sapphire

Chart showing a mix of modern and traditional birthstones by month. The Origin of Birthstones The idea of a birthstone, a gemstone that corresponds…

The polariscope is one of gemology’s simplest and most useful tools. With a little practice and our three-part polariscope guide, you’ll…

An assembled gemstone is constructed from two or more combined materials. Gemstone doublets and triplets, intarsias, and rhinestones are all…

Studying gemstone inclusions is an exciting field for gemologists. This article will review the most commonly observed spinel inclusions and…

One of the simplest ways to distinguish natural from synthetic gems is finding inclusions that can only be the result of laboratory growth. You…

Discovered accidentally when scientists attempted to grow sapphire, synthetic spinel is now used extensively in jewelry. Synthetic or lab-created…

Some people make distinctions between different kinds of synthetic or lab-grown gems. In fact, you may even find different definitions of synthetic…

Spinel is a rare gem not well-known among consumers. Even some professionals in the gem and jewelry trade aren’t well-informed about this…

Most couples exploring gemstone options for their engagement ring start with some ideas about the color and size they want. However, they also…