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Gemstone Articles
A Look at Tiger's Eye
• Tiger's eye is a form of golden brown quartz with a fascinating cat's eye effect.
About Apatite Gemstones
• Apatite is an unusual mineral, being one of the few produced and used by the human body. As a gemstone, the neon blue-green color from Madagascar has become popular.
About Black Tourmaline
• Very few gemstones occur in black. Onyx is the most common, but among the finer gems, black tourmaline can make stunning jewelry.
About Blue Topaz
• Blue topaz is one of the most popular of all colored gemstones. But a recent controversy suggests the public needs more information about how these topaz are produced.
About Chrome Diopside
• All the choices in rich green gemstones are expensive: emerald, tsavorite and chrome tourmaline. But chrome diopside is changing the market for fine green gems.
About Chrysocolla
• Chrysocolla is one of the copper-bearing gems, and is often found mixed with malachite, azurite, turquoise or quartz.
About Dendritic Agate
• Dendritic agate is a whitish-gray or colorless chalcedony with fern-like markings known as dendrites.
About Moonstone
• Moonstone is one of the most abundant and affordable of the gemstones with unique optical properties.
About Paraiba Tourmaline
• Paraiba tourmaline is a rare copper-bearing gemstone with an exceptional neon blue or blue-green color. First found in Brazil in 1989, similar material has since been found in Nigeria and Mozambique.
About Peridot
• Peridot, the birthstone for August, has many unusual qualities. Unlike most gemstones, peridot is formed deep within the earth.
About Rhodochrosite
• Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate with an attractive soft pink color and interesting variegated markings.
About Spessartite Garnet
• Spessartite is no ordinary garnet. With its striking red-orange color and its high refractive index, it is one of the finest gems in today's market.
About Star Gemstones
• Star sapphire and star ruby are examples of gems that exhibit asterism or the star effect. Learn why some gemstones exhbit this rare phenomenon.
About Untreated Gemstones
• Some varieties of gemstones are never treated, and they represent exceptional value in today's gem market.
Advanced Gem Analysis
• Gemstone identification increasingly depends on high tech instruments such as FTIR, EDXRF and LIBS
Affordable Gemstones
• Fine natural gemstones typically cost thousands of dollars. But you can find very good gems for under $500 if you know where to look.
African Tsavorite
• Tsavorite is a rare vivid green grossularite garnet, colored by chromium or vanadium, with deposits mainly in East Africa.
Agate Stone
• Agate is a form of chalcedony quartz that forms in concentric layers in a remarkable variety of colors and textures.
Agatized Fossil Coral
• Fossil coral is a natural stone that is formed when ancient coral is gradually replaced with agate. The proper name for this material is agatized fossil coral.
All About Rutile
• Rutile is a substance that makes frequent appearances in the gemstone world. But what exactly is rutile?
Allure of Yellow Sapphire
• Yellow sapphire has become extremely popular with gemstone buyers, not only as a fashion item but also for its alleged powers to enhance your life.
Amazonite Locations
• Amazonite is a gemstone variety of green microcline. It is named after the Amazon river in Brazil, though surprisingly no deposits have been found in that location.
Amber from the Baltic
• Amber is the fossilized hardened resin of the pine tree, formed about 50 million years ago.
Amblygonite Gemstones
• Amblygonite is a common mineral but a rare gemstone, since transparent specimens are unusual
American Gemstones
• The USA produces gemstones ranging from tourmaline and turquoise to peridot, sapphire, sunstone, opals and rock crystal
Amethyst Deposits
• Amethyst is found all over the world, but South America is the most abundant source.
Ametrine from Bolivia
• Natural ametrine comes almost entirely from one location, the Anahi mine in Bolivia. New cutting styles are making this unique gem even more popular.
Ancient Turquoise
• Turquoise has been an important gemstone in many cultures for thousands of years. What makes turquoise so special?
Asscher Cut Gemstones
• The Asscher cut is a modified emerald cut with a square shape, cut corners and a deep pavilion. The result is greater brilliance and fire
Australian Boulder Opal
• Boulder opal has become the second most valued opal, after the famous black opal
Aventurine Gems
• Aventurine is used for several kinds of gemstones which bear a resemblance to aventurine glass from Italy.
Axinite Gems
• Axinite is a gem notable for its strong vitreous luster and its unusual crystal structure
Beryl Family
• Emerald is the best known variety of beryl, but the species includes a number of other fine gems, including aquamarine, golden beryl, morganite and bixbite.
Best Value Gemstones
• Looking for the best values in colored gemstones? We believe that sapphire, spessartite garnet, spinel and tourmaline have the best gemstone characteristic for the price.
Biggest Star Sapphire?
• The case of the alleged largest star sapphire in the world was not quite as it seemed.
Birhstones for December
• The birthstones for December include turquoise, blue topaz, tanzanite, zircon and lapis lazuli
Bixbite: Red Beryl
• Also known as red emerald, bixbite is a very rare gemstone found only in the Wah Wah mountains of Utah
Black Melanite
• Melanite is the black variety of the rare andradite garnet. It is sometimes known as titanian andradite.
Bloodstone
• Bloodstone is an opaque dark-green form of chalcedony quartz with distinctive red spots.
Blue Azurite
• Azurite is a mineral famous for its intense blue. It sometimes found together with its close cousin, malachite
Blue Indicolite Tourmaline
• Indicolite is the trade name for the rare blue color of the gemstone tourmaline
Blue Larimar
• Larimar is a rare variety of blue pectolite, found only in the Dominican Republic. It has become popular as a gemstone.
Blue Sodalite
• As a gemstone, sodalite is usually deep blue, often with a violent tint, and frequently contains white veins of calcite.
Blue Spinel Gems
• Spinel is one of the few gemstones occur naturally in a saturated shades of blue.
Blue Zircon Gemstones
• Blue zircon has great brilliance and intensive fire due to its high refractive index and strong dispersion
Boleite Gemstones
• Boleite is a rare silver-bearing mineral first discovered in Baja, Mexico. Some transparent specimens have been cut as gemstones
Botryoidal Gemstones
• The botryoidal crystal habit is interesting both for its unique shape, and the fact that is commonly adopted by a number of quite different minerals
Brilliance, Luster and Fire
• These are important technical terms in gemology, but they are often misused. Learn how to use these terms correctly to describe gemstones.
Buying Aquamarine
• Aquamarine belongs to the same gem family as emerald. But aquamarine has better durability, transparency and clarity.
Buying Gems in Thailand
• Many tourists fall victim to the Thai Gem Scam. But there are very good deals on gemstones in Thailand for careful buyers.
Calcite Gemstones
• Calcite, though somewhat soft, is popular with gem and mineral collectors for its luster and interesting colors
California Benitoite
• Benitoite is a very rare blue gemstone that has been designated that official state gem of California
Campbell Bridges Tragedy
• Campbell Bridges discovered tsavorite in 1967. After decades mining he Kenya, he was brutally murdered over his mining rights
Carats and Karats
• Gemstones are weighed in carats, while the purity of gold is measured in karats.
Careers in Gemology
• The scientific study of gemstones has a myriad of career possibilities.
Caring for Opals
• Opals are among the most delicate gemstones commonly worn, and require some special care.
Cassiterite Gems
• Cassiterite or tin oxide, is popular as a gemstone for its exceptional luster
Cat's Eye Gems
• The cat's eye effect is known as chatoyancy. It is common in a number of gem varieties and very rare in others.
Certified Gemstones
• Many gemstone are certified to guarantee their authenticity. But not all gem certificates are created equal
Chalcedony Quartz
• Chalcedony is used to refer to all types of cryptocrystalline quartz, but also to refer specifically to the blue or lavender variety
Cheap Gemstones
• Some good quality natural gems are inexpensive, but none are cheap. Learn how to find the best value in quality gemstones.
Chrysolite
• Chrysolite was the name used in the ancient world for many gold and greenish-yellow gemstones, but especially peridot
Citrine Properties
• Citrine is a gemstone famous for its positive energy, promoting success in business and relationships.
Classifying Gemstones
• Gemstones are classified by species and variety, and assigned to the 10 mineral classes.
Collecting Gemstones
• Gemstone collectors are unique among gemstone buyers, searching out the rare and unusual stones to complete their collections.
Color Change Gemstones
• A few rare gemstones exhibit dramatic color changes under different lighting conditions. They include alexandrite and color change sapphire and garnet.
Color Zoning in Gemstones
• Color zoning refers to the uneven distribution of color within a gemstone. It is usually not desirable, but some gems are valued specifically for their color zoning
Colored Gemstone Business
• Colored gemstones represent great opportunities for jewelry designers and retail jewelers. It's all about reducing cost and finding interesting stones.
Concave Cutting
• Concave cutting is a recent innovation that uses curved rather than flat facets, resulting in a more brilliant gem. But not everyone is impressed with the results.
Copper-bearing Gemstones
• Ever since the discovery of paraiba tourmaline, the market is excited about copper-bearing gems. What's so special about copper?
Country of Origin
• It's important to know where a gemstone came from. But it's not always easy to verify.
Cubic Zirconia
• Cubic zirconia, a synthetic gemstone, became the most successful diamond simulant on the market
Culet in Cut Gems
• The culet is the tiny facet at the very bottom of many faceted gemstones. Some gems are cut with a closed culet.
Cultured Pearls
• Cultured pearls are produced by mollusks, helped along by humans. Both freshwater and saltwater species are produced
Cut Gemstones
• The art of cutting gems is known as lapidary. It requires a high degree of skill to produce a well polished faceted gem.
Danburite Gemstones
• Danburite is a colorless to light pink, yellow or brown gemstone first discovered in Danbury, Connecticut
Demantoid Garnet Gems
• Demantoid is the rarest and most valuable of all the garnets, and is one of the rarest of all colored gemstones.
Detecting Gem Treatments
• Gem treatments should always be disclosed, but not all enhancements can be detected, even by the best gem labs
Detecting Synthetic Quartz
• Synthetic quartz has become very common in the gem market. Distinguishing synthetic from natural quartz takes considerable expertise.
Diamond and Graphite
• Diamond and graphite have the same chemical composition, but they are as different as could be.
Diaspore or Zultanite?
• Zultanite, a color change gemstone from Turkey, has recently appeared on the market. What's the story on this gem?
Discovery of Tanzanite
• Tanzanite was first discovered in Tanzania 1967 by Manuel de Souza, a Goanese tailor.
Dr. Edward Gubelin
• Dr. Eduard Gubelin can fairly be called the father of modern gemology. His pioneering study of gemstone inclusions has made it possible to determine gemstone origin.
Drusy Gemstones
• Drusy (druse or druzy) refers to encrustations or clusters of minute crystals in a matrix
Dumortierite Quartz Gems
• Quartz intergrown with the mineral dumortierite is a vivid blue or violet blue, and is often used as a gemstone or for carving
Emerald Treatments
• Natural emeralds tend to have surface-reaching fissures and are treated with oils, resins or polymers
Emeralds Around the World
• Emeralds are not only from Colombia. They come from many places in the world, including East Africa and Brazil.
Emeralds from Zambia
• Emeralds from Zambia now rival Colombian emeralds in the international gemstone market.
Epidote and Unakite
• Epidote is a silicate mineral that is often recognized by its pistachio green color. Unakite is a granite containing epidote.
Faceted Gemstones
• The art of faceting enhances the brilliance and luster of gemstones. Buy faceted gemstones online at GemSelect.
Famous Sapphires
• Before the development of techniques to facet gemstones, the most valuable gems were sapphires, rubies and emeralds, not diamonds.
February Birthstone
• Amethyst is the modern birthstone for February. At one time amethyst was ranked as one of the precious stones.
Feldspar Gemstones
• Feldspar is the most abundant mineral in the world, and includes gem varieties such as moonstone and andesine.
Feng Shui and Gemstones
• Learn how to use natural gemstones in the ancient Chinese method of Feng Shui.
Finding Pink Gems
• Pink continues to be one of the hottest colors in gemstones. What are your choices in pink gems?
Fine Green Sapphire
• Green sapphire has become increasingly popular. Learn why this gemstone is attractive to many.
Fine Iolite is Rare
• Iolite gemstones with good color saturation and clarity are rare in sizes over 1 carat.
Finest Red Garnet
• Rhodolite, the rose-red to violet-red garnet, is a mixture of almandite and pyrope. It has the best red of any garnet.
Fluorite: the Collector's Stone
• Fluorite is very popular with collectors, due to its wide range of colors. But fluorite also has some fascinating properties and some useful practical applications.
Fracture-filled Ruby
• Why are so many fracture-filled rubies being offered in the market? Should you buy one?
Friedrich Mohs
• Friedrich Mohs invented the Mohs scale of gemstone hardness when he was hired to catalog a large mineral collection.
Gem Carvings and Engravings
• Gem carving has a long history, from Roman cameos to modern design
Gem Color Saturation
• Color saturation, sometimes known as chroma, is a measure of the purity or intensity of color hue. Highly saturated colors are highly valued in gemstones.
Gem Hardness and Durability
• Ratings of gemstones by hardness is often misunderstood. Hardness is important, but it's not the only measure of a gem's durability.
Gem Market Chanthaburi
• Take a tour of the famous weekend gemstone market in Chanthaburi, Thailand. There are great deals in ruby, sapphire and other colored gems for knowledgeable buyers.
Gem Mining in Madagascar
• Madagascar has some of the richest gemstone resources in the world, especially in sapphire and ruby gems. Madagascar is also a source for tourmaline, aquamarine, emerald, garnet and citrine.
Gem Mining in Tanzania
• East Africa has some of the richest deposits of colored gemstones in the world, and Tanzania is the top producer
Gem Names and Gem Origin
• The controversy over the use of the term Paraiba Tourmaline shows that variety names and gem origin are not the same
Gem Price per Carat
• Learn about the 10 factors that affect the price per carat of gemstones
Gem Silica
• Gem Silica or Gem Chrysocolla is a rare form of chalcedony colored by copper
Gem Treatment Disclosure
• The Federal Trade Commission defines the rules for disclosing gemstone treatments. These rules may not go far enough
Gems and Astrology
• Vedic astrology identifies nine planetary gemstones that can improve our life.
Gems by Language
• The names of all the major gemstones in a dozen languages.
Gems from Afghanistan
• Afghanistan is most famous for lapis lazuli, but is also an important source for kunzite, tourmaline and emerald.
Gems from Pakistan
• Pakistan has enormous mineral wealth and may some day become a major force in the international gems trade.
Gems In Dreams
• Dreams about gemstones or jewelry may tell you something important about yourself and your future.
Gems in Dreams (2)
• If you are dreaming about diamonds, rhinestones, emeralds, agates or amethysts, you should read this.
Gemstone Appraisals
• Appraisals of value should only be made by an objective 3rd party with no financial interest in the gem. But the marketplace determines the real value of a gem.
Gemstone Certification
• If you're buying an expensive gemstone, it is a good idea to insist on certificate of authenticity. But not all certificates are equal.
Gemstone Cleavage
• Some gemstones, including diamond, topaz, tanzanite and fluorite, have perfect cleavage. Learn about why this is important.
Gemstone Deposits
• Gemstones are often found in secondary deposits, such as the alluvial deposits which yield sapphire and ruby.
Gemstone Doublets
• A gemstone doublet is a composite stone made up of a natural gemstone and a less expensive material. Opal doublets are commonly found in the market.
Gemstone Engagement Rings
• There is a growing trend towards colored stones for engagement rings. Learn about the choices in fine colored stones
Gemstone Identification
• Gemstone identification has become more challenging with the advent of new treatments and synthetics. What once was an art has become a science.
Gemstone Information
• The most comprehensive library of gemstone information on the internet. Info on more than 60 varieties of gemstones.
Gemstone Investing
• Many people tout hard assets like gemstones as good investments. Is investing in precious stones a good idea?
Gemstone Jewelry
• Choose a fine quality gemstone from more than 100 varieties of colored stones.
Gemstone Labs
• In the gem trade, gemological labs have the last word in gemstone identification. A recent lawsuit shows that might always be true.
Gemstone Meanings
• Many cultures have contributed to the legends and lore surrounding gemstones. These rare products of nature have inspired philosophers and mystics to attribute unusual powers to these special minerals.
Gemstone Names
• The names of many semi precious stones seem confusing and awkward. But accuracy of naming is extremely important in the gemstone industry.
Gemstone Prices
• Why is there such an enormous disparity between prices for the different types of gemstones? It's not just supply and demand, there are other forces at work as well.
Gemstone Scintillation
• Well-cut faceted gemstones display 3 different illumination effects: brilliance, scintillation and fire
Gemstone Seller Trust
• How do fine a gem dealer you can trust? One way is to use the collective intelligence of internet consumers.
Gemstone Superstitions
• Many superstitions have become associated with different gemstones throughout the ages.
Gemstone Supply and Demand
• Gemstone prices depend on supply and demand. But not always in the way you might think.
Gemstone Testers
• Gemstone testers are becoming useful. But they are still no substitute for a trained gemologist.
Gemstone Trade Names
• Some marketing names for gemstones have succeeded; others, thankfully, have failed.
Gemstone Type List
• An illustrated list of all the types of precious and semi precious gemstones.
Gemstones as Art
• Cutting gems is a traditional craft, but a new art has developed in the last 30 years.
Gemstones for Sale
• Loose gemstones is a specialized business. The best deals are found online
Gemstones from Africa
• Africa has become one of the largest producers of colored gemstones, including fine sapphire, tourmaline and garnet.
Gemstones from Russia
• Russia is an important producer of diamonds, alexandrite, demantoid garnet and emerald, as well as many lesser gemstones
Gentle Heat Treatment
• The term - gentle heat - for the heat treatment of sapphire and ruby is seriously misleading, and should be avoided
Goshenite Gemstones
• Goshenite is the colorless form of beryl, often cut as a gemstone due to its excellent clarity and transparency
Green Amethyst
• Green amethyst is the name misapplied to prasiolite, a leek-green quartz produced by heat treatment.
Green Dioptase
• Dioptase is a striking emerald-green mineral that is popular with gemstone collectors
Green Gaspeite
• Gaspeite is a rare nick carbonate mineral with a pale to bright apple green color.
Green Seraphinite
• Seraphinite is a green gemstone with silvery chatoyant fibers which form patterns similar to feathers
Green Zircon
• Green or metamict zircon forms as the result of radiation damage from uranium and thorium. It is prized by collectors
Grossular Garnet
• The grossularite garnet group grossular, hessonite, leuco, hydrogrossular and tsavorite.
H. Stern
• Hans Stern, founder of H. Stern, learned the gems business literally from the ground up.
Hackmanite Tenebrescence
• Hackmanite exhibits an unusual phenomenon known as reversible photochromism, where a mineral changes color when exposed to sunlight
Hambergite Gems
• Hambergite is a nearly colorless gemstone with some distinctive properties, such as a very low density and a very high double refraction
Harry Winston
• Harry Winston became one of the most famous jewelers in America through a combination of shrewd business and good taste.
Healing Gemstones
• Gemstones are believed by many to have special healing properties. Is this an idea that makes sense?
Healing with Malachite
• Malachite is believed to have special healing powers, both for the mind and body.
Heliodor or Golden Beryl
• Golden beryl is the most available of the precious beryls, a family that includes emerald and aquamarine
Hematite and Pyrite
• Hematite and Pyrite are among the only gemstones which exhibit a metallic luster.
Hemimorphite Gems
• Gem-quality hemimorphite is usually blue or green, and bears some similarities to chrysocolla, smithsonite and turquoise.
History of Birthstones
• Gemstones have been assigned to signs of the zodiac for centuries. But the idea of wearing your birthstone is a recent one.
History of Briolettes
• The briolette, a pear-shaped gemstone with triangular facets, is one of the oldest styles of cut gems.
History of Gemstones
• The earliest gemstones include amber, turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli and malachite. These material were easy to find and easy to work.
History of Peridot
• Peridot is one of the oldest known gems, with a rich mystical tradition.
History of Spinel
• Once known as Balas Ruby, the most famous spinel came from Badakshan in Afghanistan.
History of Sunstone
• Sunstone or aventurine feldspar has a unique spangled appearance caused by inclusions of hematite.
History of the Cushion Cut
• In the 19th century, the cushion-cut was the dominant gemstone style. Now it's undergoing a revival.
How Big is That Gem?
• One of the most common mistakes made by gemstone buyers is selecting a gem based on carat weight rather than size.
How Gems are Colored
• Some gemstones get their color from their essential chemistry; others from trace elements or impurities. Learn how the different gem varieties get their color.
How Gemstones are Formed
• Learn which gemstones are associated with igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
Howlite Gems
• Howlite is an interesting mineral that is more famous for imitating turquoise
Hydrothermal Quartz
• Quartz can be produced in the lab using the hydrothermal method. How do you detect synthetic amethyst and citrine?
Idar-Oberstein
• Idar-Obserstein has a history of mining and gem-cutting dating back hundreds of years
Idocrase Vesuvianite
• Idocrase is a rare gemstone, usually found in shades of green. Transparent specimens are very rare.
Intro to Setting Gems
• An introduction to the topic of having gemstones set in jewelry. Learn about settings, mountings and findings.
J.P. Morgan
• J.P. Morgan, a famous American financier, assembled some of the greatest gemstone collections in the world.
Jacinth Gemstones
• Jacinth is a traditional name for orange or red zircon. Though no longer in use, it is part of the history of gemstones
Jacob the Jeweler
• As jeweler to the new generation of celebrities, Jacob the Jeweler didn't ask where the money came from.
January Birthstones
• Garnet is the January birthstone and offers an amazing choice of colors in this brilliant gemstone.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
• Tavernier was one of the great travellers of the 17th century, and brought many famous gems from India to Europe.
Jewelry Gemstones
• Many minerals have been used as gemstones. But only some of them are suitable as jewelry gemstones
Kashmir Sapphire
• The most famous sapphires in the world are from Kashmir. They are so rare you will probably never see one except in a museum.
Kornerupine Gems
• Kornerupine is a rare gemstone found in Greenland, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania
Kunz and Tourmaline
• G.F. Kunz introduced Tiffanys to tourmaline and created the modern market for colored gemstones.
Kunzite Value
• Kunzite, the pink form of spodumene, is an affordable gem, especially in larger sizes
Kyanite Hardness
• Kyanite is an unusual gemstone because it has a highly variable hardness, depending on the direction of the crystal.
Labradorite Iridescence
• Labradorite is an iridescent gemstone with a fascinating metallic luster when viewed from certain angles.
Large Gemstones
• Huge gems are popular with both collectors and fashion designers. Learn what's available and affordable in big gemstones.
Laurence Graff
• Graff buys the finest diamonds and colored gems at the highest prices. And he still manages to make money.
Lesser-Known Gemstones
• Some gemstones are hardly known even in the gem trade. They include sphalerite, ulexite, phenakite, cerussite and scheelite.
Life and Death Gemstones
• Some companies are creating synthetic gems from cremated remains of humans. Is this a good idea?
Lighting and Gem Color
• Gemstone color appears differently under different kinds of light? But how many kinds of light are there?
Lilac Lepidolite
• Lepidolite is a lilac-gray or rose-colored lithium-bearing mineral of the mica group. The mineral is noteworthy as one of the major sources of the rare alkali metals rubidium and caesium.
London Blue Topaz
• The deep blue of London Blue Topaz is a best seller in the gem trade. Learn why this attractive gem is attractively priced.
Loose Gemstones
• Learn how colored gemstones reach the international market from the mines in far-flung locations. The key is to cut out the middleman.
Loose Sapphire Gemstones
• Sapphires are mined in many locations, but most loose sapphires pass through the trading center of Chanthaburi, Thailand
Making Mystic Gems
• Mystic Topaz and Mystic Quartz are produced with a technology used in the optical and electronic industries. Learn how they this technology is used to enhance gemstones.
Malachite from Africa
• Malachite is a fascinating copper-bearing mineral with bands of bright and dark green.
Mali Garnet Gemstone
• Mali garnet is a mixture of grossular and andradite garnets. It was first discovered in the West African nation of Mali in 1994
Marcasite and Pyrite
• Pyrite and marcasite have the same chemical composition, but different structures. Only one of them can be used as a gemstone
March Birthstones
• Aquamarine is the modern birthstone for March. Famed for its delicate blue-green color, aquamarine has said to bring good luck to mariners.
Matching Gemstone Pairs
• Matching pairs are highly sought after by gemstone buyers. But a lot of work is required to produce them.
Maw-Sit-Sit from Burma
• Maw-sit-sit is one of the more unusual gemstones in the world, from its curious name to its variable chemical composition.
Minerals, Rocks and Gems
• What is the difference between a mineral, a rock and a gemstone? You'll find some answers here.
Mining Sapphire in Australia
• Australia is most famous for opal, but sapphire from Queensland is important in the world market.
Moldavite and Tektite
• Moldavite is a green to brown form of natural glass resulting from meteorite impact. It is a rare mineral often used as a gemstone
Moonstone Lore
• Few gemstones have accumulated as much lore and romance as moonstone.
Morganite or Pink Beryl
• Morganite is a rare pink beryl, first discovered in Pala California in the early twentieth century.
Most Valuable Sapphires
• The most valuable sapphires are blue sapphires from Kashmir, Burma and Sri Lanka. The record price for a sapphire was set in April 2007.
Moussaieff Jewellers
• Among the world's great jewelers, Moussaieff of London has one of the longest family traditions.
Mozambique Tourmaline
• The success of Mozambique tourmaline is tied to the discovery of copper-bearing stones in the Shalawa region.
Muscovite and Fuchite
• Muscovite is a mica that is found in many types of rocks. The green chromium-rich variety is known as fuchsite
Native Cut Gemstones
• Native cut is a term often used to denote poorly cut gemstones. But many native cut gems are designed to maximize color
Natural Carnelian
• Carnelian, one of the oldest known gemstones, is a brownish red to red-orange variety of chalcedony or cryptocrystalline quartz.
Natural Gem, Unnatural Name
• Buy loose gemstones even if you can't spell padparasha, pariba, saphire, alexanderite, dimond, tanzinite or andasine.
Natural Gemstones
• Why are natural gemstones preferred over synthetic or lab-created gems made from the very same material?
Obsidian Volcanic Glass
• Obsidian is the only natural gemstone which is actually glass, formed from lava that cools without crystal growth
Online Gem Dealers
• Hundreds of online dealers offer gemstones for sale. How do you find a good one?
Onyx Stone
• Most people think of onyx as solid black. But onyx actually refers to layered stones that exhibit different colors in multiple layers.
Opal: Fire of the Desert
• Australia has the largest opal deposits in the world, and the finest opals as well.
Organic Gemstones
• Almost all gemstones are minerals with a crystalline structure. But a few gem varieties have an organic origin.
Origin of Gem Names
• How do new gemstones get their names? Sometimes there is contention when it comes time to name a new mineral.
Padparadscha Sapphire
• The color of the famous Padparadscha is elusive and experts disagree on what counts as genuine Padparadscha.
Pailin Blue Sapphire
• Blue sapphire from Pailin province in Cambodia were among the finest in the world, comparing favorably with Kashmir and Burmese sapphires
Palladium for Jewelry
• White metals have become very popular in gemstone jewelry. Palladium is becoming a favorite as the price of platinum has skyrocketed.
Paste Gemstones
• Paste is the term used to denote gemstones created from cut glass. The art of paste jewelry reached its peak in the 18th century
Pezzottaite Gemstones
• Pezzotottaite, a rare gem first discovered in Madagascar, is often confused with red beryl.
Pictures of Gemstones
• High quality photos of thousands of gems. More than 60 gem varieties, including sapphire, ruby, emerald, tourmaline, spinel, zircon, amethyst, topaz and garnet.
Pietersite Gems
• Pietersite is a breccia aggregate of hawks eye and tigers eye, with swirling colors of blue, rusty red, gold and brown
Pink Kunzite
• Among fine pink gemstones, kunzite is one of the few that can be found in very large sizes.
Pink Tourmaline Gems
• Pink is one of the most popular colors in gemstones, and no gemstone offers as many choices in pink as tourmaline.
Planetary Gemology
• Planetary gemologists prescribe gems based on astrological principles. Using the right gems is said to enhance health, wealth, power and popularity.
Pleochroic Gemstones
• Some gemstones display different colors when viewed from different angles. Andalusite, iolite, kyanite, kunzite, sphene and tanzanite exhibit pleochroism to a strong degree.
Precious Coral
• Coral is one of the few organic gemstones, and has a long history of decorative use.
Precious Gemstones
• The well known distinction between precious and semi-precious gems is often misunderstood. We sort out the myth from the reality.
Prehnite Gems
• Prehnite was the first mineral named after an individual. New deposits of this intriguing gem are making it more widely available.
Princess-Cut Gemstones
• The princess cut is a recent innovation, designed to maximize brilliance and fire in square gemstones
Prong vs. Bezel Settings
• The advantages and disadvantage of prong (or claw) settings and bezel settings for gemstone jewelry.
Pukhraj Yellow Sapphire
• Pukhraj is the Hindi name for yellow sapphire, which has a special place in Vedic astrology
Purple Sugilite
• Sugilite is a rare mineral of fairly recent discovery. It has a distinctive purple color and is usually opaque to translucent.
Raman Spectroscopy
• Scientists are using Raman spectroscopy to identify gemstones and minerals with a Star Trek-style tricorder device.
Rare Alexandrite Gems
• Alexandrite, a color-change chrysoberyl, is one of the rarest of all colored gemstones.
Rare Ammolite
• Ammolite is the fossilized shell of ammonites, which are composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral that makes up nacreous pearls
Rare Chrome Tourmaline
• Chrome tourmaline is a distinct variety of tourmaline, colored by chromium and vanadium.
Rare Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye
• Chrysoberyl cat's eye is a rare and exotic gemstone, combining excellent hardness with an especially vivid cat's eye effect.
Rare Chrysoprase
• Chrysoprase is considered the rarest and most valuable stone in the chalcedony quartz group.
Rare Clinohumite
• Clinohumite is a rare mineral and an especially rare gemstone. It is a member of the humite group of minerals, which includes humite, clinohumite, chondrodite, and norbergite.
Rare Fire Agate
• One of the rarest forms of agate is the so-called fire agate, found only in the southwestern USA and Mexico.
Rare Garnets
• The popular image of garnet is that of an inexpensive dark red gem. But there are some rarer varieties -- tsavorite, spessartite and rhodolite -- that have stunning colors and are highly sought after by collectors.
Rare Pink Sapphire
• Pink sapphire is the rarest and most valuable of the fancy sapphires, and is popular as a substitute for pink diamond.
Rare Spinel
• Natural spinel is rare and can be difficult to find. The traditional source of the best spinel is Burma, but African spinel is starting to make the gem more available.
Rare Tourmaline
• Tourmaline is famous for its rainbow of colors, but some tourmaline are very rare. These include chrome tourmaline, paraiba tourmaline and watermelon tourmaline.
Red Cinnabar
• Cinnabar, a mercury sulphide that is usually a vivid red, has some unique gemological properties
Rhodonite Gemstones
• Rhodonite is a rose pink to red gemstone with black dendritic inclusions of manganese oxide
Rocks As Gems
• Most gemstones are minerals, not rocks. But a few special rocks are treasured as gems.
Rubellite Rubric
• Rubellite is a vivid red variety of tourmaline. But exactly what makes a rubellite is a matter of disagreement.
Ruby-in-Zoisite
• The vast ruby deposits at Longido in Tanzania are the world's source for anyolite or ruby-zoisite.
Rutilated Quartz Prices
• Prices for rutile quartz cabochons are rising rapidly. Why are these quartz gems getting expensive?
Rutilated Topaz
• Rutile topaz displays golden needle-like inclusions. But these are actually limonite, not rutile
Sapphire Gems for Sale
• Sapphire gemstones can be found for sale in the market at a wide range of prices. Learn about the reasons for the variation in prices
Sapphire Prices
• How much is a good sapphire? It depends on color, grade and carat weight. Learn about how sapphires are priced in today's market.
Sard and Sardonyx
• Sard is a type of chalcedony quartz, similar to carnelian, but darker in color. Sardonyx is a type of banded agate with a brown base
Scapolite Gems
• Scapolite is not well known, but makes an attractive gemstone. The cat's eye variety is rare and valuable.
Seeing Gemstone Stars
• Learn how to evaluate star gemstones, and why the star may not be easy to see under diffused light.
Selenite Gemstones
• Selenite is a transparent and colorless form of crystalline gypsum. Some extraordinarily large crystals have been found in Mexico
Semi-Precious Stones
• The world of semiprecious stones is incredibly diverse. Some are as rare and valuable as any precious stone. Others are very affordable. In between is a remarkable range of fascinating stones.
Shape vs. Cut
• The distinction between gemstone shape and cut is often misunderstood. Here's a simple explanation of the difference.
Shipley and the GIA
• Robert M. Shipley was a jeweler who realized his knowledge of diamonds was incomplete. He went on to found the Gemological Institute of America.
Sillimanite Gemstones
• Sillimanite is an aluminum silicate, related to both andalusite and kyanite. Cat's eye specimens make lovely rings.
Simulants vs. Synthetics
• Fake gemstones may be synthetics or simulants. Learn how to identify the difference between these.
Singly Refractive Gems
• Diamond, garnet and spinel are well known as belonging to the small group of singly refractive gemstones. But there also are some lesser known members of this group
Smithsonite Gems
• Smithsonite is one of two zinc-containing minerals discovered by the British mineralogist James Smithson. The other is hemimorphite
Smoky Topaz and Quartz
• Smoky quartz, sometimes sold under the misleading name of smoky topaz, is a unique but inexpensive gemstone.
Sources for Fine Ruby Gems
• Fine ruby gemstones are found in only a few locations in the world: principally Burma, Thailand and Madagascar. Learn about the different characteristics of rubies from these locations.
Sources for Sapphire Gems
• Fine sapphires are found in only a few locations in the world: principally Burma, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Thailand.
Spectrolite Labradorite
• Spectrolite is a rare variety of labradorite with an iridescence that displays a full spectrum of colors
Sphalerite Fire
• Sphalerite has fire or dispersion greater than diamond, but gem-quality specimens are rare.
Spinel Value
• Natural spinel is one of the most undervalued of the fine gemstones. This situation is likely to change.
Spodumene Species
• Spodumene is species of gemstones that includes hiddenite and kunzite. Gem-quality spodumene occurs very rarely.
Sri Lanka Sapphires
• Ceylon sapphires are justly famed for their bright blue color. Sri Lanka also produces yellow, pink, orange and green sapphire
Story of the Agra Diamond
• The provenance of the Agra Diamond is shrouded in mystery. One of the most famous jewels of India, it somehow found its way to London in the late 1900's.
Story of the Timur Ruby
• The Timur Ruby, over 350 carats, was believed to be the largest ruby in the world. It is actually a red spinel.
Strawberry Quartz Gemstones
• Quartz with red inclusions of iron oxide is rare, and is often sold under the name strawberry quartz or red fire quartz.
Synthetic Emerald
• Synthetic or created emeralds were first made commercially successful by the American chemist Carroll Chatham
Synthetic Moissanite
• Moissanite is the latest diamond simulant to hit the market, with a hardness and density more diamond-like than cubic zirconia
Synthetic Ruby and Sapphire
• In 1902 the French chemist Verneuil invented the flame fusion method for creating synthetic corundum. It is still being used today.
Taaffeite Gemstones
• Taaffeite is one of the rarest gem varieties in the world. It has many similarities to spinel, but is doubly refractive
Tanzanite Prices
• How did tanzanite become so popular and so expensive? It's not just because it's a lovely gemstone.
Tension Settings
• Tension settings use compression to hold a gemstone in place. The designs are stunning, but are these setting secure?
Thai Beryllium Scandal
• Beryllium-treated sapphires created a scandal when first introduced to the market.
The Brilliance of Sphene
• Sphene is one of very few gemstones with an adamantine or diamond-like luster. Sphene's dispersion or fire even exceeds diamond.
The Charm of Rose Quartz
• The soft milky pink of rose quartz is unique in the gems world. It has become associated with love and healing.
The Fire Opal of Mexico
• Fire opal is unique in the opal family because high grade material is transparent enough to be cut in facets.
The Future of Gemstones
• Loose gemstones are not a renewable resource. Gem mining is declining in many parts of the world and prices are rising. What does the future hold?
The Gemstone called Jet
• Jet, a form of bituminous coal, was popular as a gemstone in the 19th century. But it is hardly known today.
The Mystery of Andesine
• An attractive red feldspar called andesine has attracted a lot of attention in the gems world. What is really known about andesine?
The Secret of Spinel
• Spinel is a gemstone that is not well known in the commercial jewelery world, but one which has become a great favorite with gem dealers and gem collectors. Learn what makes spinel a very special gem.
The Wonders of Lapis Lazuli
• Lapis, the original blue gemstone of antiquity, has a long and romantic history. It has been mined continuously in Afghanistan for over 6,000 years.
The World's Rarest Gemstone
• Red diamond is the world's rarest and most expensive gemstone, selling at more than $1 million a carat.
Topaz Colors
• Topaz can be found in almost every color, but blue topaz is the most popular.
Tourmaline Buying Guide
• Learn what to look for in a fine tourmaline gemstone, including paraiba, chrome, rubellite, indicolite and watermelon varieties.
Tourmaline in America
• The USA is not especially famous for its gemstones. But tourmaline is an exception.
Tourmaline Value
• Some tourmaline gems are rare and valuable. Learn how tourmaline colors are ranked in today's market.
Tourmaline Varieties
• The most common members of the tourmaline group are Elbaite and Schorl. Other varieties include Buergite, Dravite, Liddocoatite and Uvite
Trilliant Cut Gems
• Trilliant-cut gemstones are cut in a triangular shape, usually with 43 or more facets.
Types of Gem Settings
• The main types of gemstone settings are the prong or claw, the bezel, the channel setting, the invisible setting, and the pave.
Uniqueness of Gold
• Gold has been treasured for centuries not only for its color and rarity, but also for its unique chemical properties
Unmistakable Andalusite
• Andalusite has a such distinctive combination of colors and such pronounced pleochroism that it is rarely mistaken for any other gem.
Unusual Star Garnet
• Star garnet is one of the rarer gems exhibiting asterism, found only in Idaho and India.
Uvarovite Garnet
• Uvarovite is the rarest of all the garnets, and is rarely found in gemstone quality. Uvarovite drusy from the Ural mountains is an outstanding emerald green
Valuable Inclusions
• Conventional wisdom about colored gemstone inclusions is that less is more. But some inclusions are valuable.
Varieties of Garnet Stone
• Information about about all the different garnet colors and varieties
Varieties of Jade
• Jade is actually two minerals, not one: nephrite and jadeite. Learn what makes them different.
Variscite Gems
• Variscite is a green phosphate mineral that is used as a gemstone and for carvings. Notably deposits are found in Utah
Violet Charoite
• Charoite is a unique violet gemstone from Russia with distinctive swirling patterns.
What is a Natural Sapphire?
• Natural sapphires are mined from the earth; synthetic sapphires are produced in a lab. But are natural sapphires enhanced by humans still natural?
What is Chrysoberyl?
• Chrysoberyl is a rare gem with some outstanding characteristics, but it is so little known that even many gem dealers don't stock it.
What is Hessonite Garnet?
• Hessonite belongs the grossularite garnet group, and is typically a vivid orange-brown.
White Gems
• There are many choices in white or colorless gems including sapphire, zircon, topaz, goshenite and danburite
Wholesale Gemstones
• We sell more than 60 varieties of gemstones direct to customers at true wholesale prices. No minimum quantity required.
Why Cut as Cabochons?
• Why are some gemstones cut as cabochons and others as faceted gems?
William Earl Hidden
• Hidden was a leading American mineralogist in the 19th century, and hiddenite was named in his honor.
World of Quartz
• Quartz is a very common mineral but the quartz family is incredibly diverse and endlessly fascinating.
World's Biggest Gems
• What are the largest gems discovered in the world?
Yellow Kunzite
• Yellow kunzite is actually a misnomer, since kunzite is pink by definition. The proper name for this yellow stone is spodumene
Zircon and Zirconology
• Zircon is the oldest mineral on earth, over 4.4 billion years old. It is also a fine gemstone with great brilliance and fire.
Zircon Stone
• Zircon is an import jewelry stone, recognized for its exceptional brilliance and fire.
Zoisite Gemstones
• Zoisite was first discovered in Austria in 1805. Three gemstone varieties are known: tanzanite, thulite and anyolite (or ruby-zoisite).
 
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