December, the month of festivities and joy, brings a gemstone that radiates timeless elegance – Turquoise.  As we delve into the rich history and fascinating facts surrounding this enchanting stone, let’s uncover the allure that makes turquoise the perfect choice for those born in the heart of winter. Fascinating Facts About Turquoise Turquoise History: A Journey Through Time Turquoise, with its distinctive blue-green hue, has a history as vibrant as its color—ancient civilizations, from the Egyptians to the Native Americans, revered turquoise for its mystical properties.  Used in j ..read more

When it comes to jewelry, you may see the appraisal process as daunting and unnecessary. If you’ve purchased a new piece of jewelry or inherited one, it’s crucial that you have it appraised so you know how much your item is worth and if you’ve gotten your money’s worth after purchasing it.   What is a Jewelry Appraisal? A jewelry appraisal is a process in which a certified professional examines a piece of jewelry to determine its monetary value. Appraisals provide the necessary proof of value and features for insurance purposes.   How Does a Jewelry Appraisal Work? When performing a ..read more

The Carlsbad laboratory recently received a 1.21 ct Fancy orangy red round brilliant cut diamond (6.62–6.84 × 4.14 mm; see above) for a colored diamond grading and identification report. Results of standard gemological testing and microscopic observation confirmed it had a natural color and no color treatment or clarity enhancement. The stone displayed faint fluorescence under long-wave UV and none under short-wave UV. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated a type IaB diamond, while ultraviolet/visible (550 nm band and H3 [503.2 nm] center) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy i ..read more

Those born in January are lucky to have the beautiful and diverse garnet as their birthstone. Garnets are commonly red but also come in an extraordinary range of beautiful colors, including orange, yellow, purple and vibrant green. There are even garnets that change color from blue to purple in different lighting. Some believe the true value of the garnet birthstone is its power to bring the wearer good health, wealth and happiness. GARNET BIRTHSTONE GARNET BIRTHSTONE MEANING & HISTORY The name “garnet” originates from the medieval Latin granatus, meaning “pomegranate,” in refe ..read more

Ruby is one of the four precious gemstones. The others are emerald, sapphire, and diamond. The word ruby comes from the Latin rubens, which means red.  Rubies are found in many shades of red, from rich darkish red to pigeon blood red and pinkish red.   The red hue comes from traces of the mineral chromium.  The most precious rubies are those with a full, rich red color with just a hint of blue tones. A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. Ruby is the birthstone f ..read more

Natural pink diamonds are among the most valuable and rare of Earth’s treasures. Top, vivid-colored stones can bring more than $2 million per carat at major auctions. Such prices come from their rarity as much as their beauty – only a tiny percentage of diamonds have pink color, and only a tiny percentage of these have a rich, vivid color. Research confirms that the color of 99.5% of pink diamonds comes from distortion in their crystal structure, not from trace elements, such as nitrogen, which causes yellow color in diamonds or boron, which causes blue. In pink diamonds containing ..read more

OPAL BIRTHSTONE MEANING & HISTORY The name of this, the traditional October birthstone, is believed to have originated in India (the source of the first opals brought to the Western world), where in Sanskrit it was called upala, a “precious stone.” .” In ancient Rome, this became opalus. Most opals are valued for their shifting colors in rainbow hues – a phenomenon known as “play-of-color.” The October birthstone’s dramatic play-of-color has inspired writers to compare it to fireworks, galaxies and volcanoes. Bedouins  once believed opal held lightning and fell fr ..read more

SAPPHIRE BIRTHSTONE MEANING & HISTORY The September birthstone has traditionally symbolized sincerity, truth, faithfulness and nobility. For countless centuries, sapphire has adorned royalty and the robes of the clergy. The elite of ancient Greece and Rome believed that blue sapphires protected their owners from harm and envy. Clerics of the Middle Ages wore sapphires because they symbolized Heaven. Ancient Persians believed the earth actually rested on a giant sapphire, which made the sky blue. The September birthstone was reputed to have healing powers as well. Medieval Europeans believ ..read more