Tuesday, October 01, 2013

The First of the Fall Collection

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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.
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Sunday, July 07, 2013

Bracelets for the Hot Days of Summer

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Summer calls for looks that are as cool as can be, or conversely, as red hot!  Today's handmade bracelets answer both requirements.  Above, a double-strand bracelet mixes cool sterling silver with cultured freshwater pearls, keishis, including a large Baroque centerpiece that is lovely.  Swarovski crystals in Pacific opal lend their cool as water touch for a bracelet that is perfect against summer skin.
   Below, this hot as can be carnelian bracelet features some our favorite chunky faceted carnelian nuggets that are further warmed by the addition of gold vermeil, including little vermeil charms of flowers and a dragonfly.  Artist's lampwork beads contribute a touch of coolness but have orange carnelian-colored circles on the beads. Delicious for a summer day.
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Pretty faceted quartz crystals are reminiscent of chunks of ice; the crystals are separated by large rondelles of 14 karat goldfill. A gold-filled toggle clasp is the closure for this chunky icy bracelet.
   Below, the wonderful iridescence of abalone takes center stage in this silver bangle bracelet created with handcrafted Thai Karen Hill Tribes components in sterling silver. A bali toggle clasp is the closure.


Perfect with jeans, office clothing, or dress-up, this bracelet with lapis lazuli, Sleeping Beauty turquoise and carnelian is a classic favorite. Thai Karen Hill tribes charms hang from three sides of the bracelet. 
handmade-bracelet

Hope that you are enjoying your summer! We certainly are! Don't forget that SHIPPING IS ALWAYS FREE with purchases over $50; only $1.95 with purchases under $50.00.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Swarovski Crystal Bracelets for Summer!

Swarovski Crystal Bracelet
The sparkling days of summer need a bracelet to match!  I've been busy and here are some of the newest creations:  Swarovski crystal bracelets.
  Above, I adore red magma, a deep mysterious red that is even more beautiful in the large cosmic bead size.  They are mixed with gold, copper, indigo and sterling silver - tiny beads so that the Swarovski crystals get all the attention.  Sterling silver toggle clasp.
   Below, this wonderful summer green and pale topaz mixes with sand opal and sterling silver.
Swarovski Crystal Bracelet


The bracelet above is a favorite Swarovski mix of mine:  morion, a strange deep blackish-green, and the light-hearted silk.  There are two strands for twice as much sparkle and interest.
  Two strands make the bracelet below special, too. Red magma and tiny little sterling silver beads from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes make this Swarovski crystal bracelet a real winnder.  Little free-floating Thai Karen flower charms are on the second strand.  A gorgeous toggle clasp, square-shaped with intricate handwork on the top is the closure.

Swarovski Crystal Bracelet

For bangle lovers, a Swarovski crystal bracelet with gold-filled bangles and other accents.  A large amethyst crystal is the focal; other cool blues and purple are enlivened with a hot shot of pink.
Pretty colors are what this bracelet is all about; it's a tropical paradise on your wrist.  Sterling silver and a pretty Swarovski crystal starfish hangs from one side.
Swarovski Crystal Bracelet

Another double strand Swarovski bracelet features Pacific opal and cyclamen opal. The colors are cool and beautiful; the second strand with an oxidized sterling silver chain adds depth and interest to the bracelet. Sterling silver toggle clasp.

The last bracelet is another favorite of mine.  I am extremely fond of the opal colors that Swarovski has; two of my favorites are together here: sand opal and Pacific opal.  Mixed with gold-filled accents, these wonderful crystals are great together.

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

It's Time for Coral! (and Rubies and Sunstone and Turquoise)

Gold Bangle Bracelet

I adore summer! I love summer clothes, summer shoes, summer hats, and of course, "summer" jewelry.  Although the jewelry here can be worn at any time of the year, something about each piece makes me think "summer"! Above, the gold bangle bracelet with its large faceted ruby nugget is red-hot! Ruby is the July birthstone - how much more "summer" can you get than that?
Below, although I do wear coral in the winter (I wear peach and coral clothing all year long), it still just says summer to me. This chunky coral bracelet with its very fine artist's lampwork beads (some of the best that we have) is accented by gold vermeil (22 karat gold over sterling silver). Even the little Cupid charm is vermeil.



Turquoise is a summer favorite! If you tan, (and if you do, please do so carefully), turquoise looks wonderful against tanned skin.  We see so much turquoise with sterling silver, its fun to pair it with gold for a chain.  The gold here is 14 karat gold-fill that will last a lifetime! The turquoise in this turquoise bead bracelet is especially pretty - a deep turquoise blue.
Sunstone is reminiscent of the sun in summer with its sparkle and shine. The sunstone bracelet below is handmade of three strands featuring lovely shining sunstones, little Thai Karen Hill Tribes beads and sterling chain and Bali charms.  All components are sterling silver.

Another summer favorite of mine is the mix of coral with turquoise: it's the best of both worlds! Here the angelskin coral is a pretty peachy pink that looks great both with sterling silver and the faceted ovals of turquoise which are from the famed Sleeping Beauty turquoise mine. Three strands of beauty are held together with a sterling leaf toggle clasp that curves gracefully. Little coral charms dangle from three place around the bracelet.
  Below is one of our newest bracelets made with the tiny little Thai Karen Hill Tribes sterling beads that we are liking and using quite a bit now.  This elegant handmade bracelet has 3 strands, one that is a Karen Hill Tribes chain, and pretty gemstones scattered throughout.  Gem-quality London Blue topaz as well as amethyst, labradorite, and rose quartz are in the bracelet.  The box clasp has two bezel-set iolites set into it. Little sterling silver charms hang at intervals from the handmade bracelet.
Handmade Bracelet with Gemstones
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More coral bracelet, above and below, mix coral with gemstones and freshwater pearls.  Above, genuine emeralds may not be a common gemstone to mix with coral, but it makes a stunning match for the pinky-peach coral and gold-filled accents.
   Below, two sizes of coral and freshwater pearls are accented by sterling silver including a starfish charm and a pretty toggle clasp with flowers on the toggle ring and bar.
Above and below, wonderful golden coral shines and is made very versatile by pairing it with sterling silver. The earrings are simple, while the one strand coral bracelet gets added shine from Robin Weber's silver-laced golden lampwork beads. Very unusual!

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Sunday, May 05, 2013

Jewelry in the Merry Month of May!

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I love the month of May, and not just because it is my birthday and wedding anniversary month; it is the month that the privet and peonies bloom and fill the air with a wonderful aroma.  I'm awakened here in Virginia by the sound of birdsong; azealas and dogwoods are blooming everywhere and the landscape is enhanced with their colors.
   May is the month of emeralds, my birthstone.  I work with beads, so getting to work with emeralds is special since most emeralds are cut into stones for settings.  But sometimes I find emeralds that are worth working with.  I like the faceted nuggets in the emerald bracelet above because they are chunky and they do have a true "emerald" green.  This bracelet is made with 14 karat goldfill although I make lots of emerald jewelry with sterling silver.
   Below is a fun emerald bracelet made with with pretty little emerald charms fashioned from faceted emerald rondelles.  If the emerald is your birthstone, feel blessed!
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 Handmade Bracelet with Rubies and Apatite photo handmade-bracelet-k9_zps9e8cbcf6.jpg


Rubies and apatite are luscious together.  These big ruby nuggets are perfect to play off the translucent little apatite rondelles. The cabochon ruby in the sterling silver toggle makes this ruby bracelet even more special.

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Above and below, fluorite is a favorite gemstone of mine because it so often combines purple and green in one single gemstone.  The colors of fluorite are soft and beautiful, and in this case, mixed with sterling silver and little charms of green aventurine.


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The true season of coral is beginning! Above and below, chunky red coral combines with some of our best artist's lampwork beads and gold vermeil for a fantastic mix!
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 Turquoise Bracelet photo turquoise-bracelet-e1_zps1f77cb54.jpg
Turquoise pairs with gold in the turquoise bracelet above; the gold is 14 karat goldfill.  Below, turquoise is also a wonderful partner with angelskin pink coral.  Sterling silver and little coral dangles make this a very feminine bracelet.

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;Drusy Jewelry photo drusy-jewelry-c1_zps8f5ec78c.jpg

Just for fun: a carnelian bracelet, above, gets a kick from a sparkling drusy focal as well as 14 karat goldfill, while below, emeralds around the ankle are beautifully luxurious in this emerald and sterling silver anklet.
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Sunday, April 07, 2013

Bracelets: A Motley Crew!

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If the above bracelet doesn't make you think of spring or that summer is almost upon us, then you are a glass-half-empty person! Today's "motley crew" of bracelets range from precious gemstones like rubies to odd combinations in colors and gemstones such as the one you see above and below.  Many of these do not have prices on them yet, so if you go to the Cluny Grey Jewelry website give me a day or two to get the cart on these. The Harlequin bracelet that you see above is made of chalcedony, aventurine, carnelian, sterling silver, and one of my favorite artist's lampwork beads made by James Derrick Reeves (he is no longer making beads, unfortunately, so I treasure the small supply of his that I have). The flower charm is from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes.

Two of my favorites are having a fine romance here in this aquamarine and sunstone bracelet which has gorgeous aquamarines, including the large faceted aquamarine nugget that is the focal. The sparkling sunstone beads hold their own however, since they are equally beguiling. Thai Karen Hill Tribes tiny faceted beads show off these pretty gemstones. The charms are also Thai Karen.

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I really like the unusual rectangular reticulated sterling toggle clasp on this aquamarine bracelet.
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I adore sunstone and I'm always trying to see how it is going to look with other gemstones, but it is great just on its own!  For proof, just look below! Four sumptuous strands of sunstone in different shapes and sizes are set off by the tiniest of Thai Karen Hill Tribes sterling beads. Because of these beads, the bracelet, while very full on the wrist, also has a daintiness to it.
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The unbelievable focal here is what is known as crab fire agate.  It looks splendid with orange gem-quality carnelian and vermeil from Bali. It's a real show-off bangle bracelet!
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What can I say about rubies? That I adore them, love to work with them, love their luxuriousness and the way they always make me think of fairy tales or India?  All of this is true. That may be why I love to use large ruby nuggets in my jewelry such as in the ruby bracelet below. An added attraction is a focal that is a large wire-wrapped bead with little ruby rondelles sticking up out of it like cabochon gemstones.
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The wonderful sterling silver accents are from Bali.

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And speaking of focal beads, I'm captivated by this large faceted labradorite nugget which flashes blue or green depending on the way that you look at it.  The other coins and rondelles of labradorite also have blue or green flash, and an unusual dragonfly toggle clasp is the closure.

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I don't know why the bracelet below makes me think of summer, but it does. Maybe it's the bluejean color of the pretty royal blue lapis gemstones - or the yellow opals which are actually a glowing deep creamy ivory, the color of really old genuine ivory. Could it be the flowers cut out in the sterling charms or on the toggle clasp.  Whatever it is, I can see myself at 22 wearing jeans and an eyelet top with skinny straps, proud of my summer tan. (22 was a long time ago!)
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I also have more new jewelry than is shown here on the site and I am adding more daily. Want something special? Just let me know - my custom work is the same price range usually as what you see on the site.

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