Beautiful Jewellery designed for you
- Gemstone colours and properties
- Sterling Silver
- PMC
- The Hallmark
- Watchfaces
- Beading wire
- Product care
Materials
“I have many Jesselina pieces – all of which complement
my wardrobe and personal style.”
M.W., London
At Jesselina we carefully complement the shapes and colours of the loveliest gemstones with Sterling Silver to produce stunning and original jewellery in a wide range of colour combinations – from subtle and neutral to bright and eye-catching. We select high quality materials which we try to ensure are supplied in an ethical and eco-friendly way as far as possible, and each item of jewellery is individually hand-crafted in the UK to a high standard of workmanship. We are always adding new gemstones to our range of designs – please contact us to discuss the range available.
Here is an outline of the main materials we use at Jesselina, starting with a sample of some of the most popular gemstones, and a brief outline of some of the properties they are believed to possess.
Gemstone Colours and properties
Amazonite – Pale green
Amazonite is believed to have a soothing effect on the brain and nervous system, and helps one to analyze and sort out information, and combine this with intuitive wisdom. This combined function of the left and right sides of the brain assists in effective communication. If you have a challenging situation to face or a long-overdue speaking of the truth, a difficult request to make, or a public-speaking engagement, Amazonite is one of the most beneficial stones to wear.
Amethyst – Mauve to Violet
Amethyst is one of the most popular metaphysical stones. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst has the power to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence. Amethyst is a great stone to use if you are trying to increase your psychic abilities and enhance your intuition. Amethyst has been a symbol of peace, purity and unification, and can aid in bringing serenity and calmness. Use amethyst to treat insomnia and promote peaceful and healing sleep. It is also commonly used to relieve headaches, sugar imbalances and general edginess, bringing an overall sense of spiritual balance.
Aventurine – Green (also other colours)
Though there isn’t a ‘d’ in the word, when you see aventurine think ‘adventure’. Think optimism. Think bountiful. Think practical enthusiasm. All are ingredients for adventure. If you long for change, aventurine is for you. It keeps various chakras open and unblocked, allowing good things to come your direction.
Black Agate – Rich black
Black Agate attracts good fortune, increases concentration and clarity, and promotes good will. It assists in overcoming flaws, fears, and loneliness, helps eliminate bad luck, and has a calming effect during times of stress, giving a sense of strength and courage. Being a powerful healer, it is especially beneficial for bone marrow and allergies.
Blue Lace Agate – Pale blue
Blue lace agate enhances grace and lightheartedness. It’s a soothing stone known for calming the mind, releasing stress and removing anxiety. It is especially effective after long, severe struggles.
Carnelian – Red-brown
From antiquity, carnelian has been worn in cameos in the belief that it will ward off insanity and depression. In contemporary times, carnelian is thought by some to enhance self esteem, to combat feelings of inadequacy, and to increase physical energy. In the home, it is sometimes used as a talisman to protect against fire and misfortune. Carnelian is associated with the solar plexus, in which imbalances are thought to cause digestive problems, as well as lack of confidence.
Flourite – Mauve/violet and Green
Ever notice the effect of a beautiful rainbow? It softens something in us. For a moment, we let go of everything. We feel connected to something larger than ourselves and to everyone else standing there looking at that rainbow. It reminds us that we can always begin again. That’s the wonderful sense of life fluorite gives us whenever we wear it.
Heamatite – Steel grey
Heamatite enhances energy, vitality, mental capabilities, self esteem, courage & optimism, and aids the maintenance or treatment of blood disorders, stress, heart, spleen, breathing disorders, rapid pulse, headache, fatigue and backache.
Labradorite – Pale bronze with peacock and gold irridescence
Labradorite is a tremendously spiritual stone. It helps us regain our energy and aids our bodies and spirits in healing themselves. If you practice meditation (or would like to), focusing on labradorite can help you enter and maintain the meditative state. Like the sound and glistening beauty of a gentle rain, this gemstone quiets us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Lapis lazuli – Dark blue
From antiquity, lapis lazuli has been worn in the belief that it will ward off evil. In ancient Egypt, it was powdered and worn about the eyes to improve eyesight. Today, it is considered by some to be an aid to positively influencing vision and hearing.
Marcasite – Black/grey
If pyrite/marcasite were a human being, it would be a tall, serious man in boots and a large brimmed hat. When he came into a room, everyone would stop what they were doing. When he spoke, he’d take off his hat and bow his head to each person present. He’d speak about two things: respect and responsibility. He’d say, “We’re all here to help each other.” Then he’d put on his hat and gloves and get to work making that place a better place today so the larger world would be a better place tomorrow.
Smoky Quartz – Translucent brown
Smoky quartz is like a dream that shows us things we don’t always see when we’re awake. It helps us look at things we’d like to deny, and just accept them – both the positive and the negative. That explains why we may feel so calm and generally loving of ourselves and others whenever we wear it. And why we should wear it more often.
Swarovski pearls – White to ivory (also other colours)
Swarovski crystal is made using basic formulae perfected by Daniel Swarovski and his three sons in the earlier part of last century. It is fired using a combination of natural minerals and quartz sand, and then cooled slowly to avoid stress and inclusions. Swarovski pearls are of highest quality. The weight and precision-centered holes ensure that when the pearls are either hand-knotted, or threaded, the strandage is balanced and hangs softly. The special coatings on the pearls are lead-free, and resistant to perfume, the sun's rays, perspiration and wear.
Rose Quartz – Pale pink
Rose quartz is associated with love, the heart and beauty, and is thought to be a healing aid for the heart chakra. Imbalances of this chakra have been said to cause colds, allergies and psychosomatic illnesses. When in balance, the heart chakra is thought to make one open to love and compassion. Some believe that rose quartz has calming effects and helps people develop strong friendships.
Rhodonite – Rich pink
Rhodonite does for us what paying attention to nature always does for us. It softens our needs. It helps us put petty things behind us. It reminds us that leisure is important and that there’s a bigger picture we often lose sight of. We pay attention to small things like the petals of tiny white daisies, the gossamer wings of a dragonfly, or a leaf pressed so long into a stone it has become part of it. That’s the experience and wisdom of rhodonite.
The gemstones we use are natural products and therefore can be subject to variation, although in most cases this is minimal. Also, some of the more unusual gemstones shown in designs will be subject to availability.
Sterling Silver
Pure silver is too soft to make durable items, so it is mixed with other
metals such as copper to form the more durable alloy, Sterling Silver,
which has a silver content of 92.5%. Sterling Silver a whitish metal which
takes many finishes from high polish to a wide range of textures, and
is recognised worldwide as a precious metal.
Items marked solely ‘925’ are likely to be Sterling Silver,
but the only guarantee that a buyer has that it actually is the genuine
article is an additional set of marks known as a hallmark. [ link to hallmark
]
Precious Metal Clay (PMC) and Art Clay
This consists of microscopic particles of silver mixed with a moist binder to create a material that has the feel and working properties of modelling clay. Once an item has been worked in this state, it can be fired, burning off the organic binder and resulting in a solid piece which is Sterling Silver and can be worked, finished and hallmarked as such.
The Hallmark
A hallmark is an assurance of quality. Articles submitted for hallmarking are sampled and assayed (tested) for fineness (amount of pure metal in the alloy) before having a hallmark applied. Marks are usually struck but can also be laser etched.
Where a Jesselina piece consists of several different units of Sterling Silver mixed with other items (such as a watchface and gemstone beads) the hallmark is usually carried on a specially made tag. On more solid pieces such as bangles, it is stamped on the piece itself.
Since 1999, a minimum hallmark has comprised:
- The Sponsor's Mark which is unique to the maker. Jesselina pieces bear the initials GR enclosed in a diamond shape.
- The millesimal Fineness Mark which shows the number of parts per thousand of pure metal in the alloy, and guarantees the quality. The mark for Sterling Silver is 925.
- The Assay Office Mark which shows which of the four assay offices (London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh) carried out the assay. Jesselina pieces carry the London office mark, which is a leopard’s head
Sometimes, hallmarks also include a traditional fineness mark and date
letter in addition to these three compulsory marks.
There is a legal weight limit over which pieces must carry a hallmark.
Gold weighing less than a gram, Sterling Silver items weighing less than
7.78grams,or Platinum at less than 0.05gram do not need to be hallmarked.
For further information visit www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk
Watchfaces
Jesselina watches usually feature either a Geneva watchface made made in the US, with Seiko pc21 Japanese movement, or a Legacy watchface with a Citizens (Miyota) 2035 or Citizens 5Y30 (Mini Movement), in which all gears and construction movements are metal. These have glass lenses, stainless steel or aluminium casebacks, and are water resistant. The replaceable batteries are Japanese 377 or 379 (Mini Battery). Most of the watchfaces are Silver-plated, some with patterns and some with additional Gold-plated detail. Some smaller faces are plain Stainless Steel.
Beading wire
To ensure lasting wear, Jesselina Bracelets, Necklaces and Watches are threaded onto Accu-Flex Professional Quality Beading Wire is made up of many tiny strands of wire. It consists of seven strands of seven wires per strand, resulting in a total of 49 individual strands of wire, twisted together and coated with either clear or coloured plastic. This creates a tough and resilient wire with beautiful drape. We use various thicknesses according to requirements.
For lightweight or more delicate pieces we also use Accu-Flex Professional Quality Beading Wire Silver Quality, which is made up of 3 strands of seven bundles of Silver wire, and is a little stiffer than the 49-strand version.
We also thread some bracelets on Elastomer, a stretchy transparent thread which enables bracelets to be slipped easily on and off.
Product care
To keep your item of Jesselina Jewellery in good condition, please refer to the following guidelines.
- Sterling silver gradually tarnishes with wear and prolonged exposure to air, perfume, soap or perspiration, and should be kept in a box or pouch when not being worn, to lessen the effect.
- Items which are silver and silver-gilt only can be cleaned in Silver Dip, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, highly polished areas can be cleaned using proprietary polishing cloths, while textured matt surfaces can be refreshed by rubbing with a clean dry nylon scouring pad using a circular motion (these areas should not be polished).
- Semi-precious gemstones and beads can be gently cleaned with a soft cloth.
- Hand-crafted beads are varnished and can be gently cleaned with a soft dry cloth. It is recommended that they are not immersed in liquid.
- Please bear in mind that Jesselina jewellery is not designed for continual wear or wear while undertaking activities such as gardening or DIY, for example. All Jesselina pieces are hand-crafted to high standards, and are designed to withstand light to normal ‘occasional’ wear, and appropriate handling. Some will include delicate elements (such as thin chains, for example) and should be handled appropriately. For both safety and product care reasons, items (particularly bracelets, watches and rings) should be removed if activities are undertaken which may cause them to be caught on objects in any way.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.
