The naturally occurring gemstone is a crystalline form of a mineral. Desirable for their
beauty,
gemstones are also loved for their rarity and durability. As
adornments in jewelry, gemstones can bring enjoyment for generations.
While many gems have remained popular for years, some are rare
collector stones that have only been discovered recently.
Emeralds
The
much-loved emerald is admired for its radiant green color. The top
quality emeralds are considered even more valuable than diamonds. For
centuries, fantastic stories have grown up around this magnificent gem
and in some cultures the gemstone held great power. For instance, in
South America the Incas and Aztecs considered the emerald a holy
gemstone. Indian maharajas believed the green emerald to possess healing
and good luck powers. They were so valued in ancient Egyptian society
that the pharaohs who ruled between 3,000 to 1,500 B.C. exhausted their
plentitude in Cleopatra's Mines.
Today's best emeralds hail
mostly from Colombia, where there are nearly 150 known emerald
deposits, although not all are currently being mined. These stones are
known to be especially fine with an emerald green color that is the
most highly esteemed in the international emerald trade industry.
Emeralds are also harvested in places such as Zambia, Brazil,
Madagascar, India and Russia, which have produced some interesting and
rare variations and have provided additional sources of emeralds for an
eager market.
Ruby
Long associated with power, passion and
love, the ruby has long been considered one of the most valuable
gemstones in existence. Its brilliance, hardness and gorgeous color are
preferred characteristics of a precious stone. In its finest form, a
ruby is called a "Burmese ruby." This does not necessarily mean the
stone's origin is Burma, but that it possesses the rich, full red color
with a slight bluish hue, such as those found in the famous deposits
of Burma (now called Myanmar).
Other ruby deposits are found in
Pakistan, Laos, Kashmir, Nepal and Afghanistan. The rubies of India
possess many inclusions, but are still suited to be cut as beads or
cabochons. East Africa is another site that has recently become a site
for rubies. While some very fine rubies were mined from Kenya and
Tanzania in the 1960s, they are mostly a rarity. Typically, these
stones are considered average in quality.
The ruby's most
important feature is its color, with transparency being of secondary
importance. Inclusions, therefore, do not impair the quality of the
stone unless it should decrease the stone's transparency. In fact, these
imperfections are known to give a ruby its individuality and help to
provide proof of its natural origin.
Sapphire
Earlier
civilizations believed that the firmament was actually an immense blue
sapphire in which the earth was embedded. It's not hard to believe that
theory when one considers all the blue shades the sky and sapphires
both contain. Sapphires also come in a variety of other colors such as
yellow, pink, orange, and purple. However, blue remains the much
favored color.
Found in India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand and
Brazil, and Vietnam to name a few, sapphires are cut by skilled
craftsmen who respect the stone is that is not only durable, but it also
produces various colors and intensities of color, depending on which
angle it is viewed. The challenge for the cutter is to bring out the
stone to its very best advantage. The most precious blue sapphires came
from Kashmir in the 1880s. These stones created a lasting impression
on people's idea of a first-class sapphire's color. The intense blue
with subtle violet undertones does not change with artificial light.
Amethyst
Coveted
by royalty for generations, the amethyst has had numerous powers
attributed to it by a variety of cultures. It has occupied a prominent
position in the ornaments of the Catholic clergy because of its
representation of chastity and piety. Therefore, it has served as the
stone of bishops and clergy.
When heated, the amethyst changes
its color. Smoky stones turn shining yellow to brownish-red when heated
by temperatures of 250 degrees. Meanwhile, stones with high
transparency turn yellow or colorless at 400 degrees. Note to amethyst
wearers: this tendency to change colors can render an amethyst
colorless in daylight so avoid sunbathing while wearing an amethyst.
Amethysts
are imported from Brazil, Uruguay and Madagascar. However, valuable
specimens can be found all over the world. In North America, Lake
Superior on the Canadian side is home to Amethyst Harbor. Here, violet
quartz is found in generous quantities although it is not considered
gemstone quality. At one time, Russia's Empress Catherine the Great
enlisted thousands of miners into the Urals to mine for amethyst. While
Uruguay produces beautifully rich amethyst of the deepest color, much
of it is blemished. It's not surprising then that truly immaculate
stones can fetch fairly high prices from those who covet its violet
brilliance.