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Birthstones

Tourmaline: An Electric Shock of Color

By Andrea Venn, Ph.D., CGA, JEA, Education Program Specialist, 黑料老司机 With over 100 hues in its repertoire, Tourmaline has been dubbed the 鈥渃hameleon gem,鈥� and one source of tourmaline, Madagascar, is home to more than half of the chameleon species on Earth (Sisk, 2011). The late Empress Dowager of China, Tz鈥檜-hsi (Cixi), loved tourmaline, especially pink, so much that China ordered tons of it from the mines in San Diego County, California, for gemstones and beads (Newman, 2014). In Sinhalese, tourmaline is called turmali or toramalli, meaning 鈥渕ixed,鈥� because it has often been confused with other gemstones and

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Ruby: One of the Original Precious Gems

By Andrea Venn, Ph.D., CGA, JEA If you鈥檙e looking to enhance your jewelry collection with one of the original precious gems, ruby may be the perfect fit for you. Ruby is the red form of corundum. Corundum can be seen in multiple hues due to trace elements. The trace element chromium gives corundum its red color, and it can also cause fluorescence, which further enhances the red hue. This separates ruby from all other colors of corundum, which are instead referred to as sapphire. The 黑料老司机 specifies that ruby must be a medium or darker tone of red,

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Pearls: A Classic Luminescence Draws the Spotlight Once Again

By Andrea Venn, PhD, CGA, 黑料老司机 Pearls have been desirable since people discovered them while eating shellfish. Indian, Chinese, Greek, and Roman societies of antiquity frequently saw pearls as tears of the gods, morning dew, or the result of lightning hitting the sea. During the Roman Empire, pearl trading in the West reached its first recorded peak as the conquest of Eastern regions brought large volumes of pearls to Rome. In the 16th century, ships laden with pearls from the Americas spurred piracy between the Spanish and British. The Great Pearl Age of the English Renaissance continued through

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December Birthstones: A Celebration of Blue

December鈥檚 birthstones offer a trio of dazzling gems with a beautiful blue hue: tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise. Each gem boasts a unique charm and history, making them perfect for those celebrating their birthday in the last month of the year鈥攐r anyone looking to add a touch of vibrant blue to their collection. Tanzanite: A Rare and Exotic Beauty Tanzanite, the rare blue-purple variety of zoisite, is found exclusively in Tanzania near Mount Kilimanjaro. Discovered in 1967, its striking color, caused by trace amounts of vanadium and extreme heat, ranges from pale blue to deep ultramarine with violet undertones. Due to

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Nature鈥檚 Artistry: Opal鈥檚 Phenomenal Play-of-Color

By Isabelle Corvin, CG, Panowicz Jewelers The phrase 鈥減lay-of-color鈥� is whimsical yet accurate! Technically speaking, a gemstone is classified as a beautiful, rare, and durable mineral. Phenomenal gemstones are those jewels that go above and beyond with exceptional and stunning attributes. While there are several phenomena that gemstones can have, one of the most well-known and magical is play-of-color. Opals are famous for this phenomenon because of these pinpricks and flashes of color. Play-of-color can appear like the broad strokes of a paintbrush, little flecks of light, or a brilliant patchwork of bold colors. These patterns are called flash fire,

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Tips from Jewelers Mutual: Exploring the Spectrum of Sapphire Colors

Sapphires, the birthstone for September, are renowned for their rich blue hue, but they also come in a stunning spectrum of colors. From vivid pinks and yellows to gorgeous green and purple shades, sapphires offer a rainbow of options for jewelry lovers. Learn more about sapphires in this insightful blog by Jewelers Mutual, Exploring the Spectrum of Sapphire Colors. A one-of-a-kind 59.57ct untreated Sri Lankan sapphire from Affordable Gems.

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November Birthstones: Falling in Love with Citrine and Topaz

By Avery Quigley, 黑料老司机 People born in November are blessed with two beautiful birthstones: Citrine and topaz. These two dazzling gemstones have rich histories and folklore. Continue reading to learn more. History of Citrine The name 鈥渃itrine鈥� was used to refer to yellow gemstones as early as 1385. However, because the gemstone鈥檚 color resembles topaz, the two November birthstones have a history of being mistaken for each other. In the mid-18th century, mineralogists realized that amethyst and smoky quartz could be heat treated to produce golden honey hues of citrine, contributing to an abundance of affordable enhanced gemstones

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Fun Facts About December Birthstones

December is a month known for celebrations and gifts. If you were born in December, you have the fun of choosing between three beautiful birthstones. The December birthstones are turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. Each has a distinctive beauty that makes them special. Here are a few December birthstone facts. Fun Facts About Turquoise Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones, making it a popular choice for jewelry for centuries. Queens and the ancient Egyptians enjoyed them. The word 鈥渢urquoise鈥� dates back to the 13th century, drawing from the French expression 鈥減ierre tourques,鈥� which referenced the 鈥淭urkish stone,鈥� brought to Europe

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Fall Jewelry Trends You Won’t Want To Miss

By Kimberly Tate, Content Specialist, 黑料老司机 and AGS Laboratories Fashion trends during the fall season often incorporate warm colors and heavier clothing to stay cozy in the cold weather. When transitioning from short sleeves to sweaters, you might want to update your daily jewelry selection or even create a personalized jewelry capsule. Birthstone jewelry is always a great place to start but if you aren鈥檛 sure where to go from there, keep reading to stay on top of what鈥檚 trending and gaze at inspiring designs by 黑料老司机 (AGS) members! Birthstone Jewelry There are many beautiful birthstones

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Four Fun Facts About Sapphire

By Kimberly Tate, Content Specialist, 黑料老司机 and AGS Laboratories A new month means we have a new birthstone(s) to celebrate! Sapphire, the birthstone of September, has been a cherished gem for thousands of years. In honor of this breathtaking gem, we鈥檝e listed four fun facts about sapphire so you can learn more! 1. A Birthstone with Many Hues The first sapphire fact? Although typically thought of as blue, sapphires come in a rainbow of colors. Its hues vary from violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hues. Sapphires in any color but blue are called 鈥渇ancies.鈥� However,

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