jewelry

Curved striae or lines are a telltale sign of synthetic ruby and sapphire. If you’re having trouble seeing them, here are some helpful tips.

Emerald treatments, such as oiling, are very common. Learn what these techniques do, how emeralds are graded, and what gems make great green alternatives,…

Although Tanzania is a source of rubies, so-called Serengeti rubies are more likely to be garnets. Learn more about rubies and misleading gem names…

There are many ways to grow ruby and sapphire in a lab. However, determining the best synthetic corundum for faceting depends on why you’re cutting…

Beloved for its celestial blues and violets and exceptional hardness and durability, the sapphire is a long standing favored gemstone. Take an…

For this lesson, please read our Gemstone Encyclopedia article about Sapphires and then you can come back and mark this lesson as complete.

Blue is one of the rarest colors in nature. Nevertheless, blue gemstones are always in demand for jewelry. While people have adorned themselves…

Padparadscha sapphires get their name from the Sinhalese word for “lotus colored.” This rare and elusive gem generates some debate among…

Mention sapphire and most people will probably imagine this September birthstone as a blue gem. Although blue specimens are probably the most…