How Can I Spot It?

Traditionally, sapphire is a brilliant blue gem ranging from medium to royal blue. The more uniform the color, the higher the quality and thus the more valuable it is. Occasionally, sapphires may display a color other than blue, such as yellow, green, or violet. These are known as a “fancy sapphires.”

What Does It Symbolize?

The rich, royal blue color of many sapphires is commonly thought to symbolize just that – royalty and wealth. Like any gem, sapphire has long been thought to represent a number of other things, including innocence, truth, romantic love, and good health. Ancient Persians believed it was responsible for making the sky blue, and throughout history, it has been used in various religious ceremonies, as a source of protection against bad luck, and to decorate jewelry.

Where Is It Found?

Some of the finest and most valuable sapphire stones come from the South Asian island country of Sri Lanka. The first sapphires found in the United States were discovered in 1865 by miners in Montana.

And, of course, you can find sapphire-inspired treasures here at Uno Alla Volta! Here are a few of our favorite handcrafted pieces featuring this gem, and others inspired by its rich color:

Karen’s Sapphire Hoop Earrings

“Light My Sapphire” Swarovski Crystal Earrings

“Light My Sapphire” Swarovski Crystal Necklace

Sapphire Guatemalan Seed Bead Hummingbird

Faceted Sapphire Glass Crystal Pendant Necklace

“Sapphire Escape” Tunic

Murano glass is exquisitely beautiful. From jewelry to drinking glasses, there is definitely something for everyone. These handmade treasures are created one at a time. Patterns and colors may vary, and some may or may not contain millefiori accents. The surfaces may appear uneven and they’re also in various shapes. This is what makes glassmaking such a special craft. With hundreds of years of history behind it, explore the history of Murano glass and how it is made.

The History of Murano Glass

The origin of glassmaking goes way back to the times of the Roman Empire when they created molded glass for illumination in their bath houses. As early as the 8^th century, the Venetian Islands began to specialize in glassmaking. When a ruling class law was passed to avoid the risk of fire in an overpopulated area, the island of Murano was named as the true and most appropriate glass production area.

DECLINE AND SUCCESS

Murano glass had moments of success and gradual decline. Competition increased for them from the glassmakers of France and Bohemia. Rulers in the 18^th century preferred their glassmaking in Bohemia and passed laws, making it expensive to bring raw materials into Murano. As a result, half of the furnaces were shut down. Although, the industry in Murano did not die completely, Antonio Salviati, who practiced law, went to Venice to open a factory to produce traditional Murano glass. However, there was still constant fall and rise over the years. For example, during World War II the industry did not thrive, but as soon as the war was over the glassmakers continued creating their art.

THE SPREAD OF MURANO GLASS TRADITION

Many craftsmen were inspired by the making of Murano glass. The art of glass spread throughout Europe. Wherever there was a demand for glass, productions were created. Many artisans outside from Murano developed an eye for quality in creating beautiful Murano-style glass. Today, all across Italy and the rest of the world, these workshops use the same techniques and materials as a Murano workshop with identical skill and artistry.

HOW DO THEY CREATE CAPTIVATING COLORS?

Murano glass products are brightly colored and often infused with metals such as gold and silver leaf or copper crystals. When creating millefiori designs, they layer and slice colorful glass rods which stretch into unique designs. For other creations, glassmakers use a blowpipe with which they masterfully shape layers of color to achieve a richly-colored decorative piece.

What are the techniques?

As the techniques of Murano glassmaking have evolved, Murano glass has become a valuable treasure over the years. These glassmakers use unique, masterful techniques to create these amazing pieces. Both lampworking and hand-blowing create beautiful Murano style pieces, which is an incredibly rewarding experience to these artisans.

LAMPWORKING

This technique is also known as torchworking. Artists use high quality glass rods which are melted with a torch and then shaped into beads by cutting it with a steel cutting jack. Once they have the glass bead, it is heated to a temperature of about 950 degree Fahrenheit until the material reaches its stress relief point. The bead is then decorated by etching, polishing, or by other techniques.

Lorena’s mother creates stunning jewelry beads using the technique of lampworking in the video below:

BLOWING

Blowing glass is a challenging technique. This technique is done by using a blowpipe and basic hand tools to meticulously shape molten glass. These glassmakers are able to get unique patterns and shapes by blow piping. After the process is complete, the glass needs to cool until it becomes solid glass. The final touch that may be done to a glass piece is polishing, engraving, and enameling.

Our glass Artisan, Vittorio shows his methods on Murano glassmaking.

ANNEALING

Both techniques use the annealing process, which helps the glass slowly heal until it reaches room temperature. This process prevents the glass from cracking or breaking easily.

As early as the 14th century, Mayan and Aztec Indians sought and gathered Mexican fire opal, calling it “quetzalitzlipyollitli.” Today, this national gemstone of Mexico is also referred to as fire opal, sun opal, cherry opal, and the Spanish word for sunflower – girasol. The Mayans and Aztecs used this gem in mosaics and rituals, while today it decorates beautiful pieces of jewelry. After the passing of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations, knowledge and appreciation for fire opal disappeared. It wasn’t until the early 1800’s when an emergence of mining for fire opal and a renewed appreciation for its beauty appeared.

Mexican Fire Opal is formed when silica and water deposits are left in the voids left behind by volcanic gas bubbles and rock fractures. The silica does not crystallize, but rather solidifies, forming a gel that is filled with microscopic water bubbles. When light makes contact with this gem, it passes through the microscopic water bubbles and creates a spectrum of color – essentially creating a rainbow. The most significant deposits of fire opal are found near the extinct volcanoes in Queretaro and Jalisco, Mexico.

To create our Mexican fire opal jewelry, artisans produce opal resin by crushing natural Mexican fire opal, and then mixing it with a specially developed resin. This allows for the mineral to be cut, shaped, and set into the jewelry.

Mexican Fire Opal has a low tolerance to heat and is easily broken by sharp objects. If it is left in direct sunlight, or hot enclosed spaces, it can crack. Maintaining the water content of the opal is extremely important to the durability of the stone. Over time, opal can become dehydrated and brittle. To avoid dehydration, it should be stored away from high temperatures and frequently rubbed with light oil.

Check out some of our favorite Mexican fire opal designs for autumn:

Leon Nussbaum’s Mexican Fire Opal Leaf Earrings

Leon Nussbaum’s Mexican Fire Opal Tree Pendant Necklace

Leon Nussbaum’s Mexican Fire Opal Fox Brooch

Leon Nussbaum’s Mexican Fire Opal Sunflower Brooch

Whether you delight in collecting Polish pottery for its vibrant and elaborate designs, or love it for its functionality in the kitchen, here’s a bit more about what makes it so unique:

• Each piece is brought to life by skilled ceramicists and painters in Poland according to artistic traditions dating back to the 14th century.
• Polish stoneware is made with high-quality white clay which is high-fired to attain its extreme durability and then covered in a special lead-free glaze which provides chip-resistant and non-stick properties. This unique handmade process makes Polish pottery safe to place in the microwave, oven, dishwasher, and freezer.
• The ornate designs on Polish pottery are entirely hand-painted. Carved sponges are used to stamp the larger shapes before fine brushwork brings each individual motif to life. The painting process can take many hours depending on the complexity of the design.
• Each piece of pottery is numbered and signed by the artist who painted it.
• It’s easy to clean! Polish pottery has a special non-porous and non-stick glaze which means soaking is not required after use in the kitchen.

Uno Alla Volta is proud to bring you exclusive Polish pottery straight from the source in the villages of Boleslawiec and Brzeg, Poland. Because we work directly with the artists to develop special patterns, what you see in our catalogs and on our website cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

View our latest exclusive patterns and shapes!

How Can I Spot It?

Emerald is a brilliant green stone ranging from yellow-green to blue-green. The more vivid and intense the color, the purer the stone and therefore, the higher the quality.

What Does It Symbolize?

Throughout history, emeralds have been seen as a symbol of love. Perhaps this is why ancient Romans and Greeks associated them with the goddess Venus, who was thought to symbolize love and passion. Emeralds have also been associated with wealth and compassion.

Where Is It Found?

The first emeralds were found in Egypt around 1500 BC. Today, these gems are mostly mined in Columbia, Brazil, and Zambia, but are also found in numerous countries throughout Europe and Asia, and even right here in the United States! The state of North Carolina is the only place with significant emerald deposits in all of North America.

And, of course, you can find emerald-inspired jewelry here at Uno Alla Volta! Here are a few of our favorite jewelry pieces and accessories featuring the rich color of this beautiful green stone:

Piotr’s Emerald Swarovski Crystal Jewelry Set

Avi’s “Emerald Allure” Swarovski Crystal Necklace

Julie’s Vintage-Style Barrette With Emerald Swarovski Crystals

Murano glassmaking is one of the most renowned types of crafts across the world. Murano glass millefiori watches are timeless pieces that are created with high quality workmanship. The word millefiori comes from the Latin saying; “thousand flowers,” because it has a resemblance to a blossoming meadow. These designs are obscure floral mosaics, which bear an elegant Italian charm. It is important to take care of such an elegant watch so that you may hold on to it for many years to come. Here is how to care for your handmade Murano glass millefiori watch.

 Maintenance and Care

• Watches should be stored in a jewelry box to prevent from the overexposure of oxidizing environments.

• Use a lint-free cloth to wipe away any smudges or dust on the face of the watch.

• High temperatures of water may damage the surface of glass by producing a cloudy effect.

• Use a damp cloth to gently wipe the leather band clean. Do not use too much water, which can damage the leather.

Murano glass millefiori watches are luxury jewelry pieces with Italian charm that need to be kept with special care to retain their beauty. With bands of genuine leather, these watches make the best accessories for an everyday look.