Rebecca Zemans Jewelry Blog

The word ruby comes from the Latin word "ruber" which means red. The ruby is a red variety of the mineral Corundum, which is one of the hardest minerals known to us and is found in metamorphic rock. Unless the gem is the color red, which it gets from traces of chromium, it is considered a sapphire. The ruby stands for heat and power and was often used as bullets for blowguns, to heat water or as a cure for indigestion. The ruby, which in Sanskrit is called "ratnaraj" meaning "King of Gemstones", was in ancient Indian thought to protect against misfortune...

The birthstone of the month of June is the Pearl. The word pearl comes from the Latin word "pirum", which means pear and refers to the shape of the "stone". I say "stone", because pearls aren't really stones; they are formed whenever an irritant, which can be anything from a parasite to a small fish, lodges in the flesh of an oyster, mussel, or clam, which leads to the production of a protective substance called nacre. Over the years one layer after another coats the intruder, creating a pearl. However, just like with any stone, there are many myths surrounding...

Embellish was one of the first stores to carry my jewelry and has been one of my most exciting collaborations. We started our businesses around the same time and it's so exciting for me to part of what has become a fixture of the neighborhood. The space is warm and inviting and Barb is so awesome that I just want to stay there for hours to chat. The story with this fabulous boutique in the North Center neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, started through a mutual friend, who told Barb Skupien, the owner of Embellish, about my jewelry. Barb then took a...

The Emerald is the birthstone of the month of May. Emeralds, known for their beautiful deep green color, is amongst the oldest known gemstones. It has existed on earth for more than 2600 million years and was first found by humans in Egypt. However, these mines have been exhausted for a long time.  The Ancient Egyptians believed in the power of these beautiful stones. To them, the color of the stones represented good luck and well-being. In ancient Rome, emeralds and the color green was associated with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Even today green is still considered a the...

A few weeks ago, I visited Paris for the first time. People always talk about how amazing Paris is, and honestly I didn't believe them until I went. What an incredible city! I had no idea there was a place where craftsmanship and beauty are important to everything from the bread to the subway stations. Ernest Hemingway once said, "I've looked far and wide but never have I found a cure for Paris." After visiting, I understand what he means. It's hard to go back to reality after visiting such a magical place. Carrying on the tradition of adornment and...