Materials Used

Tip : Click on a name for a list of jewelry pieces made with this material!

Metals

The metals mostly used at Mademoiselle M are sterling & fine silver, 14k gold-filled, and copper. We also sometimes use vermeil, bronze, stainless steel, brass, and aluminium.

Sterling silver is the most common alloy of this bright white metal. It contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, making it harder and usable in more objects. When oxydised, it becomes coppery, blue, pink, and then black.

Fine silver is, as its name implies, 99.9% pure silver. It is much more softer than sterling but can also be used in jewellery if it goes through a process to harden it. Bali or Thai silver is a derivative that containt betwen 94-98% silver.
Silver is associated to the Moon, and is also a symbol for the 25th anniversary.

Silver Filled is a layer of .925 or better silver which is mechanically bonded to a brass core. Our Supplier’s Silver Filled is 1/10 or 10% by weight (.925 or better) silver. It is hundreds of times thicker than silver plating and has the same properties as Sterling Silver.

Jewellery gold is a gold alloy containing any number of metals to harden it and modify its color. For example:
* Yellow gold is 75% gold with 12.5% silver and 12.5% copper.
* Rose gold is 75% gold with 5% silver and 20% copper.
* Grey gold, incorrectly called white gold in jewellery, is 75% gold with 15% silver and 10% copper.
* Blue gold is gold mixed with iron.
* True white gold varies between countries. In France, it is 20% gold with 80% silver; Elsewhere it's an even mix of gold and silver.
Carats represent the percentage of pure gold in the alloy : 10k (41.7%), 14k (58.4%), 18k (75.0%), 22k (91.7%), and 24k (100%). Pure gold is too soft to be used alone in jewellery, but it is also unalterable and doesn't tarnish. Gold represents the 50th anniversary.

Gold-filled comes from a process of high temperature and pressure that permanently bonds a thick layer of gold to a base metal piece. The resulting piece has the same brilliance and hypoallergenicity than pure gold, but it's price is much more affordable. The fraction of gold in the piece must be at least 1/20, and the gold used is often 14k (hence the name, 14k gold-filled). The gold layer will degrade, but at a much slower rate (30 years) than gold plate, which is anywahere from 50 to 100 000 times thinner, depending on the type of piece and fabricant.

Vermeil gold is a silver piece plated with gold, often 18 or 24k, hence the deep yellow gold tone. The gold layer is more fragile and can eventually be rubbed off, depending on the fabrication process and quality.

Stones

Abalone shells have an iridescent interior, which can be all sorts of colours.
Said to enrich the body.

Agates are stone aggregates made from various silica phases. It can be found in a range of earthy colours.
Reinforces the feelong of being down to earth. Diminishes envy. The crazy lace variety is said to relieve emotional stress and protect from the bad.

Amazonite is a variety of feldspath, semi-opaque, and ranging from verdigris to blue-green. Often mistaken for jade.
Used by the Egyptians, it was called the stone of courage. Restores spirituality and confidence.

Amber is petrified resin coming from ancient pine trees. It can vary from bright lemon yellow to deep brown.
As it is naturally electromagnetic, it aids body restoration, transforms negative energy into positive energy, and calm nerves.

Amethyst is February's birthstone. It's a mystifying stone in it's deep purple version, while it looks more romantic when a paler lilac hue. When heated, it transforms into yellow citrine, November’s birthstone.
Its name comes from the Greek 'not drunk'. A long time ago, the stone had a reputation of fighting alcoholic intoxication, to stimulate creativity, meditation, and prophetic dreams. Depending on sources, it would : be the stone of spirituality (Catholic Church cardinals are wearing it); bring harmony into relationships; be the symbol of calmness and protection, and would even protect from jealous lovers, bad women, and snakes…; at night, placed under the pillow, it would help sleep.

Aquamarine is March's birthstone. This beautiful stone is usually pale blue, but is also found in shades of green and yellow. It's also the 19th anniversary stone. It is part of the beryl family, the same as emerald. Aquamarine is supposed to bring peace and serenity, and to calm nerves. In ancient times, it also served as an antipoison and lucky charm to sailors.

Aventurine is often green, blue or orange, and sometimes brown, yellow, grey. It is from the quartz family.
Its name comes from the Italian language, where it means 'by chance'.
It's popular imitation is called goldstone, sold as deep orange or deep blue, which is really glass with copper inclusions, making it scintillating.

Carnelian is orange to red, often transparent.
Inpires courage and bravery. One of the 7 sacred stones in Buddism.

Chalcedony is a milky stone, present in all shades. Often tinted or colour-enhanced.

Cinnabar is usually red or black, and often sold as a carved stone. It was used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been found in Maya sarcophages.

Citrine is yellow, ranging from bright lemon yellow to deep caramel brown. It is often sold as heated amethyst. Part of the quartz family.
Brings physical and emotional wellness. In ancient times, it was used as a protection from snakebites and bad thoughts.

Natural coral is white, pink, red, black, blue, or beige, but it is often dyed. It is now illegal to harvest coral from the sea. Symbol for the 11th or 35th anniversary.

Crystal is sold in all colours because it is man-made. Rock crystal is not leaded crystal, it is actually another name for clear quartz.
Swarovski crystals are recognized all over the world for their high quality and brilliance. Click here for a complete colour chart. Czech or Chinese crystals are also very popular. Crystals are not suitable for children, as the lead contained in them is dangerous if put in the mouth.

Often imitated, never surpassed, the diamond is April’s birthstone. The hardest of all stones, and a member of the small tribe of precious stones, can you imagine that in ancient times, it was not cut for fear of affecting it’s magical properties? That was before the year 1300. Nowadays, it is synthetized industrially because it’s properties are useful in a lot of fields. In jewellery making, the most popular diamond is the clear one, but other beautiful shades exist : chocolate brown, canary yellow, even sky blue!

Being another of the precious stones, the emerald is May’s birthstone. But beware : it is often synthesized, or treated with oils and resins, so it is fragile. It’s also the 40th anniversary stone.
In the very old times (4000 years ago), it would have been used as a currency! In Antique Rome, the emerald is of Venus’ colour, also called “chastity stone”, and it would become cloudy when unfaithful. Generally speaking, the emerald is the symbol of true, sincere love.
Much medical virtues are attributed to this stone : help the vision and cure blindness, and protect from snake bites, but it is also very present in religions. To the Catholics, the Graal would have been carved in an emerald fallen from Lucifer’s forehead when he was expelled from the Heavens… Also, the table on which lie the Koran is made from emerald.

Formerly called fluorspar, fluorite has a wide range of colors including yellow, blue, pink purple and green. It is an interesting and beautiful stone because often more than one color occurs in a single stone. The ancient Egyptians used flourite to carve statues and scarabs, the Chinese have used it in carvings for over 300 years. In the 18th century, fluorite was powdered in water to relieve the symptoms of kidney disease. Fluorite is known as the "Genius Stone".

Garnet is usually deep red but can vary from purplish to brown. The hessonite variety is honey to orange to brown, and there exists also a green variety.
Associated to January. Favors perseverance.

Hematite is metallic black and sometimes red. It is fragile and it's name comes from the Greek, meaning blood.

Iolite is deep blue to purplish-blue.

Jade is green, ranging from lime to forest. Often dyed in bright candy colours.

Jasper is present in all earthy shades, and shows specific spots. There are a couple hundred varieties!

Kyanite is green or blue, and is very shimmering.

Labradorite is grey to blue, and presents iridescent lines and a blue to green to gold reflection.

Lapis Lazuli is royal blue, and often shows golden pyrite inclusions.

Malachite is deep green, with lighter green to black stripes.

Moonstone is an iridescent white stone, sometimes with rainbow radiance. It also exists in peach, grey, and black.

Opalite is the glass imitation of moonstone.

Mother of pearl is more often than not white, because it comes from the interior of the shells that produce pearls. It is often sold dyed.

Obsidian is deep black, often mingled with black onyx.

Onyx is black, but sometimes green, grey, or blue.

Opal is another earthy stone, but is found mostly in white, yellow, pink, black, green, and brown.
Pink opal is the symbol for October.

June's birthstone if the pearl. It's also the 3rd anniversary symbol. To those born in June : you are lucky because almost every jewel at Mademoiselle M has some pearls in it! The pearl is also attributed to the goddess Venus as the symbol of innocence.
Pearls are formed in saltwater and freshwater clams. A lustrous deposit is formed inside a living bivalve mollusk, often in response to an irritation felt by the animal. Though many mollusks form such deposits, most species do not make pearls with attractive surfaces. Also, pearls sometimes grow attached to the shell of the animal, rather than it's tissue; these are called blister pearls.
Generally, pearls are cultured or cultivated with the help of humans, by inserting a bead in the animal and allowing collection of nacreous secretion for about four years.

Imitation pearls are much less valuable: they are made by repeated dipping of a plastic bead into a coating made of glue ans ground sardine scales. But that's not all! The best true imitation pearls are Swarovski crystal pearls. The center of the "pearl" is a crystal, giving it a much more realistic weight, which is then coated with a massive and glossy material than won't rub off. Also, they are resistant to sun, scratches, perfumes, and sweat. And they are made in a lot of colours! Click here for a complete colour chart.
The trick to differentiate genuine from fake pearls? The tooth trick! An imitation pearl (Swarovski included) wil be completely smooth when you rub it against your front teeth, while a genuine pearl with feel rough.

Peridot is grass green, and is the symbol for August.

Quartz exists in all colours, as it is the most common mineral on Earth. We like it most as clear, pink, smoky brown, and lemon yellow.

Rhodocrosite is a soft pink stone, with white inclusions.

Rhodonite is a dusty pink stone with black or brown matrix.

Rhyolite is green with brown or yellow spots.

Ruby is the red/pink variety of sapphire, thus making it a precious stone.

Sardonyx is a striped stone, often in black, white, orange.

Serpentine is lime green to forest green, often with darker spots.

Sodalite is denim blue, often mingled with lapis lazuli, but it's white spots differientate the two.

Sunstone is orange to brownish pink, and is very shimmery.

Tiger's Eye is brown with yellow striped reflections. It can also be found as red or black.

Tourmaline is pink, green, and black. It is often cut as a watermelon-like slice!

Turquoise is bright blue to aquatic green. It's black or brown matrix can be seen both as a defect and a plus.

Unakite is forest green with peachy inclusions.

Zirconia (cubic zirconium) is more often than not a synthetic stone, as is crystal, but it was created to replace diamond, so it is much more heavy and exudes more brilliance. There is also a natural zircon which is aquatic blue.