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Blog CF - Fine Jewellery & Antiques
June Birthstones - 2016-06-09
June Birthstones
June's Birthstones are Pearls, Alexandrites and Moonstones!
Sunny, warm June marks the beginning of Summer, and lucky June babies also recognize it as the month of several Birthstones! Shimmering, iridescent Pearls share this month with the elusive Alexandrite stone and the lesser claimed Moonstone.
Never heard of Alexandrite? You're not alone! This intriguing, rare stone is known as a colour changing stone because it shifts from shades of blue green in daylight to deeper tones of red and purple under incandescent light. The exact natural circumstances that must happen to create Alexandrite with its prized colour changing property are quite rare, so the stone is highly prized and valued. While wildly popular during the Victorian era and with Russian Tsars Alexandrite is rarely found in modern jewelry because of the stone's scarcity.
Alexandrite was named for Tsar Alexander II of Russia when it was discovered in Russia in 1834 on the same day as the future Tsar's coming of Age. Alexandrite enjoyed a comeback in the 1980s when new natural deposits were discovered, after which its popularity died down again due to the difficulty of procuring one of the rare stones. Because of Alexandrite's unique traits this stone is believed to inspire creativity, inspiration and imagination in its owner. Alexandrite makes the perfect gift for the Artist in your life; with the same unique and ever changing dynamic energy of an artist encapsulated in a single stone.
For Earthy June babies who are searching for an inner calm the shifting silvery tones of the Moonstone mimic the ethereal moon itself and claim tranquil properties. Romans and Greeks honoured the stone and associated it with their beloved Lunar Deities. The enchanting milky shades of light within moonstones appear to the eye to move and shift like clouds across a luminescent moon or the tides that naturally rise and fall in the pull of the same. Moonstones enjoyed popularity during the Art Nouveau period as their natural, earthy feeling suited the tones of the movement. Moonstones can be found in many natural colours, all of which claim different healing properties. Dreamers and lovers can find a perfect match in a piece of Moonstone jewellery.
In 1916 the Pearl was declared the official birthstone of June, and has quickly outpaced Alexandrite and Moonstone in popularity as a June gift ever since. Pearls have a long standing history dating back to their earliest discovery in the Sarcophagus of a Persian Princess who was laid to rest in 520 BC.
Pearls are the only organic jewel created by a living creature. Mollusks react to an irritant inside their shell by coating it in layers of protective, iridescent Nacre until a Pearl is formed. The colour of a Pearl mimics the shade of the inside of the shell from which it was created so pearls come in tones of white, cream or champagne, and from soft grey to inky, iridescent black. Every Pearl is unique, with no two identical stones in existence. What a darling way to tell that special someone that they are one of a kind, and utterly irreplaceable in your life!
Natural pearls are rare and were once very dangerous to dive for so the Pearl gained popularity as the 'Queen of gems and the Gem of Queens' - anonymous. Methods for reliably farming pearls began around 1916 and pearls became more accessible to consumers worldwide, sparking the movement for women to drape themselves in 'ropes and ropes of pearls' - Coco Chanel. In cultured freshwater and saltwater pearls a small 'bead' composed of shell or other material is placed inside the oyster or mussel which becomes the Center of a Pearl.
Pearls have found their way into the necklaces we all know and love, as the accent or the centre in rings and also into a variety of intriguing earrings. Droplets that demurely glow against the lobe of your ear or dangle enticingly innocent at the nape of your neck, pearls are a perfect earring for any occasion. Pearls are proper ladies and prefer to avoid the lavish scents, creams, and fragrant waters that we often apply to our necks and hands. The pearl earring becomes the perfect location to display and protect those radiant, classic pearls.
As written in People & Pearls: The Magic Endures; 'When a woman wears pearls, it is she who shines. Pearls complement a woman in whatever she is doing. They become part of her, not something worn by her'. Pearls are a timeless stone which have enjoyed a storied love affair with fashion, fame, and royalty; but they can still gracefully take a backstage role to the beauty of the woman wearing them.
Intrigued by the thought of this enchanting stone that symbolizes Friendship and loyalty? Or perhaps you're dwelling on the thought of Artsy Alexandrite or Mystical Moonstones? Come on in to Cynthia Findlay's for a wonderful selection of June birthstones, and enjoy the lovely weather with the knowledge of the perfect gift tucked away for that special June Event!
Vintage Graduation Gifts - 2016-06-03
Vintage Graduation Gifts
Something Antique or Vintage for a Lovely 2016 Graduation Present
Time has flown, it's moved too fast and now your baby's classes are past. Where did the time go?
June marks the end of the Educational journey of both Secondary and Post secondary students. As your heart swells with pride and your eyes with tears over the upcoming graduation of someone special you might also experience the confusion and pressure of finding the perfect gift to mark the occasion. Fear not, Cynthia Findlay's has you covered with a unique selection of timeless options just perfect for the New Graduate in your life!
Is your Grad off to conquer the business or writing world? Tired of the same old standard graduation pen as a gift suggestion? Why not jump back in time to the beginnings of the formal written word with a unique desktop Inkwell accessory? Antique and Vintage Inkwells are a perfect feature for any desk that shows a maturity and a respect for the written word. Their trays are also ideal for pens while various office accessories fit seamlessly in the ink pots (who says historical pieces can't be modernized?).
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Vintage & Antique Inkwells
Maybe the student you're buying for would rather have a graduation gift that they can wear and demonstrate the pearls of wisdom that they've picked up over their time in school. Give your grad a gift with class (and no homework!), with a strand of Graduated Pearls. Although these pearls may not have sat through lectures or pop quizzes to get their degree they are created and perfected overtime in nature. Graduated pearls are carefully strung in a pleasing arrangement that accentuates any neckline. A Princess length strand (17-19 inches) will leave your graduate feeling like the belle of the ball and provide an air of sophistication that pairs with any interview outfit!
Vintage Pearls
Marilyn Monroe famously said 'Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world'. We look with pride on students who are wishing for the world and reaching for the stars as they graduate, but sometimes the makeup helps to put a little colour in those cheeks when life gets a little tough. Give your graduate the gift of a beautiful classic compact, and the confidence to take on the world. These fun and intricate pieces can be filled with a favourite makeup and the mirror inside offers a reminder to smile and be proud of all that they have accomplished.
Antique & Vintage Compacts
Another timeless Graduation present that never goes out of style is the gift of a watch, in honour of the time that has flown by. You've watched them grow and now it's time for them to make their way into the world. Wristwatches are still a necessity in life and work; despite the clocks on our cell phones, and there is a sense of purpose and maturity that comes from wearing a watch that doesn't light up with digital numbers or pictures of cartoon characters. For an interesting antique flare why not buy a pocket watch as a gift? You can have it engraved with an inspirational message that will always be treasured.
Vintage & Antique Pocket Watches
Graduation is both the start and end of a journey. Celebrate this June not only for the accomplishments that have been earned but also for the possibilities and the bright future that lie ahead of your favourite student. Don't let the stress of choosing a present stand in the way of the pride and the joy of Convocation; let the friendly staff at Cynthia Findlay's give you a hand with that one of a kind present that you're searching for.
Emerald - Birthstone of May - 2016-05-10
Emerald - Birthstone of May
A look at Emeralds in vintage and antique rings & jewellery
"A Livelier Emerald Twinkles in the Grass" (Tennyson - Poet Laureate 1880-1892)
In true Tennyson fashion let's wax poetic about Emeralds, one of the rarest and most beautiful of gemstones, and the place they've held in Vintage and Antique jewellery. (Not to mention their place in the hearts of modern brides!)
The Beryl species' most precious Gem is also the Birthstone of May, and with its lush green hues it captures all the natural Spring shades of Green. Emerald rings are historically tied to Ancient Greek and Roman goddesses of Love and passion. What woman wouldn't love a ring whose history places her among the likes of Venus or Aphrodite?
Not enough to convince you that a Vintage piece of Emerald jewellery makes a great gift for not only May birthdays, but also for that special someone?
Cleopatra started the trend of Famous Beautiful women decked out in Emerald jewelry in Ancient Egypt. During the Victorian Era (1835-1900) it became popular to wear your birthstone as the center stone of your engagement ring. Before May "Two-Four" became the 'official party holiday' it was officially a celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday. As a May baby Queen Victoria happily sported a particularly unique serpent and Emerald ring as her engagement band.
Following in the footsteps of these Great Queens Elizabeth Taylor brought the rare and beautiful Emerald back to popularity during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Emeralds boast a rich and unique backstory that is perfectly framed by a vintage setting carrying a story of its own.
Vintage Emerald rings can be found in many cuts but one of the most popular ones takes its name from the stone itself: the Emerald cut (pictured above). The Emerald cut was in fact created for the Emerald stone as the carved edges helped to strengthen the stone's profile and durability by providing less exposed edges in the setting. Because a stone's natural imperfections are more visible in this cut Vintage Emerald cut Emeralds (yes that is the technical name!) were traditionally chosen for their clarity and tend towards higher quality stones.
These beautiful green stones are made all the more interesting for their flaws. It is rare to find an Emerald without a natural inclusion visible to the eye. These inclusions make the Emerald a more delicate stone less durable than Diamonds or Sapphires. It's exactlythese flaws and temperaments that make Emeralds so Unique and valuable!
If this blog about Emeralds left you Green with envy, or inspired by thoughts of Love and loyalty symbolized in the form of a 'Lively green' Vintage Emerald ring, come on down to Cynthia Findlay on King or shop online. We've got a vast selection of Vintage Emerald Rings and jewelley that makes a perfect gift for that Someone special!
RVP
Cynthia Findlay Fine Jewellery & Antiques
284 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1J2
Contact | 416.260.9057 | 1.855.260.9057