November Birthstones: Citrine and Topaz

Citrine is a  popular and affordable member of the Quartz group (which includes Amethyst). The name is a derivation of the French word, for the lemon yellow colour that natural Citrines exhibit. Today though most commercial Citrines are actually heat treated Amethysts and are more of a golden than lemon yellow colour. Depending on the source deposit the heat treatment can produce  colours from yellow to gold to orange brown and red shades of transparent quartz. The final result being dependent on the level of heat applied. In ancient times, Citrine was carried as a talisman against the venom of snakes and scorpions. Today they are known in some cultures as the merchant's stone and are associated with success and prosperity.

Citrine 10x10 Square, 4.83 carats

The causal element  that imbibes natural quartz with its lemon yellow colour is a trace amount of Iron (approximately 40ppm). Natural (untreated) citrines are mostly a  pale lemon yellow to golden yellow colour, but recent demand has meant that almost all of the commercially available stones are now heat treated Amethyst, which exhibit a reddish tint to the overall yellow to golden hue of the stones.
Purchasing Citrine

Colour
While natural Citrine is much preferred over the Citrine produced by heat-treating amethyst, it is often hard to source such material as much of the rough currently available, is pre treated at source before it enters the cutting process. Paler more lemon yellow colours are preferable over the darker red tinted treated stones. Although personal preference is always the most important guide.

Citrine 10x5 Marquise, 0.90 carats

Clarity
Citrine, like Amethyst is an abundant member of the quartz group, and as such only  transparent examples  with excellent clarity, should be considered for facetted stones. A lower transparency can be considered for en cabochon cut stones

Cut
Citrines come in a wide range of calibrated shapes and sizes, constrained to a certain extent by the level of colour banding or zoning present in the stone. Portuguese cuts have become popular in recent years due to the additional brilliance added by the extra facets, which allow for more highly zoned stones to appear as consistent colours.
Mineable Deposits

The most important deposits of natural citrine currently in production occur in Brazil and Madagascar. Other locations include Argentina, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Russia, Scotland, Spain and the United States.

Citrine - Common Treatments
Natural Citrine is untreated and will typically exhibit some colour zoning, which can be partially dissipated with moderate heating. Most commercially available Citrine in the market have been produced by heat-treating Amethyst. Brazilian Amethyst will turns a light yellow colour at 878oF/470oC, and then a dark yellow to red brown at 1022-1040oF/550-560oC.
Important & Famous Citrine

While the piece in question has long been lost in the sands of time, around 1300 B.C the bejeweled breastplate of Aaron, contained a Citrine representing one of the 12 tribes (Naphtali) of Israel  - Exodus 28:15-30


Citrine is the birthstone for November, sharing this position with Topaz

   
Topaz Facts

There is limited consensus on where the name Topaz originated. The most plausible is that it is named after an island in the Red Sea formerly names Topazos, although today know as Zebirget. The complication arose from a time when all yellow, brown and even green stones were collectively known as “Topaz”.
Topaz comes in many colours naturally, including clear, brown, yellow, orange, red, pink and blue. The most common colour is yellow with a red tint; the most valuable is pink to reddish. The colouring agents are iron and chromium.

Mystic Topaz

The fine golden-yellow variety, known as Imperial Topaz, is relatively scarce. Topaz colours are rarely vivid, and as such the vast majority of today's commercially available cut stones have been enhanced.
Pure Topaz is colourless and transparent; it is only with the inclusion of impurities (trace elements) in the crystal lattice that colour is imparted to the stone. The common colours are brown, yellow, golden, orange, red, pink and blue. The colouring agents are iron and chromium.

Blue topazWhile natural blue topaz is rare, pale blue, pale yellow and white stones are commonly treated to produce the popular blue colours sold as: Sky Blue, Swiss Blue and London Blue

White Topaz:This naturally occurring colourless variety of Topaz has enjoyed tremendous interest in the past five years. As a natural, semi precious alternative to Diamond or White Sapphire, this stone is a cost effective alternative in everyday jewellery where a white stones is required

Mystic  Topaz:Displaying a kaleidoscope of iridescent colours, Mystic Topaz (also known as Mystic Fire Topaz), was first launched to the public in 1997. The popularity of Mystic Topaz increased dramatically when it was exhibited at the Tucson Gem Show in 2003.
Mystic Topaz is produced using a metallic vapor deposition coating process. This coating is applied to typically only the top (crown) of a facetted white Topaz. The treatment while hard wearing is only 1 micron or so thick, and can become abraded or even removed following polishing of the stone (when jewellery is cleaned), or from everyday wear and tear that will impart micro scratches to the stone surface, effectively cutting through the coating. The stones iridescent appearance changes depending on the light source and the viewing angle, adding to the fire effect of the treatment.

Pink Topaz

In addition to the iridescent fire colours, brilliant shade or blue, green and orange among others are also currently  being produced and marketed.

Imperial topaz
This the most sought after of all natural Topaz. Its rich golden colour is generally not enhanced by any kind of treatment.

Pink topaz
Natural pink Topaz is very rare and costly. The vast majority of pink topazes are heat-treated yellow stones that turn pink. Pink Topaz is also being produced in large quantities using a similar vapour depositing process as Mystic Topaz, this to satisfy the current worldwide demand for pink coloured stones.
 
Purchasing Topaz
Topaz is a very hard gemstone (8 on the Moh's scale) with a high refractive index thus making it ideal as an everyday gemstone.
 
ColourFor totally natural stones  the golden-yellow variety, known as Imperial Topaz,  yellow with a red tint or the most valuable pink to reddish stones are popular albeit at a price premium due to their scarcity. Without doubt the most popular colour is Blue topaz, followed by Pink and then the Mystic colours (all being enhanced stones)

Lighting

White Topaz

Topaz is a pleochroic stone, exhibiting different colour when viewed along different axis. No discernable difference is seen between natural and artificial light sources for viewing the stone.

Clarity
Topaz is a Type 1 clarity gemstone and as such only eye clean examples should be considered for purchase.

Cut
Topazes are generally  cut in the simple step cuts, although any cut can be encompassed. The cutting style for weakly coloured stones tends to be the round brilliant cut, which imparts more colour to the stone, or any of the cuts where additional facets have been added to enhance the lustre.

Topaz – Common Treatments
The most common treatments for natural rough Topaz  (colourless or very lightly tinted), is either neutron irradiation or  linear acceleration. which are use to create the Blue Topaz commonly available in most jewellers nationwide. Neutron irradiation  followed by stabilisation with heat is use to produce the Swiss Blue Colours (Baby Swiss, Light Swiss, Swiss, Top Swiss) through the strong blue colours (Korean Blue & Maxi Blue) to the dark London Blue Topaz (blue with a green/grey overtone) . The depth of colour in neutron irradiation is a function of  the length of time the rough material is exposed to the isotope Cesium 137. As reactor time is expensive so the darker colours  are sold at a premium over their light  counterparts. The perennially popular Sky Blue Topaz is enhanced using LINAC (linear acceleration) a less expensive enhancement method result in an Aquamarine coloured stone .
In  1997, a new type of enhanced Topaz made its appearance, the surface-enhanced Topaz, with colours described as blue to greenish-blue or emerald green.

The vast majority of pink Topazes are either heat-treated yellow stones that turn pink, or are the result of  a metallic vapor deposition coating process.

Displaying a kaleidoscope of iridescent colours, Mystic Topaz (also known as Mystic Fire Topaz), was first launched to the public in 1997. The popularity of Mystic Topaz increased dramatically when it was exhibited at the Tucson Gem Show in 2003. Mystic Topaz is produced using a metallic vapor deposition coating process. This coating is applied to typically only the top (crown) of a facetted white Topaz. The treatment while hard wearing is only 1 micron or so thick and can become abraded or even removed following polishing of the stone (when jewellery is cleaned), or from everyday wear and tear that will impart micro scratches to the stone surface effectively cutting through the coating. The stones iridescent appearance changes depending on the light source and the viewing angle, adding to the fire effect of the treatment.

4 Tips on How to do Color-Blocking Right | Ice Jewelry Blog

You must have seen this trend everywhere – colour-blocking! The stars are all showing up on the red carpet in multi-coloured outfits. Nail’s have also been hit with this trend and of course we picked up on this look for jewellery too.

What is colour-blocking? Basically pairing 2-3 blocks of colours in in your jewellery.

Here’s a few tips on how to perfect the colour-blocking look.

1. Stick with two colours. You have a few different options on how to choose the right 2 colours. For the daring individual that isn’t shy to stand out I would recommend going with two contrasting colours. Opposites attract after all. Bold primary colours look great with this look. For a more subdued look pair like-colours such as purple/blue or pink/red to compliment each other. But test it for yourself and try on different colours to see how they look together. Also don’t forget to choose colours that flatter your skin-tone. (You can do 3-4 colours but not more than that)

2. The colours you use need to be solid colours without any prints or designs to be a true colour-blocking look. Keep clothing simple when wearing colour-blocking jewellery.


3. Colour-blocking is an attention-grabbing look that isn’t right for everyone but if you want to still incorporate this trend into your wardrobe try some of these jewellery looks. There’s a wide variety of colourful contrasting or matching gemstones and Amethyst works particularly well with most colours.

Blue topaz and amethyst
Amethyst and citrine
Green amethyst and purple amethyst
Green, yellow and orange Sapphire
Peridot and blue topaz
Peridot and amethyst
Citrine and Onyx

September Birthstone: Sapphire

Sapphires have an esteemed history. Tradition holds that the tablets containing the Ten Commandments were composed of sapphire, so strong that a hammer swung against them would be smashed to pieces. The ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflection coloured the sky. Many other cultures have believed that sapphires imparted healing and calming properties

Sapphires have been worn by royalty throughout the ages as a symbol of good fortune, virtue, wisdom and holiness. Princess Diana, Princess Anne and now Princess Katherine all received sapphire engagement rings and the British Crown Jewels are full of large blue sapphires, the symbol of pure and wise rulers.

Sapphire is the birthstone of September. Since sapphire symbolizes sincerity and faithfulness, it is an excellent choice for an engagement ring. It is also the traditional wedding anniversary gift for a couple's 5th and 45th year.

While we traditionally think of Sapphires as being only blue stones, they actually come in all colours from black to white.  Corundum is second only to Diamond in terms of its physical hardness, (although exhibiting only  1/140th of the hardness of Diamond), this hardness (9 on the Moh's scale) in relation to all other gemstones has ensured Sapphires position with Ruby and Emerald  as one of the so-called "precious gems".

Sapphire is the birthstone for those whose birthday falls in September, and for those born under the star sign of the Taurus.

In Blue Sapphire the causal agent is trace amounts of Iron or Titanium, a  violet hue being caused by the presence of Vanadium. When the trace content of Iron is very low, yellow and green tones are produced. While the inclusion of Chromium in the lattice produces a pink colour in the stones. Blue is however the most famous and desired of the sapphire colours. The prized Kashmir and Burmese Sapphires have a deep intense almost velvety blue colour, and represent the pinnacle of colour perfection.

Padparadscha from the Singhalese word for  lotus flower, is a very rare sapphire which exhibits two colors simultaneously, pink and orange, and like Ruby and unlike all the other fancy coloured Sapphires has its own name. This being due to its rarity and value.

Purple is another rarer colour for Sapphire, being  found in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. In these deposits Iron and Titanium which normally produce the common blue colour, has under specific concentrations and conditions caused the purple hue of the stone.

Colourless or white Sapphires are rare as faint shades of colour (typically blue and pink) are nearly always present.

Many of the fancy coloured Sapphires are under microscopic examination merely combinations of banding in two distinct colours. Green for example is actually the result of closely space blue and yellow colour band within the stone.

Sapphire like their cousins Rubies are commonly heat treated to enhance their colour and to even out or totally remove "silk". While initially only stones of a lower quality were treated in this way, estimates coming for South East Asia indicate that heating is now carried out of about 95% of all rough material, as part  of an industry accepted enhancement technique. Heat treatment is used specifically to improve and even out the colour in Sapphires, and when done at a moderate heat will reduce the presence of needles. At higher temperatures needles, specifically of Rutile are completely removed by a process of melting and re absorption. These heat treatments enhancements  typically occur around temperatures of 500  - 1800 °C, in computer controlled electric furnaces. Some cutting houses still use the older process of low tube heat, when the stones are heated over charcoal at a temperature of about 1300 °C  for 20 to 30 minutes, a process know in the trade as "Chanthaburi cooking". The silk is only partially broken as the color is improved, imbibing the stone with a richer luster, and better colour.

Looking for a great Sapphire?  Go to our webiste and online shop:  www.touchstonegems.co.za

Peridot, the 'gem of the sun'

Peridot is the birthstone for those whose birthday falls in the month of August, and for those born under the star sign of  Libra

Shining with a bright green glow even at night, Peridot was called the “gem of the sun” by the ancient Egyptians and the “evening Emerald” by Romans. Peridot was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra.
Peridot is mentioned in the Bible along with other gems as part of the fabled Breastplates of the Jewish High Priest Aaron. The Crusaders brought Peridot to Central Europe in the Middle Ages,  where it is found in many medieval churches.

The largest cut Peridot  was found on the island Zabargad (St John) in the Red Sea, weighting 310ct. It currently resides in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.
In Russia there are several examples of  Peridots cut from crystals found in meteorites. One specifically  which came down in eastern Siberia in 1749.

Peridot 8x8 Square, 3.24 carats

Now only:
R 834.90

Peridot while an enticing colour is not especially hard - 6.5-7 on the Moh's scale, so care should be taken in the design of jewellery it is intended for.
Colour
Intense, deep saturated green shade are the most popular colour at present. while pastel tones have from time to time been popular as fashions dictates. The best colored examples contain in addition to iron, trace amounts of  chromium which impart an almost Emerald appearance to the stones
Lighting
Peridot looks best in natural sunlight where the true beauty of the gems simple sparkles. In artificial light some of this intrinsic fire is lost.

Clarity
Peridot is a transparent commonly eye clean stone, and as such there is no reason to purchase an included example. Peridot cat's eye (Chatoyancy) and star peridot (Asterism showing a four rayed star) are known, but uncommon.
Cut
Simple table and step cuts are popular (octagons and rectangles). Sometimes Peridot gets a brilliant cut especially if the stone is somewhat paler than normal, and a more intense lustre is required.

Peridot 10.00mm Round, 4.74 carats

Now
R 2,196.15

For more Peridot and other gemstones, visit our website at www.touchstonegems.co.za

 

Fools Gold - Marcasite

We recently added some Marcasite to our gemstone inventory due to an increasing demand for cheaper gold alternatives in jewellery.  Silver handmade jewellery is also making a big fashion comeback with celebrities and the public alike commissioning custom jewellery for special events (Tour de France for example). 

Marcasite jewellery and Marcasite gemstones are actually made from Pyrite (Iron Pyrites) and are and have been since historical time incorrectly called Marcasite. While Marcasite is a mineral in its own right it is wholly unsuitable for jewellery due to its brittle nature. The name Pyrite is derived from the Greek word for fire, producing sparks in a similar manner to flint when knocked.  

Marcasite jewellery reached its high point in the Victoria era in sterling silver jewellery pieces and again in the hands of the Art Nouveau designers of the day. A resurgence in recent years in silver jewellery as a fashionable alternative to gold, has seemn Marcasite jump back on to the design radar.

Pyrite due to its similarity to gold is often called "Fools Gold" and is tin-white to pale golden yellow in colour.  It is 6-6.5 on the Mohs Scale of hardness, so only suitable for jewellery pieces where there is little or no chance of damage from everyday wear.

Marcasites were enormously popular in Victorian jewelry for the way in which they were able to capture the sparkle of candlelight.  Most Victorian jewellery consisted of a deep red Garnet or Ruby surrounded by Marcasites.

Marcasite gems or pyrite are steeped in lore and tradition. They are thought to be able to discharge negative energy, improve one’s communication abilities, and protect those who perform dangerous jobs. Such lore tends to be the result of pagan traditions.

Buy marcasite 'smalls' for delecate jewellery pieces from Touchstone Gems:  We have from 1.00mm round to 2.00mm round in stock, plus 1.50x1.50mm and 2.00x2.00mm squares in stock.

The 3 birthstones for June: Pearl, Moonstone and Alexandrite

In my blog, I normally give factual  information on gemstones, but I came across this interesting piece from a website called: Twisted Tree [http://www.twistedtree.org.uk/Crystals.htm] and decided I would concerntrate on the pagan beliefs for Moonstone.

Moonstone:

Moonstone is a very feminine stone.  It has been called the stone of the Goddess and rightly so as it is very beautiful in a very feminine way. A Moonstone is usually a lovely milky stone.  It has a cream background and radiates blue hues and a sort of mother of pearl effect, truly magical, truly female.

A moonstone as its name suggests can be used together with Moon energy.

When women have that time of the month holding a moonstone and asking for its healing energies to help seems to give relief.  Most women are in tune with the Moon whether they realise it or not and may bleed during a full moon and at this time the moonstone can be invaluable in helping with pain and uncomfortableness.

When a woman is giving birth the moonstone is helpful when held throughout giving out its gentle energy.  Of course this is a very private female time and this gentle stone is very unobtrusive.

A moonstone was given to a young girl entering womanhood in some Indian tribes as they knew the magic of the stone kingdom and passed on its wisdom to the young.

The medicine man of the tribe and the wise woman of the tribe would make a medicine bag for themselves which they carried round their neck or their waist.  These medicine bags contained special herbs, crystals, bits of tree and moss and many more magical things to aid them in their craft.  Many a rabbits foot would be included and we all know about that don't we.  In the wise woman's medicine bag there would most definitely be a piece of moonstone which was held in high esteem amongst the tribes as women's magic.

Moonstone is also a lovely present to give a new baby as it is also a stone of innocence.  Its energy is gentle and childlike but powerful.

If you are taking part in a Goddess meditation or visualisation it would be most helpful to be holding a moonstone to help you.  Also if you are working with the Moon whether it be a new Moon or a full Moon the moonstone will help and guide you if you ask.

Pearls

In keeping with change, I visited Australia in 2010 and found myself in Darwin, home to Paspaley Pearls.  For me, they rate as the best cultured pearls in the world and to quote " ....recognised as the source of the most beautiful and valuable pearls in the world.""

With a pristine oceanic environment and access to the world's most prolific pearl beds which host the world's largest and finest pearl oysters Paspaley has nurtured their partnership with nature and capitalised on the gift of these invaluable resources, developing their own unique technology and the world's greatest pearl production facilities.

Here are some images of their jewellery collections, you'll need to rob a bank to afford any of these pieces.

Touchstone Gems has pearl mabes, south sea and fresh water pearls for sale.  For the month of June, get 20% off all pearl mabes.

If you own a string of pearls or any jewellery containing pearls, they require special care.  Click here for more information on how to take care of your pearls.  Here are some tips:

• Only use cleaners labeled as safe for pearls.
  Never use an ultrasonic cleaner.
  Never steam-clean pearls.
  Never expose pearls to any detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda, or ammonia-based cleaners (like Windex).
  Never use toothbrushes, scouring pads or abrasive materials to clean pearls.
  Do not wear pearls when their string is wet. Wet strings stretch and attract dirt, which is hard to remove.
  Do not hang pearls to dry.
  Take your pearls off when applying cosmetics, hair spray, and perfume, or when showering or swimming.
  Avoid wearing pearls with rough fabrics like wool.
  Have your pearls restrung once a year if you wear them often.

Alexandrite

I only found out the other day that Alexandrite is one of the modern birthstones for June.  As birthstones are more about colour as opposed to the actual gemstone, the irridence of pearl and colour change characteristics of Alexandrite may be the reason why they are seen to be similar.

Discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains in 1830 on the birthday of Czar Alexander II. In honour of him attaining ruling age, this sort after gem was named - Alexandrite. Viewed by many in Russia as a good omen since the green and red colors represented the Russian Military. Alexandrite is thought to assist one in centering the self, reinforcing self-esteem, and to broaden ones ability to experience joy.

Alexandrite from the original discovery site in the Ural Mountains of Russia, is green by daylight and red by incandescent light. Other varieties of Alexandrite may be yellowish or pinkish in daylight and a raspberry red by incandescent light. The best or "ideal" color change would be fine emerald green to fine purplish red, but this is exceedingly rare, and accounts for  "ideal" Alexandrite having become one of the most expensive gems in the world.

Alexandrite is both a natural light stone and artificial light gemstone. In natural light the rich emerald green colour is senn and in artificial light the purplish red.
 
Touchstone has no natural Alexandrite for sale.  We sell laboratory-grown Alexandrite only.  These gemstones are identical in composition to their natural counterparts in every way; the only difference is that they are created in a laboratory. These synthetic gemstones are often labeled as “laboratory grown” or “laboratory created”, words which are more acceptable to a buyer than “synthetic”.  As synthetic gemstones can be made at any time, they are not rare and prices and quality do differ due to the different manufacturing methods.

Green Gemstones

Real Emerald

I am born in May, so my birthstone is emerald.  Personally, I dont like them - there are a few green gems out there that emeralds wish they looked like.  In fact, the only emeralds I love are hydrothermal emeralds - these are laboratory grown gems that imitate the natural stone in everyway... they are 'perfect' in colour, clarity etc. as they come straight out of a lab and not mother earth, who tends to throw in a bit of this and that which ultimately causes inclusions, dullness.....etc.

Hydrothermal Emeralds

My favourite green gemstone is Tsavorite. Tsavorite is another relative debutante on the worlds gem scene, having only been discovery in 1967 in northeast Tanzania. A beautiful green grossular Garnet, enjoyed relative obscurity from the gems buyers  of the world until a nationwide marketing campaign undertaken by Tiffany & Co in 1974, raised the public's awareness, and put this gorgeous gem firmly on the map.
The then chairman of Tiffany & Co, coined the name Tsavorite in honour or the Tsavo National Park, in Kenya. Where in 1971, although not the first deposit to have been found, was the deposit that provided access to the world for this gem.

They are hard (7 to 7.5 on the Mohs' scale), practical, everyday gemstones, being durable and resistant to  wear and tear, and relatively easy  to work with in jewellery manufacturing.  Tsavorite being a  Garnet is the birthstone for month of January, and those born under the star signs of Capricorn and Aquarius

6x6 Cushion Cut Tsavorite - Kenya - www.touchstonegems.co.za

Green Agate used to be a popular 'cheap' alternative to emerald in the late 1990's.  Our sales have declined and customers are choosing green crystal instead.  I still think that a green agate is a great and affordable option in jewellery and one that jewellers always forget about.  They look fabulous in cabochon cuts too.

Mint Green Amethyst

Did you know that you get green Amethyst?  Green amethyst is a stunning light mint green colour and a firm favourite of mine.  I have a beautiful white gold and green amethyst ring

Amethyst apparently gets its colour from a so called "colour center" defect inside the quartz matrix, and when heated to around 400 degrees C, this defect is removed and the result is a yellow citrine or greened amethyst. So, the term greened amethyst is more appropriate to describe the very process of creation - either artificial or natural; the crystal was purple at the beginning, and then it was turned into green colour.

Take a look at some other facinating and often forgotten gems on our website...www.touchstonegems.co.za. 
All green gemstones are less 25% for the month of May!!

Bloodstone

Eilat Stone

Green Crystal

Green Tourmaline

Mystic Topaz

Perido

In ending... 
Who first beholds the light of day,
In spring's sweet, flower month of May,
And wears an emerald all her life,
Shall be a loved and a loving wife...

Emerald is May's Birthstone...Here is everything you need to know about them and more....

Emerald is the most precious member of the Beryl group. The name Emerald is derived from the Greek "smaragdos", which in turn came from the Persian, then via the Old French "esmeralde" to its modern form, and literally  means 'green gemstone.' Its green to many is incomparable, and is therefore call "emerald green", a phrase in common use both inside and outside the mineralogy world.

Emerald is classified as one of the traditional four precious gemstones along with Ruby, Sapphire, and Diamond, is the birthstone for May and in many cultures is used to commemorating the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

8x6 Octagon - Zambian Origin for sale on www.touchstonegems.co.za

 

Emerald - What Causes the Colour

The causal element in Emerald's that produces its distinctive  green colour is trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium.

Only the finest of Emeralds are transparent, with almost all natural emeralds containing some characteristic inclusions, know as a "Jardin" (garden). These inclusions can be liquid or gas bubbles, healing cracks and foreign crystals captured in the emeralds lattice. It should be noted that these are not necessarily classified as faults, but are evidence of the genuineness of the stone.  For that reason Emeralds are generally more fragile than other Beryl’s and must be handled with more care. With Emerald, even more than other coloured gems, it is the colour of the stone which is the chief determinant of value, followed by clarity, carat weight and cut.

While the colour of Emeralds is extremely variable (the phrase "100 different Emeralds, 100 different colours, holds  significant truth), they are, by definition Emerald Green. That is to say  a medium or darker green to blue green Beryl, in which the green colour is derived from trace quantities of chromium, vanadium, or a combination of both. The most popular and valuable colour is a slightly bluish green in a medium dark tone with strong to vivid saturation, epitomised by the Zimbabwean deposit of  Sandawana. The term "Colombian" Emerald is often used to describe vivid, slightly bluish / yellowish green stones of medium, to medium dark colour, no matter what their actual geographic origin. Emeralds of lighter colour are sometimes called "Brazillian or South American" Emerald, even if they were mined in Africa.

Lighting

Emerald is another classic daylight stone. Artificial light while making the green colour appear richer will expose inclusions and fractures, and thereby reduce a stones natural beauty

Clarity

Clarity while important in all gemstones is of secondary concern behind colour in Emeralds. Unlike other members of the Beryl family, Emeralds commonly contain inclusions and other flaws. These flaws are not looked on as negative aspects, like they would be for other gemstones. Indeed, these flaws are considered part of the character of the stone and are used to assure the purchaser of a natural stone. In fact the determinative identification in a top quality eye clean Sandawana Emerald is the presence of minute Rutile needles. Without these many collectors and jewellers, will not accept the stone as being from this source locality.

Cut

The subtle beauty of this unique gem, lends itself to the simplest of cuts. A rectangular or square cut with  oblique corners forming an octagonal shape, with simple step  facets has been the preferred cut of choice for Emeralds for hundreds of years. This cut know today as simply the emerald cut is one of the oldest in existance.  The emerald cut has two distinctive benefits which enhance the beauty and longevity of the stone. The simple step facets allow the natural colour of the stone to dominate; the absence of multiple additional facets reduces the brilliance of the cut and enhances the saturation and hue of the stones. The clean design of this cut greatly reduces mechanical strain than can be applied to the stone during the cutting process, this to a certain extent ensures that inclusions which are often inherent lines of weakness in the stone do not manifest themselves as fractures, when the stone is set

Emeralds are however also cut in many other of the mainly classical (simpler) shapes, if the rough material is deemed to be of gem grade. Less transparent material  containing a large number of inclusions, is often cut into a gently rounded en-cabochon cut (cabochon), or even into beads.

Mineable Deposits

Emeralds are formed by the crystallization of rising magma and metamorphism, deposits are therefore mainly found in or proximal to pegmatitic veins. Mining of Emerald  is almost exclusively from the host rock, where the crystals have grown in either small veins or on the walls of cavities.

Colombia is one of the worlds major  centers of mining Emerald, with excavations going back to the time of the Incas. The Muzo mine, northwest of Bogota, produces fine-quality stones of a deep green colour, from the softer black carbonaceous limestone host rock. This mine is believed to have produced many of the most prized Inca Emeralds.

The Chivor mine, northeast of Bogotá and a secondary deposit nearby (Gachala) are other important Colombian deposits still in production today, and yielding significant gem quality stock from a limestone and shale host rock.

Brazil has various lower grade deposits at Bahia, Goias and Minas Gerais. These are of minor economic importance, with the  stones being lighter than the Colombian ones, and mostly yellow-green. They are however often free from any inclusions.

In the late 1950's Emeralds were discovered in southern Zimbabwe (Rhodesia), the most significant deposits to date are  the Sandawana and Belingwa mines, which produce small high quality Emeralds with a most intense blue green colour from a black hornblende shale.

Numerous other deposit are found worldwide in such localities as South Africa, Zambia, Afghanistan, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Australia, North Africa and Northern Europe, to name a few. In all cases these deposits are characterised by pegmatitic volcanism.

Emerald Common Treatments

The oiling of Emeralds has become common practice as the last stage in the polishing process, being most effective in those stones that have inclusions or fractures that reach the surface. This oiling process refers to the practice of immersing emeralds in a colourless high viscosity oil or resin. Often this is done using a partial vacuum  to assist penetration. Non-standard treatments go beyond this to using green coloured oils and hardened, epoxy-like resins (Opticon).

10x8 Oval Emerald from Zambia - www.touchstonegems.co.za

These treatments dramatically improve the appearance of the gems in the short term, but necessitate special care in cleaning and setting, and a reapplication of the process to ensure its longevity. Steam cleaners, solvents and ultrasonic baths can remove the oils, making inclusions that had barely been visible stand out in sharp relief. This "damage" is only temporary, since emeralds can be re-oiled , either in or out of their settings.

Over time many cultures and civilizations have held Emerald to be an important gemstone The Incas and Aztecs of South America, regarded the Emerald as a holy gemstone. The  Egyptian pharaohs believed that Emerald would ensure eternal youth in the afterlife; hence many mummies were adorned with the stone. The Vedas, the holy scriptures of the Indians, makes mention of  the precious green gem and its  healing properties: 'Emeralds promise good luck...' and 'The emerald enhances the well-being...'.

Emerald is the birthstone for those who are born in May, and in many cultures  is the gemstone for commemorating the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

Touchstone Gems has a large variety of Emeralds for sale.  Simply click on the following link to view our extensive range which are all less 25% for the month of May.

http://www.touchstonegems.co.za/c20/Emerald.aspx

April Birthstone: Diamond

Diamonds are traditionally linked to love, and both endure forever
because of diamond's eternal strength. The name diamond is derived
from the Greek adamas, which means invincible. Traditionally diamond is accepted as the 10th and 60th wedding anniversary presentations.

Diamonds are as popular as ever, and as it is the April birthstone, if you are considering buying one, here are some important facts you should know before whipping out the credit card:



The 4 C's:  Because diamonds (and other gemstones) are so valuable, it is important to have a universal grading system to compare the quality of each stone.

Carat:  One carat is equal to 0.2 grams.  Diamonds plus all other gemstones are weighed in carats.  1 Carat is 100 pts, so a half carat diamond is 50 points.

Colour: Diamonds with less colour have a higher value, the more colourless a diamond is, the more valuable it is. The colour scale starts at D which is colourless and goes all the way to Z.  Coloured diamonds are currently very popular with black, pink and yellow diamonds seen at all the major fashion and celebrity awards in 2010 and 2011.

Cut: There is traditionally 58 facets in a round brilliant cut diamond.  You can buy other fancy shapes like oval, pear, square, marquise, baguette, octagon etc.  The distance from the bottom of the girdle to the culet is the pavilion depth. A pavilion depth that’s too shallow or too deep will allow light to escape through the sides or the bottom of the stone. A well-cut diamond will direct more light through the crown.

Clarity: Because diamonds and other gemstones are made deep within the earth under extreme heat, they often contain flaws or inclusions which are similar to 'birthmarks' and which are unique to each gemstone.  The clarity grading scale ranges from flawless (FL) to diamonds with obvious  inclusions (I3).  Most inclusions are not visible to the naked eye and in many instances add character to the gemstone.

If diamonds are just too expensive, there are a lot of other white/clear gemstones which can make great alternatives:

White Topaz

This naturally occurring colourless variety of Topaz has enjoyed tremendous interest in the past five years. As a natural, semi precious alternative to Diamond or White Sapphire, this stone is a cost effective alternative in everyday jewellery where a white stone is required.

Cubic Zirconia

Cubic Zirconia is a diamond simulant,  rather than being a synthetic diamond. The latter are real diamonds (though produced in a laboratory rather than naturally occurring, by such companies as General Electric and Mitsubishi). A simulant, simply put is a natural or in the case of Cubic Zirconia a synthetic material that can imitate a natural diamond.

White Sapphire

White sapphire is the purest form of sapphire being composed of only AL2O3 (Alumium Oxide).  Sapphires are found in a multitude of colours resulting from the minute inclusions of the crystal lattice. While sapphire is easy to manufacture in sterile laborary conditions, the earth's crust has a habit of adding something in the vast majority of sapphire deposits resulting in displays of colour.  This more than any other factor affects both the prices and scarcity of white natural sapphire.

Our Easter Promotion during the month of April is  20% off all cabochon gemstones on our website. 

Happy gem hunting

March Birthstone: Aquamarine & Bloodstone

Aquamarine has lovely attributes of good health, love, youthfulness, and hope. Sailors believe in its protection. Generally chosen as a 19th anniversary gift, this stone is in the beryl family, the same as emerald. Bloodstone is the astrological alternative.

AQUAMARINE

Aquamarine 14x14 Trillion, 8.24 carats

R 5,825.40

The name Aquamarine is derived from the Latin word for seawater. Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family, which includes Emerald and is known for its delicate blue or blue green colouring. Its association with the sea extends to being a good luck talisman for all seafarers. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March, and  is a popular gemstone having a bright vibrant luster, coupled with a good degree of hardness.

The causal colour agent or pigment in Aquamarine is iron, producing like seawater a vast array of subtle shades, from a deep blue to a green blue colour depending on its concentration. The more saturated or intense the colour, the higher the value, though almost all aquamarine has a light body tone, upon which the saturation is overlaid.
Purchasing Aquamarine

Aquamarine as mentioned is coloured by trace amounts of iron that find their way into the crystal lattice, the total concentration of this element is a determining factor in the intensity or saturation of the stone.  A highly saturated blue is the most desired colour. Lower qualities can however  be enhance by heating to reveal a richer or deeper colour.

Aquamarines of the best quality are eye clean, transparent gems. Some gems can feature  inclusions of long, hollow rods, a Beryl family trademark which can reflect light. Asterism a cat's eye or star effect can occur by the aligning of traces of foreign minerals within the stone. A  rare feature, this manifests itself in translucent examples of the stones as a six rayed star  in a vivid sheen. These rare examples of Aquamarine usually command premium prices.

While Aquamarines can be cut in almost any shape desired, the favored cuts are the simple emerald (step) cut  with long or rectangular shapes and the round brilliant cut. Lower quality stones with a high level of translucency are typically cut en- cabochon.
Mineable Deposits

Most, but not all aquamarines are heat-treated to produce the popular blue-green colours from less desirable yellow or pale stones. Lower quality stones are typically heated to 725-850 degrees F (400-450 degrees C) in order to change the colour in favor of the desired, permanent Aquamarine blue.
Important & Famous Aquamarine

While there have been huge finds of Aquamarine with weights of several tons or more, these have always been of non gem quality material  due to the weak, gray or opaque colour of the deposits. The largest single  find of cuttable quality Aquamarine was made in 1910 in Minas Gerais (Brazil). The stone in question was 243 lb (110.5 kg), 18 inch (48.5 cm) long and 15.5 inch in diameter and  was eventually cut into numerous gems of a total weight of more than 100,000 ct.

According to the maritime legend,  Aquamarine originated in the treasure chest of  mermaids, and since ancient times has as such been regarded as the sailors' lucky stone. Aquamarine is the birthstone for those born in March.

   

BLOODSTONE

Bloodstone 14x7.5mm Cushion Cabochon, 1.089 carats

R 17.67

This opaque dark green Chalcedony is also known as Heliotrope from the Greek word for sun turner. During the middle ages magical powers were ascribed to this interesting gemstone, stemming from the myth that the red spots were drops of the Blood of Christ.

Bloodstone was the original birthstone  for March, but since 1912, has been replaced by Aquamarine. However,  it is still regarded as the astrological gem for Aries.

The green color forming the body of Bloodstone is due to the presence of particles of Chlorite or included hornblende needles in a quartz matrix. The red spots are caused by iron oxide, and not by Red Jasper, as is commonly though. The color is somewhat variable and some specimens of Bloodstone  have very little or no red spots

The classic colour for Bloodstone is Green Chalcedony with red spots of Iron Oxide.  Bloodstone is a daylight stone; under artificial light the subtle flashed of red are not  well displayed.  Although this stone is always opaque it is however commonly cut in many facetted shapes such as rounds and pears, in addition to the expected en cabochon cut.

There are no know treatments for Bloodstone.  There are many myths and legend surrounding Bloodstone. One myths tells that the red spots were drops of the Blood of Christ. In the Middle Ages many believed it was able to stop hemorrhages by merely touching the stone to the effected part. It was also believed to be able to improved circulation.

Top clichéd ways to propose marriage

In the event that you have beaches that are close by you could take her there right before sunset. Enjoy a nice ride with easy going music in the car. When the sun sets take out the ring and propose.

Plan an extensive treasure hunt. You can start the hunt out by giving your soon to be partner in marriage the first clue. Be sure not to make the clues easy and not to difficult. When your partner comes to the last place be there waiting holding the ring out in your hand ready to propose.

Go out on a boat ride. Take her somewhere and then fake the boat being stuck after "much struggling" finally say something along the lines of "without you in my life I would feel like I was stranded on an island that no ship ever came to pass" {bride to be name here}, will you marry me.

Get down on one knee and asking your girl to marry you. Although repetitive it does tend to work almost every time
Layout some rose petals and or other flowers on your front lawn spelling about "Will You Marry Me". Trust me; your lover is going to absolutely love this.

Take your lover to a special place where you can easily shout and hear your echo without disturbance. Start off with something like "I Love you", let her answer and then when she's done stand behind her and shout as loud as you can "Will You Marry Me". When she turns around have the jewelry box open with you on one knee presenting her with your engagement ring. Follow the evening up with a spectacular dinner at a great restaurant.

Setup a nice dinner at her favourite restaurant and have it accompanied by a violinist or pianist and as you order desert have the waiter bring out a dish with the wedding ring on it. Make sure the box is open for you to take the ring and has rose petals surrounding it. Now all that's left is to "pop the question".

Have a plane spell your proposal in the air for you. Yes, those magic words "will you marry me"!
Go to where the two of you first met. When you go to the place where you first met her reminisce for a few moments and then take out the ring, get down on one knee, and ask her to marry you.

Create a memory book. Take a note book and make it like a diary of your time together. Towards the end cut out the center of enough pages to fit a ring in and as you turn to that page ask her to marry you.

We would love to hear your proposal or how you intend to propose.  The best story stands the chance of choosing any gemstone on our website to the value of R500.00 including shipping within South Africa.

To enter, just add your story to the comment section of this blog and dont forget to add your email address.  Otherwise, go to our facebook page and write on our wall.    The winner will be announced in the 1st week of March.

Part of this article was taken from:  http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amit_Avital

February's birthstone: Amethyst

Heart shaped amethysts are the perfect gift for Valentines day...

For more than 3000 years, Amethyst has been the most valuable member of the quartz group. From ancient Egyptian royalty, this transparent purple variety of quartz has enjoyed an historical importance as an insignia of power. Fine amethysts are to this day present in the Crown Jewels of many royal houses throughout Europe. It is therefore not surprising then that when Church and State were almost as one, Amethyst was also a favourite stone in the high ranks of the Christian church, and was often referred to as "the stone of bishops". The name appears to have been derived from the Greek word "amethystos" which translates into "not drunken." Amethyst was considered up until recent times to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were often carved from it and simple amethyst talismans we popular. The gemstone still symbolizes sobriety.

Amethyst is the birthstone for those who are born in February or for the Zodiac sign of Pisces.


Purchasing Amethyst
While fashions come and go the intense deep colours are still the most valuable, particularly a rich purple with rose / pink flashes. The "Siberian" deep purple with red and blue flash commands the highest prices, although rough of this variety is extremely hard to come by of late.  Dark African amethyst is very popular and sold on our website.

Amethyst 22x17 Cushion Chess Top, 33.44 carats
R 6,336.40



Lighting

Amethyst is a daylight stone; under artificial light the subtle flashed that infuse the stone with its fire are not well displayed. The true character of the stone is best viewed in the early morning or evening, when the light is soft and warm and the majesty of this regal gem are best displayed.

Green Amethyst 12x12 Cushion Checkerboard, 6.63carats
R 350.40



Clarity

A fine quality Amethyst is transparent, allowing the light to pass through the stone unhindered. Any translucency slightly weakens the passage of the light through the stone. The best quality Amethysts are "eye-clean", being free of visible inclusions of any kind. Since amethyst deposits are plentiful, there is little reason other than a price constraint to buy stones with visible inclusions.

Cut

Due to the presence of banding or zoning which delineates the distribution of colour in the crystals, Amethyst is often cut in round brilliants to maximize and even out colour. Other cuts such as the simple octagonal step cuts can be used when the colour is better distributed through out the stone. Amethyst is available in a wide range of calibrated sizes and shapes, including many fancy ones.

Amethyst 8x8 Square, 2.16 carats
R 157.68



Mineable Deposits

While the largest mineable deposits of today are in Brazil, namely the "Palmeira" Amethysts of Rio Grande do Sul and the "Maraba" Amethysts of Para. Other Amethyst deposits are found worldwide in such countries as Bolivia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka, United States (Arizona), Uruguay and Zambia. Each deposit from continent to continent to a certain extent had an almost distinctive colour fingerprint. Making for example, African stones a distinctively different colour to say South American stones.

Common Amethyst Treatments

Heat treatment of 878-1382 degrees F (470-750 degrees C) results in light yellow, golden yellow, red-brown, green or colourless varieties of Amethyst being produced.  All amethyst on our website are heat treated.

Important & famous Amethysts

While the piece in question has long been lost in the sands of time, around 1300 B.C the bejeweled breastplate of Aaron, contained an Amethyst representing one of the 12 tribes (Dan) of Israel - Exodus 28:15-30

January Birthstone: Garnet

Some confusion reigns over the origin of the word Garnet. The most commonly held view is that Garnet is derived from the Latin word "granatus" meaning "grain", this from its typically rounded seed shaped crystals that resemble those of a  pomegranate "Punica Granatum". It may however come from the middle English word  "gernet" meaning deep red. Regardless Garnets have been widely known for thousands of years, as both a valued jewellery item and an abrasive. There are six common species of Garnet exhibiting a range of colours including red, orange, yellow, green, purple, brown, black, pink and colourless. For many years it was believed that Garnet did not occur in any form of the colour blue, however  following a discovery in the late 1990s in Bekily, Madagascar, the rarest of Garnets now shares its place among its peers. In some instance a single stone can exhibit more than one colour depending on the ambient light source (colour change Garnets). The most common colour  is red.

Garnet 12x12 Cushion Checkerboard, 9.78 carats

R 1,672.73

Garnets are hard (7 to 7.5 on the Mohs' scale), practical, everyday gemstones, being durable and resistant to  wear and tear, and relatively easy  to work with in jewellery manufacturing.  The latter owing to their resistance to heat. Garnet is the birthstone for month of January, and those born under the star signs of Capricorn and Aquarius


Garnet - What Causes the Colour
The colour of Garnets is as much a function of their specific chemical composition as it is the addition of trace elements within their crystal lattice. Garnets are a large family  of gemstones, with six distinct members or species, their chemical composition ranges from Magnesium Aluminium Silicates, through Iron Aluminium Silicates to Manganese Aluminium Silicates. Calcium Aluminium silicates, Calcium Iron Silicates and Calcium Chrome Silicates make up the other three species, all contributing to the wide range of colour found within the family as a whole

The Major Varieties:
Pyrope - red garnet, frequently with brown tint, Almandine - red garnet with violet tint, Spessartite - orange to red-brown garnet. The best specimen comes from Namibia and is called "Mandarin or Holandine Garnet". Rhodolite - purplish red or rose-colour garnet; Tsavorite - green to emerald green garnet and Demantoid - one of  the most valuable garnet, green to emerald green.

Tsavorite 6x6 Cushion, 1.21 carats

R 9,074.85

Purchasing Garnet:
As with any stone personal preference as much as fashion dictate which colour will be popular from time to time. Traditionally an intensely saturated deep red was the most common colour  and fine examples of this come from Mozambique. In larger sizes this deep red can become a little to overpowering and the stones appear somewhat dull as light struggles to be transmitted. As the public awareness for Garnets varieties develops so the demand for different colours has increased and subsequently their prices. Of late Demantoid with its rich emerald green colour has become one of  today's most valuable garnets, possible only second to the rare blue Garnet from Madagascar. Since the late 1960's Tsavorite, with it beautiful emerald green colour has been attracting attention and large examples now fetch a premium on world markets.

Lighting:
Garnet is a stone that looks as good under natural light as it does under artificial light. The exceptions are the colour change Garnets. Several  varieties of colour change garnets exist, and in natural light, their colour ranges from shades of green, beige, brown, gray, and blue, but in artificial light, they appear a reddish or purplish/pink colour.

Clarity:
As a family Garnets are in general very clean gems, certainly in smaller sizes. Larger examples of Pyrope can have small inclusions visible to the naked eye, however these rarely detract from the overall appearance of the stone due to their intense colour, and should not be seen as a hurdle in the purchase thereof.  Andradites as a family can contain a distinctive horsetail type of inclusion, and Almandines are know is some rare example to exhibit Asterism. The presence of asbestos and asbestos type fibres result in 4 and occasionally 6 rayed stars being visible in cabochon cut stones. Inclusions while usually a detractor from  the value of a stone, when rare as in the case of Garnet astertism,  can considerably enhance the open market price.

Cut:
Garnets lend themselves to all type of cutting, and no modern or historical cut really takes preference as being better to bring out the stones full potential. Suffice to say that as with all gemstones rounds are the most common followed by ovals, squares, octagons and pears.

Deposits:
China, Madagascar, Myanmar, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, USA, Brazil, China, Kenya, Madagascar, Myanmar, Namibia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, USA, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Russia.

Rhodolite 10x8 Oval, 3.34 carats

R 433.83

Garnet - Common Treatments
Garnet is not known to be artificially enhanced in any way. Synthetic garnet in the form of YAG (Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) was a popular diamond simulant in the 1970's, before it was eclipsed by Cubic Zirconia. However this clear variety of synthetic garnet is unlikely to be confused with the natural stone.

Important & Famous Garnets
Garnet has been a popular gemstone for jewellery for thousands of years. In recent times at the auction of the Estate of the late Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis at Sotheby's on April 24, 1996, a Garnet cabochon flower brooch was sold for $145,000. In the same year a university student in Australia discovered what is believed to be the largest single garnet find ever. This giant rough is thought to weight thousands of tons and measures nearly a hundred feet across.

Garnet - The Legend
Garnets have been widely known for more than 3000 years,  from Egyptian, through Greek and Roman times, travelers wore Garnets for protection, as they were considered a popular talismans and protective stones, against evil.

During the month of January, we are offering a 20% discount on all Garnets, including Tsavorite.