare gemstones possess greater intrinsic value. Jewelry
participate in the wonderful world of color on a level that allows
that incorporates them is therefore made to high standards of
you to express your personal style. Three of our favorite exotic
craftsmanship. The pieces are built to last and designed to com-
gemstones are fire opal, paraiba tourmaline, and natural alexan-
plement, yet transcend the seasonality of fashion trends.
drite. Here’s why we love them.
]
K AY ’ S
F I N E
J E W E L R Y
M AG A Z I N E
MEXICAN FIRE OPAL Orange is the hottest color of the season and is showing up in everything from handbags, watches, and shoes to dresses and coats. Like red, orange is a stimulant, and like yellow, it oozes warmth and energy. Renaissance painters depicted the orange as a symbol of fertility. In gemstone terms, designers are turning to lush Mexican fire opal, mined exclusively in the Mexican highlands, to add fire to fall wardrobes. The gem’s vivid orange color, with coppery overtones, is spicy and exotic; it is no wonder the fire opal was admired by the Mayan culture as a symbol of fervent love. Fire opals were believed to bestow courage, stamina, will-power and energy on the wearer. These gems come in an array of hues, from yellowish to light reddish, sometimes with a brownish undertone. It is an alternate gemstone for the Aries sign.
N AT U R A L A L E X A N D R I T E Alexandrite is classed as a “phenomenal” gem, because of its color-change properties — it shows green or bluish-green in daylight and a soft shade of red, purplish-red or raspberry red in incandescent light. This unique optical characteristic makes it one of the world’s most valuable gems. It was named after the Russian Tsar Alexander, having been found on the day he came of age, in 1834, in the Ural Mountains of Russia. Because it shows both red and green, the principle colors of imperial Russian, it became the national stone of tsarist Russia. Today, alexandrites are also found in Brazil and in smaller quantities in Tanzania, Burma, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe. The more distinct the change of color, the more valuable the stone. It is considered a stone of very good omen, with the power to strengthen the wearer’s intuition, and thus help him or her find new ways forward in situations where logic will not provide an answer. Alexandrite is also reputed to aid creativity and inspire the imagination.
The designs featured in this article are available exclusively at Kay's Fine Jewelry boutiques across the Caribbean.
K AY ’ S
F I N E
J E W E L R Y
M AG A Z I N E
[ 63