DIAMOND
JEWELERS
CAMEO
Cameo is a three dimensional carving most notably using the type of sea shell shown in the photo here. Because the shell has different colored layers, the artisan can use the relief to carve and create images with different background colors. Other materials can be used.
CITRINE
Citrine is often substituted for Yellow Topaz, which has been traditionally
recognized as Novembers birthstone. Citrine is a yellow
quartz which is a different gem family altogether than the Topaz family. The primary source of
Citrine is Brazil. Citrine is found in every shade of yellow imaginable.
Most Citrine is heat treated Amethyst or Smokey Quartz.
DIAMOND
Diamond is the only gemstone which is also an element. In its purest form,
Diamond is composed of only Carbon, which when crystallized under tremendous
heat and pressure transforms into a Diamond. Diamond is the hardest know
substance on earth and one of the rarest and most desired gems as well.
Diamond is Aprils birthstone. Diamonds do come in colors, such as red,
yellow, green, blue and pink. Intense natural colored Diamonds can be very
expensive.
EMERALD
The birthstone for the month of May, Emerald is composed of Beryl. The best
known source of Emerald is Columbia, but it is also found in Brazil, Zambia,
India, Rhodesia, Tanzania and South Africa. Good quality Emeralds over several
carats are extremely rare. Emerald typically has many inclusions,
therefore a clean, fine colored specimen will command prices equal to or even
greater than a Diamond.
FIRE OPAL
GARNET
The birthstone for the month of January, Garnet, is composed of a group of
similar minerals known as the "Garnet Group." Most people think of
Garnet as a maroon red color, but Garnet actually occurs in orange, yellow,
brown, light green, dark green, violet, purple and it can even be colorless.
OPAL
The birthstone for
the month of October, Opal, is found in four major
varieties. White Opal is opaque with color that appears as flashes or speckles.
Black Opal has a dark gray or black body color and contains substantial fire.
Black Opal is rare and expensive. Water Opal is transparent and contains
brilliant flashes of color. Fire Opal is transparent or
translucent, with an orange or red body color. Most Opals come from Australia but
Fire Opals are found in Mexico. The photo on the right is a slice of
rough vein of Opal with the mother rock.
IOLITE
Iolite is known as Canadian Sapphire, Water Sapphire, Corierite, and
Dichroite. Iolite is
found in India, Sri Lanka and Connecticut within the U.S. The name Iolite is derived from
this gems magnificent violet color. Recently Iolite has been becoming more
popular as a substitute for Tanzanite, because while it can be similar in color,
Iolite is much less expensive.
JADE
