Gemstones
Popular gemstones
Diamond – The hardest substance on earth, diamonds are considered the most prestigious of all gems. They are also the most popular gemstone used in engagement rings and the best gemstones to collect. Birthstone for April and the gem for the 10th & 60th anniversary.
Ruby – Known as “the king of gems”, ruby is renowned for its brilliant red hue. Birthstone for July and the gem for the 15th & 40th anniversary.
Sapphire – Contrary to popular belief, sapphires come in a range of colours besides blue. These are known as fancy-colour sapphires and include the popular “ruby sapphire” (pink), orange, yellow, green, and purple. Birthstone for September and the gem for the 5th & 45th anniversary.
Emerald – The most desirable hues for emerald are blue green to pure, vibrant greens with no darkness or yellowing in the stone at all – just evenly distributed colours that give off a brilliant glow when the stone has been polished to resemble glass. Birthstone for May and the gem for the 20th & 35th anniversary.
Pearl – Pearls are organic gems, created when an oyster covers a foreign object with beautiful layers of nacre. Pearls are among the most beautiful gemstones in existence, being prized for their iridescent sheen. The quality of pearls is judged by the orient, which is the soft iridescence caused by the refraction of light by the layers of nacre, and lustre, the reflectivity and shine of the surface. Fine pearls do not have any flaws or spots in the nacre: it has an even, smooth texture. Other factors which affect value are the regularity of the shape, size, and colour: rose tints are the most favoured. Cultured and natural pearls can be distinguished from imitation ones by a very simple test. Take the pearl and rub it (gently!) against the edge of a tooth. Cultured and natural pearls will feel slightly rough, like fine sandpaper, because of the texture of natural nacre. Imitations will feel as smooth as glass because the surface is moulded or painted on a smooth bead. They come in a range of colours, including white, yellow, cream, brown, black, and grey. Birthstone for June.
Citrine – Citrine collars range from light yellow to dark orange and brown. However, high-quality citrine gems have an intense golden hue, with fiery orange flashes inside. These gems can be transparent or cloudy, depending on their origin. Another colour variation prized among citrines is a deep red free of brown tints. Birthstone for November and the gem for the 13th anniversary.
Peridot – These unique gemstones are a variety of the mineral olivine. They only come in one colour, namely green, but the intensity and hue can differ for each stone. Thus, peridot gems can exhibit many different shades of green, with some appearing more yellow than others. Birthstone for August and the gem 16th anniversary.
Morganite -Morganite is a soft peachy-pink colour and is revered for its beautiful clarity. From the same gemstone family as Emerald, it is durable and makes a stunning centre stone for a gemstone ring. Women the world over love morganite for its fine pink tones which radiate charm, esprit and tenderness.
Aquamarine - Aquamarine is a pale blue to light green gemstone,with its name relating to water and sea. The colour of aquamarine can be changed by heat, with a goal to enhance its physical appearance. Aquamarine is blue with hues of green, caused by trace amounts of iron found within the crystal structure. It can vary from pale to vibrant and transparent to translucent. Better transparency in aquamarine gemstones means that light may go through the crystal with less interference. It is the birth stone of March. It has historically been used a symbol for youth and happiness due to its colour. Gemstone for the 19th anniversary.
Garnet - Best known as a red gemstone and birthstone of January., Garnet occurs in many colours and is a traditional gem given on a second anniversary.
Amethyst -Amethyst is the world's most popular purple gem. It is the purple colour variety of quartz. Amethyst is the birthstone of February. Amethyst has a Mohs hardness of 7 and does not break by cleavage. That makes it durable enough for use in rings, bracelets, earrings, pendants, and any type of jewellery. Amethyst occurs in primary hues from a light lavender or pale violet to a deep purple. Amethysts will never sparkle quite like diamonds, and they’re not supposed to, but they can show their unique beauty with the right cut. Birthstone for February and the gem for the 6th & 17th anniversary.
Tanzanite -Poised between lush blue, vibrant violet, and rich purple, exotic tanzanite is found in only one place on earth, near majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Tanzanite is a blue variety of the gemstone. It is named after the East African state of Tanzania. It is not particularly hard, having a value of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. For that reason, it should always be worn carefully and never placed in an ultrasonic bath for cleaning or brought into contact with acids. Tanzanite is a birthstone for December, along with zircon, turquoise, and blue topaz. Tanzanite is also the gem for a 24th anniversary.
Topaz- Topaz is another one of the popular gemstones used in jewellery making. It exists in various shades of brown, yellow, green, blue, red, pink, orange, and purple. Colourless specimens are also quite common and have occasionally been mistaken for diamonds. Blue, the most popular colour for topaz, is actually the rarest. The blue colour is the result of irradiation and heat treatment in a lab. These treatments turn colourless or pale gems into beautiful shades of blue, such as Swiss (a light blue) and London blue (a deeper blue, almost dark blue). Also, the birthstone for November (precious topaz), December (blue topaz) and the gem for the 4th (blue topaz), 23rd (imperial topaz) anniversary.
Opal - Bursting with life and vitality, the dazzling, hypnotic play-of-colour that is opal inspires its moniker, Queen of All Gems, as it captures a rainbow in one stone. Throughout history this chameleon gem has symbolized good fortune and was believed to inspire love and creativity, enhance self-confidence, and ease navigating life changes. October’s birthstone, opal is a gem of positive transformation, revealing the colourful attributes of those who wear it. Magical, mysterious, and lively opal is captivating new admirers with its variety. Ranging from semi-transparent to opaque, opal occurs in several types: White opal, the most common, has a transparent or white body colour with vibrant pastel flashes of rainbow colour. Black opal, regarded as king of the opal world, has a blue, grey or black body colour that reveals a more dramatic play of colour. Boulder opal is most often black opal with some of the ironstone matrix in which it occurred still intact—and has become quite a designer favourite. Crystal opal is transparent or semi-transparent dark to light body tone with brilliant flashes of colour swimming within it. Fire opal is transparent or translucent with yellow to light orange to intense bright red body colour that may or may not have play of colour. Opal ranks 5-6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making this gem best suited for jewellery like earrings, pendants and brooches that rarely encounter impacts. In rings, a bezel setting helps to protect the stone. Generally, a stable material, high heat or sudden temperature changes could cause it to fracture. To clean opal, use a soft dry or damp cloth. Do not soak it or use mechanical cleaners or chemicals. Get disclosure and care information in writing. Gem for the 24th anniversary.