We begin the lovely month of February with a look at its princely birthstone, the amethyst, symbol of royalty, tracing its heritage to the Minoan civilization in ancient Greece about 2500 B.C. This is a gemstone that has been highly prized by monarchs of many countries over countless centuries, even though it is one of the most affordable and commonly available stones. Historians have absolutely no idea why kings and queens have loved this stone. Everyone knows the legend, that if you drink wine from a cup carved of amethyst, then you will never be drunk. Could it be that this story alone accounts for amethyst’s royal favor? Please click to continue
Amethyst: February Birthstone
Garnet: January Birthstone
I believe almost everyone has seen or knows a garnet … that red or brownish red or pinkish red or brownish orange gemstone. All of this is true. But there is more, much much more. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the garnet family includes some of the most gorgeous gemstones in the entire world, and that includes almost every color imaginable. Please click to continue
Blue Topaz and Turquoise: December Birthstones
Blue Topaz and Turquoise: Two “Blues” for a Joyous Month of Gift-Giving!
Two “blues” define the official birthstones for December, despite the fact that this is one of the most joyous months of the year. Please click to continue
Citrine and Topaz: November Birthstones
Citrine, the golden variety of the mineral quartz, and topaz, which grows in many colors, are both the official birthstones for November. Both gemstones are commonly found in a variety of countries, the large production from Brazil topping the list. The public believes citrine is an inexpensive yellow to yellow-orange gem found in most jewelry stores, and that topaz is the blue gemstone found in every sterling silver and silver and gold designer line of rings, earrings and pendants. Both statements are true; however these beliefs form because that is what is generally presented by jewelers to their customers. Please click to continue
Opal: October Birthstone
Opal is one of the great gemstones of history, one of the least understood, and one of the most difficult to analyze and value. Please click to continue
Synthetic Diamonds
Scientists have been working for more than 100 years to develop a process for creating diamond in a laboratory. The creation of a synthetic diamond would bring significant benefit to a number of industries which require a material of its hardness and durability. Of course, it might also be of interest to buyers of jewelry, depending on its availability and cost. Please click to continue
Sapphire: September Birthstone
Sapphire, the birthstone for the month of September, is a favorite among natural colored gemstones. How can one possibly describe the electric richness of the rarest blue sapphire? People have tried for centuries: Oriental blue, navy blue, sport coat blue, deep sky blue, deep ocean blue … the list is endless. Blue sapphire is the most popular of the more expensive colored gemstones, and is purchased far more frequently than fine ruby or fine emerald.
Blue sapphire grows in an amazing assortment of colors. In fact, as the most popular variety of the mineral corundum, sapphires grows in all colors of the rainbow, with the exception of red, which of course is ruby, the birthstone for July. Even when we limit our discussion to blue sapphire, natures provides us with an astonishing set of hues, from very pale grayish blue to extremely dark bluish black, all part of the blue sapphire group. Somewhere in between, lies the deep pure blues from Myanmar, S’ri-Lanka, and the rarest very slightly violet blues from Kashmir. Please click to continue
Peridot: August Birthstone
Peridot, the beautiful yellow-green gemstone, has achieved tremendous popularity in recent years, as it has been used extensively by designers of sterling and sterling and gold jewelry. Today, much of this peridot hails from Arizona. Historically, however, the great peridots originate on St. John’s Island, in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, known as The Serpent Isle in ancient times. These great gems found their way into the cathedral treasures of Europe, as in the Treasury of the Three Magi, in the Cathedral of Cologne in Germany. The nation of Burma, now called Myanmar, produces a lot of peridot from an area north of the Moguk River Valley, and there are additional locations world-wide. Examples of great peridot can be seen today in the Smithsonian collection, the Morgan collection in the American Museum of Natural History, and in the Higinbotham Hall in the Field Musuem of Natural History in Chicago. Please click to continue
Ruby: July Birthstone
Ruby is the gemstone of royalty, of kings, queens, monarchs and nations. The relatively few large and fine rubies found in the earth have been grabbed up over the centuries, many still hidden away by multi-generation families around the world. Far more powerful than diamond, historically, and of equal demand to the pearl, ruby remains one of the more mysterious of gems, and, in rare qualities, one of the most costly. Please click to continue
Sapphire Jewelry Suite
Suite of one-of-a-kind beautiful sky blue sapphire jewelry, including bracelet, necklace, earrings and ring. Hand-fabricated 14k yellow gold settings surround irregularly shaped light blue sapphires. Sold as suite only. $6800
read the blog
- Amethyst: February Birthstone
2012-02-01
We begin the lovely month of February with a look at its princely birthstone, the amethyst, symbol of royalty, tracing its heritage to the Minoan civilization in ancient Greece about 2500 B.C. This is a gemstone that has been highly prized by monarchs of many countries over countless centuries, even though it is one of the most affordable and commonly available stones. Historians have absolutely no idea why kings and queens have loved this stone. Everyone knows the legend, that if you drink wine from a cup carved of amethyst, then you will never be drunk. Could it be that this story alone accounts for amethyst's royal favor?
- Garnet: January Birthstone
2012-01-09
I believe almost everyone has seen or knows a garnet ... that red or brownish red or pinkish red or brownish orange gemstone. All of this is true. But there is more, much much more. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the garnet family includes some of the most gorgeous gemstones in the entire world, and that includes almost every color imaginable.
- Blue Topaz and Turquoise: December Birthstones
2011-12-01
Blue Topaz and Turquoise: Two "Blues" for a Joyous Month of Gift-Giving! Two "blues" define the official birthstones for December, despite the fact that this is one of the most joyous months of the year.
- Citrine and Topaz: November Birthstones
2011-11-01
Citrine, the golden variety of the mineral quartz, and topaz, which grows in many colors, are both the official birthstones for November. Both gemstones are commonly found in a variety of countries, the large production from Brazil topping the list. The public believes citrine is an inexpensive yellow to yellow-orange gem found in most jewelry stores, and that topaz is the blue gemstone found in every sterling silver and silver and gold designer line of rings, earrings and pendants. Both statements are true; however these beliefs form because that is what is generally presented by jewelers to their customers.
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