Gemstones
Alexandrite
Color: Varies from teal to forest green changing to violet, crimson red, raspberry, purple and orange
Name derivation: Derived from the name of the young Tsarevitch, who was crowned Tsar Alexander II in 1855
Symbolism: Said to bring good luck, spiritual and physical well-being
Gemstone family: Chrysoberyl
Anniversary: 45th or 55th wedding anniversary (modern)
Birthstone: June
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 8.5 (very robust)
Geography: The finest come from Brazil, Madagascar, India, Tanzania, Russia - Russian Alexandrite maintains an historical pedigree that is highly coveted
Geography: The finest come from Brazil, Madagascar, India, Tanzania, Russia - Russian Alexandrite maintains an historical pedigree that is highly coveted
Interesting facts: In Russia it is believed that if you only wear one piece of Alexandrite jewellery, it may invite loneliness due to the fact that it should possess dual colours. Often described as “Emerald by day” and “Ruby by night”, when viewed under sunlight, Alexandrite appears teal to forest green, but when seen by candlelight, it appears violet or crimson red
Inclusions: Inclusions are a common feature. Far from being flaws, inclusions are a hallmark of authenticity that helps us distinguish real gems from artificial impostors
Cleaning procedure: Cleaning procedure: Not an issue due to its hardness
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour and change in colour; Brilliance and "life" of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Purple & Green
Name derivation: Derived from the Greek word "Amethystos" meaning "not drunken" as it was believed to be an antidote for drunkenness in the middle ages. Also considered the stone of royalty (purple) and piety
Symbolism: Sobriety, clarity of mind and royalty (purple)
Anniversary: 33rd wedding anniversary (Modern)
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0 (very robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from South America & Africa
Famous Topaz: Joan Crawford (famous actress) owned a 75 carat amethyst ring
Cleaning procedure: Can be cleaned with most commercial jewellery cleaners or mild soap & lukewarm water using a soft brush. Some amethysts may fade if exposed to sunlight for long periods of time so you shouldn’t wear your amethyst while sunbathing or when using a tanning bed
Value factors: Intensity of colour; Brilliance and "life" of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Mint Green
Name derivation: Derived from the Greek word "Amethystos" meaning "not drunken" as it was believed to be an antidote for drunkenness in the middle ages.
Symbolism: Sophisticated opulence, wealth
Gemstone family: Quartz
Birthstone: February
Anniversary: 33rd wedding anniversary (Modern)
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0 (very robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from South America & Africa
Cleaning procedure: Can be cleaned with most commercial jewellery cleaners or mild soap & lukewarm water using a soft brush. Some amethysts may fade if exposed to sunlight for long periods of time so you shouldn’t wear your amethyst while sunbathing or when using a tanning bed
Value factors:Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: All shades of light blues – colour of the heavens (the divine) & water (life)
Name derivation: Derived from the Latin term "Aqua” meaning water)
Symbolism: Inspires sympathy, trust, harmony, spirituality & tranquillity
Gemstone family: Beryl
Anniversary: 38th wedding anniversary (Modern)
Birthstone: October (Alternative)
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0 (very robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from Brazil & Mozambique
Famous Aquamarines: "Dom Pedro” weighing 26 kg, which was cut in 1992 by Idar-Oberstein gemstone artist Bernd Munsteiner
Inclusions: Generally come inclusion free due to their robust structure.
Cleaning procedure: Clean carefully using warm soapy water. Use warm water rather than hot water. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning.
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Yellow
Name derivation: Derived from the Greek word “Helios” – the Sun god – and “Doron” meaning gift
Symbolism: Vitality, Zest for life
Gemstone family: Beryl
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.5-8.0 (hard)
Geography: The finest come from Asia, Africa and South America
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning.
Value factors:
Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Yellow & Gold
Name derivation: Derived from the French name for lemon i.e. "Citron"
Symbolism: Protect against evil thoughts
Gemstone family: Quartz
Birthstone: November
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0 (hard)
Geography: The finest come from Brazil
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Must not be cleaned by steam cleaning. Can be cleaned ultrasonically
Value factors: Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Emerald Green - colour of life, nature & opulence
Name derivation: Derived from French "Esmeralda” meaning simply "green gemstone"
Symbolism: Said to bring good luck, spiritual and physical well-being
Gemstone family: Beryl
Anniversary: 55th wedding anniversary
Birthstone: May
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 6.0 (soft & brittle structure)
Geography: The finest come from Colombia, Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe (Sandawana)
Famous Emeralds: Mogul Emerald (circa 1695) weighs 217.80 carats, approximately10 cm high and auctioned off at Christie’s of London for US$2.2 million
Inclusions: Fine inclusions do not diminish the value. An Emerald of deep, vivid green with inclusions will be valued higher than an inclusion-free stone of paler colour and is considered an identifying characteristic of a naturally grown Emerald
Cleaning procedure: Must not be cleaned ultrasonically. Do not clean it in a steam cleaner. Do not scrub.
Value factors:Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Reds, green (Tzavorite), pale to bright yellow, fiery orange (Mandarin Garnet) and fine earth and umbra-shades
Name derivation: Derived from the Latin word "Granum” meaning "grain”. This refers to the typically rounded shape of Garnet and also reminds of the seeds of the pomegranate
Symbolism: Protect against evil, brings faith
Gemstone family:Garnet
Birthstone: January
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0- 7.5 (hard & very robust structure)
Geography:The finest come from African countries, Russia, Central and South America
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Must not be cleaned by steam cleaning. Can be cleaned ultrasonically
Value factors:
Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Red-Orange
Name derivation: Derived from its appearance – beautiful shades of intense orange
Symbolism: Zest for life, vitality and individuality
Gemstone family: Garnet
Birthstone: January
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0- 7.5 (hard & very robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from Africa and Asia
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Must not be cleaned by steam cleaning. Can be cleaned ultrasonically
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Green - colour of life, nature & opulence
Name derivation: Derived from its birthplace - the Tzavo National Game Park and the Tzavo River running through this area
Symbolism: Abundance & prosperity
Gemstone family: Garnet
Birthstone: January
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.5 (hard & very robust structure)
Geography: The bushland along the frontier between Kenya and Tanzania not far away from the Tzavo National Park
Famous Tzavorite: Made famous by Tiffany & Co. in 1974
Cleaning procedure: Do not clean it in a steam cleaner - could cause cracking. Can be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner. Safest way remains with warm soapy water and a toothbrush
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Iolite has different colours in different directions due to its pleochroistic properties. It may look a violet blue from one side, clear as water from the other and a honey yellow from yet another. Iolite is usually a purplish blue when cut properly
Name derivation: Derived from the Greek “Ios”, which means “violet”
Symbolism: Said to bring good luck, spiritual and physical well-being
Gemstone family: Cordierite
Anniversary: 21st wedding anniversary (modern)
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0-7.5 (robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Brazil
Famous Iolite facts: Leif Eriksson and the other legendary Viking explorers ventured far out into the Atlantic Ocean, away from any coastline that could help them determine position. They did so with a secret gem weapon: Iolite. The Viking mariners used thin pieces of iolite as the world's first polarizing filter. Looking through an iolite lens, they could determine the exact position of the sun, and navigate safely to the new world and back
Cleaning procedure: Not an issue due to its hardness
Value factors: Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Purplish Violet-pink
Name derivation: Named after its patron - jeweller and gemstone specialist – G. F. Kunz who became the first person to give a comprehensive description of this stone in 1902
Symbolism: Feeling of relaxation, serene composure and keeps moods of depression and anxiety at bay
Gemstone family: Spodumene
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 6.0-7.0 (soft but robust structure) – Extremely difficult to cut and/or to re-cut
Geography: Brazil, Madagascar, Afghanistan and USA
Cleaning procedure: Clean carefully using warm (not hot) soapy water. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning. May fade if exposed to sunlight for long periods of time so you shouldn’t wear your Kunzite while sunbathing or when using a tanning bed
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: From light peach to intense pink
Name derivation: Named by New York gemstone expert G.F. Kunz who suggested giving Pink Beryl the status and standing of an individual kind of gemstone and named it in honour of banker and minerals collector J. P. Morgan in 1911
Symbolism: Feeling of relaxation, peace and joy of life
Gemstone family: Beryl
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.5 - 8.0 (hard & very robust structure)
Geography: Brazil, Madagascar, Afghanistan
Cleaning procedure: Clean carefully using warm soapy water. Use warm water rather than hot water. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Various colours - colourless, white, yellow, red, orange, green, brown, black, blue
Name derivation: Derived from the Sanskrit word “Upala” meaning “jewel”
Symbolism: Vitality
Gemstone family: Silica
Birthstone: October
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 5.0-5.0 (soft)
Interesting facts: The Olympic Australis Opal - the largest and most valuable opal yet found (in 1956) -named in honor of the Olympic Games - weighs 17,000 carats (3.45kgs).
Geography: The finest come from Australia, Mexico and Ethiopia
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water with soft cloth. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: from yellowish green to bottle green
Name derivation: Derived from the Greek word “Peridona” meaning “giving plenty”
Symbolism: Power to drive away evil spirits and to bring life
Gemstone family: Olivine
Birthstone: August
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 6.5 – 7.0 (very robust structure) – difficult to re-cut but excellent for daily wear
Geography: The finest come from Myanmar (formerly Burma), Pakistan (Kashmir-Peridot) & Sri Lanka
Famous Peridot: Large Peridots, more than 200 carats in size, adorn the shrine of the three magi at the Cologne Cathedral
Cleaning procedure: Clean carefully using warm soapy water. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning. Remove Peridot jewellery before doing household cleaning as acids may damage
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Lemon-Yellow
Name derivation: Derived from its appearance – Intense shade of lemon-yellow
Symbolism: Vitality, Zest for life
Gemstone family: Quartz
Birthstone: January (Alternative)
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0 (hard)
Geography: Africa, South America
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Avoid prolonged exposure to bright light. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning
Value factors: Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Light brown to rich cognac
Name derivation: Derived from its appearance – Smokey-brown
Symbolism: Earthy, solid
Gemstone family: Quartz
Birthstone: January (Alternative)
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0 (hard)
Geography: Asia, Africa, Europe
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Avoid prolonged exposure to bright light. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning
Value factors: Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Pink
Name derivation: Derived from its appearance – soft & delicate rose-coloured pink
Symbolism: Femininity, gentleness, forgiveness, compassion, kindness and tolerance
Gemstone family: Quartz
Birthstone: January (Alternative)
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0 (hard)
Geography: Brazil, Sweden, Namibia, USA
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Avoid prolonged exposure to bright light. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning
Value factors: Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Red - colour of love, passion & power
Name derivation: Derived from the Latin word "Rubens” meaning "red” A.K.A. the “King of Gemstones” - Sanskrit language Ruby is called "Ratnaraj”, which translates to "King of Gemstones”
Symbolism: Inspires passionate & love
Gemstone family: Corundum
Anniversary: 40th wedding anniversary
Birthstone: July
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 9.0 (hard & very robust structure)
Geography: The most revered come from Burma/ Myanmar while equally fine rubies have been recently discovered in Tanzania and Mozambique
Famous Rubies: 167 carat Edwardes Ruby (in honour of Maj.-Gen. Sir Herbert Benjamin Edwardes (1819-68) who served for the British in India
Inclusions: Fine Rubies are quite scarce in sizes above 3 karats. Inclusions don’t affect the quality of a Ruby unless they decrease transparency or “life” i.e. vibrancy of the stone.
Cleaning procedure: Not an issue due to its hardness
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Blue, yellow, pink, orange, purple, green, red, rose and white
Name derivation: Derived from the Hebrew word “Shaddai” meaning "The Almighty"
Symbolism: Blue - inspires harmony, friendship, loyalty, composure, trust & faithfulness
Gemstone family: Corundum
Anniversary: 45th wedding anniversary
Birthstone: September
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 9.0 (hard & very robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from Cashmere, Burma & Ceylon
Famous Sapphires: 543-carat "Star of India & 330 carat "Star of Asia”
Inclusions: Inclusions don’t affect the quality of a Sapphire unless they decrease transparency or “life” i.e. vibrancy of the stone.
Cleaning procedure: Not an issue due to its hardness
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Reddish brown, gray, yellow, green, or red
Name derivation: Derived from the Greek word “Sphenos” meaning “wedge” as the crystals are found in a wedge shape
Symbolism: Vitality
Gemstone family: Nesosilicate
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 5.0-5.5 (soft to brittle)
Geography: Africa, Europe, North America
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning
Value factors: Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Shades of red and blue
Symbolism: Vitality, Passion, Good Health
Gemstone family: Corundum
Interesting facts: The famous "Black Prince's Ruby" which forms part of the Crown Jewels of England, is, in fact, a red spinel
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.5-8.0 (hard)
Geography: Asia, North America and Africa
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning
Value factors: Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Pale yellow to red-orange
Symbolism: Vitality, Passion, Good Health
Gemstone family: Labradorite
Interesting facts: Pope Clement VII was said to have worn a stone that had a golden spot, which moved in relation to the heavens.
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 6.0-7.0 (durable)
Geography: Asia, Africa and North America
Cleaning procedure: Clean using warm soapy water. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning
Value factors: Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Royal Purplish-Blue
Name derivation: Derived from its birthplace - Tanzania
Symbolism: Rarity, royalty & opulence
Gemstone family: Zoisite
Birthstone: December (Alternative)
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 6.5 – 7.0 (soft yet very robust structure)
Geography: Found only in Tanzania (Merelani Hills)
Inclusions:Inclusions are not common and do not often affect the colour and beauty of the stone.
Cleaning procedure: Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaner. Clean carefully using warm soapy water. Do not expose it to household chemicals
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Comes in every possible color and often multi-coloured
Name derivation: Derived from the Singhalese expression "Turamali”, which translates as "stone of mixed colours”
Symbolism: Love, friendship, permanence and stability
Gemstone family: Name for a group of related mineral species. No single specie name
Anniversary: 38th wedding anniversary (Modern)
Birthstone: October
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0-7.5 (hard & robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from South America (Brazil), Madagascar & Africa
Cleaning procedure: Must not be cleaned ultrasonically. Do not clean it in a steam cleaner. Clean carefully using warm soapy water or commercial jewellery cleaner
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Pink to dark wine shades of red
Name derivation: Derived from the Latin term “Rebellus” meaning “reddish”
Symbolism: Royalty, wealth and long life
Gemstone family: Tourmaline
Anniversary: 38th wedding anniversary (Modern)
Birthstone: October
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0-7.5 (hard & robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from Africa and South America
Cleaning procedure: Must not be cleaned ultrasonically. Do not clean it in a steam cleaner. Clean carefully using warm soapy water or commercial jewellery cleaner
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Comes in shades of electric-neon green and blue
Name derivation: Derived from the original place of mining i.e. Paraiba State, Brazil
Symbolism: Vitality
Gemstone family: Elbaite
Anniversary: 38th wedding anniversary (Modern)
Birthstone: October
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 7.0-7.5 (hard & robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from Mozambique (Africa)
Cleaning procedure: Must not be cleaned ultrasonically. Do not clean it in a steam cleaner. Clean carefully using warm soapy water or commercial jewellery cleaner
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
Colour: Rainbow of different colours
Name derivation: Derived from the Greek word “Topazos” the ancient name for St. John's Island in the Red Sea, or from the Sanskrit “tapas” meaning fire
Symbolism: Inspires good health and long life
Gemstone family: Silicates
Birthstone: November & December
Hardness: Moh’s Scale 8.0 (very robust structure)
Geography: The finest come from Brazil, Sri Lanka, Pakistan & Russia
Famous Topaz: The “Braganza” set in the Portuguese royal crown
Cleaning procedure: Clean carefully using warm soapy water. Must not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam cleaning
Value factors: Rarity, Intensity of colour; Brilliance and “life” of stone; Size of stone
