Welcome!
Welcome to Janet on the Planet - the website of Natural Gemstone Designs created by Massachusetts artist Janet Mansfield.
My gallery quality creations are a combination of nature's precious gems and an intricate unique technique of wire wrapping. Beautiful beaded necklaces can be dressed up with dramatic accent pendants and earring sets. Every set is hand-made and available for purchase separately. You are guaranteed to have a one-of-a-kind piece of art jewelry.
All of my unique jewelry pieces are handmade. I do all the wire wrapping and make the beaded chains. I use only gold filled and sterling silver. What is Gold filled? Unlike gold-plating or vermeil (gold plated silver), gold filled is a thick layer of gold over a small core of base metal, usually brass, and will not wear off or tarnish. Gold-filled jewelry has all the beauty and wearability of 14k gold without the exorbitant price. Most people who have allergies and can only wear 14k can wear gold-filled jewelry.
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Herkimer Crystals, naturally formed over 500 million years, are exquisite. Due to their clarity, natural facets, and double termination (points at both ends), these crystal are called Herkimer Diamonds.
Herkimer Diamonds are quartz crystals, with a hardness of seven on MOH’s scale, make unique jewelry. Pendants and earrings wrapped in wire are the most common.
I like to use B+ and A, because they are clear or exhibit only tiny inclusions. AA grade crystals are perfect and are harder to find, thus more costly. I use AA grade for earrings.
Those interested in the metaphysical may be aware of the unusual scientific properties of this quartz. Herkimer Diamonds have the unique ability to convert one form of energy into another. When pressure is applied to a crystal, energy is release in the form of heat, light, and electrical voltage, this is what is known as "piezoelectricity."
Each crystal used in my jewelry is in its natural form and mined in central New York.