Birthstone for June!

June Birthstone poem - the Pearl

"Who comes with summer to this earth

And owes to June her hour of birth

A pearl should wear against her skin

Who's innocence many a heart shall win."

PEARL

Historically, pearls have been used as an adornment for centuries.  They were one of the favorite gem materials of the Roman Empire; later in Tudor England, the 1500's were known as the pearl age.  Pearls are unique as they are the only gems from living sea creatures and require no faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty. In the early 1900's, the first successful commercial culturing of round saltwater pearls began. Since the 1920's, cultured pearls have almost completely replaced natural pearls in the market.

ALEXANDRITE

A relatively modern gem, Alexandrite, was first discovered in Russia in 1831 during the reign of its namesake, Czar Alexander II, and is an extremely rare chrysoberyl with chameleon-like qualities.  Its color is a lovely green in both daylight and fluorescent light; it changes color to a purplish red in incandescent light.  Due to its rarity, some jewelers stock synthetic versions of this enchanting gemstone.  (Synthetic gemstones are man-made alternatives to the natural material, possessing the same physical, optical, and chemical properties as the natural gemstone.)

MOONSTONE

The third birthstone for June is the Moonstone.  It was given its name by the Roman natural historian Pliny, who wrote that moonstone's appearance altered with the phases of the moon — a belief that held until well after the sixteenth century.  A phenomenal gemstone, moonstones show a floating play of light (called adularescence) and sometimes show either a multi-rayed star or a cat's eye. Considered a sacred stone in India, moonstones often are displayed on a background of yellow (a sacred color) and are believed to encapsulate within the stone a spirit whose purpose is to bring good fortune.  Part of the family of minerals called feldspar, moonstone occurs in many igneous and metamorphic rocks and comes in a variety of colors such as green, blue, peach, and champagne. The most prized moonstones are from Sri Lanka; India, Australia, the United States, Mayanmar, and Madagascar are also sources.

Did You Know???

Some interesting facts about Gemstones that you might not have known! 

• Sapphires come in all colors of the rainbow
• You should never clean Iolites with an ultrasonic cleaner
• Amethysts and Citrines are the same mineral, only different colors, and excessive heat can change the color from one to the other
• an Aquamarine and an Emerald are the same mineral
• you can dig for diamonds in Arkansas at the Diamond Crater National Park
• Violet-blue Iolite has the same polarizing capability as a pair of sunglasses, and the Vikings used to carry Iolite with them and look through it to find the sun on a cloudy day

• when Sapphires have a pinkish to pinkish-red hue they are called "Pink Sapphire," but when the dominant hue becomes red, they are called "Rubies"
• Ancient Greeks named Amber from the word "electron" because if rubbed, Amber gives off static electricity
• Fossilized tree sap must be at least 30 million years old to be considered Amber
• If you sand Malachite it can give off a poisonous dust
• Obsidian is a natural glass formed during volcanic eruptions
• Beautiful blue-violet Tanzanites come out of the ground colorless, and must be heated to attain their beautiful depth of color
• Tourmalines and quartz will develop an electrical charge when heated, and tourmaline jewelry will attract dust when displayed under hot lights

  

• There is no such thing as "Jade" - green "Jade" is actually either one of two different minerals, Jadeite and Nephrite, and Jadeite is the more valuable of the two
• The second most valuable color of Jadeite is lavender
• You can dig and pan for colored gemstones such as Emerald, Aquamarine, Moonstones, Garnet, Citrine, Amethyst, Ruby, and Sapphire at Gem Mountain, in Spruce Pine, North Carolina
• There is a new man-made brilliant white stone called Moissanite, which can fool a jewelry store Diamond tester
• The big "Ruby" in the royal crown of England is actually a red Spinel
• Ivory imitations are carved from corozo nuts, tagua nuts and duom palm nuts
• If allowed to sit in moist or humid conditions too long, Hematite jewelry has such a high iron content it will actually rust
• Black Jet, made popular for use in jewelry by Queen Victoria in the 19th century, is actually a type of fossilized coal formed 180 million years ago from dead trees
• It takes one to three years to grow a cultured Pearl

• Goldstones are not stones at all - they are actually glass containing copper crystals that give it aventurescence (quick bright flashes of light)
• "Black Onyx" is actually orange and brown Sardonyx that has been dyed black, and should be cleaned carefully to avoid removing the dye and dulling this porous Quartz
• Cultured Pearls are made by inserting a small shell bead into an oyster as an irritant, and waiting years for the oyster to cover the bead with its luscious nacre
• Amethysts can fade if exposed to too much sun
• Historically, before science could tell minerals apart, all yellow stones were called "Topaz"

• They were synthesizing Rubies in the late 1800's and actually charging more for them than the real thing
• Pearls, by law, must be called "cultured Pearls" unless they are completely natural, and most Pearls sold today are cultured (made with help from man)
• a "Herkirmer Diamond" is actually made of Quartz
• "Smokey Topaz" is not a Topaz at all - its a misnomer for brown Quartz
• Radiation causes Diamonds to turn green

• Some Diamonds are artificially (and safely) irradiated to achieve a green color - but early on, before the process was refined, some green Diamonds were actually made radioactive and are confiscated by the U.S. Government if found today
• A new process has been recently developed to achieve a green color in Diamonds using just pressure and heat
• In ancient times the term "Sapphire" meant all blue stones, but usually meant Lapis Lazuli - which was considered the most expensive stone in the world

Feel free to comment with more fun facts!! =)

Interesting facts about Citrine

Interesting facts about Citrine

                                            

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.

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, it might also come from the Latin ‘citrina’ that means yellow.

The term “citrine” was formally used only after 1556. Up until then, the stone had been known simply as yellow quartz (sounds much less glamorous, right?).

It is nearly impossible to tell cut citrine from the more expensive yellow topaz with the naked eye. Their main difference between the gems is in hardness, so have your gem testing tools handy.

Most citrines are actually heat treated amethysts or smoky quartz. The natural yellow colour of citrine is rather pale, but the heat-treated stones have deeper colour, sometimes with a slight reddish tint. I hope  you did not get disappointed that the favourite citrine jewel of yours has in fact a heat-treated gem.

The largest citrine weighing 2258 carats originates from Brazil and is displayed at the Smithsonian in Washington. The gem is extremely large considering that the typical size used in jewellery isunder 25 carats.

From pastel yellows, to wonderful orange hues Citrine will fl atter many fashion-conscious pallets. Yellow hues are striking and are 

symbolic of the sun, health, and vitality. Since it is plentiful in nature, it represents an incredible value for the person who appreciates. 

its colour. It is available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and it is a favorite choice of many jewelry designers.

Brazil is the main supplier of citrines. However, they are also found in Madagascar, Zambia, Namibia, Ural Mountains in Russia and in most countries where amethysts are found. Now I have another good reason to visit those countries.

Citrines can scratch relatively easy and need to be looked after. One should store citrine jewellery out of direct sunlight as the colour can sometimes permanently fade.

The Romans were thought to be the first to wear citrine, mostly as cameos or intaglios. The gem re-discovered its popularity during the Romantic period as it enhanced the beauty of gold jewellery. Nowadays, citrine jewellery is widely worn and loved, so the gallery with the latest honey-coloured jewels is coming up shortly.

Citrine is the birthstone for November and the traditional anniversary gemstone for the 13th year of marriage. 

A tremendous amount of citrine that is available on the market today is heat-treated amethyst. Natural citrine is much lighter than the heat-treated material which is dark orange-brown to reddish-brown in color.

Chemical Composition:  Silica (Silicon Dioxide) SiO2

Colors / Varieties:  Yellow, Golden

Crystal System / Forms:  Trigonal System

Hardness:  7

Specific Gravity:  2.63 - 2.68

Cleavage / Fracture:  No distinct cleavage / conchoidal to uneven fracture.

Optic Character:  Anisotropic, D.R.; Uniaxial positive. May exhibit a bull's eye optic figure (quartz rotates the plane of polarisation parallel to the c-axis).

Lustre:  Vitreous.

Refractive Index / Birefringence:  1.544 - 1.553 / 0.009. Range: 1.535 - 1.560

Pleochroism:  Yellow / Slightly paler yellow

Dispersion:  0.013

Magnification:  Liquid and two phase, color zoning, negative crystals, zebra-stripe finger prints (structural), crystal inclusions, green fuchsite mica flakes / platelets in aventurine quartz, rutile / tourmaline needles in sagenitic quartz. Brazil law twinning is seen in natural quartz.

U.V. Fluorescence:  Variable.

Spectrum:  Not characteristic.

Cause of Color:  Trace of Iron (Fe3+)

Treatment (Enhancement): 

Coating: all colors, thin film of gold on colorless will give a blue color (aqua aura).

Colorless impregnation: with oil or resin to improve clarity.

Colored impregnation (dyeing): all colors, quartzite

Heat Treatment:

Light yellow to deeper yellow

Irradiation:

Citrine to amethyst

History of the Diamond as the Birthstone

History of the Diamond as the April Birthstone

Diamonds are a thing of beauty and the ultimate gift for a loved one. Thought to be one of the hardest substances on the globe, diamonds date back billions of years. The diamond is the traditional birthstone of April and holds significant meaning for those born in that month, thought to provide the wearer with better relationships and an increase in inner strength. Wearing diamonds is purported to bring other benefits such as balance, clarity and abundance.  It's also symbolic of eternal love, and those fortunate to call April the month of their birth will enjoy the following history behind this rare gem.

Definition of Diamond, the April birth stone: The word Diamond is derived from the Greek word "adamas" which means "hardest metal" which reflect the property of the stone. The diamond is a precious stone or gem excelling in brilliancy and beautiful play of prismatic colors, and remarkable for its extreme hardness. This gem is a member of the Diamond (Carbon) family. It is the hardest substance known. The diamond as found in nature (called a rough diamond) is cut, for use in jewelry, into various forms with many reflecting facets, by which its brilliancy is much increased. The crystal structure of the Diamond, the April birthstone, is Isometric.

Since ancient times, diamonds have been admired objects of desire. Formed one hundred miles beneath the Earth’s surface over a billion years ago, diamonds are the hardest gem of all. Diamonds have a long history of folklore; some of which say diamonds were created when bolts of lightning struck rocks, and others said the gem possessed healing powers. For centuries, diamonds have been adorned by women and men and regarded as the ultimate gift and a symbol of eternal love.

Today, diamonds are still admired all around the world. Until the middle of the twentieth century, there was no standard by which diamonds could be evaluated. GIA created the first, and now globally accepted standard for describing diamonds: Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight. Today, the 4C’s of Diamond Quality are the universal method for assessing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world.

From the stunning display of stones flashed by movie stars at awards ceremonies, to the modest engagement ring of a young bride, the diamond continues to enjoy great popularity among those of all status.   Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor summed up this universal love of diamonds when she remarked, "I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back."

Interesting facts about Aquamarine

 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 is generally not heat sensitive, but chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids.


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.

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. Aquamarine should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.

Definition: Aquamarine (beryllium aluminum silicate) is a blue semi-precious stone in the beryl family and is closely related to the emerald. It is a transparent, pale green variety of beryl and is often used as a gemstone or birthstone. The color of the aquamarine is due to trace amounts of iron impurities in the beryl structure

•  The origin of the name Aquamarine is derived from the Latin words "aqua marina" which means "sea water" reflecting the color of the crystals.

• The most common color of Aquamarine is natural blue. The Aquamarine is the birthstone of the month of March. 

• Aquamarine are also the Wedding anniversary gemstone and are given as gifts for the 19th year of marriage

• Aquamarine come in a vast range of natural colors and shades from blue to blue-green to sea-green

• The color is mainly determined and caused by the gem's selective absorption of certain wavelengths of light called the body color.

•  The colors of the Aquamarine gem consist of three components, the hue, tone and saturation:

1. The Hue which gives the first impression of the color
2. The Tone which relates to the the lightness or darkness of the color of the Aquamarine ranging from light to medium to dark.
3. The saturation which relates to the intensity of the Aquamarine's color, which is measured from dull to strong to vivid

• The biggest Aquamarine stone was found in Brazil in 1910 and weighed 243 pounds. It was cut into smaller stones which yielded over 200,000 carats

• All gemstones, including Aquamarine, are graded by color, cut, clarity and carat weight

• The tradition of giving gifts of birthstone jewelry containing Aquamarine dates back many hundreds of years
• There are specific birthstones and gemstones, such as Aquamarine, which are traditionally given according to the month that a person is born

• Pure crystals of Aquamarine are used as gemstones. The crystal structure of Aquamarine is Hexagonal

Interesting facts about Amethyst

Interesting facts about Amethyst

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.

Amethyst is produced in abundance from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil where it occurs in large geodes within volcanic rocks. Many of the hollow agates of southwestern Brazil and Uruguay contain a crop of amethyst crystals in the interior. Artigas, Uruguay and neighboring Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul are large world producers exceeding in quantity Minas Gerais, as well as Mato Grosso, Espirito Santo, Bahia, and Ceará states, all amethyst producers of importance in Brazil.

It is also found and mined in South Korea. The largest opencast amethyst vein in the world is in Maissau, Lower Austria. Much fine amethyst comes from Russia, especially from near Mursinka in the Ekaterinburg district, where it occurs in drusy cavities in granitic rocks. Many localities in south India yield amethyst. One of the largest global amethyst producers is Zambia in southern Africa with an annual production of about 1000 tonnes.

Amethyst occurs at many localities in the United States.[11] Among these may be mentioned: the Mazatzal Mountain region in Gila and Maricopa Counties, Arizona; Red Feather Lakes, near Ft Collins, Colorado; Amethyst Mountain, Texas; Yellowstone National Park; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Haywood County, North Carolina; Deer Hill and Stow, Maine and in the Lake Superior region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario in Canada. Amethyst is relatively common in Ontario, and in various locations throughout Nova Scotia. The largest amethyst mine in North America is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Amethyst mines can be found in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Russia, India, Zambia and other African countries. The largest of these mines are in Brazil. Unfortunately, care must be taken when buying Amethyst stones as it is possible to come across some fake stones. Luckily, these fakes can be spotted as the stone will look flawless and too perfect. Natural occurring amethysts will have some flaws inside of the gem indicated that it must have originated in a mine as opposed to being grown.

Up until the 18th century, amethyst was included in the cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones (along with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald). However, since the discovery of extensive deposits in locations such as Brazil, it has lost most of its value.

Collectors look for depth of color, possibly with red flashes if cut conventionally. As amethyst is readily available in large structures the value of the gem is not primarily defined by carat weight, this is different to most gemstones where the carat weight exponentially increases the value of the stone. The biggest factor in the value of amethyst is the colour displayed.

The highest grade amethyst (called "Deep Russian") is exceptionally rare and therefore, when one is found, its value is dependent on the demand of collectors. It is, however, still orders of magnitude lower than the highest grade sapphires or rubies (padparadscha sapphire or "pigeon's blood" ruby).

Interesting facts about Alexandrite

Interesting facts about Alexandrite

                                                                                           
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. Nordenskjöld (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.