Frostbite

It’s supposed to be the  “winter” season. Here in the Big Easy, we had a whole three or four days of chilly weather last month – it was enough to inspire me to dig through some of my “frosty” gems. Gemstones that have phenomenon called “labradorescence”, “adularescence” and “opalescence”. Sounds romantic doesn’t it? Well actually it is. Take moonstones for example, the ancient Romans believed that moonstones were formed from frozen moonlight. Labradorite stones are actually trapped “Northern Lights”, some were freed by an Inuit warrior to play in the sky. Arabs believed that opals fell to the earth in lightning flashes. Sigh.

Aquamarine & Australian Opal “Miss Matched” Earrings

These earrings were created with Australian opals, one round cab, one oval cab set in 22K gold. The aquamarines are set in fine silver, also one round cab and one oval cabochon. Similar but “Miss Matched”, almost “Mod Squad” ish!

Baby Geode Earrings With Rose Cut Rainbow Moonstones & Ametrine Briolettes

The earrings above consist of frosty pale, “crushed ice” baby geodes, rose cut rainbow moonstones (only slightly mis matched – one round, one oval) with ametrine briolettes. “Rainbow moonstone” is technically a type of labradorite. Unless you are into the formal (NOT romantic) nomenclature of gems, it’s just too much like work to explain all this stuff. I’ll be brief: Moonstones are orthoclase feldspar, their “flash” or “sheen” is referred to as “adularescence” and rainbow moonstones are labradorite feldspar, and their “sheen” is referred to as “labradorescence”.

Square Rose Cut Rainbow Moonstone Ring

Rose Cut Labradorite Miss Matched Earrings With Moss Aquamarine Drops & Apatite Briolettes

These earrings (also “Miss Matched”) are put together with rose cut labradorite, moss aquamarine drops, and apatite briolettes.

Rose Cut Labradorite Ring

Australian Opal Ring

This ring is sooo versatile, it looks great on its own or stacked with some friends.

Stacking Rings: Rose Cut Aquamarine, Australian Opal & Rose Cut London Blue Topaz

It’s worth noting that these beauties are more fragile than other rocks and gems. All are less than 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which means care should be taken to keep them from getting banged around or scratched. Rings especially are vulnerable. No housework, no doing dishes with them on!! Treat them like the high maintenance super models that they are and they’ll reward you for years with their flashy beauty!