Gemstone Guide
Agate
Part of the chalcedony family, agate provides an infinite number of patterns and textures that mesmerize, fascinate and are totally unique. It is a highly regarded stone worn in many cultures as protection from the ‘evil eye’.
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Brazil, Uruguay, Madagascar, Mexico.
Interesting Fact: Traced back to the Stone Age, agate was one of the first materials familiar to mankind. In the ancient days, it was believed that wearing agates made the wearer friendly, truthful and persuasive.
Amethyst
Amethyst has been and still is one of the most popular crystaline quartzes being found in all shades of purple from light lavender to deep violet. Its name derives from the Greek "amethystos", which means "not drunken", as historically, Amethyst was thought to ward off drunkenness. Amethyst was once highly regarded among the precious gemstones like ruby and emerald.
Hardness: 7 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: February
Sources: Germany, Brazil, Russia, Uruguay, USA
Interesting Fact: For thousands of years, the amethyst jewel has been coveted by royalty. Moses described it as a symbol of the Spirit of God and the Russian Empress, Catherine the Great, sent thousands of miners into the Urals in western Russia to look for it.
Ametrine
Ametrine is a unique gemstone. The stone comes from two types of quartz being mixed together, amethyst and citrine, with the name actually a combination of the two stones that ametrine derives from. The colour of ametrine is a mixture of yellow citrine and purple amethyst blends. Other names for the ametrine gemstone include trystine or bolivianite. The latter name comes from the fact that just about all ametrine mined today is unearthed in Bolivia.
Hardness: 7 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Bolivia
Interesting Fact: There are many meanings associated with ametrine gemstones including inner strength and harmony; the stone’s ability to help us deal with emotional instability and stress; as well as its Yin and Yang energies, bringing balance to the mind of those who wear this gemstone.
Apatite
Apatite comes in a range of good-looking pure transparent colours such as shades of blue, greenish yellow, greenish blue, soft pink and violet. The recent availability of a neon blue-green apatite from Madagascar has created enormous interest as it imitates the colour of neon paraiba tourmalines. The name apatite which drives from the Greek for 'deceive' was given because the stone s easily confused with other stones such as precious beryl, topaz, zircon and tourmaline.
Hardness: 5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Brazil, Madagascar, Sri Lanka & USA
Interesting Fact: Apatite is thought to be a stone of learning and inspiration. It is a fire element stone that is thought to be helpful for overcoming fear and turning thought into physical manifestations. It is able to draw out negative energy and stimulate creativity.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine can be found in sea green, sky blue and dark blue with the latter two being the most desirable and valuable colours.It's name comes from the Latin for seawater and it was said to calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. March’s birthstone was also thought to enhance the happiness of marriages. The best gems combine high clarity with limpid transparency and blue to slightly greenish blue hues. Aquamarine is a member of the beryl group, the same gemstone family as the emerald and morganite.
Hardness: 7.5 - 8 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: March
Sources: Brazil, Madagascar & Afghanistan
Interesting Fact: Aquamarine is dichroic, so the intensity of colour changes depending on the angle it is viewed from and the material is usually cut according to best colour range as opposed to greatest size.
Chrome Diopside
This is the most important and valuable variety of diopside with a vivid emerald green colour due to the presence of chromium.The gem is highly refractive, so faceted transparent stones appear lively and brilliant with a vitreous lustre. Diopside is found in a few other colours ranging from yellow to pale green to bottle green, brown and purple. Black star diopside is also found, which has asterism, which means that a star shape moves across the surface of the gem under a single light source.
Hardness: 5.5 - 6 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Burma, Pakistan, Siberia & South Africa
Interesting Fact: Diopside was first described in the early 1800s and gets its name from the Greek words ‘dis’ and ‘opse’, meaning ‘two faced’ in reference to there being two different ways of orientating the gem before it is cut.
Citrine
Citrine ranges in colour from pastel lemon yellow to deep reddish brown and amber. The most common natural colour is golden and tends to be quite pale, although naturally dark citrine does occur. Though its name suggests a bright yellow - its name is derived from the French word for 'lemon'. History, folklore and legends of citrine are interwoven with that of yellow topaz, as throughout the centuries citrine was often wrongly identified as topaz.
Hardness: 7 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: November
Sources: Africa, Australia, Brazil & Burma
Interesting Fact: The benefits of citrine are multifaceted. Folklore suggests that the gem can have a cooling effect and can alleviate nocturnal fears. It is also believed that it can warn the wearer of illnesses and the presence of poisons, thus protecting from sudden death. As well as removing toxins from the body, citrine is said to be good for healing the heart, kidneys liver and aiding digestion.
Emerald
The colour of emerald varies according to its source or location, the most desirable colour being a strong, slightly blush green. It is still thought that emeralds from Colombia are the finest in the world. From the poetic description of Ireland as “the Emerald Isle” to the vibrant green of the famed gemstone itself, emerald has captured hearts and minds through the ages. The green birthstone was also thought to have magical powers. By placing it under the tongue, one could see into the future. Today, it's the gemstone given for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
Hardness: 7.5 - 8 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: May
Sources: Colombia, Zambia and Brazil
Interesting Fact: Legend has it that emerald has the power to make its wearer more intelligent and quick-witted, and it was once believed to cure diseases like cholera and malaria.
Garnet
Garnet is an exciting and versatile stone and is available in a range of colours with the most familiar being a dark blood or rich raspberry red. The red colour of the garnet has been likened to the flesh of a ripe pomegranate and the name garnet is derived from the Latin word ’granatum’
Hardness: 6.5-7.5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: January
Sources: Argentina, Brazil, India & Madagascar
Interesting Fact: Garnet was once thought to cure fever and promote good health and many explorers and travellers wore it as a protection talisman, as they were a popular protective stone.
Hematite
Hematite is an iron mineral and the metallic silver-grey crystal surfaces of specular hematite are so highly reflective that they were used in the past as mirrors. Its name derives from the Greek for ‘blood’ which is due to the fact that when powdered it becomes red.
Hardness: 5.5-6.5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Brazil, Canada, Italy & Scandinavia
Interesting Fact: It has been said to stimulate attainment of peace, self-control and inner happiness.
Iolite
Iolite is a transparent gemstone of violet-blue colour with a glassy lustre and is moderately brilliant. It is one of very few blue gemstones available and the name derives from the Greek word for ‘violet’.
Hardness: 7-7.5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: India, Madagascar, Tanzania & Burma
Interesting Fact: Iolite shows different colours dependent on the angle that it is viewed at. This property helped Viking explorers to determine their exact positioning of the sun when crossing the Atlantic and helped them navigate safely to the new world.
Jade
For over 2,000 years jade has been mined and worked throughout the world. Jade is a gemstone with two incarnations, one abundant, the other more rare. Yet both jadeite (rare) and nephrite (abundant) gemstones possesses a beautiful texture, strength and colour that range from creamy pastels to intense and earthy tones.
Hardness: 6.5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Nephrite - Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Zimbabwe; Jadeite – Burma, Japan & USA
Interesting Fact: The Chinese were the earliest users of jade making it part of their ancient religious cult and a symbol of high rank and authority in their society.
Kyanite
Not only is Kyanite beautiful, but its properties make it one of the most fascinating of gemstones. The colours in gem-quality material are shades of blue, white, green, grey and occasionally black. The name kyanite is derived from the Greek word 'kayos' meaning blue. The best stone has a clear royal blue colour that looks like a sapphire. Kyanite is unique in having two hardness values - one that runs along the gems length and one across the width.
Hardness: 4.5-5 or 7 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Australia, Brazil, European Alps, India & Kenya
Interesting Fact: Kyanite is actually made up of many different layers, making it easy to split this gemstone. This is known as perfect cleavage.
Pearl
Created naturally by a living creature over many years, every pearl is unique in its colour, lustre, size & shape. The two most important distinctions are the pearls habitat (saltwater or freshwater) and how the pearl was grown (naturally or cultivated). The constant demand for natural saltwater pearls over the last 150 years has led to a dwindling supply of them and as a result, the need to develop cultured pearls became essential. Pearl has a beautiful iridescent lustre and has been a symbol of innocence, faith and purity.
Hardness: 3-4 Mohs ((The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: June
Sources: Natural Pearls – Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Cultured Pearls – Japan, China, Australia & Cook Islands
Interesting Fact: One of the most famous pearls in the world is called ‘La Peregrina’. It is pear shaped and the size of a pigeon’s egg. Famous owners included Philip II of Spain, Mary Tudor and the last known owner is believed to be Elizabeth Taylor.
Quartz
The abundance and beauty of Quartz has meant that is has been used as a gemstone since the dawn of history. Quartz can vary in colour from transparent to opaque and can produce optical effects such as stars and cat’s-eyes.
Hardness: 7 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Africa, Australia, Brazil & Japan
Interesting Fact: Beads of quartz have been found in caves in Israel that were occupied between 5,000-6,000 years ago.
Rhodolite
Rhodolite is part of the garnet family and is a composition of pyrope and almandite garnet with a beautiful bright violet-red colour. The name is derived from the Greek word ‘rhodon’ & lithos meaning rose-stone.
Hardness: 6.5-7.5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Sri Lanka, Tanzania & Kenya
Interesting Fact: It is believed to balance emotion and foster greater awareness.
Rubellite
This is one of the most desirable and valuable of the tourmaline family. Rubellite translates quite simply as 'red' and true rubellite should be an intense hot pink to red colour with a violet to blue tone.
Hardness: 7 - 7.5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources:Tanzania & Nigeria
Interesting Fact: The gem is a real treasure. It is far rarer than its closest rival the ruby and many people find it infinitely more attractive.
Ruby
Ruby is one of the most coveted of gems. The name is derived from the Latin word ruber, meaning “red” – the color of love and passion. Few things catch the eye like the ruby gemstone. The finest colour is a deep red with a hint of purple, called 'pigeon’s blood'. A variety of the mineral corundum, ruby gets its colour from trace amounts of the element chromium. The more chromium, the stronger the red.
Hardness: 9 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: July
Sources: Burma, Vietnam, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tanzania
Interesting Fact: Due to their colour, rubies were often connected to blood and the idea of a ‘life force’, which is one of the many reasons they were worn by warriors to, allegedly, make them unstoppable in battle.
Sapphire
Sapphires are known and revered the world over for their beauty and mystery. In many ancient cultures this gem has been admired not only for its elegance but also for the magic and good luck associated with it. Sapphires come in a range of colours from blues to jet black, colourless and all colours in between. Sapphire is a member of the corundum family along with ruby. The wide array of differing hues seen in sapphires is due to the presence of different impurities found in their crystal structure. Blue sapphires are formed due to the presence of titanium. Chromium trapped inside corundum creates pink sapphires and in larger quantities gives us the ruby.
Hardness: 9 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: September
Sources: Australia, Thailand, Burma, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Interesting Fact: The most famous sapphire in the world is the Stuart Sapphire which dates back to 1214. It has passed down the Monarchs through the ages and was eventually mounted in Queen Victoria’s crown. It can now be seen on display at the Tower of London as part of the British Crown Jewels.
Spessartite
This gem is from the Garnet family and typically has a rich orange -yellow, orange or orange-red colour. Mandarin Spessartite (also known as Mandarin Garnet), as its name suggests, is a stunning orange gem and is one of the most valuable members of the Spessartite family. It was only discovered last decade, and as well as its fascinating colour it also benefits from amazing brilliance.
Hardness: 6.5 - 7.5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Madagascar and Brazil.
Interesting Fact: Spessartite is a brilliant gem that has an even higher refractive index than sapphire.
Spinel
This gemstone is found in a variety of colours including red, blue, violet, and dark green. What makes spinel an interesting gemstone is that it's difficult to tell the difference between a deep red spinel and a ruby. They often are found in the same places, and once polished, the two gems are nearly indistinguishable.That’s why many historical crown jewels actually contain spinels, and not rubies.
Hardness: 8 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: August
Sources: Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka, Afganistan, Tanzania, Brazil and Kenya
Interesting Fact: One of the most famous spinels in the world is the Black Prince’s Ruby, the 170-carat gem that adorns the Imperial State Crown worn by Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles at their coronations. The Black Prince’s Ruby is the largest uncut spinel in the world, and once decorated King Henry V’s helmet during battle.
Tanzanite
This gemstone of drama and intrigue is considered, along with the sapphire, to be the finest blue stone in existence. It is a rare and transparent indigo-violet gemstone that is found in just one area of Tanzania and no where else. Tanzanite despite its scarcity, has not only gained remarkable public awareness in a very short space of time, but has become an object of desire worldwide.
Hardness: 6.5 - 7 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: December
Sources: Tanzania
Interesting Fact: Tanzanite can exhibit a slight colour change in daylight taking on an ultramarine to sapphire blue colour; in artificial light it will appear to be more of an amethyst-violet colour.
Topaz
Topaz is sought after as one of the cleanest, clearest and crispest colourless gemstones ever discovered, as well as being available in a phenomenal array of hues. Topaz has been known as a powerful stone throughout the ages, one that was linked with attracting love and fortune and also being mentioned in the Bible. Having first been discovered over 2,500 years ago, Topaz has a rich tapestry of legend running throughout its story.
Hardness: 8 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: November
Sources: Brazil, Russia, Madagascar and Nigeria
Interesting Fact: The Egyptians believed that Topaz was coloured by the golden glow of the Sun God Ra. This made the gemstone a talisman of power that protected its owners from harm. As well as this, they thought it had supernatural powers and could even make its owner invisible!
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a favoured gemstone offering a variety of fabulous colours - sometimes several in just one stone. It is truly the gemstone of modern times. Members of the Tourmaline family are not from the same crystal structure and their chemical compositions also vary. What they do have in common is that they all occur in nature as long, thin, straight gems and usually have a triangular cross-section.
Hardness: 7 - 7.5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Birthstone: October
Sources: Africa, Brazil, USA
Interesting Fact: In 1989, Brazilian miners discovered tourmaline unlike any that had ever been seen before. This new type of tourmaline, which became known as Paraiba tourmaline, comes in incredibly vivid blues and greens. Its rarity demands extremely high prices on the market today.
Tsavorite
Tsavorite is one of the rarest and most coveted gemstones in the world. Its mystical forest green colour is part of the reason why it has become so famous within just a few decades of its discovery in Tanzania in the 1960's. It belongs to the grossular group within the garnet family and has to be seen to truly appreciate how radiant it is. It was named Tsavorite after Tsavo National Park, one of Africa's largest nature reserves, located in Kenya.
Hardness: 6.5 - 7.5 Mohs (The Mohs scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest)
Sources: Kenya & Tanzania
Interesting Fact: One of the most famous Tsavorite's was designed by Tiffany and Co called the Schlumberger Tsavorite seahorse pin. The estimated value of the piece was around $15,000.