The Power and Mindfulness of Gift Giving “The best givers are those who honestly care about the recipient and who thrive on hearing their stories. And they know that in the act of giving, both the giver and the receiver experience true joy.” –Kathy Staples Each year gives us so many opportunities—both public […]
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Topaz Lore and History
Topaz 10CT STRAW TOPAZ A sterling silver pendant featuring one bezel set square shaped straw topaz on a 16 inch silver chain. This necklace was designed and made by Sydney Strong. Topaz is an aluminum silicate containing fluorine and has a chemical formula of Al2(F,OH)2SiO4. It is formed by fluorine-bearing vapours given off during the […]
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Opal Gemstone History and Lore
Moth Brooch and Pendant – deisgned and made by llyn strong OPAL Writers have compared opals to volcanoes, galaxies, and fireworks. Admirers gave extraordinary opals poetic names like Pandora, Light of the World, and Empress. In ancient Rome, this gem symbolized love and hope. The Romans gave it a name—opalus—that was synonymous with “precious […]
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Diamond Gemstone History
Multi-colored diamond strand necklace and 18K white gold ring with rose cut yellow diamond flanked with white diamonds. Designed and made by llyn strong Diamond Gemstone History The diamond is more than just aesthetically beautiful—it’s an enduring symbol of love, romance, and commitment. The stone’s name is derived from the Greek word adamas, which translates […]
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Peridot Gemstone
Image Credit – https://www.gia.edu/peridot Peridot Gemstone History Peridot is a gemstone with a fascinating history, both in nature and culture. It is one of the oldest known gemstones, with ancient records documenting the mining of peridot from as early as 1500 B.C. It is a gem especially connected with ancient Egypt, and some historians believe […]
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Ruby Gemstone History and Symbolism
Ruby Many cultures have long considered ruby a stone of kings. Not surprisingly, ruby symbolism and lore have many associations with power and wealth. Possessing a ruby purportedly benefited and protected the owner’s estates and assisted in the accumulation of wealth. Notably, this gem would help its owner acquire more gems. The bright red […]
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The History of Moonstones
Moonstone History Moonstone is best known for its pearly sheen, or schiller effect, where light reflects off of the two types of feldspar that make this stone, orthoclase and albite. These two minerals grow together in alternating layers, and a phenomena named adularescence happens whenever light hits this play of orthoclase and albite. No matter […]
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The History of Father’s Day
The History of Father’s Day The nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. However, it was not until 1972–58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official–that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States. Father’s Day 2019 occurs on Sunday, June […]
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The History of Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world, and Mother’s Day 2019 occurs on Sunday, May 12, in the United States. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Jarvis would later […]
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An Engagement Ring’s Tale
An Engagement Ring’s Tale Selecting an engagement ring is a long-lasting purchase decision for a couple. One of the first things to consider is selecting the type of stone. Should it be traditional or embrace some¬thing? As it turns out, what Americans think of as traditional when it comes to engagement rings depends on how […]
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Custom Jewelry : llyn strong Spring Collection
Featured in the April TOWN Magazine, these beautiful spring custom jewelry pieces glow like a pearl in the sunlight. View Products Here. The first necklace, which is titled “Gold Flowers”, consists of a modullyn™ necklace and clasp embedded into the design. A strand of 274.43ctw, hand cut rondelle shaped rutilated quartz beads, with 18k [...] Continue Reading -
llyn strong Fine Art Jewelry Doc of Rocks
The team at llyn strong fine art jewelry would like to invite you to join us for the first of our Facebook Live events. Our goal is to make these as entertaining as they are informative. We welcome your questions and comments as we introduce and discuss various topics with each event. For our opener […]
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Paraiba Tourmaline: The Color of Paradise
Raw columnar and large faceted Paraiba tourmaline: intense blue! (Source) Appearing to glow from within, the Paraiba tourmaline is an incomparable gemstone. Nearly three decades ago, this vivid blue stone captivated the world! This tourmaline quickly became one of the most sought-after gems in history. Biannually, we invite gemstone expert and vendor James Alger to […]
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The Perfect Custom Engagement Ring: A Gemologist’s Love Story
The Perfect Custom Engagement Ring: A Gemologist’s Love Story Sydney Strong is our resident Graduate Gemologist. She’s the daughter of our namesake artist, llyn strong, and a fantastic jewelry designer in her own right. (Check out her jewelry line, SS) Last fall Sydney got engaged to the love of her life, Michelle, on top of […]
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“Heart of Gold” Customer Giveaway
We’re celebrating our customers with a huge giveaway! “Heart of Gold” is a necklace from llyn strong’s Unbreakable Heart collection. Made of sterling silver, rusted iron from Greenville, SC, 18k yellow gold, and a 9.7mm South Sea golden pearl on a brown stainless steel chain. Valued at $2,000. Our customers are all amazingly unique, but […]
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Locally Made Valentine’s Day Gift: Jewelry + Chocolates
Valentine’s Day purchases from llyn strong fine art jewelry include complimentary fine chocolates. In our opinion, the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day should include more excitement—less shopping around. So we’ve partnered with LaRue Fine Chocolate to help you get everything you need in one easy step. Pictured: Turquoise and Blue Diamond Arch Ring and Garnet and […]
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Fine Arts Center Students Visit the llyn strong Studio
A Glimpse into the Business & Art of Jewelry Making Last month, we were pleased to host Katy Cassel and her two metals classes from the Fine Arts Center (FAC). Twenty art students from Greenville, SC joined llyn in our showroom/gallery to see her finished work and hear her story. She also gave the students a picture […]
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The Column Ring: a Custom Men’s Fashion Ring
Dan’s custom Column Ring is the perfect example. A local business owner, Dan worked with llyn strong to design an original 18k gold ring crowned with a bicolor tourmaline. It all began as a loose gemstone and a concept sketch. Designing a Custom Men’s Ring From Scratch The ring was built around a central focal point: […]
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Walking Through the Custom Process
One of the truly unique services offered at llyn strong fine art jewelry is the opportunity to work one on one with llyn or any member of her team in order to create a piece of custom jewelry exactly how you want. Every year we complete over 100 pieces of custom jewelry, each one specially […]
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A Short History of the Gemological Institute of America
Our manager, Sydney Strong, is currently finishing her graduate Gemologist degree at the Gemological Institute of America, a program that focuses on how to identify and grade precious stones. For our blog this week, we’re going to take a look at the history of the GIA and their role in the gemstone industry. The […]
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