Faceted 5 mm round natural Paquime feldspar gemstone earrings set in six prong sterling silver settings. The Paquime feldspar have a combined weight of .95 carats. The earrings include titanium earring backs. The Paquime feldspar have VS clarity and are transparent. The particulates in the gemstone may be easily observed with a 10X's loupe. There origin is Mexico. Paquime feldspar are 6 - 6.5 on Mohs' scale.
Paquime feldspar are a plagioclase feldspar. Feldspar are not a particular mineral with a specific chemical composition, but rather a solid series that is referred to as the plagioclase feldspar series. They are formed when a solid solution occurs when there are one or more solutes in the solvent, and this generally happens when the elements involved are near each other on the periodic table. A solid series should not be confused with a mechanical mixture, as the mechanical will have a partial miscibility gap in a solid state. This may sound confusing, but it is nonetheless an intriguing composition.
A Paquime feldspar is different than other transparent gemstones such as quartz, topaz and petalite for example. Paquime feldspar hold inclusions suspended in their mixture. When the light enters the faceted gem, it is bounced back and forth inside, not really bouncing the captured light back out, but holding it inside. This gives the Paquime feldspar a slight gold/green cast in certain light sources. If you are fascinated with gemstones and their refractive abilities, this inexpensive gemstone will be of interest.
I have photographed the earrings with LED lighting. The pictures have been enlarged to show detail. The earrings are pictured next to a dime for size reference. Earrings arrive is a gift box, which is ideal for storing. Protecting your jewelry from scratching each other is your number one priority. This box works perfectly, even the lock tight envelope will do.
The earrings include titanium earring backs. Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant (including sea water, aqua regia and chlorine) transitional metal with a silver colour. Titanium is as strong as some steels, but 45% lighter.
I use high quality metals in the jewelry settings. I do not use silver plated settings. The settings are .925 sterling silver and is the standard for silver. It is called .925 because it is an alloy that is 925 parts out of a thousand silver. It is allowed for the other 75 parts to be other metals (usually copper) to enhance the strength, because pure silver is very soft and not structurally strong enough for many jewelry applications. Other "silver settings" come with different elements in their composition. German/Nickel Silver, which is an alloy consisting of copper, zinc and nickel, contains no silver. Many people have allergic reactions to nickel. Other settings may be called Mexican Silver, Indian Silver, Montana Silver, Pewter, Tin, Pot or Base Metal or simply silver. The content of these are less clear and do not guarantee the quantity or silver content. .925 is the best form of silver. It is durable and has a high sheen. Sterling Silver is considered a precious metal.
Inside the gift box, I am including a 1" X 1" anti-tarnish tab. This is the same technology used by NASA, the Guggenheim Museum, The British Royal Mint & jewelry manufacturers worldwide. The tab provides protection from tarnish for up to 12 months. It does not leave deposits on items it protects. It is non-toxic, non-abrasive, and will not scratch or harm metals or gemstones. Place tab in jewelry cases, storage bags or boxes. Each tab protects up to 30 cubic inches of container space.
I guarantee my jewelry 100%. If you are dissatisfied with your purchase, return your item and I will gladly refund your purchase price. I do not charge a restocking fee on returned merchandise.
I am always happy to answer your questions. Thank you for visiting my store.
