How Well Do You Know Diamonds? 20 Facts About April’s Birthstone

By Katherine Cook

The diamond is a scintillating gem and a symbol of strength and clarity. It is so strong, it gets its name from the Greek word “Adamas,” meaning “unbreakable.” It is easily the most luxurious and durable gemstone available. As such, diamonds are the most popular stone used in engagement rings and wedding bands across the globe. The diamond is also the birthstone for April.

How well do you know diamonds? In honor of April’s birthstone, put your knowledge to the test, and check out these 20 fascinating diamond facts.

Buying and Care

• There are four different categories in which diamonds are typically graded. Often referred to as the “four C’s,” these categories include: carat, clarity, color, and cut. Florescence, a lesser-known factor, is also used to determine the worth of a diamond.

• Considered by some to be more environmentally friendly and sustainable, synthetic lab-made diamonds consist of the same physical and chemical properties of mined diamonds.

• Unfortunately, the value of diamonds has resulted in some seedy business practices throughout the industry. This worries some buyers, who want to be sure their stones are ethically sourced. As such, you can inquire about the origins of your diamond when you purchase one and ask that it is certified conflict-free.

• Colorless diamonds are the most widely sold and used, however, they can come in nearly any color under the rainbow. There are both naturally colored and color-treated diamonds, with the former being much more expensive.

• As the hardest natural substance known to man, diamonds rank a 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. The only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. However, they can chip or fracture if they suffer a hard blow, so try and avoid smacking your diamond jewelry against a hard surface.

• Diamonds can easily scratch other gems, so diamond jewelry should be stored in a way it cannot rub against other items. You may want to consider storing precious diamond stones in a fireproof safe, as house fires have been known to get hot enough to burn and ruin a diamond.

• Have your diamond birthstone or engagement jewelry cleaned and the setting examined periodically by a professional jeweler to ensure it maintains its beauty and integrity over time. If you are an Arizona local, feel free to contact Zander’s Creations to help you with this.

• As diamonds are so valuable, you may want to consider investing in jewelry insurance in the event of potential loss, damage, or theft.

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Diamond Ring Design By Zander’s Creations

History and Where They Are Found

• Most diamonds were formed around 100 miles below the earth’s surface over one billion years ago. Volcanic eruptions brought diamond deposits closer to the earth’s surface, enabling us to find them.

• The oldest known diamond is right around four billion years old. Most have been dated as being between one and three billion years old.

• It is believed that some diamonds may have come from outer space. Some diamond deposits in Africa are thought to be from an asteroid that crashed into the earth around three billion years ago.

• Humans have collected diamonds for thousands of years. They were predominately mined and treasured in India as far back as 300 BCE.

• Today, diamonds are mined all over the world including Brazil, Africa, North America, and Russia.

• The United States produces around 10 percent of the world’s diamonds, however, we purchase over 40 percent of the world’s supply.

• The first time a diamond ring was documented as being used for an engagement ring was back in 1477. It was then that the Austrian Archduke Maximilian proposed to Mary of Burgundy.

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Various Uses of Diamonds in Ring Design by Zander’s Creations

Symbolism and Healing Properties

• Not only is the diamond the birthstone for April, but it is also the chosen gift for both the 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries. And, the diamond engagement ring is the near-universal symbol for love and marriage.

• Ancient civilizations believed diamonds would protect people from harm, especially in battle.

• Ancient Romans and Greeks thought diamonds to be the tears of the Gods.

• In the Middle Ages, diamonds were thought to be a poison antidote and protect against the plague.

• Diamonds are not as common in crystal healing as other stones due to their cost and size. Most rough diamonds are under a few carats. However, when they are used, practitioners use them cautiously. Diamonds are thought to greatly enhance energy, so while it can increase the positive energy in a room, it can do the same with negative energy.

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Diamond Ring By Zander’s Creations

The diamond is the favorite amongst gemstones, that is a fact! Its high durability and versatility make it a must in any jewelry collection. If you wish to give your loved one a timeless piece of jewelry, we are here for you. From earrings to pendants, to rings, we can help you create the perfect piece.

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Diamond Ring By Zander’s Creations

Zander’s Creations is owned and operated by Wayne Cook of Mesa, Arizona. With 20 years of experience in fine jewelry design, he can create the jewelry you have always dreamed of.  For pre-designed jewelry pieces, please view ZandersCreations.com as well as Etsy. If you are looking for a custom design, please contact Wayne. We look forward to working with you.

Celebrate Spring with Aquamarine

By Katherine Cook

As striking as the seawater it gets its name from, the aquamarine has surpassed its duties as the March birthstone and become a popular alternative engagement ring stone. When faceted, aquamarine is remarkably transparent with vitreous brilliance, so it REALLY sparkles.

A favorite among designers for many reasons, the aquamarine is the perfect spring accessory. Its shades range from a pale blue to a strong seafoam blue-green, with deeper shades being a little more valuable. The stone is rather durable and affordable, making it the perfect choice for an everyday piece of jewelry.

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Zander’s Creations ring made with aquamarine.

In observance of March’s birthstone, here are 18 facts about aquamarine:

Buying and Care

• Aquamarine is a part of the beryl stone family. It is joined by both emerald and morganite.  While they come from the same family, aquamarine and emerald stones are greatly different.

• Aquamarine gemstones are graded by the four C’s, the same as diamonds- cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

• If you prefer your gem to be without inclusions, you may want to consider choosing a pale, near colorless aquamarine over a diamond. Faceted aquamarine gemstones are typically free of inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.

• Unlike most other gemstones, the larger the aquamarine stone is, the more intense its color could be. An aquamarine over five carats will usually have a deeper hue and the smaller gems will appear near colorless. As such, smaller natural aquamarine stones that have a deeper color will sell for more per carat than their bigger deeply colored counterparts. Simply, it is more difficult to find a deeply colored one-carat aquamarine than it is to find a deeply colored five-carat stone- which increases their value.

• Rated between a 7.5 and an 8 on the Mohs scale, the aquamarine is soft enough to accommodate a variety of cutting styles but hard enough to be considered for daily wear. While it is a strong stone, your aquamarine jewelry should not be stored near jewelry that ranks higher on the scale (such as diamonds and sapphires) as they have the potential to scratch it.

• Different shades of aquamarine have been popular at different points in history. Today, the preferred shade is a pure, light sky blue. As such, some greenish colored stones are heat-treated to change their color to a lighter blue and improve their clarity. These changes are permanent.  It is nearly impossible to detect when heat treatment was performed, and it usually adds value to the gem because of the color improvement.

• Unless it has an internal flaw, it is safe to clean aquamarine in an ultrasonic machine or steam cleaner. However, warm water, a mild dish soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush work perfectly fine. You should avoid harsh chemicals.

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Aquamarine stones available for use in your design.

History

• The name aquamarine comes from the Latin words “aqua marina,” which means “seawater.” It got its name during the Georgian Era in the 18th century.

• Protective amulets and decorative jewelry containing aquamarine have been found that date as far back as 500 B.C.

• In 1936, the Brazilian government gifted Eleanor Roosevelt with a 1,298-carat faceted aquamarine gemstone. It is now located in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York.

• The largest cut aquamarine in the world is on exhibit in the Natural History Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. It is called the Dom Pedro and is an astounding 10,363 carats.

• The largest gem-quality raw aquamarine stone was found in 1910 in the village of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It weighed around 243 pounds and was carved into over 100,000 carats of gemstones.

• Aquamarine has been mined all over the world, including Colorado and California in the US. Kenya, Madagascar, Pakistan, and Russia are known to produce quality aquamarine gems; however, it is mainly sourced from Brazil.

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Aquamarine stones available for use in your design.

Symbolism and Healing Properties

• Not only is it the birthstone for March, but aquamarine is also the traditional stone for the 19th wedding anniversary. Fitting, as it was once thought to bring happiness to a marriage.

• A long time ago, sailors believed aquamarine to be a treasure from mermaids and wore them in amulets to keep them safe at sea.

• Because it is naturally free of any visible inclusions, the aquamarine is often used as a symbol of purity.

• Throughout history, aquamarine has been prized as a protector of mental health and well-being. Like the ocean brings a sense of calm, the aquamarine is a calming stone used by crystal healers to soothe nerves. It was used in the Middle Ages to lower anxiety.

• Today, aquamarine symbolizes courage, faithfulness, and friendship.

With its ability to dazzle, it comes as no surprise that the aquamarine has been a favorite among gems for over 2,000 years. If you have a loved one with a birthday in March, why not surprise them with a gift that has lasting value, such as an aquamarine ring or pendant. There is nothing quite like a timeless piece of jewelry that shows someone how much you care.

Zander’s Creations is owned and operated by Wayne Cook of Mesa, Arizona. With 20 years of experience in fine jewelry design, he looks forward to helping you create the gift of your loved one’s dreams. Pre-designed jewelry pieces can be purchased online at ZandersCreations.com as well as on Etsy, or you can contact Wayne and he can help you with a custom design.

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Custom designed ring with aquamarine by Zander’s Creations.

All About Amethyst

By Katherine Cook

For those of you born in February, your birthstone is amethyst. Wearing amethyst is a symbol of inner strength and empowerment.

The amethyst is an attractive, purple type of quartz and is one of the most popular of the gemstones. Its colors range from light lilac to deep reddish-purple and it can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes. The amethyst was once associated with royalty and wealth and has been found in royal family collections throughout both Asia and Europe. Once a jewel of the wealthy the amethyst is now a jewel for the masses.

Amethysts available for use in your design at Zander’s Creations

In honor of February’s birthstone, here are 24 facts all about amethyst:

Buying and Care Information

• Amethyst is the most expensive variety of quartz. Other varieties of quartz include rose quartz and citrine.

• Amethyst is the gemstone associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

• As a gemstone, amethyst is sold by the carat. However, most amethyst is sold “rough” by the pound or even ton. This is marketed as either geodes or crystals for collectors and crystal healers. These stones are sold in sizes that range from a small pebble to the size of a bathtub.

• The purple color of the amethyst comes from small amounts of iron that are irradiated from the natural radiation of the host rock.

• Some amethysts available for purchase have been heat-treated to enhance the color. Occasionally, lighter amethyst is heated and turned into a green prasiolite or a golden citrine.

• Usually, the darker and more red-like the stone is, the more expensive it is. However, if it is too dark, it may be treated to lighten it and remove any traces of brown.

• Despite it being an abundant stone, there are simulated amethysts made from crystal or glass. To the naked eye, a natural amethyst and synthetic amethyst are hard to tell apart. A qualified gemologist can spot the difference by looking at color zoning and inclusions.

• You should store your amethyst in a location that is dark and dry. Being exposed to too much sunlight can cause darker amethyst gemstones to fade with time. As such, if you love going to the beach regularly, opt to keep your amethyst jewelry at home.

• On the Mohs hardness scale, amethyst gets a rating of seven. This means that it is strong enough for daily wear in rings and other jewelry, but it may show some wear with time and require polishing. Also, if you place amethyst jewelry next to jewelry with harder gems like diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, you risk it becoming scratched.

• As heat can affect the color of the amethyst, steam cleaning is not recommended for jewelry with this gem.  A soft brush with a mild soap is the best option for amethyst jewelry.

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Amethysts available for use in your design at Zander’s Creations

History and Where it is Found

• Amethysts have been prized by people for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians would carve them into amulets in the shapes of animals, perhaps to be worn as a form of protection.

• Catherine the Great of Russia (1729-1796) had an affinity for amethyst and would adorn herself in jewelry made with the gem.

• In 1953, jewelry aficionado Wallis, Duchess of Windsor wore an opulent amethyst bib necklace designed by Cartier to a gala in Versailles.

• Amethyst was used in jewelry in medieval churches as a symbol of divinity and wisdom. It is the central stone for St. Valentine’s ring.

• Amethyst gets its name from the Greek word” amethystos,” which loosely means “not drunk.” Probably because of its wine-like color, ancient Greeks associated the gem with Bacchus, their god of wine. It is said that they believed the stone could protect them from drunkenness and they would drink from chalices carved from it.

• There was a time when amethyst was worth as much as emeralds, rubies, and sapphires due to limited availability. However, that changed in the 1800s when large deposits of it were found in Brazil. Previously, Russia was the main source of amethyst production.

• Today the most prominent amethyst sources are found in South America and Africa. The Kariba mine in Zambia, Africa is one of the largest producers of amethyst in the world. The stones mined there are known to be of high quality with deeply saturated colors.

• Brazil is still a major player in amethyst production, however, the stones found there are usually lighter than those found in other countries. The amethyst in Brazil is sometimes found in hollow, crystal-lined geodes that are so large a person can stand in them.

• The Anahi mine in Bolivia is known for its bi-colored amethyst/citrine mixed crystals called ametrine.

• There is an amethyst mine here in Arizona! The Four Peaks Amethyst Mine is in a secluded location in the high, rugged part of the Mazatzal Mountains around 46 miles outside of Phoenix. The type of amethyst that comes out of Four Peaks is known as Siberian Red; the only other place known to produce such an amethyst is in Russia in the Ural Mountains.

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Amethysts available for use in your design at Zander’s Creations

Symbolism and Healing Properties

• Though there is a lack of scientifically-backed evidence, many people believe in the healing properties of amethyst and other crystals. In recent years the market for healing crystals has boomed.

• The amethyst is said to have a calming effect and help people fall asleep and stay asleep when placed under the pillow.

• People who practice feng shui use amethyst to clear their space of negative energy and protect it from harm.

• People who practice crystal healing use the amethyst to enhance clarity and develop their psychic abilities.

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Amethyst available for use in your design at Zander’s Creations

This February buy the queen (or king) of your heart an amethyst ring or pendant for their birthday. We have many stones ready to be placed into one of our designs, or you can work with Wayne to create your custom one-of-a-kind piece.

Wayne Cook owns and operates Zander’s Creations out of Mesa, Arizona. Wayne has 20 years of experience designing fine, custom jewelry. You can purchase pre-designed pieces online at ZandersCreations.com as well as on Etsy. Or, contact Wayne to begin creating your custom piece today.

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Custom ring designed by Zander’s Creations

Give Her a Gift that Wows

By Katherine Cook

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. To celebrate, we have put together a selection of Zander’s Creations jewelry that will truly wow the one you love.

Necklaces

This hugs and kisses pendant is a great way to show someone you love them! It can be created as pictured, or you can choose a different gold-tone, different stones, or both!

Nothing says “I love you” like a heart! Give the one you give this elegant necklace as it is pictured or customize it to your liking!

Simple and elegant. This garnet necklace is sure to please. (Other stones available.)

A classic heart that can be worn every day!

Rings

All rings can be purchased as shown or customized to your liking. More design options can be found under the “shop” and “gallery” tabs.

If you are near Mesa, Arizona, we invite you to view some pieces in person! Select Zander’s Creations jewelry are on display at both Fast Fix Jewelry (located in the Superstition Mall in Mesa) and Kachina Stained Glass ( located in the Walmart shopping center on Greenfield and the US 60 in Mesa).

Zanders Creations jewelry can be made as shown, or we can custom design your piece to your liking. If you’d rather a sapphire instead of a diamond, we can do that. Prefer white gold over yellow? We can do that! Creating a piece does take some time, so please take that into consideration when asking for a custom design. Please feel free to contact Wayne with any questions you have regarding customization, creative process, and/or pricing.

It is not easy to find something with as much lasting value as a timeless piece of jewelry. We look forward to helping you design something that you and your loved ones will cherish this Valentine’s Day and for years to come.

15 Facts About January’s Birthstone

By Katherine Cook

Happy birthday, January babies! January’s birthstone, the garnet, symbolizes many honorable qualities, including a kind heart, loyalty, and passion. Though a garnet can come in a variety of colors, including orange, green and purple, it is the deep red garnet that is commonly used to represent January birthdates.

In celebration of January’s birthstone, here are 15 facts about garnets:

Buying Information

• Garnet is the traditional stone for the second and sixth wedding anniversary. A perfect time to gift your significant other with a garnet ring or pendant.

• Garnets are a mineral group that consists of various stones with similar physical and chemical properties. Types of garnet include almandine, demantoid, pyrope, and rhodolite, to name a few.

• The most common and affordable variety garnet is the almandine. Almandines are reddish-brown and can be easily found.

• The pyrope garnet is a deep, blood-red color and is better quality than the almandine garnets.

• The most expensive and rare type of garnet is the demantoid. They are a variety of andradite garnets that are transparent green. Demantoid garnets give off more light than a diamond.

• Garnets come in many colors, but not blue.

• On the Mohs Scale of Hardness, a garnet is between 6.5 and 7.5, depending on the variety. While it is quite durable, anything with a harder rating can scratch the garnets’ surface.

• If you own any antique jewelry that you believe contains a garnet stone, you should have it inspected for authenticity. Many antique pieces were made with dark red glass rather than actual garnet stones.

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Garnet Halo Ring by Zander’s Creations

 History

• You can find garnet in jewelry dating back to the time of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

• In the Victorian era, garnets were one of the most popular gemstones used in jewelry.

• Because of its resemblance to the deep red seeds of the pomegranate, garnet gets its name from the Latin word granatum, which means “seed.”

• Throughout the 14th through the 19th century, Czechoslovakia was one of the largest garnet jewelry producers. However, they can be found all over the world, including (but not limited to) Wyoming, Greece, Russia, Tanzania, and India.

Symbolism

• Legend says garnets light up the night and protect from nightmares.

• Some believe that when you wear garnet and do good, more good will come. However, should you do bad, bad things will come.

• If you value your friendship with someone deeply, garnet makes the perfect gift as it is often thought to symbolize meaningful and lasting friendships.

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Garnet Pendant by Zander’s Creations

You cannot go wrong giving a friend or loved one a gift with their birthstone, due to the personal significance attached. If you have a loved one who has a birthday in January, consider gifting them with a garnet ring or pendant.

Zander’s Creations is owned and operated by Wayne Cook in Mesa, AZ. He has 20 years of experience in creating fine, custom jewelry pieces. Pre-designed pieces can be purchased online at ZandersCreations.com as well as on Etsy, or you can contact Wayne and he can help you with a custom design.

Zander's Creations LLC is now affiliated with Fast Fix Jewelry and Watch Repair.

Zander's Creations LLC is now operating inside the Fast Fix Jewelry and Watch Repair in Mesa, Az. You can find me there at the Superstition Springs Mall. I have a wide verity of custom made jewelry that I have designed. Everything from colored gemstone earrings, pendants and rings. I also have wedding rings and bands. 

Exquisite 1 carat round diamond filigree halo ring.

This exquisite 1 carat round diamond halo engagement ring is available in 14k yellow or rose gold. It is the absolute perfect way to say I love you to that special someone. She will have compliments for the rest of her life with this ring. It is comfortable and easy to wear. 
With 2.011 carat total stone weight, in a G to H color, SI1quality and Very good cut and many hours of hard work. This ring is sure to please any wife or spouse to be! Very beautiful ring. She will be proud to wear a custom designed ring by Zander's Creations. 

New Pokeball Neckless!!!

Inspired by the Pokemon TV Series and Pokemon Go Game. I have released a Pokeball Neckless  It's currently available for purchase on Etsy.com at Zanders Creations. Stay Tuned for more Pokeball Pieces Coming Soon!!!!

20mm 14k Rose and White Gold Pokeball Neckless.

Custom designed ring for Salena.

This ring was designed to incorporate the stones from three previous individual rings that she had owned throughout her life.  To create one beautiful ring!!

14k white gold using customers stones. 

Newest edition to my Bridal Collection.

The Diamond Halo 14k engagement ring is the perfect way to say I love you.
With 3.5 carat total stone weight in G SI1 Quality and many hours of hard work. This ring is sure to please any wife or spouse to be! Very beautiful ring. She will be proud to wear a custom designed ring by Zander's Creations.

2015 Fresh start!!!

In 2014 Zander's Creations went through some major changes. The business went from a partnership to sole proprietor. Which means that all designs and manufacturing will be coming from Wayne Cook. With change comes new growth and new ideas. Here is one of the latest custom designs that was made for Christmas of last year. 

3D computer aided design and manufacturing

Zander's Creations utilizes computer aided design software from Gemvision. This has revolutionized our design capability and greatly improved quality of finished pieces. We are able to create new pieces much more efficiently than traditional hand carving or metal fabrication. Combining the old methods with the new allows us to make anything, only limited by our imagination. 

Additionally, with the purchase of a B9 Creator 3D printer, or casting houses which specialize in rapid prototyping we can send the computer file out to be casted in metal of our choice. Computer aided manufacturing has become very popular in the last decade due to various desktop 3D printers such as makerbot, B9 Creator, reprap and many many more. The price point of these machines has dramitcally reduced in the last 5 years due to technological advancements and innovation of very creative people.

The B9 Creator rivals machines 10x the cost allowing us to create high quality pieces we were previously using casting houses to complete for us. We will continue to invest in equipment like these to bring you the best designs that are out of this world!

Spinning jewelry videos

I made a video with one of our recent designs spinning in it so you can see all angles of the piece. Is this something you would want to see all of our pieces have? 

Here is our popular DNA band

New wedding rings!

Recently, I have finished a few new wedding rings and wanted to share them with you. These two are based around the radiant and princess cut diamonds. Accented with round diamonds they will make a nice engagement ring or as a great addition to your existing jewelry. Clicking these will bring you to the product page.

International DNA day

April 25th is DNA day! In 1953 the double helical structure of the DNA was discovered by Francis Crick and James Watson.  This important date led to many new discoveries about our bodies and paved the way for the human genome project in the future. Source

Last year on that day, our DNA band was very popular and was posted on many various social networking websites. We designed that ring back in 2011 but the concept was made years before, when we first bought our 3D modeling software.  The ring below was the final result. You may click it to go to the products page. As a fan of science I felt the DNA symbolizes technology and wanted to capture this in a ring. The one we sell on our website here and https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZandersCreations are the only originals! 

This is one we submitted to the AGTA contest which did not place. Maybe next time :) Platinum and 18k gold DNA band with yellow diamonds x18

We have come up with many other concepts as well. Look through the gallery below. We can make things only limited by your imagination!  Much of these are for sale or will be shortly.

Tucson gem show

We just got back from the tucson gem show and are excited about what we got! We will be making many new pieces this year with nice colored gems as the focal points. Stay tuned and check back often to see them. 

Next year will be even better when we go again. We may also attend the jck show in Vegas in the summer as well.