Jewelry designer to the stars (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Donna Silvestri credits Sunny Goode for generating an article in Southern Living magazine that helped bring national awareness to Silvestri’s On U line of jewelry. Goode, owner of Sunny’s Goodtime Paint in Richmond, was attending a meeting at the magazine’s corporate offices in 2005 when several writers commented on the necklaces she was wearing.

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Jewelry designer to the stars (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

History of Rubies

During ancient times, rubies were called ‘the king of gems’. It meant a lot of different things to a lot of different tribes, people, etc. Legend has it that warriors went as far as to implant rubies under their skin to bring an enhanced sense of bravery into their battles and for protection too. It was also believed that rubies had strong healing properties, which when ground and placed on the tongue, could cure anything from blood diseases, war, strife and even something as common as indigestion.

Rubies are known for their color. The mere mention of the stone brings to mind its blood red color that it is famous for. Rubies range from a deep fire-like orange to a rich, purplish-red color and are rare and one of the most expensive gems around.

The birthstone of those born in July, rubies are recorded in the Bible and in the time of the Sanskrit writings. Ruby comes from rubrum, which means red in Latin. This valuable stone belongs to the family of the corundum which is its most precious and expensive member.
Rubies have been famous right throughout time. Charles IV of Luxembourg’s crown, in the 14th century was home to a fairly large ruby of 250 carats. The Smithsonian has among its exhibits a cabochon star ruby which measures 137 carats. A 15.97 carat ruby is the most expensive ruby to have ever been sold at an auction; it was sold for $3.63 million in 1988.

If you are on the lookout for rubies to add to your jewelry collection, the best advice would be to opt for quality over size. Stones that take on a fiery red shade as opposed to those that lean closer to purple shades are recommended. This is because rubies are commonly subjected to heat treatment in order to augment their color.

Rubies are found mainly in Burma, but Thailand, Sri Lanka and Africa are also known to have deposits of the valuable, fiery red stone.

Different Gems and Their Colors

Black Onyx
Onyx is a variety of chalcedony - and comes in different colors ranging from brown, black, grey and white. This gem is quite like agate - with the only difference being that the onyx has straight bands of color while agates have curved lines. Onyx chips quite easily.

Blue Aquamarine
Colors of this stone range from dark blue to light blue and even a beautiful blue-green. Top range aquamarines are transparent. Aquamarines must always be kept out of the sun, as it will fade.

Brown Agate
Like onyx, agate is also a kind of chalcedony - and comes in quite a few colors. Agate does chip and crack fairly easily. Agate’s permeable quality has led to the gem being dyed to enhance its appearance.

Green Emerald
One of the more popular choices for jewelry, this stunning gemstone is often called an ‘energy healer’.

Orange Carnelian
A favorite of the Egyptians, Carnelians are fun and affordable. They change color in the sun.

Pink Rose Quartz
Rose quartz is an inexpensive stone worn mostly as pendants. It cracks and chips easily and fades in the sun.

Red Ruby
The ’stone of love’ as rubies are popularly known are fairly durable gemstones.

Violet Amethyst
This pretty purple stone is increasingly becoming the choice of stone for engagement rings - symbolizing ever-lasting love.

White Diamond
This beautiful and rare stone is one of the most expensive gemstones. It is a fairly brittle stone and is known as the ‘king of gems’.

Yellow Amber
Made from fossilized resins of trees, amber is a very light stone and thus great for large pieces of jewelry. Gems with the rare insect contained within it are prized while other inclusions are pine needles and air bubbles. Amber is easily scratched.

N.J. Assembly bill tightens restrictions on materials in children’s jewelry (The Star-Ledger)

TRENTON — Legislation spurred by concerns about potentially toxic materials in jewelry — especially items bought for children — has cleared another hurdle in New Jersey.

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N.J. Assembly bill tightens restrictions on materials in children’s jewelry (The Star-Ledger)

N.J. measure targets tainted jewelry (The Record and Herald News)

Legislation spurred by concerns about potentially toxic materials in jewelry — especially items bought for children — has cleared another hurdle in New Jersey.

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N.J. measure targets tainted jewelry (The Record and Herald News)

State measure targets tainted jewelry (Asbury Park Press)

TRENTON — Legislation spurred by concerns about potentially toxic materials in jewelry — especially items bought for children — has cleared another hurdle in New Jersey.

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State measure targets tainted jewelry (Asbury Park Press)

2 injured in west-end jewelry store robbery (CBC Toronto)

A 68-year-old woman is in a Toronto hospital with life-threatening injuries after she was severely beaten Friday during a robbery at a west-end jewelry store.

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2 injured in west-end jewelry store robbery (CBC Toronto)

$100K Of Jewelry Stolen In Philadelphia, 1 Injured (CBS 3 Philadelphia)

Philadelphia Police are looking for two people who were able to grab over $100,000 worth of jewelry and flee a South Street store.

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$100K Of Jewelry Stolen In Philadelphia, 1 Injured (CBS 3 Philadelphia)

CEO Summit for jewelry designers set for March  (National Jeweler)

Pelham, N.Y.–The Jewelers Resource Bureau (JRB) is inviting jewelry designers to attend the Designer CEO Summit, a designer-geared event intended to inspire creative-minded artisans to develop effective business strategies for running their own companies.

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CEO Summit for jewelry designers set for March  (National Jeweler)

Robbers steal $100K worth of jewelry, leave boy (6abc Philadelphia)

Police are looking for anyone who know this boy left after a robbery at a jewelry store.

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Robbers steal $100K worth of jewelry, leave boy (6abc Philadelphia)

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