It was a beautiful day. My toes in the white powdery sand, the sun shining, a cool breeze blowing under the shade of a huge umbrella. My parents who I hadn’t been able to hug in over 2 months were sitting to my left, my sister to the right, 3 year old niece building a sand castle at my feet and our Chief Children's Jewelry Consultant running and laughing in and out of the crashing waves just ahead. We gathered for the first time in months to celebrate her 8th birthday.
 
It was a perfect day and it was not lost on me how lucky we were to have safely made it to this moment when there was so much fear and suffering in the world leading up to it.
 
Just as I was looking around at all this beauty, feeling such gratitude, I put my headphones in and hit play on a random shuffle playlist. Up comes Louis Armstrong’s undeniable voice...

”I see leaves of green...Red roses too...I see them bloom for me and for you...and I think to    myself, what a wonderful world.”

I mean... you couldn’t have dreamt a better soundtrack for the moment.

I’m embarrassed to say how many years I’ve had these gemstones. They were so pretty I wanted something special for them. When we got back from our trip, I knew exactly what they were meant to be. I grabbed my sketchbook & played the song again while I worked filled with the love and gratitude from the trip with family I had missed so much during these crazy times.
 
Lapis lazuli is considered the stone of friendship, goodwill and harmony and malachite, the stone of wealth and abundance so I like to think that when they grow together you will have a wealth of friendship & abundance of love. They are also both calming stones and who couldn't use that right now?
 
The shapes & textures from this new jewelry collection capture the feelings of those precious moments on the sand, the sounds of crashing waves & children playing, the perfect song on the radio & a deep, deep gratitude for the beauty in the world around us.

May this jewelry bring you peace and calm, a wealth of friendship and an abundance of love.

"And I think to myself...what a wonderful world....."

I read an article this week that got me thinking. Studies show most people break their New Year resolutions before the end of January each year. (I'm not shocked, I'm one of those people myself. How about you? ;)

But it got me thinking, when I'm feeling low in energy or want to manifest something specific in my life, I've been known to grab my favorite gemstone jewelry to help keep me mindful of what I'm working towards. I thought it would be fun to put together a little quiz to help find the perfect gemstone for keeping your new year resolutions all year long.

Whether you believe in the metaphysical properties of gemstones or not, they are a beautiful way to keep a goal front of mind or carry a reminder to live with courage, happiness, intention or whatever you are wanting to manifest in your life all year.

​Take our quiz and let me know which stone you get in the comments below. Feel free to share with your friends too. 
Happy New Year! xo Ana

Known as the Stone of Unconditional Love, Rose Quartz dates back as early as 7000 BC.

As folk lore would have it, rose quartz derived it's color from the blood of Aphrodite as she tried to save her love, Adonis. The dying lovers blood on the stone became the symbol of eternal love. The Egyptians believed the stone could prevent the effects of aging. Native Americans continued the tradition of the "Love Stone" believing it could calm anger, heal disappointments and bring love to the wearer.

Rose quartz is a crystal made of silicon dioxide. It's soft pink color is the result of trace amounts of iron, titanium or manganese combined with microscopic inclusions of pink fibers within the stone that keep it from being completely transparent.

Rose quartz can be found in mines all over the world. The most common sources are in Madagascar, Brazil, South Africa and India.

This heart chakra stone brings the energy of compassion, tenderness, peace and healing and supports the capacity to truly give and receive love from others. It attracts love and aides in developing closer bonds with friends and family.

A great gift to exchange between friends and loved ones, Jewel of Havana has a nice selection of sweet rose quartz pendant necklaces and earrings as well as new rose quartz clips for our popular Leaf Bell Necklaces or Calla Lily Earrings. Add this stone of love to your jewelry collection. It's is sure to bring you many years of happiness and contentment.

Beautiful red ruby is the birthstone for July and the anniversary stone for the 15th, 40th and 80th year of marriage. It is one of the four precious stones along with Emeralds, Diamonds and Sapphires. The name comes from the Latin word “ruber” which simply means “red”.

Ruby is red corundum and derives its color from the presence of chromium. Corundum is a mineral that produces sapphires of every color. All other corundum colors are called sapphires. Depending on the iron content, rubies can range from pinks and purples to orange and brownish reds; the most desirable being deep blue red which is referred to as “pigeon’s blood”.

The largest producers of rubies are Thailand, Madagascar, India and Sri Lanka but they can be found in Africa, Australia and the U.S.  Rubies are the second hardest natural stone after diamonds which makes them perfect for jewelry.

Larger high-quality rubies are rarer than diamonds of the same size and for that reason can sell for a significantly higher price. The “Hope Ruby” Ring sold for 6.74 million at 32.08 carats and Elizabeth Taylor’s 8.24 carat ruby ring sold for 4.2 million at auction. (That’s $500k per carat!!)

Ruby jewelry was a favorite among royalty around the world. They were a symbol of power and believed to be a stone of protection. In India, rubies were believed to help them stay at peace with their enemies. In the Bible rubies are associated with wisdom and beauty.

Today, rubies are said to attract good luck to the wearer, protect you from misfortune and shield against negative energy. They symbolize passion and love, release limitations, help with focus and clarity and strengthen energy, courage and joy.

Who couldn’t use a little ruby jewelry in their life? Check out Jewel of Havana’s new raw ruby necklace and earrings just in time for July birthdays!

​First described in 1813 in what is present day Romania, Rhodochrosite whose name means “Rose-Colored” is a rare mineral. In its pure form it is typically rose-red in color. The Incas believed it was the blood of their past Kings and Queens turned to stone and called it Inca Rosa.

The most interesting occurrence is in Argentina where Rhodochrosite forms in the 13th century  Inca Silver mines into large stalagmites and stalactites. They formed as water dripped from rock rich with manganese inside the ancient mine tunnels and combined with carbonate material, growing over the centuries into large stalagmites beautifully banded with concentric growth layers in pink and white bands.

The Argentinian Capillitas mine is the only rhodochrosite deposit that produces banded rhodochrosite instead of crystals like other rhodochrosite mines. It had to be mined mostly by hand. This mine was recently closed so banded rhodochrosite stones have been steadily going up in value.

Rhodochrosite is the national gemstone of Argentina and the official state mineral of Colorado which produces a beautiful crystal form of rose red rhodochrosite. It can also be found in Montana, Peru and Quebec, Canada.
​
Rhodochrosite is a stone of love and balance. It is thought to bring love to the wearer, relieve stress, increase self-confidence and the ability to handle problems in life.  Visit the Jewel of Havana Rhodochrosite page to see our collection of necklaces, pendants and earrings in this beautiful unique natural stone.

The practice of wearing a stone associated with your birth month is a popular and ancient tradition. Most gem scholars concur that this custom was originally inspired by the Breastplate of Aaron, which was set with twelve gemstones representing the twelve tribes of Israel, also corresponding to the twelve months of the year, and twelve signs of the zodiac. Each stone was thought to have heightened influence during the time of the year to which it was attached, so many people collected all the stones, and wore them in successive order.

Wearing a single birthstone associated with the month you were born is a more recent custom, beginning several centuries ago in either Germany or Poland. The modern birthstone chart was not developed until 1912, when the National Association of Jewelers adopted the official list most people are familiar with today. Either list can guide you to a special piece of jewelry to celebrate the birth of a special someone.

Jewel of Havana carries jewelry featuring many modern and traditional birthstones, including ruby, amethyst, jasper, agate, opal, peridot, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. A birthstone ring, bracelet, necklace or pendant feels special to wear and makes a very personal gift, whether you purchase it for a friend, a loved one -- or for yourself!

Lapis lazuli has been prized by humans for thousands of years. Its deep blue color, flecked and mottled with golden pyrites, is rich and beautiful. Lapis lazuli was inset in the eyebrows of King Tutankhamun’s funeral mask. And the ultramarine paint, used by the Old Masters to create so many classics, was made by grinding lapis lazuli into powder and mixing it with binding agents.

The best raw lapis lazuli stones come from Northeast Afghanistan, high in the Hindu Kush. There are also deposits in Russia, Chile, Italy, Mongolia, Canada and the USA (California and Colorado). Once it is mined, its crystalline marble properties allow it to be worked into vases, bowls, boxes, ornaments, mosaics and jewelry.

Jewel of Havana carries a variety of lapis lazuli jewelry in layering necklaces, earrings, and rings. The brilliant blue of lapis lazuli looks particularly stunning set in fine silver in the lapis lazuli wrap ring.

Lapis lazuli is one of the birthstones for December (along with Turquoise). But no matter which month you were born, a piece of lapis lazuli will soon become a favorite in your collection. It symbolizes prosperity, and is said to promote friendship and goodwill. It encourages harmony, and enhances wisdom.

Care for your lapis lazuli jewelry the way you do other gemstones. It should be protected from acidic substances and not be exposed to too much sunlight. A lapis lazuli that has grown dull from wear can be re-polished at any time. Any piece you own will be sure to be noticed, and will be treasured by you and anyone to whom you pass it down.

Peridot is the August birthstone and the anniversary stone for the 16th year of marriage.  It has a long history adorning both people and famous architecture. Cologne Cathedral’s shrine to the Three Holy Kings is bedecked with 200 carat peridots. And some historians believe that Cleopatra’s notorious collection of emeralds may have actually been peridot instead. Originally mined on an island owned by Egypt now called Zabargad, in the Red Sea, peridot is also found in China, Tanzania, Myanmar, Vietnam, Pakistan, Norway, Australia and Arizona. Some of the most precious and beautiful specimens of peridot are currently coming from Kashmir. 

Peridot was created in the early formation of the Earth. As the earth’s hot magma cooled to igneous rock, peridot came to be. It has also been found in meteorites that have fallen to Earth.  Unlike many gemstones, peridot only comes in green -- though its color varies from light yellow to dark olive, and even brownish green. The depth of color is a result of the iron content in the stone.

Though peridot is very old, it is regaining popularity today. Jewel of Havana celebrates peridot in layering necklaces and earrings. With its vibrant green color, it’s the perfect compliment to a summer wardrobe. It is considered the stone of truth, faithfulness and loyalty.  It’s energy has many positive effects, including bringing a sense of peace to the wearer, and helping to release ego, anger and jealousy. The person who wears peridot will be helped by its joyful energy in making and keeping friendships.

Care for your peridot the old fashioned way -- with warm, soapy water. Do not clean it in ultrasonic or steam cleaners. It is a relatively soft stone, and can be damaged by sharp blows or scratches. So, take care to protect it, and it will bring you many years of beauty and happiness.

Coral jewelry has a dramatic beauty that comes directly from nature. Along with pearl and amber, coral is considered an organic gemstone. Despite its rich radiance, coral is actually the aggregated skeletal remains of thousands of tiny marine invertebrates. Individual animals called polyps create exoskeletons, which when amassed together in a colony, create beautiful coral heads that have been prized for jewelry and decoration since the earliest history of man. Victorians carved coral into delicate cameos and roses, and American Indians also integrated red coral into their jewelry designs. 


Coral occurs in just about every color, including pink, white, yellow, orange, lavender, blue and black. But red coral is by far the most sought after color for gemstones. It is the most rare color, as well, due in part to over-harvesting. Jewel of Havana only carries coral that is legally and sustainably harvested.

Jewel of Havana has unique coral necklaces that beautifully pair coral stones with fine or sterling silver or gold.  Our red coral earrings and coral layering necklaces are a vivid, eye catching addition to any jewelry collection.

Coral is very soft and needs to be treated with care. Do not put coral in jewelry dips or ultrasonic
cleaners. Instead use a clean, soft cloth on it, and rinse it in warm, soapy water. Store your coral jewelry in an individual cloth pouch, or in its own compartment in a jewelry box to avoid scratches. Wrap larger pieces in tissue for extra protection.  As with all your hand strung jewelry, always store flat to prolong the life of your necklaces.

The anniversary gemstone for 35 years of marriage, coral symbolizes joy and happiness, and is believed to calm emotions and provide protection. Wear it, and the vibrancy of coral will certainly bring joy and happiness to you, and affect the spirits of anyone you meet.

Throughout human history, pearls have been sought after for their elegance and beauty. Before the advent of cultured pearl farming in the early 1900s, natural pearls were incredibly rare, and only the nobility or extraordinarily rich could afford them. Today, with more affordable cultured pearls making up the bulk of what’s produced, pearls are
more accessible to everyone.

Pearl is a “natural gemstone,” and the only gemstone created by a living creature. When a foreign object (like a grain of sand) gets into a pearl producing mollusk, like a mussel or an oyster, that mollusk’s natural defense mechanism coats the object with nacre. As layers of nacre build up, a pearl is born. Both cultured pearls and natural pearls are “real.” The difference between them is how the foreign object is introduced. In natural (wild) pearls it happens naturally, and in cultured pearls, it’s introduced by humans. You can’t tell the difference between a cultured and a natural pearl without an x-ray!

Traditionally, the ideal pearl was round, smooth, and white. But there’s a wide variety of shapes and colors available. Jewel of Havana’s pearl jewelry collection features fresh water pearl earrings and freshwater pearl necklaces and bracelets in white, gold, rose, peridot, black and even chocolate tones. Fresh water pearls are also prominent in the Children’s Jewelry Collection, with our christening baby bracelets, and ballerina bracelets being among the most popular.

Makeup and hairspray can build up and affect the luster of pearl, so let your pearls be
the “last thing on, first thing off” in your routine. Clean your pearl jewelry with mild soap
and water (or our recommended all natural jewelry cleaner) with a very soft cloth.
Dry them completely, and store flat.  Never hang your hand knotted jewelry.  Storing flat avoids stretching your silk and prolongs the time between restringing.

Pearl is the June birthstone, and considered the “stone of sincerity.” Historically, pearls  have been symbolic of purity and faith, and many believe pearl can boost personal integrity and help clear the mind. Regardless of why you choose to buy or wear it, the luster and iridescence of pearl is irresistible. Let us help you add to your collection!