This group of coloured gemstones is best known for its red varieties but has other exciting colours in the family that are equally beautiful and worthy gemstones for fine pieces of jewellery.
The red garnets found in most jewellery usually consist of the Pyrope and Almandine varieties, these range in colour from the darker reddish brown and brownish orange tones. The purplish red Rhodolite type has become more popular in recent years.
Other colours include the bright crisp orange to orange red Spessartite garnet also known as “mandarin garnets” which make a fine choice for someone wanting a gemstone that is a little different from the rest of the crowd.
One of the most exciting colours to come to the market in the last 40 years or so are the green Tsavorite garnets which were discovered in Kenya. These stones have a bright intense to vivid green colour with large stones being quite rare.
This group of coloured gemstones is best known for its red varieties but has other exciting colours in the family that are equally beautiful and worthy gemstones for fine pieces of jewellery.
The red garnets found in most jewellery usually consist of the Pyrope and Almandine varieties, these range in colour from the darker reddish brown and brownish orange tones. The purplish red Rhodolite type has become more popular in recent years.
Other colours include the bright crisp orange to orange red Spessartite garnet also known as “mandarin garnets” which make a fine choice for someone wanting a gemstone that is a little different from the rest of the crowd.
One of the most exciting colours to come to the market in the last 40 years or so are the green Tsavorite garnets which were discovered in Kenya. These stones have a bright intense to vivid green colour with large stones being quite rare.
Emerald is the best known member of the beryl family of gemstones. It is the modern birthstone for the month of May and commemorates the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. Emerald has a vibrant green colour and its name derives from the Greek smaragdos, which means green stone and its colour is a result of chromium.
One of the most common characteristics of emeralds is that they are often contain natural inclusions. These are not always seen as a fault but as evidence as to the stones natural origins as compared to synthetic emeralds. These inclusions are often referred to as jardin a French word for garden. Fine transparent specimens of emerald are available but often fetch premium prices.
Emeralds traditionally are found in many locations around the world, however Colombia is seen as the most well know source and include such mines as Muzo and Chivor. Other sources include Mozambique, Zambia, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.
This group of coloured gemstones is best known for its red varieties but has other exciting colours in the family that are equally beautiful and worthy gemstones for fine pieces of jewellery.
The red garnets found in most jewellery usually consist of the Pyrope and Almandine varieties, these range in colour from the darker reddish brown and brownish orange tones. The purplish red Rhodolite type has become more popular in recent years.
Other colours include the bright crisp orange to orange red Spessartite garnet also known as “mandarin garnets” which make a fine choice for someone wanting a gemstone that is a little different from the rest of the crowd.
One of the most exciting colours to come to the market in the last 40 years or so are the green Tsavorite garnets which were discovered in Kenya. These stones have a bright intense to vivid green colour with large stones being quite rare.
The Pearl is regarded as one of the 5 precious gemstones of old alongside ruby, diamond, emerald and sapphire. The pearl is treasured for its beautiful lustre and iridescence which are the result of the nacre which has been deposited by the mollusc around an irritant in layers to form a spherical bead (if all goes well).
Pearls can be classified into various types, the natural pearl which grows without any human intervention is very rare and only accounts for a tiny fraction of the modern pearl market. Cultured pearls are the result of a small bead being implanted into the soft tissues of the oyster to produce an irritation which ultimately becomes the pearl. These types of cultured pearls included the Japanese Akoya pearls which are found in the coastal water of Japan.
The South Sea cultured pearls consist of white, black and golden coloured pearls which are found in tropical waters of Australia, Indonesia, Tahiti, and The Philippines. These pearls are prized for their large size and lustre and are the standout in the pearl world. The freshwater cultured pearl in produced in large quantities in freshwater dams in China and has continued to supply an affordable pearls in ever increasing sizes and quality.
Amethyst is probably the most highly valued and best know of the quartz varieties of gemstones. It ranges in colour from the softest pinkish- purple to deep rich purples which display hints of red or blue. It has been used in jewellery for many thousands of years, adored royalty and worn as a stone to ward off drunkenness.
It is moderately affordable gemstone, however large stones can be highly priced if of exceptional quality. Amethyst is cut into various forms including faceted gems of all shapes, cabochons, beads and is carved into many shapes. Large natural crystals and geodes are often sold as ornamental and display pieces.
In the ancient world, Bloodstone (Heliotrope) was considered to be the most beautiful of the Jaspers, a deep, earthy green gem emboldened with spots of bright red. Called the Sun Stone, and later Christ’s Stone, its energy carries the purity of blood and inherently speaks of life and birth, vitality and strength, passion and courage. As a talisman it is both mystical and magical, and its virtues are protective and nurturing.
The most widely known legend of this stone comes from the Middle Ages and claims the “Blood Stone” was formed at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, when the blood of his wounds fell onto the dark green earth and turned to stone. Another version declares the blood of Christ, which flowed from the fatal spear-thrust, fell upon a Green Jasper lying at the foot of the Cross, and from this sprang the Bloodstone variety of Jasper. Today, as then, Bloodstone is regarded as a gem of noble sacrifice and can offer courage and solace to all who are called to give of themselves for the good of others. It elicits the highest, most altruistic character of those who wear or carry it.
The Blood Stone, however, was treasured long before the time of Christ, known in antiquity as Heliotrope, the Sun Stone.
Amethyst is probably the most highly valued and best know of the quartz varieties of gemstones. It ranges in colour from the softest pinkish- purple to deep rich purples which display hints of red or blue. It has been used in jewellery for many thousands of years, adored royalty and worn as a stone to ward off drunkenness.
It is moderately affordable gemstone, however large stones can be highly priced if of exceptional quality. Amethyst is cut into various forms including faceted gems of all shapes, cabochons, beads and is carved into many shapes. Large natural crystals and geodes are often sold as ornamental and display pieces.
Jasper is an opaque form of chalcedony that is found in many colours and interesting patterns due to its many impurities.
Jasper can be banded, spotted and mottled, making it a desirable stone for many amateur cutters as it is generally inexpensive and is usually cut into cabochons and beads. In ancient civilizations Jasper was considered an important stone being used for personal adornment and carving personal seals.
It is found in many locations around the world including Australia, USA, India, Brazil, Russia and Egypt.
Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family of gemstones and the tradition birthstone for March its name is derived from the Latin “water of the sea”. Aquamarine in its natural untreated state has blue green colour, however today the purer blue colour is the preferred colour. This is achieved by gentle heating which removes the green hues leaving a permanent stable blue colour. Aquamarine is available in all sizes and shapes from small faceted stones to large stones suitable for beautiful and stunning jewellery creations.
Jade has been one of the most sort after and treasured gems of many early civilisations in Asia, Central America and the South Pacific.
Jade is a very tough gem due to its unique crystalline structure. As a result of its toughness and strength, jade was often used as a weapon or a tool by many cultures. Besides its toughness and durability jade is also a beautiful gemstone that has been used as personal jewellery and even as a currency.
It comes in two distinct varieties know as Jadeite and Nephrite, with nephrite the more common and darker green of the two varieties.
Jadeite is the more desirable form that was much sort after by the early Chinese after its discovery in Myanmar. Jadeite comes in a variety of colours including white to soft apple green, dark vivid green and rarer pinks and lavender.
In the ancient world, Bloodstone (Heliotrope) was considered to be the most beautiful of the Jaspers, a deep, earthy green gem emboldened with spots of bright red. Called the Sun Stone, and later Christ’s Stone, its energy carries the purity of blood and inherently speaks of life and birth, vitality and strength, passion and courage. As a talisman it is both mystical and magical, and its virtues are protective and nurturing.
The most widely known legend of this stone comes from the Middle Ages and claims the “Blood Stone” was formed at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, when the blood of his wounds fell onto the dark green earth and turned to stone. Another version declares the blood of Christ, which flowed from the fatal spear-thrust, fell upon a Green Jasper lying at the foot of the Cross, and from this sprang the Bloodstone variety of Jasper. Today, as then, Bloodstone is regarded as a gem of noble sacrifice and can offer courage and solace to all who are called to give of themselves for the good of others. It elicits the highest, most altruistic character of those who wear or carry it.
The Blood Stone, however, was treasured long before the time of Christ, known in antiquity as Heliotrope, the Sun Stone.
Sapphire in the jewellery trade usually refers to the blue variety of sapphire while the word itself in Greek means blue. However, sapphires are not restricted to just blue stones but are found in a variety of beautiful and vivid colours.
Sapphires are found in a range of blues from deep dark royal blues of Australia to a soft pastel and corn flower blues of Sri Lanka (Ceylon type). Superb yellows from pale soft buttery colour to vivid golden yellows which are highly sought after are becoming more expensive if untreated and natural in origin.
Green sapphires from Australia or Sri Lanka usually show classic bottle or olive green colours with some secondary yellow hues. One of the most highly sought after colours are pink sapphires these range from hot pinks to subtle blends of pinkish purple and are sourced from Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
Sapphires, know as parti stones, are also highly sought after as they show two distinct colours in the same stone such as blue and yellow, and can command high prices.
Sapphires are found throughout the world with major deposits in Australia, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and increasingly Africa.
Diamond is the king of gemstones and has been used for adornment since ancient times and is the modern birthstone for April. Its name comes from the Greek adamas and refers to the unconquerable.
It has unique physical properties such as hardness, it is 10 times harder than sapphire and ruby the gemstones next on the Mohs hardness scale. Diamond has unique optical properties which give the stone a beautiful lustre and brilliant dispersion.
Diamonds are found in all colours, however the most common colours are stones with yellowish tints which are colour graded in the same grading scale as the commercially sought after colourless stones. Other rarer fancy colours include pinks, blues, greens, reds, purples and intense yellows which are often sought after as collector stones.
Diamonds are cut in a vast array of shapes, however the most common cuts or shapes include the round brilliant cut, the square princess cut, the emerald cut, the oval, and the pear shape plus many other variations.
Opal is Australia’s national gemstone and is known world wide for its brilliant play of colour and beauty. The indigenous peoples of Australia believed a rainbow touched the earth and created the colours found in opal.
Since the 19th century Australia has become the major source of precious opal. Precious opal ranges in colour from opaque whites with little flashes of colour to the most desired black opal that has a dark background with large patches of intense colours including reds, greens and blues.
Other varieties of Australian opal include crystal opal, a transparent gem with strong play of colour and boulder opal consisting of a natural ironstone backing with a thin top layer of colourful opal.
Opal may be purchased as a solid cabochon or as the less valuable doublet or triplet. A doublet consists of a thin layer of fine natural opal bonded to a dark backing. A triplet also consists of a thin layer of fine opal bonded to a dark backing and a transparent quartz top. These stones require careful handling and care so as not to damage them.
Most precious opals are cut as cabochons and show play of colour as the gems are observed from different angles.
Diamond is the king of gemstones and has been used for adornment since ancient times and is the modern birthstone for April. Its name comes from the Greek adamas and refers to the unconquerable.
It has unique physical properties such as hardness, it is 10 times harder than sapphire and ruby the gemstones next on the Mohs hardness scale. Diamond has unique optical properties which give the stone a beautiful lustre and brilliant dispersion.
Diamonds are found in all colours, however the most common colours are stones with yellowish tints which are colour graded in the same grading scale as the commercially sought after colourless stones. Other rarer fancy colours include pinks, blues, greens, reds, purples and intense yellows which are often sought after as collector stones.
Diamonds are cut in a vast array of shapes, however the most common cuts or shapes include the round brilliant cut, the square princess cut, the emerald cut, the oval, and the pear shape plus many other variations.
Known as the stabilizer, Agate is the stone to call on for support when you need stability and grounding in your life. Along with its supportive energy, the Agate stone has been long admired for its incredible beauty. Agate has a dreamy quality with signature bands made up of mineral deposits layered in a perfectly circular symmetry around its circumference. A combination of igneous rock with silica deposits found in groundwater, the otherworldly bands give this semi-precious stone its trademark appearance. What gives the Agate stone its incredibly powerful grounding abilities is its availability in different colors, including a palette of white, purple, black, gray, yellow, pink, red, and brown.
Emerald is the best known member of the beryl family of gemstones. It is the modern birthstone for the month of May and commemorates the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. Emerald has a vibrant green colour and its name derives from the Greek smaragdos, which means green stone and its colour is a result of chromium.
One of the most common characteristics of emeralds is that they are often contain natural inclusions. These are not always seen as a fault but as evidence as to the stones natural origins as compared to synthetic emeralds. These inclusions are often referred to as jardin a French word for garden. Fine transparent specimens of emerald are available but often fetch premium prices.
Emeralds traditionally are found in many locations around the world, however Colombia is seen as the most well know source and include such mines as Muzo and Chivor. Other sources include Mozambique, Zambia, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.
Sapphire in the jewellery trade usually refers to the blue variety of sapphire while the word itself in Greek means blue. However, sapphires are not restricted to just blue stones but are found in a variety of beautiful and vivid colours.
Sapphires are found in a range of blues from deep dark royal blues of Australia to a soft pastel and corn flower blues of Sri Lanka (Ceylon type). Superb yellows from pale soft buttery colour to vivid golden yellows which are highly sought after are becoming more expensive if untreated and natural in origin.
Green sapphires from Australia or Sri Lanka usually show classic bottle or olive green colours with some secondary yellow hues. One of the most highly sought after colours are pink sapphires these range from hot pinks to subtle blends of pinkish purple and are sourced from Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
Sapphires, know as parti stones, are also highly sought after as they show two distinct colours in the same stone such as blue and yellow, and can command high prices.
Known as the stabilizer, Agate is the stone to call on for support when you need stability and grounding in your life. Along with its supportive energy, the Agate stone has been long admired for its incredible beauty. Agate has a dreamy quality with signature bands made up of mineral deposits layered in a perfectly circular symmetry around its circumference. A combination of igneous rock with silica deposits found in groundwater, the otherworldly bands give this semi-precious stone its trademark appearance. What gives the Agate stone its incredibly powerful grounding abilities is its availability in different colors, including a palette of white, purple, black, gray, yellow, pink, red, and brown.
The word ‘turquoise’, means Turkish stone and refers to the ancient trade routes used by merchants to travel into Europe via Turkey.
Turquoise has been used for thousands of years by ancient civilizations such as the Persians, Egyptians, Aztecs and Tibetans. The stone in its purest form has a waxy or sleepy appearance with a sky blue colour and is often mixed with a black or brown matrix.
The best turquoise comes from north Iran and is still available but has been overwhelmed by cheap treated low quality material.
It is usually assumed that most turquoise is treated nowadays unless stated otherwise. Common treatments include resin impregnation, blue dyes, oiling, mixtures of glass and plastics etc.
Moonstone is a member of the feldspar group or family of gemstones. It is best known for its optical effect called schiller, a floating light effect across the top the stone when it is rocked from side to side. This effect can be very subtle with a slight whitish grey sheen to the most valuable with a strong sharp blue schiller in a clean transparent stone. The softer whitish grey forms of the stone are usually relatively inexpensive while large stones with a strong blue schiller are more expensive.
Traditional sources for moonstone include India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Burma).
Moonstone is a member of the feldspar group or family of gemstones. It is best known for its optical effect called schiller, a floating light effect across the top the stone when it is rocked from side to side. This effect can be very subtle with a slight whitish grey sheen to the most valuable with a strong sharp blue schiller in a clean transparent stone. The softer whitish grey forms of the stone are usually relatively inexpensive while large stones with a strong blue schiller are more expensive.
Traditional sources for moonstone include India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Burma).
The Pearl is regarded as one of the 5 precious gemstones of old alongside ruby, diamond, emerald and sapphire. The pearl is treasured for its beautiful lustre and iridescence which are the result of the nacre which has been deposited by the mollusc around an irritant in layers to form a spherical bead (if all goes well).
Pearls can be classified into various types, the natural pearl which grows without any human intervention is very rare and only accounts for a tiny fraction of the modern pearl market. Cultured pearls are the result of a small bead being implanted into the soft tissues of the oyster to produce an irritation which ultimately becomes the pearl. These types of cultured pearls included the Japanese Akoya pearls which are found in the coastal water of Japan.
The South Sea cultured pearls consist of white, black and golden coloured pearls which are found in tropical waters of Australia, Indonesia, Tahiti, and The Philippines. These pearls are prized for their large size and lustre and are the standout in the pearl world. The freshwater cultured pearl in produced in large quantities in freshwater dams in China and has continued to supply an affordable pearls in ever increasing sizes and quality.
Onyx primarily refers to the parallel banded variety of the silicate mineral chalcedony. Agate and onyx are both varieties of layered chalcedony that differ only in the form of the bands: agate has curved bands and onyx has parallel bands. The colors of its bands range from black to almost every color.
The name ruby comes from the Latin ruber and refers to the gemstones red colour. Ruby like sapphire is a member of the corundum family and is the next hardest gemstone after diamond making it a very suitable gemstone for all types of jewellery. Large fine quality rubies over 3 carats are rare and can often out price diamonds of the same size.
Ruby colours do vary depending on the origin of the stone and stones often show secondary hues of colour including browns, purples, pinks and even blues. These stones are usually heat treated to minimize the secondary hues of colour and enhance the redness in the stone. Rarer but just as beautiful and desirable are star rubies which show a 6 rayed star when the stone is cut into a cabochon shape.
Some of the most important deposits of ruby include Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka and in more recent times Madagascar and Tanzania.
The name ruby comes from the Latin ruber and refers to the gemstones red colour. Ruby like sapphire is a member of the corundum family and is the next hardest gemstone after diamond making it a very suitable gemstone for all types of jewellery. Large fine quality rubies over 3 carats are rare and can often out price diamonds of the same size.
Ruby colours do vary depending on the origin of the stone and stones often show secondary hues of colour including browns, purples, pinks and even blues. These stones are usually heat treated to minimize the secondary hues of colour and enhance the redness in the stone. Rarer but just as beautiful and desirable are star rubies which show a 6 rayed star when the stone is cut into a cabochon shape.
Some of the most important deposits of ruby include Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka and in more recent times Madagascar and Tanzania.
The name ruby comes from the Latin ruber and refers to the gemstones red colour. Ruby like sapphire is a member of the corundum family and is the next hardest gemstone after diamond making it a very suitable gemstone for all types of jewellery. Large fine quality rubies over 3 carats are rare and can often out price diamonds of the same size.
Ruby colours do vary depending on the origin of the stone and stones often show secondary hues of colour including browns, purples, pinks and even blues. These stones are usually heat treated to minimize the secondary hues of colour and enhance the redness in the stone. Rarer but just as beautiful and desirable are star rubies which show a 6 rayed star when the stone is cut into a cabochon shape.
Some of the most important deposits of ruby include Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka and in more recent times Madagascar and Tanzania.
Topaz comes in various colours including yellow, orange, red, blue, pink, green, brown. The most commonly encountered in modern jewellery is probably the yellow and blue. Blue topaz, perhaps the most popular is available in tones ranging from pale or sky blue through more vivid blues to ‘London Blue’ which is a darker more steel blue colour.
Topaz is suitable for all kinds of jewellery due to its hardness and durability.
This olive green gemstone probably gets its name from the Arabic word faridat and has been mined and used in jewellery for at least 3500 years. Today peridot is a very popular stone in small and calibrated sizes and while large stones are available their price increases rapidly with size and rarity.
Peridot was introduced into Europe in the Middle Ages by the crusaders and was often used in ecclesiastical jewellery and adornment.
Main deposits include the original historical mines of Zebirget Egypt, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma and China.
In the old days stones like these were often referred to as Chrysoberyl.
The most common colour of chrysoberyl is a transparent greenish yellow which in Victorian period had a vogue in jewellery. Such stones were often called chrysolite a name which owing to its use as a specific term for the mineral olivine (Peridot) in certain fields of mineralogy. Therefore in present day gemological nomenclature the term is discontinued.
Diamond is the king of gemstones and has been used for adornment since ancient times and is the modern birthstone for April. Its name comes from the Greek adamas and refers to the unconquerable.
It has unique physical properties such as hardness, it is 10 times harder than sapphire and ruby the gemstones next on the Mohs hardness scale. Diamond has unique optical properties which give the stone a beautiful lustre and brilliant dispersion.
Diamonds are found in all colours, however the most common colours are stones with yellowish tints which are colour graded in the same grading scale as the commercially sought after colourless stones. Other rarer fancy colours include pinks, blues, greens, reds, purples and intense yellows which are often sought after as collector stones.
Diamonds are cut in a vast array of shapes, however the most common cuts or shapes include the round brilliant cut, the square princess cut, the emerald cut, the oval, and the pear shape plus many other variations.
Sapphire in the jewellery trade usually refers to the blue variety of sapphire while the word itself in Greek means blue. However, sapphires are not restricted to just blue stones but are found in a variety of beautiful and vivid colours.
Sapphires are found in a range of blues from deep dark royal blues of Australia to a soft pastel and corn flower blues of Sri Lanka (Ceylon type). Superb yellows from pale soft buttery colour to vivid golden yellows which are highly sought after are becoming more expensive if untreated and natural in origin.
Green sapphires from Australia or Sri Lanka usually show classic bottle or olive green colours with some secondary yellow hues. One of the most highly sought after colours are pink sapphires these range from hot pinks to subtle blends of pinkish purple and are sourced from Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
Sapphires, know as parti stones, are also highly sought after as they show two distinct colours in the same stone such as blue and yellow, and can command high prices.
Sapphires are found throughout the world with major deposits in Australia, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and increasingly Africa.
This olive green gemstone probably gets its name from the Arabic word faridat and has been mined and used in jewellery for at least 3500 years. Today peridot is a very popular stone in small and calibrated sizes and while large stones are available their price increases rapidly with size and rarity.
Peridot was introduced into Europe in the Middle Ages by the crusaders and was often used in ecclesiastical jewellery and adornment.
Main deposits include the original historical mines of Zebirget Egypt, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma and China.
In the old days stones like these were often referred to as Chrysoberyl.
The most common colour of chrysoberyl is a transparent greenish yellow which in Victorian period had a vogue in jewellery. Such stones were often called chrysolite a name which owing to its use as a specific term for the mineral olivine (Peridot) in certain fields of mineralogy. Therefore in present day gemological nomenclature the term is discontinued.
Sapphire in the jewellery trade usually refers to the blue variety of sapphire while the word itself in Greek means blue. However, sapphires are not restricted to just blue stones but are found in a variety of beautiful and vivid colours.
Sapphires are found in a range of blues from deep dark royal blues of Australia to a soft pastel and corn flower blues of Sri Lanka (Ceylon type). Superb yellows from pale soft buttery colour to vivid golden yellows which are highly sought after are becoming more expensive if untreated and natural in origin.
Green sapphires from Australia or Sri Lanka usually show classic bottle or olive green colours with some secondary yellow hues. One of the most highly sought after colours are pink sapphires these range from hot pinks to subtle blends of pinkish purple and are sourced from Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
Sapphires, know as parti stones, are also highly sought after as they show two distinct colours in the same stone such as blue and yellow, and can command high prices.
Sapphires are found throughout the world with major deposits in Australia, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and increasingly Africa.
Known as the stabilizer, Agate is the stone to call on for support when you need stability and grounding in your life. Along with its supportive energy, the Agate stone has been long admired for its incredible beauty. Agate has a dreamy quality with signature bands made up of mineral deposits layered in a perfectly circular symmetry around its circumference. A combination of igneous rock with silica deposits found in groundwater, the otherworldly bands give this semi-precious stone its trademark appearance. What gives the Agate stone its incredibly powerful grounding abilities is its availability in different colors, including a palette of white, purple, black, gray, yellow, pink, red, and brown.
Moonstone is a member of the feldspar group or family of gemstones. It is best known for its optical effect called schiller, a floating light effect across the top the stone when it is rocked from side to side. This effect can be very subtle with a slight whitish grey sheen to the most valuable with a strong sharp blue schiller in a clean transparent stone. The softer whitish grey forms of the stone are usually relatively inexpensive while large stones with a strong blue schiller are more expensive.
Traditional sources for moonstone include India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Burma).
Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family of gemstones and the tradition birthstone for March its name is derived from the Latin “water of the sea”. Aquamarine in its natural untreated state has blue green colour, however today the purer blue colour is the preferred colour. This is achieved by gentle heating which removes the green hues leaving a permanent stable blue colour. Aquamarine is available in all sizes and shapes from small faceted stones to large stones suitable for beautiful and stunning jewellery creations.
The name tourmaline is thought to come from the Sinhalese word Turamali which means stone of mixed colours.
Tourmaline is a gemstone that is found in various colours including pale to intense pinks, light blue, steel blue, green-blue, various shades of green and yellow-brown to dark brown.
Tourmaline also comes in multi-colours the most well known being the watermelon that is a combination of pink and green. Blue and green crystals tend to be long and thin and therefore are often cut as baguette or emerald cuts, pinks are often also found as ovals and fancy cuts.
Tourmalines make beautiful pendants and earrings, they are also often used in dress rings however must be treated with care.
Brazil is the major source of tourmaline however it is also found in deposits in many locations around the world.
Jasper is an opaque form of chalcedony that is found in many colours and interesting patterns due to its many impurities.
Jasper can be banded, spotted and mottled, making it a desirable stone for many amateur cutters as it is generally inexpensive and is usually cut into cabochons and beads. In ancient civilizations Jasper was considered an important stone being used for personal adornment and carving personal seals.
It is found in many locations around the world including Australia, USA, India, Brazil, Russia and Egypt.
Opal is Australia’s national gemstone and is known world wide for its brilliant play of colour and beauty. The indigenous peoples of Australia believed a rainbow touched the earth and created the colours found in opal.
Since the 19th century Australia has become the major source of precious opal. Precious opal ranges in colour from opaque whites with little flashes of colour to the most desired black opal that has a dark background with large patches of intense colours including reds, greens and blues.
Other varieties of Australian opal include crystal opal, a transparent gem with strong play of colour and boulder opal consisting of a natural ironstone backing with a thin top layer of colourful opal.
Opal may be purchased as a solid cabochon or as the less valuable doublet or triplet. A doublet consists of a thin layer of fine natural opal bonded to a dark backing. A triplet also consists of a thin layer of fine opal bonded to a dark backing and a transparent quartz top. These stones require careful handling and care so as not to damage them.
Topaz comes in various colours including yellow, orange, red, blue, pink, green, brown. The most commonly encountered in modern jewellery is probably the yellow and blue. Blue topaz, perhaps the most popular is available in tones ranging from pale or sky blue through more vivid blues to ‘London Blue’ which is a darker more steel blue colour.
Topaz is suitable for all kinds of jewellery due to its hardness and durability.
It is a yellow form of quartz whose colour varies from pale yellow through dark yellow to yellow- brown. It is an affordable gemstone that can be purchased in large sizes lending itself to bolder jewellery including large rings, enhancer pendants and earrings.
In recent years Citrine has become more popular perhaps due to the affordability of larger stones and the great variety of cuts available.
The Pearl is regarded as one of the 5 precious gemstones of old alongside ruby, diamond, emerald and sapphire. The pearl is treasured for its beautiful lustre and iridescence which are the result of the nacre which has been deposited by the mollusc around an irritant in layers to form a spherical bead (if all goes well).
Pearls can be classified into various types, the natural pearl which grows without any human intervention is very rare and only accounts for a tiny fraction of the modern pearl market. Cultured pearls are the result of a small bead being implanted into the soft tissues of the oyster to produce an irritation which ultimately becomes the pearl. These types of cultured pearls included the Japanese Akoya pearls which are found in the coastal water of Japan.
The South Sea cultured pearls consist of white, black and golden coloured pearls which are found in tropical waters of Australia, Indonesia, Tahiti, and The Philippines. These pearls are prized for their large size and lustre and are the standout in the pearl world. The freshwater cultured pearl in produced in large quantities in freshwater dams in China and has continued to supply an affordable pearls in ever increasing sizes and quality.
Opal is Australia’s national gemstone and is known world wide for its brilliant play of colour and beauty. The indigenous peoples of Australia believed a rainbow touched the earth and created the colours found in opal.
Since the 19th century Australia has become the major source of precious opal. Precious opal ranges in colour from opaque whites with little flashes of colour to the most desired black opal that has a dark background with large patches of intense colours including reds, greens and blues.
Other varieties of Australian opal include crystal opal, a transparent gem with strong play of colour and boulder opal consisting of a natural ironstone backing with a thin top layer of colourful opal.
Opal may be purchased as a solid cabochon or as the less valuable doublet or triplet. A doublet consists of a thin layer of fine natural opal bonded to a dark backing. A triplet also consists of a thin layer of fine opal bonded to a dark backing and a transparent quartz top. These stones require careful handling and care so as not to damage them.
The name ruby comes from the Latin ruber and refers to the gemstones red colour. Ruby like sapphire is a member of the corundum family and is the next hardest gemstone after diamond making it a very suitable gemstone for all types of jewellery. Large fine quality rubies over 3 carats are rare and can often out price diamonds of the same size.
Ruby colours do vary depending on the origin of the stone and stones often show secondary hues of colour including browns, purples, pinks and even blues. These stones are usually heat treated to minimize the secondary hues of colour and enhance the redness in the stone. Rarer but just as beautiful and desirable are star rubies which show a 6 rayed star when the stone is cut into a cabochon shape.
Some of the most important deposits of ruby include Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka and in more recent times Madagascar and Tanzania.
Zircons have been known and used for many thousands of years and its name ‘zargun’ is Persian for golden coloured. Zircons can be found in a variety of colours including colourless, golden yellow, brown, reddish brown, blue and green.
Zircons have great brilliance and intense dispersion but are brittle, making them sensitive to knocks.
The major deposits of zircons occur in Burma, Australia, Brazil, Madagascar and Sri Lanka.
Onyx primarily refers to the parallel banded variety of the silicate mineral chalcedony. Agate and onyx are both varieties of layered chalcedony that differ only in the form of the bands: agate has curved bands and onyx has parallel bands. The colors of its bands range from black to almost every color.
The name ruby comes from the Latin ruber and refers to the gemstones red colour. Ruby like sapphire is a member of the corundum family and is the next hardest gemstone after diamond making it a very suitable gemstone for all types of jewellery. Large fine quality rubies over 3 carats are rare and can often out price diamonds of the same size.
Ruby colours do vary depending on the origin of the stone and stones often show secondary hues of colour including browns, purples, pinks and even blues. These stones are usually heat treated to minimize the secondary hues of colour and enhance the redness in the stone. Rarer but just as beautiful and desirable are star rubies which show a 6 rayed star when the stone is cut into a cabochon shape.
Some of the most important deposits of ruby include Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka and in more recent times Madagascar and Tanzania.