Gemstone

Alexandrite

Need an instant wardrobe change? Alexandrite, a pleochroic gem, changes colors depending on the viewing direction and the type of environmental light. The finest material is extremely rare and changes from bluish-green tones to reddish-purple, depending on the light source.

The finest color alexandrite is extremely rare and therefore can have a high price tag. High quality material can be more expensive than diamond.

Thought to have healing powers by many cultures, amethyst has deep ties to the ancient world. From Latin amethystus (Greek amethystos), amethyst means ‘not drunken’. The Greeks adorned themselves with amethyst for its promotion of clear thought.

Aquamarine

From Latin, aqua marina meaning, sea water, the aquamarine’s beautiful color is reminiscent of a glimpse into the clearest of oceans. Aquamarine may be pastel blue or greenish-blue. The highest-quality aquamarines are rich blue to slightly blue-green with no visible inclusions. Aquamarine is scratch resistant, however it breaks by cleavage and is also brittle.

The largest faceted aquamarine, the Dom Pedro Aquamarine, is on display at the Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History. The portion of the Beryl crystal from which the Dom Pedro was cut weighed almost 60 pounds and was about 2 feet in length.

When citrine and amethyst are found in the same crystal it’s referred to as ‘ametrine’. Superstition says that wearing citrine will bring prosperity.

Emerald

Emeralds are renowned for stunningly lush bluish green to green colors. An emeralds hue must be very rich. A weaker, less saturated variety is known as “green beryl”. Eight on the Mohs scale of hardness, emerald is scratch resistant, however it breaks by cleavage and is also brittle. An emerald’s hue makes it a natural choice for jewelry, but a setting that will protect this beautiful gemstone should be considered.

Emerald was the favorite gem of Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. The earliest known emerald mine is located in Egypt’s Eastern Desert region and dates back as early as 330 BC.

Garnet is found all over the world. In addition to its attractive characteristics of brilliance and beautiful colors, some garnets color change when viewed under different light sources. Rich in history, there are countless beliefs about the benefits of wearing garnet.

Iolite

This gorgeous gemstone is similar to sapphire or tanzanite in color, but comes with a less expensive price tag. In addition, iolite is rarely heat-treated or irradiated to improve its color. Iolite is vulnerable to cleavage in one direction, which is one consideration for its use in everyday jewelry.

Iolite is derived from the Greek word ios, meaning violet. It is very rare to find faceted iolite above five carats.

Opal can contain up to 20% trapped water within it’s sructure. Uncut opal rough is commonly stored in water to reduce the oppertunity for crazing (producing a network of fine cracks).

Morganite

Soft, feminine and delicate are just a few words to describe the stunning hues associated with morganite. Usually light in tone, the finest material is deeper pink. Morganite is usually eye-clean with no visible inclusions which makes is a wonderful gemstone to use in jewelry.

Morganite was discovered in the early 20th century and was first known as pink beryl. In 1911, it was renamed in honor of financier J.P. Morgan who was also an avid gem collector. Morganite continues to gain popularity.

Moissanite was discovered by Henri Moissan in Canyon Diablo, Arizona in 1893 while examining rock samples from a meteor crater. He mistakenly identified his findings as diamonds, but later, (in 1904) identified the crystals as silicon carbide.

Onyx

Although onyx can be found in a variety of colors, black onyx is most common in jewelry. Onyx is layered chalcedony with parallel bands. This opaque gemstone is commonly cut as a cabochon but can also be faceted. Because of the layered bands, it is a popular choice for carvings and cameos

Rich with history in lore, onyx has been used since antiquity for its protective attributes. Artifacts of bowls and other pottery items have been found in Egypt as early as the Second Dynasty

Opal is formed as water trapped in the crevices in silica evaporates. Opal is occasionally cut and polished to exhibit different color on each side.

Passion Topaz

These vibrant beauties begin their journey as white topaz and through SWAROVSKI GEMS™ patented process are permanently colored into an array of stunning colors. Passion Topaz is a great gemstone to consider for jewelry because of its durability and color options.

Swarovski was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Wattens, Austria. The company produces beautiful crystals and gemstones as well as optical equipment.

Ancient Egyptians referred to Peridot as the ‘Gem of the Sun” but peridot crystals have actually been found in meteorites.

Quartz

Quartz is one of the most common minerals on the earth’s surface and since antiquity it has adorned our wardrobes. Quartz can be found as giant crystals, or small grains. This versatile gemstone comes in a wide range of colors. Some of the more popular varieties are amethyst, citrine, onyx, and smoky quartz.

Quartz has many uses. It’s used in jewelry, counter tops, electronics, sandpaper, and even the internal parts of watches. Quartz can be used to regulate both digital and analog clocks.

In Sanskrit, ruby was called ratnaraj which literally means, “jewel-king” and loosely translated to “king of jewels”

Sapphire

Although sapphire (corrundum) can be found in almost every hue, rich blue is the most desirable for sapphire. Cornflower (blue) and Padparadscha (orangish-pink) are just two names used to describe a specific color range of sapphire. When the mineral corundum is red, it is called a ruby.

Some sapphires exhibit color change in different types of light. If cut as a cabochon, sapphire can display a lovely six pointed star known as an asterism.

Tanzanite was discovered in 1967 and is only found in Tanzania, near Mount Kilimanjaro. It is more rare than diamond.

Topaz

A wonderful choice for jewelry, topaz is relatively hard, comes in a variety of desirable colors, and is widely available making it an affordable option. Topaz can be found in large flawless crystal. Although blue topaz does occur in nature, topaz is commonly irradiated and heat treated to enhance and create the blue color.

The name topaz comes from the Sanskrit and means fire. Imperial Topaz (golden in color) is the most valuable color of topaz.

The largest tourmaline is roughly 192 carats and is valued over $25 million. Tourmaline can be cut into bi-colored and tri-colored gemstones.

Zircon

Zircons brilliance and luster make it a beautiful choice for jewelry. It is often cut with a brilliant cut to enhance its natural fire and maximize its sparkle. Due to the similarity in name, Zircon is commonly confused with Cubic Zirconia, a synthetic Diamond substitute. This has greatly impacted its popularity in jewelry.

Relative to other gemstones, Zircons specific gravity is high, making it a heavier stone. Other gemstone varieties of equal shape and size will weigh less than zircon.