Antique Carnelian Sterling Hooks Ancient Rome's #1 Gem

Along with turquoise and lapis lazuli, red-orange carnelian was one of the most popular and valued gemstones of the ancient world. From Mesopotamia, through Persia and Greece, and into Rome carnelian was widely used to produce engraved gemstones and seals. Many of the intaglio carnelian rings and signets produced by ancient Roman and Greek craftsmen and still in existence today. The fabled land of India has been famous for centuries for its production of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, topaz, aquamarine, and other precious and semi-precious gemstones. The gemstones were not only mined in India, they were most frequently hand cut as well, more often than not in Bombay. These gorgeous orange carnelian earrings are composed of the chips which are the by-product of the cutting and faceting larger carnelian gemstones by artisans in Bombay's famous gemstone district. This is genuine carnelian quartz crystal, not mere glass, the same carnelian favored by the ancient Romans, Greeks, Phoenicians, Sumerians, and so many other ancient cultures. For over 6,000 years, through the ancient civilizations of ancient Sumeria and Babylon, through ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and into contemporary times, the rich orange glow of carnelian has made it one of the most popular natural gemstones in the history of jewelry. Carnelian was one of the most favored gemstones of the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs.

There are about fifteen of these gemstone chips, hand drilled, very rich in both hue and texture. The gemstones are antique - which means they are not of the absolutely highest quality. For most, the unique nature and character of these antique gemstones more than makes up for the imperfections which by and large are only visible under magnification. However the chips were tumbled so as to smooth sharp edges, and the results speak for themselves - some very beautiful pieces of garnet. The total weight of the gemstones is about ten carats to each earring. These antique gemstone chips have been mounted onto contemporary sterling silver french hooks. They could also be remounted onto kidney wires, lever backs, euroclicks, or ball studs if you would prefer; or remounted onto gold. It's a first-class piece of jewelry throughout. Though the gemstones are antique, keep in mind that the sterling hooks and pins are contemporary.

Aside from pearls and amber, which were "discovered" as gemstones by prehistoric man; carnelian, turquoise, and lapis lazuli are the oldest gemstones utilized in the manufacture of jewelry. Carnelian is a transparent to translucent form of quartz. Carnelian gained great popularity in the ancient world, and was widely used to produce engraved gemstones. Many of the intaglio carnelian rings and signets produced by ancient Roman and Greek craftsmen are still in existence today. Ancient Mediterranean cultures recommended carnelian gemstones for those of weak voice or timid on speech. Carnelian was regarded as strong protection from the evil eye. It was also thought to give courage to those who wore the gemstone, and is worn for good luck in the Near East, where it is believed to be an agent of self-actualization.

You might guess I travel extensively for a living. My profession is a purchasing agent for antique gemstones, which generally come from Russia, India, Ceylon, and Siam. I grew up in the Southern Urals of Russia, just miles away from some of the greatest gemstone producing regions in the world's history. Alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced from the mountains within mere minutes or a few hours from the city I once called home. My interest in the fabulous history of Russian gemstones and the fabulous jewelry of the Czar's led to further education and contacts in India, Ceylon, and Siam, other ancient centers of gemstone production and finishing. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings - the gold reused - the gemstones recut and reset.

Before this happens, before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, I try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state - most of them centuries old. I believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting. Not everyone agrees - fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with me that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or "lab produced") gemstones which dominate the market today.

In my travels back and forth between the USA, Asia, and Eastern Europe I also tend to accumulate a lot of books, CD's, and audio recordings. So I oftentimes have lightly used CD's, once-read books, audio recordings, and even some antique books I buy in Europe for sale as well. And occasionally I will find such a good buy on contemporary jewelry for my clients that I will purchase a few extra pieces to offer on eBay. These are always offered clearly labeled as contemporary, and not antiques - just to avoid confusion. I also end up with boatloads of jewelry and gemstone samples which were not fully distributed to the retailers I purchase on behalf of. Some really great pieces, including antiques, pearls, as well as some pieces of antique Russian jewelry.

I have always been fascinated with jewelry and gemstones. Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Bombay are great places to find incredible deals on both gemstones and jewelry, and over the years I have made many friends within the trade in these five cities. So you can look for a steady flow of little treasures I discover in my travels, and I will be happy to share with you the best deals I can find through my industry acquaintances in these far-off Asian lands. Though I spend a good part of each year in Europe and Asia, most of the year I am here in the United States, and that's where all of my little treasures are. So you can count on quick shipping and careful packaging. And if I am not home - I have someone who does it for me!

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Domestic shipping is $3.99 for first class mail or $6.99 for Priority Mail. Domestic rates include USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site). Canadian shipments are $3.99 for Air Mail; International shipments are $4.99 for Air Mail (and generally are NOT tracked; trackable shipments are EXTRA). I can add most other items I sell to the shipment for only $0.99 each. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. Trackable and insured shipments are required by PayPal for all eBay purchases utilizing PayPal as a payment method. Therefore shipping costs for this item includes the fee for postal insurance ($2 for domestic shipments; $3 for international shipments); and is required for whenever PayPal is used as the payment method.

We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment. Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. We will accept whatever payment method you are most comfortable with. If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price. We do offer a certificate of authenticity (COA) upon request for all of our items. There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE."

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