V I L L A G E S I L V E R S M I T H S P R I N G 2 0 1 0 Ammonite Fossils History Is Beautiful page 4 Lace Agates Discover the Beauty of These Interesting Stones page 5 Pearls A Twist on a Classic page 3 Fossilized Coral Intricate Gems from the Sea page 2
SPRING 2010 FOSSILIZED CORAL Katy Lovasco This beautiful stones pattern makes it a favorite in our stores. The coloring is perfect for spring and will have you thinking about the ocean for the upcoming summer months. How To Identify It Fossilized coral, or agatized fossil coral is formed by agate slowly replacing ancient coral. It is known for its significant flower or star burst pattern. The corals pattern tends to be repeated and will vary in its intricacy. The highest quality fossilized coral has a very intricate and definite pattern. This pattern is the gem quality of the stone and can be found in our stores, along with an arrangement of other qualities. This stone comes in many different colors depending on where it is found ranging from the light white and pink to darker tones such as brown, gray, black, yellow and red. The most common colors of the stone are beautiful peach and the typical fossil tan tone. Agate is one of the hardest genres of stones that we work with and it has very high silica content. The silica creates a great glossy polish to the stone so it will always be shiny. How It Was Discovered The highest quality of fossilized coral is found in Indonesia where it was originally discovered. A man who was a geologist for a large oil company happened upon the stone. One night as he was looking for oil deposits he went to build a fire with the local guides and saw them putting this unique stone into the fire pit. At first glance he had never seen a stone of this nature and stopped them from burning it so he could study the stone. He ended up discovering what the stone was and mining of the stone began soon thereafter. The stone is now also found right here in the United States in Georgia and it is the state stone of Florida. How To Wear It The colors of the fossilized coral are on point for these seasons different popular tones. Most of the pieces have a variation of cream, blush, and peach colors perfect for spring wear. The stone is light enough to be considered a spring stone but it will also take you into other seasons with its warm undertones. Because this stone is a neutral you can wear it with almost any color. At our stores, you will find this stone in pendants, earrings, rings, and bracelets in all different types of settings from our intricate vine and leaf setting to our more simple high shine settings. 2
SPRING 2010 PEARLS Katy Lovasco How They Are Formed Oysters in both freshwater and saltwater environments produce most pearls. The formation of a pearl begins when a foreign substance, such as sand, slips into the oyster between the mantle, top layer, and the shell, which irritates the mantle. The mantle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance that is used to create the shell. This eventually forms a pearl. A pearl s natural color depends mainly on the species of mollusk involved. The color of the pearl tends to match the inside of the mollusk s shell black pearls are made by the Black-lipped Pearl Oyster, yellow - gold pearls are produced by the Silver- or Gold-lipped Pearl Oyster. Pearls can come in many different colors but are mainly white, ivory, black (which is actually a dark purple gray), pink, and yellow gold. extends to the shell. These shells are cut to include the blister pearl in a variety of shapes. All of these What Makes Our Pearls Different interesting pearls can be found at all of our stores so At Village Silversmith, we pride ourselves on our come in and discover all of the varieties. unique style and new twists on classic jewelry. To us, the different color, forms, and shapes of pearls How To Wear Them are what make them interesting. We love the way Most people think of the tradition strand when they that all of the various colors look together in one think of pearls. At Village Silversmith, we like to piece of jewelry. Because pearls have similar luster have fun with pearls. You ll find the traditional the different colors work beautifully together. There strands at our stores but also 42 strands that can be are also many different shapes to the pearls in our knotted and doubled, pearl size graded strands, and stores including, coin pearls, cross shaped pearls, necklaces with multiple strands. We also carry oval coin pearls, and the classic round pearl. We also pendants with multiple colored and sized pearls love to use mabe and blister pearls in our jewelry. (shown above), earrings of all shapes, colors and Mabe pearls are hemispherical shaped pearl, which sizes, and bracelets. Pearls are perfect for spring is grown against the inside of the oyster's shell, because of their great pale tones. They feel light and rather than within its tissue. Blister pearls are complement airy pale colored clothing well. They attached to the inside of the Oyster Shell in the form also contrast great against a little black dress for a of a blister. The pearl nacre, which causes a shine, night out on the town! 3
SPRING 2010 AMMONITE FOSSILS Curtis Sarkin & Katy Lovasco Whether you wear these interesting fossils or display them, the unique look and the interesting history behind them will spark great conversation. Ammonites were squid-like sea creatures, which lived inside spiral shells, much like the living nautilus. They belonged to a group of intelligent mollusks known as cephalopods, which includes octopus, squid, nautilus, and cuttlefish, as well as the prehistoric Orthoceras and belemnites. Like squids, ammonites propelled themselves through the sea by shooting water and they would squirt ink if threatened. Their shells had chambers, like a the dinosaurs about 65 million years ago when nautilus, which allowed them to control their an asteroid collided with Earth. It was once buoyancy and sink and rise in the water. They believed that ammonite shells were petrified probably fed upon small crustaceans and fish, coiled snakes, so snakeheads were carved into which they captured with their tentacles and ate the end of the shell and the shells were sold as with their horny beaks. Ammonites were very good luck charms called snakestones. successful animals, and their fossils have been found across the globe. They first appeared over These fossils have a beautiful appearance that 360 million years ago, and went extinct alongside many are intrigued by. During the fossilization process, the ammonite can become pyritized (shown in the picture to the left). Pyrite, sometimes known as fool s gold, is a mineral that makes the ammonite a metallic gold color with interesting micro crystals within the chambers. The ammonite can also become opalized in the fossilization process. These ammonites are referred to as ammolites with their red, green, and blue fire throughout the cephalopods. Both of these variations of ammonites are highly sought after for both jewelry and display items. At Village Silversmith we carry countless shapes, sizes, and variations of this interesting fossilized sea creature. 4
SPRING 2010 Lace Agates Katy Lovasco Crazy Lace Agate This lace agate is known for its multi colored twisting and cryptocrystalline turning bands. quartz, found It is only in Mexico. This attractive, beautifully colored, opaque stone has a distinct pattern that many say resembles paisley or twisted lace. Metaphysically this stone is known to give courage and balance. It will sharpen sight, help the eyes, illuminate the mind, and allow one to be more eloquent and give vitality. It Blue Lace Agate keeps the wearer serious and focused. This beautiful genre of agate is known for its distinct periwinkle blue color and its intricate banding. Crazy lace agate has great complementary A farmer named George Swanson colors within each stone. These colors look discovered it and the material is still mined on his great with warm tones such as chocolate Ysterputs Farm in Namibia, Africa. George brown, burgundy, and sage green. coined the nickname for this stone as the Gem of Ecology because the color and the white banding reminded him of the sky with soft clouds. In the metaphysical world this stone is thought to help calm. It is a tranquil stone that can help to lessen anger, uneasiness, and nervousness. Physically, Blue Lace Agate is believed to aid illnesses such as arthritis, growth and bone pains, headaches, and digestive disorders. Many do not know that blue lace agate is a birthstone of May. The tone of this stone is great for the spring and summer months. The light blue color will complement the cream tones of the spring effortlessly. Whether the stone reminds you of the blue sky or the ocean it most undoubtedly will have you thinking spring! 5
DINO DAY! Friday April 23 rd, 2010 from 11a.m.-1p.m. Village Silversmith Ltd. partners with Kidgits to present you Dino Day for kids! Learn all about these creatures from the past with John, owner of Village Silversmith. Get your photo taken with a dinosaur, learn about and do some hands on excavation, and crack your own geode to find tons of micro crystals inside! The event will take place outside the Village Silversmith store, located near the bottom floor of the Nordstrom wing at the Northshore Mall in Peabody, Massachusetts. This event is appropriate for all ages but kids 12 and under would especially have the most fun, oh and of course kids at heart! This is a free and open event but if you are a Kidgits member make sure to check in to get a special prize from Kidgits! www.villagesilversmith.net For All Inquiries: Call Us: 978-283-8811 Email Us: contactus@villagesilversmith.net Visit Us: In Rockport, MA 20 Bearskin Neck 6 Tuna Warf 27 Dock Square In Gloucester, MA: 138 Main Street In Peabody, MA: Northshore Mall 210 Andover Street