Blue Topaz, Zircon, and Tanzanite – The December Birthstone Trio
Tanzanite, Zircon, and Turquoise are all known for their beautiful shades of blue. Tanzanite is a blue variation of zoisite, it is only found in Tanzania, it was recently discovered in 1967. The color of blue changes depending on the viewing angle. Most tanzanite is heat treated to diminish brown hues that may be present in some […]
Citrine and Topaz the November Birthstones – Dynamic Blues, Reds, and Oranges.
November is blessed with two luxurious birthstones topaz and citrine! Topaz consists of bright blues, yellows, oranges, reds, and pinks. Topaz is thought to bring balance to emotions and provide for a harmonious life. The yellow topaz has been found in many ancient gem representations, in fact supposedly the Egyptian Sun God Ra’s gem symbol is a […]
Tourmaline and Opal, October’s Birthstones
Tourmaline was first discovered in Sri Lanka. It was first brought to Europe by the Dutch East India Company. The most common tourmaline is schorl, it makes up about 95% of all tourmaline. Tourmaline comes in just about any color depending on trace elements found in the semi-precious gem. Multicolored crystals are common and this is […]
Sapphire, a gem of loyalty and nobility, the September Birthstone
Most people think about the rich dark blue color when they think of the noble sapphire, but in reality, they come in all colors. You could say they cover the colors of the rainbow. Trace elements such as copper and chromium tint the natural corundum various colors. There are even pink sapphires which can be […]
August Birthstone, Another Trifecta Gem Month – Peridot, Sardonyx, and Spinel.
Peridot is a dynamic yellow-green gem found in volcanic rock. The most sought-after stones are bright olive greens and the lest desired are browner in color. Even the browner colored stones will be mostly green. Peridot is found in several places in the United States including Arizona, Arkansas, Nevada, New Mexico and Hawaii. It is […]