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Genuine, Natural, High Quality Antique Indian Semi-Precious Rhodolite Garnet Gemstone Chips on 14kt Gold Fill French Hooks.

Handcrafted antique gemstone chips, about ten carats on each hook, mounted onto high quality 14kt gold fill french hooks.

The fabled land of India has been famous for centuries for its production of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, topaz, aquamarine, and other precious and semi-precious gemstones. The gemstones were not only mined in India, they were most frequently hand cut as well, more often than not in Bombay. These are bright, colorful amethyst gemstones, favored for their rich, regal, vibrant purple tones. Though Ceylon probably has the finest amethyst, the product is typically pretty pale in color. Brazil produces much darker and more richly colored amethyst, but it can be fairly costly. The amethyst produced in India is not as expensive as Brazilian amethyst, and it is much darker in color than Celanese amethyst. These gemstone earrings possess a very rich, velvety, visual texture.

These gorgeous garnet earrings are composed of the chips which are the by-product of the cutting and faceting larger amethyst by artisans in Bombay's famous gemstone district. There are about fifteen of these gemstone chips, hand drilled, very rich in both hue and texture. The gemstones are antique - which means they are not of the absolutely highest quality. For most, the unique nature and character of these antique gemstones more than makes up for the imperfections which by and large are only visible under magnification. However the chips were tumbled so as to smooth sharp edges, and the results speak for themselves - some very beautiful pieces of amethyst. The total weight of the gemstones is about ten carats to each earring. These antique gemstone chips have been mounted onto contemporary gold fill french hooks. They could also be remounted onto kidney wires, lever backs, euroclicks, or ball studs if you would prefer; or remounted onto sterling silver. It's a first-class piece of jewelry throughout. Though the gemstones are antique, keep in mind that the sterling hooks and pins are contemporary.

The name "amethyst" comes from the Greek "amethustos", meaning not drunk. Amethyst was one of the first gemstones used by man, and gave rise to many legends. The ancient Mediterranean cultures believed that amethyst would protect against becoming intoxicated, and would also protect soldiers from harm in battle. Amethyst was also attributed with the power to control evil thoughts, and make its owner shrewd in business matters. Even in modern cultures, amethyst is associated with a number of superstitions. It is variously regarded as a love charm, as a potent influence in improving sleep, and as a protection against thieves and (still) drunkenness. When placed under your pillow, an amethyst is believed to induce pleasant dreams and self healing. Amethyst is also regarded as a stone of love, exchanged between lovers as a token of mutual commitment. Amethyst is also believed to open up and reveal the spiritual or psychic center, able to calm nightmares, and relieve insomnia..

You might guess I travel extensively for a living. My profession is a purchasing agent for antique gemstones, which generally come from Russia, India, Ceylon, and Siam. I grew up in the Southern Urals of Russia, just miles away from some of the greatest gemstone producing regions in the world's history. Alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced from the mountains within mere minutes or a few hours from the city I once called home. My interest in the fabulous history of Russian gemstones and the fabulous jewelry of the Czar's led to further education and conacts in India, Ceylon, and Siam, other ancient centers of gemstone production and finishing. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings - the gold reused - the gemstones recut and reset.

Before this happens, before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, I try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state - most of them centuries old. I believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting. Not everyone agrees - fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with me that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or "lab produced") gemstones which dominate the market today.

I have always been fascinated with jewelry and gemstones. Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Bombay are great places to find incredible deals on both gemstones and jewelry, and over the years I have made many friends within the trade in these five cities. So you can look for a steady flow of little treasures I discover in my travels, and I will be happy to share with you the best deals I can find through my industry acquaintances in these far-off Asian lands. Though I spend a good part of each year in Europe and Asia, most of the year I am here in the United States, and that's where all of my little treasures are. So you can count on quick shipping and careful packaging. And if I am not home - I have someone who does it for me!

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