Discovering Tanzanite Talk about location, location, location! This attractive gemstone is found in just one place in the World! Tanzania in East Africa had previously been known more for its wildlife than its minerals, but that all changed in the early 1960s. Tanzanite is a silicate (calcium aluminum) and was found in the 1960s by … Read more
The term “Yogo sapphire” refer to typically cornflower blue sapphires found only in the Yogo Gulch area, whereas “Montana sapphire” generally refers to sapphires found in other Montana locations. Read on, and learn about Yogo sapphires that adorn some of the fine pieces of jewelry available today… Yogo sapphires are natural and not heat treated … Read more
What would you think if you saw this nondescript lump of brown on the side of the road? Would you even bother to pick up this unassuming little pebble? What if I told you that the water-worn stone in that first photo would turn into this fiery yellow zircon? This is the story of how … Read more
Aquamarine is a gorgeous blue variety of beryl that is of high enough grade to be considered a gem stone. Beryl is a clear mineral that is colored by impurities and makes up a variety of gemstones, including Emeralds and, of course, Aquamarine. In the case of Aquamarine, it is iron ‘impurities’, in ferris and … Read more
Amethysts are a purple variety of quartz and is the most valued among the quartz group. The coloring is thought to be the result of natural impurities (most likely to be iron and some trace elements). Given that Quartz is probably one of the most plentiful minerals on Earth, Amethysts, one of the most precious … Read more
Topaz has been a popular gemstone for centuries, with ancient civilizations bestowing powers on the gemstone. These powers, while a little exaggerated, nevertheless gave Topaz an important status within society. These stones come in many different colors and color is perhaps the single most determining factor of its value. What Color of Topaz gemstone is … Read more
Like most gem stones, glamorous opals are valued based on their color, cut, clarity and size, but the criteria for this jewel is a little different. First and foremost, the type of opal affects the value significantly. What are Precious Opals? For an opal to be classified as precious, it must display a bright and … Read more
Gemstones are a delight to the eye and it is easy to understand how a collector can easily become infatuated with these gifts from nature. Occurring in every color of the rainbow and many hues in between, gemstone color is a major value factor and a large source of the gemstone’s appeal. Here we will … Read more
