Gemstone Articles from Just Color

We recently acquired a parcel of rough stone from Bekily and cut an extraordinary 10.31 ct cushion cut. This gem has been certified by The Gemological Institute of America (GIA). In addition, GIA has issued a special letter identifying this as a notable gemstone.

This 6.02 ct spinel is an exceptional example of the rare spinel from Mahenge, Tanzania, with a cherry red color and excellent clarity. Certified by GRS.

A rare and unique 11.16 ct star spinel from Tanzania, certified by GIA as natural and untreated.

Cobaltocalcite is a rare form of calcite colored by traces of cobalt. GIA has issued a special report on this 11.45 ct Cobaltocalcite, identifying it as a notable gemstone.

One of the prides of our collection is a 12.16 ct Mandarin Spessartite Garnet from Nigeria, certified by GemResearch Swisslab.

A very fine royal blue sapphire from Mogok, Burma in a rare 5 carat size. Completely untreated and certified by GRS.

One of the finest Grandidierites in our collection is a 1.12 ct transparent gem in a saturated blue-green. GIA has issued a special report on this rare stone.

Transparent Grandidierite is very rare in sizes over 1 carat. GIA has issued a special report on this exception 2.30 ct Grandidierite.

This very rare Burmese Ruby has been certified by both GemResearch Swisslab (GRS) and Gubelin Gemlab. Both labs have issued special reports on this important gem.

This chart shows the relationship between size (diameter in millimeters) and carat weight for round diamonds.

Fine deep purple Amethyst is still fairly rare, though not especially expensive. Learn about quality factors in fine Amethyst.

An exceptional 2.21 ct demantoid garnet from Babrovka, Russia. Excellent saturation and outstanding clarity and disperion. A charactertistic horsetail inclusion is visible under magnfication.

We recently acquired a very rare 11.55 ct red topaz from Ouro Preto, Brazil, certified by Gubelin Gem Lab.

This month we look at the rare garnets from East Africa; tsavorite, umbalite (rhodolite), color change and malaia.

This month we look at one of the most fiery of colored gemstones, natural zircon. The most popular color of zircon is blue, Blue zircon is produced by low temperature heating, but only some of the Cambodian and Burmese zircon will turn blue when heated.

This month we feature Royal Purple Garnets from Mozambique. These rare and special gems display an intense purple with red flashes, with a fascinating color change as well.

In the world of fine gems, most gems are one-of-a-kind. A matching pair or suite is rare and special.

A pure saturated blue is one of the rarest and most treasured colors in the gemstone world. There are a number of gem varieties found in blue. But really only Sapphire is found in a pure saturated blue. Tanzanite may occasionally come close, though even the finest blue Tanzanite always has a tinge of violet.

Aquamarine, the blue color of the mineral beryl, is one of the few fine gemstones that can be found in large sizes at affordable prices. Learn about prices on high quality natural aquamarine.

This month we introduce our new website -- welcome to the new AJSgems.com. Also in this month's newsletter: notable gems from our collection; news from AJS and the gems world; and answers from our gem experts to customer questions.

This month we have a special offer on Fine Burma Ruby -- 20% on all the rubies in our collection! Take advantage of our one time offer to acquire a rare investment gem.

Pink is one of the most popular hues in colored gemstones, and few other colors offer such a wide range of choice. Learn about the choices in pink gems.

We have recently acquired some exceptional Rubellite Touramalines from Nigeria in a pure red. These are unusual for Rubellite, which is typically a pinkish or purplish red. We have a number of fine pieces over 5 carats, including several exceptional stones over 20 carats.

The term trillion or trilliant is used to describe a gemstone cut that is triangular in shape. The trillion cut can show impressive brilliance and sparkle.

Some sapphires have had their color enhanced by beryllium diffusion. Only a small number of gemological labs can detect this treatment, and consumers should be aware that any heated sapphire may have been diffused.

Few gemstones occur in a vivid aqua blue. The main choices are paraiba tourmaline, blue apatite and gem silica.

Rubies from Burma are generally regarded as the finest in the world. They are famed for their pure red color -- a color referred to as pigeon's blood -- and a unique fluorescent quality

Australia is one of the great gem markets in the world, and Australians have a deep appreciation for fine gemstones, beyond the local diamonds, sapphires and opals.

Cat's Eye Gems display a unique optical phenomenon that resemebles the slit eye of a cat. Fine specimens are valued by gem collectors, especially cat's eye chrysoberyl.

Sri Lanka has been producing fine sapphire for centuries, and many of the world's most famous sapphires were found there.

The chrysoberyls are famous, and include 2 of the most important varieties in the gems world -- alexandrite and chrysoberyl cat's eye. But even the ordinary yellow-green chrysoberyl is a fine gemstone, with excellent hardness and brilliance.

Citrine is the name used for the the yellow to gold color of quartz. It can also be found in orange and orange-red colors, sometimes sold under the name Madeira citrine. Since quartz is a very common mineral, gem-quality citrine is very affordable and can often be found in large sizes.

We specialize in serving gem collectors who search out the rare and unique gemstones that are likely to increase significantly in value over time.

Rare blue color-change garnets were first discovered in the Bekily district in southern Madagascar in 1998.

The traditional engagement ring is diamond. But many couples are now selecting colored gemstone engagement rings. Here is what to look for in a fine colored gem for an engagement ring.

Concave cutting is a recent innovations that creates 3 dimensional curved facets, enhancing a gemstone's brilliance.

Cuprite is a copper oxide that is very rare in gem-quality. Virtually all of the gem cuprite in facetable sizes came from a single unique deposit in a copper mine in Onganja, Namibia.

Danburite is a natural gemstone that is valued for its excellent transparency and clarity, especially in white or colorless stones.

This month we feature a very rare 75 ct Yellow Star Sapphire from Ceylon. Also: Notable Gems, Gem News from around the world, and our gem experts answer your questions.

This month we feature unique Gemstone Suites from our collection. These have been carefully matched by our staff and include earring sets, pendant/ring/earrings suites and some elaborate necklace layouts.

For gemstone connoisseurs and investors, Burmese ruby and jadeite are the ne plus ultra of colored gems. We are delighted that it is once again possible to ship these rare stones to collectors around the world.

If you're looking for a meaningful gift for someone special in your life, a fine gemstone is a unique gift of lasting value. This month we share some of the outstanding gems we've collected in 2018.

Why are natural Rubies so valuable? The color red, long associated with fire, passion and energy, is one of the rarest colors in the gems world. The purest reds are the Rubies from an area in Burma known as the Mogok Stone Tract, about 200 km north of Mandalay. This region has been famous for centuries for fine pigeon blood ruby with a distinctive fluorescence.

Diamond melee are very small diamonds, usually less than 0.18 carats. They are used in jewelry as accent stones or in closely packed clusters known as pave.

Almost all emeralds are fracture-filled to improve their clarity. The use of polymers such as Opticon for clarity enhancement has changed the emerald market.

Most fine transparent gemstones in the market have been faceted -- fashioned with a series of flat planes known as facets. This is actually a recent innovation in the history of gemstones.

This month we look at natural zircon, one of the the most brilliant but underappreciated species in the gems world.

This month we discuss one of the maxims of the colored gem trade -- "buy it while you can." Fine gems are in short supply and increasing demand from China has made it more difficult and expensive to acquire good stones.

There are certain rare tsavorite garnets that combine a medium tone with an intense saturation. Some of these so-called Mint Garnets are so remarkably vivid that they are as striking as any emerald.

The Pantone color the year for 2018 is Ultra Violet, exemplified in the gems world by Amethyst. Since Amethy is also the birthstone for February, we have 2 reasons this month to celebrate the most famous of violet gemstones.

High quality Garnets are completely natural and untreated, with very good clarity and transparency and outstanding brilliance. The rarer Garnets in bright and vivid colors are the favorites of designers of fine jewelry. The colors range from the emerald green of Tsavorite to the mandarin orange of Spessartite to the rich red of Rhodolite and the intense violet of Royal Purple Garnet. Fabulous!

Most amethyst gems comes from South America. But some of the finest amethyst is found in Africa, especially in Zambia.

We specialize in fine precision-cut natural gemstones. We offer the best prices in the market for high quality gems.

Spinel is a gemstone that is finally getting the recognition that it deserves. For a long time spinel had been confused with ruby and sapphire, two gems that it resembles in many ways. Among gem aficionadoes spinel is now one of the most sought after gems in the market, with red and pink the top colors.

Rare tsavorite garnet is challenging emerald as the finest of the green gemstones. Learn why tsavorite is special.

Many of our gems include certificates from independent gemological labs, such as GRS, GIT and GIA. But we offer optional certification for all our gems.

The gemstone trade depends on gemological laboratories with sophisticated equipment for gemstone identification. But you might be surprised to know that even the best gem labs can't tell you how much a gemstone is worth. To find out about the quality and value of a gemstone you need to turn to the people who make their living trading in gemstones -- gem dealers.

At one time all gems were shaped as cabochons. Today most gems are faceted, but some are still cut as cabs, because they have special optical qualities or are too opaque to facet.

A chart of gem varieties organized by color -- red, blue, green, pink, yellow/gold/bronze, orange, violet/purple, white/colorless and multicolor.

Gem materials vary greatly in density -- amber may float in salt water (density near that of water), while hematite is more than five times the density of water

Which gems are strong enough to be set in a ring that will be worn every day? We provide some answers.

The term "fire" refers to the ability of a gem to split light into the colors of the spectrum. The term "scintillation" refers to flashes of light that are produced when a gem is moved in the light.

The most complete and accurate hardness chart for gemstones available online, with hardness ratings for many rare varieties.

The international standard for measuring gemstones is millimeters. If you're not familiar with the metric system, this conversion chart will help you understand gemstone sizes.

This gallery of fine gemstones displays large images of gems from the Just Color collection, including many different shapes and cuts.

The refractive index of a gemstone is an important characteristic which helps to determine the appearance of the gem. This property can easily be measured to help in identifying gemstones.

A fine gemstone shows best when set in beautiful jewelry. When choosing a setting for your gemstone, there are a number of choices, including the type of metal, the ring design and the type of mounting.

When you buy a diamond, every tiny imperfection in the stone lowers the clarity grading and thus the value. In the world of colored gemstones, some inclusions are expected and do not necessarily detract from the value of the gem. Indeed, in some cases distinctive inclusions actually make a stone more valuable.

Astrology has allocated certain gemstones to each of the zodiac signs. In some cases, these coincide with the same stone as for the monthly birthstone charts, in others they differ. As with monthly birthstones, there are many differing opinions as to the appropriate gemstone for each sign.

Yellow or golden beryl is also known as heliodor or yellow emerald. It is an inexpensive gem that is popular as an alternative to the more expensive yellow sapphire.

Green is an important color for garnet, but the green garnet varieties tend to be rare, such as tsavorite, demantoid and mali garnets.

What are your choices in blue gems? Take a tour through the world of blue gemstones, including some rare varieties.

There is now a large and established online market for loose gemstones. But buying gems online still involves some risk, so here is some useful advice for careful buyers.

What are your choices in green gemstones? Take a tour through the world of green gems, including some rare varieties.

Sapphire has become increasingly popular for engagement rings, especially for couples looking to buy a unique gem with vivid color, and in a larger size.

It is now possible to manufacture many kinds of gemstones in the laboratory, including sapphire, ruby, emerald and diamond. So what does this mean for the natural gemstone business? Why should a natural gemstone be preferred?

The idea of birthstones -- a gemstone assigned to each month of the year -- is thought to be an ancient one. But that is not really true. The birthstone concept as we know it actually dates approximately to 18th century Poland. And the modern list of birthstones was not defined until 1912.

When buying a colored gemstone always check the size as well as the weight. Colored gems vary in density and cut, and one cannot accurately predict the size of the stone from the carat weight, as one can with diamonds.

A Chelsea Filter is an inexpensive diagnostic tool that can be useful for identifying certain gemstones. But it is important to understand how the filter works so that you can also understand its limitations.

Blue is the rarest tourmaline color. A pure blue is very rare and most indicolite is a teal or blue-green.

Iolite is typically light to dark blue or violet blue in color, with excellent transparency and strong pleochroism.

This month we look at some of the colored gemstone jewelry from the Elizabeth Taylor collection that was recently auctioned at Christie's in New York.

This month we look at spessartite garnet from Nigeria, where fine material was discovered in 1999. Unfortunately the mine has now been worked out.

Tanzanite is most famous for its rich violet-blue color, but there are now a range of other colors being marketed as fancy color tanzanite. Some of these are quite rare and valuable and thus popular with collectors.

If you are looking for a fine pink gemstone in a very large size, kunzite may be just what you're looking for. While pink tourmaline can sometimes be found in large sizes, kunzite is common over 10 carats and specimens over 20 carats can often be found from specialized dealers. It's also a very affordable gem, even in large sizes.

We look forward to setting one of our fine gemstones in a unique jewelry setting, designed by you and executed by our expert goldsmiths in Thailand. If you love gemstones, it's an experience not to be missed.

Welcome to the new Just Color Newsletter! This month we're introducing a new monthly newsletter format, with more information about gemstones and the gem world.

This month's feature is on The Enduring Pleasures of Ceylon Sapphire. See our latest acquistions and all the news from the gems world.

This month's feature is on Cobaltocalcite, a rare reddish-purple calcite colored by traces of cobalt. We have cut some beautiful pieces with vivid color and unusual translucency. GIA wrote an article on our Cobaltocalcite in the Spring 2015 edition of Gems & Gemology.

Blue is the rarest tourmaline color, though a pure blue is extremely rare. A teal or blue-green color would be most typical.

Blue is the by far the most popular Zircon color and fine Blue Zircon has an electric color and more sparkle than any other blue stone in the gemstone world. The Zircon blues range from light to medium to medium-dark blue, sometimes with a slight greenish secondary hue.

Pink is one of the most popular hues in colored gemstones, and few other colors offer such a wide range of choice. For pink gems in larger sizes, Tourmaline displays the widest range of pinks of any gem variety. From the magenta of Rubellite to the multi-pinks of Bi-colors, the range of pinks in Tourmaline is astounding.

This month's feature is on Investing in Fine Gems. Also this month: notable gems from our collection; news from AJS and the gems world; and answers from our gem experts to customer questions.

Now you can view our website on your smartphone -- this month we introduce the mobile version of AJSgem.com. Browse fine gemstones wherever you happen to be.

High quality Peridot can be a spectacular gem, especially in larger sizes. But Peridot is notable not only for its beauty. It has some unusual properties that make it quite unique in the gems world.

Pink Sapphires are nearly as rare as rubies and are sought after by collectors, especially for special occasion jewelry like engagement and anniversary rings. One reason is that pink sapphire can have a similar look to the very expensive pink diamond, with excellent brilliance and sparkle. But pink sapphire is not only more affordable than pink diamond, it can also be found in larger sizes and with much better color saturation.

We now are pleased to offer a small number of very rare gem-quality Cobaltocalcite pieces to collectors. These include GIA reports and special Notable Letters.

If you are new to gemstones, or just curious about all the different varieties available, this photographic index shows the astonishing diversity and striking beauty to be found in the gemstone world.

In a very short time, Madagascar has become one of the most important producers of high quality sapphire.

A new find of neon pink-red spinel near Mahenge, Tanzania in 2007 produced the latest sensation in the world of rare gemstones.

Mali Garnet is a recently-discovered variety that is a hybrid of grossularite and andradite. It is a rare gem that is notable for its fire or dispersion.

This month our feature is on the marvels of Pink Tourmaline. Also: Notable Gems, Gem News from around the world, and our gem experts answer your questions.

This month we look at the amazing variety of fine tourmaline coming from Africa, especially Nigeria, Mozambique and Tanzania.

This month we look at the recent market for fine Spessartite Garnet. This gem became popular in the late 1990's with new discoveries in Africa, but the deposits were quickly worked out. We still have a good supply of the finest Spessartite from the original Nigerian deposit.

If you've been visiting our website recently, you may have noticed that we are offering a large group of Closeout Gems at some really terrific prices. Take advantage of this opportunity to buy AJS Quality Gems at bargain prices!

The rarest gem in the quartz family is a vivid blue or blue-green microcrystalline quartz known in the trade as Gem Silica. Sometime referred to as gem silica chrysocolla or chrysocolla chalcedony, it forms in copper-rich areas where the copper silicate known as chrysocolla combines with chalcedony quartz.

This month's feature is on the rare Imperial Topaz from Ouro Preto in Brazil. Also this month: notable gems from our collection; news from AJS and the gems world; and answers from our gem experts to customer questions.

This month we look at fine amethyst from the world's main 3 locations: Zambia, Uruguay and Brazil.

This month we feature Morganite, the rare pink-orange form of beryl, a mineral family that includes well-known gems such as emerald and aquamarine. Morganite is a good hard gem with a lovely pastel color that has become a popular jewelry stone.

It's a fact of life that fine gemstones are expensive and getting more expensive every year. But there are still fine gemstones in the market at very affordable prices, even under $300. You just need to know where to look and what to look for.

Recently some extraordinary blue Tourmaline has been discovered in Namibia in southern Africa. They include some pure blues, some teal blues and some wonderful blue-green gems that inspire color descriptions like mint, lagoon, vivid and vibrant. Over the years we have seen fine blue-green Tourmaline from Nigeria, Mozambique, Brazil and Afghanistan. But this Namibian material is among the most beautiful and vivid we've seen.

Moonstone display the unique property of adularescence -- a shimmering light that appears to emanate from below the surface of the gem

The rare pink color of beryl is known as Morganite, named after the American financier and philanthropist, JP Morgan.

Most natural gemstones are a single color -- red or blue or yellow or green, and so on. But there are some rare gems which display multiple colors in a single stone, and these are of particular interest to gem lovers and collectors.

The name ametrine is a combination of amethyst and citrine, the most well known forms of the mineral quartz. Ametrine combines the purple of amethyst and the golden yellow of citrine in the same gem.

Among the few gemstones that occur in a pure vivid green, chrome diopside is the most affordable. But since it is a slightly soft stone, it is not suitable for rings worn everyday.

The term Padparadscha refers to a rare orangey-pink or pinkish-orange color of sapphire.

Natural ruby is the rarest and most valuable of colored gems. Burma is the traditional source for fine ruby, but new material is mainly coming from Madagascar, Tanzania and Mozambique.

The North American continent -- including Canada, the USA and Mexico -- is rich in minerals, including gemstones such as diamond, tourmaline, sunstone and gem silica.

This month we offer our gift ideas for the holiday season. Also: Notable Gems, Gem News from around the world, and our gem experts answer your questions.

This month we look at Diaspore, a rare color change gem from Turkey. Diaspore displays a subtle color change from a kiwi-like green in daylight to a champagne color in incandescent light, and a light purplish-pink under low intensity lighting such as candelight.

Green is the most typical color in tourmaline but there are some shades of green tourmaline which are quite uncommon and valuable. These include a a saturated chrome green, unusual bi-colors, rare teal or blue-green, and an intense neon green.

A pure pink is the rarest and most valuable color in Morganite. We have just cut a number of beautiful pinks from some exceptional rough material from Brazil, in sizes ranging from 2.5 to 16 carats. These are mainly ovals and cushions, perfect for rings or pendants.

Fine natural Amethyst is a very affordable gem that doesn't compromise on hardness or quality. We have just acquired a new stock of top grade Amethyst from Brazil, in sizes perfect for rings and earrings.

This month we report on the September Hong Kong Gem Fair. Also this month: Notable Gems, Gem news from around the world and our gem experts answer your questions.

This month's feature is on Oregon Sunstone, the finest sunstone in the world. The finest specimens occur in vivid orange or red, with fine-grained copper inclusions that display a glitter or schiller.

The most valuable citrines are the natural gems in the saturated colors, known in the trade as Madeira Citrine. The name derives a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands. The color of Madeira ranges from golden to golden-orange to reddish-brown to brown.

This month's newsletter is all about Ruby, the Queen of Colored Gems. We feature fine Rubies from our collection, including some special jewelry pieces that we've designed for some of our best Rubies

We have just acquired some fabulous Pink Morganites from Madagascar, the finest we've seen in our many years trading in fine beryls.

Most gemstones are minerals, but some are not. Learn about the fascinating organic and non-crystalline gemstones.

Natural pink sapphire is a rare gemstone that is popular for fine jewelry and sought after by gem collectors.

For lovers of pink gems, there is no gemstone variety which provides as many choices as pink tourmaline.

One of the most familiar distinctions in the gems world is that between precious and semi-precious gems. But while you'll often hear these terms, they are now officially discouraged in the gemstone business.

Prices for colored gemstones can confuse even experienced buyers. Learn how gem dealers price their gems for the market. The price you pay for a gem should be a function of quality and rarity of the stone you are buying.

Pukhraj is the Hindi name for yellow sapphire. Yellow sapphire has a special significance in Vedic astrology, where there are 9 gems thought to correspond to the 9 planets: ruby, pearl, coral, emerald, yellow sapphire, diamond, blue sapphire, chrysoberyl cat's eye, and hessonite garnet. Yellow sapphire is associated with Guru or Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system.

Cobaltocalcite is a rare calcite colored by traces of cobalt. Especially fine material has a vivid reddish-purple color and excellent translucency.

Rare gemstones tend to appreciate in value over time. With limited supply and increasing demand, we have entered a period of rapidly rising prices for the best colored stones.

Jeremejevite is a rare aluminum borate mineral that sometimes occurs in a gem-quality clear crystal form. It is generally classified as one of the rarest gemstones in the world, along with such rare stones as painite, taaffeite and poudrettaite.

Colorless garnet is known as leuco garnet. It is very rare, and high quality specimens are prized by gem collectors.

It is a rare event in the gemstone world when a new gemstone variety is discovered. One of the most recent discoveries is an intriguing and beautiful mineral known as Pezzottaite, first discovered in Madagascar around 2002.

Serendibite is a rare borosilicate mineral that is very rare in gem quality. A recent find in Mogok, Burma has made this rare stone available to collectors.

Williamsite is a rare translucent to transparent member of the serpentine group and is valued for its jade-like color.

Rhodolite is the finest of the red garnets, with a color that ranges from rose to raspberry, without a trace of the brown secondary hue found in the common garnets.

Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate, usually red or pink in color. The finest examples come from the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado.

We specialize in the finest cut and polished gems, and occasionally offer high quality rough stone, mineral samples and gem carvings as well.

The rarest and most valuable demantoid garnet comes from Russia. It displays unique horsetail inclusions not found in gems from other locations.

Sapphire and ruby are the most popular colored stones for special occasion jewelry, due to their vivid color, rarity and excellent hardness.

This month our feature article takes an inside look at the colored gemstone business. Learn why it's so difficult (and expensive) to buy finer colored stones from retail jewelers.

This month's feature is on the U.S. ban on Burma ruby and jadeite. See our latest acquistions, read all the news from the gems world and get answers to your questions from our gem experts.

This month we feature some of the rarest natural pearls in the world -- the Melo Pearls from Burma. These beautiful large pearls occur in a vivid orange color with a porcelain luster. Particularly fine specimens display a delicate flame-like structure.

A pure saturated blue is one of the rarest and most treasured colors in the gemstone world. This month we look at some of the finest blue gems.

The finest Aquamarines come from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil. They are famed for their unusually deep blue saturation.

Many gemstone buyers associate Garnet with the deep red stones that were popular in European jewelry in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, there are some rare Garnet varieties that are much sought after by gem dealers and collectors. These varieties include the chrome green Tsavorite Garnet, the mandarin orange Spessartite Garnet and the vivid Purple Garnet. If you think Garnet is rather common, these rare and special Garnets will change your mind.

The main sources for gem silica chrysocolla are the Inspiration and Ray Mines in Arizona and the Lily Mine in Peru.

Sphalerite is a collector's gem famed for its remarkable fire or dispersion. The finest sphalerite comes from the Aliva mine in northern Spain.

Spinel has long been a favorite of gem dealers, but in recent years it has become very popular with gem collectors and jewelry lovers as well. Learn about prices on fine natural spinel.

Natural gemstones that display a star -- a phenomenon known as asterism -- are rare and have long been valued by collectors. The most notable star gemstones are star sapphire and star ruby, though asterism can occasionally be found in other gem varieties as well.

Learn about this history of Tanzanite prices and value, and how top grade Tanzanite is priced in today's market.

Thailand is facing the worst flooding in more than 50 years. Now the city of Bangkok waits anxiously for the flood waters to arrive ...

Fine gemstones are a reliable store of value that is compact, portable and private. Learn about the top 10 investments in colored gemstones.

See our large selection of high quality tourmaline in all the colors of the rainbow. Buy fine tourmaline from the gem experts at Just Color, Bangkok.

The term trillion or trilliant is used to describe a gemstone cut that is triangular in shape. Trillions can display impressive brilliance and sparkle.

Umbalite Garnet is a high quality rhodolite garnet from the Umba River region of Tanzania. The color is a bright pink-red or purplish-red.

The expression "natural sapphire" is used a good deal these days in the gem and jewelry business. But it is a term that can easily mislead or confuse consumers. So it is worth considering what it means for a sapphire to be natural, and why consumers are concerned about the sapphires in the market.

See the complete list of gemstones assigned to the different anniversary years.

Looking for a fine colorless gemstone, but don't want to buy a high price for a tiny diamond? There are a number of choices in fine white precious and semi-precious gemstones, including some lesser known gems. These include sapphire, zircon, topaz, rock crystal, goshenite, danburite and petalite.