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Hi, I’m artist Patrick Barnes. Welcome to my website showcasing my fine jewelry. Please look around, I’m sure you’ll enjoy what you find here. New information is added every day!

Opal – The Precious Gemstone with a Stunning Array of Colors

By Patrick | February 10, 2021
Opal - The Precious Gemstone with a Stunning Array of Colors by Southwest Originals 505-363-7150 a

The enchanting opal, obtainable in all varieties of color, and can be classified in two ways, precious or common. To be considered a precious class it must have the iridescent quality known as “play of color”. This is defined as “a pseudo chromatic optical effect resulting in flashes of colored light from certain minerals, as …

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The Cool Facts and Figures of the Precious Gemstone, Sapphire

By Patrick | February 10, 2021
The Cool Facts and Figures of the Precious Gemstone, Sapphire by Southwest Originals 505-363-7150

Sapphire is the official birthstone of September and the gem used to commemorate 45th anniversaries with a sapphire jubilee occuring at 65 years. The sapphire is a precious gem and a variation of the corundum mineral. They are most commonly found in the color blue, however natural occurring sapphires are also found in yellow, purple, …

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Fame, Facts, & History of the Stunning Green Precious Gemstone, Tsavorite

By Patrick | February 3, 2021
Fame, Facts, & History of the Stunning Green Precious Gemstone, Tsavorite by Southwest Originals 505-363-7150 a

Tsavorite, also known as tsavolite, was first discovered in Tanzania, in 1967 by Campbell R Bridges. It is part of the grossular species of garnet. It is formed by the calcium-aluminum formula Ca3AI2Si3O12 and small amounts of vanadium or chromium, which is what creates its green hue. Mr. Bridges, a geologist and gemstone prospector from …

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The Unparalleled Characteristics of the World’s Most Famous Precious Gemstone, The Diamond

By Patrick | January 15, 2021
The Unparalleled Characteristics of the World’s Most Famous Precious Gemstone, The Diamond by Southwest Originals

To say the mineral diamond sparkles more than most minerals is to put it mildly. The diamond has characteristics that are unparalleled, and it is one of the most distinctive minerals found on earth. The diamond is the hardest material known on earth, it the best heat conductor and there is no other material on …

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