GEM STONE GUIDE

Gems By Name …   Alexandrite   Amber   Amethyst   Ammolite   Aquamarine   Citrine   Diamond   Emerald   Garnet   Iolite   Jade   Marcasite   Moonstone   Onyx   Opal   Pearl   Peridot   Rhodolite   Rubellite   Ruby   Sapphire   Tanzanite   Topaz   Tourmaline

Gem Stones - Not Just For Looks
 
In almost every known culture that has existed, mankind has treasured certain items above others. Mother Nature has helped this concept by providing beautiful, rare, rocks and minerals. The aura of mystery that surrounds such stones enhances the overall value and perceived worth of the stones. Gem stones have served as reasons for wars as well as symbols of affection between lovers. In mankind's history, gem stones have also served as currency, jewelry, and even as medicinal items!

Determining Beauty
The beauty of a precious stone or gem is directly dependent upon its color or colorlessness, brilliancy or softness of luster, and transparency. A mineral must be hard to undergo a high and lasting polish - and many stones that would otherwise be highly valued are worth very little because they do not possess sufficient hardness to make them durable enough to be used for jewelry. The more rare a precious stone is, the higher its perceived value. For instance, the crocidolite, (commonly known as tiger-eye), was sold by the carat at one time. Today, it is so plentiful that it is no longer classified as a true "gem stone", but rather, serves for use in cameos and intaglios (the opposite of a cameo).

Beautifying Stones
When found in their natural state, most gem stones do not possess the brilliance and allure for which they are known. They require a variety of techniques to improve their "look". For example, sapphires and rubies are usually heated to improve their transparency and color. Light blue topaz (or "Swiss blue") is usually heated, while the darker “London” blue topaz (often referred to as "London Blue") is sometimes treated to heat AND exposed to very low, harmless doses of radiation.

Other stones that are treated with heat include aquamarine, tanzanite, amethyst, tourmaline, and citrine.

Stones that are NOT heat treated include garnet, peridot, hematite, alexandrite, and moonstone.

Emeralds contain an unusually high number of natural internal flaws. Due to this fact, emeralds are often oiled to make the inclusions (imperfections) less visible to the naked eye.

These various treatment methods are a "must" in order for the average consumer to have the opportunity to own gem stones. The treatment methods simply imitate the natural process that occurs while stones are forming in the ground. Without such treatments, there would be very few colored gemstones available on the market.