What are Edison pearls?

Two Chinese siblings developed a fresh water pearl that rivals the perfection of Tahitian pearls in symmetry and color. Instead of inserting tissue into mussels as is done with traditional fresh water pearls, they realized that inserting a bead (as it done with saltwater pearls) into the mollulsk triggers it to cover the bead with nacre and form a round, lustrous pearl. And since only one bead is inserted into each shell the resulting pearls are larger than the  usual fresh water pearls. Thomas Edison claimed that the only things he could not create in his lab were diamonds and pearls.

Say goodbye to “Green Amethyst”

The Federal Trade Commission has ruled that “green amethyst” is no more. We now use the term “mint green quartz.” Both the former green amethyst and the well known purple amethyst are from the quartz family.  The green shade is obtained by heating  the quartz. It is only natural in Prasiolite- which has  erroneously been  called “green amethyst” by some – but is in fact a rare gemstone mined in a very few places – and formed when the quartz is naturally  subjected to intense heat.  Prasiolite means “leek stone” named for the green color. These mint green quartz earrings are lovely no matter what we call them.