Gemstone Emerald:
Emeralds are one of the most highly prized gemstones. The birthstone for
May, emaralds range in color from a light yellow-green to dark green. Only the absolute finest quality stones are transparent. Most emaralds are decorated with inclusions like gas or liquid bubbles, healing
cracks and foreign cystals. Emaralds have been cherished for their beauty and supposed healing properties.
In folklore, emarlads were believed to remedy poor eyesight, increase intelligence and eloquence
and cure infertility. They were also considered useful in divining the future. Today emeralds are a popular and elegant choice for jewellary.
Gemstone Ruby:
Named for its red colour, ruby is the birthstone for
july. Rubies have been traditionally been associated with charity, divine power, dignity, freedom. Rubies come in many shades of red, but the most sought after hue is called "pigeon's blood" a pure
red with a hint of blue.It is belived that gemstones ripened like fruit, and that the redder a ruby, the more ripened it was. If a ruby was flawed it was considered to be over ripe. Inclusions are common in
rubies, butthey do not necessarily lower the value of the stone. In fact, some inclusions make a ruby more valuable. Asterism, the appearance of a six rayed star which moves over the surface of the ruby as
it is moved, is very desirable. A cat's eye effect is also sought after.
Rubies are elegant in rings, bracelets and pendants. They look spectacular against a backdrop of emerald green, royal blue, black
or white. Rubies look wonderful either as a solitaire piece or when accented by diamonds.
Gemstone Peridot:
Peridot, also called chrysolite or olivine, is the birthstone for August. It is found in varying shades of olive green,
yellow green, brownish green, but the most sought after hue is a lively lime green.
It is a favourite of pirates, peridot was believed to be a powerful amulet against evil. If set in gold, to dissolve
enchantments to prevent nightmares. Peridot is both beautiful and an affordable gemstone, and is available in both simple and eloborate settings.
Gemstone Sapphire:
Sapphire, the birthstone for september comes in many
colors. Although the most desirable hue is a cornflower blue and the word orginates from the Greek word for blue, sapphires are available in pink, orange, colourless, green, yellow, purple and black
colourations. However when a sapphire is red it is considered to be a ruby. The various colors of sapphires are qualified by descripton. For example green sapphire, yellow sapphire or just plain sapphire.
Orange pink sapphires is called Padparadschah, Sinhalese for 'lotus flower".
Gemstone Topaz:
Topaz is the birthstone for November. The name is probably derived from the name of a Red Sea Island: Topazos. At one time all brown
,green and yellow gemstones were referred to as topaz. Now althoug the colors are rarely vivid, we know topaz is available in redbrown, colourless, yellow, palegreen, lightblue and pinkyred. The most common
colour is yellow with a reddish tint, where as the most valuable color is pink. Topaz can be huge. In 1965 a blue topaz weighing 100 kg was found in Ukraine.
Typical cuts for topaz are emerald or scissor
cut. Colourless stones are brilliant cut. A topaz with disordered inclusions is cut en cabochon.
Gemstone Diamond:
The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were splinters of stars fallen to the earth. It was said by some that they
were the tears of God. However the exact orgin of diamonds are still a mystery. Eventhough the diamond is the hardest of gemstones, it is the simplest in composition. It is common carbon like the lead in the
pencil, yet has a melting point of approximately 4000 degrees centigrade, which is two and half times greater than the melting point of steel.
Gemstone Aquamarine:
In Latin aquamarine means "Water of the
sea". Indeed, it does look like the azure shades of the Mediteranean Have been captured in this beautiful gemstone. The birth stone of March, aquamarine ranges from light blue to blue green. In the
middle ages it was believed that wearing aquamarine would grant the bearer foresight, insight and freedom from insomnia. Water in which aquamarine had been soaked purportedly stopped hiccups, cured ere
problems and relieved breathing problems. Other attributes of aquamarine are its ability to cure laziness, Quicken the intellect, Provide courage, Provide happiness, Make youth everlasting.
Gemstone Pearl:
The birthstone for June,
a pearlis conchiolin Layered concentrically around an irritant in a mollusc. The average life span of a pearl is 100 and 150 years, although a few rare good quality pearls exists which are known to be
several hundred s of years in age. Because of the delicacy of a pearl's orient, pearls must be treated delicately. Store them in tissue or soft cloth and not jumbled along with other harder stones. Don't
expose them to acid based sprays, cosmetics or colognes. Never clean them with abrasives or chemicals, but rather with mild soap and water. Pearls vary wildly in shape. They can be irregular and asymmetrical
or perfectly symmetrical. The more symmetrical the shape the more valuable the pearl. Pearls also come in various sizes. They can be as small as the head of the pin, or as large as the size of a pigeon's
egg. The world's largest known pearl weighs 450cts and is in the south Kensington Geological Museum in London.The deeper the iridescence and lusture, the more valuable the pearl.
Gemstone Opal:
The birthstone for October, opals are divided
into three groups, they are common opals,fire opals and precious opals. The most identifying feature of precious stones and common opals is opalescence a rainbow like iridescence changing with the angle of
observation. All opals contain water. Although the content varies, there can be as much as 30% of water within an individual stone. As the stone dehydrates, opalescence diminishes and the stone begins to
crack. This can be saved by saturating the stone with oil or water. Opals are best stored in moist, absorbent cotton. This slows down the aging process. Fire Opals are named after their orange coloration.
They do not opalesce and are usually milky. How ever, the best fire opals are transparent and clear. Two variety of fire opals are Girasol and the Mexican WaterOpal. Common Opals are mostly opaque without
any play of color. Two types of precious opals have been distinguished. The Black Opal or the Milky Opal. Milky Opals are found with white or light basic colors. The more common black opals are gray black,
dark green or dark gray. The deep black opal is rare. |
