The Diamond, birthstone for April, has become one of the most popular and desired gemstones of modern times. But it has not always been so. While always desired, it has only been since the late 19th century that most people have even had the opportunity to acquire diamond jewelry.

Antique Indian Silver Jewelry A brief history of Indian silver work in the Southwest.

The 19th century was an exciting time in Europe and the United States. It was a century marking the introduction of mass production, technological progress, and the industrial factory system. Leo Hendrik Baekeland, an American Chemist announced his invention of Bakelite Plastic in 1909. Celluloid, Lucite, and Acetate followed Bakelite, considered the first important synthetic plastic.

As we stated in Pricing Artisan Jewelry: Part 1, “we have put together a short list of do’s and don’ts for you to consider when pricing your items to sell in your online shop.” In Part 2 we focus on knowing the competition and pricing strategies.

We have put together a short list of do’s and don’ts for you to consider when pricing your items to sell in your online shop. In Part 1 we focus on pricing as a professional business entity and the specific costs associated with the manufacture of handcrafted jewelry. Our purpose is to assist you in making sound business decisions by providing you with the information you need with respect to pricing your items, and by doing so, help you to succeed with your online selling venture.

Those born in March are fortunate to have two traditional birthstones to select from: aquamarine and bloodstone. Aquamarine is the better known of the two and is a blue or blue-green variety of the mineral Beryl. This mineral also has gem varieties in green (Emerald), pink (Morganite), yellow (Heliodor), and clear (Goshenite). Other colored examples of Beryl usually just use the color name in their identification, such as Red Beryl.

Notes from the Lane is pleased to announce our new monthly column ‘The Jewelry Diva’ by Ruby Lane shop owner Cindy Amirkhan - A Twinkle in Time. Cindy opened her shop in 2002 and has sold many beautiful and unique pieces of jewelry over the years, and she continues to dazzle her customers with new items and quality service.

Starting March 1, 2008, Notes from the Lane will feature a monthly column titled The Jewelry Diva by Cindy Amirkhan, shopowner of A Twinkle in Time, a Ruby Lane shop.

Dating jewelry accurately can be quite a challenge. Many materials and techniques used today in production are the same basic methods used for at least 5000 years! Crafts people today take gold, silver, and other metals, and use the techniques of granulation, casting, engraving, chasing, and piercing to produce beautiful jewelry, just like the metal smiths of Ancient Egypt and Asia Minor did ages ago.