Posts Tagged ‘gemstones’
Sapphire is September’s Birthstone
September’s birthstone is the sapphire. There are also 12 different stones listed for the zodiac signs of Virgo and Libra which may also be considered as alternative September birthstones. When I hear “sapphire,” I think of the royal blue variety. Blue is the most popular color and the color (and depth of color) is…
Read MoreHealing Stones for Us and for Our Furry Friends
Healing Stones for Us and for Our Furry Friends – I love gemstones and crystals and I’m always interested in learning more ways to have beneficial stones around me to bolster me and also my environment. This interest has inspired me to work on designs for PetsAmulets – healing and protective stones for our furry friends.…
Read MoreI’m Trapped Inside!
Inclusions in Gemstones An inclusion is any material that has been trapped inside a gemstone during its formation. Inclusions can be animal (insects), vegetable (a leaf), or mineral (the needles in tiger eye). It should be noted that according to Walter Schumann’s “Gemstones of the World”, amber is the only incidence of organic…
Read MoreMy Favorite Gemstones Part 7 – Garnets
I’ve always loved garnets and I use them in many of my jewelry designs. Garnets have been known and used in jewelry and other applications since ancient times. At one time, garnets were referred to as Carbuncles. Although garnets occur in a wide range of colors and can be found in every color except blue,…
Read MoreMore of My Favorite Gems
Gems are described by chemical composition, crystal structure, and where they are found. Gems are further classified based on properties like refractive index (how they bend light), luster, hardness, etc. Perfection in appearance is of primary importance in the finished gemstone. Many gemstones have long and complex histories. Some specific gems have a lot of…
Read MoreGemstones I Love – Part 6 Fluorescence
Some require special lighting or viewing conditions to see this phenomenon. Geology.com recently published a fabulous article about fluorescence that I hope you will enjoy. What is a Fluorescent Mineral? All minerals have the ability to reflect light. That is what makes them visible to the human eye. A few minerals have an interesting physical…
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