Garnet, a gemstone used in jewelry for thousands of years, enjoyed great popularity during the Victorian Era.  Today, Garnet jewelry is available in every modern style of gemstone jewelry, in addition to many fabulous one of a kind antique and estate jewelry pieces.  Garnet is readily available in all shapes and sizes at inexpensive prices for a genuine gemstone that seems to remain in the background, when it truly belongs in the spotlight.  The fact that Garnet is not rare or expensive should in no way diminish its appeal, which is found in the real beauty of its magnificent colors.

     The familiar brownish red Garnet is Januaries birthstone and is also given for second Wedding Anniversaries, however, Garnet is found in many colors of the rainbow.  Garnet is actually a group of minerals whose chemical compositions are very similar, the slight variations account for the extreme differences in color we see.  Typically most Garnets you will find in jewelry stores range in price from about ten dollars to twenty five dollars per carat.  Of course there are always fine specimens which will command much higher prices, but everyone can afford excellent quality Garnet jewelry and you should include Garnet in your jewelry collection.  Garnet in its brilliant red and purplish red shades is often confused with Ruby by the consumer.  While their colors can sometimes be similar, Garnet will cost you a small fraction of the price of a comparable quality Ruby.

     Tsavorite (pronounced with a silent T) is a vivid forest green Garnet gemstone unlike any green gemstone you have seen.  Tsavorite is mined in the same areas of Tanzania in which Tanzanite, another rare gemstone, is found.  It is a rare example of the Garnet family and can be significantly more expensive than other members of the Garnet family with prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars per carat.  Malaia Garnet, an orangey Garnet, is also found in Eastern Africa.  Pyrope Garnet is the common purplish red Garnet which comes primarily from Australia and Czechoslovakia.  Spessartite, also a common type of Garnet, is the yellowish orange to reddish orange color and Rhodolite is the pink member of the Garnet family.

     Check out our Jewelry pages, or  visit one of our stores to see the Garnet jewelry we have to offer.  I think that you will agree it is both beautiful and a good value for the prices being asked.  You may even find yourself adding a piece of Garnet jewelry to your collection.

     Amethyst, the purple variety of Earth’s most abundant mineral quartz, is a highly prized gemstone.  The colors of Amethyst range from an almost colorless lavender to a very deep and intense royal purple. Amethyst is believed by many to have supernatural powers.  It is said that anyone who wears Amethyst will benefit from the luck it brings.  Amethyst is also believed to ward off drunkenness, protect against evil thoughts, and passion.  Ironically February is the month for lovers who traditionally celebrate Saint Valentines Day with expression of their passion.  In addition to being the birthstone for February, Amethyst is also given for sixth Wedding Anniversaries.

     Amethyst is most commonly cut as a faceted gemstone to unlock its internal brilliance and vibrant color. Cabochon shapes, crystal points, rough crystal formations, beads of all sizes, and intaglio carvings are also made from Amethyst.  Gemstones in sizes from one to twenty carats are readily available in fine jewelry stores and gems of over 1000 carats are known to exist.  Because of the abundance of this beautiful gem, there are so many intriguing styles of Amethyst jewelry available today at prices from well under one hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.  Amethyst is a relatively hard gemstone, suitable for rings because it can withstand considerable abuse.

     The primary sources for Amethyst are the Ural mountains of Brazil, Uruguay, Namibia, South Africa, and even the United States.  Amethyst is found in cavities of rock where molten materials rich in silicon and oxygen from deep inside the earth have surfaced and cooled.  The faster molten material cools, the smaller the resulting crystals that form will be.  Examples of tiny crystal size are evidenced in small geodes and when large quantities of nutrients and time are available in areas such as caves, mammoth sized crystals can result. Geodes are rocks which can be smaller than golf balls or several hundred pounds that have cooled very quickly on the outside forming a shell causing slower cooling on the inside, resulting in crystal formations.  While there may be some clues on the outside, you never know what you will find inside a geode until you break it open.

     Check out our Gemstone Jewelry page or  visit one of our stores to see the Amethyst jewelry we have to offer.  We stock a large selection of Amethyst jewelry and unset gemstones at very attractive prices.

     Aquamarine, the pale blue-green gemstone which reminds us of the calm soothing soft colors of the Caribbean Sea, is the precious gemstone of March.  Transparency and lightness in color tone account for Aquamarines pastel shades of color.  The word Aquamarine is actually derived from the Latin meaning: water of the sea.  Over the ages it has been believed that an Aquamarine will give or bring out courage in whoever wears one.

     Aquamarine is the highly prized blue member of the beryl family of gems, related to Emerald (green beryl) and the less well known Morganite (pink beryl).  Gemstones of ten carats in size are common and rare specimens of 1,000 carats have been found.  Aquamarine crystals grow in hexagonal (6 sided) formations and non gem quality crystals of several feet in length which may weigh several tons have been found.  Aquamarine is generally faceted, however beads, carvings, and cabochons are also fashioned for use in jewelry.

     Aquamarine has historically been treasured by the aristocrats and can be found in many fine pieces of antique jewelry.  Aquamarine is the gemstone for the zodiac sign Pisces.  The primary sources of Aquamarine are Brazil, several African countries, and the Soviet Union.  Although Aquamarine is somewhat plentiful, its relatively high price for better quality gemstones does not make it practical for lower and moderately priced birthstone jewelry.  Sky Blue Topaz, a genuine gemstone which looks very much like Aquamarine is often substituted by manufacturers when price is a consideration.

     Check out our Jewelry pages or  visit one of our stores to see the Aquamarine jewelry we have to offer and see for yourself why Aquamarine commands the attention of gemstone lovers all over the world.  It's a peaceful, yet striking color which would make an elegant addition to your jewelry collection and is suitable for formal or everyday wear.

     Diamond, the hardest substance known to man is a rare and valuable gemstone which has been sought after for almost 2500 years.  Kings, Queens, and Emperors have collected and worn Diamonds as a symbol of wealth and power for centuries.  Diamonds are still a symbol of wealth and success, but they are much easier to acquire today than they were in the past.  The industrial revolution was responsible for major changes in the evolution of Diamond cutting, which unlocks the internal brilliance of a Diamond.  In fact the Diamonds you can purchase today are far superior in brilliance and they display a fire unknown to the royalty of the past.

     Diamonds are believed to have first been discovered in India.  During the seventeen hundreds, Diamonds were discovered in Africa.  Diamonds are now found primarily in Africa, Australia, and Russia.  They are also found in small quantities in many other countries including the United States, particularly in Arkansas.

     The rarest of all Diamonds are crystals of pure Carbon which are totally colorless and flawless. Diamonds are found in all of the colors of the rainbow and some of the intense fancy colors also demand extremely high prices.  The fire, also known as the brilliance of a Diamond makes it the choice of jewelers when designing fine jewelry.

     If you were fortunate enough to have been born in April, then Diamond is your birthstone.  Diamond is also the gemstone given for tenth and sixtieth Wedding Anniversaries, and more recently Diamonds set in a necklace are being given for the twenty fifth Wedding Anniversary.  A Diamond embodies the fire and passion within us and represents the commitment of one to another when given as a betrothal or engagement ring.  It does not have to be a special occasion to give someone a Diamond, but giving a Diamond will make an occasion special.  A Diamond is a keepsake which will outlive its owner, and may be passed on from generation to generation.  Visit our Diamond Jewelry and Estate Jewelry Web pages or stop by one of our stores to see and feel the magic of  Diamonds for yourself.

     Emerald, the gemstone of spring, is also the birthstone for the month of May.  Emerald is the gemstone which is given for twentieth and thirty fifth Wedding Anniversaries.  Facetted gemstones, primarily oval and emerald cut (rectangular with cut corners), cabochons, and carvings are the most popular forms of Emeralds used in jewelry.

     Emerald is the green variety of Beryl, which is the most highly prized Beryl of all.  Most gems, including Beryl, can be found in the many colors of the rainbow.  Green Beryl, or Emerald gemstones are found in as many colors of green as you can find in a rain forest.  Other members of the Beryl family are Aquamarine (blue), Morganite (pink), and Heliodor (yellow).

     Columbia and South America have been a source of Emeralds for centuries, and still produce considerable quantities of top quality gems today.  Columbian Emeralds are among the finest in the world.  Brazil, Africa, Australia and the U.S.S.R. are also large producers of Emeralds.  In the United States, Emeralds have been found in Connecticut, Maine, and North Carolina.

     Emerald crystals form in metamorphic rocks which restrict crystal growth, resulting in very few Emeralds of several carats or more.  Five to seven carat Emeralds are considered large, and gems over twenty carats, although they exist, are very rare and very expensive.  High quality Emeralds have been know to command higher prices than comparable sized Diamonds.

     Emeralds are also known for their tremendous array of inclusions referred to as gardens.  The common fractures and internal characteristics of Emeralds often require treatments or enhancements to improve their appearance for use in jewelry.  Steam cleaning, use of chemicals for cleaning, and ultrasonic cleaning, which may extend fractures, dull the finish or remove enhancements, should be avoided with Emeralds.

     Green, a soothing color, which is pleasing to the eye, should be a part of your jewelry wardrobe.  An emerald green or forest green Emerald, set in gold and accented with Diamonds is a stunning combination.  Emerald is suitable for everyday wear or for special occasions.  Select a fine Emerald for you next piece of jewelry and watch others turn "green with envy".

     Check out the Emerald  Jewelry on our Web site or  visit one of our stores to see the Emerald jewelry we have to offer.

      A scarce gemstone, Alexandrite is best known for it’s unusual ability to change color in different types of light.  The chameleon effect of Alexandrite has made it a gemstone that is highly prized and sought after by collectors around the world.  Alexandrite appears green in daylight and will change to red when placed under incandescent light.  A vivid and distinct color change in Alexandrite can make this gemstone worth thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars.

     Originally discovered in the Ural mountains of Russia, Alexandrite was named after Alexander II, the Czar of Russia.  Today the primary sources of Alexandrite are Brazil and Sri Lanka.  Even though large specimens of Alexandrite are very rare, the Smithsonian Museum has an unbelievable 66 carat on display.

     The high cost associated with purchasing Alexandrite has created a huge market for synthetics, which can also exhibit color change.  Pearl, which shares the birthstone designation for June with Alexandrite, is an alternative for those who shun synthetic gems. 

Pearls

     Pearls can be worn individually in rings or pendants but are most popular in strands ranging from 16" to over 30".  Pearls, the choice of many brides on their wedding day, are a classic accessory and are suitable for formal occasions or everyday wear.  In addition to being the birthstone for June, Pearls are also given for third and thirtieth Wedding Anniversaries.  Check out our Jewelry pages or  visit one of our stores to  try on some different styles of Pearl or Alexandrite jewelry for fun, you may not leave the store without them.  (We offer Genuine Alexandrite by special order.)