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Two Genuine, Natural, Richly Textured Black/Gray Variegated Hematite Semi-Precious Gemstones on Sterling Silver French Hook Earrings.

Two antique hand crafted gemstones, each about 7mm diameter and about 2 carats, mounted onto high quality sterling silver french hooks (not cheap gold electroplate). Accented with four 2mm black obsidian semi-precious gemstone beads. Total gemstone weight about 4 carats.

Subject of intense scientific interest on Mars by America's two rovers, here are two richly textured black and gray variegated hematite "acorn" cut spherical gemstones of earthly origin. These very handsome semi-precious gemstones originated in Yemen, the land of the Biblical Queen of Sheba, one of the traditional sources of Neolithic Levant and European obsidian and hematite predating recorded history. The gemstones have been cut to resemble little raspberries - or perhaps acorns. In any event, a textured surface strongly reminiscent of a raspberry or blackberry. The gemstones were handcrafted in the 1950's in Bombay, India into these beautiful little spheres and then hand drilled. These antique gemstones have been mounted onto high quality contemporary sterling silver french hooks. These are not cheap, gold electroplated earrings. They are genuine solid sterling silver, designed to last a lifetime. It's a first-class piece of jewelry throughout. Though the gemstones are antique, hand crafted and hand matched, the settings are contemporary. If you prefer, the gemstones could be remounted onto kidney wires, lever backs, euroclicks, or ball studs if you would prefer; or remounted onto 14kt solid gold.

Hematite has been used for ornamental purposes since the earliest days of recorded human civilization. The ancient Egyptians used Hematite in the creation of their magical amulets such as the carpenter stone, head rest amulets, and heart amulets. Some of these amulets were treatments for madness and inflammation. In several royal tombs hematite signet rings have been found once belonging to the interned Pharaoh. Hematite's use as a healing stone reaches back not only to ancient Egypt, but as well to ancient Mesopotamia. Ancient healing traditions for Hematite were originally described using the name Bloodstone. It was used to stop the flow of blood from wounds and drawing poisons from the body. The Greek word haima, which means blood, is the root of Hematite's name and originates from the dark red streak which some varieties of Hematite possess. Warriors in Roman times used Hematite as protection during battle. So strong was their belief in the power of Hematite to protect them that they thought it could even make them invincible. Red Ochre is a form of hematite which was used by many primitive cultures as a face paint.

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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