The cool gleam of yellow gold combine to a beautiful effect in this uniquely elegant carnelian shell agate cameo pendant. Dramatic cameo design is exquisitely rendered in 1... [Read more]
Exquisitely detailed designer style brooch pin. It s great for wearing on your hat coat jacket jeanhandbag and purse. The best one for wedding party and gift. Other alterna... [Read more]
Glam it up! Give every ensemble a feminine touch with this beautiful Cameo Victorian Brooch Cameo Lady Brooch And Pendant Holding Rose Fully decorate With Pink Crystals. Ad... [Read more]
Vintaj Natural Brass. Antiqued Nouveau Woman Cameo. No Hole. Quantity Of 1 This nickel and lead-free item is made of a lovely antique style brass. This beautiful raised rel... [Read more]
. Very Victorian - this vintage-inspired cameo pendant is a true depiction of beauty. Hand-carved silhouette of a young woman with a flower in her upswept hair wearing pear... [Read more]
A stunning invocation of the greatest expertise of the jeweler's craftsmanship and art, this pendant is ready to provide a lifetime of enjoyment, pleasure and pure elegance... [Read more]
Beautiful Cameo Pendant Necklace. This is such a Beautiful Lady the vermil Smoked Topaz Dangling Pendant. The Pendant Embedded with Smoked Topaz and Topaz Crystals. The Pen... [Read more]
. Offering all the delicate beauty of an antiqued cherished heirloom, this multiple-chain pendant-necklace with lovely lucite cameo pendant is a study in femininity beautif... [Read more]
Rarely are you offered the opportunity to invest in a spectacularly elegant pendant which you can enjoy for a lifetime and pass on as a heirloom to future generations. This... [Read more]
Dress up your elegant eveningwear or daytime attire with a touch of the past! This gorgeous vintage style cameo pendant is stylish and sophisticated. Crafted in sleek sterl... [Read more]
Glam it up! Give every ensemble a feminine touch with this beautiful Cameo Victorian Brooch Cameo Lady Brooch And Pendant Holding Rose Fully decorate With clear Crystals. A... [Read more]
Tap into your softer side while wearing this enchantingly beautiful pendant. A marquise-cut white topaz brilliantly glistens inside a rope-detailed layer of 14k gold. The g... [Read more]
Exquisite and ornate this vintage style antique brass metal with Hermitite and Black Diamond Crystals flowers around Heiress Filigree Crystals Cameo Brooch This beautiful p... [Read more]
. Stunning cameo-style pendant offers rich adornment with its elegant heirloom look. Embellishments of white and grey simulated pearls and crystal accents beautifully frame... [Read more]
Keep love in your heart of gold. What a lovely sentiment. And what a lovely blue chalcedony cameo pendant. Filled with beauty and charm, it includes an 18" chain. Set ... [Read more]
Your search for a romantic look that captures the essence of the old world is over. This pendant that is reminiscent of cameos of the past does just that. A marquise-cut Af... [Read more]
Exquisite and ornate this vintage style antique brass metal with Amethyst Crystals around Heiress Filigree Crystals Cameo Brooch This beautiful profusion of Timeless beauty... [Read more]
Surround yourself in an aura of romance whenever you wear this enchanting pendant. This gorgeous gold over sterling silver showcases a lace-like pattern of sweeping scrollw... [Read more]
Echoes of an elegant era. Offering all the delicate beauty of a cherished heirloom this multiple-chain necklace with lovely lucite cameo pendant is a study in femininity be... [Read more]
Inspired by the Victorian cameo, this elegant pendant adds enchanting style to any look. Sterling silver is fashioned into an oval-shaped pendant whose center is swathed in... [Read more]
Exquisitely detailed designer and antique style brooch pin. It s great for wearing on your hat coat jacket jeanhandbag and purse. The best one for wedding party and gift. O... [Read more]
Beautiful Cameo Pendant Necklace. This is such a Beautiful Lady the vermil Silver Casting with Amethyst Crystals Embedded Pendant. The Pendant is adorned by sparkling Ameth... [Read more]
Exquisitely detailed designer style brooch pin. It s great for wearing on your hat coat jacket jeanhandbag and purse. The best one for wedding party and gift. Other alterna... [Read more]
Exquisitely detailed designer style brooch pin. It s great for wearing on your hat coat jacket jeanhandbag and purse. The best one for wedding party and gift. Other alterna... [Read more]
Sterling Silver / 18K Gold Venetian Cameo Enhancer Pendant This cameo enhancer was inspired by ancient Greco-Roman molds! This grand pendant is the perfect way to show off ... [Read more]
Exquisitely detailed designer and antique style brooch pin. It s great for wearing on your hat coat jacket jeanhandbag and purse. The best one for wedding party and gift. O... [Read more]
Make the decision now and surrender to the temptation this pendant will give you a lifetime of pride and pleasure. This 14k yellow gold pendant makes a great addition to an... [Read more]
There are two kinds of materials for cameos. One material, as we have seen in a previous article, is shell. The other material that is used to carve cameos is gemstones. Cameos carved from gem material are said to be "Hardstone Cameos". The term "hardstone" refers to any opaque stones used in making cameos, such as agate, carnelian, onyx, etc.
Hardstone cameos are more durable than shell cameos; so they are much more expensive than shell cameos. For this reason, they are said by many jewelers to be a finer type of cameo than their shell-based counterparts.
Agate is the most popular gemstone for carving cameos. Agate is micro-crystalline quartz. It is popular because of its durability. Ancient Greek and Roman jewelers carved cameos out of agate. The oldest agate cameo found dates back to around 200 B.C.
Agate also comes in a variety of different colors. The most popular colors used in recent history have been blue or green. Many modern cameos are made from banded agate, which simply means that the agate has naturally formed bands of color running through it.
Modern day agate cameos are primarily carved in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. They are often carved ultrasonically or using dental tools!
Coral is another colorful cameo stone, was popular during the Victorian era as a symbol of good luck. Coral also been used in ancient times for good luck. Ever seen pictures of Egyptian scarabs [beetles carved into coral and worn as jewelry]? Today old coral cameos are rare and expensive!
Other gemstones have also been used to carve cameos. Cameos have also been carved from opal, lapis, emerald, amethyst and ruby. These types of cameos or the most costly.
Hardstone cameos have been carved in gemstone since ancient times and used on helmets and military accessories like breastplates and sword handles, on rings and other jewelry, and on vases, cups and dishes. During the Middle Ages, Pope Paul II was an avid cameo collector. Napoleon, who started a school to teach the art of cameo carving in Europe, loved cameos.
The most popular motif for a cameo carved from gemstone is the profile of a woman. However, because it is "tougher" than a shell cameo, many themes could be carved into agate and other "hardstones". These themes included: gods/goddesses, mythology, birds and flowers. The most valued gemstone cameos, however, are "metamorphic" ones. These include several subjects, such as a woman and a flower, within one carving. These are also called art cameos.
Because hard stone cameo fakes were able to be mass produced after the Industrial Revolution, you must go to a reputable cameo carver or jewelry dealer to find one. Then, before you buy, examine your hardstone cameo carefully. As stated in a previous article on shell cameos, the stone should be without major cracks or chips. In recent years, people have tried to fake a cameo, (which is carefully carved from one material); by gluing a carved face from one material onto a different material of another background color! This is particularly true of hardstone cameos. Ask a trusted jeweler specializing in cameos to examine the cameo under a microscope to be sure
The care for gemstones/cabochon cameos is the same as it is for shell cameos, although shell cameos are more delicate. Again, as stated in a previous article on shell cameos, all cameos will require special care. Cameos should be dusted. After you dust it, you may rinse the cameo with warm water, drying it afterward with a soft cotton cloth. They should be oiled at least once a year. It is recommended that one use mineral oil. Olive oil, if it is not completely removed, may turn a cameo yellow. You should always avoid using soap, harsh cleaners or commercial jewelry cleaners. Remember, use a light hand! Do not scrub the cameo! And do not leave it to soak! Cameos must be stored in a clean, dry place, away from heat and bright lights. It is preferable that the jewelry box containing the cameo be lined. Follow the above guidelines and you will enjoy your gemstone cameo for many years to come!
