Zircon is the oldest known mineral on earth, with the first zircons found about 4.46 million years old, probably coming from Western Australia. The name zircon is thought to come from the Persian word zargun which means gold-colored, but zircon comes in a wide range of colors. Over the years, zircon has lost much of …
The birthstone for the month of October, tourmaline is a stunning gemstone that is found in more hues than any other gem. The name tourmaline comes from “turmali,” the Sinhalese (Sri Lanka) word for “more colors.” Ancient legend says that tourmaline is found in all colors because it travelled along a rainbow, and along the …
Gemstone Learning Center Topaz Topaz is the birthstone of the month of November. The stone has a long history, noted as a gem used in the ‘Breastplate of Judgement’ of Aaron, described in the bible (Exodus: xxviii, 15-30). The majority of topaz is colorless, then treated to be blue in color. Natural untreated topaz can …
Spinel has a history of deception. For years, people thought of red spinel as ruby, you can find it in many royal crowns and famous royal jewelry pieces, all which was at one time thought to be rubies, not red spinel. Now recognized correctly as spinel, it has become a favorite among gem collectors due …
The official birthstone for the month of September, sapphire classically recognized for its deep blue color is also found in a vast array of other colors. Sapphire is from the mineral corundum. Ruby which has the same composition as sapphire is red corundum. Blue is the most sought after color of sapphire, but the rare …
Ruby is the official birthstone for the month of July, and is used to commemorate the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries. Ruby is red corundum, it is the only variety of corundum not refered to as sapphire. The name ruby comes from the latin word ruber meaning red. Rubies have played an important role in …
Peridot is the traditional birthstone for the month of August. The ancient Romans nicknamed the gem ’emerald of the evening,’ since even in artificial light the stunning green color does not change. Peridot can be found in ancient Egyptian jewelry from the early 2nd Millenium B.C. The stones the Egyptians used came from a small …
Pearls have been a valued in history for longer than any other gem. Pearls are a very unique and interesting gem. They are the only gemstone grown inside of a living organism. Pearls are formed in oysters or mollusks when a foreign substance, generally a parasite, enters inside the shell and reaches the soft mantle …
Opal is the birthstone for the month of October along with the gem tourmaline. The name opal is derived from ancient sources: the Sanskrit Upala which means “precious stone“; the Latin Opalus; and the Greek Opallios which both mean “to see a color change.” It is believed that opal artifacts were first discovered in a …
Moonstone gets its name from its appearance. When the cabochon is cut correctly, it is said you can see the stages of the moon in its shimmer. Gemologists call this affect adularescence, which originates from the interior structure of the gemstone in scales or lamellas. This stunning effect makes moonstone unique and a desired gem …