Gemology Tidbits Blog Feed

$308,000.00 and it’s not even a diamond?!
This gorgeous green stone is smaller than a quarter, yet it’s worth more than a house…and it’s not even a diamond! This breathtaking stone is the world’s finest, largest Demantoid garnet from Russia with amazing intense green color and high … Continue reading →

A 25 Pound Emerald?
This story caught my eye this morning so I thought I’d share it with you. A 25 pound faceted green beryl has surfaced and is going up for auction soon. It is being called the largest faceted emerald in the … Continue reading →

A planet made of diamond?
Wow, how exciting. Scientists have discovered a new planet made of diamond, sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Apparently because the new planet is so dense and consists largely of carbon, scientists figure the carbon must be in … Continue reading →

Affordable Diamond Alternatives
So many of our customers are either green-minded, budget conscious or conflict-conscious and no amount of pursuasion will change their minds…they simply do not want a diamond as the center stone in their engagement ring. For this reason, we’ve prepared … Continue reading →

Amethyst Sister to Citrine
Did you know amethyst and citrine belong to the same gem species? Both amethyst and citrine are members of the mineral species, Quartz. The color is the most obvious difference between amethyst and citrine. Amethyst ranges in color from strong … Continue reading →

Caring for Opals
Opals, with or without enhancement, should be treated tender loving care as it ranges in hardness from 5-6.5 on the Mohs scale. Opal is softer than many other gemstones and should be stored carefully to avoid being scratched by other … Continue reading →

Citrine Sister To Amethyst
Did you know citrine and amethyst belong to the same gem species? Both citrine and amethyst are members of the mineral species, Quartz. The color is the most obvious difference between citrine and amethyst. Citrine ranges in color from yellow … Continue reading →

Citrine and Topaz Durability
I mentioned previously that golden topaz was harder than citrine and more costly. But there is more to a gemstone’s durability than just hardness, which is a gemstone’s ability to resist scratches. Toughness, which refers to a gemstones resistance to … Continue reading →

Crystal Shapes
Sometimes faceted gemstones from different species can look so similar to each other that it’s difficult to tell them apart. It’s much easier to tell gemstone species apart in the crystal form because different species form in different crystal systems…and … Continue reading →

Happy Thanksgiving
As I sit here smelling the turkey in the oven and imagining the feast that awaits us in a couple of hours, I think of how grateful I am for so many things in my life. I have been blessed … Continue reading →

Happy Veteran’s Day
It is with heartfelt thanks that I write today to address the men and women of our armed forces. Your sacrifice and bravery is appreciated more than words can say. You put your lives on the line to keep our … Continue reading →

National Gem Collection
I had a great time touring the National Gem & Mineral Collection at the Smithsonian today with the Curator, Jeff Post. Starting January 1st, I’ll take a break from birthstone tidbits and share with you some fascinating info about various … Continue reading →

November Birthstones: Citrine & Golden Topaz
There are two birthstones generally recognized as birthstones for November: Citrine and Golden Topaz. Citrine is the orangish yellow variety of quartz, while golden topaz is the yellowish golden variety of topaz. While golden topaz is a harder than citrine … Continue reading →

One Amazing Peridot
This gorgeous green stone is an amazing peridot mined in Pakistan. It weighs a whopping 100.15 carats and has a price tag of $25,037. Peridot with exceptional quality and color began to emerge from the mountains of Pakistan in the … Continue reading →

Opal Enhancements
Opals are often enhanced to improve their appearance and durability. Opals can be treated by a variety of methods to bring out their play of color. The two most common treatments are Sugar Treatment and Smoke Treatment. For either of … Continue reading →

Repairing an 850 Carat Imperial Topaz
Because November is topaz month, I thought this would be a fun project to share with you. I’ve prepared the video below showing the step-by-step process of repairing a chipped table facet on a large 850 carat Imperial Topaz. My … Continue reading →

Tangerine Tango: The Fashion Color For 2012
Sarah Bernard of The Thread just released the new fashion color for 2012: Tangerine Tango. While she doesn’t mention any gemstone jewelry that might offer a great way for you to accessorize in style, consider stylish jewelry made with padparadschas … Continue reading →

This Amazing Aquamarine…
I hope everyone had a blessed holiday season. I wish you prosperity and good health for the new year. I mentioned in a previous post that I have the privilege of touring the gem and mineral collection at the Smithsonian … Continue reading →

Tourmaline
My plan for the end of October was to tell you a bit about tourmaline and show you some orange sapphire engagement rings in honor of Halloween. However, my father was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital and I was out … Continue reading →

What’s The Center Stone?
This interesting Harry Winston diamond brooch actually holds a 44.03 carat polished spherical diamond in the center. Although the diamond is not gem quality, the special polished spherical shape makes this diamond jewelry piece unique. While diamonds normally have adamantine … Continue reading →