Where do the best alexandrite gemstones come from?

People always talk about the quality of the Russian stones but there is no current production of stones from Russia. Overall the best alexandrite are found in Brazil. This is not to say that fine alexandrite are not be found in Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, etc. However, the most consistently strong specimens are found today in Brazil.

Folklore & Mysteries of Alexandrite

C ompared to rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, alexandrite is a relatively new gemstone that was only discovered some 150 years ago. Despite its short history, this remarkable gem has already been ascribed with a variety of magical and mystical properties.

Perhaps the first person to attribute alexandrite with magical powers was the Russian writer Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov (1831-1895) who wrote a short novel, "Alexandrite, Mysterious Interpretation of a True Fact", in which the gem plays a major role and is defined as a prophetic stone. At nearly the same time, Eliphas Levi, a French author and magician (1810 -1875), connected the duality of the colors in alexandrite with the duality of human blood -- venous and arterial. In his book, La Clef des Grandes Mysteres (The Key to the Great Mysteries), he refers to alexandrite as "the favorite charm of our time which clears and strengthens the blood vessels".

It is not at all surprising that various magical attributes have been associated with alexandrite. Such a rare and valuable gem with a mysterious origin was unlikely to be ignored when the connection of gemstones with different months or astrological signs had already been accepted for more than 2000 years. Many cultures associate gems with the signs of the zodiac or months of the year and are thought to be lucky or important for people born under their influence. The tradition of birthstones first became popular in the Middle Ages, but probably started much earlier.

Various birthstone lists have been used in different cultures but in 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers (previously the American National Retail Jeweler´s Association) adopted a list which included alexandrite and that was accepted as the standard in the United States and most other places. The traditional birthstone list is an older version

of this and is based on birthstone traditions from the fifteenth to the twentieth century. Since then, many of the traditional stones on the list were changed to correspond with stones that were more commercially available. In 1952, a variation of the list was approved by the American National Retail Jewelers Association, the National Jewelers Association, and the American Gem Society. In this list, Alexandrite is offered as an alternative to pearl and therefore associated with the month of June. It is also suggested as the gemstone for a 55th wedding anniversary (sometimes also the 35th or 45th, in place of emerald.)

In Indian, or Vedic, astrology, each stone is associated with a planet, a day of the week, a time of day, and various other attributes associated with that planet. Alexandrite is associated with the planet Mercury -- the trickster. Alexandrite´s ability to change color and its obviously dual nature is further associated with the zodiac sign of Gemini, which is a sign ruled by Mercury. The association with the sign of Gemini means that Alexandrite has a connection with the month of June as this sign covering the period between 21st May and 21st June.

In Russia, Alexandrite is associated with the month of August, and its zodiac sign Leo is related to royalty.

When choosing an individual´s gemstone in India and in using gems for magic, the associations and correspondences with the planet Mercury are considered in detail. Mercury is the fastest moving of the planets. It shows how quickly we can change our thoughts, and how fast our thoughts travel. In occult thought, Mercury represents both the messenger and the magician. It connects the mortal or ego self, the intuitive, or lower self, and the higher divine self. As Mercury is associated with air, alexandrite is an air stone and so connected to the throat chakra. But, because of its duality in color, it has also been associated with the heart, the solar plexus, and the crown chakra.

Mercury also represents the power of the mind, our ability to think, perceive, and communicate and it rules over the power of our words and how we use them. It is the planet most associated with the rational world. In magic, alexandrite can be used alongside other Mercury ruled objects to cast spells that enhance communication, mental clarity, memory,

and perception. It can be used in meditation, to promote emotional balance, and to bring about change, happiness, and success. It is thought to be most powerful when the sun´s rays are shining on it and is reportedly useful for astral travel.

And finally, as the planet Mercury is associated with the color green this is another reason why alexandrite is seen as a Mercury stone. However, since alexandrite can be green or red, it has also been connected with the planet Mars, which corresponds to red. This is why some references also associate alexandrite with the zodiac sign of Scorpio, which is ruled by Mars.

The caduceus symbol used for doctors and medicine is also a Mercury symbol and Mercury is associated with healing and was originally the god of medicine. Therefore, alexandrite is a healing stone. As the planet Mercury corresponds to the mind and the nervous system, alexandrite is specifically associated with balancing the mind and helping to achieve

calm and is recommended as an anti stress and choleric amulet.

Alexandrite is said to be useful for overcoming a lack of confidence, low self-esteem, and a lack of direction or focus in life. Meditating with the stone is supposed to help identify goals and plan how to begin working towards them. Alexandrite is also purported to relieve spleen and pancreal problems and to help treat swollen lymph nodes.

In more modern forms of astrology, gemstones tend to be associated with the zodiac signs, rather than with planets. This originates from the idea of associating gemstones with planets, as each planet is said to rule a zodiac sign. Each gem conducts the energies of the particular sign or planet with which it synergizes. Wearing the stone of the appropriate sign focuses the energies of the sign through the gem.

Apart from astrology, green is the color of revival, hope, prosperity, rest, peace, calm, and fertility where as red is the color of blood, energy, activity, self-expression, power, aggression, and passion.

This combination means that alexandrite is a symbol of love and jealousy at the same time. In its daytime appearance, it corresponds to luck and good fortune and at night, its appearance it is more closely associated with love. Some believe that an alexandrite in hand can help clarify doubts about love and marriage.

Dreams of alexandrite are said to symbolise struggle and progress. In Kabbalistic magic, alexandrite is associated with Zain, or the seventeenth path of the Tree of Life. It connects Spiritual Love and the centered self. In the Tarot, alexandrite is associated with the Lovers, the card that is connected with choice. The Avesty´s astrological school consider alexandrite as a stone for spirituality where the owners of the stone must be prepared to overcome hardship after which alexandrite will bring calm, luck, and victory. Alexandrite is a symbol of summer, of Fridays, and the ninth day of lunar month and it is on this day that it is particularly good to present or purchase alexandrite

Alexandrite is the stone of duality. Green or red, passion & prosperity, the significance is interpretive and related to the social and historical context of the time and the culture. Forever changing its colors, alexandrite is a magical gemstone with universal appeal that continues to fascinate and be admired by astrologers, scientists, and gem lovers throughout

the world.

Разное

Буранит

Buranit is an artificial analogue of amber. Its developers considered all disadvantages of fossil resin (amber), such as oxidation (The amber can change its color with time especially when the rules of exploitation are not followed) and a limited variety of colors. Buranit jewelry will please and surprise you with its unusual color, which won't be lost with time.

Филигрань

Филигрань (итал. filigrana, от лат. filum - нитка и granum - зерно). Ювелирное изделие спаянное из тонкой проволоки.

Филигрань (скань) - один из древнейших видов художественной обработки металла. Название филигрань происходит от двух латинских слов - "филюм" (нить) и "гранум" (зерно). Слово "скань" древнеславянское и означает свить, скрутить. И то и другое названия указывают на особенность этого вида обработки металла.

Элементы филигранного узора бывают самыми разнообразными: в виде веревочки, шнурка, плетения, елочки, дорожки, глади и т. д.

В единое целое отдельные элементы филиграни соединяют при помощи пайки. Часто филигрань сочетают с зернью, представляющей собой металлические мелкие шарики, которые напаивают в заранее подготовленные ячейки (углубления). Зернь создает эффектную фактуру, игру светотени, благодаря чему изделия приобретают особо нарядный, изысканный вид.

Материалами для филигранных изделий служат сплавы золота, серебра и платины, а также медь, латунь, мельхиор, нейзильбер. Украшения, выполненные в технике филиграни или с элементами филиграни очень часто (в целях облагораживания их внешнего вида) оксидируют и серебрят. Нередко филигрань сочетают с эмалью (в том числе финифтью), гравировкой, чеканкой. Техникой филиграни можно изготовить все без исключения виды ювелирных украшений.

Филигранные изделия производились в царских или монастырских мастерских. Мастера-сканщики задумывали изделия и осуществляли все операции по их производству. В XVII в. потребность в сканных вещах увеличивается. Появляется разделение труда, ремесленники становятся самостоятельными, отдельные мастера осуществляют изготовление проволоки, сканных элементов. В XVIII в. изготовлялись большие сканные изделия, наряду с камнями широко применялись хрусталь, перламутр. Одновременно получили большое распространение небольшие серебряные вещи: вазочки, солонки, шкатулки.

С XIX в. изделия из филиграни уже выпускались фабриками в больших количествах. Они разнообразны и по назначению и по ассортименту; дорогая посуда, церковная утварь, принадлежности туалета. Технологические приемы достигают высокого совершенства. Расцветает рельефная ажурная филигрань, появляется просвечивающая (оконная) эмаль. Но постепенно исчезает сочность, для многих вещей становится характерной манерность.

Финифть

Фини́фть (др.-русск. финиптъ, химипетъ, из ср.-греч. χυμευτόν, то же от χυμεύω — «смешиваю») — особый вид прикладного искусства, в котором используется эмаль (в качестве основного материала) в сочетании с металлом.

Эмали окрашиваются солями металлов: добавки золота придают стеклу рубиновый цвет, кобальта — синий цвет, а меди — зелёный. При решении специфических живописных задач яркость эмали может, в отличие от стекла, приглушаться. Образки, крестики, портреты, украшения, выполненные в технике финифти, отличаются особой долговечностью, декоративностью, яркостью и чистотой красок.

Тематический Словарь

Русский	Английский	Немецкий	Испанский	Французский
Фаберже
эмаль	enamel	emaille (f)	esmalte (m)	email (m)
табакерка	snuffbox	tabakdose (f)	tabaquera (f)	tabatière
портсигар	cigarette case	zigarettenetui	pitillera (f)	porte-cigares
шкатулка	box	schatulle (f)	estuche (m)	cassette (f)
клеймо	brand	stempel (m)	marca (f)	marque (f)
безделушка	knick-knack	nippsache (f)	chuchería (f)	bibelot (m)
поделочный камень	semi-precious stone	Halbedelstein	La piedra semipreciosa	pierre semi-précieuse
олово	tin	Zinn	estaño	étain
вороненую сталь	blue steel	blauer stahl	El acero azul	acier bleu
конструктивность	constructibility	Konstruktivität (f)	carácter constructivo (m)	Constructibilité (f)
гравирование	engraving	Gravieren (n)	grabado (m)	gravure (f)
полупрозрачный	semi-transparent	halbdurchsichtig	semitransparente	à demi transparent
медь	copper	Kupfer (n)	cobre (m)	cuivre (m)
латунь	brass	Messing (n)	latón (m)	laiton (m)
оттенок	tint	Schattierung (f)	matiz (m)	teinte (f)
свечение	luminescence	Leuchten (n)	luminiscencia (f)	luminescence (f)
изнутри	within	von innen	de dentro	du dedans
сетчатый	cellular	netzartig	reticular	réticulaire
чешуйчатый	scaly	schuppig	escamoso	écailleux
мерцать	Twinkle, shimmer	flimmern	centellear	scintiller
пасхальные яйца	Easter egg	Osternei	El huevo de pascua	Oeuf de Pâques
шедевр	masterpiece	Meisterwerk (n)	La obra maestra	chef-d'œuvre
изобретательность	inventiveness	Erfindungsgabe (f)	inventiva (f)	ingéniosité (f)
элегантность	elegance	Eleganz (f)	elegancia (f)	élégance (f)
аукцион	auction	Auktion (f)	subasta (f)	encan (m)
коронация	coronation	Krönung (f)	coronación (f)	couronnement (m)
ландыш	lily of the valley	Maiglöckchen (n)	muguete (m)	muguet (m)
бутон розы	rosebud	Rosenknospe (f)	capullo de rosa (m)	bouton de rose (m)
Матрёшка
матрёшка	nesting doll	Matrjoschka	matrioshka (f)	matriochka (f)
Сарафан	sarafan	Trägerrock (m)	sarafán (m)	sarafan (m)
Передник	apron	Schürze (f)	delantal (m)	tablier (m)
токарь	turner	Dreher (m)	tornero (m)	tourneur (m)
Неваляшка	tilting doll	wanka-wstanka	tentemozo (m)	poussa(h) (m)
Липа	lime(-tree)	Linde (f)	tilo (m)	tilleul (m)
Ольха	alder(-tree)	Erle (f)	aliso (m)	aune (m)
Берёза	birch	Birke (f)	abedul (m)	bouleau (m)
Сосна	pine(-tree)	Kiefer (f)	pino (m)	pin (m)
Обработка	handling; processing	Bearbeitung (f)	labra (f)	travail (m)
скол	split	Spaltung (f)	escisión (f)	scission (f)
сучок	knot	Ast (m)	ramo (m)	branche (f)
Заготовка	workpiece	Werkstück (n)	tocho (m)	pièce découpée
Верстак	workbench	Werktisch (m)	el banco de carpintero	établi (m)
Шлифовка	grinding	Schleifen (n)	pulido (m)	polissage (m)
Обводка	outlining	Auszeichnung	contorneo (m)	bord
Материнство	maternity, motherhood	Mutterschaft (f)	maternidad (f)	maternité (f)
Поталь	lacquer	Lack (m)	laca (f)	laque (f)
Узор	pattern	Ornament (n)	cinta (f)	dessin (m)
Платок	shawl	Tuch	pañuelo (m)	foulard (m)
Лаковая миниатюра
Лаковая миниатюра	lacquer miniature	Lackmalerei (f)	La miniatura de laca	miniature de laque
Папье-маше	papier-mache	Papiermaché	cartón piedra	papier mâché
Перламутр	mother-of-pearl	Perlmutter (f)	nácar (m)	nacre (f)
Темпера	tempera	Tempera	temple (m)	détrempe (f)
Перспектива	perspective	Perspektive	perspectiva (f)	perspective (f)
лупа	magnifying glass	Lupe (f)	lupa (f)	loupe (f)
Слой	layer	Schicht (f)	capa (f)	couche (f)
Ракушка	seashell	Muschel (f)	concha (f)	coquillage (m)
Живописность	picturesqueness	Malerhaftigkeit (f)	pintoresco (m)	pittoresque (m)
Задний фон	background	Hintergrund (m)	fondo (m)	fondo (m)
Пропорции	proportions	Proportion (f)	proporción (f)	proportion (f)
Объёмный	volume	körperhaft	volumétrico	de volume
чаепитие	tea-drinking	Teetrinken (n)	tomar el té	thé (m)
ларец	casket	Kästchen (n)	cofrecito (m)	coffret (m)
набросок	sketch	Entwurf (m)	croquis (m)	ébauche (f)
сусальное золото	tinsel	Blattgold	oropel	L'or mussif
Янтарь
Янтарь	amber	Bernstein (m)	Ámbar (m)	ambre (m)
Смола	resin	resina (f)	resina (f)	résine (f)
Огранка	cutting	Schliff (m)	talla (f)	surface en facettes
Полировать	polish	polieren	pulir	polir
Медовый	honey	Honig-	meloso	de miel
Бактерицидный	bactericidal	mikrobizid	bactericida	bactéricide
Мундштук	mouthpiece	Mundstück (n)	boquilla (f)	fume-cigarette (m)
Целительный	healing	heilsam	curativo	curatif
Инклюз	inclusion	Einschließung (f)	inclusión (f)	inclusion (f)
Инталия	intaglio	Intaglio (n)	talla (f)	intaille (f)
Камея	cameo	Kamee (f)	camafeo (m)	camée (m)
Зажигалка	lighter	Feuerzeug (n)	mechero (m)	briquet (m)
Фляжка	flask	Flachmann (m)	frasco (m)	fiole (f)
Трубка курительная	Pipe	Pfeife (f)	pipa (f)	pipe (f)
Фарфор
Фарфор	porcelain	Porzellan (n)	porcelana (f)	porcelaine (f)
Кобальт	cobalt	Kobalt (n)	cobalto (m)	Cobalt (m)
Костяной фарфор	bone china	Knochenporzellan	porcelana fina	porcelaine anglaise
Керамика	ceramics	Keramik (f)	cerámica (f)	céramique f
Сахарница	sugar bowl	Zuckerdose (f)	azucarera (f)	sucrier (m)
Солонка	salt-cellar	Salzdose (f)	salero (m)	salière (f)
Кофейник	coffeepot	Kaffeekanne (f)	cafetera (f)	cafetière (f)
Чайник	teapot	Teekanne (f)	tetera (f)	théière (f)
Сливочник	cream jug	Sahnenkännchen (n)	La jarrita para crema	pot (m) à crème
Поднос	tray	Tablett (n)	bandeja (f)	plateau (m)
Блюдце	saucer	Untertasse (f)	platillo (m)	soucoupe (f)
Хрусталь
Хрусталь	crystal	Kristall (n)	cristal (m)	cristal (m)
Свинец	lead, Pb	Blei (n)	plomo (m)	plomb (m)
Преломление	deflection	Brechung (f)	refracción (f)	réfraction (f)
Двуглавый орёл	double-headed eagle	Doppeladler (m)	El águila bicéfala	aigle (f) bicéphale
Рюмка	Shot glass	Glas (n)	copa (f)	petit verre (m)
Фужер	tall wine glass	Sektglas	copa (f)	flûte
Ваза	vase	Vase	florero (m)	vase (m)
Графин	decanter	Karaffe (f)	garrafa (f)	carafe (f)
Подстаканник	glass holder	Teeglasuntersatz	portavaso (m)	porte-verre
Хохлома
Рябина	ashberry	Vogelkirsche (f)	serba (f)	sorbe (f)
Земляника	strawberry	Erdbeere (f)	fresa (f)	fraise
Льняное масло	linseed-oil	Leinöl (n)	El aceite de linaza	huile (f) de lin
Алюминий	aluminium	Aluminium (n)	aluminio (m)	aluminium (m)
Икона
Икона	icon	Ikone (f)	icono (m)	icône (f)
Православие	orthodoxy	Rechtgläubigkeit	ortodoxia (f)	orthodoxie (f)
Католицизм	Catholicism	Katholizismus	catolicismo (m)	catholicisme (m)
Алебастр	alabaster	Alabaster (m)	alabastro (m)	albâtre (m)
Богородица	Mother of God	Madonna (f)	Madre de Dios	la Vierge
Святая Троица	the Blessed Trinity	Dreifaltigkeit (f)	Trinidad (f)	Trinité
Христос	Christ	Christus	Cristo	Christ (m)
Иконоста́с	iconostasis	Ikonenwand	iconostasio (m)	iconostase (f)
Шелкография	serigraphy	Schablonendruck (m)	serigrafía (f)	-
Мех
Мех	fur	Fell (n)	piel (f)	fourrure (f)
Окрашенный мех	Dyed fur	Gefärbter Pelz	Piel teñida	Fourrure teinte
Норка	mink	Nerz (m)	visón (m)	vison (m)
Ондатра	musquash	Bisamratte (f)	ondatra (m)	Ondatra (m)
Овчина	sheepskin	Schaffell (n)	corderillo (m)	peau (f) de mouton
Бобёр	beaver	Biberpelz (m)	castor (m)	castor (m)
Енот	raccoon	Waschbär (m)	mapache (m)	raton (m)
Лисица	fox	Fuchs (m)	zorro (m)	renard (m)
Песец	polar fox	Polarfuchs (m)	zorro polar	renard bleu
Кролик	rabbit	Kaninchen (n)	conejo (m)	lapin (m)
Колонок	Siberian weasel	Sibirisches Wiesel	kolinsky (m)	putois (m) sibérien
бахрома	fringe	Franse (f)	fleco (m)	frange (f)
хвост	brush	Schwanz (m)	cola (f)	queue (f)
шапка-ушанка	earflapped fur hat	Pudelmütze	papalina	ouchanka (f)
муфта	muff	Muff (m)	manguito (m)	manchon (m)
Вязаный	bound	binden	áspero	astringent
сушить	dry	trocknen	secar	sécher
Кожа	skin	Haut (f)	piel (f)	peau (f)
Резинка для волос	scrunchie	-	-	-
Сибирь	Siberia	Sibiri|en	Siberia	Sibérie (f)
Шарф	scarf	Halstuch (n)	bufanda (f)	écharpe (f)
Шаль	shawl	Umschlagtuch (n)	chal (m)	châle (m)
Шапка	cap	Mütze (f)	gorro (m)	bonnet (m)
Кепка	peaked cap	Schirmmütze (f)	visera (f)	casquette (f)
Воротник	collar	Kragen (m)	cuello (m)	col (m)
Ценный	valuable	wertvoll	valioso	de valeur
Камни
Бусы	beads	Perlen (f)	collar (m)	collier (m)
Колье	necklace	Kollier (n)	collar (m)	collier (m)
Браслет	bracelet	Armband (n)	brazalete (m)	bracelet (m)
Брошь	brooch	Brosche (f)	broche (m)	broche (f)
Серьги	earrings	Ohrring (m)	Zarcillos (m)	boucle (f) d'oreille
Прямоугольник	rectangle	Rechteck (n)	rectángulo (m)	rectangle (m)
Лист	leaf	Blatt (n)	hoja (f)	feuille (f)
Брелок	trinket	Anhänger (m)	dije (m)	breloque (f)
Беск	shine	Schein (m)	brillo (m)	brillant (m)
Блик	speck	Lichtreflex (m)	brillo (m)	tache (f) de lumière
Разноцветный	multicoloured	verschiedenfarbig	multicolor	multicolore
Бирюза	turquoise	Türkis (m)	turquesa (f)	turquoise (f)
Авантюрин	aventurine	Aventurin (m)	venturina	aventurine
Агат	agate	Achat (m)	ágata (f)	agate (f)
Кварц	quartz	Quarz (m)	cuarzo (m)	quartz (m)
Змеевик	Coil, serpentine	Rohrschlange	serpentín (m)	serpentin (m)
Лазурит	lapis lazuli	Azur	lazurita (m)	lapis-lazuli
Малахит	malachite	Malachit (m)	malaquita (f)	malachite (f)
Нефрит	nephritis	Nephritis (f)	lemanita (f)	néphrite (f)
Оникс	onyx	Onyx (m)	ónice (f)	onyx (m)
Сердолик	cornelian	Karneol (m)	cornalina (f)	cornaline (f)
Тигровый глаз	tiger's-eye	Tigerauge	Ojo de tigre	Oeil de tigre
Яшма	jasper	Jaspis	jaspe (m)	jaspe (m)
Коралл	coral	Koralle (f)	coral (m)	corail
Достопримечательности
Спас-на-Крови	Church on the Spilled Blood	Christi-Auferstehungs-Kirche	El Salvador Sobre La Sangre	Du Sauveur “Sur le sang verse”
Эрмитаж	Hermitage	Eremitage	Ermitage	L’Ermitage
Петропавловская крепость	St. Peter and Paul Fortress	Peter-Paul-Festung	La fortaleza de Pedro y Pablo	Forteresse Pierre-et-Paul
Медный всадник	Bronze Horseman	Der Eherne Reiter	El Jinete de cobre	Le Cavalier d’airain
Адмиралтейство	Admiralty	Admiralität	El Almirantazgo	Amiraute
Исаакиевский собор	St. Isaac’s Cathedral	Isaak-Kathedrale	La catedral de San Isaac	La Cathedrale Saint-Isaac
Дворцовая площадь	Palace Square	Schlossplatz	Plaza del Palacio	Place du Palais
Казанский собор	Kazan Cathedral	Kasaner Kathedrale	La catedral de la Virgen de Kazan	Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Kazan
Дворцовый мост	Palace Bridge	Schlossbrücke	Puente del Palacio	Pont du Palais
Петергоф	Petehof	Peterhof	Peterhof	Peterhof
Царское село	Tsarskoye Selo	Zarskoje Selo	Tsarskoie Sielo	Tsarskoe-Selo
Разное
Запонка	cuff link	Manschettenknopf	botón	bouton
Зажим для галстука	tie clip	Krawattenhalter	ate el clip	attachez le clip
Печатка	signet	Siegel (n)	sello (m)	cachet (m)

 

 

 

Содержание:

1. Фаберже………………………………………………………………….1

2. Матрёшка……………………………………………………………….24

3. Лаковая миниатюра………………………………………………...…35

4. Янтарь…………………………………………………………………...47

5. Фарфор…………………………………………………………………..52

6. Хрусталь………………………………………………………………...55

7. Хохлома…………………………………………………………………59

8. Икона……………………………………………………………………61

9. Мех……………………………………………………………………….65

10. Павлово-посадские набивные платки……………………………..71

11. Оренбургский пуховый платок……………………………...……..72

12. Жостово…………………………………………………………..……73

13. Уральские камни……………………………………………………..75

14. Часы……………………………………………………………………84

15. Александрит…………………………………………………………..89

16. Разное………………………………………………………………..…94

17. Тематический Словарь……………………………………………...96

18. Содержание…………………………………………………………..103