Blue Sapphires and the Venezia Bracelet
Inspired by the magical city of Venice and its legendary hand-made masks, the Venezia bracelet is a gorgeous symphony of blue sapphires and white gold.
With blue sapphires in both faceted and cabochon cuts, this statement piece is one you will wear again and again, getting the same kind of envious stares every single time. Made from the world's finest bue sapphires, hand-picked by me of course, the Venezia is a great piece to show off this fantastic and historical gemstone.
The word sapphire comes from the Greek word "sappheiros" which translates to blue stone. A variety of the gem corundum, the sapphire is like a ruby, but blue. They are usually found together, but one of either is usually more abundant. Because of their hardness, this gem is very sought-after in jewelry design and gemology.Although blue is their most well known color, sapphires are made up of any color of corundum except for red. Sapphires may also be colorless, but they are additionally found in shades of gray and black. Geographically, these gemstones are found in Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Madagascar. In North America, they are found near the Missouri River or in the beautiful state of Montana.
As I wrote above, the Venezia is inspired by the masks of Venice, which is one of my favorite Italian cities. The masks are traditional to the Carnivale di Venezia, and making them is a unique artform that has been passed of for generations. The use of masks during the life of the Venetian Republic remains one of mankind's notably eccentric practices. Indeed, masks have been worn in cultures throughout the world for thousands of years, but perhaps never with such fervent pageantry as in Venice.
Made for centuries in Venice, these distinctive masks were formed from paper-mache and wildly decorated with fur, fabric, gems, or feathers.The modern celebration of Venetian Carnival has reinvigorated the art and craft of making Venetian masks. Recognizable types of Venetian masks continue to dazzle tourists, dancers, and pageant participants during Carnival and year round. Wearing Venetian masks has spread to Halloweenmasquerade balls and what North and South Americans call Mardi Gras, but they always carry their rich Italian history.
Inspired by their uniqueness and history of craftsmanship, my version of the Venetian mask can be worn every day, not just during Carnavale or Mardi Gras. I especially chose to work with blue, sapphires because they are often associated with feelings of sympathy, harmony, loyalty and friendship, sapphires give expression to people's love and longing.
A longtime talisman used by royalty, there are other magical powers attributed to sapphires. In olden times it was believed that if you wore a sapphire piece to the signing of a treaty, it would ensure a true reconciliation and long-term peace between the two nations. It was also said that if royalty wore it in their crowns and tiaras, it would protect them from court jealousy and harm.
Stronger than granite or marble, this gemstone's durability has made in very popular throughout history. Thanks to their hardness (9 on the Mohs scale), sapphires are easier to care than most gems. They only require casual care, perfect for a bracelet, but as with everything jewelry, always beware of perfumes and chemicals.
When purchasing a sapphire piece like this or any of my other pieces, know that the value depends on the size, color and transparency. With these gemstones, the place of origin also takes on a very special role. The most valuable one are the genuine Kashmir stones. Burmese sapphires come in as a close second, and third are the ones from Sri Lanka. Make sure you never buy any sapphire that has undergone a chemical process and that the seller give you a certificate of authenticity.
Hope you enjoyed a little bit of the history that fascinates me so much and that is inspiration behind many of my pieces. Til next time.
Love Always
Dani K