Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a highly prized variety of chrysoberyl. In the daylight it appears grassy green and in
tungsten light it appears raspberry red. On Mohs’ scale of hardness, alexandrite is 8.5. It has a strong vitreous luster
and primary sources include Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Brazil (Minas Gerais).
Fast Facts
A member of the Chrysoberyl family, alexandrite holds a prized
and highly priced position among jewelry and gem collectors. A color change stone, alexandrite appears green in daylight but
changes to a raspberry color in incandescent light. Alexandrite was discovered during 1830 in the Ural Mountains on the day
Czar Alexander II came of age, and thus the stones were named in his honor. The primary sources for alexandrite are Sri Lanka,
Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Madagascar and Russia.
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Amethyst
(my birthstone)Amethyst is the recognized birthstone for February and the accepted anniversary
gemstone for the sixth year of marriage. As with all gemstones, care should be taken to protect amethyst from scratches and
sharp blows. Amethyst is the most highly valued and recognizable gemstone of the quartz family. Its affordable pricing makes
it a perennially popular choice. It is found in a range of colors from violet to pale red-violet. On Mohs’ scale of
hardness, amethyst is 7. Its primary sources include Brazil (Rio Granda, Para), Madagascar, Zambia, Uruguay, Burm (Myanmar),
India, Canada, Mexico, Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka and the United States (Arizona).
Fast Facts
Amethyst is one of the most prized and most interesting members of the quartz family. Ancient Romans
believed that if one drank amethysts with their wine, they would not become inebriated, and many of the small goblets from
that era are made from amethysts. Valued by the ancient Egyptians, the Hebrews and even the Christian Church, amethyst has
played a key role in cultures throughout history. Amethyst is found in a range of colors from violet to pale red-violet.
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Ametrine
Ametrine is a quartz crystal that contains amethyst and citrine. It is a bi-color gemstone including the violet of amethyst
and the yellow of citrine. This rare gemstone is found in Brazil, Uruguay, Africa, and bolivia. On Mohs’ scale of hardness,
Ametrine is 7. Recently, the amount of Ametrine deposits has decreased. The remaining deposits are coming from a mine in Africa.
NOTE: Currently, fewer than 600 pieces of Ametrine exist due to the small remaining amount of this combination found
in the earth. This is a rare gemstone that may become non-existent in the near future.
Fast Facts
Ametrine, a bi-color quartz, is made of amethyst and citrine in the same stone and combines both stones in its name. One
of the most common gem families, quartz can be found all around the world. In 1921, quartz it was discovered that quartz can
generate an electrical charge. Throughout history, quartz was considered to hold the power of communication or divination.
Interestingly, quartz was used in the development of modern radio frequencies. The Greeks believed quartz was clear ice that
over time had hardened into stone.
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Citrine (November birthstone)
Citrine is a quartz crystal. While its name refers to a lemon yellow color, citrine
can be found in a range of yellows from light yellow to dark yellow and golden brown. On Mohs’ scale of hardness, citrine
is 7. Sources include Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, Argentina, Burma (Myanmar), Namibia, Russia, Scotland and Spain.
Fast Facts
Due to its bright earth tones, Citrine is a popular stone for jewelry designers. Gloria Swanson
and other great old film stars of Hollywood brought citrine to the public awareness in the late 30’s. She wore her own
flamboyant citrine jewelry in her films. At that time, it was so unavailable to the general population, that it cost a fortune.
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Diamond (April birthstone)
Diamond is crystallized carbon, the only gem composed of a single element. The most popular diamonds are traditionally
colorless, but they can also be found in yellow and brown colors. Although much rarer, diamonds known as "fancies" also come
in blue, red, pink, green, orange, black, lavender and purple. On Mohs’ scale of hardness, diamond is the world’s
hardest substance at 10. It has a high luster and primary sources include South Africa, Namibia, Australia, Botswana, Russia,
Zaire, Brazil, Ghana, Angola, Central African Republic and Canada.
Fast Facts
Diamond is the hardest known gemstone on earth. In 1477, Archduke Maximillian gave his betrothed a ring
set with a diamond as a love token, making it the first recorded diamond "engagement" ring. Diamond comes from the Greek word
"adamas" meaning invincible. Some beautiful purple color garnets will often be found in kimberlite (blue ground) soil samples
in diamond rich areas and called diamond indicators. As diamonds are formed by nature, most naturally develop minute imperfections
known as inclusions. A diamond is considered "clean" if a trained eye cannot see inclusions when viewing the diamond through
a color corrected lens at 10 times magnification.
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Garnet (January birthstone)
Garnet is a the name given to a group of minerals which have in common a crystal structure and similar (but not exact)
chemical composition. The main garnet groups include pyrope, almandite, spessartite, grossularite, andradite and uvarovite.
On Mohs’ scale of hardness, garnet is 6.5-7.5. This wide-ranging family of gemstones covers virtually color and is found
all around the world.
Fast Facts
The main garnet groups include pyrope, almandite, spessartite, grossularite, andradite and uvarovite.
Malum granatum, Latin for garnet, refers to red pomegranate seeds. Found in many parts of the world and in a wide range of
colors, garnet is a popular and exciting gemstone family. Color-change garnets are highly prized by collectors and can rival
the beauty of alexandrite in appearance.
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Tanzanite (December birthstone)
Tanzanite is a variety of zoisite. It has naturally occurring shades of blue, green, yellow, pink, brown and khaki but
virtually all gemstone quality crystals are heat treated to produce the highly valued shades of sapphire blue, amethyst and
blue violet. On Mohs’ scale of hardness, tanzanite is 6.5-7. The prime source of all the world’s tanzanite is
in Tanzania (Africa) near Arusha.
NOTE
: Like ametrine, tanzanite is now in short-supply. For that reason, when retailers and jewelry stores aquire it,
they will sell their tanzanite gemstones and jewelry at the highest price, sometimes far more than the actual value.
Fast Facts
The mineral zoisite was discovered around 1805 in the Austrian area by a Baron for whom it was named.
It was usually brown in color, often nearly opaque. The discovery by accident of the tanzanite in 1967, was a great surprise
in Tanzania Africa, where it was first thought to be sapphire crystals.
The name Tanzanite was coined by Tiffany who had
first and exclusive rights to the pretty blue violet mineral for many years. Wearing a well-cut Tanzanite communicates self-confidence,
individuality, and maturity. Its brilliant color and its exclusive origin in Tanzania combine to make Tanzanite a unique and
highly sought after gemstone.
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Tourmaline (October birthstone)
Tourmaline is a fascinating mineral that can sometimes exhibit two or more colors. It is 7.5 on the Mohs’ scale and
has no cleavage, making it suitable for many types of jewelry use. Sometimes referred to as the "electric stone," tourmaline
becomes statically charged when heated or rubbed, attracting dust, lint and small pieces of paper.
Fast Facts
Tourmaline possesses one of the widest color ranges, reproducing every conceivable color in the universe. An ideal investment,
Tourmaline is fairly hard, durable, brilliant and very wearable. It is vitreous on crystal surfaces, and because of that the
polished stones will have a beautiful brilliance.
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Zandrite
Zandrite is trillion cut purple/blue gemstone. Zandrite is similar to Tanzanite. This trillion cut purple Zandrite gem
spontaneously changes from purple to blue in any light.
