Peridot – History, Buying and Caring for Peridot 

Peridot is a beautiful yellow-green translucent gemstone in its gem quality state. Like diamonds, peridot is formed in extreme heat and pressure deep in the earth and is thrust to the surface from volcanoes and earthquakes. It is only peridot and diamonds that are formed this way and that is what makes them so special.

Citrine is in the quartz family of gemstones and has been valued for centuries. Citrine was often confused with topaz and today topaz and citrine are November’s Birthstone.

Citrine is one of the best stones for manifestation and abundance. It is considered “the merchant’s stone.”

Opal is a stone with “fire” inside that catches the light and radiates a spectrum of colors. It is the “eye stone” because it captures one’s attention as it sparkles and radiates a variety of colors. It is also one of the official birthstones for October. It is a gemstone of luck.

 For centuries sapphire was prized by royalty. It is in the corundum family of gemstones, the second hardest gemstone at 9.5 on the MOHS scale, and when it is red, it is called ruby due to the presence of chromium in the stone.

      Ruby – History, Identification and Care

Rubies are the birthstone for July and they are also the gemstone to celebrate a 15^th or a 40^th anniversary. Rubies have historically been called “the stone of love,” due to their deep, rich red color that indicates passion. They are worn to protect a person from enemies by the Hindus. 

Emeralds are the birthstone for May. Just as spring is a time of renewal, emeralds are considered a stone of renewal. Emeralds have one of the most lustrously deep, green color of all the green gemstones. It is considered a “precious” gemstone. It has been prized for centuries and described as “nothing greens greener” by Pliny the Elder.

Diamonds are the hardest stones on earth. They take millions of years to form and need an exact amount of heat and pressure to take a piece of coal and make it a hard, clear, and brilliant diamond. It is thought that their pure white light helps to meld the various parts of our life in one cohesive unit.

A gift from the sea –  properties & Care 

Aquamarine is from two Latin words: aqua which means water; and marina which means of the sea. As a result, aquamarine is a stone that evokes all of the mysteries and blessings of the sea. It was considered a “sailor’s gem” and thought to provide protection from danger and to give victory in battle.

Amethyst is in the quartz family. It derives its purple/violet color from irradiation and from iron impurities, magnesium, and the presence of other trace elements.