Citrine, Yellow Topaz, Chips & Xmas Ideas

This month is citrine and yellow topaz, the gemstones for November, plus more! Scroll down, or click one of the links below on the html version to go to a section. For the HTML version with color pictures click http://www.mrbead.com/october08.htm
To go to the MrBead store click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

Citrine - Mellow Yellow
Yellow Topaz
Cheeky Chips
Christmas Present Ideas
UK Bead Show with Free Gifts
Special 10% Offer

Citrine: Mellow Yellow

"Citrine" comes from the French word for lemon, and is any quartz crystal or cluster that's yellow to orange. The darker, orange colors were traditionally the best, but today people prefer bright lemony shades to mix with pastel colors. Citrine with man-made color tends to have more of an orange or reddish caste. Most natural citrine starts life as amethyst until heated in a molten state to change.

Sunny and affordable, citrine brightens all jewelry, blending especially well with the yellow gleam of polished gold. The yellow color is a natural reviver, and citrine focuses the mind bringing a feeling of self-esteem. In medication it helps re-establish the link between your conscious and subconscious minds. If you are feeling down, try holding citrine to lift your spirit. It's also very good at healing the body and helping people communicate. Citrine has warm energy, promotes optimism, and attracts abundance.

Citrine is one of the few stones that removes negative energy and never requires cleansing. In ancient times it was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. Known as a "merchants' stone", placed in the cash register to not only acquire wealth but to maintain it as well. Citrine is the birthstone for November, and its corresponding signs are Gemini, Aries, Libra, and Leo.

Although the darker, orange colors of citrine, sometimes called Madeira citrine after the color of the wine, has generally been the most valued color, in modern times, many people prefer the bright lemony shades which mix better with pastel colors. Most citrine comes from Brazil.

Sometimes you will hear citrine referred to as topaz quartz, which is incorrect. This name was used in the past in reference to the color, which is sometimes similar to the color of topaz. Since topaz is a separate mineral, this type of name can be confusing. However, citrine is considered an alternative to topaz as the birthstone for November. As long as citrine is protected from prolonged exposure to light or heat, it will last for years.

Yellow Topaz

Yellow topaz looks very similar to citrine. The Egyptians thought topaz was colored with the golden glow of the sun god Ra. This made topaz a very powerful amulet that protected the faithful against harm. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, who also is the god of the sun. Topaz sometimes has the amber gold of fine cognac or the blush of a peach and all the beautiful warm browns and oranges. Some rare and exceptional topaz can be pink to sherry red.

Wear topaz only if you wish to be clear-sighted: legend has it that it dispels all enchantment and helps to improve eyesight as well! The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. Topaz was also said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. Its mystical curative powers waxed and waned with the phases of the moon: it was said to cure insomnia, asthma, and hemorrhages.

Brown, yellow, orange, sherry, red and pink topaz is found in Brazil and Sri Lanka. Pink topaz is found in Pakistan and Russia. Today we also have blue topaz, which has a pale to medium blue color created by irradiation. Pale topaz which is enhanced to become blue is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and China. In early 1998, a new type of enhanced topaz made its appearance, the surface-enhanced topaz, with colors described as blue to greenish-blue or emerald green. Topaz is a very hard gemstone but it can be split with a single blow, a trait it shares with diamond. As a result it should be protected from hard knocks.

Cheeky Chips!

Chips are a fun and inexpensive way to make jewelry. There is also a very wide range of bead chips available that are ideal for simple bracelets, necklaces or earrings. Bracelets can be quickly made by using elastic string allowing for expansion so they will fit all wrists. Or chips can easily be threaded on thin bangle wire for a more steady effect. These pictures will give you an idea what can be done with these fun-shaped beads.

Chips are sold in much longer strands than other types of beads - usually at least 32-inches long, so if you only want them for bracelets, you don't need so many strands. They will also be the cheapest way of purchasing the stone - so allowing those on a budget to use semi-precious stones they could not otherwise afford. Ships come in all sorts of sizes and shapes. Some like the coral chips on the top right above, are made from very fine hairpins - while others like the carnelian beads on the left of these, are small chunks. Being natural, almost all have irregular size and shape within the strand, and the size quoted is usually the "largest average" on the strand. If you plan on using a strand of chips to make a necklace, you will need to restring them - although they come quite long, this is really only a temporary hold and comes without any hook or clasp. It's a good idea to use a tray or table when working with chips as their tiny size make them easy to loose when take off the strand. Have fun!

Christmas Present Ideas

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Just Necklaces $ ---- Just Necklaces £
Just Bracelets $ ---- Just Bracelets £
Just Rings $ ---- Just Rings £

Big UK Bead Show

UK customers can see us at the Hobbycrafts Show in the NEC, Birmingham, 13th to 16th November. Open 09.30-17.30 (Sun 17.00). You can find MrBead in Hall 11, Stand L04. Free Canvas MrBead Bag to the first 100 visitors! For details click here
Copy, paste and print the below, show it to us at the bead show to receive an extra free gift:

To see more What's New click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

Special 10% Offer ! Sample our beads with 10% off any order from our MrBead bead store, just key in "nov08" at the checkout (without the inverted commas) and click "Redeem Coupon".

Offer valid until Wednesday 5th November 2008 only - so act now! Only for use in our store at the checkout and not valid with any other offers.

To see all our citrine beads click here
To see all our chip beads click here
To go to our MrBead store click MrBead.com
To go to our UK MrBead shop click MrBead.co.uk