Sapphire is the original “true blue”: the gem of fidelity and of the soul. In ancient times, a gift of a sapphire was a pledge of trust, honesty, purity, and loyalty. This tradition makes sapphire a popular choice for engagement rings.

But sapphire doesn’t have to be blue to be beautiful. Sapphire also comes in beautiful pinks, yellows, oranges, and peach and violet colors. These other colors are often referred to as fancy sapphire. In fact, sapphire comes in every color but red, because a red sapphire would be a ruby: both are the mineral corundum.

Sapphires are found in Kashmir, Burma, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Tanzania, Kenya, and the United States.

Sapphire with fine color is so desirable that producers take an extra step after mining and before cutting to make sure that a sapphire has the best hue possible. Most blue sapphires are heated almost to 2,000 degrees which can intensify the color. Sometimes dark sapphire can be lightened by heat but this process often doesn’t work. Fancy colored sapphires are also often heated to develop the best possible color. Some sapphires are heated to improve clarity as well as color. Heat enhancement is stable, routine, and does not require special care.

Sapphire has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and is also extremely tough. In its common form, it is even used as an abrasive. As a result, sapphires are the most durable of gems. Clean with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.

Peridot is a gemstone that forms deep inside the Earth and is brought to the surface by volcanoes.  In Hawaii, peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. 

Today, most of the peridot is mined, often by hand, by Native Americans on the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona.  Other noteable sources are China, Myanmar, and Pakistan.  This gemstone comes in several color variations ranging from yellowish green to brown, but most collectors are attracted to the bright lime greens and olive greens. 

Peridot, the birthstone for August, has a hardness of 6.5, which is harder than metal but softer than many gems. Store peridot jewelry with care to avoid scratches and protect from blows. Because peridot is sensitive to rapid changes in temperature, never have it steam cleaned and avoid ultrasonics. Clean with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.

Throughout most of recorded history, Ruby has been the world’s most valued gemstone.  Even diamond was considered common in comparison to the supreme beauty and value of this glowing red gem. 

Named from the Latin word for its hue, ruber, ruby is the epitome of the boldest of colors: the gem of desire, passion, courage, and emotion.

In the ancient language of Sanskrit, ruby is called ratnaraj, or “king of precious stones.”

In the Bible, only wisdom and virtuous women are “more precious than rubies.”   

Early in the eleventh century, Persian sage al-Biruni was only conveying the popular wisdom of the time when he wrote that ruby has “the first place in color, beauty and rank” among all gems.

Those born in July are lucky to have such a powerful gemstone as its birthstone.  Rubies are prized for their color, durability and rarity.  A member of the mineral family Corundum, which also includes sapphires, Ruby has a hardness of 9 second only to diamonds.  Ruby is also extremely tough. As a result, rubies are the most durable of gems. Clean with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.

PEARLS

Pearls have a timeless beauty unlike any other gemstone.  They are perfect with a T-shirt and jeans or a little black dress.  Today cultured pearls come in many beautiful colors, from palest cream and white to rose, lilac, green, gold, gray, and black. This new pearl diversity is thanks to new producing countries, new mollusks, and new demand from consumers who have made multicolor strands and new styles of pearl jewelry as popular as traditional strands of white pearls.

For the entire span of human history, mankind admired – even worshipped, pearls. In Persian mythology, they are called “the tears of the gods.” In some Muslim legends, the pearl is God’s first act of creation.  According to ancient Chinese legend, the moon holds the power to create pearls, instilling them with its celestial glow and mystery. The ancient Greeks thought pearls were dew from the moon collected by oysters that opened their shells as they floated on the sea at night.

Pearls are an organic gem, created when a mollusk like an oyster covers a foreign object with beautiful layers of nacre, the mother of pearl. Once occurring only by chance, today most pearls are cultured by man. A shell bead or mantle tissue is placed inside an oyster and the oyster is returned to the water. When the pearl is later harvested, the oyster has covered the bead or tissue with layers of nacre.

The quality of cultured pearls is judged by the orient, which is the soft iridescence caused by the refraction of light by the layers of nacre, and luster, the reflectivity and shine of the surface. Also look for any flaws or spots in the nacre: the best pearls have an even smooth texture. Other factors that affect value are the regularity of the shape, size, and color.

Cultured pearls and natural pearls can be distinguished from imitation pearls by a very simple test. Take a pearl and rub it gently against the edge of a tooth. Cultured and natural pearls will feel slightly rough, like fine sandpaper, because of the texture of natural nacre. Imitations will feel as smooth as glass because the surface is molded or painted on a smooth bead.

Because pearls are organic, they have a relatively low hardness of 2.5 to 3.5 and should be stored away from other jewelry to prevent scratching. Always put on perfume and sprays before you put on pearls, since chemicals may be absorbed into pearls, staining them. Wipe clean with a moist soft cloth.

MOONSTONE

Moonstone mesmerized the ancient Romans who theorized that moonstone, with its unearthly shimmer, was formed from frozen moonlight.

Moonstones come in a variety of colors. The body color can range from colorless to gray, brown, yellow, green, or pink. The clarity ranges from transparent to translucent. The best moonstone has a blue sheen, perfect clarity, and a colorless body color.

Fine moonstone is quite rare and becoming rarer. It is mined in Sri Lanka and Southern India. The rainbow variety can be found in India and Madagascar. Moonstones are usually cut in a smooth-domed oval cabochon shape to maximize the effect. Sometimes they are carved to show a man-in-the-moon face.

Moonstone has a hardness of 6 to 6.5. It should not be stored in contact with your other gemstones to prevent scratching. Clean with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.

Alexandrite is a gem variety of the mineral chrysoberyl discovered in 1830 in Czarist Russia. Since the old Russian imperial colors are red and green it was named after Czar Alexander II on the occasion of his coming of age.

How does the color change work? Most gems transmit and absorb light throughout the visible spectrum and we interpret the mixture of the transmitted wavelengths as the gem’s color. Alexandrite transmits light only in two discrete windows of the spectrum, in the blue-green and red regions. The rest of the spectrum is absorbed. When viewed under light sources active in those particular regions of transmission, you see one of the two colors. In daylight, or in artificial light that simulates it, like fluorescent light, light waves in the green region predominate. In candlelight, or artificial light that simulates it like incandescent or tungsten light, light waves in the red region predominate. The gem is displaying changes in the light, not changing itself.

Today, fine alexandrite is most often found in period jewelry since newly-mined gems are extremely rare. The original source in Russia’s Ural Mountains has long since closed after producing for only a few decades and only a few stones can be found on the market today. Material with a certificate of Russian origin is still particularly valued by the trade. Some alexandrite is found in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and Brazil but very little shows a dramatic color change. For many years, alexandrite was almost impossible to find because there was so little available.

Lab created Alexandrite is a nice alternative to the natural gem.  It shares all the same properties as a natural Alexandrite, but is grown in a laboratory instead of in nature.  The price of lab created Alexandrite is attractive to many shoppers.  Lab created Alexandrite rivals the finest natural stones for a fraction of the price.

When evaluating alexandrite, pay the most attention to the color change: the more dramatic and complete the shift from red to green, without the bleeding through of brown from one color to the next, the more rare and valuable the stone. The other important value factors are the attractiveness and intensity of the two colors, the clarity, and the cutting quality. Due to rarity, large sizes command very high premiums.

Alexandrite is one of the birthstones for June, along with Pearl and Moonstone.  Alexandrite has a hardness of 8.5 and is suitable for everyday wear.  Clean alexandrite with mild soap and water, scrubbing behind the stone to remove dust.

These three words capture the timeless appeal that Emeralds have had throughout the ages. Adored by Cleopatra, mummies in ancient Egypt were often buried with an emerald on their necks. Islamic texts describe the Garden of Paradise as carpeted with emeralds. And the Incas had an emerald goddess.

Emeralds are among the rarest of gems. Columbia is still the world’s largest and most famous emerald-producing country, but both Brazil and Zamibia have emerged as major sources, each producing emeralds with their own unique characteristics.

The rich green color of emerald is the color of spring and has long symbolized love and rebirth. As the gem of Venus, it is also thought to aid in fertility.

Emeralds are almost always found with birthmarks, known as inclusions. Some inclusions are expected and do not detract from the value of the stone as much as they can with other gemstones. Emeralds are commonly treated with natural, colorless oil to make the inclusions less visible, but beware of emeralds that have deep inclusions that could weaken the stone enough to break if it were hit accidentally. Also, find out if the emerald has been treated with resin or epoxy, which is often used to improve the color and durability of a gem.

Avoid cleaning emeralds with hot soapy water or steam and never clean an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner because the oil or resin could be removed or damaged, making inclusions more visible.

Emeralds are durable gemstones with a hardness of 7.5 to 8. However, emeralds with many inclusions should be treated with some care and be protected from blows.

Clean emerald with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.

 Most diamonds are more than 100 million years old, and many are over three billion years old, making diamonds the oldest of all gemstones. They are also the hardest substance known to man, made of carbon that is crystallized deep within the earth.

First discovered over 3,000 years ago in India, diamonds are found today in remote parts of the world, such as Australia, Russia, Botswana, and South Africa. Their unique hardness and high refractive index have inspired legends. To the Greeks, they were teardrops from the gods. To the Romans, they came from the falling stars that tipped the arrow of Eros, the god of love. For Hindus, diamonds were the lightning that armed the hand of the god Indra.

No longer should a woman wait for a man to buy her a diamond!  Buying a diamond can be very empowering for a woman.  Most consumers are well educated and have already done their homework when it comes to diamonds giving them the confidence they need when shopping for a diamond.  When purchasing diamonds, make sure you know the 4 C’s — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.  Above all, remember that cut is most important, since it is the cutting that releases the true brilliance of a stone.

When it comes to wearing diamonds, there’s no wrong way, nor is there one style or trend.  Choose from classic pieces like diamond studs or diamond solitaire necklaces, vintage inspired pieces with fine details and pave set diamonds, or contemporary looks that mix colors of gold for maximum versatility.

With something so precious, remember to rely on a well-established jeweler like Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts.  At Maertens, you’ll find a wide selection of merchandise and a staff who is qualified to determine a diamond’s value and quality.

Little wonder the Greeks named diamonds adamas….it means unconquerable.

When thinking of a gemstone that changes color, Alexandrite is what comes to mind.  It may come as a surprise that there is another gemstone that will rival Alexandrite for that “fine color change” that is so unique….and that gemstone is Garnet.

This Color Change Garnet is being mined in Kenya.  When evaluated for color alone, even an expert might think this was an Alexandrite.  Under incandescent light this Garnet will appear a fine purplish red color and under fluorescent light will appear a fine bluish green color.

The supply on this specific type of color change garnet is very limited, making it very attractive to any collector.  If you are interested in adding this one-of-a-kind gemstone to your collection, send us an email at hlmaertens@aol.com , subject: Color Change Garnet or give us a call at 410 - 394 – 3990.

Legends say that aquamarine is the treasure of mermaids and has the power to keep sailors safe at sea.

Aquamarine is usually a pastel blue color but the darker the color, the more valued it is.  Gem collectors prefer a pure blue with no green or gray in it.  However, many people prefer the greenish aquamarines which are available and generally less expensive.

Though found in a number of exotic places around the world such as Nigeria, Madagascar and Mozambique, most Aquamarine comes from Brazil.

Aquamarine is usually pale and transparent with few inclusions, often cut into ovals and emerald cuts.  Having a hardness of 7.5 to 8, Aquamarine is suitable for everyday wear.  Clean with mild soap, use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.

March babies have an alternative choice when it comes to birthstones, Bloodstone.  Treasured since ancient times, Bloodstone is a opaque dark green chalcedony dotted with bright red spots of iron oxide.

Also known as Heliotrope (Greek meaning sun turner) because the stones were described as reflecting the sun.  Even today, finely powdered bloodstone is used as a medicine in India.

Bloodstone is durable and easy to care for, Chalcedony has a hardness of 7 and is extremely tough making it resistant to damage.  Clean with mild soap and water.

Designers celebrate amethyst as an ideal gemstone for jewelry because of its royal color, variety of sizes and shapes, affordability, and wide tonal range, from pale lavender to dark purple. Amethyst is complements both warm and cool colors so it looks right set in both yellow and white metals. This chameleon quality means it complements almost every color in your wardrobe.

The legend of the origin of amethyst comes from Greek myth. Dionysus, the god of intoxication, was angered one day and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. The terrified girl asked to be spared the pain of the brutal claws so Diana turned her into a statue of pure crystalline quartz. At the sight, Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse. The god’s tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.

Since the middle ages, Bishop’s rings have been set with amethyst as a symbol of piety and celibacy. Leonardo da Vinci wrote that amethyst has the power to protect against evil thoughts and to sharpen the intelligence. Buddhists believe that amethyst enhances the peace and tranquility of meditation, making it the preferred choice for Tibetan rosaries even today.

Mined mainly in Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, and African countries like Zambia and Namibia, small amounts of amethyst are also found in Arizona at the Four Peaks mine near Phoenix.

Amethyst is the mineral quartz, with a hardness of 7. It’s durable and great for everyday wear. Clean with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect. Avoid exposure to high heat, which may cause its color to fade.