Gemstones

Alexandrite | Amethyst | Aquamarine | Citrine | Diamond | Emerald
Fancy Colored Diamonds | Garnet | Louisiana Opal | Opal | Pearl | Peridot | Ruby
Sapphire | Tanzanite | Topaz | Tourmaline | Turquoise | Zircon

Information from the American Gem Society 2008

Alexandrite

A relatively modern gem, Alexandrite, was first discovered in Russia in 1831 during the reign of its namesake, Czar Alexander II, and is an extremely rare chrysoberyl with chameleon-like qualities. Its color is a lovely green in both daylight and fluorescent light; it changes color to a purplish red in incandescent light. Due to its rarity, some jewelers stock synthetic versions of this enchanting gemstone. (Synthetic gemstones are man-made alternatives to the natural material, possessing the same physical, optical, and chemical properties as the natural gemstone.)

Amethyst

Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and the gemstone for the 4th & 6th wedding anniversary. It is derived from a Greek word meaning "not to intoxicate," which led to the belief that drinking wine from an amethyst cup would prevent drunkenness, and is believed to increase spirituality.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is the birthstone for the month of March and the gemstone for the 16th and 19th wedding anniversary. The name is derived for the Latin word meaning"sea water" and was believed to protect ocean voyages and guard against sea monsters. It is used to help ease depression and grief, to re-awake love in long marriages, and signifies the making of new friends.

Citrine

Citrine is the birthstone for the month of November and the gemstone for the 13th wedding anniversary. The name is derived from the French word citron, meaning "lemon" and the color is associated with lightheartedness and cheerfulness. It is also believed that it helps one connect with the spirit. Citrine is often given as a simple of hope, youth, health, and fidelity

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Diamond

Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April and the gemstone representing the 10th and 16th wedding anniversary. It is derived from the Greek word adamas, meaning "unconquerable", reflecting a recognition of diamond's superior hardness. Diamonds are symbols of love, purity, and faith to some and to others they symbolize ideas such as power, success, and security. Romance is the image a diamond portrays when reflected in lover's eyes. Diamond is a 10 on Moe's Hardness Scale.

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Emerald

Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May and the gemstone for the 20th, 35th, and 50th wedding anniversary. Emeralds were once prescribed for eye disease because the green color was believed to be soothing for the eyes. Emeralds were believed to strengthen the owner's memory, quicken intelligence, and assist in predicting the future. It is also used as a symbol of rebirth and romance.

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Fancy Colored Diamonds

The term Fancy is applied to any diamond that possesses a distinct body color other than light yellow, light brown, or gray. Thus dark or "intense" yellow classifies as a "fancy color" (sometimes called "Canary"), but lighter shades of yellow do not. Following this rule, all shades of pink, blue, green, as well as combinations of colors, such as Teal Blue, Orange, and Violet, are considered "Fancy" colors, with the darker and brighter shades also designated "intense." This applies to brown colors (other than light brown) also, as well as black.

Diamonds occur naturally in all of the colors and hues described above, however they are extremely rare. Many of the fancy colored diamonds seen in fine jewelry are artificially colored through various techniques, including radiation, which has greatly increased their availability -- and affordability -- to consumers. For information and/or availability on a specific size and shape of colored diamonds, please contact us.

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Garnet (Rhodolite)

Rhodolite comes from the Greek words rhodon, meaning "rose", and lithos, meaning "stone", and has thus been referred to as "rose garnet." Typical colors are purplish-red and burgundy red.

Garnets, Mozambique -- All garnets (not just red) are the birthstone for the month of January. North American Indians used red garnets as bullets, believing that they would seek blood and inflict a deadlier wound. Christians' believed garnet symbolized Christ's sacrifice; Islamics believed it illuminated the fourth heaven. Garnets were thought to stop bleeding, cure inflammatory disease, and smooth discard. Mozambique is classified in the pyrope garnet species. Pyrope comes from the Greek word pyropos, meaning "fiery-eyed."

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Louisiana Opal

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Opal

Opal is the birthstone for the month of October and the gemstone for the 14th and 18th wedding anniversaries. In ancient times, opal was recognized as a symbol of faithfulness and confidence. The brilliantly colorful opal was said to have magical powers because of its play of many colors. It was known to strengthen eyesight, protect against contagious diseases, ease sadness, and turn pale in the presence of poison. Opal symbolizes magic, love, hope, happiness, and truth.

Fire Opal is an appreciated variety of opal that is strongly characterized by its range of body color from yellow to orange. The value of this stone is increased when splashes of color --"fire"--are visible inside the stone. Fire opal is not resembled by any other stone.

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Pearl

Historically, pearls have been used as an adornment for centuries. They were one of the favorite gem materials of the Roman Empire; later in Tudor England, the 1500s were known as the pearl age. Pearls are unique as they are the only gems from living sea creatures and require no faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty. In the early 1900s, the first successful commercial culturing of round saltwater pearls began. Since the 1920s, cultured pearls have almost completely replaced natural pearls in the market.

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Peridot

Peridot is said to host magical powers and healing properties to protect against nightmares and to bring the wearer power, influence, and a wonderful year. As peridot is a gemstone that forms deep inside the Earth and brought to the surface by volcanoes, in Hawaii, peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Today, most of the peridot supply comes from Arizona; other sources are China, Myanmar, and Pakistan. This gemstone comes in several color variations ranging from yellowish green to brown, but most consumers are attracted to the bright lime greens and olive greens. Peridot, in smaller sizes, often is used in beaded necklaces and bracelets.

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Ruby

Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July and the gemstone for the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries. It is known as the stone of love and is capable of reconciling lover's quarrels. It was once believed that if worn in a ring on the left hand or in a brooch on the left side, it would give the magical ability to live in peace among enemies. This stone was once thought to ward off misfortune and ill-health. Ruby is given as a symbol of success, devotion, integrity, health, and passion.

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Sapphire

Blue Sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September and the gemstone for the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries. The ancients believed sapphires influenced spirits. They were also thought to clear the mind and skin, cure fevers, colds, eye diseases, and ulcers. Sapphire is a longtime symbol and guardian of purity, and it represents truth, sincerity, and consistency.

White Sapphire is near colorless corundum often used as a diamond stimulant.

Yellow Sapphire ranges in color from pale to canary yellow, gold, honey, and brownish yellow. The lighter and brighter colors are most common.

Many believe sapphires are only blue, when indeed they are available in a variety of colors and are classified as fancy color sapphires. Pink Sapphire has a range of color from a bright, delicate pink to a pink with a slight tinge of violet. Its most striking characteristic is its luster and is considered to be one of the most valuable secondary gems.

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Tanzanite

Tanzanite is the gemstone for the 24th wedding anniversary. It has been recognized as helping one deal with change. Tanzanite is also known to uplift the spirit and open the heart. The blue and purple hues of tanzanite are associated with generosity and friendship. Tanzanite has also recently been designated an alternative birthstone for the month of December.

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Topaz

Topaz is the gemstone for the 4th and 19th wedding anniversaries. The name topaz comes from Topazios; an island in the Red Sea. In 15th century Rome, topaz was used to detect poisons, calm anger, and break spells. Christian's believed topaz stood for uprightness; and to Hindu's, topaz above the heart prevented thirst and assured long life, beauty, and intelligence. The Greek's felt topaz gave them strength and was used as an amulet against harm.

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Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a birthstone for the month of October and the gemstone for the 8th wedding anniversary. It was once believed that it protects the wearer against bad decisions, many dangers, and misfortune. It is also known to attract friends and lovers. Pink tourmaline promotes female balance and protection, as green tourmaline promotes the same among males. Tourmaline occurs in all colors, and frequently displays two or three distinct colors in the same crystal.

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Turquoise

The name turquoise, from the French expression Pierre tourques or Turkish stone, originated in the thirteenth century and describes one of the oldest known gemstones. Turquoise varies in color from greenish blue, through robin's egg-blue, to sky blue shades and its transparency ranges from translucent to opaque. Turquoise is plentiful and is available in a wide range of sizes. It is most often used for beads, cabochons, carvings, and inlays. Although its popularity fluctuates in fashion, it is a perennial favorite in the American Southwest.

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Zircon

Derived from the Arabic words zar and gun, meaning gold and color, zircon is found in a wide range of colors such as: blue, yellow, orange, brown, green, colorless, and red (the most prized color). For many years colorless zircon was used to imitate diamonds. Folk wisdom grants zircon the power to relieve pain, whet the appetite, protect travelers from disease and injury, to ensure a warm welcome, and to prevent nightmares guaranteeing a deep, tranquil sleep. Major sources of zircon are the Chanthaburi area of Thailand, the Palin area of Cambodia, and the southern part of Vietnam.

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