Need a gift? Parkville Jewelers can provide a gift in any price range. Pick something by their favorite color or by individual or family birthstones. Many gifts for events and for special interests. If we don’t have it, we can probably make it or order it for you.

Birthstones:

January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine
April – Diamond
May – Emerald
June – Pearl, Alexandrite , Moonstone
July – Ruby
August – Peridot
September – Sapphire
October – Opal, Tourmaline
November – Topaz, Citrine
December – Zircon, Turquoise

Wedding Anniversaries:

1st – Gold Jewelry or Clocks
2nd – Garnet Jewelry
3rd – Pearls, Crystal Jewelry or Leather (Leather Bracelet or Wallet)
4th – Blue Topaz or Flowers (Flower Jewelry)
5th – Sapphire or Wood (Wood in Jewelry, Pens, Boxes & Watch Boxes)
6th – Amethyst Jewelry
7th – Onyx or Copper Jewelry
8th – Tourmaline Jewelry
9th – Lapis Lazuli Jewelry
10th – Diamond Jewelry
11th – Turquoise Jewelry
12th – Alexandrite or Jade Jewelry
13th – Citrine Jewelry
14th – Opal Jewelry
15th – Watches or Ruby Jewelry or Crystal Items
16th – Peridot Jewelry
17th – Watches or Carnelian Jewelry
18th – Cat’s eye or Alexandrite Jewelry
19th – Aquamarine Jewelry
20th – Emerald Jewelry or Platinum
21st – Iolite Jewelry
22nd – Spinel Jewelry
23rd – Topaz Jewelry
24th – Tanzanite Jewelry
25th – Silver Jubilee
30th – Pearl Jubilee
35th – Emerald Jewelry
40th – Ruby Jewelry
45th – Sapphire Jewelry
50th – Golden Jubilee
We can order or make any of these or pick something we already have.

Favorite Colors:

See Gemstone Colors

Events:

Weddings
Gifts for Wedding Attendants
Baptisms
Confirmations
Baby Showers
Graduations
Anniversaries
Work Gifts
Add a Coin with a Special Date to a Coin Bezel
ETC…

Lost and Broken Items:

Repair a family heirloom
Remake a favorite piece of jewelry that was lost
Take gems from an old item and make something new with it
We do in-store repairs for jewelry that has been broken

Jewelry, Keepsake Boxes & Figurines for:

Hobbies
Activities
Animals
Travel Locations
Sport Teams
We can order or make any of these or pick something we already have.

Engraving:

Jewelry
Picture Frames
Glassware
Metal Cups
Ornaments
Watches
Plaques
Lighters
Money Clips
ETC…

Jewelry by Zodiac Symbols:

Aquarius – Black Spinel
Pisces — Garnet
Aries — Emerald
Taurus — Fire Opal
Gemini – Peridot
Cancer — Aquamarine
Leo — Citrine
Virgo – Orange Garnet
Libra — Chrysoprase
Scorpio — Zircon
Sagittarius — Amethyst
Capricorn — Sapphire

There are more options than the traditional mother’s ring. In addition to Rings, we can make Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings. The piece can be of the children, grandchildren, a single individual, a couple, or the whole family. You can also create something for yourself with the colors you like.

The jewelry can be made out of Silver, White Gold, Yellow Gold, or Rose Gold. The pictures above are just a few examples. There are so many options.

With Stones

The gemstones can be Genuine, Lab-created, Imitation, or a combination. The birthstones come in different sizes and shapes. The ring picture above is separated with diamonds or CZ’s. The bracelet on the top right has heart shaped stones. (Some of the pictures above are unset examples.)

Engraved

Pieces may be engrave with individual names or nicknames. Some of the examples above are engravable. They may or may not come with birthstones.

Colors of Common Gemstones:

Clear:
Diamond, Moissanite, White Sapphire, White Spinel
White:
Moonstone, Opal, Pearl
Purple:
Amethyst, Iolite, Sapphire, Spinel, Tanzanite
Purple-Blue:
Iolite, Sapphire, Spinel, Tanzanite
Red-Purple:
Amethyst, Rhodolite Garnet, Ruby, Topaz, Rubellite Tourmaline, Alexandrite (incandescent light)
Red:
Ruby, Garnet, Spinel, Chrysoberyl, Topaz, Friedelite
Pink:
Pink Tourmaline, Kunzite, Rose Quartz, Spinel, Beryl, Pearl, Moissanite, Topaz, Sapphire
Peach:
Morganite, Garnet
Orange-Red:
Topaz, Citrine, Garnet, Sapphire, Friedelite
Orange:
Topaz, Citrine, Sapphire, Fire Opal, Spessartite Garnet, Spinel, Chalcedony, Sunstone, Zircon
Yellow-Orange:
Citrine, Amber, Topaz, Sapphire, Fire Opal, Chrysoberyl, Spinel, Zircon
Yellow:
Citrine, Diamond, Topaz, Lemon Quartz, Sapphire, Chrysoberyl, Spinel
Yellow-Green:
Peridot, Chrysoberyl, Tsavorite Garnet
Green:
Emerald, Tsavorite Garnet, Tourmaline, Sapphire, Jade, Malachite, Chrysoprase, Alexandrite (daylight)
Blue-Green:
Tourmaline, Topaz, Zircon, Sapphire
Blue:
Sapphire, Topaz, Aquamarine, Lapis, Turquoise, Zircon, Diamond, Spinel, Tourmaline
Brown:
Chrysoberyl, Spinel, Topaz, Garnet, Zircon, Tourmaline, Smokey Quartz, Tiger’s-Eye, Chalcedony
Black:
Onyx, Sapphire, Spinel, Smokey Quartz, Pearl
Multi Colored:
Agate, Alexandrite, Ametrine, Bloodstone, Chrysocolla, Jade, Jasper, Lapis, Opal, Rhodonite, Sunstone, Topaz, Tourmaline, Turquoise

Round (Faceted, Cabochon & Rose Cut)
Oval (Faceted, Cabochon & Rose Cut)
Emerald (Faceted & Cabochon) The most popular of the step cuts
Cushion (Faceted & Cabochon) They have a square shape with rounded edges
Marquise (Faceted & Cabochon) They have pointed ends and are curved on the sides
Pear (Faceted & Cabochon) The have a rounded edge tapering to a point
Trillion & Triangle (Faceted & Cabochon) Trillion cuts have slightly rounded sides & triangles have straight
Princess & Square (Faceted, Cabochon & Rose Cut)
Baguette Thin and elongated with corners with some straight and some that are tapered on one end
Radiant They are usually elongated and have beveled corners
Asscher They are a step cut stone that has an emerald or square shape with cut corners
Heart (Faceted & Cabochon)

The Three Main Gem Cutting Styles

Brilliant Cut – Brilliant cuts consist of triangular and kite-shaped facets that spread from the center of the gem outward. They give off the most light dispersion of any cut.

Step Cut – Step cuts consist of rectangular facets that descend down in steps. Step cuts include emerald and baguette cuts. They show off the stone’s color and clarity. They are generally not as brilliant, but they often appear larger than than other shapes of of the same carat weight.

Mixed Cuts – Mixed cuts combine the brilliant and step cut styles. They have brilliant facets on the crown and step facets on the pavilion, or vice versa. Mixed cuts may even combine cabbing and faceting techniques.

Other Gem Cutting Styles

Cabochon Cut – Cabochons gems are polished into domes. Certain gems, such as opal and moonstone, better display visual effects such as play of color and asterism (star effect). In faceted gems, these effects would be less visible. Some stones may be cut into cabochons because they are a lower quality or too opaque for faceting. Cabochon stones emphasize their color and luster instead of their brilliance. Softer gem materials may also receive cabochon cuts. Opal, Turquoise, Moonstone, Jade, and Onyx are usually Cabochons.

Rose Cut – The rose cut dates back to the 16th century. The rose cut has a round, cabbed flat base and a faceted top.

Checkerboard Cut – In a checkerboard cut, the gem is cut with square facets, so its crown resembles a checkerboard. This cut is sometimes used on translucent stones.

People alter almost all gems for use in jewelry by cutting and polishing them after they are found. There are also several other treatments that may be done to enhance their appearance.

Heat Treatment

It’s the exposure of a gem to high temperatures to alter its color and/or clarity. The heating of gemstones often happens in the countries where they were found. They do not need to be declared according to The World Jewellery Confederation CIBJO guidelines. Heat treatments of these gemstones is considered permanent under normal handling conditions. The most commonly encountered heat-treated gems include:
Amethyst – Heating can remove brownish inclusions in some amethysts or lighten the color of overly dark stones.
Aquamarine – Many aquamarines are naturally a blue–green color. Heating can remove the greenish color to produce a bluer appearance.
Citrine – Some forms of amethyst can be heated and turned into citrine.
Ruby – Heating can remove a purplish color and make the ruby more of a red color. Silk inclusions can also be removed to make a gem look lighter and more transparent.
Sapphire – Heating can intensify the blue color in sapphires and can also remove silk inclusions to make it appear more transparent.
Heating of rubies and sapphires can also cause recrystallization of the silk inclusions to make them more prominent. This allows the cabochon cut gemstone to have stronger asterism, which is a reflecting star effect.
Tanzanite – Heating tanzanite at low temperatures can remove the brownish color to produce a stronger purplish-blue color.
Topaz – Heating yellowish pink topaz sometimes removes the yellow color to show more of the pink color. Heating is also used to control the color of blue topaz. Colorless topaz that is irradiated followed by heating results in a blue color.
Tourmaline – Sometimes heat treating can cause a dark green color to become lighter and it can also affect the color of other tourmalines.
Zircon – Some reddish brown zircons are heated to produce other colors, including an intense blue.

High Pressure High Temperature Treatment (HPHT)

Heating of a diamond to high temperatures under high pressure can remove or change its color. Heating can remove or lessen a yellow or brown color so the gem becomes more colorless. Other types of diamonds may be changed from brown to yellow, orange-yellow, yellow-green, or to blue colors by this process. Only a qualified gem-testing laboratory can confirm the treatment. It is occasionally encountered in colorless diamonds, but more often in some colored diamonds. HPHT treatments are considered stable and permanent for normal jewelry wear and no special care needed.

Irradiation

It is the exposure of a gem to radiation to change its color. This is sometimes followed by a heat treatment to further modify the color. It is also known as a combination treatment. Blue topaz, diamond, and quartz tend to have very stable colors, if not exposed to high temperatures. There is no special care requirements for most irradiated gems. The most commonly encountered gems include:
Beryl – Some varieties of beryl can be irradiated to deepen or change the color. The color tends to fade upon exposure to bright light.
Diamond – Neutron and electron radiation are the most common forms and it is possible to produce green, blue, deep yellow, orange, pink, and red diamonds. It is often combined with a secondary step of heating to achieve additional colors. Naturally occurring strong colors (green, red, blue, purple, and yellow) are rare and very expensive. Strong colors in diamonds should be considered likely altered. Whether a colored diamond is a natural color or treated color requires examination by an experienced gem-testing laboratory.
Quartz – Some varieties of quartz can be irradiated to produce amethyst. In some quartz, heating after irradiation results in a green color.
Sapphires – There are naturally occurring orange sapphires, but in some stones, a bright orange color is produced from a natural pale yellow color. The color in these is not stable and fades upon exposure to bright light.
Topaz – Colors of natural topaz are rarely vivid. Colorless topaz can be subjected to radiation to change its color. Along with heat treatment, strong blue colors can be achieved. Irradiation is frequently encountered in topaz.

Impregnation

The surface of a porous gemstone is soaked with a polymer, resin, wax, or plastic to make it stronger and to improve its appearance. The most commonly encountered gemstones are opaque and they include turquoise, lapis, jadeite, nephrite, amazonite, rhodochrosite, and tiger’s-eye. Due to the melting point of these materials, it can be damaged by heat. A jeweler’s torch should not be used because it can damage the stone. The stone would need to be removed and reset when the piece requires this type of work. It is frequently seen and in most cases a qualified gemologist can identify the treatment.

Bleaching

It’s a chemical used to alter or reduce the color of a porous gem. Jadeite jade, pearls, chalcedony, and tiger’s eye quartz may be bleached to lighten their color. It is frequently encountered in pearls and jadeite.

Dyeing

It is adding a colored dye into porous or fractured gem to change its color. Pearls, turquoise, lapis, nephrite jade, chalcedony, quartz, emerald, and ruby may be dyed. A qualified gemologist can detect dyed gems in most cases. They are frequently encountered for colored pearls and occasionally for most gems. When it is known that gem has been dyed, be careful to keep them from chemicals, such as acetone or alcohol, which could dissolve the dyes. Also, keep them away from long periods of sunlight, which could cause the color to fade.

Amber – It is fossilized resin. Because it starts as a sticky tree resin, it sometimes contains animal and plant material as inclusions. Amber usually is found as yellow-orange-brown, but it also occurs in a range of colors.
Pearl – It is produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Pearls usually are seen as white, but also come in other colors, such as pink, silver, golden, green, blue, and black.

Rock Families:

Only a few gemstones belong to the rock family.

Igneous – Granite is an igneous rock.
Sedimentary – Many gemstone minerals are found in sedimentary rock (Beryl, Opal, Quartz, Turquoise, Malachite, Azurite, Chrysoprase, and Chrysocolla).
Metamorphic – Lapis is 25-40% lazurite and several other minerals, so it is considered a rock. The color is blue, violet, or greenish blue with streaks. Marble is also a metamorphic rock. Connemara Marble is a green colored marble.
Meteorites and Tektites – Moldavite is formed from a meteorite impact.

Minerals:

Most gemstones are minerals, but only a few minerals are gems. A mineral is a naturally formed solid with a crystalline structure, such as Corundum. A gem is a cut and polished solid piece used in jewelry. Sapphire and Ruby are gemstones made out of the mineral corundum.

Mineral Beryl:
Aquamarine – It is a light to dark blue or blue-green colored gem.
Emerald – It is green colored and is the most precocious gem in the beryl group.
Morganite – A pink to violet or a salmon colored gem.

Mineral Chrysoberyl:
Alexandrite – It is a green colored gem in daylight and red in artificial incandescent light.
Cat’s-Eye – Golden-yellow, green-yellow, green, brown, or red with fine inclusions that produce a silver white line that appears to move in a cabochon cut stone.

Mineral Cordierite:
Iolite – It is usually found as a blue to violet gem, but it also can be brownish.

Mineral Corundum:
Ruby – It is a red colored gem.
Sapphire – It is usually found in blue, but it can be any color, except red.

Mineral Diamond:
Diamond – It is crystallized carbon. Only one in 10,000 diamonds found is considered fancy colored (green, red, blue, purple, or yellow). There are a number of processes used to alter the color of a diamond.

Mineral Feldspar:
Moonstone – Colorless or yellowish with a pale sheen.
Aventurine – It is also called Sunstone and is an orange to red-brown gem with a metallic type shine to it.

Minerals Jadeite and Nephrite:
Jade – Green is the most common color, but it comes in other colors and multi-colored.

Mineral Malachite
Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral and is light to black green with light and dark bands.

Mineral Olivine
Peridot – It is a yellow-green colored gem.

Mineral Opal:
White Opal – White or light colored with color play (display of rainbow like hues).
Black Opal – Dark colored (gray, blue or green) with color play.
Boulder Opal – An opal with a dark rock base with color play.
Fire Opal – Orange to red colored gem and usually does not show a play of color.

Mineral Quartz:
Amethyst – A purple or violet colored gem. It is the most highly valued gem in the quartz group.
Ametrine – Combination of the amethyst’s purple and citrine’s yellow to orange.
Chalcedony – A waxy or dull colored stone in bluish, white, gray, green, orange, red-brown, and brown. The bloodstone is dark green with red spots.
Citrine – It is light yellow to dark yellow, and golden orange to golden brown colored gem. Natural citrines are rare and most are heat treated amethysts or smoky quartzes.
Rose Quartz – It is a pink colored gem.
Smoky Quartz – It is smoky gray or brown to black colored.
Cat’s Eye – White, gray, green, yellow, or brown colored. When there are numerous fiber-like inclusions and it is cut as a cabochon, it produce a silver white line.
Tiger’s Eye – Golden yellow and golden brown opaque stone with yellow brown streaks.

Mineral Rhodochrosite:
Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral. Raspberry red to pink are the most common colors with light and dark colored steaks.

Mineral Silicate:
Garnet Group – It is not a single species, but is composed of multiple species and varieties. The most common color is red. Gems are also found in green, yellow-green, and orange to red-brown.
Onyx – A silicate mineral formed in bands of chalcedony in alternating colors. Sardonyx is a variant in which the colored bands are sard (shades of red) rather than black. Black onyx is perhaps the most famous variety, but is not as common as onyx with colored bands.
Chalcedony – It is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of quartz and moganite. It is found in blueish, white, gray, and orange red to brown in color.

Mineral Spinel:
Spinel – One of the few gemstones that occurs in every color of the spectrum.

Mineral Spodumene:
Hiddenite – A green-yellow to green colored gem.
Kunzite – It is a pink to purple colored gem.
Triphane – It is a yellow colored gem.

Mineral Topaz:
Topaz – Yellow to orange and light to dark blue are the most common colors. It is also found in red-brown, pink-red, violet, and light green gems.

Mineral Tourmaline:
Tourmaline – Prefaced with a color, such as Pink Tourmaline. It comes in many colors and is also multicolored, such as “watermelon” (reddish pink and green).
Rubellite – A red colored Tourmaline.
Indicolite – It is a blue colored gem.
Paraiba – A bright blue to bright green Elbaite Tourmaline.

Mineral Turquoise:
Turquoise – It is sky blue, blue-green, or apple green colored. It usually has brown, dark gray, or black veins of other minerals through it.

Mineral Zircon:
Zircon – It is usually seen as blue gems. The most natural zircons are yellow, red, or brown. Also found in colorless, orange, violet, and green.

Mineral Zoisite:
Tanzanite – It is a sapphire blue, amethyst, or violet colored gem.

In prehistoric times Jade was made into arms and tools because of its hardness.

Jade has been known for 7000 years, but in France in 1863, it was found to consist of two distinct minerals. Jadeite and Nephrite. The term jade is used to describe both.

Jadeite and Nephrite come in green and other colors. It may have a color streak of white. Jadeite has a Moh’s hardness of 6.5 – 7 and Nephrite has a Moh’s hardness of 6 – 6.5.

Jadeite is generally off-white, grayish white, and green. It can also be brown, yellowish brown, orange-yellow, reddish orange, lilac, blue-gray. The most valuable is emerald green. The most frequent color is semitransparent to nearly opaque white. It comes mainly from northern Burma, but also from Japan, Tibet, Guatemala, and California. It has a wide range of values.

Nephrite is more common and found in Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, Russia, Taiwan the U.S. and in small quantities almost everywhere. It is less valued than Jadeite. It is found as opaque and translucent in a less lively green. The color can be dark green to blackish, gray, grayish white, or blue-gray. It may contain brown, yellow brown, or orange streaks of iron oxide.

Indian jade is a whitish pale-green to green aventurine (mainly quartz), but it lacks the properties of true jade. Others similar to jade are Korean jade and Transvaal jade, but are not jade either.

An alternate August birthstone is Spinel. The name “spinel” comes from the Latin word spina, which means thorn (the shape of spinel crystals). It can come in colors: red, pink, orange, purple, violet, blue and bluish green. Sardonyx is the original August birthstone, with a history that dates back more than 4,000 years. It has two types of the mineral chalcedony that is a reddish gemstone striped with white bands.