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Archive for May, 2009

Fair trade jewellery: Malachite

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Fair trade silver malachite £35.99
Fair trade silver malachite £35.99

PROPERTIES OF MALACHITE

 

Malachite is a hydrated copper carbonate where the dense, opulent green colour of the Malachite gemstone derives its name from the Greek word ‘mallow’, (a green herb). It is characterised by bandings of light and dark green patterns which make this gemstone easy to identify.

 

 

Malachite can also be formed with a violet-blue mineral azurite which is called as Azurmalachite or Malachite azurite.

Indigo Ocean has a range of fair trade jewellery hand made in India where the crafts people have been paid a fair wage for their workmanship.

Malachite fair trade earrings £4.99

Malachite fair trade earrings £4.99

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY

The Egyptians have been using malachite minerals since 3000 AD inlaid in amulets to protect against the ‘evil eye’ bringing protection and was also used in other jewellery such as bracelets, rings and pendants. Like the Turquoise, this stone was also grounded into a powder to use as an eye shadow characteristic of the ancient Egyptian era on both males and females.

fair trade silver jewellery, malachite £7.49

fair trade silver jewellery, malachite £7.49

 

 

 

 

Since ancient times this beautiful fine green crystal has also been used in abundance in inlay work and carvings of cathedrals and churches.

Malachite is also a popular stone used extensively in jewellery particularly in Native American South Western jewellery. Malachite is also known by its trade name the peacock stone. In the Indian market the gem is popularly known as dana firang.

ORIGIN

Malachite is mined primarily in Zaire though it can also be sourced from Germany, Zambia and Australia.

FOLKLORE SURROUNDING MALACHITE

As far as folklore goes, Malachite was believed to be the”mirror of the soul”. There was a strong belief that Malachite has the power to allow us to get in touch with the dual nature of the human mind (where the brain is made up of two hemispheres)  and bring harmony to the wearer.

Please let us know if you have any other facts you would like to share with our readers. We are always interested in hearing from you.

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Peaches gets ethical

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

Peaches Geldof

Peaches Geldof

 

Although Peaches Geldolf is often reported in the media as being a little wayward and out of control,  she doesn’t just fritter away her time in nightclubs being photographed in various guises cumulating in bad press!

Im really proud of her since she has been working alongside the the fair trade jewellery manufacturers,  ‘MADE’ Made, to design and produce a fabulous new range of ethically produced fair trade jewellery which is really trendy and funky.

Here is the link to MADE for further information

Peaches Geldof says:

“I like Made because it’s ethical yet this doesn’t compromise the fashionable status of their collections…the handmade attention to detail adds something special to each piece created.”

This bold, bright and stylish range was inspired by warm summer days and daisy chains. It’s the perfect way to jazz up your summer wardrobe as the days (slowly!) start to get a little warmer.

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Fair trade jewellery: turquoise

Sunday, May 17th, 2009

Turquoise in solid silver

Turquoise in solid silver

Indigo Ocean have a range of solid silver jewellery hand made in India inlaid with Turquoise. All our jewellery is sourced using fair trade principles where fair wages are exchanged.

Turquoise sunburst in solid silver £14.99

Turquoise sunburst in solid silver £14.99

Please have a read and do feel free to add comments on any other information you may have about Turquoise either in terms of its historical background or superstitions or folklore.

The name of this gemstone is derived from French, with turquoise meaning ‘Turkish’ .

 

 

Turquoise hanging cube £7.49

Turquoise hanging cube £7.49

 

The properties of Turquoise are based on Hydrated copper aluminium phosphate  which range from a sky blue to bluey green colour.

Turquoise and lapis lazuli

Turquoise and lapis lazuli

The turquoise stone is porous and prone to cracking and facing – may be waxed to prevent this and care needed in the sun.

Turquoise and lapis £15.50

Turquoise and lapis £15.50

 

Turquoise was said to darken or lighten to indicate a change in a person’s health. This gemstone is greatly affected by alterations in temperature and humidity and also responds to skin secretions like sebum and perspiration.

Pendant set with turquoise and coral £17.99

Pendant set with turquoise and coral £17.99

When worn in jewellery or in one’s possession, Turquoise is said to give clarity of communications, encourages affinity with others, can increase a greater self awareness and ‘true purpose’. It is also thought to ease rheumatism and arthritis.

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Fair trade silver jewellery: Moonstone

Monday, May 11th, 2009
Moonstone and black star
Moonstone and black star

 

The composite qualities of this stone are made from the Feldspar group (adularia orthoclase);  potassium aluminium silicate; opalescent with a white sheen and the stone is usually colourless, white or silver. If the stone has a blue sheen, it is known as moonstone rainbow because when the light catches it, it shimmers with a multitude of rainbow colours (as below image clearly shows).

Moonstone hanging teardrop

Moonstone hanging teardrop

 

 

 

Indigo Ocean has a very elegant and moderately priced range of fair trade jewellery hand made in India from solid silver. Our vast range of fair trade jewellery pieces are inlaid with various combinations of semi precious gemstones. We have fair trade silver stud earrings, fair trade hook earrings, silver pendants and silver bracelets. We have a great selection of fair trade silver jewellery with stones such as blue chalcedony, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, moonstone, moonstone rainbow and rose quartz. All of our fair trade silver jewellery is exchanged for a fair wage.

In Pagan times, it was said that if a moonstone was placed in the mouth during the period of a full moon the stone could help lovers find out what lay in store for them in the future.

Historically, either wearing a Moonstone  in a piece of jewellery or being in possession of the stone, would  help calm emotions and  balance oversensitivity.  It is also thought to help open up one’s feminine side aiding awareness of subconscious feelings. Interestingly its also thought to assist hormonal equilibrium during menstrual cycle as well as heighten intuition and receptivity.

Please let me know if you have any other facts to add about this so that people who love this gemstone can read up on it!

Thanks

 

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Fair Trade aims for £2 billion sales by 2012

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

The Fairtrade Foundation has appointed a new Marketing Director to its senior leadership team to help deliver an ambitious new strategy to double its reach and impact for producers in the developing world.

The new position is created as the Fairtrade Foundation seeks to deepen its relationship with existing supporters and to mainstream Fairtrade purchasing habits as part of UK consumer lifestyles, lifting sales of products carrying the FAIRTRADE mark to £2bn by 2012.

Fairtrade in the UK has gone from strength to strength, where estimated retail sales of Fairtrade products reached £700m in 2008, a 43% increase on 2007 despite the global economic downturn.

One of the unique aspects to marketing Fairtrade is that alongside conventional promotion activities, its predominant strength comes from its loyal, dependable and global supporter base.

According to a survey by GlobeScan, 26% of people learn about Fairtrade through family, friends and colleagues – a key ripple effect for Fairtrade which the Foundation hopes to fuel with its new marketing plans.

 

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Fair trade silver jewellery: lapis lazuli

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Lapis silver sunburst hand made in India from solid silver

Lapis silver sunburst hand made in India from solid silver

Here at Indigo Ocean we have a stunning selection of  fair trade jewellery hand crafted in India, from earrings to pendants.

My first and foremost favourite gemstone is Lapis Lazuli because it has such a rich and very striking blue colour (I am a water sign so water colours make me happy though its the depth of colour I love in lapis).

Lapis Lazuli pendant with solid silver mount and finding

Lapis Lazuli pendant with solid silver mount and finding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, the name lapis lazuli is derived from both Latin where lapis means ‘stone’ and Arabic where azul  means ‘blue.

The composite qualities of this distinctive blue stone are made from sodium calcium aluminium sulfate silicate which is characterised with beautiful flecks of gold or white. These flecks are naturally created by pyrite or calcite inclusions.

Lapis and Turquoise silver earrings handmade in India

Lapis and Turquoise silver earrings handmade in India

Historically Lapis lazuli was been said to protect against the spirits of darkness as its colour was thought to symbolise the heavens. Because of this belief it was used widely in necklaces, bracelets and rings to protect the wearer from evil. Furthermore, the Ancient Egyptians used lapis lazuli in their amulets as they too believed it had very powerful protective forces.

 Building upon the foundations of these ancient beliefs and uses, lapis lazuli has also been associated with other kinds of positive effects when these gemstones are worn either as an item of jewellery or if the stone is in personal possession.

 For example, lapis is believed to enhance spiritual awakening and mental clarity. It is also believed to protect against depression,  aid self-expression including artistic flair and is also thought to encourage a broader way of thinking.

 

 

 

Lapis and silver teardrop, handmade in India

Lapis and silver teardrop, handmade in India

Lapis Lazuli really is a beautiful gemstone and with its stunning depth of colour it looks fantastic with silver findings either as a pendant or in earrings.

 I would be really interested to hear from anyone who can build on the information I have given here so that people who love this stone can read some more about it….

 

Belinda

 

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The Ancient History of Gemstones: a brief synopsis)

Monday, May 4th, 2009

The intrinsic beauty of gemstones and precious metals has led to their decorative use in all civilizations spanning thousands of years.

In the past, jewellery was a sign of social rank and in ancient cultures gemstones were predominantly used by the upper classes in society to show their status. The common population were forbidden to own them. The penalty for disobeying the rule was harsh, resulting in imprisonment or even death.

India and its surrounding countries were the main source of the great majority of gemstones within the ancient world. The tomb of Queen Pu-abi at Ur dating back to 3000 BC was believed to have contained the oldest examples of jewellery made of gold, silver and the semi-precious carnelian, agate and lapis lazuli.

Ancient caches of jewellery help to pinpoint when new mineral resources were discovered and highlight the prevailing fashion for particular gemstones. For example, early Egyptians were the first civilisation to develop the use of cosmetics. They indulged in the love of greens and blues by highlighting their eyes with powdered malachite and lapis lazuli.

Since ancient times, gems and precious stones have also been associated with the zodiac signs with the continued belief the stones possess power to bring fortune and shape destiny of an individual by influencing their attitudes, environment and behaviour…

I will be exploring the name origin, historical use and birthstone of a selection of my favourite gemstones which I would like to share….

Watch this space!……

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