Details - Connie Castellano

Topaz

November 26, 2016 No Comments

Topaz rates an 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Typically, colorless, gray or pale yellow and blue material is heat treated and irradiated to produce a more desired darker blue. This quartz family gemstone has perfect cleavage , a property it shares with diamond, so a hard blow can cause it to split or chip. Another important thing to know is that topaz does not naturally occur in the deeply blue saturated hues you find in the market today.

This gemstone is easy to clean with warm water, old soft bristled toothbrush and Windex. It’s the ammonia content in the Windex that will makes your piece sparkle once again!

Imperial topaz is the most coveted of all the topaz and is naturally occurring golden orange to pink, also known as “precious topaz”. It is considered to be the colour of the setting sun. This orange gem with red dichroism displays a magical color play of light when tilted in various light. It gets it’s name from the Russian Tsars of the 17th century. This is because the Tsars claimed exclusive rights to the pink/orange gemstones that were mined in Russia.

Reference a lovely example of Imperial Topaz found in the pendant section on the Castellano website. When thinking of special gift giving, select a piece of exclusive jewelry, “Original, just like her”….

Artist in Action

Connie Castellano Artist in Action – Free LIVE Event

June 28, 2016 No Comments

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I personally invite you my LIVE EVENT

As part of First Friday activities, I will be conducting a demonstration of my process.
I will take my design from concept to wax to refinement.
A wonderful way to truly gain and understanding and appreciation of the process that is creation and design.

Downtown Winslow, Bainbridge Island
Friday, July 1st
4:30 – 8:00
292 Ericson Ave

Afterwards, stroll downtown Winslow for an evening of art, food, and friends!
The Art Walk features businesses that are either featuring an art exhibit or are offering small bites on their menus.
Participating businesses are listed in walking order starting on Winslow Way near the ferry terminal.

Refreshments served at most venues. A number of local restaurants join the monthly event, offering small plates and weekend specials.
Easy walk from the ferry.
Hope Connie Castellano original jewelry designs to see all of you!

-Connie

Connie Castellano Events

Redesign Event: Creating New Fascination Out Of Old Jewerly

May 27, 2016 No Comments

“Repurposing Old Jewelry into New Timeless Creations”

Memories captured in the form of previously owned jewelry can now be transformed into exciting new creations suitable to your individual taste and lifestyle! Recycling your old white gold and yellow gold scrap allows you to choose your favored gold color choice prior to casting the new model. Repurposing family gemstones is truly a way of honoring that special person or a place in time. Bringing the unworn jewelry out of the dark safe to once again dance in the light of new timeless or art inspired setting is a celebration. This is how I like to create fascination in wearable fine jewelry. Allowing new art and inspiration to breathe life into the new jewelry design is my passion.

Let me invite you into the alluring process of lost wax…discover the magical legends and lore of your gemstones. Feel free to share your desires of favorable styles and possibly your gemstones history. With full confidentiality, I will quietly collect notes and incorporate these thoughts into concept sketches that you may want to include in your new piece. Besides creating a beautiful piece of jewelry, it is important that it is durable, comfortable and becomes part of you.

Let me invite you to a UNIQUE EVENT:

Like me on facebook and PM me for an appointment or call 206.406.9520
5% of Fridays proceeds will be donated to BIMA’s Educational Art Fund so both young and old may have an opportunity to explore the joys of a hands-on art experience.

Friday the event will start at 4:30pm – 8:00pm

Saturday and Sunday the event will go from 11:00am – 4:00pm.
In addition to this lovely opportunity to show support, I will be unveiling my New Collections of ORIGINAL pieces.
I hope to see each of you Next Friday!

-Connie Castellano

“Flora” Inspired by Etruscan art, this ring design offers a contemporary twist on early pre-civilizations art form…emerald center flanked by (4) F/VS2 diamonds (sold)

“Sorrento” Lively apple green peridot with fancy cut facets disperse incredible fire in this twist on European olive leaf design. (4) F/VS diamonds in the corners of the belled shank add sparkle to any coversation. Green diamonds in the bezels below the the center peridot. $1800

“Open Door to Future Possibilities” (7) F/VS diamonds and .47pt Ceylon blue Sapphire set in 14kwht gold $2400

14kwht gold or 14ky gold contemporary earrings with stone finish on illusion style droplet holding a 1ct. white sapphire in each earring $1200

Natural mauve pearls with 18ky feather leaf detail and wine color rhodolite garnets at the finish (sold)

18ky gold Italian influenced design with blue Ceylon sapphires $1,800

“Fruitful” 14ky gold or 14kwht gold featuring (3) F/VS2 diamonds in this gentle organic motion of this pendant $875

“Pendulum” 18ky gold with .25pt F/VS2 round brillinat diamond at top and 7.46ct fancy golden citrine trillion on 18″ chain $3800 (sold)

4.12ct Brazialian aquamarine, fancy trillion kite cut by International Gem Master, John Dyer. This pendant is set is set in 14kwht

Colored Gemstones

Peridot

March 3, 2016 No Comments

12688058_1116849585021471_2018223517748438637_n Colored Gemstones: The real value….
It is important for consumers.
Are the stones irradiated to gain color, or are they naturally occurring? Do you really know? First up, peridot… I will talk about it, followed by color treated quartz is known as common blue topaz by process of irradiation…do you know what you are really buying? Is it a common property of low value? Do you know?