Know Your Gemstones? Citrine and Topaz True/False Quiz

Think you know your gemstones?

Test your knowledge of citrine and topaz, November’s birthstones, with our true or false quiz! Scroll down for the answers—but don’t cheat!

1. Citrines are quartz crystals commonly found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
2. The common color of citrines is blue and green.
3. The word citrine is derived from the French word, citrin, which means yellow.
4. Citrine is the gemstone for the zodiac sign of Scorpio, and the gemstone given for the 13th and 17th wedding anniversaries.
5. In ancient times, citrine was worn as protection against bad skin, evil thoughts, snakebites, and even the plague.
6. A gift of citrine is a symbol of flexibility and quick learning.
7. Some believe citrine began as amethyst, the purple quartz, with the heat from molten rock changing it to yellow quartz.
8. The presence of fluorine usually indicates that topaz is likely to be found.
9. When topaz has yellow or green overtones, it is known as Imperial topaz, and can be very rare and expensive.
10. It is widely believed that the word topaz is derived from the Sanskrit word, topas, which means fire.
11. Topaz jewelry is given for the 4th, 19th and 23rd wedding anniversaries.
12. Topaz is known as the “stone of the gods” for its strength.
13. A gift of yellow topaz symbolizes friendship, strength, wisdom, and courage.
14. Topaz was believed to ease itchy feet and cravings for sweets.
15. The ancient Egyptians believed yellow topaz’s color came from the glow cast by the sun god, Ra.
16. The ancient Greeks believed topaz could make its wearer fly.

November birthstone true/false answers:

1. True.
2. False. The common color of citrines is yellow and orange.
3. False. The word citrin is a French word which means lemon.
4. True.
5. True.
6. False. Citrine given as a gift symbolizes strength and hope.
7. True.
8. True.
9. False. When topaz has red or pink overtones, it is known as Imperial topaz.
10. True.
11. True.
12. False. Topaz is known as the “stone of strength.”
13. True.
14. False. Topaz was believed to ease bad tempers, cure insanity, and help insomnia.
15. True.
16. False. The ancient Greeks believed topaz could make its wearer invisible.

Where to Shop for Citrine, Topaz Jewelry?

If you’re looking for jewelry but don’t want to pay retail prices, visit Adina Jewelers for the best online prices for fine jewelry. For more choices, visit Adina’s eBay store where you can rely on the jewelry experts at Adina Jewelers. You’ll find fine a vast selection of beautiful jewelry and get a buying experience that’s above your expectations.

Garnet, the Birthstone for January

Garnet, the Birthstone for January

Happy birthday to those of you born in January!

To help celebrate, here are some fun and interesting facts and myths about your very own birthstone, the garnet.

• The name for garnet derives from the Latin word granatus, meaning grain. This is a likely reference to the pomegranate fruit which has seeds of a similar shape, size and color to some garnet stones.
• Garnet is not a single mineral, but a broad group of minerals. On the Moh’s hardness scale, garnet is usually 6.5 to 7.5.
• Garnets are known for their deep red color, but they also come in a variety of other colors including green, orange, brown, yellow, and earth tones such as cinnamon. This diversity of color is due to the combinations of elements within each particular gem, such as iron, calcium and manganese.
• Garnets are associated with love, devotion, honor and loyalty. A garnet given as a gift is said to grant loyalty and affection upon the bestowed.
  
• Garnets are very abrasive and are used commercially for grinding and polishing. There is such a thing as garnet-coated sandpaper.
• Garnets are thought to have healing powers, specifically for heart-related ailments. Garnets are believed to help cardiovascular problems by regulating internal rhythms and normalizing blood pressure.
  
• From a metaphysical perspective, garnets are said to awaken the “heart center,” and can purify and cleanse the body, remove toxins, and revitalize the spirit.
  
• Because garnets are believed to protect against injury and death, soldiers and sailors throughout the ages have carried garnets into battle. Garnets are also thought to offer protection against injury or death.
• In the Bible, it is believed that Noah affixed a garnet carbuncle on the mast of his Ark to light his way through the dark and stormy nights of God’s wrath.
  
• The first garnets were mined in Sri Lanka more than 2,500 years ago. They are commonly found in India, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, Hungary and Austria. In the United States, garnets are mined in Arizona and Idaho.
  
• The almandine garnet is the official state mineral of Connecticut, and was declared so by the state’s General Assembly in 1977.
  
• Bohemia, now located in the Czech Republic, was an early source of quality garnets and is one of the few places in the world where pyrope garnets are found.  
  
• Although the Magic Garnet Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, closed in 2008, you can still virtually visit their large collection of historical and contemporary garnet jewelry online. 

Where to shop for garnet jewelry?

If you’re looking for a beautiful gemstone, like garnets, shop Adina Jewelers. You’ll find amazing fine estate, vintage and antique jewelry — from watches and rings to engagement rings — at true wholesale prices!

Autumnal Beauties of November: Citrine & Topaz

November may be a chilly month, but its two birthstones heat things up.

November babies are lucky to have not one, but two gemstones with which to celebrate their birthdays… citrine and topaz.

Below are some interesting and little known facts about these beautifully autumnal gemstones.

1. While the Ayurvedic birthstone list only includes topaz, the Jewelers of America list considers both citrine and yellow topaz as official November birthstones.
2. Citrines are quartz crystals commonly found in igneous metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
3. The common colors of citrines are yellow and orange.
4. The word citrine is derived from the French word, citrin, which means lemon.
5. Citrine is the gemstone for the Zodiac sign of Scorpio, and the 13th and 17th wedding anniversaries.
6. In ancient times, citrine was worn as protection against bad skin, evil thoughts, snakebites, and even the plague.
7. A gift of citrine symbolizes strength and hope.
8. Some believe citrine began as amethyst, the purple quartz, but the heat from molten rock changed it to yellow quartz.
9. The presence of fluorine usually indicates that topaz is likely to be found.
10. When topaz has red or pink overtones, it is known as Imperial topaz, and can be very rare and expensive.
11. It is widely believed that the word topaz is derived from the Sanskrit word, topas, which means fire.
12. Topaz jewelry is given for the 4th, 19th and 23rd wedding anniversaries.
13. Topaz is known as the “stone of strength.”
14. A gift of yellow topaz symbolizes friendship, strength, wisdom, and courage.
15. Topaz was once believed to ease bad tempers, cure insanity, and help insomnia.
16. The ancient Egyptians believed yellow topaz’s color came from the glow cast by the sun god, Ra.
17. The ancient Greeks believed topaz could make its wearer invisible.

Where to shop for citrine and topaz gemstones?

If you’re born in November or just love these beautiful gemstones of the fall, Adina Jewelers has an extensive collection of beautiful citrine and topaz jewelry, at true wholesale prices, as well as a wide variety of precious and semi-precious gemstone jewelry. Shop online today, and remember, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Top 18 Jewelry Trends for Fall and Winter

It’s August already and fall is fast approaching. Straight from the runways of Paris, Rome and New York, here’s a glimpse of the top 18 jewelry and accessory looks that will be on trend this fall and through the winter, courtesy of glowsly.

Extra-long earrings

A stand-out look on the runways were extra-long earrings. There seems to be a competition among designers for who could make the longest pair. While most earrings weren’t extreme, the big exceptions were a few shoulder-dusting mock feather earrings. These unique creations were only worn on one ear, and were constructed of a long silver length, at the end of which a large feather-like pendant was made out of what appeared to be plastic.

Delicate dangles

Extra-long earrings can be fun, but a pair of delicate dangle earrings might be more practical. Long (but not overly so) earrings made of shimmery strings or drops of metal are timelessly gorgeous and are able to work with both daytime looks and evening wear.

Ear armor

The fiercest of the earring-related fall 2019 jewelry trends is probably the ear armor. This refers to earrings or cuffs that cover the bulk of the ear helix, looking like an especially glamorous armor.

Gold, wing-shaped earrings were tilted up, with a small cuff to wrap around the ears at Lanvin, giving us a semi-armor for the lobe and bottom half of the ear. The most extreme take on ear armor was presented at Gucci, where gold pieces molded to look like ears were fit over the ears of the models.

Single earring

Symmetry was not necessary or recommended. Wearing only one earring was one of the ways to eschew symmetry in the fall/winter 2019-2020 jewelry trends. Wearing one earring is also a great way of rocking something beautiful and blingy in a non-gendered way, and if we may add, it’ll make you feel a little like a pirate too.

Versatile tassels

Tassels are a fun way of adding a slightly bohemian vibe to any look, especially when they decorate the head with one on each side in the form of earrings. We saw tasseled jewelry show up on runways with all kinds of different styles, showing that they can actually be quite versatile.

Dripping with rhinestones

Is there anything more glamorous than a cascade of rhinestones along the wrist, décolletage, or side of the neck? Rhinestone-studded jewelry pieces made for some of the most luxurious and striking fall 2019 runway accessories.

Boho-chic jewelry

The fall/winter 2019 jewelry trends have, by and large, shifted away from the hippie stylings of the previous season, even if designers are embracing a much more eco-conscious mentality.

Mismatched earrings

Models wore a different earring on each ear as a great way of cementing the asymmetrical fall 2019 jewelry trends, but it is also a great way of showcasing as much jewelry as possible, and to tell a story with a pair of earrings.

Standout hoops

It’s always exciting to see what kind of new takes on hoop earrings we will see every season. For this year’s fall/winter jewelry trends, hoop earrings were anything but simple and delicate. Designs ranged from latch back earrings with multiple hoops to hoop earrings decorated with a golden fringe.

Fierce chokers

Studs, metal, and black leather are a few of the elements you can expect out of the statement-making chokers that cropped up in the fall runways. Unsurprisingly, these chokers showed up on runways that already had a punk or grunge vibe, where they perfectly completed an edgy ensemble.

Shiny chokers

While all the dark and spiky chokers were quite fierce, there was also room in for bejeweled chokers to fit the aesthetic of those who are less dark or edgy.

Colorful gemstones

The fall/winter 2019 jewelry trends saw oversized, nearly overwhelming pieces studded with colorful gems. Colorful gemstones might feel more like costume jewelry, but if all the world is a stage, then why not rock them?

Wild multi-chain necklaces

We saw all manner of chains show up as part of the latest accessory trends, but one of our favorites was the way that different stylists layered different kinds of chains together to create a chunky look that was a little wild.

Dramatic brooches

Big, shiny, and just a little retro, brooches were one of the most fun of the fall 2019 jewelry trends. Some think brooches are a somewhat dated accessory, but all that is old becomes new again, and brooches do feel like they fit in with the cozy, retro aesthetic that some designers reveled in this season.

Big luxury chain links

As much as we liked the industrial chains of the fall 2019 jewelry trends, we also appreciated the elegance that large, more ornamental chain links could have. Jewelry designers crafted necklaces and earrings out of oversized chain links in precious metals, with flowy designs that were glamorous rather than grunge.

Pearls

Pearls are as delicate and feminine as can be, and the copious use of them stood out as one of the more traditional jewelry trends. Unsurprisingly, pearls were most popular in the big Parisian fashion houses.

Opulent matching sets

It’s been a while since anyone really thought about matching their necklace to their earrings beyond, maybe, trying to match gold with gold and silver with silver. Beyond that, it’s been everything goes. However, for fall 2019, matching sets are officially back.

Chunky bracelets

We think chunky bracelets are the most interesting of the bracelet-related fall/winter 2019-2020 jewelry trends. They’re as ostentatious as the other jewelry pieces we saw on the runways, but they’re less high glam and a bit more accessible, since they are made of resin or acetate rather than expensive metals and gems.

If it’s time to start revamping your fall jewelry fashion trends, visit Adina Jewelers by Empire Pawn on eBay. You’ll find amazing fine estate, vintage and antique jewelry at true wholesale prices!