Jewelry Crafters, What is Your “Perfect”?

The “diamond” standard.  One sees that phrase frequently when people or companies want to impress upon us that their product is the best.  Of course, with the world diamond industry, it is hard to argue that a large number of people consider these the “perfect” and most beautiful gem.  However when you are small business jewelry crafter or hobbiest, you find inspiration to create beautiful things out of any number of precious, semi-precious, and non-precious materials.  

I find all manners of materials inspirational. I love beads and gems.  Gems inspire me, and I am enjoying exploring new creative ideas with them.   They are fascinating and captivating in all their varieties.  The Earth yields to us so much beauty for our own interpretation and creation.  Most people have their favorite gems, the pieces that speak to their heart, whether they are making jewelry or wearing it.  Imperfect to me is beauty.  I have always thought of slightly crooked teeth as beautiful.  Something just not quite “perfect” is pleasing to my eye.  This gives me a lot of opportunity in using gems, because inclusions can add to a gem’s appeal and character.  My latest favorites; tourmalinated and rutilated quartz are an example of this.  No stone is alike, each is distinct and beautiful.  Tourmalinated quartz have inclusions of dark tourmaline darting through the crystal clear stone in higher quality gems.  These lovelies are brought to you by JewelsBeadSupply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rutilated quartz contains needles of titanium dioxide darting through the stone, an it is a little more subtle and is known as “Venus’ Hair Stone” likely due to the thin golden strands running through the stone.  This gorgeous gem is brought to us by kstudiogems.

 

 

 

 

Labradorite, a variety of feldspar, is another of my favorites, though I have yet to work with it, I will be ordering some soon.  The inner growths in the stone combined with the molecular structure results in a gorgeous flashy gem . These stunning gems are courtesy of luxurygems.

What inspires you?  A crystal clear top quality diamond?  A man-made gem?  A perfectly round lucite bead?  Lamp work?  Metal work?  We all have our own idea of beauty and its perfection.