September's Birthstones: Blue Sapphire and Lapis Lazuli

Sorry everyone that this is so late. September has been a bear of a month for us, a good bear, one that you would love to pet and keep forever, but a bear none the less.


Sterling Silver LOTR Vilya

September's birthstone is Blue Sapphire. The name Sapphire comes from the Greek word "Sapphirus", meaning blue. You may be asking yourself "I thought all Sapphire's were blue?" Not so. Sapphire is a verity of the mineral Corundum, which is the second hardest natural mineral known to mankind. Corundum comes in just about every color you can imagine, with Red being identified as Ruby, all other colors are identified as Sapphires. Blue colored Sapphire's are the traditional birthstone of September and are the most highly prized color of Sapphires. Sapphire is found in Australia, Sri Landa, Kashmir, Myanmar, Thailand, Burma, Kampuchea, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, China, and the United States.


Designer Original 14k Gold Natural Sapphire Necklace

Ancient legend believe that the world is set upon a giant sapphire and it is it's reflection which colors the sky blue. The folk name for Sapphire is Holy Stone and the ancient Greeks identified it with Apollo. Sapphires were worn by the Greeks when consulting oracles such as the famous oracle at Delphi. It was and is still warn today to stimulate the third eye for the purpose of expanding psychic awareness. Sapphires have been favored by royalty and priests because of because its symbolic nature of wisdom and purity. Sapphires are prominently used among the British Crown Jewels.


Sterling Silver Snake Knot Ring with Gemstone Eyes

The element associate with Sapphire is Water and it's planetary rule is the Moon. When worn it is believed that the stone promotes fidelity and attunes the feelings between lovers. It is also believed to be a guardian stone, protecting from "devils and evil" and promoting health, peace, and wisdom in the wearer. Sapphires are also believed to draw money and success to it's owner.


Sterling Silver Sovereign Lord's Ring with Natural Lapis Lazuli

Septembers alternative Birthstone is Lapis Lazuli. The name is composed from "lapis", the Latin word for stone and "azula" the Arabic word which means blue. Sometimes abbreviated as just Lapis, it is a stone that has be highly prized throughout time for its intensely blue color. Lapis Lazuli usually occurs in crystalline marble as a result of contact metamorphism. The finest specimens are intense blue with a light spattering of small flecks of golden pyrite. The best Lapis has been mined for more then 5000 years in Hindu Kush in the north-east of Afghanistan. It can also be found in Russia, in the Chilean Andes and in smaller amount in Italy, Mongolia, the USA, Canada, Myanmar and Pakistan.


Sterling Silver Large Nouveau Fairy Necklace with Gemstone

It is believed to be one of the first gemstones used as jewelry. In ancient Egypt Lapis Luli was a favorite stone for amulets and ornaments like scarabs. It was also used by the Assyrians and Babylonians for seals. In a powdered form, Lapis was used as eyeshadow by Cleopatra. In ancient times, it was commonly called Sapphire. More recently, up until the 19th century, it was ground to a powder and processed to make ulramarine pigment for tempera paint and sometimes oil paint. Many paintings of the Madonna used pigments made from Lapis Lazuli due to the vibrant hue of blue it created.


Sterling Silver Ring of Ladies

The element associated with Lapis is Water and it's planetary rule is the Venus. The stone is believed to be a strong healing and soothing stone. It is said that by simply touching the body with this stone it improves your mental, physical, spiritual, psychic and emotional condition. It is also believe to be an uplifting stone, the deep blue color reflecting peaceful vibrations and is useful for relieving depression and stimulating gentleness. Wearing Lapis Lazuli is also believed to promote joy, love, fidelity, protection and courage to the wearer.

Jewelry Background Post - Thor's Hammer, Mjolnir (Mjollnir/Mjöllnir)

This month’s Jewelry Background Post is about our Thor's Hammer Necklaces. At the end of this entry there will be a special coupon code good for 20% off both the Plain Thor's Hammer Necklace and the Thor's Hammer Necklace with Enamel (in Sterling Silver and 14k Gold).


Thor's Hammer Necklace in Sterling Silver.

Our Thor's Hammer necklaces were created by Jeweler Ryan Cazier in the early 2000's. A self proclaimed Norse Mythology buff, Ryan created the original Thor's Hammer by hand using carving wax. The design was inspired by the shapes of old Scandinavian Thor's Hammer necklaces found in ancient graves. Ryan incorporated lightening blots at the very top of the hammer, acknowledging the fact that Mjollnir is a symbol of lighting itself. The rough pattern on the handle was meant to symbolize that the hammer could not be picked up with bear hands, as even Thor had to grasp the hammer with magical gauntlets. Mjollnir is written on the hammer using Elder Futhark runes and reads right to left, like ancient Norse script. Only one L appears on the hammer, as the ancient Norse people did not traditional spell using double letters. The enamel that is used in the hammers, is hand mixed one color at a time. Each color is specially formalized by Ryan Cazier. Once mixed, the enamel is applied by hand and heat treated to give it a durable, glossy surface.


Thor's Hammer with Red Enamel in Sterling Silver

And now for a bit of Mythology on Thor and Mjollnir.

Thor is the Norse god of Thunder, Storms and Farming, but more then that Thor was the God of the warriors and the common people. Though his father Odin was of higher rank, Thor appeared to be the most loved and worshiped of all the Norse deities. He was the protector of both the Gods and humans from evil, mainly the giants and Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent. When the Norse people saw thunder and lightening they believed it was Thor fighting evil forces or riding his chariot across the sky.


Thor's Hammer Necklace in 14k Gold

Thor's chief weapon was his mighty hammer Mjollnir, made for him by the dwarfs Brok and Eitri. Originally commissioned by Loki in a bet, Thor was given the hammer by the dwarfs. Mjollnir was a fierce weapon, capable of leveling mountains. When thrown in battle Mjollnir would magically return to Thor's hand like a boomerang and was a symbol of lightening. Mjollnir also had the power to restore life to the dead. The connection of Thor's hammer with life gave rise to the Norse custom of placing a hammer in a brides lap on her wedding day and of raising a hammer over a newborn child. The ancient Norse people wore small depictions of Thor's hammer around their necks as symbol of Thor, a protection charm, and to ensure fertility. The practice of wearing a hammer as a symbol of Thor lasted well into the Christianization of Scandinavia. As Christianity spread across Scandinavia the Thor's hammers that were worn started to resemble crosses more and more, supporting the theory that ancient Scandinavians though sworn to Christian rule were still paying homage to the Norse deities. It is still common practice in most Scandinavia countries that young boys are given a hammer necklace as a part of ancestral tradition and as a symbol of protection.


Thor's Hammer Necklace with Sapphire Enamel in 14k Gold

The discount coupon code for this month is: BLG8THR and will be good until 9/17/2010 for 20% off either our THOR-01 and THOR-02 in both Sterling Silver and 14k Gold. Enter the coupon code during the check out process online or mention the code with any phone order.

A Geek Love Story - Forging a Comic-Con Engagement Ring

This story starts off like most; boy meets girl, girl falls for boy at Comic-Con '09, boy asks girl to marry him in Hall H in front of 6,000 people at Comic-Con '10. Ok, so maybe it's not a classic love story, but it is a true blue love story and we were lucky to play a part in it.

Our contribution to James and Se Young's love story started near the end of June when we received an email from James inquiring if we make custom engagement rings. His plan was to surprise the love of his life, Se Young, in asking her to marry him at Comic-Con '10. We jumped at the chance to aid James in his proposal and quickly started into designing a ring that would center around the concept of time. James, with the help of Se Young's best friend, obtained a few images of rings that Se Young had been interested in and forward them onto Janelle. With the aid of the images Janelle created a design that seemed to blow James's socks off.



The upside down set diamond was used to represent a sun dial and the roman numerals around the ring and tracer bands were to represent a clock face. When the tracer bands are added to the ring, they complete the clock face, symbolizing the culmination and unity of time and eternity.



The ring was executed to perfection by our lead jeweler and founder, Paul J. Badali. The entire ring was created by hand in a not-so-simple sequence of steps. Once the ring was completed it, took the breath away of everyone here at the shop. Loria even cried a little. Granted, she's pregnant and really prone to emotional outbursts.



The ring was set safely in a box and was not let out of the BJS Inc crew's sight the entire way to San Diego. On Saturday, Janelle had the pleasure to met up with James outside of the convention hall, hand delivered the ring and wished him luck. That night in front of 6,000 other Comic-Con attendees during the Kevin Smith panel, James asked Se Young to spend the rest of their geek lives together. Cheers and camera flashes filled Hall H as James sank to one knee and pulled out the ring. Although you could not hear her answer over the cheers of the crowed, we know she said yes as James slipped the ring on her finger and she kissed him fervently. They embraced and then were offered by Kevin Smith to have him marry them at next years Comic-Con.



As cool as that was, the only thing Janelle and Paul could think about was, "Does she like the ring?" They found out the next day when James and Se Young came by the booth to officially meet both of them. Both Paul and Janelle were delighted to hear that Se Young loved her ring and though that it was absolutely beautiful.



The experience is one that we all will never forget. We have the opportunity to create custom pieces for people every now and then, but we rarely have the chance to meet the people who purchase and receive the items in person. It touches us deeply to see that our work aids in creating such personal and important memories. We know that a piece of jewelry has the power to embody memories, but this is the first time that we have been able to witness the creation of one of those moments.

Congratulations and thanks again to James and Se Young. We at Badali Jewelry Specialties wish you the longest and happiest of lives together. We feel truly honored to have been the Lords of your Ring.

August's Birthstone: Peridot

August's birthstone is Peridot. Its name comes from the Arabic word "faridat," meaning gem. Peridot is a mineral named Olivine, magnesium iron silicate. Peridot crystals form in magma from the upper mantle (20 to 55 miles deep), and are brought to the surface by tectonic or volcanic activity where we find them in extrusive igneous rocks. The color is found in a variety of greens, ranging from light yellowish green to a dark olive. Early mining for this gem was done on Saint John's Island near Egypt around 1500 BC. Today, Peridot is mined in Burma, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, the Congo, North Carolina and in Arizona.


Rococo Gemstone Necklace

Ancient Egyptians referred to Peridot as the "gem of the sun," because of their dazzling brilliance when seen in the desert sun. Peridot is sometimes referred to as an “Evening Emerald”. One myth to explain this name is that it was believed that the Peridot glowed with light even as darkness fell. Ancient Hawaiians believed that Peridot found in the black volcanic sands were the tears shed by Pele, the volcano goddess.


Elven Necklace

Peridot is strongly associated with nature and the Goddess. The Goddess represents the female, nurturing, creative aspect of the universal force. Understandingly, the element associated with Peridot is Earth.


Elven Gemstone Earrings

It is believed that when worn Peridot will help with physical detoxification. It is used to attract love, calm raging anger, soothe nervousness and to counter the effects of negative emotions. It is also used to heal emotional and physical pain, and to lighten suffering. If worn to bed it is believed to aid in restful sleeping.


Skull and Crossbones Ring with Gemstones