August Birthstone (Peridot)

     Known by the Egyptians as the “gem of the sun,” Peridot is a stone of compassion, friendly energy, and prosperity. In fact, some historians have come to believe that the emeralds Cleopatra adorned herself with were actually deep green Peridots. The first source of this regal gem was documented on a small Egyptian-owned Island, with ancient papyrus scrolls recording the mining of it as early as 1500 B.C. Further on throughout history, Peridot was used to adorn everything from a queen’s crown to a knight’s sword, making it one of the most prominent gems throughout history.  

     Peridot’s color ranges from pure green to yellowish green to greenish yellow. Pure green stones are very rare, with most of them being yellowish green. Peridots with the finest color tend to come from Burma and Pakistan. The stone retains its rich color even under artificial lighting, leading it to sometimes be referred to as the “evening emerald.”

     Michael Barin himself prefers to work with Pakistani Peridot on account of its “darker, deeper color” when compared to stones coming from Burma, which are “more teal and opaque.” He purchased his first Peridot for his daughter, since it is the birthstone for August, and the rest, as we say it, is history. 

Pear Shaped Pakistani Peridot set in 18 Karat White Gold, accented with Micro Pave Ideal Cut White Diamonds. GIA Certified Center Stone with a Total Weight of 44.30CT. White Diamond Quality G/VS2 with a Total Weight of 4CT. 
 

Sizing Spheres

Do you ever have problems with rings slipping, sliding, and rolling around your finger? When your beautiful gemstones end up on the wrong side of your finger, they are instantly more vulnerable and susceptible to chips and scratches.

To combat this issue, Michael Barin came up with another innovative solution – tiny spheres inserted on the inner side of the band that keep large, top-heavy rings secured in place. The spheres are made to match the metal of the ring, ranging from high-carat gold to platinum. 

Butterfly Sizers

If you’ve been keeping up with our products on Etsy and 1st Dibs, you may have noticed the following comment:

Organic Silver and Tourmaline Slice Butterfly Ring with a Butterfly Sizer

“This ring may be sized down with the addition of a butterfly sizer.”

What exactly is a butterfly sizer? Let us explain.

The innovative and creative individual that he is, Michael Barin came up with a solution to size down very intricate rings and accommodate women with large knuckles. By inserting flexible wings to the inside of the band, he achieved a more comfortable fit for rings that are difficult to slide on, but need to stay securely in place. Women with arthritic hands will be happy to know that the butterfly sizer will allow them to remove rings without any difficulties – the wings open to allow the wearer to slip off the ring and later put it back on again with the same ease.   

July Birthstone (Ruby)

The ruby is the birthstone of those born in the month of July, the most fiery and hot month of the year. Ruby is also the gemstone to be given on the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.

Ruby is considered one of the four precious stones, along with emerald, diamond and sapphire.  A true Ruby has some minor imperfections including rutile inclusions. Those very imperfections give Ruby its inner light rays and make it stunningly beautiful.

The red color of the stone is due to the element Chromium. Minimum color saturation must be met to qualify the stone as a Ruby. Otherwise the stone is called a Pink Sapphire.   Ruby’s redness symbolizes love, power and passion. There was a time in history when the healing crystal Ruby was considered even more precious than Diamonds, which is why it often adorned the clothing and jewelry of nobility. Red is the color of our most intense emotions - love, anger, passion. In Ancient Egypt, it was even regarded as the "king of precious stones."

Just like red roses and red Ferraris, this ruby ring will get your heart beating. The brushed white gold perfectly complements the deep, crimson tones of this intricately cut ruby slice. The encrusted white diamonds add a generous touch of luxury, while the delicate rose gold on the inside of the band is unmistakably feminine. 

18 Karat White Gold, 18 Karat Rose Gold, and 10.27 CT Ruby Slice Ring, accented with 0.15 CT Diamonds.

June Birthstone (Moonstone)

In Europe, moonstone is considered to be the birthstone for June, although in the United States it shares that distinction with alexandrite and pearl. Moonstone is also the stone traditionally given in celebration of the 13th anniversary of marriage.

It is easy to see why ancient Hindu mythology believed moonstone was made of solidified moonbeams. In 100 AD, the Romans made jewelry with it and thought it was magically formed out of moonlight. Ancient Greeks linked the stone with the moon deities.

Moonstone comes from the mineral family feldspar, which is one of the most plentiful in the world, however fine gem quality moonstone is scarce. It's internal structure scatters the light that strikes it, creating a phenomenon known as adularescence. The more shimmer the stone has, the more valuable it is.

As you gaze into this hand-fabricated moonstone ring, it is easy to see why this ethereal gemstone has long been regarded to have calming, healing properties. Legend also says that two people wearing moonstone will fall passionately in love during a full moon.

May Birthstone

“Who first beholds the light of day
In spring’s sweet flowery month of May
And wears an emerald all her life
Shall be a loved and happy wife.”

A symbol for rebirth, the Emerald is believed to supply its owner with foresight and abundant good fortune. Its traditional association with love and fertility make it a perfect stone for mothers and wives; however, today Emeralds are also known to represent wealth and wisdom. As if that’s not enough, the soothing, green hues are easy on the eye, effectively relieving stress and strain. In a world surrounded by artificial light and computer screens, we could all take a moment and get lost in a lush, green Emerald.

Originally mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C., this ancient gemstone later appeared in Columbia, Brazil, Afghanistan, and Zambia. Favored by Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, and Henry II, Perfect Emeralds are considered to be amongst the rarest gemstones. Michael Barin never settles for anything less than perfect, so you know he’s turning these beautiful stones into one-of-a-kind works of art that will dazzle for a lifetime. 

Fancy Color Diamonds

     Fancy color diamonds are found in 12 different colors with more than 90 secondary hues and 9 intensity levels within the 234 possible color combinations. Out of 10,000 carats of mined diamonds, only one carat will turn out to be fancy colored.

     Aside from the extreme conditions that must be present to create diamonds, the right trace elements must be present in appropriate quantities to create the desirable shades. Fancy color diamonds are evaluated less for their brilliance or shine and more for their color intensity, which is composed of tone and saturation. Deep and distinct shades are preferred over weak or pale shades.

     Yellow diamonds, for example, range from fancy light yellow to fancy vivid yellow. Some variations include fancy deep yellow and fancy intense yellow. These diamonds are colored by the minute presence of nitrogen. Blue diamonds are colored by boron and hydrogen, while green diamonds result from natural radiation. Brown, pink, and red diamonds are a product of colored graining resulting from structural irregularities.

     The size and shape of a diamond also influence its color. Larger diamonds can sometimes yield a richer, more intense color because light can travel deeper into it. Certain cuts of diamond, such as the radiant cut, can also influence color and yield a lush hue due to strategically placed facets. 

     For centuries, fancy color diamonds have adorned kings and queens from all over the globe and have been sought out for their mystical properties. Today, these diamonds are prized by collectors for their stunning beauty and extreme rarity.

Pavé Settings

The word Pavé (pronounced pa-vay) comes from the French word “to pave,” as in paved with diamonds – upwards of 300 diamonds per ring in Michael Barin’s case. A superior design, coupled with an artfully chosen center stone, requires a superior setting. Most importantly, one that adds sparkle and shine, framing the center stone in an undeniable brilliance.

French Cut refers to the specific way that small Pavé diamonds are set into the metal of a ring. The finished look makes a ring appear as if it is made of solid diamonds, seamlessly wrapping around the band and the center stone, essentially creating a piece of art within itself.

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Aquamarine

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”

— Charles Dickens

     The birthstone of March, aquamarine, is a perfect reminded that spring is just around the corner. The cool blue tones of this stone embody the brisk, March winds as described by Charles Dickens. When set in some warm 18 Karat Yellow Gold, aquamarine takes on an ethereal quality reminiscent of summertime.

     Aquamarine was named by the Romans, who combined “aqua,” meaning water, and “mare,” meaning sea, because the stone reminded them of the color of the Mediterranean.  Legend says that the stone originated from the jewel treasure chests of sirens that washed ashore from the depths of the sea, ultimately making the stone sacred to Neptune, the god of the sea. This powerful association with water made the stone a sailors’ gem, safeguarding them from peril and sea monsters.  

     Embodying the spirit of the ocean, Aquamarine radiates calm and peace to its owner. Gaze into the stone and you will be transported to serene ocean waters and vibrant, blue skies. 

South Sea Pearls

     Pearls are one of the first gems adorned by women and have been used as decorative items as far back as the 5th century BC. Over time, pearls became a status symbol personifying wisdom, power and wealth, and happen to be the only gemstones made by a living organism. When a foreign substance passes through the organism of a mollusk and irritates the mantle, the mollusk begins to coat the irritant with a substance called nacre. Layers of nacre eventually form a pearl ranging in a variety of colors and shapes. Round pearls are the most expensive and uncommon, followed by baroque pearls, which are irregular and uniquely shaped.

     Freshwater pearls are primarily grown in mussels living in man-made lakes and reservoirs in China. Saltwater pearls, on the other hand, are grown in oysters living in bays and inlets around the world. Due to the thickness and composition of nacre, saltwater pearls are more lustrous and glossy than freshwater pearls.

     South Sea pearls, produced in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines, are renowned for their size, smoothness, and roundness. They range in size from 9-20mm (compared to the standard 2-10mm cultured pearls) and are naturally white, cream, or golden in color. The rarity and sensitivity of the type of oyster that produces these pearls makes cultivation much more difficult, making them more expensive.

     Due to their naturally dark color, Tahitian pearls have become some of the most sought after, expensive pearls in the world. Unlike black freshwater and akoya pearls, which are irradiated or dyed, Tahitian pearls obtain their look naturally and can be found in an incredible array of iridescent color. Due to their vast color range, matching these pearls into a perfect, finished strand is an enormous task requiring thousands of loose pearls. 

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