Normally I create a fused glass simulant for each monthly birthstone – obviously, I cannot duplicate diamonds in glass. However, for my Fused Glass Diamond – version of April’s Birthstone I use Dichroic glass which has sparkle, texture, fire, and brilliance. My birthday is in April and I have both a ring and pendant made with this technique, which is beautiful and I love.
For fun and something really different, I also created a pink stone affectionately referred to as my fused glass “pink diamonds”. Please let me know (elegantfusedglass@gmail.com) if you would like my Dichroic Fused Glass “diamonds” or my “pink diamonds” either as a pendant, earrings etc. Sadly they are not on my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen Site yet.
Diamonds are the birthstone of April and for 10th and 60th wedding anniversaries. Diamonds are considered a “precious” stone. Diamonds holds meaning for those born in April. They are thought to provide the wearer with better relationships and an increase in inner strength. Diamonds (means “unbreakable” in Greek) are crystallized carbon created under extreme heat and pressure. Diamonds are the hardest substance in nature and the only gemstone composed of a single element. Diamond is one level higher on the Moh’s scale than corundum, diamond can be anywhere from ten to hundreds of times harder than this class of gems.
Wearing diamonds is purported to bring other benefits such as balance, clarity, and abundance. Diamonds has been associated with purity and fearlessness since ancient times and, more recently, with love. Diamonds come in a wide range of colors such as black, blue, green, pink, red, purple, orange and yellow. Diamonds sparkling with intense color are rare and may be priced higher than a colorless diamond. Fancy-color diamonds are sometimes color-treated in a laboratory.
Diamonds may be the hardest substance on earth, but they are not indestructible. Diamonds can be cut or polished only by another diamond; a hard blow can cause them to chip. Avoid wearing diamonds while doing housework or any rough work. When doing household chores, never exposed Diamond’s to chlorine bleach.
Cleaning Diamonds
Diamonds can get smudged, soiled, and dusty. Lotions, powders, soaps–even the natural oils from skin–will create a film on diamonds, which will reduce their brilliance. In addition, chemicals in the air will oxidize or discolor the mountings.
- Detergent Bath: Prepare a bowl of warm suds using mild household liquid detergent (without chlorine). Brush the jewelry with a soft brush until a lather is created. With the jewelry on a strainer, rinse with warm water (do not to clean jewelry over the drain!) Pat jewelry dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
- Cold Water Soak: Combine 4 parts cold-water and 1 part very mild dishwashing detergent. Soak the pieces for several minutes. Lift out and tap gently around all sides of the mounting with a soft brush.
- The Ultrasonic Cleaner: Clean jewelry that can be soaked in a liquid within a matter of minutes. These machines often have a metal cup, which is filled with water and detergent. When the machine is turned on, a high-frequency turbulence is created.
As I mentioned in previous newsletters there are many advantages of fused glass over typical gemstones. Fused Glass is less expensive, more durable (not than diamond), and can be bigger than typical gemstones. Moreover, Fused Glass gemstones can be made into anything not just earrings, pendants, rings but also key chains, bookmarks, pillboxes etc. As for cleaning a Fused Glass Faux Diamond, clean with a jewelry cloth, alcohol, or water. Additionally if Fused Glass is scratched, it can normally be repaired without much additional cost, as for an actual gemstone they are not as easy to fix.
Let me know if you like my fused glass diamonds! 🙂
Keeping my Kiln Warm,
Karen
The information was obtained from various gemstone sites.
