Opals and October News

Of All The Beads

Newsletter

October 2008

Hazel Brutsché

October Opals

Happy Anniversary!

Of All The Beads is one year old! Please join us at a party and trunk show on October 18th from 2 to 6 pm. Enjoy a 20% discount on the entire inventory while you drink a toast, and nibble on hors d'oeuvres.

Do a little early gift shopping or get something for yourself. Friends are welcome!

Guests receive a 15% coupon good for one repair job, custom order, or future purchase.

If you're in the DC area, look for an invitation in your inbox soon.

What's New?

I absolutely fell in love with the blown glass beads in these 2 necklaces; click each to see the close-up.

When I first saw this unusual, square rhodonite bead, I knew I wanted to wrap it in sterling wire:

And here's my tribute to the summer Olympics. Did you know each gold medal was made with white jade?

I had a lot of fun creating these clusters of color with glass and gemstones. They come in blue, teal, green, yellow/brown, and red. Each one floats freely on its chain so that you can wear the neat toggle clasp up front.

Click to see individual photos of these colorful cluster necklaces.

Repairs: Broken clasp? String stretched out? Pearls need knotting? Email me to request an estimate to repair your jewelry.

Opal, October's birthstone, is one of the most highly prized gemstones, with a rainbow of colors that run from milky white to deep blue.

All opals contain a certain amount of water. They are made of solidified silica, also the main ingredient in glass and quartz. Opals form when silica, carried by water, is deposited in holes and fractures of volcanic rock. Rather than forming crystals, the silica solidifies to become a gel.

Opals that you see in jewelry shops come from 1 of 2 categories. The first, precious opal, is iridescent -- the color will change with the angle at which you view the stone. These stones are know for their striking flashes of color. White and black opals belong in this group; volcanic ash gives black opals their color.

The second group, fire opals, are prized for their red, orange, and yellow colors, rather than any iridescence. They often have flecks of color shot through the stones, like confetti.

Their water content makes opals susceptible to changes in temperature, and they can dry and crack as a result. Wearing them daily will eventually dull the polish, and being somewhat soft, the stones are easy to scratch.

Clean opals using a soft cloth with a gentle cleanser in room-temperature water.

Of All The Beads » Hazel Brutsché

	Of All The Beads Newsletter	October 2008 Hazel Brutsché
October Opals	Happy Anniversary! Of All The Beads is one year old! Please join us at a party and trunk show on October 18th from 2 to 6 pm. Enjoy a 20% discount on the entire inventory while you drink a toast, and nibble on hors d'oeuvres. Do a little early gift shopping or get something for yourself. Friends are welcome! Guests receive a 15% coupon good for one repair job, custom order, or future purchase. If you're in the DC area, look for an invitation in your inbox soon. What's New? I absolutely fell in love with the blown glass beads in these 2 necklaces; click each to see the close-up. When I first saw this unusual, square rhodonite bead, I knew I wanted to wrap it in sterling wire: And here's my tribute to the summer Olympics. Did you know each gold medal was made with white jade? I had a lot of fun creating these clusters of color with glass and gemstones. They come in blue, teal, green, yellow/brown, and red. Each one floats freely on its chain so that you can wear the neat toggle clasp up front. Click to see individual photos of these colorful cluster necklaces. Repairs: Broken clasp? String stretched out? Pearls need knotting? Email me to request an estimate to repair your jewelry.
Opal, October's birthstone, is one of the most highly prized gemstones, with a rainbow of colors that run from milky white to deep blue. All opals contain a certain amount of water. They are made of solidified silica, also the main ingredient in glass and quartz. Opals form when silica, carried by water, is deposited in holes and fractures of volcanic rock. Rather than forming crystals, the silica solidifies to become a gel. Opals that you see in jewelry shops come from 1 of 2 categories. The first, precious opal, is iridescent -- the color will change with the angle at which you view the stone. These stones are know for their striking flashes of color. White and black opals belong in this group; volcanic ash gives black opals their color. The second group, fire opals, are prized for their red, orange, and yellow colors, rather than any iridescence. They often have flecks of color shot through the stones, like confetti. Their water content makes opals susceptible to changes in temperature, and they can dry and crack as a result. Wearing them daily will eventually dull the polish, and being somewhat soft, the stones are easy to scratch. Clean opals using a soft cloth with a gentle cleanser in room-temperature water.
Of All The Beads » Hazel Brutsché