Perhaps the better question might be: What’s the difference between natural pearls and man-induced pearls? And the answer is… not a whole lot. Let’s first take a look at how pearls are formed, then talk about the differences between natural and man-induced pearls.

A pearl occurs when some sort of irritant works its way into an oyster. Once the oyster recognizes a foreign element, it begins secreting a substance to surround that irritant to protect itself. It continues doing this, creating layer after layer, until the final result is a pearl.

Okay, so the difference between natural and man-induced pearls…

A natural pearl happens when the pearl-creating process occurs without any human intervention. That is, when an ocean current carries an irritant into an oyster. As such, a perfectly round or white natural pearl is extremely rare and priced as such. Like diamonds, natural pearls need perfect conditions to form on their own.

Man-induced pearls, also known as “cultured pearls,” on the other hand, can have the ideal conditions created. A cultured pearl is created when a person places the impediment–usually a mollusk shell called the “bead”–into the oyster or other mollusk. From there, the same process of pearl creation occurs as the oyster begins creating the secretion that eventually becomes the pearl.

Cultured pearls are created in large oyster farms, usually in Asia. In these conditions, the size of the pearl can be controlled because the time the pearl has had to grow can be measured. The more time an oyster has, the larger the pearl can grow. Because so many pearls can be created, “pearl farmers” can choose from the very best pearls for making jewelry like these 12mm Shell Pearl Stud Earrings in Sterling Silver.

SuperJeweler carries a fine selection of high-quality of pearl jewelry at amazing prices. Right now, it’s wedding season and pearl jewelry is one of the most popular bridal party gifts you can give. Check out SuperJeweler selection of bridal party jewelry today.

To start, we have go back to San Francisco during the roaring ’20s. A young man by the name of Carroll Chatham had a curious fascination with growing crystals. After several years of trial and error and a fortunate accident, he created an emerald crystal. To this day, he is credited with discovering the process of creating gemstones in a lab environment by duplicating what has been happening in nature for millions of years.

Today, 90-some years later, technology exists that allows for many gemstones to be replicated in a laboratory. These created gemstones are, indeed, real gemstones as they contain the exact same physical properties as gemstones found in nature. Created gemstones, however, can be put under strict quality standards to ensure perfection, which is something Mother Nature cannot do. The result is a perfect gemstone at a lower cost than what nature can provide.

Of course, we understand the charm of “natural” gemstones At SuperJeweler, we carry both natural and created rubies, sapphires, and emeralds to offer our customers more options in terms of quality, price, size, and origin. Because of this, we fully disclose which gemstones are created so you can know as much as possible about whichever piece of jewelry you purchase from SuperJeweler.

To get a look at the affordability of lab created ruby jewelry, just look at this 4ct Created Ruby and Diamond Ring in 10k White Gold.

Let’s hit the button on the wayback machine and go back to antiquity. Precious stones were seen as precious for a couple of reasons: 1) they were pretty rare and 2) they were almost exclusively reserved for royalty. At that time, and progressing to the present, four stones emerged as being recognized as the precious stones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Beyond that, other stones, such as amethysts and garnets, were known as semi-precious stones.

At SuperJeweler, we tend to disagree with this distinction, believing that all gemstones are precious. To that end, we carry a large assortment of fine gemstone jewelry, from the 12 modern birthstones to other gemstones such as tanzanite and pink topaz.

As was just mentioned, we believe all gemstones to be precious; this is for a few reasons. First, in modern times, we have the ability to create gemstones in labs. And this is not like cubic zirconium is to a diamond. We are talking about actually replicating the exact same chemical properties that make a gemstone as it appears in nature. This helps to drive down costs and creates a scenerio where you could actually pay more for a piece of tanzanite jewelry than you would pay for a similar piece of ruby jewelry. In this context, there is less distinction than ever between what is precious and what is semi-precious.

Now that we’ve cleared the air (or muddied the water) on the “precious” part of precious gemstones, let’s take a closer look at that “gemstones” part. There is a tendency to lump all jewelry-related stones into the “gemstone” category. That’s probably because it sounds sexier than “precious minerals,” but that’s exactly what most gemstones are – minerals that have been cut and polished to create a beautiful luster and shine. There are, indeed, many rocks that are called gemstones, such as Lapis Lazuli. Some still are organic material, such as amber or jet.

One of the most common requests for gemstones comes from those seeking birthstone jewelry or mother’s rings. Each month is associated with a particular gemstone. These associations have changed over time from a traditional list to a modern list. For example, the March birthstone used to be a bloodstone, but is now aquamarine. There are even gemstones assigned to days of the week!

Of course, there are no rules about who can wear what gemstones. We think you should wear what you like. To get some good ideas, we humbly suggest you check out SuperJeweler’s collection of fine gemstone jewelry.

Come back next next time when we will talk about created gemstones.

What if, instead of a dozen red roses, you showed up with a beautiful wild flower bouquet? What if instead of vanilla ice cream, you showed up with strawberry cheesecake ice cream? What if, instead of diamond jewelry, you showed up with fine gemstone jewelry?

See, there is something that is exceptionally wonderful about NOT going for the obvious choice – in veering from the script. When you go for the not-so-obvious choice, it requires a little more thought. It requires you to think more about the gift. I means you look for something that is more representative of your relationship, whatever that relationship may be.

For instance, if you have an anniversary in September, try sapphire jewelry. Sapphire is the September birthstone. As an anniversary gift, it could mark the birth of your marriage. Perhaps your significant other is very interesting in conservation and the environment. Why go with diamond jewelry when emerald gemstone jewelry could have so much more symbolic meaning? You could even put a new twist on an old combination; instead of white diamonds and red roses, try white roses and red ruby jewelry.

Fine gemstone jewelry often makes better financial sense as well. For the most part, colored gemstones cost considerably less than diamonds. This allows you to get bigger stones, and often more daring designs, when you choose fine gemstone jewelry instead of diamond jewelry.

Too often, when people think jewelry, they automatically think diamond jewelry. While SuperJeweler.com has many, many pieces of diamond jewelry, our biggest goal is making sure you get the perfect piece of jewelry, and sometimes fine gemstone jewelry is the perfect choice!

SuperJeweler is an American company that is so proud to have an American workforce, but also to offer the best deals we can to the American public and beyond. We also recognize and honor the sacrifices that have been made by American veterans. Theirs is a sacrifice that can never be repaid, but it can be recognized.

In honor of Veterans Day, on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, we will be offering a very special deal in our Deal of the Day section: Our Purple Heart Pendant for just $49.

If you are on the SuperJeweler email list, you also know that we sent out a special email sale in honor of Military Family Appreciation Week. The sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform are just one type of sacrifice. Families of the enlisted also make a sacrifice. And while we are so proud those who serve, the families who support them also deserve recognition for the sacrifices they make, too.

One of the ways we honor those currently enlisted and their families is by offering free shipping to APO mailboxes. We figure that you come to SuperJeweler.com because we have fair prices; we wouldn’t want you to have to spend the difference on shipping your purchase halfway around the world. So we do it for you.

With the holidays afoot, and so many loved ones far from home, we just want you to know that you can buy men’s diamond rings, engagement rings, diamond earrings, or whatever from SuperJeweler, and we’ll cover the shipping costs for you.

Here are just a few of the most common questions (and answers) when it comes to buying the perfect piece of jewelry.

Q: If you have larger features, should you wear smaller pieces of jewelry to create an illusion of smallness?
A. No. Wear jewelry that is scaled to your size. Wearing pieces of jewelry that are too small or too large create a comparison effect, not a complementary effect. You want your jewelry to look like a natural extension of yourself. Wearing jewelry that is scaled properly will do just that.

Q. Can the right earrings contour your face?
A. Yes. If you have a well-defined chin, you can minimize it with gemstone earrings set close to the ear. If your face is rounded, you can add the illusion of length with diamond earrings that have some drop to them, like journey diamond earrings. If you have a longer nose, try larger earrings, but ones that do not outline the earlobe.

Q. Should you avoid wearing rings if you have ugly hands?
A. No. Keep in mind, the degree of attractiveness in any part of the body is always subjective. Most times, we are our own worst critics anyway, right? Take an objective look at your hands and be honest with yourself; are your fingers more like sticks or sausages? Are your palms narrow or squared? Ask more question like this, and stay honest in your answers. When you have a good objective sense of your hands, pick diamond rings that share the same characteristics as your hands/fingers. Remember, you want your jewelry act as a natural extension of your person.

Q. Is it okay to mix different types of jewelry?
A. Absolutely. The key, as we have mentioned, is knowing your features and what will work with them. If you are choosing pieces that will complement your features, you can mix and match because you’re features are the point point of reference from which other pieces have been selected. So, if you want to wear emerald gemstone jewelry with pearls, you can.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you are shopping for jewelry and you should find that you are more satisfied with your selection. And keep coming back to the SuperJeweler Blog; we’ll be offering up tips and tricks like this from time to time.

Now there is a new way to buy jewelry. It’s called One and Done from SuperJeweler. Here’s how it works.

Each day, we scan our inventory reports and find a list of items for which we only have one left in stock. Then we take an item from that list and mark it way down and put it on our One and Done page. As soon as it sells, it’s gone forever!

What does this mean for you? First, it means that you get another way to save money on some great jewelry; everybody loves that part. It also means that, every day, you have a new chance to get an item that has been a customer favorite. After all, there is only one left, right?

With the holidays coming up soon, everybody is looking for a deal. And every day, One and Done will feature new engagement rings, diamond earrings, fine gemstone jewelry, and more. Many of the items featured will be less than $100. It’s the perfect way to get something special for that special someone … especially if that special someone is you!

Check out SuperJeweler’s One and Done page now, bookmark it, and come back every day!

One thing that has not changed, however, is that people still get married; they still have anniversaries; they still have birthdays; Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day still come around. In short, regardless of the economy, we still celebrate special occasions. And we do it with gifts.

In times like these, jewelry becomes an even more valuable gift. This happens for a number of reasons:

• Jewelry retains its value during economic downturns. Ever wonder why you see 25 of those “We’ll buy your gold jewelry!” commercials every night? It’s because gold jewelry, diamond jewelry and fine gemstone jewelry retain their value better than … well … real estate, for example.
• Along with retaining its economic value, jewelry also retains its sentimental value. While flowers last a few days and candy gets eaten, jewelry is a gift that lasts a lifetime. It’s not just high-priced jewelry either. Years from now, you will look back at the engagement ring you received. You won’t see it as an inexpensive engagement ring, though. You’ll see it as a memento of that stage of your life, and how far your relationship has come.
• The choices available in jewelry are almost limitless. SuperJeweler.com, for instance, carries nearly 3,000 items in stock. They vary by carat weights, metal grades, and yes, by price. This ensures that you can find the perfect piece of jewelry for any occasion at a price you can afford … even in a recession.

While there is no single answer to fixing the economy, knowing about the value of jewelry in a down economy can help you make better gift-giving decisions…decisions that will last a lifetime.

For a few suggestion, we recommend items from our diamond stud earrings, wedding bands, and right hand diamond rings collections.

One of the common symptoms of Lupus is what is known as The Lupus Butterfly – a purple rash that develops across the nose and cheeks of those who have Lupus. In working with the Illinois Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America, we developed our own Lupus Butterfly; it is a 1/4ct diamond and amethyst butterfly pendant set in 14k white gold.

With every Lupus Butterfly Pendant we sell at SuperJeweler.com, we donate $60 to the Illinois Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. This donation helps educate people about Lupus and provide support for those who endure the effects of Lupus every day.

We ask you to help us make a difference and get an adorable piece of amethyst gemstone jewelry at the same time. And if you love the Lupus Butterfly Pendant as much as we do, then you may also want to explore our other fine gemstone jewelry as well.

Aquamarine Jewelry

March, like every month, has a native birthstone. All of you March babies know very well that Aquamarine is the birthstone for March. At SuperJeweler.com, we have some darling Aquamarine jewelry. Jewelry is always the perfect gift, and when it carries the special significance of being a birthstone, well… it’s just that much better.

Claddagh Jewelry

With St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, there is no better time to take a look at Irish Claddagh jewelry like this adorable Claddagh ring. Right now SuperJeweler.com carries about eight Claddagh rings, but we are currently in the process if adding an entire Claddagh section to the site. So if you like the look of these rings, stay tuned and we’ll update you when the whole section is available.

Emerald Gemstone Jewelry

Also, because of St. Patrick’s Day, everybody flashes their green clothes and accessories. Sure, Emerald Gemstone Jewelry is beautiful any time of the year, but in March it seems especially appropriate. At SuperJeweler.com, we have a great assortment of emerald rings, emerald pendants, emerald earrings and more! Check it out, and wow ‘em this St. Patrick’s Day.

Wedding Bands

We sell a lot of engagement rings during the Christmas and Valentine’s Day seasons. So we know there are some of you out there planning weddings…maybe even romantic spring weddings. So…you’ll be looking for great deals on wedding bands.

If this is the case for you, we have set up a few specialty pages dedicated to womens wedding bands. mens wedding bands, and even matching wedding bands.

March Out With Something Great

These are just some of the reasons why March is a great jewelry month. Still, the best reason is between you and that special someone you care about. Remember, jewelry always makes a great gift and you don’t need a special holiday to give it!