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Amethyst
Amethyst, the birthstone for February, is a
popular, attractive and affordable gemstone.
Featuring a captivating purple colour, amethyst
is a member of the quartz family. Its name comes
from the Greek word amethystos, meaning not
intoxicated. Ancient cultures believed that
amethyst could protect its owner against
drunkenness. Amethyst is also mentioned in the
Bible and was believed to bring peace of mind to
the wearer. Look for saturated, even colour, as
well as good clarity when purchasing amethyst.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine, the birthstone for March, is a
member of the beryl family. A relatively hard
crystal mineral, aquamarine’s colour can range
from light to dark blue and contain hints of
green. Its name means sea water in Latin.
Aquamarine has been reputed to cure laziness and
insomnia, increase wisdom, provide everlasting
youth and even cure hiccups. It tends to be free
from inclusions, making it more attractive and
durable than some other stones. Aquamarines
usually have a high transparency and clarity, as
well as a very even colour and great durability.
Look for aquamarine stones that have good
clarity, as well as good, even colour.
Blue Topaz
Blue Topaz, the birthstone for December is
usually light brown when mined and turns
colourless or very pale blue when it is exposed
to light or heat. Coloured topaz, especially
yellow, orange and pink, are more valuable.
Since red is the rarest colour for any gemstone,
the red or very pink varieties of topaz are the
most valuable. Yellow or orange topaz with
reddish or pink overtones is also known as
imperial topaz, and commands much higher prices.
Colourless topaz has also been used to simulate
diamonds. Many stones classified as topaz are
actually coloured quartz. Be careful to verify
that the topaz you purchase is indeed topaz.
Topaz stones are delicate in nature and require
extra care when handling.
Citrine
Citrine, the birthstone for November, is prized
for its yellow to brownish colour and its
resemblance to topaz, a much rarer gem. Citrine
is a member of the quartz family. Look for
saturated, even colour, as well as good clarity
when purchasing citrine.
Emerald
Emerald, the birthstone for May, is one of the
most sought-after, coveted and prized of all
gems. Its name comes from the Latin word for
‘green’. Emerald, a member of the beryl family,
comes in different shades of green. The most
important aspect to look for when purchasing an
emerald is its colour. More vivid stones are
more valuable. Another factor to consider is the
number of fractures or cracks on the stone’s
surface…fewer fissures means higher value. Some
emeralds are treated with oil to conceal these
fractures.
Garnet
Garnet, the birthstone for January, is believed
to represent faith, loyalty, truth and devotion.
Known as the stone of friendship and commitment,
garnet is a very hard, durable and versatile
gem. Garnets are named after the Latin word for
‘pomegranate’ because of their red colour and
seed-like shape. Many garnets however, feature
various shades of green, yellow, orange, brown,
pink or purple. The most important thing to look
for when it comes to purchasing a garnet is its
colour. The more vivid the stone the more
valuable it is.
Iolite
Iolite, a bluish-violet coloured gemstone, comes
from the Greek word for violet, ‘ios’. Iolite is
often referred to as a Water Sapphire, because
it resembles sapphire face-up and looks clear or
watery from the side. The colour of Iolite
actually appears different when viewed from
three different angles…a characteristic known in
gemmology as trichroism. In terms of colour, an
Iolite should not be overly dark, or pale. Avoid
Iolite stones with have many inclusions. More
bright and vivid Iolite stones are the most
valuable.
Opal
Opal, the birthstone for October, is a delicate
combination of small, closely packed silica
(sand) and water. The silica occurs in sphere
shapes, which refracts the light that enters the
stone and causes a play-of-colour or shift in the
spectrum of light reflected to our eyes. The
range of colors in opals is determined by the
size of the spheres. The wider the range of
colors an opal displays, and the more bright and
distinctive the play is, the more rare and
valuable the opal. Generally, a black opal is
more valuable than a light opal of comparable
quality. The overall brightness in both strong
and weak light sources is an important factor to
look for when purchasing an opal. Opals are very
delicate stones and require extra care when
handling.
Peridot
Peridot, the birthstone for August, is a
popular, attractive and affordable gemstone. It
comes in a variety of colors, with green being
the most popular. According to legend, wearing
Peridot protected the wearer from evil spirits.
Look for saturated, even colour, as well as good
clarity when purchasing peridot. Greener
peridots stones have the highest value.
Ruby
Ruby, the birthstone for July, is extremely
valuable. Its vibrant red colour is the rarest
naturally occurring colour in gemstones. Ruby, a
corundum, shares the same physical
characteristics and chemical composition of
sapphires. Rubies have strong ties to royalty:
In England, the ruby was used for coronation
rings, while the Hindus thought that if they
offered rubies to the god Krishna, they would be
reincarnated as an emperor. Its blood-red colour
has also symbolized courage, bravery and love.
The name comes from the Latin word for red,
rubeus. Rubies as well as sapphires are the
second hardest gemstones after diamonds. They
are very durable and strong, making them useful
in many industrial applications as is the case
with diamonds. Today, rubies are surpassed in
value only by diamonds. When purchasing a ruby,
you should look for a pure red colour that looks
good in any light with no hints of other colors,
such as brown or blue. Also look for good
clarity with few inclusions.
Sapphire
Sapphire, the birthstone for September and a
corundum, shares the same physical
characteristics and chemical composition of
rubies. Sapphires have long been associated with
royalty: Sapphires are worn by kings and queens,
as well as high church officials. Its name comes
from the Greek word for blue. Sapphires also
come in pink, orange, yellow, green and purple
tones. There are even colourless sapphires,
which are a popular diamond substitute. Colour
is very important when purchasing a sapphire.
Sapphires with a pure blue hue have the most
value. Look for sapphires that have no grey or
black tones, and lack any greenish tint.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite, discovered in 1967 near Mt.
Kilimanjaro in Africa, is one of today’s most
popular gemstones. It was later named after
Tanzania, the country in which it was found by
Henry Platt, director of Tiffany & Co. Depending
on the angle it’s viewed a tanzanite has the
capacity of transmitting various colors of
light.. It can look deep blue one moment and
purple another. A variety of the mineral
zoisite, Tanzanite can also display flashes of
red, yellow, orange, green or brown. Colour is
the most important factor when purchasing a
tanzanite. Tanzanite stones with a more blue
colour are more desirable and valuable than
those with a more purplish hue. Also, stones
with very dark or very light shades of
coloration are less valuable.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline along with Opal is the birthstone for
October. Tourmaline comes in the widest variety
of colors of any gemstone. There are green,
pink, red, blue, yellow, orange, brown, black,
colourless, parti-coloured and cat’s eye
tourmalines, as well as multicoloured
tourmalines. The brightest and most vivid
tourmalines have the highest value. The most
popular colors are green chrome tourmalines and
Paraiba tourmalines, which have a blue hue. Red
or rubellite, tourmalines are also popular.
Tourmalines, are often substituted for more
expensive emeralds, sapphires and rubies.
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