September’s birthstone, Sapphire, is one of the most beloved gemstones. Considered one of the “Big Three” (along with ruby and emerald), sapphire stepped into the spotlight with Princess Diana’s famous engagement ring, which Prince William then bestowed to Kate Middleton when he proposed in 2010. (more…)
“How did they make that?” It’s a common question that is asked the first time one sees micro-mosaic jewelry.
The astonished reaction is understandable. A square inch of micro-mosaic jewelry can have as many as 1,400 pieces of tesserae (a small piece of glass, stone, or tile) in just one square inch, and can shimmer in a dazzling variety of hues. (more…)
When buying a diamond, you know how important the 4Cs are in defining diamond quality. But well before buying comes dreaming. And when you envision the perfect diamond you’ll own one day, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is its shape. (more…)
Colored diamonds have a special allure, and rare natural color green diamonds may be the most intriguing of them all.
The green color in a diamond is the result of exposure to radiation. The source of the radiation can be naturally occurring or performed in a laboratory. Natural radiation is the result of the diamond being exposed to radioactive uranium from rocks near the earth’s surface. Artificial irradiation is achieved in a lab using either a linear accelerator (called a linac), gamma rays or a nuclear reactor. (more…)
If you’re intrigued by the origin of gemstones, then you’re probably going to love ammolite. Ammolite is iridescent fossilized ammonite shells found in Southern Alberta, Canada. (more…)
All gemstones are gifts of nature. But what about when certain gems glint or glow with subtle hues that defy description? Different light conditions can turn a dazzling gem into a phenomenal one. (more…)
Jewelry made of simple shapes has been cycling in and out of fashion for centuries, and it’s currently in vogue with designers and fashionistas. (more…)
Allow us to introduce you to these alternative jewelry metals: ceramic, tungsten carbide, cobalt, titanium, and stainless steel. Collectively, these alternative metals have become a big hit in men’s jewelry, especially men’s wedding bands, as well as other types of jewelry. (more…)
Known to Egyptians as the “gem of the sun,” the yellowish green peridot has been treasured since the earliest times, and is the birthstone for August. It’s thought that this gemstone is 4.5 billion years old, as it’s found in meteorite remnants dating to the solar system’s birth.
If you’re shopping for August’s birthstone, our Peridot Buying Guide offers tips and advice on what to look for, particularly as it relates to cut, one of the most important factors in a peridot’s appearance. (more…)
In the past century, pearls have gone from some of the most expensive and rarest objects to jewelry that many of us can afford.
How this happened and what the future holds is a fascinating story. In part one of our series on cultured pearls we discussed how three Japanese men created techniques to produce the first akoya cultured pearls, which gave birth to the modern cultured pearl industry. Today, we dive into South Sea cultured pearls, Tahitian cultured pearls, and the rise of China as a leading cultured pearl producer.
Ready to set sail and learn about these treasures? (more…)
Packing for your dream vacation and wondering if you should bring your favorite pieces of jewelry? Wonder no more as we provide you with tips for traveling with jewelry. (more…)
Buried deep in the Himalayan foothills of Afghanistan lies a bountiful supply of rich, deep green emerald, and the promise of seeing these beautiful rough gems lured Andy Lucas, GIA manager of Field Gemology in Carlsbad, to this scenic but beleaguered land.
Lucas travels around the world gathering details of the mine to market story for GIA education courses and its scientific publication, Gems & Gemology. And this time, his destination was the remote emerald mines of Panjshir Valley. The valley’s name means “five lions,” a tribute to five spiritual brothers who once lived there. When he arrived, he found a rugged land with spectacular vistas. (more…)
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