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...