Rings & Things Jewelry Blog

Whether you run a jewelry-making business, or you're making a special gift for yourself or a loved one, here you can find the perfect combination of shapes, sizes and stones to help you create specialty chakra pendants, bracelets and necklaces.Although each chakra is associated with a specific color and concept, the gemstones or crystals themselves can vary. Qualities to consider when choosing chakra stones or healing crystals are the color, any energetic qualities you want to focus on, and the …

Emerald is well-known as the birthstone for May. Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl, colored green by trace amounts of chromium. In the United States, emeralds colored by vanadium are recognized as true emeralds, but in Europe, vanadium emeralds (sometimes called "Columbian Emeralds") are simply called "green beryl". Our beads are generally cut in China, and sometimes India. India-cut emeralds generally have nicer color, but small, irregularly drilled holes. China-cut gemstone beads are o …

The official state gemstone of Maine, tourmaline is a complex crystalline silicate containing aluminum, boron and other elements. Its name derives from the Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) word tura mali, meaning "stone of mixed colors," and tourmaline is indeed found in blue (indicolite), yellow, pink to red (rubellite), black (schorl), green, dravite (brown) and clear (achroite) varieties. We usually carry black, pink, and multicolor tourmaline beads.This semiprecious gemstone is piezoelectric (when it' …

Created by: Rita Hutchinson  Designer Tips Determine desired loop lengths and cut leather. For these earring, I cut 2 pieces at about 5" and 2 pieces at about 3".String large-hole gemstone on longer leather piece and porcelain bead on shorter piece.Gather all ends together in the correct order (see photo).Apply a small amount of superglue inside the crimp end. Insert all 4 leather ends at one time, squeezing them together to fit. Hold in place until glue grips.Gently squeeze the crimp end …

We carry an eclectic (and diminishing) variety of African beads, both old trade beads, and newer beads made or strung in Africa for the world-wide bead trade. Trade beads are old and/or used beads, and will show varying amounts of wear. Newly-made African beads are generally handmade in small communities. Style and availability vary.Rings & Things founder, Russ Nobbs, loved trade beads and African Art. For many decades, he purchased trade beads from African traders -- for sale as well as for …