Three years ago, we were all a-twitter here in Western North Carolina, gearing up for a total solar eclipse that took place on August 21, 2017. I was looking at some of my older posts, deciding which ones deserved to come back to my new website, I came across this one and decided it would be cool to revisit.
While we didn’t experience a total eclipse this year, we did experience some planetary events in the past couple of weeks, so I thought it would be appropriate to revisit this one….with some updates because, well, it’s been three years and I’ve definitely made a couple of new pieces since then.
The events that happened in the past weeks include Summer Solstice followed by a solar eclipse (I think it was best seen in India and China this time around). And we’ve got a lunar eclipse coming up July 4th and 5th.
So while our gazes are fixed skyward, lets’ talk about gemstones with planetary associations.
Let’s start with the moon. I work with different metals, and I think as far as moonstone is concerned, it depends on the qualities of the stone.
Moonstone wrapped in rose gold wire.
This is also moonstone…a little more gray in tone, so I wrapped it in sterling silver.
A rainbow moonstone…bluer than the others. Also wrapped in sterling silver
Not a necklace person? How about some moons for your ears?
Black Labradorite with pewter crescent moons
Moonstone and sterling silver earrings
Aurora Borealis is otherwise known as Northern Lights. While it’s more atmospheric than astronomical, when I think of AB (as it’s fondly called), I think of stars.
There is a process that can be done to crystals to give them the same kind of shimmer as the Northern Lights. This is also called Aurora Borealis. They’re hard to photograph well, especially earrings, because the angles that the light hits them gives the impression that they’re different colors.
One of the better AB photographs I’ve ever taken
AB crystals on silver. See what I mean when I say they’re challenging to photograph? They are actually identical.
There is star opal, star sapphire, and then there are synthetic star gemstones that are called Linde Star. Of course, we could go the shape route, and I think I will.
Blue sodalite stars
A shooting star made from
fine silver
Dalmation Jasper stars with howlite beads
Let’s not forget about the sun. Did you know there is a gemstone called sunstone? In doing my research, sunstone comes from the felspar family, from which aventurine and moonstone are releated. There is also something called star sunstone.
This is a red sunstone. The red color and the sparkles are obviously where it gets its name.
Star sunstone. I challenge you to say that three times fast!
So now you’ve been indoctrinated into the wonderful world of astronomy/gemology. I hope you were as inspired looking at the pretty stones as I was.
Until next month!
