Birth Stones

The September birthstone is usually thought of as the blue gem variety of corundum, but it comes in all the colors (pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black, and colorless) except red (ruby). Light red, pink, and violet are usually called sapphires. The coloring in blue…

Peridot is the yellow green gem variety of olivine. It is found in various places around the world with Arizona being the main source in the U.S. Its name probably comes from the Arabic faridat, meaning gem. It was the most popular stone during the…

The name Ruby comes from the Latin word ruber, meaning “red”. It is second after the diamond in hardness. Rubies are a variety of corundum. They get their color from trace amounts of the element chromium. The ruby is also traditionally given for the 15th…

Pearls originate from oceans and lakes from around the world. Pearls are organic gems that grow inside the tissue of a living saltwater or freshwater mollusk. Cultured pearls are a product of a technicians implanting a piece of mantle tissue or a mother-of-pearl shell bead…

Pearls come from oceans, lakes, and rivers from around the world. Pearls are organic gems that mainly grow inside living saltwater oysters or freshwater mussels. Natural pearls have been found for thousands of years. Natural pearls form when the mollusk secretes a substance called nacre…

The emerald is the perfect color for spring. Emeralds are deep green precious beryls. The name comes from the Greek word ‘smaragdos’ which means green stone. Emeralds range between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, so they are more susceptible to damage than…

Diamonds are strong and the name comes from the Greek word “adamas,” which means “invincible”. It’s cutting resistance is 140 times greater than rubies or sapphires, which are the next hardest gemstones. Diamonds are 10 on the Moh hardness scale. Diamonds are formed at up…

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz. It is lilac to deep purple and can be cut into many shapes and sizes. It can be manufactured in a lab as well as mined. The name “amethyst” comes from the Greek amethystos, which means “a remedy…

Garnets are commonly red but also come in a range of colors, including orange, yellow, purple and green. The name “garnet” originates from the Latin granatus, meaning “pomegranate,” in reference to its red color. Garnets are a group of several minerals, including: Pyrope (red), Almandine…

The word “zircon” most likely comes from the Persian word zargun meaning “golden colored.” Zircon colors can be: blue, red, orange, yellow, brown, and green. Colorless zircon is known for its brilliance and flashes of multicolored light, called fire. Zircon comes from Sri Lanka and…