Bytownite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Although bytownite occurs throughout the world, this feldspar variety is rarely encountered in gem-quality condition.
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Tips for Polishing Kunzite
Polishing kunzite can be very challenging, especially for novice gemstone faceters. Learn what tools and techniques work best.
Gem Origin Opinions: When Gemology Labs Agree to Disagree on Sapphire Origins
Why do gemology labs sometimes have different gem origin opinions, especially for sapphires? Learn the science and history behind the debate.…
Pearl Treatments and Enhancements
Did you know that routine pearl treatments are the most common enhancements in the gem trade? Learn more about these procedures and how they impact…
Lapis Lazuli Buying Guide
Our lapis lazuli buying guide can help you learn how to grade these gems, what to avoid, and how to identify a high quality stone or a bargain in the…
Gemstones That Make Money
What kinds of gems can novice faceters cut to make a profit? Learn which gemstones make money reliably and which ones have limited potential.
Buying a Faceting Machine
Buying a faceting machine means making compromises between economy, looks, and technical features. Learn what questions to ask before you make…
Natural Pearls vs Cultured Pearls
Many consumers don’t understand the difference between natural pearls and cultured pearls. Learn what these terms mean and how to distinguish…
Villiaumite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
A little-known and rare collector’s gemstone, villiaumite is very difficult to facet. Its toxicity also makes it inadvisable to handle or wear.…
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January Birthstone
Although many associate January's birthstone, garnet, with the color red, they can come in a variety of colors including red, yellow, orange, green and even blue.
February Birthstone
Thanks to its beauty and relative abundance, the February birthstone, amethyst, is used in all types of jewelry: from the mass market to the finest custom couture pieces.
March Birthstone
The March birthstone is aquamarine. Famed for millennia for its pure and even blue or blue-green color, potentially large size, and sparkling clarity, the aquamarine has been a valued gem to many cultures. Aquamarine is a variety of the gem species beryl, making it a close cousin of emerald.
July Birthstone
This vibrant red gemstone is the July birthstone and is closely associated with love, passion, and romance. While there are affordable options to be found, the largest and most beautifully colored rubies can be very expensive; the best rubies may be sold for the highest cost-per-carat costs of any colored gemstone.
August Birthstone
Peridot is the August birthstone. It is also sometimes called the “evening emerald” because of its unique capacity to sparkle under natural or artificial light. However, it should not be confused with emerald because peridot has its own distinct characteristics setting it apart from other gemstones.
September Birthstone
The September birthstone is sapphire. Sapphires are members of the gem species corundum. Depending on the exact chemistry of individual stones, sapphires may present a whole spectrum of colors with the exception of red. This is because red sapphires are put into their own category and called rubies.
October Birthstone
Pink tourmaline is the modern October birthstone, loved for its breathtaking beauty and awe-inspiring variations of the color pink.
November Birthstone
The most common birthstone for November is yellow topaz however citrine, another lovely yellow gemstone, has been rising in popularity as an alternative and is much easier to purchase.
December Birthstone
Blue zircon is known a modern December birthstones alongside blue topaz and tanzanite. The more traditional December birthstones are lapis lazuli and turquoise.
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