Past Treasures

When my stone hoarding began, I lacked the knowledge to make prudent purchases. The old story of I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I did not know the different stone characteristics. I had no concept of the size of a millimeter. I did not know there was a thing called the Mohs scale. I knew nothing about treatments, quality ratings, ethical sourcing, stabilizing, doublets, or cut. I did not know what made a stone desirable or valuable.

As a result, I have an abundance of beads. Wire-wrapping and beading was my life. Therefore, I had to have a minimum of two strands of each stone bead I could find, in multiple sizes and shapes. They were inexpensive and pretty. And OMG the pendants – so many beautiful focal stones with holes ready for bails I didn’t yet know how to make. eBay and obscure on-line shops were my dealers of choice when I needed a stone fix.

And I have an abundance of faceted stones and cabochons. My life was now about the torch as I moved to silversmithing. Obviously, I needed cabochons and faceted stones in various sizes and in multiples when possible. I needed stones without holes. My understanding of sizing in millimeters was still non-existent, so I have many very large cabochons and many very small, faceted stones.

The criteria for the stones I buy has changed significantly as my style and intention have become more defined and my education about stones has progressed. I finally learned, after all these years, if I want to use natural stones, I must purchase untreated stones or understand any treatment the stone has undergone. If I want to minimize the damage to a set stone while being worn, I must know the stone’s Mohs rating. If I want distinctive, artisan designs, I must purchase appropriately sized stones. If I want to produce quality jewelry, I must purchase quality stones.

I have an overabundance of stones. I will never use a hefty portion of these stones in my jewelry making business because of their low quality, damage due to flawed storage practices, or unknow treatments. Time to put on my big girl panties, cull the unsuitable stones, and reorganize my studio, again.

While my inner dragon was asleep, I picked out tons (not literally) of stones to give to family friends for their children to play with. I went into the task determined to be detached, to ignore my emotional attachment to the culled. I worked hard not to second guess my decisions. My heart hurt a little.

I purged half of my stone collection.

I still have an embarrassing abundance of stones.

I let go of pieces from my past I no longer need - stones I held for decades. I passed these rejected stones to friends. Friends who love the range of colors, the translucence of some and the banding of others, the feel of them – who regard these stones as treasures, just as I once did.