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A gorgeous solid 9kt gold ring of good quality manufacture, size 7. The highlight of the ring of course are the flashy, sparkling 2 millimeter square Burmese peridot semi-precious gemstones, total gemstone weight about a fifth carat. They are accented with three diamond white Siberian topaz rounds, each about 1 1/2 millimeters in diameter. All seven gemstones were hand cut and hand faceted in Russia, and are very brilliant, flashy, good quality gemstones. All seven semi-precious gemstones are clean to the eye and transparent. The color of the peridot is gorgeous, a saturated mint green very much like emerald, with wonderful sparkle and flash. The white Siberian topaz look very much like small white diamond accents. The semi-precious gemstones are all mounted into a very nice quality ring constructed of solid 9kt gold. Not gold-plated or gold-filled with chi-chi but merely glass "crystals" or "laboratory grown" (synthetic) gemstones. Why would you spend just as much or more to buy costume jewelry at the mall when you can have the real thing here? A genuine solid gold ring with genuine Burmese peridot and Siberian white topaz!

The name peridot is derived from the Arabic "faridat" meaning "gem". Peridot was mined on an island in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt known to the Greeks as Topazios as early as 1500 B.C., and eventually during the Crusades peridot was brought to Europe. The barren little island was one of the best-guarded areas of the ancient world, as the Egyptians so valued peridot that guards stationed on the island were given orders to kill anyone approaching the shore without permission. To the ancient Egyptians, the golden glow of Peridot symbolized "Ra", their sun god. It is believed that peridot was Cleopatra's favorite gemstone, and that biblical references to "crysolite" in the Old Testament actually refer to peridot. In medieval Europe peridot was worn as a talisman, believed to give its wearer foresight and divine inspiration, and that it was capable of dissolving enchantments.

The name "topaz" was derived from the Greek word "topazios", "to guess". Topazion was the name given by the Greeks to a small island in the Red Sea. The source of topaz for the ancient world, the island was often obscured by fog, making it difficult for early navigators to find, hence the name. In the ancient world, topaz was thought to protect against evil and was used to treat many different ailments including asthma. To the ancient Egyptians the glow of yellow topaz symbolized "Ra", their sun god. Greeks called on the Topaz to give them strength, and wore topaz as an amulet to ward off enchantment, dispel sadness and strengthen intellect. In Medieval Europe, topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders, and to prevent death. When worn as an amulet, topaz drove away sadness, added intelligence, gave courage, and could dispel enchantments. Topaz powdered and drunk in wine, it was believed, cured asthma, insomnia, burns and hemorrhages. Today topaz is regarded as a stone of true love and capable of attracting success in all endeavors. It is believed to promote creativity and individuality, and regarded as capable of replacing negativity with love and joy.

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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