Silver Clouds

Elegant, Sophisticated, & Stylish

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:11:49 PDT

There's nothing like an elegant gift box to enhance the appearance of a piece of jewelry

When you find the perfect ring, bracelet, set of earrings or other kind of beautiful jewelry for someone you really care about, you can't just hand it to that special person without putting it in a beautiful gift box.

Are you just going to hand it to them and say: "Here you go. Here's a ring for you." Or are you going to put it in an elegant looking jewelry box and make it a real event?

Of course you are!

Our Gift Boxes are available in:

Elegant Velvet Blue
Sophisticated Black Leathrette
Stylish Red

For bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, and pendants. We even have fun gift boxes available for toe rings!

Stylish Red Jewelry Gift Boxes

Stylish Red Gift Boxes

Sophisticated Black Jewelry Gift Boxes

Elegant Blue Velvet Jewelry Gift Boxes

Toe Ring Jewelry Gift Boxes

The History of Valentine's Day

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:47:00 PST

The History of Valentine's Day

There are many varying opinions as to the origins of Valentine’s Day. One goes back to a pagan festival celebrated in mid February, known as Lupercalia.

Lupercalia was one of the most ancient Roman festivals. It was celebrated every year in honor of Lupercus, the god of fertility. The festival was viewed as a purification and fertility rite. It was held every year, in mid February, in the Lupercal. The cave of Lupercal on the Palatine (one of the seven Roman hills), is where according to the roman mythology the founders of Ancient Rome, Romulus and Remus, were said to have been nurtured by the she-wolf (lupus).

The Lupercal contained an altar and a grove sacred to the god Lupercus. The ritual began with the sacrifice of goats and a dog in the Lupercal by priests called Luperci,who smeared the foreheads of two noble young men with the blood of the sacrificed animals and then wiped it off. At this point, the youths were required to laugh. Then the luperci, clothed in loincloths, ran about the area, lashing everyone they met with strips of skin from the sacrificed goats. Young wives were particularly eager to receive these blows, because it was believed that the ritual promoted fertility and easy childbirth. These ceremonies were accompanied by much revelry and drinking.

Why February 14th and why Saint Valentine's?

In the 5th century, the pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavored to do away with the pagan element of the Lupercalia feast and Pope Gelasius declared February 14^th as Saint Valentine’s Day. Why Saint Valentine? There were several St. Valentine’s canonized by the church. Legend has it that one St. Valentine, a defiant Roman Priest, lived during the 3^rd century AD under Emperor Claudius the II.

Clauduis the II was an ambitious ruler. His army required a vast military of men to abandon their families for a long period of time. This often resulted in an army that was half hearted and homesick. Claudius was so determined to stop love from sapping the will of his armies that he banned marriages all together.

Father Valentine thought the ban was unjust and he defied the emperor by continuing to marry young lovers in secret. The emperor eventually caught on to the priest’s actions and arrested him and sentenced him to death, exceution to be carried out on February 14^th.

It is believed that the young couples he secretly wed visited his cell, passing him flowers and notes through the bars as symbols of their gratitude. The story continues that the condemned Father Valentine fell in love with his jailor's daughter who was allowed to visit him. They would sit and talk for hours.

On February 14^th, the day he was executed, it is said that he passed the young girl a note. It was signed “from your Valentine”.

http://silvercloudsjewelry.com/hearts-silver-jewelry

AMETHYST & MOTHER OF PEARL NECKLACE

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:15:30 PST

Silver Clouds

Sterling Silver Jewelry

AMETHYST & MOTHER OF PEARL NECKLACE

$36.00

STERLING SILVER 16" AMETHYST & MOTHER OF PEARL CABACHON DANGLE ON LIQUID SILVER NECKLACE

This stylish and sophisticated sterling silver amethyst and mother of pearl liquid silver necklace would look wonderful with any of our mother of pearl jewelry in our selection of sterling silver jewelry.

The necklace is a 16'' liquid silver necklace.

The cabochon amethyst measures 5mm wide x 5mm long.

Below the amethyst is a cabochon mother of pearl stone that measures 5mm wide x 7mm long with three small beads below.

The mother of pearl and amethyst both have a solid back and make quite a stunning pair.

STERLING SILVER DRAGONFLY PIN

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:52:41 PST

$36.00

WHIMSICAL STERLING SILVER DRAGONFLY PIN
WITH MOTHER OF PEARL INLAY WINGS

DRAGONFLY MEASURES 43MM WING TO WING, 29 1/2MM LONG

Butterflies in Our Lives

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:46:50 PST

Butterflies in Our Lives
Legends, Myths, and Symbols

http://library.thinkquest.org/27968/legends_myths_symbols.shtml

In middle Europe butterflies are seen as the harbingers of spring.

In general butterflies mean freedom, lightness and detachment.

People used to think butterflies were witches or fairies in disguise stealing butter, cream and milk. This could also be the reason for the name butterfly.

Some people still believe that certain moths come to cowsheds at night to the cows’ udders.

In many countries people consider butterflies as human souls:

In legends butterflies are the souls of dead persons or bring luck.

The Slavs open the door or a window so that the deceased person’s soul, often represented as a butterfly, can leave the body.

In antiquity the Greek considered butterflies as dead people’s spirits

In many countries pictures of butterflies can be seen on tombstones.

In Finland some people believe the butterfly soul of a dreaming person flutters peacefully above the bed.

The belief that butterflies developed from the tears of the Mary comes from Romania.

In Greek mythology Psyche, sweetheart of Eros, is often represented with butterfly wings.

The Hindus’ mythology also deals with butterflies: watching the change of caterpillars Brahma became filled with deep calm and was convinced to achieve perfection through rebirth.

Chuang-tse, a representative of Taoism, got the nickname "butterfly philosopher" because he dreamed he was a butterfly and enjoyed flying around and sucking nectar.

Johann Wolfgang Goethe, a German poet, called butterflies "products of air and light". He was also very impressed by the change from pupa to butterfly.
Other poets like Shakespeare, Spenser, Shelley, Keats and Wordsworth were fond of the butterflies’ beauty, too.

In the Middle Ages the monk Albertus Magnus thought caterpillars laid eggs and weren’t related to butterflies. He called butterflies "winged worms of different colors".

Plinius thought caterpillars developed when dew-drops fell on a tree’s leaves in spring.

The Germans say a person in love has "butterflies in the belly".

In antiquity and in the Middle Ages big swarms of butterflies were read as bad omens predicting wars and epidemics.

STERLING SILVER BUTTERFLY JEWELRY:

FILIGREE BRACELET

FILIGREE RING

SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL EARRINGS

AMETHYST PENDANT

Sterling Silver Butterfly

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:12:44 PST

Stunning Sterling Silver Butterfly
with Cubic Zirconia Body
and Mother of Pearl Wings
Slide Pendant

$36.00

Marcasite Silver Jewelry

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 15:54:04 PDT

Silver Clouds

Sterling Silver Jewelry

http://www.silvercloudsjewelry.com/

Marcasite derived it’s name from the Arabic word for pyrite. It is often confused with pyrite due to their similar characteristics. Everyone has heard of fool’s gold or iron pyrite, a golden-colored mineral that looks just like gold, but is actually a mixture of sulfur and iron. Marcasite is sometimes called white pyrite or white iron pyrite. Marcasite has the same formula as pyrite but a different structure and, therefore, different symmetry and crystal shapes. It’s appearance is slightly more silver. It can be faceted like a gemstone and is often used in sterling silver jewelry.

Marcasite gemstones are black with an iridescent quality when struck by light. One jeweler observes that quality marcasite stones have a brilliant silver color or a bright metallic luster, which when cut with many small facets at the top will catch the light and glow like small diamonds. They are stunning to they eye, giving off a lively antique look.

Having been used for centuries, Marcasite is steeped in legends and pagan traditions. It is believed to be able to release an energy that can throw off or counter negative energies, improve one’s ability to communicate, and protect those working in dangerous occupations.

Amethyst

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:07:34 PDT

Amethyst is a variety of quartz with purple coloration which is caused by impurities of iron or manganese. Amethyst occurs in a wide range of purple shades. The purple color can be throughout or can be in bands with white quartz. Its color and beauty are without rival, even from other much more expensive purple gems. Purple is the color of royalty. The rich and powerful have worn it as a mark of rank for hundreds of years. Even today as an affordable gem available in a wide selection of cut stones it has a regal air.

Amethyst is found in many areas around the world, including Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Africa, and Russia. In the United States, Amethyst can be found in Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and New Jersey. In Canada, Amethyst is found near Thunder Bay and in Nova Scotia. One typical feature of Amethyst from Thunder Bay is its reddish coloration, caused by an internal coating of red hematite (iron). Russian stones (from the Urals) are very clear and dark.

Amethyst is one of several gem quartz varieties. The others are:

Citrine - A yellow to orange variety, rare in nature but created by heating Amethyst.
Rock crystal - a clear stone, occasionally used as a gem.
Rose quartz - a pink stone, sometimes cut as a cabochon.
Smoky quartz - the brown to gray quartz stones, sometimes in error called smoky topaz.

In Greek Mythology
Dionysus, the god of wine and song, was angry and vowed to slay the first mortal who crossed his path. That unlucky mortal was Amethyst, a beautiful maiden. However, Artemis (goddess of virginity and the hunt) intervened and transformed Amethyst into white stone. When Dionysus saw what had happened, he repented and poured wine over the stone, staining the top of it purple. That is why the top of amethyst is purple and the bottom is white. Though the story has other variations such as: The Goddess Diana transformed a beautiful young maiden, Amethyst, into a statue of pure quartz in an effort to protect her from vicious tigers created by the vengeful God, Dionysus. Dionysus having looked upon the results of his actions wept remorseful tears of wine upon the statue endowing the stone with the rich purple hue we know today. Dionysus as it happens was the God of Intoxication.

In Folklore and Mythology
Amethyst has many supernatural powers. Amethyst purportedly Brings luck, Ensures constancy, Protects against magic, Prevents home-sickness, Protects against drunkenness, (the Greek word amethustos means "not drunk"). Leonardo da Vinci wrote that the gem dissipates evil thoughts and quickens the intelligence, high praise indeed.

CELTIC JEWELRY HISTORY

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:04:18 PDT

CELTIC JEWELRY HISTORY

by Yvette Podber

The modern styles of Celtic Jewelry are very closely linked with the ancient styles of the clans of the medievil centuries, specifically the Huns, Druids, and the Celtic clans of what we know as modern day Europe. These clans paid tribute to the influences of nature by making symbols on their swords, shields, clothing, and even their bodies.

Triquetra: Latin meaning "three-cornered." It's also the symbol for the holy trinity. Being a holy sign, this Celtic symbol is often carved into stone block used in churches. The Celtic symbol meaning is so profound, it is also frequently made into Celtic jewlery.

STERLING SILVER 18" ANTIQUED TRIANGLE CELTIC NECKLACE

Triskelion: A Greek term meaning "three-legged," and thus this sign looks very much like three legs running. The Celtic symbol meaning here is appropriate because this symbol stands for competition and man's progress.

STERLING SILVER ANTIQUED CELTIC EARRINGS

Five-fold: This pattern also represents balance. The four outer circles symbolize the four elements: earth, fire, water, air. The circle unites all the elements with a goal to reach balance between all four elements or energies.

STERLING SILVER ANTIQUED CELTIC POISON RING

Crosses: Represent the bridge or the passage between heaven and earth. The circle in the ringed cross signifies infinity and eternal spiritual love.

STERLING SILVER FANCY CELTIC BRAID CROSS CHARM

STERLING SILVER MOTHER OF PEARL RING

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:40:14 PDT


Click to enlarge image(s)

STERLING SILVER CONTINUOUS
ALTERNATING OVAL
MOTHER OF PEARL & ROPE BAR RING

$35.00

Pearls: Creation & Folklore

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:33:19 PDT

Pearls: Creation & Folklore

By Yvette Podber

Pearl is the birthstone for the month of June. It is also the accepted anniversary gemstone for the 3rd and 30th years of marriage.

How Pearls Are Formed
A pearl is the product of an oyster's defense mechanism. When a foreign irritant, makes its way into the shell of a marine or freshwater mollusk (oysters, clams), a defense mechanism kicks-in. A lustrous substance, called nacre, is secreted around the object to protect the soft internal surface of the mollusk. As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant, a pearl is formed.

Naturally occurring pearls are very rare. Most of the pearls we buy are "cultured," pearls that originate when beads or pieces of nacre are intentionally inserted into a mollusk and allowed to grow.

Mother of Pearl is the common name for the iridescent nacre, minerals that are secreted by oysters and other mollusks and deposited inside their shells, coating and protecting their bodies from parasites and foreign objects. The traditional color for pearls is white with flashes of iridescent pink, but today's cultured pearls are available in a rainbow of colors and in a huge range of shapes and sizes

Colors
The traditional color for pearls is white with flashes of iridescent pink, but today's cultured pearls are available in a rainbow of colors and in a huge range of shapes and sizes.

Types of Pearls

Natural pearls (made without human interference)
Cultured pearls (made when a foreign substance is intentionally inserted into a living oyster. This method was first used in 1893), baroque pearls (pearls that have irregular shapes)
Biwa pearls (an irregular shaped pearl which forms in the freshwater of Lake Biwa, Japan)
Blister pearls (pearls which grow attached to the inside of the shell)
Black pearls (gray to black pearls)
Freshwater pearls (pearls which form in fresh water mollusks and resemble puffed rice)
Mabe pearls (cultivated blister pearls )
Seed pearls (small, tiny pearls used in Victorian jewelry and sewn on clothing)

Folklore
To different cultures pearls have symbolized modesty, chastity, power, and courage. Cultured or freshwater pearls are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection, and luck. Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships. They are thought to keep children safe.

In Early Chinese myths, pearls were thought to fall from the sky when dragons fought. Ancient legend says that pearls were thought to be the tears of the gods. Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying.

STERLING SILVER BUTTERFLY FILIGREE RING

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:26:19 PDT


Click to enlarge image(s)

STERLING SILVER LARGE BUTTERFLY
FILIGREE RING

$26.00

Sterling Silver Jewelry for Sale

Thu, 03 May 2007 10:45:32 PDT

Welcome to Silver Clouds Sterling Silver Jewelry

Where you'll find stunning sterling silver jewelry, eye-catching rings, earrings, bracelets & cuffs, necklaces, pendants, body jewelry..., all of which are stamped 925. Our beautiful, alluring gems; garnet, sapphire, amethyst, onyx, moonstones, turquoise..., are genuine unless otherwise stated.