We carry only TOP GEM QUALITY Gemstones

Gem Facts and Information

Natural Gems - never lab created!

Full Satisfaction Money-Back Guarantee*

Gem Information Index

You will never find a synthetic gem in our Gemstone selections,
We feature only Genuine, Natural, Precious Gemstones

Click on the underlined item of your choice to view selections available

COLOR GRADES	F A Q	CLARITY GRADES

GEM CUTS	TREATMENTS	GEM HARDNESS

BIRTHSTONES	GEMSTONE PRICE GUIDE	ANNIVERSARY GEMS


DIAMOND	SAPPHIRE - BLUE	AMETHYST
ALEXANDRITE	SAPPHIRE - GOLDEN	CITRINE
AQUAMARINE	SAPPHIRE - ORANGE	GARNET
ANDESINE	SAPPHIRE - PADPARADSCHA	IOLITE
CHRYSOBERYL	SAPPHIRE - PINK	KUNZITE
EMERALD	SAPPHIRE - PURPLE	MORGANITE
RUBY	SAPPHIRE - STAR	PERIDOT
STAR RUBY	SAPPHIRE - WHITE	SPINEL
TANZANITE	SAPPHIRE - YELLOW	TOPAZ
TOURMALINE	SAPPHIRE - COLOR CHANGE	ZIRCON
	OPAL
	VIEW OUR GEM STOCK

Gemological Reports and Gem Appraisals


We can supply Appraisals and/or Gemological Laboratory Certificates on any gem we sell, if requested. Many of our Gems already have a Gem Identification Reports listed online. We use fully accredited Gemological Laboratories able to perform most of our Gemstone Identification and Diamond Grading of Gems and Jewelry. Our Gem listings are based on the GIA "Color Stone Grading System". If you are looking for a reputable Gem & Jewelry Appraiser, we recommend: GUILD LABS You should expect at least $100 fee for a written Gem Appraisal. The following links are to more reputable Gem Laboratories : AGL \| AGTA \| GIA \| GRS \| GUILD \| GUBELIN \| SSEF Gemological reports can cost $100 to $1,000, depending on the gem and how much detail you want on the report.

GIA COLOR GRADES

The GIA type Color Scale:
The 3 charts below are based on the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) "Color Stone Grading System", where the Color with it's various Hues, the Tone, and the Saturation of color in a particular gem is listed.
You will normally see this system identified by a letter or set of letters, followed by two numbers. The letters are abbreviations of the Color and Hues visible... the first number is the Tone or lightness/darkness of a particular gemstone... and the second number in sequence is the Saturation of color in the gem. So, as an example, when you see a Ruby given the color "R", this would indicate the color is "Red" meaning the primary color is Red and there appears to be no noticeable secondary color... if the tone/saturation numbers were listed as "6/5"... this would indicate the gem has "Medium-dark" tone and "Strong" saturation of color... making this particular gem fall in the "good" category.

GIA Type COLOR SCALE

Abbreviation	HUE	Abbreviation	HUE
P	Purple	styG	strongly yellowish-Green
rP	reddish-Purple	yG	yellowish-Green
RP/PR	Red-Purple or Purple-Red	slyG	slightly yellowish-Green
stpR	strongly purplish-Red	G	Green
slpR	slightly purplish-Red	vslbG	very slightly bluish-Green
R	Red	vstbG	very strongly bluish-Green
oR	orangy Red	GB/BG	Green-Blue or Blue-Green
RO/OR	Red-Orange or Orange-Red	vstgB	very strongly greenish-Blue
rO	reddish-Orange	gB	greenish-Blue
O	Orange	vslgB	very slightly greenish-Blue
yO	yellowish-Orange	B	Blue
oY	orangy-Yellow	vB	violetish Blue
Y	Yellow	bV	bluish Violet
gY	greenish-Yellow	V	Violet
YG/GY	Yellow-Green or Green-Yellow	bP	bluish Purple


The Tone and Saturation Scale: Is based on a determination of the lightness or darkness of a particular gemstone. Tone should be considered along with the Color to properly understand the depth of color in the gem. Even though it may have good primary color, if it's too light in tone, it will not be rich enough... or... if the color is too dark, it will sacrifice brilliancy and transparency. Saturation should be considered along with the Color and Tone to properly understand the amount and evenness of the color that is saturated throughout the gem.
GIA Type TONE SCALE

0	1	2	3	4
Colorless or White	Extremely Light	Very Light	Light	Medium-Light

5	6	7	8	9
Medium	Medium-Dark	Dark	Very Dark	Extremely Dark

**GIA Type SATURATION SCALE**
1	2	3	4	5	6
Brownish or Grayish	slightly Brownish or slightly Grayish	very slightly Brownish or very slightly Grayish	Moderately Strong	Strong	Vivid


Understanding the GIA type Colored Stone Grading System : Here's how a gemologist evaluates a gemstone's hue, tone, and saturation, using the GIA type colored stone grading system : The stone is first identified as to gem type. After being thoroughly cleaned, the stone is held by its girdle over a neutrally colored background, and the gemologist looks at it face-up from a comfortable distance ? usually about 18 in. (45 cm) ? in strong, diffused, daylight-equivalent lighting, with the light source somewhere around 10 in. (25 cm) above the stone. The stone is then rocked back and forth up to a total of 30 degrees as the tone, hue, and saturation judgments are made. The following examples will help you understand the process involved in how a gem's color is determined. Let's first look at the illustration to the right. This example tone chart starts with #2 very light, and goes to #8 very dark, as the tone examples. The gem's tone is determined first, and in this example it is determined that the tone is #5 medium. Next, the gemologist estimates the overall hue. Look at the illustration to the left to see which hue compares best to the examples on the hue wheel. The sample stone is green, with a touch of blue, so the gem is very slightly bluish green. The hue shows up as bright flashes of brilliance when you look at the stone in the face-up position. In a stone with a window that occupies over 50 percent of the face-up area, the gemologist also grades the window as the dominant color and then the brilliance as the additional color. Lastly, the gemologist estimates the saturation level. Look at the illustration to the right. Saturation is how much color the gem has. If it does not appear to be grayish or brownish at all, it has strong to vivid saturation. Saturation is also where any additional colors such as those due to color change, pleochroism, color zoning, and windowing less than 50% are noted. Saturation has a moderate to strong effect on appearance. Additional colors, like a window as noted above, are graded only if they are moderate to strong. The sample stone is thereby graded very slightly bluish green (vslbG), medium tone (5), vivid saturation (6).

AGL/GIA CLARITY COMPARISON CHART

AGL	GIA TYPE I	GIA TYPE II	GIA TYPE III	ABBREVIATED DEFINITION
F1	VVS			MINUTE TO NOT DETECTABLE
LI1-LI2	VS	VVS		MINOR
MI1	SI1	VS	VVS	NOTICEABLE TO OBVIOUS
MI2	SI2	SI1	VS	NOTICEABLE TO OBVIOUS
HI1		SI2	SI1	OBVIOUS TO PROMINENT
			SI2	OBVIOUS TO PROMINENT
HI2	I1	I1		PROMINENT (MODERATE AFFECT ON APPEARANCE OR DURABILITY)
EI1	I2	I2	I1	PROMINENT (CONSIDERABLE AFFECT ON APPEARANCE OR DURABILITY)
EI1	I2	I2		PROMINENT (SERVER AFFECT ON APPEARANCE & DURABILITY)
EI2	I3	I3	I2	PROMINENT (SEVERE AFFECT ON TRANSPARENCY OR DURABILITY)
EI2	I3	I3	I3	PROMINENT (SEVERE AFFECT ON BEAUTY, TRANSPARENCY & DURABILITY)
EI3	DECLASSE			STONES NOT TRANSPARENT BECAUSE OF INCLUSIONS

The COLORLESS GEM Color Scale:
The chart below is based on the Diamond Color Grading System.
COLOR GRADING of Diamonds arbitrarily begins with "D". "A", "B", and "C" are assumed to not exist.

COLORLESS GEM GRADING SCALES

COLOR	GIA*	CIBJO*
COLORLESS	D	EXCEPTIONAL WHITE+
	E	EXCEPTIONAL WHITE
	F	RARE WHITE+
NEAR COLORLESS	G	RARE WHITE
	H	WHITE
	I	VERY SLIGHTLY TINTED WHITE
	J	SLIGHTLY TINTED WHITE
FAINT YELLOW to FAINT BROWN	K	TINTED WHITE
	L	TINTED WHITE
	M	TINTED COLOR 1
VERY LIGHT YELLOW to VERY LIGHT BROWN	N	TINTED COLOR 2
	O
	P
	Q
	R
LIGHT YELLOW to LIGHT BROWN	S	TINTED COLOR 3
	T
	U
	V
	W
	X
	Y
	Z
CHAMPAGNE CONAC GREENISH BROWNISH	C+	FANCY COLOR
YELLOWISH PINKISH BLUISH	LIGHT FANCY
YELLOW GREEN BLUE PURPLE PINK RED	FANCY
	FANCY INTENSE
	VIVID
* GIA = Gemological Institute of America. * CIBJO = Confederation Internationale de la Bijouterie, Joaillsrie, Ortevrerie, des diamants, perles et pierres precieuses.

Exceptional	Very Good	Good	Fair	Poor
VVS	VS	SI	I1... I2	I3
Very Very Slightly Included	Very Slightly Included	Slightly Included	Included	Excessively Included

Exceptional	Very Very Good	Very Good	Good	Poor
VVS	VS	SI	I1... I2	I3
Very Very Slightly Included	Very Slightly Included	Slightly Included	Included	Excessively Included

Exceptional+	Exceptional	Very Very Good	Very Good	Poor
VVS	VS	SI	I1... I2	I3
Very Very Slightly Included	Very Slightly Included	Slightly Included	Included	Excessively Included

code A:	Indicates that this gemstone has no known enhancement, or, this type of gem is very rarely enhanced.
code E:	Indicates that this gemstone is typically, or routinely, enhanced by one or more of the methods below.
code N:	Indicates that this gemstone has no known enhancement, and was tested by an independent gemologist, or our in-house gemologist, to assure you with a measure of certainty that the gem has no known enhancement.

CE:	Indicates a diamond has been been clarity enhanced to effect desired alteration of clarity. This process optically eliminates "feathers" (inclusions), which are naturally occurring imperfections found in most diamonds. This type of enhancement is considered permanent under normal wearing conditions, except the flame of a jewelers torch and/or boiling acids and bases may compromise the integrity of a CE diamond's enhancement. In the event the integrity of the enhancement is compromised, a CE manufacturer can restore the enhancement should this occur. The only special care requirement is to inform a jeweler the stone is a CE diamond before allowing work performed on that particular jewelry piece. Natural diamonds command a higher premium, depending on the diamond.
Coated:	Indicates a Coating has been used as a surface treatment such as waxing, lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling, or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color or add special effects. This treatment is not considered to be permanent since the coating can be easily scratched off, so as a result it may create special care requirements, which we feel seriously reduces the value and therefore should affect your buying decision.
Diffusion:	Indicates the gemstone has undergone Diffusion (or Bulk Diffusion) which is the use of one or more chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to produce a subsurface layer of color and on occasion asterism producing inclusions. This treatment is considered to be permanent, but if the gem is heavily scratched, chipped, polished, re-cut, etc., the original color could then become visible. This treatment method is very inexpensive. Sapphire and Ruby that has undergone treatment with diffusion see a seriously reduction in the value and therefore should affect your buying decision. They cannot be equally compared to natural untreated gems. Topaz that has undergone treatment with diffusion can actually see an increase the value over Irradiation treated gems.
Dye:	Indicates Dyeing has occurred. Dyeing is the introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify present color or improve color uniformity. This treatment is normally not permanent and/or it may create special care requirements, which we feel seriously reduces the value and therefore should affect your buying decision.
Epoxy:	Indicates a hardener was used to seal the surface of porous gem material with a colored or colorless Epoxy-like material. This is typically performed to improve appearance and/or durability of the gem as well as prevent inclusions from fracturing. This treatment method is permanent and normally does not create special care requirements, however, in recent years demand for natural top quality gemstones has caused untreated gems to command a higher premium, depending on the gem.
Heat:	Indicates the stone has been heated to effect desired alteration of color, clarity, and/or phenomena. Most of the Citrine, Kunzite, Morganite, Tanzanite, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Golden Sapphire, Orange Sapphire in the market is routinely heated. This enhancement method is permanent and normally does not create special care requirements. Heat enhancement has been an accepted trade practice for generations and normally it does not adversely affect the value of the gem, however, in recent years demand for unheated top quality Ruby and Sapphire has caused these gems to command a higher premium, depending on the gem.
Irradiation:	Indicates the gemstone has undergone some form of gamma or electron Irradiation (in some cases, in conjunction with heat). Gamma or electron Irradiation typically either induces color centers to alter a gemstone's color or changes the valence state of impurities to improve the clarity. Gems routinely treated with this method are: Aquamarine (to produce dark blue Maxxie beryl), Colorless Beryl (to turn it green or yellow), Morganite (to deepen the pink color), Opal (to induce an orange-yellow body color), Diamond (to produce various colors), Quartz (to produce Smoky Quartz, Citrine, Amethyst, Amethyst-Citrine or Ametrine, and green-"gold" stones), Topaz (to blue and yellow), Pink Tourmaline (to produce Hot Pink and Red or Rubellite), and pale pink Kunzite (to lavender). Some of these irradiation-induced colors (e.g., Kunzite, Maxi Blue Topaz, and Yellow Beryl) may fade over time. This treatment method is considered to be permanent and normally does not create special care requirements.
HPHT:	Indicates the diamond has been been heated while under pressure to effect desired alteration of color and/or clarity. HPHT diamonds, are natural diamonds that end up almost pure and flawless. The process basically speeds up the earths process of forming a diamond by squeezing a diamond to pressures of around 60,000 atmospheres. This "high pressure high temperature" treatment is most usually performed on off white diamonds that have some inclusions, and after the enhancement process the stone will be a more desired color with near flawless clarity. This treatment method is permanent and does not create special care requirements, however, natural diamonds command a somewhat higher premium, depending on the diamond
Laser:	Indicates the stone has been laser drilled and chemicals were used to reach and alter the inclusions in the gem. This treatment is rarely performed on color gems, but is most often performed on diamonds that have obvious inclusions, after the treatment the stone will appear to have less obvious inclusions. This treatment method is permanent and normally does not create special care requirements, however, natural diamonds command a higher premium, depending on the diamond.
Glass:	Indicates the stone has been heated to moderate temperatures (reportedly 900⁰F,400⁰C) to remove potential impurities from the fractures and improve color, then the stone is mixed with powders that are composed primarily of lead and silica but may also contain sodium, calcium, potassium, and metal oxides such as copper or bismuth. This mixture is then heated again, reportedly to approximately 900⁰F, fusing the powders into a glass that penetrates the fractures in the stone. Jewelers pickling solution can etch the glass filler, otherwise this treatment method is permanent and normally does not create special care requirements.
Oil:	Indicates the surface-breaking cavities were filled by immersing the gemstone in a colorless oil, wax, or natural resin that penetrates into the fissured or porous gemstone. This type of enhancement process is one of the oldest accepted trade practices in the business, with reports on it dating back over 600 years. Traditionally, such fillers have been oils of various types, cedar-wood oil being a common one. Some oils can come out of the stone if heated too much (but this is rare), however, if this were to happen the jeweler can simply re-oil it to return the gem to it's previous lustre. This type of oil enhancement does not normally affect the performance, durability, or value of the gemstone, and it does not create special care requirements. In recent years man-made resin materials, like Opticon, were introduced and are also being used to enhance certain gemstones, like emerald. This man-made resin enhancement process is an accepted trade practice that does not normally affect the performance or durability of the gemstone, and it does not create special care requirements, however we feel it seriously reduces the value and therefore should affect your buying decision.

MOH's Hardness	Mineral used for comparison	Simple Hardness	Cutting Hardness (A. Rosiwal)
10	Diamond		140,000.00
9	Ruby, Sapphire, Alexandrite, Chrysoberyl		1,000.00
8	Aquamarine, Emerald, Morganite, Spinel, Topaz		175.00
7	Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Iolite, Kunzite, Peridot, Tanzanite, Tourmaline, Zircon	Scratches window glass	120.00
6	Diopside, Lapis lazuli, Orthoclase, Turquoise	Can be scratched with a steel file	37.00
5	Apatite, Obsidian, Sphene, Glass	Can be scratched with a knife	6.50
4	Coral, Fluorite, Pearl	Can easily be scratched with a knife	5.00
3	Calcite, Ivory	Can be scratched with a copper coin	4.50
2	Amber, Gypsum	Can be scratched with a fingernail	1.25
1	Talc	Can be scratched with a fingernail	0.03

Month	Color	Modern	Traditional	Alternate
January	Brick Red	Garnet	Garnet	Rose Quartz
February	Purple	Amethyst	Amethyst	Black Onyx Moonstone
March	Seafoam Blue	Aquamarine	Bloodstone	Rock Crystal
April	Colorless	Diamond	Diamond	White Sapphire White Topaz
May	Green	Emerald	Emerald	Green Tourmaline Tsavorite Garnet
June	White	Pearl Moonstone	Alexandrite	Opal
July	Red	Ruby	Ruby	Rubellite Tourmaline
August	Yellowish-Green	Peridot	Jade	Star Sapphire
September	Royal Blue	Blue Sapphire	Blue Sapphire	Iolite Lapis Lazuli
October	Pink	Opal Pink Tourmaline	Jasper	Pink Sapphire Morganite -Pink Emerald
November	Golden Yellow	Yellow Topaz Yellow Citrine	Yellow Citrine	Yellow Sapphire Tiger's Eye
December	Sky Blue	Blue Topaz Tanzanite	Blue Zircon Turquoise	Blue Spinel Lapis Lazuli
Birthstones listed in the "Modern" column are the Official Birthstones adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers, Jewelers of America. These Birthstones were Officially adopted in 1912. Tanzanite, a violet-blue gem from East Africa, is so hot it is the first gem added to the birthstone list since 1912 Stones listed in the "Traditional" column contains older birthstones and is sometimes combined with the modern birthstone list. These stones reflect societal birthstone traditions, heralding back to the 15th century. (Many jewelers have differing lists of Traditional Birthstones.) Stones listed in the "Alternate" column were Gem Dealers and Jewelery Manufacturers using alternative birthstones for each month.

Year	Gemstone	Year	Gemstone
1st	Gold Jewelry	13th	Yellow Citrine
2nd	Garnet	14th	Opal
3rd	Pearls	15th	Ruby
4th	Blue Topaz	16th	Peridot
5th	Blue Sapphire	17th	Watches
6th	Amethyst	18th	Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl
7th	Onyx	19th	Aquamarine
8th	Green Tourmaline	20th	Emerald
9th	Lapis Lazuli	21st	Iolite
10th	Diamond Jewelry	22nd	Spinel
11th	Turquoise	23rd	Imperial Topaz
12th	Jade	24th	Tanzanite

25th	Silver Jubilee	50th	Golden Jubilee
30th	Pearl Jubilee	55th	Alexandrite
35th	Emerald	60th	Diamond Jubilee
40th	Ruby	70th	Sapphire Jubilee
45th	Sapphire	80th	Ruby Jubilee
This list of suggested gemstones gifts has been endorsed by the American Gem Trade Association, the American Gem Society, Jewelers of America, the Jewelry Industry Council, the Gemological Institute of America, and the Cultured Pearl Association of America.

THE TRADITIONAL BIRTHSTONE for JUNE
The 55th ANNIVERSARY STONE
MOH's scale of hardness : 8-1/2	Toughness : Excellent
Refractive Index : 1.746-1.755 (+.004,-.006)	Specific Gravity : 3.73 (+/- .02)
Alexandrite changes color from green in daylight to red in incandescent light. The first time you see it, it is hard to believe your eyes! Alexandrite was first discovered in Czarist Russia, in the Ural mountains, on April 3 1834, when several crystals were found in Tokovanya deposits. The name "Alexandrite" was coined by mineralogist Dr. Nordenskjld (Finnish by birth but he worked for the Russian Czar). Since the old Russian imperial colors were red and green it was named after Czar Alexandr II on the occasion of his coming of age in 1842. Genuine Alexandrite is one of the world's rarest and most coveted Gemstones, it's so rare that most people have never even seen a genuine Top Quality Alexandrite. Alexandrite is in the Chrysoberyl mineral family and is one of the most fascinating gemstones throughout history. Alexandrite is the variety of Chrysoberyl that displays a change-of-color from green to red. A distinct color change is the primary qualification for a Chrysoberyl to be considered alexandrite. Although alexandrite is strongly trichroic, its color change has nothing to do with pleochroism. Instead, like all other color-change gems, it results in a near-equal transmission of the blue-green and red portions of the spectrum, coupled with strong absorption in the yellow. Thus its color is dependant on the spectral strength of the light source. Incandescent light is strongly tilted to the red end, thus causing alexandrite to appear reddish. Daylight, is more equally balanced. Since our eyes are most sensitive to green light, the balance is tipped to the green side. The strength of the color change is related to the difference in the areas of transmission, relative to the absorption in the yellow. The greater the difference, the stronger the color change. The color is actually caused by Chromium. A color change occurs in very few gemstones. For alexandrite, the quality of the color change is paramount. While the holy grail is a gem whose color changes like a traffic light from green to red, such a stone has yet to be found. In fine examples, the change is typically one from a slightly bluish green to a purplish red. The quality of color change is often referred to by dealers in a percentage basis, with 100% change being the ideal. Stones that display a change of 30% or less are of marginal interest and are arguably not even alexandrite. Significant brown or gray components in either of the twin colors will lower value dramatically. The natural color change in Alexandrite ranges from various shades of Green (blue-greens, kelly-greens, olive-greens, teal-greens, etc.) when the gem is under "fluorescent" lighting, or in natural outdoor light "in the shade" (not direct sunlight)... then the color changes to various shades of Red (burgundy-reds, purplish-reds, reddish-purples, violetish-purples, amethyst, etc.) when exposed to light in a room with only incandescent light, tungsten light, or candlelight (a flashlight will bring out the color change too). To get the maximum color change effect the gem is best viewed in a dark room with no outdoor light at all, then turn on a fluorescent light to see the green shade, then turn on a standard incandescent light bulb with the fluorescent light off to see the reddish shade. You can cycle the lights back and forth to see the distinct color change. Alexandrite will normally darken when taken out into direct sunlight, since it is subjected all the colors in the spectrum, also if subjected to several types of lighting sources at the same time the colors may twinkle with both the red and the green color bouncing around different facets in the stone. When the primary color has a bit of brownish in with the green, this is due to the bleeding of the two colors. Typically this is referred to as the percentage of color change. The higher the color change percentage, the more expensive the gem. When the color change from fluorescent light to tungsten light is not an obvious color change from one of the various shades of green to one of the shades of red, the gem is usually called "alexandrite like" or a "color change Chrysoberyl" since it does not quite have the distinct greenish to reddish color change to be called "Alexandrite". In terms of clarity, alexandrite is comparable to ruby, with clean faceted stones in sizes of one carat being rare and sizes over a carat and especially above 2 carats are extremely rare. Negative crystals and parallel rutile silk are common inclusions. Clarity, however, is a minor issue, as long as the inclusions do not affect the stone's durability. The color change is what represents the majority of the gem's value. Color, brilliance, and cut (in that order) are the 3 things that primarily affect the gem's final price. The more vivid the colors of a color change, the more valuable the gemstone. Ideally, you want a dramatic color change with a medium to medium-dark tone and intense color. In the market, Alexandrite is found in a variety of shapes and cutting styles. Ovals are cushions are the most common, but rounds are also seen occasionally, as are a few other shapes. Alexandrite can be found in jewels of the period as it was well loved by the Russian master jewelers. Master gemologist George Kunz of Tiffany was a fan of alexandrite and the company produced many rings featuring fine alexandrite in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, including some set in platinum from the twenties. Some Victorian jewelry from England features sets of small Alexandrite stones. The original locality for alexandrite is Russia. Russian Alexandrite is extremely rare, the original source in Russia's Ural Mountains has long since dried up after producing for only a few decades. A few Russian miners are still working those trailings there in the Urals, and they are finding a few fine gems, but only in very limited quantities. We secure rare Russian gems from the Cheremsha and Malyshevskaya mines in the Ekaterinburg area of the Ural mountains as soon as they are found and made available to us. Some are small stones, less than a carat, but they all have a dramatic color change. Color change gemstones of Russian origin like this is particularly rare and highly valued by collectors. In 1987, an important new deposit was discovered at the Hematita mine in Nova Era, Brazil. Until this find, Brazil was only known for it's inexpensive gems. The old Hematita mine is still in production, but the new owners are finding it necessary to dig deeper into the mountain. We have access to the finest Alexandrite from these mines. At the present time there are only limited amounts of these goods on the market, and no one knows how much more the mine can produce, but the material presently is of very high quality. This Brazilian Alexandrite shows a striking similarity to the fine Russian gems, having an attractive color change from bluish-green to raspberry like purplish-red. These Brazilian mines have also virtually dried up after producing for only a few years, so they too are also in very limited quantities. These also remain extremely rare and expensive. Since we have have direct access to many of the original stones taken out of the mines we can offer them to you, a few of which are larger stones over a carat. We have also secured some of the finest Alexandrite from Sri Lanka. Many of these fine gems are from the Rakwana area, and they are absolutely stunning, changing from a vibrant bluish-green to a very nice reddish-Purple. We also usually have a few fine specimens from the Ratnapura region. These fine gems have a very good color change also, but it's usually a little more of an olive green changing to a purple stone. Not quite as dramatic as the Russian, Brazilian, and Rakwana material, but very nice indeed. The lower price per carat makes this choice a little more obtainable. The availability this fine material on our website means a new generation has the opportunity to own this beautiful and rare gemstone. Alexandrite stones have also been found in Zimbabwe, Burma, Tanzania, Madagascar, and India. When evaluating alexandrite, pay the most attention to the color change: the more dramatic and complete the shift from red to green, without the bleeding through of brown from one color to the next, the more rare and valuable the stone. The other important value factors are the attractiveness of the two colors - the more intense each color is the better - then look for the clarity, and then the cutting quality. Alexandrite is one of the worlds most expensive gems, with prices similar to those fetched by fine ruby or emerald. But like all gem materials, low-quality (i.e., non-gem quality) pieces may be available for a few dollars per carat. Such stones are generally not clean enough to facet. Because of the rarity of this gemstone, large sizes command very high premiums. Facet-quality alexandrite rough is extremely rare. Thus even the very small stones less than 0.5ct. (melee) can sell for thousands of dollars per carat. Any fine faceted alexandrite around one and a half carats or especially above two carats should be considered quite large. Stones of quality above five carats are extremely rare. We do not sell Synthetics. To assure you that you are getting a genuine Alexandrite from us, we normally provide you with a Gem Identification Report from our in-house gemologist, or a reputable Independent Gem Laboratory. The cost of Independent Gem Reports are included in the price of the gem if the report is listed. Our smaller Alexandrite gems can also come with a "Statement of Sale and Evaluation for Insurance", that includes the specific details on that particular gem as our guarantee of authenticity. Alexandrite is an excellent investment stone since it is definitely considered a "Very Rare" gem. TREATMENTS - Typically Alexandrite is not treated since it would adversely affect the natural color change phenomena. CARE - Alexandrite is also excellent in jewelry since it is quite hard, however, as with all Chrysoberyl, it should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Alexandrite in jewelry. NOTE: While true synthetic alexandrite does exist, the vast majority are actually a synthetic color-change sapphire, colored by vanadium, not synthetic alexandrite. Since synthetic color-change sapphires have been made from about 1909 onwards, it is entirely possible to have a piece that could be classified as an antique. Indeed, many a traveler has returned from a third-world trip with what they think is natural alexandrite, only to later discover (or have their heirs discover) that what they have is a cheap synthetic sapphire worth but a few dollars per carat. If you own a gem that you suspect is an alexandrite, and you are wondering how to tell the difference between synthetic and genuine alexandrite, we recommend you send the stone to a reputable Gem Laboratory and ask for a Gem Identification Report. Please don't call and ask, we can't tell you anything over the phone except that you need to send the stone to a reputable Gem Lab, typically a local Jeweler can't do this. The following links are to reputable Gem Laboratories and Appraisers : AGL \| AGTA \| GIA \| GRS \| GUILD \| GUBELIN \| SSEF

THE BIRTHSTONE for JUNE
The 55th ANNIVERSARY STONE

MOH's scale of hardness : 8-1/2	Toughness : Excellent to Good
Refractive Index : 1.746-1.755 (+.004,-.006)	Specific Gravity : 3.73 (+/- .02)
Alexandrite is very rare, and a Cat's Eye Alexandrite is even more so. Cat's Eye Alexandrite is cut as a Cabochon. The stone is usually translucent with a color change of Green or greenish in sunlight or fluorescent light to Purple or purplish in candlelight or tungsten light. This fine gemstone is usually semi-transparent to semi-translucent and has a strong grayish/bluish White eye (chatoyancy) which reaches from girdle to girdle. The Cat's Eye is actually caused by fine parallel silk strands in the crystal, and the color is caused by Chromium. This is a Very Very Rare Gem with a great investment potential! TREATMENTS - Typically Cat's Eye Alexandrite is not treated since it would adversely affect the natural color change phenomena as well as the chatoyancy. CARE - Cat's Eye Alexandrite is also excellent in jewelry since it is quite hard, however, as with all Chrysoberyl, it would be best if it were not cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Cat's Eye Alexandrite in jewelry.

THE BIRTHSTONE for FEBRUARY
The 6th ANNIVERSARY STONE

MOH's scale of hardness: 7	Toughness : Good
Refractive Index : 1.544-1.553	Specific Gravity : 2.66 (+.03,-.02)
Amethyst is the most highly valued member of the Quartz mineral family, and it has Purple hues that vary from very pale to dark. The medium-dark to dark tones are considered the most desirable and of course are quite a bit more expensive than the lighter tones. The finest gems usually come from the Elahara mines in Sri Lanka, and the Pau d'Arco mines in Brazil. These fine gemstones are deep dark and rich in color, with all the fire in sparkle you would want to see. Most Amethysts on the market are relatively free of inclusions. Amethyst is heat sensitive, excessive heat could turn the stone colorless, or it may produce a Citrine or green color, whereas an abrupt temperature change may fracture the stone. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids, ammonium fluoride, and alkalies. Sources for this gemstone are Brazil, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Madagascar, Zambia, U.S., Canada, and India. TREATMENTS - Typically Amethyst is not treated. Amethyst that has been heat treated can produce Colorless Quartz, Yellow Citrine, and Madeira Citrine. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Amethyst jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.


MOH's scale of hardness : 7	Toughness : Good
Refractive Index : 1.544-1.553	Specific Gravity : 2.66 (+.03,-.02)
Also called Amethyst/Citrine. Ametrine is a bi-color variety of Quartz, part Violet/Purple Amethyst and part Yellow Citrine or Colorless Quartz with distinct color separation. Ametrine is a natural Gemstone found only in southeastern Bolivia near the border with Brazil. The color distribution in Ametrine can be very distinct with a straight demarcation between the two colors. Ametrine is heat sensitive, excessive heat could turn the stone colorless, or it may produce a bi-color Citrine or bi-color green color, whereas an abrupt temperature change may fracture the stone. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids, ammonium fluoride, and alkalies. Typically the Gem is cut in Rectangular shapes in order to display the colors best. Round and Oval cuts tend to mix the colors through internal reflections and are used most effectively in jewelry and carvings. TREATMENTS - Typically Ametrine is not treated. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Ametrine jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.


MOH's scale of hardness : 7-1/2	Toughness : Fair to Good
Refractive Index : 1.634-1.643 (+/-.005)	Specific Gravity : 3.12-3.18
Also called Poor Man's Alexandrite, but this is a misnomer for a gem that has such strong pleochroism. Andalusite has a faint color change and can look vaguely similar to Alexandrite, it usually varies from light yellowish brown to green-brown, light brownish pink, red-brown to dark-red, grayish green, olive, even violet brown-green, or rarely definite green and has strong pleochroism that makes it hard to identify the main color. Andalusite is a transparent gem that's almost iridescent with an unexceptional vitreous luster. Andalusite is a natural Gemstone found in Andalusia Spain (thus the name), Sri Lanka, Brazil, Quebec Canada, Russia and Maine/Massachusetts USA. Andalusite is normally cut as a faceted mixed oval cut to enhance the luster and strong pleochroism (color change phenomena). The most valuable stones have greenish to reddish pleochroism. Andalusite is not plentiful on the market and is mainly in demand with collectors. Large cuts are rare. TREATMENTS - Typically Andalusite is not treated since it would adversely affect the natural color change phenomena. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Andalusite jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.


MOH's scale of hardness : 6-1/2	Toughness : Fair
Refractive Index : 1.551-1.560	Specific Gravity : 2.67
Andesine is in the Plagioclase Feldspar mineral group, close to Labradorite. The AGTA, and other well known laboratories, allowed the name Andesine to be given to stones that have less than 50% of Calcium (Albite Na (AISi3O8) and Anorhite (AI2Si3O8)). Copper gives the Red color to Andesine, and the clarity is exceptional. Moonstone and Sunstone are also in the feldspar group, but only fine Red Feldspar can be called Andesine. Andesine is from Oregon USA, also known as "Oregon Sunstone", but to be truly classified Andesine it must have the correct composition as well as it must be Red in color. Anything else would be classified Labradorite, which is found in several colors. The largest known Red Sunstone is 300+ carats. There is also a color changing variety of Labradorite that shifts from shades of green to shades of a reddish color, these gems also demand a premium due to their beauty and rarity. There has been in recent years a lot of Andesine on the market, said to be from the Congo, China, and other mysteriously secret mine locations. Yet I find it strange that the owners of Oregon mines say that every time a large parcel of rough is sent to China for cutting, they only get back around 17% of their weight back as finished goods... also owners of mines in Mexico say the Chinese have been buying huge quantities of their low grade Labradorite, and strangely enough, within a few months they all observe a considerable amount of Congo, Tibet, Mongolia, and Chinese Andesine hitting the market... hmm, let's think about this, could there be a link? Andesine has been one of the hottest gems sold on various Gem TV Shows. These stones are being sold as natural 100% untreated Andesine, Labrasine, or Andorite. Some of these TV show hosts have even been telling a story that no one knows where the actual mine is. The truth appears to be that the Andesine these TV shows have been selling appears to be extremely heavily diffusion treated, not natural at all. In addition to this article, I received this email from an Oregon miner, Chris Rose, that I am happy to share with you... "Just to let you guys know, practically all of the andesine on the market and that being sold on JTV, QVC and all the other gem and jewelery channels is artificially dyed through a non disclosed process where manufacturers are introducing copper through diffusion in a furnace and flux in Thailand and China. We have absolute proof of this and there has just been a class action consumer lawsuit filed against JTV. Several major laboratories have conducted the tests and are now able to detect this treatment as well as tell it apart from true Oregon sunstone through a rather simple optical test. I very seriously doubt you have oregon material. Test its optical sign, if its biaxial (-) you have the fake stuff. If it is biaxial (+), you may have Oregon material. Currently, the lawsuit is being expanded to include all dealers of this fake material fondly being dubbed scamdesine. More lawsuits are being planned by us Oregon sunstone miners who have been damaged by this scam which is likely the largest fraud perpetrated on and by the gem industry in decades. Even the AP news distributor has picked up the story and the FTC is investigating. I have personally offered a $20,000 reward to anyone that can document a red andesine mine anywhere in the world outside of Oregon. I have had no takers including Gemfrance. The little scam is rapidly falling apart. If you care and want more info on this, feel free to contact me." After receiving this email, I am happy to say that we do not buy, sell, or promote in any way this artificial Andesine, so you can rest assured that if and when we do offer Andesine, we will only feature Top Quality Andesine from the Oregon mines that is not heated or enhanced in any way. Personally, I love the top quality natural Oregon Sunstone Andesine, it is truly a beautiful gem, and at this time this real fine Red Andesine is priced between $1,000 to $2,500 per carat, depending on how red the color, as well as the other factors like the cut and carat size of course. TREATMENTS - Andesine from the Oregon mines right here in the USA is a natural gem, not heated or enhanced in any way. As you can see from the above information, almost all of the other Andesine on the market is artificially dyed red through diffusion treatment. CARE - Andesine (and all gems in the Feldspar family) should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, since this cleaning method can cause irreparable damage to the stone. We strongly recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Andesine, if used in jewelry. Since Andesine is of the softer variety of gems, like emerald, we recommend it be handled as though it is was as soft as opal. Also, if mounted on a Ring, since rings are susceptible to knocks and abrasion, we recommend mounting in a bezel or protected with heavy prongs as much as possible.


MOH's scale of hardness : 5	Toughness : Fair
Refractive Index : 1.634-1.638 (+.012,-.006)	Specific Gravity : 3.18 (+/-.05)
Apatite ranges in color from colorless to pink, yellow, green, blue, and violet. It has a vitreous luster and is sensitive to acids. Apatite is very heat sensitive, excessive heat could cause loss or change in color, also chemicals that could attack this gem are sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. Apatite is easily confused with Beryl, Topaz and Tourmaline. Sources for this gemstone are Brazil, Burma, Sri Lanka, Czechoslovakia, India, Malagasy Republic, Mexico, and the U.S. TREATMENTS - Typically Apatite is not treated. CARE - Apatite should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your Apatite jewelry.

THE BIRTHSTONE for MARCH
The 19th ANNIVERSARY STONE

MOH's scale of hardness : 7-1/2 to 8	Toughness : Good
Refractive Index : 1.577-1.583 (+/-.017)	Specific Gravity : 2.72 (+.18,-.05)
Aquamarine ranges in color from light to deep greenish-Blue through blue-Green. The richer the color, the more costly the gem is per carat. Aquamarine achieves its Blue to greenish Blue color from Iron in the ferrous state. Its name is from two Latin words meaning "water" and "sea". Aquamarine amulets were thought to render sailors fearless and protect them from adversities at sea, especially if the stone was engraved with a Poseidon on a chariot. The stone was symbol of happiness and eternal youth, and according to Christian symbolism, it signified moderation and control of the passions to it's owners. Aquamarine is a member of the Beryl (BARE-ul) mineral family, along with Emerald, Golden Beryl, Goshenite, Bixbite and Morganite. Brazil is the principal source for Aquamarine. More than 80% of the the Brazilian Aquamarine comes from an area around Teofilo Otoni in the western part of Minas Gerais. Aquamarine is also found in China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Malagasy Republic, Nigeria, Zambia, U.S. in Maine as well as Idaho and California, and the former Soviet Union in the Ural Mountains, as well as Transbaikalia and Siberia. Aquamarine gemstones with intense colors are becoming very scarce, and their price has increased substantially. Top colors according to the GIA color grading system have 2-4 tones, with 1-4 saturation. TREATMENTS - Typically Aquamarines are greenish when mined and cut, the sky blue shades are produced by heat treating the greenish-yellow, greenish, and even brownish beryl gems, so you should assume that all of the intense colors of Aquamarine may have been heat treated. The heat treatment process is a permanent process that does not adversely affect the performance and durability of the gemstone, so there's no need to worry when you see this enhancement disclosed. CARE - Aquamarine should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your Aquamarine. Aquamarine is generally not heat sensitive, but chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids.

The 18th ANNIVERSARY STONE

MOH's scale of hardness : 8-1/2	Toughness : Excellent to Good
Refractive Index : 1.746-1.755 (+.004,-.006)	Specific Gravity : 3.73 (+/-.02)
Many Gems have Cat's Eyes, but Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye is the best known. A Cat's Eye stone is a Cabochon which has fine tubes or needles which run across the stone (chatoyancy). When properly cut, the light reflects as a floating silky eye. The sharp eye in the Cabochon resembles the iris of a Cat's Eye, hence the term Cat's Eye. Chrysoberyl Cat's Eyes are normally pale Yellow, honey Yellow and Brown/Yellow, sometimes with a touch of Green. The very best and hardest to locate is a honey Brown. The rarest Cat's Eye is one where a light shown through the side of the stone creates a shadow in the stone. Two shades of color separating the Cat's Eye are then evident. This is called a milk and honey effect due to the lighter and darker shades of color. The strength of the Eye, clarity, color and size of the Cabochon determine the price per carat. TREATMENTS - Typically Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye is not treated since it would adversely affect the natural chatoyancy. Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye is often times found to be radioactive, so it must pass the RDX test and have -0- radiation to be imported into the US. CARE - Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye (non-radioactive) is excellent in jewelry since it is quite hard, however, as with all Chrysoberyl, it should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush are the best way to clean Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye jewelry.

THE BIRTHSTONE for NOVEMBER
The 13th ANNIVERSARY STONE

MOH's scale of hardness : 7	Toughness : Good
Refractive Index : 1.554-1.553	Specific Gravity : 2.66 (+.03,-.02)
Citrine, a member of the Quartz mineral family, is a Quartz whose color is probably caused by Iron traces. Citrine's name is derived from the French Citrine for lemon. Color ranges from pale yellow, to medium yellow, to medium-dark orange-yellow, to root beer color. Most Citrine on the market is actually a brownish variety of an Amethyst that has been heat treated to produce the bright yellow colors and darker stones with reddish tints. The pale yellow color stones are typically natural untreated stones. As the color ranges into medium-dark orange-yellow to Root Beer it is called Madeira Citrine. Citrine is heat sensitive, excessive heat could turn the stone colorless, an abrupt temperature change may fracture the stone. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids, ammonium fluoride, and alkalies. Sources for this gemstone are Brazil, Bolivia, and Madagascar. TREATMENTS - Almost all Citrine on the market is routinely heat treated. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Citrine jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your Citrine Jewelry.

THE BIRTHSTONE for MAY
The 20th and 35th ANNIVERSARY STONE

MOH's scale of hardness: 7-1/2 to 8	Toughness : Poor to Good
Refractive Index : 1.577-1.583 (+/-.017)	Specific Gravity : 2.72 (+.18,-.05)
Emerald, the first stones were mined in the deserts of Egypt near the Red Sea in what were known as Cleopatra's Mines. Egyptian Emerald mined today are small and dark stones. Sources for this gemstone are Colombia, Africa, and Brazil. Emerald is a member of the Beryl mineral family, along with Aquamarine, Golden Beryl, Goshenite, Bixbite and Morganite. The name for Emerald is taken from the Greek smaragdos, meaning Green stone. Chromium, vanadium, and iron are the trace elements that give emerald it?s color. The presence or absence of each and their relative amounts determines the hue, tone, and saturation of an emerald. Generally, the higher the chromium or vanadium content, the more intense the green color. As iron content decreases, so does emerald's degree of blue. When iron content is relatively high, emerald is a bluer green. When iron content is relatively low, emerald is a purer green. Emeralds can be very strong bluish green to green hues, although some emeralds may be very slightly yellowish green. The most desirable emerald colors are bluish-Green to Green, with strong to vivid saturation and medium to dark tone. If the hue is too yellowish or too bluish, the stone is not emerald, but a different variety of beryl. As with other colored stones, a well-trained eye is normally required to recognize the sometimes-subtle variations that make significant differences in emerald value. Inclusions can be important in separating natural from synthetic emeralds as well as for identifying the country of origin. Emerald is heat sensitive, excessive heat could cause fracturing or complete breakage. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids, solvents may drive out the oil. nclusions are generally accepted in Emeralds since all but the rare few have visible inclusions of Mica, Pyrite or Calcite or the "garden" type inclusions. The most prized emeralds are highly transparent, with evenness of color, and with no eye-visible color zoning. TREATMENTS - Virtually all Emerald on the market has some sort of surface-reaching fractures and openings. The visibility of the inclusions is reduced by filling them. Traditionally, oils (such as cedarwood oil) are used but in time they tend to dry out thus making the inclusion more readily visible again and the gem would require another oil bath. Today, natural resin or wax type materials are preferred over the traditional oils, since the resin or wax is a natural substance with more of an almost permanent treatment life. Emerald enhancement processes date back over 600 years, and oil, natural resin, or wax type treatments are accepted trade practices that do not adversely affect the performance and durability of the gemstone, so you can expect all Emeralds will have some type of enhancement. There's no need to worry when you see these enhancements disclosed. CARE - Emeralds must be treated with care to prevent chipping. Emerald jewelry should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Emerald jewelry. We only feature and offer Natural Emeralds. The vibrant Green incomparable beauty is reason enough for owning this Gem.

THE BIRTHSTONE for JANUARY
The 2nd ANNIVERSARY STONE

MOH's scale of hardness: 6 to 7-1/2	Toughness : Fair to Good
Refractive Index : see type	Specific Gravity : see type
The Latin root word for Garnet is Granatum, meaning pomegranate, thought to resemble the fruit's seeds. There are several varieties in the Garnet family. Pyrope (bright red to dark brick-red), Rhodolite (pinkish-red), Almandine (deep violet-red), Spessartite (orange-pink to orange-red with brownish yellow), Spessartine (midway between almondine and spessartite), Hessonite (honey-yellow to yellow-brown), Grossularite (light yellowish-green to strong bluish-green), and Anaradite (honey-yellow=trapazolite, green=demantoid, blackish-red to black=melanite). Garnets are available in all colors except pure Blue. In recent years there have been new finds and Gem Merchants may use pet names like Orange garnet and Mandarin garnet to describe them, but these are really in the Spessartite variety, just as Tsavorite is in the Grossular variety. Scroll down to get more specific info on the different varieties of Garnet. All Garnet is heat sensitive, excessive heat could cause fracturing. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids. TREATMENTS - Garnet is not treated. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Garnet jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and usually extremely risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.


MOH's scale of hardness: 7 to 7-1/2	Toughness : Fair to Good
Refractive Index : 1.760 (+.020,-.018)	Specific Gravity : 3.78-3.85
Color Change Garnet is very scarce, with very few stones in the worldwide market. These Garnets are a rare mixture of Pyrope and Spessartite, but also have Chromium and Vanadium, which gives it the color change. They have a wide variability in color behavior. The lesser quality stones can vary in shades of drab brownish colors, whereas the top gem quality stones can be vivid purples and vivid blue-greens in daylight or fluorescent lighting to purplish-Reds and Blood Reds in candle light or incandescent lighting, in the top quality stones, blue hues are very rare. Top Gem Color Change Garnet can be easily confused with top quality Alexandrite, the color shift can be that dramatic. Typically Color Change Garnet stones are faceted and range in sizes between 1 to 10 carats. Some of the identifying characteristics are rutile, pyrite, and apatite crystals visible in the stone. Color Change Garnet is heat sensitive, excessive heat could cause fracturing. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids. Color Change Garnets are found in Sri Lanka, Africa, and Brazil. Expect the extraordinary stones to continue to increase in value, since they a very highly valued Collectors Gemstone. TREATMENTS - Garnet is not treated. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Color Change Garnet jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and extremely risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.

We carry only TOP GEM QUALITY Gemstones Gem Facts and Information Natural Gems - never lab created! Full Satisfaction Money-Back Guarantee*

We carry only TOP GEM QUALITY Gemstones

Gem Facts and Information

Natural Gems - never lab created!

Full Satisfaction Money-Back Guarantee*


MOH's scale of hardness: 7 to 7-1/2	Toughness : Fair to Good
Refractive Index : 1.714-1.742	Specific Gravity : 3.78 (+.09,-.16)
Pyrope (PYE-rope) Garnets are the most common on the market. They are typically Red with a brownish tint, or Brick Red in color. Pyrope is sometimes called Cape Ruby, but this is a misnomer, and sometimes confused with Almondine and Spinel. Pyrope Garnets are seldom over 2 carats, can be found in faceted as well as cabochon cut stones, they are tough wearing stones, so an excellent choice for jewelry. Pyrope Garnet is heat sensitive, the stone fuses easily before a jewelers torch, and abrupt temperature changes could cause fracturing. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids. TREATMENTS - Garnet is typically not treated. CARE- It is usually safe to clean Garnet jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.


MOH's scale of hardness: 7 to 7-1/2	Toughness : Fair to Good
Refractive Index : 1.760 (+.010 -.020)	Specific Gravity : 3.84 (+/-.010)
Rhodolite (ROE-doe-lite) is the name used to describe the lovely pinkish, purplish or lavender Red Garnets which are a mixture of Pyrope and Almandite. This name was first used in the late 1800's to describe the new rhododendron shade of Garnets discovered in North Carolina. Rhodolite is usually a Red stone, ranging from light to dark purplish Red through reddish Purple. Raspberry Rhodolite (trade name) is a rich purplish Red with bright Lavender highlights. Prices are based on the color, size and clarity of the stone. Rhodolite Garnets are not as dark as the common Pyrope Garnets. Rhodolite is heat sensitive, the stone fuses easily before a jewelers torch, and abrupt temperature changes could cause fracturing. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids. Rhodolite garnets are normally Sri Lankan or African in origin and are bright, transparent Gems. TREATMENTS - Garnet are not normally treated. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Garnet jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and extremely risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.


MOH's scale of hardness: 6-1/2 to 7	Toughness : Fair to Good
Refractive Index : 1.888 (+.007, -.033)	Specific Gravity : 3.84 (+/-.03)
Green Demantoid Garnet, in the Andradite (ANN-druh-dite) mineral species belonging to the Garnet group, is one of the rarest Garnets. Discovered in Russia in 1868, the supply was consumed in jewelry by 1896. Production now is limited to a few stones a year. Utilized in Art Nouveau jewelry during the turn of the century. Demantoid is important to Gem aficionados for four reasons: its great rarity, its color, its high dispersion and its distinctive inclusion. Dispersion, or the breaking of White light into spectral colors, is measured at 0.044 for Diamond and 0.057 for Demantoid. Demantoid's name means "diamond" in German, an indication of its beautiful luster. Demantoid deposits of lesser material exist in San Bonito County, California, the Piedmont area of Italy, Iran, Nambia, Korea, the Congo and the Stanley Butts area of Arizona, but because the original locality for demantoid was in Russia?s Ural Mountains, the Russian material remains the standard by which the gem is judged. While the color of demantoid never equals that of the finest emerald, an emerald-green is the ideal. The color should be as intense as possible, without being overly dark. Many stones are in the yellowish-Green range with lesser qualities being brownish Green of grayish Green. The color of demantoid is believed to be due to chromium. It should be noted that the fire in a demantoid is best seen in the lighter, less saturated gems. Thus color preference is a matter of individual taste. Some people will choose an intense body color and less fire, while others prefer a lighter body color and more fire. Demantoid garnet generally looks best under daylight. Incandescent light makes it appear slightly more yellowish-green. Because of its high dispersion, demantoid looks great in the same type of lighting as diamond, i.e., ulti-point (as opposed to diffuse) lighting. Demantoid is relatively clean, thus when buying one you should look for an eye-clean or near-eye-clean stone. Demantoids exhibit a unique Byssolite inclusion called a "horse tail." This inclusion is formed by Asbestos, needle-like fibers which radiate from a central crystal, usually Chrysolite, in a curving style similar to a horse's tail. Gem cutters often fashion a Demantoid to better show the inclusion since this is a definite characteristic of a Demantoid. Generally you will only find round brilliant, oval, or cushion cuts. Typically crystals are small and not plentiful, generally under 1 Carat. Demantoid is rare in faceted stones above 2 carats. Fine demantoids above 5 carats can be considered world-class pieces. Demantoid is among the most expensive of all garnets, but like all gem materials, low-quality (i.e., non-gem quality) ieces may be available for a few dollars per carat. Prices for demantoid vary greatly according to size and quality, but gem quality stones with no enhancement may reach as much as $10,000 per carat. Demantoid is heat sensitive, an abrupt temperature changes could cause fracturing. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids.. Demantoid Garnet is a valued Collectors Gemstone. TREATMENTS - Some Demantoid Garnet on the market is heat-treated to improve the color, and the resulting stones are stable under normal wearing conditions, however any type of enhancement will reduce the value and should affect your buying decision. Most Demantoid Garnet on the market is not treated. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Demantoid Garnet jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and extremely risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your Demantoid.

THE ALTERNATE BIRTHSTONE for MAY

MOH's scale of hardness: 7 to 7-1/2	Toughness : Fair to Good
Refractive Index : 1.740 (+.020 -.010)	Specific Gravity : 3.61 (+.12, -.04)
The Grossularite (GRAHSS-you-lar-ite) Garnet mineral species belonging to the Garnet group incorporates many colors: light to dark Yellow to reddish Orange (Hessonite), light to dark Green (Tsavorite), Colorless (rare); and occasionally translucent to opaque Pink. Of course there are many variations and shades of these colors. Pure Grossularite is Colorless. Grossularite Garnets can have a particular inclusion which is an identifying characteristic. A treacle or swirly appearance created by tiny included crystals, generally Diopside crystals, is common to Grossularite Garnets. Grossularite Garnet is heat sensitive, abrupt temperature changes could cause fracturing. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids. Sources for Grossularite Garnet are Sri Lanka, Canada, U.S., Mexico, Africa, Australia and Brazil. Grossular Garnets are valued Collectors Gemstones. TREATMENTS - Grossularite Garnet is not normally treated. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Grossularite Garnet jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and extremely risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your Garnet jewelry.


MOH's scale of hardness: 7 to 7-1/2	Toughness : Fair to Good
Refractive Index : 1.810 (+.004, -.020)	Specific Gravity : 4.15 (+.05, -.03)
Spessartite (SPESS-ar-tite) Garnets are not commonly found on the market, they can be found in yellowish-Orange to reddish-Orange. Most people do not realize garnets come in colors besides Red. The vivid Orange color, sometimes with a Orange-Red to Orange-Pink color, is the most desired. This Gem is especially Rare in clean faceted stones larger than 3 carats, and Gems over 10 carats are extremely Rare. The labor involved is arduous because the crystals are buried in pockets in pegmatites, once molten lava, and the miner slowly moves from pocket to pocket to retrieve the crystals. Spessartite has good transparency, considerable luster, and normally found in Mixed or Oval cuts. This Gem received its name from the area in Spessart, Germany, where it was originally found in the 1800's. Since all Garnets are tough wearing stones, Spessartite is an excellent choice for jewelry. Spessartite Garnet is heat sensitive, abrupt temperature changes could cause fracturing. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids. Spessartite a is a valued Collectors Gemstone due to its rarity and its beauty. TREATMENTS - Spessartite Garnet is not normally treated. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Spessartite Garnet jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and extremely risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.


MOH's scale of hardness: 6 to 6-1/2	Toughness : Fair
Refractive Index : 1.810 (+.004, -.020)	Specific Gravity : 4.15 (+.05, -.03)
Mandarin Garnet is part of the Spessartite Garnet species. It is a beautiful "Sunkist" Orange color, and a little softer than the other Garnets with a hardness of 6 to 6-1/2. This Garnet is fairly new to the Gem Market, being discovered in 1992 in Namibia near the north border with Angola. Mandarin Garnet is mined in wasteland conditions. Temperatures have been known to reach 140⁰F in a desert area populated by Angolan soldiers who have fled their homeland. Mandarin is uniform, and has vivid color of pure Orange that sets it apart from other Orange stones. Mandarin Garnet is heat sensitive, excessive heat could cause fracturing. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids. Mandarin Garnets take a good polish, so this is a beautiful Gem for mounting. Potential for this Gem is good because jewelry demand will grow due to its vivid color and brightness. TREATMENTS - Mandarin Garnet is not usually treated. CARE - It is usually safe to clean Mandarin Garnet jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and extremely risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.

THE ALTERNATE BIRTHSTONE for SEPTEMBER
The 21st ANNIVERSARY STONE

MOH's scale of hardness: 7 to 7-1/2	Toughness : Fair
Refractive Index : 1.542-1.551 (+.045,-.011)	Specific Gravity : 2.61 (+/-.05)
Iolite is also called Dichroite, referring to it's strong pleochroism, and Cordierite by minerologists, but the term Water Sapphire is a misnomer. Iolite varies from violetishBlue through slightly voiletish Blue, and it always has a strong pleochroism. Iolite is heat sensitive, the stone fuses easily before a jewelers torch, abrupt temperature changes could cause fracturing. Chemicals that could attack this gem are acids. This Gems are usually just a few carats in size, so to find anything over 3 carats in a rare find indeed. Iolite is cut to maximize the color and pleochroism. Iolite is often confused with Sapphire and Tanzanite. These vitreous, transparent, faceted stones are found in Sri Lanka, Brazil, India, Tanzania, Burma, Finland, Madagascar, Nambia, and Norway. The most common cut to be found is Oval or Rectangular step cut. TREATMENTS - Typically Iolite is not treated. CARE - It is risky to clean Iolite jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean this gemstone jewelry.


MOH's scale of hardness: 6-1/2 to 7	Toughness : Poor
Refractive Index : 1.660-1.676 (+/-.005)	Specific Gravity : 3.18 (+/-.03)
Kunzite is in the best known member of the Spodumene (SPOD-you-mene) mineral species. The actual trade name Kunzite was named after George F. Kunz, the noted Gemologist for Tiffany & Company, in 1902. This Pink to bluish Purple gem is frequently encountered in very large sizes and in deep cut Gems as a way of maximizing the color. Smaller stones, those under 10 Carats, will usually have lighter color than larger ones. Kunzite is heat sensitive, abrupt temperature changes could cause fracturing. Kunzite can also fade when exposed to strong light for extended periods, so caution should be exercised regarding a lot of exposure to sunlight. Chemicals that could attack this gem are concentrated hydrofluoric acids. These vitreous, transparent, faceted stones are found in Brazil, Afghanistan, Madagascar, and the US. TREATMENTS - The very nature of Kunzite requires it's color to be enhanced and stabilized by Irradiation followed by Heat treatment. CARE - It is very risky to clean Kunzite jewelry in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and very risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean this gemstone jewelry.

THE PINK EMERALD
THE ALTERNATE BIRTHSTONE for OCTOBER

MOH's scale of hardness: 7-1/2 to 8	Toughness : Good
Refractive Index : 1.577-1.583 (+/-.017)	Specific Gravity : 2.72 (+.18-.05)
Morganite is in the Beryl (BARE-ul) mineral species. The public was just beginning to gain awareness of this soft pink stone named after J.P. Morgan (Morganite) but is now gaining recognition by a new name "Pink Emerald". This reddish Orange through slightly purplish Red gem is truly rare, especially in the larger sizes with good color. In reality, green emerald is not rare, diamond is anything but rare, since everyone in the world has one, regardless of their income level, but Morganite is very rare. Gem dealers in the know have one tucked away because they've always thought it would be an important gemstone. Pink Emerald is finally receiving the appreciation and price level it deserves. Pink Emerald prices are now at around $450 per carat for some of the smaller stones (<3 carats) in lighter colors, and range to upwards of $10,000 per carat for large stones with rich color. Some dealers see Morganite as easily being $10,000 to $30,000 per carat in the very near future. Morganite, or Pink Emeralds are following the lead taken in 1990 when red beryl, or bixbite, was being sold and marketed as Red Emerald. Red Emerald and Pink Emerald are both beryllium aluminum silicates colored by manganese and chromium, among other things. These precious gems are extremely desirable and beautiful. As with most gems, the larger the Pink Emerald the more it's cost per carat, and the more saturated the color, the higher the price of the gemstone. A clean and well cut Pink Emerald (Morganite) with moderate to moderately strong pastel pink color is definitely a winner, a gem you'd be proud to own, but to maintain it properly, make sure you clean it often, following the instructions below. Morganite is one of my personal favorites. This is a valued Collectors Gemstone that will continue to gain popularity and increase in value. Morganite is not generally heat sensitive, but the pink color could fade if subjected to 100⁰C or higher. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids. TREATMENTS - Typically Morganite is not treated or enhanced. CARE - Jewelry featuring Pink Emerald (Morganite) should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Morganite.

THE BIRTHSTONE for AUGUST
The 16th ANNIVERSARY STONE

MOH's scale of hardness: 6-1/2 to 7	Toughness : Fair to Good
Refractive Index : 1.654-1.690 (+/-.020)	Specific Gravity : 3.34 (+.14,-.07)
Peridot (PEAR-ih-doe) belongs to the forsterite-fayalite mineral series, which is part of the olivine group. The name is derived from the Greek word peridona, meaning to provide plentifully. Peridot ranges in color from yellowish Green to greenish Yellow. Because of the way Peridot splits and bends the rays of light passing through it, it has a velvety, "sleepy" appearance and a shining rich glow. The amount of Iron determines the color saturation. Some of the best Top Gem quality Peridot comes from Pyaung Gaung in Burma?s Mogok region. Burmese Peridot is usually a rich olive Green and previously was readily available in large gem quality stones. Sources for these fine stones are quite limited now, and premium prices of $400-$500 per carat can be demanded for fine large gems of top color. In the 1990s, in Pakistan?s Suppatt region a new deposit was discovered, and is almost as good as that from Burma. Pakistan Peridot is normally a very nice rich olive Green, and can still be found in larger gem quality stones. Pakistan Peridot prices are higher than Arizona Peridot and a little lower than Burma Peridot. Premium prices can still be demanded for fine, top gem quality Pakistan Peridot. The U.S. has become a major source for Peridot since the world's largest known deposit is on the San Carlos Apache reservation 80 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona, but this material rarely cuts gems above 10 carats. The rough is dug by Native Americans who sell to nearby dealers. The faceted Arizona Peridot is normally bright, yellowish Green with minimal inclusions. Arizona Peridot is usually modestly priced, typically between $50-$100 per carat. Peridot is also mined in China, Brazil, Australia and Norway, among other places. The historic deposit of Zabargad Island has not been mined for Peridot in many decades. Top Quality Large Peridot is an excellent choice to add to your Collection of Gemstones. TREATMENTS - Typically Peridot is not treated or enhanced. CARE - It is very risky to clean Peridot in an UltraSonic Cleaner, and should never be cleaned with a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Peridot, and cleaning the gem often is recommended. Peridot is heat sensitive, uneven or rapid heat may cause fracturing or complete breakage. Chemicals that could attack this gem are sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acids. Acid perspiration of some people may attack Peridot over a long period of time. Jewelers pickling solutions will etch the surface.