July 29th marks the 125th anniversary of the passing of Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). GIA offers a tribute to the great artist by celebrating his beloved painting, The Starry Night, and its dazzling companion piece, the Starry Night Sapphire – a 112 carat star sapphire.
We’re always on the lookout for trends, and we spotted a fun one. Several gemstones that never had much cachet are now in vogue. These beauties have been showing up on the runway and in fashion magazines.
Jurassic World is about to roar through theaters, and that made us nostalgic for the original movie, Jurrasic Park (1993) – especially the memorable scene where scientists extracted dinosaur blood from a mosquito trapped in amber.
Happy Earth Day! How grateful we are to the Earth for the basic elements that sustain our lives and the natural beauty that makes life worth living. Among Mother Earth’s many wondrous gifts are rare rocks and gem crystals – treasures that form deep beneath her surface. When fashioned and polished, they become the strikingly beautiful gemstones that have captivated mankind for millennia. Gemstones in their rough, unpolished form have an intrinsic beauty of their own, hinting at the potential of what they can become.
If you love your jewelry, you’ll want it to always look as stunning as it did when it was new.
Ultrasonic cleaners can restore the beauty of your bejeweled treasures. These machines generate high-frequency sound waves that travel through water or a cleaning solution creating heat and pressure. Ultrasonic machines can effectively clean jewelry by dislodging dirt and debris from behind gems and other hard-to-reach places. (more…)
In the midst of the winter season, give a loving look at our favorite blue gemstones and jewelry. From a blue star sapphire to a vivid blue diamond, each of the featured blue gemstones below promises a cool blue hue to take you through the rest of the winter. (more…)
Dreamy and romantic, the month of February is dedicated to sharing your love. Show appreciation for the most important people in your life with a token of affection. This gift will serve as an everyday reminder of your feelings for that person. A pink gemstone is a beautiful choice to consider. As you search for the perfect Valentine’s jewelry gift, learn about different types of pink gems so that you will know which one is perfect for you. (more…)
Valentine’s Day is nearing, and it’s hard to resist that warm feeling associated with this holiday. When you envision the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, the first thing that comes to mind is a heart shape. So why not turn up the romance with jewelry that features heart-shaped gemstones? Like all matters of the heart, making a wise decision in your purchase requires care and thought. (more…)
Happy Birthday January! We begin our famous birthstone series with none other than January’s birthstone, garnet. While there are many different species and varieties of garnet that come in many colors, perhaps the most well-known is pyrope garnet. Usually deep red, this gem is featured in the antique pyrope hair comb, a stunning and historic example of pyrope’s beauty, and GIA’s famous birthstone for January babies. (more…)
Found only in a few places on earth, turquoise is the second of December’s two official birthstones. Sought after for its robin’s egg blue and unique spiderweb-like patterns, it’s a perfect gem for unusual jewelry designs. (more…)
Captivated by pearls? You’re certainly in good company. A favorite of legendary women including Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth, these beautiful spheres are the only precious gems made from a living creature – the mollusk. (more…)
Notable for its majestic blue velvet and intense royal purples, the first of December’s birthstones is named after the only country it can be found: Tanzania. Exceptional tanzanite can display three distinct colors in three crystal directions. (more…)