The Marvelous Rush of Christmas!

After a relaxing Thanksgiving, everyone here is thinking of Christmas! Orders are coming in, but it is not too late for a custom order! Choose the gemstones that you know she loves and put them in a bracelet, earrings, or necklace that is uniquely hers. Of course, our jewelry is all limited one of a kind pieces, such as the drusy bracelet that you see above. A large focal drusy glitters at its center.  Little agate rondelles cluster to one side of the drusy; on the other side is a pretty toggle clasp in sterling silver which is decorated with a flower. Beside it hangs a lotus bud charm. Two strands of gemstones, faceted agate rondelles and the prettiest bluest aquamarines are alternated with the tiniest sterling silver beads from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes.
Below, this simple bracelet is made from two of the rarest gemstones: tanzanite and kunzite. Kunzite has a reputation as being the rarest gemstone in the world.  While it comes in other colors, the soft pink that you see here is what it is known for.  The tanzanite is a deep bluish purple and works well with the pink of the kunzite.

These pieces are finally on the website although I may have shown them on the blog before. The handmade necklace, above, is one of my favorites. The vibrant colors of pink and aqua chalcedony, amethysts, and lemon quartz shine in this chunky necklace.

Below, speaking of vibrant! The orange carnelian nuggets in this bracelet glow! With gold vermeil and artist's lampwork beads, this carnelian bracelet is a real stunner!

Good luck with all your Christmas shopping! Please remember that the last day to order from us for Christmas delivery is December 19th!

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Gemstone Bracelets Shine!

I've been working these crisp, cold days of Fall. And when it rains, I can work without ceasing! As a result, I have some new bracelets that are perfect for gifts - or for gifting yourself! Above and below, two views of the same bracelet (which will be placed in our Blue Topaz Jewelry category on the site). The bracelet combines Swiss blue topaz cubes, and boy do they sparkle!, with flashing labradorite. A bezel-set faceted labradorite gemstone is near the center of the bracelet. One side features Swiss Blue Topaz and tiny Thai Karen Hill Tribes beads: the other, different chains hold little charms of Swiss Blue Topaz briolettes and a single teardrop of labradorite.  The special clasp is a toggle with a faceted labradorite bezel-set on both sides. The Swiss Blue Topaz cubes are some of the most sparkling gemstones I've seen, and they are AAA gem quality.

Above and below, a different combination of gemstones makes this bracelet cheerful and unique.  Aquamarine, prehnite, and yellow opal make an interesting mix with plenty of Karen Hill Tribes sterling silver, including little flower charms. A scalloped toggle clasp is the closure. There are 4 strands in this bracelet so it is distinctive on the wrist.

These unique bracelets make great Christmas gifts for someone special!

This mother-of-pearl bracelet is one of my favorites. The large ovals that you see are faceted mother-of-pearl with a pinkish cast.  The smaller gemstones are moonstones. Three strands include one of mother-of-pearl, one of Karen Hill Tribes beads with moonstones, and one special chain made of interlocking hearts.  All sterling silver. Below the bottom bracelet is a pair of matching earrings.

Finally, a last gemstone bracelet boasts two strands: one is sterling silver with tiny little heart and arrow charms hanging from it; the other has a medley of gemstones with a genuine ruby at the center. The gemstones are Swiss and London Blue Topaz, amethyst, citrine, and labradorite. This charming bracelet is great for mixing with your favorite outfits. And what a perfect Christmas gift!

Don't forget that shipping is free for purchases over $50 and only $1.95 for purchases under $50!

Losing Weight, Kitties, and What About Jewelry?!

 I am the proud loser of 33 pounds!  I have been eating healfully since January of this year, eliminated all sodas, and even most artificial sweeteners, and I have learned to adore iced green tea - plain.  I've gone from wearing a size 12, sometimes 10, pant to a size 4! (Note: sizes have changed; even when I weighed 10 pounds less than I do now in the 'eighties, I still wore an 8, sometimes a 6 on rare occasions). 
Sorry, but I have to brag just a little.  The main motivator was my son who told me that he wanted me to be around for a long time for my 4 year old grand-daughter. I want to be here too!

 What are the cat pictures?  The upper picture is of Cluny, my namesake, and the lower of Cuervo Sebastian; both are boys.  They like to hang out up here on the fourth floor with me to, ahem, help me make jewelry.  You haven't lived until you've spilled an entire container of small beads and watched 2 cats go crazy.  I like it when they help me as they are in the pictures here.

 Don't forget that it will soon be Christmas before you know it and you are going to want some jewelry!  If it's custom jewelry that you want, please let me know in plenty of time, so you can choose designs and beads and gemstones at your leisure.  
Cluny and Cuervo will be here to help me!

Charm Necklaces for Anyone, Anytime

One of the major trends in jewelry lately has been the charm necklace.  Different things have been meant by that over the years from the early '90s charm bracelet like necklace to today's more minimal charm necklace. From a jewelry-lover's point of view, I like the charm necklace.  It's simple, can work with many styles of clothing, and can be easily layered for a unique personal look.  From an artisan's point of view, however, charm necklaces aren't as much fun since they usually don't require a lot of intricate work unless you are making your own sterling or gold charms.  On the other hand, (back to the jewelry lover) they are often much less expensive than ornate statement necklaces since a charm necklace may require only a few precious or semi-precious gemstones instead of a multitude of them.
   Some of my charm necklaces for Fall: above a sunstone charm necklace with 3 pretty sparkling oval sunstones that fal through a handmade loop that I textured with a small hammer. It can be made the length the customer desires. Above it is shown in gold-filled metal. Below is a charm or lariat necklace made with special Thai Karen Hill Tribes components and genuine blue sapphires.

Below, the chain is from the Karen Hill Tribes and the center charm is a candy jade faceted briolette; a Karen Hill Tribes charm (sterling) hangs beside the briolette.

This necklace would look great layered with another chain or two or another charm necklace with sterling silver charms or a pink or green gemstone.

Below, this charm necklace consists of a single drop made of three faceted dark blue genuine sapphires topped with a sterling heart.  It hangs from a sterling silver chain.

Below, this aventurine and abalone necklace is made with gold-filled rings and boasts a drop made of a genuine abalone shell.  The abalone is beautiful on both sides.

Above, carnelian earrings are made of gem-quality faceted carnelian gemstones and vermeil from Bali. I love the earwires with the flower decoration on them. Below, gold-filled accents complement the flat oval lapis stones here.

A lapis bracelet is centered with three of my favorite lapis nuggets.  These flat nuggets are sharply faceted and have a good sprinkling of pyrite for glitter.

Below, sunstone and smoky quartz are lovely together.  Gold-filled beads and a gold-filled twisted toggle are just right for the mixture!

Opals for October and More from the Fall Collection

 I'm enjoying the cooler weather of October here in Virginia, and hoping that it will get slightly cooler still.  Meanwhile, work continues on the new website, but I am busy making jewelry and posting it on the old one!
 October has two birthstones: the traditional birthstone is the opal, and the modern is also the tourmaline. The three opal bracelets you see here are made of Pink Peruvian opal, the first a three-strand bracelet with sterling silver, the one below has sterling silver and two strands, the the third boasts gold-filled accents to show off the pink opal.

 I've been obsessed with pink lately because I've gotten some very pretty rose quartz.  Rose quartz is a "love" gemstone (for those who believe in the mystical properties of gemstones); I just think that it is feminine and pretty.

 The one strand rose quartz bracelet above has chunky rose quartz and sterling silver; below is a three-strand bracelet with rose quartz, sterling silver, and smoky quartz.

 Below, this multi-strand iolite bracelet has a punch of garnet to liven it up. The toggle clasp is double-sided with a faceted iolite on each side.  Iolite is known as the "water sapphire" and where beads are concerned, it is often easier to get beautiful iolite than comparable sapphires.

 The lapis bracelet above is made with gold-fill and wonderful large faceted lapis nuggets. The lapis earrings below hang from vermeil earwires with flowers facing forward; a special touch of luxury is the ruby topping each lapis rectangle.

 I have a similar bracelet made with sterling silver; this aquamarine, smoky quartz, and sunstone bracelet is made with vermeil.  These three gemstones are such a good mix together that I wear one myself quite often (I am very fond of peach and turquoise in clothing).

 The last two bracelets are very different from one another, but both are made of blue agate. The first bracelet has deeply colored bright blue agate ovals, faceted to shine and catch the light.  A minimal amount of sterling silver keeps the attention on these lovely agate gemstones. The second bracelet features blue agate with an almost "crackled" look that is quite intriguing. Sterling silver shines here in the form of charms, chain, and the tiniest beads from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes. What is wonderful about these agate bracelets is that both will go with casual to dressy clothing.

I will be back with more Fall Collection jewelry. Meanwhile, don't forget that shipping is always free for any purchase over $50.00, only $1.95 for purchases under $50.00!

The Fall Collection: Part II, More Bracelets!

For years (at least it has seemed to me) navy has been difficult to find in clothing and accessories.  I am happy to say that navy is back in a big way.  Two weeks ago I bought the first navy blazer I've had in years, and have worn it constantly.
To go with the navy, here are my newest sapphire bracelets.  Although these are shown in gold I have also made them in sterling silver.  The top sapphire bracelet has two strands of sapphires accented by 14 karat gold-filled components. The sapphire bracelet, below,  was created with bezel-set faceted sapphires and small oval sapphire charms.  The larger sapphires are set in vermeil; the rest of the bracelet is 14 karat gold-fill.

And don't forget earrings!  The sapphire earrings above have smooth oval sapphires hanging from from elaborate sterling silver dangles hanging from earwires.
The earrings below hang from the prettiest earwires hand-decorated with flowers. The faceted sapphire rondelles are topped by Thai Karen Hill Tribes accents and have the bust of a Japanese geisha hanging below.

The earrings above are made of faceted sapphire rondelles and special Bali sterling silver. They feature special studs that are set with cabochon iolites (also known as "water sapphires") and have a festive and feminine look.

Unique bracelets such as this are a favorite of mine.  A very large smooth sapphire nugget is a deep pretty blue; it's surrounded by fluted 14 karat gold and then by faceted rubies, freshwater keishe pearls, and smooth medium green emeralds. Quite striking!

Wonderful labradorite flashes in this three strand bracelet with sterling silver and sapphires.  The blue of the labradorite echoes the blue flash of the labradorite.  Tiny little Thai Karen Hill Tribes beads add a pretty gleam to this bracelet.  The third strand is a linked oval chain of sterling dangling little sapphire charms.  For a special touch, an oval box clasp has a cabochon labradorite set into it.

Above, vermeil and high quality carnelian  sing together in this carnelian bracelet.  A wonderful touch is the leaf toggle clasp (also vermeil) closure.
Below, chalcedony is a gorgeous gemstone, especially when it is as wonderfully translucent as these gemstones in shades of aqua to sea-green and golden yellow. Accented with sterling silver.

Below, for blues lovers everywhere, a bracelet featuring genuine turquoise, pretty blue aquamarine ovals, and large lapis coins. Perfect for your jeans - or that cocktail dress!

The First of the Fall Collection

We are still working on the new template and revamping the entire Cluny Grey Jewelry site, but meanwhile, the old site is up and going strong.  And here are the first bracelets of the new Fall Collection.  Today, with the exception of the last labradorite bracelet, all of our bracelets are what we term our "unique bracelets," that is, they mix unusual and sometimes usual combinations of gemstones for a unique look.
  While gold has been touted as the metal of the season, we still are making our bracelets in sterling silver as well as paying homage to my ever-favorite gold.
  Above, our first bracelet is from the Raj Collection, based on Cluny's time in India.  Pretty deep bright red rubies in smooth ovals mix with ancient lapis and gold-filled chain and accents for a remarkably pretty and lush bracelet. The second strand, the gold-filled oval-linked chain has little charms of rubies and lapis hanging from it.

The double-strand unique bracelet above features a wonderful color combination great for Fall or really any time of the year.  Faceted smoky quartz, pretty deep blue aquamarine, and brilliant sunstone are accented by sterling silver from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes and Bali. A pretty sterling lacy toggle clasp is the closure.

Above, lovely faceted citrine nuggets are alternated with genuine faceted sapphire rondelles.  Feminine pieces of sterling silver add to the feminine look of this citrine bracelet.
   Below, this mixed gemstone bracelet boasts the wonderful colors and textures of lapis, genuine rubies, aqua chalcedony, citrine, and golden chalcedony.  It's a strong statement for a simple bracelet and will go with many pieces in your closet.  All sterling silver.

The unique bracelet, below, features genuine rubies and iolites (also know as the water-sapphire). Thai Karen Hill Tribes charm and tiny sterling beads make this bracelet very special as does the "harmony ball" charm that hangs from one side of the bracelet.  An extra luxurious touch is the pretty toggle clasp with inset iolites on both sides of the sterling toggle.

   Below, smoky quartz warms up the cool tones of prehnite and apatite in this unique bracelet. Two strands of gemstones are joined by gold-filled beads and accents as well as a gold-filled toggle clasp.

The last bracelet today, below, is made of flashing labradorite sprinkled with gold-filled beads and also has a third strand consisting of a gold-filled oval chain with little labradorite charms dangling from it.  The labradorite has plenty of flashing light.

We still offer FREE SHIPPING for purchases over $50.00; only 1.95 for purchases under $50.00.