Are you celebrating a November birthday? Then you’re in luck, because the topaz birthstone has a rich, storied history. Over the centuries, it has been thought to provide strength, break magic spells, dispel anger, and even to assure long life and intelligence.
There are three main types of opal: white, black and fire. Some precious opals emit spectral colors from every angle, each one quickly flashing and glowing as bright as the next. This phenomenon is called play-of-color and has enchanted people throughout the ages.
Blue sapphire has been a symbol of nobility and faithfulness for centuries. Traditionally worn by clergy and royalty, sapphire continues to hold its place as one of the “Big Three” gemstones today (with emerald and ruby being the other two).
The August birthstone is sometimes referred to as the extreme gem due to the fact that peridot is found in volcanic rock and meteorites. The word peridot comes from the Arabic faridat which means gem.
Do you have an August birthday and call peridot your birthstone? Celebrate this month in style with a look at one of the world’s finest peridot gems, The Green Goddess. (more…)
Follow the yellow brick road to the 1939 film classic, The Wizard of Oz. Movie memorabilia like the sparkling “ruby” slippers worn by the film’s heroine Dorothy, have captured hearts for decades. The iconic red shoes, magical heel click, and the renowned words, “There’s no place like home” spark a memory in virtually everyone who’s seen the movie. The slippers in the film were made from iridescent red sequins. Lucky for gem lovers, the ruby slippers became a reality in 1989 when Harry Winston created this beautiful pair featuring the July birthstone, ruby. (more…)
The hero of this month’s installment in GIA’s series on famous birthstones is the bluish-green aquamarine given to former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The rough weighed a staggering 1.3 kilograms that yielded two gems when cut. The largest, a rectangular step cut stone weighing 1,298 carats, has an interesting political history. (more…)
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