December Birthstones - Blue Topaz, Tanzanite & Turquoise

Decembers Birthstones Blue Topaz, Tanzanite, & Turquoise

Birthstone: Blue Topaz
Moh's hardness: 8
Specific Gravity: 3.57
Color: Blue
Chemical Composition: Al2,Si04,(F0H)2,fluor containing aluminum silicate

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Blue Topaz is derived from the Sanskirt word "tapas" meaning fire. Blue Topaz is the hardest of the silicate minerals. While pure Topaz is colorless, the blue hue is created when Topaz is heated, whether the heat source is natural or engineered by man. The three shades of Blue Topaz are Sky, Swiss, and London Blue. The latter is the deepest blue and often used as a less expensive substitute for Sapphire.

Topaz is found primarily in Brazil, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Pakistan, China, and the United States.

A gift of Blue Topaz is symbolic of love and fidelity. Luckily, this cool blue gemstone has no legendary power to put out the burning flame of love.

Birthstone: Tanzanite
Moh's hardness: 61/2-7
Specific Gravity: 3.35
Color: Sapphire Blue, Amethyst, Violet
Chemical Composition: Ca2,Al3,Si04,30H, calcium aluminum silicate
Refractive Index: 1.691-1.700

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Tanzanite was first found in the late 1960's at what remains the sole source, a hilly area called Merelani in Tanzania. So unlike many other gemstones, it does not carry a mystical ancient history. The name was changed from "blue zoisite" to Tanzanite by Tiffany & Company. This gemstone was introduced in the world market in the year 1969.

The Tanzanite gemstone shows a trichroic effect that is a 3 color visibility when viewed from different angles. The three color effects are blue, purple, and bronze. Legend has it that, the first pieces of Tanzanite was collected by the Masai herders when they noticed lightning strike some brownish ziosite crystals. The lightning is supposed to have changed the crystal to a beautiful blue color.

Tanzanite is almost always heat treated. The natural color of Tanzanite is brownish and this is how most rough Tanzanite appears. Heating of Tanzanite results in color change that ranges from Blue to Purple. Color enhancement using heat treatment is a widely accepted treatment for the Tanzanite gemstone.

Birthstone: Turquoise
Moh's hardness: 5-6
Specific Gravity: 2.84
Color: Sky-blue, blue-green, apple-green
Chemical Composition: CuAl6, P04,40h 8 4H20; a copper containing basic aluminum phosphate
Refractive Index: 1.610-1.650

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Turquoise with its blue hue is among the oldest known gemstones. Turquoise was obtained from the Sinai Peninsula before the 4th millennium BC in one of the world’s first important hard rock mining operations. Turquoise started being used before 4000 BC. Turquoise was a important ornamental mineral for jewelry and other objects by ancient Egyptians. It graced the necks of Egyptian Pharaohs and adorned the ceremonial dress of early Native Americans.

The name Turquoise means "Turkish stone" because the trade route that brought it to Europe used to come via Turkey. Pure blue color is rare, mostly turquoise interspersed with brown, dark gray or black veins of other minerals or the host rock. Such stones are called turquoise matrix.

Turquoise is said to be a guard against all diseases. It assists in tissue regeneration, subtle body alignment & strengthening. Turquoise is also believed to bring the wearer happiness and good fortune.

Anniversary Jewelry Gift Ideas

Anniversary Jewelry Gift List

Year 1 ----Gold Jewelry or Fresh Water Pearl Jewelry
Year 2-----Garnet or Rose Quartz Jewelry
Year 3-----Pearl or Crystal Jewelry
Year 4-----Blue Topaz or Amethyst Jewelry
Year 5-----Sapphire or Turquoise Jewelry
Year 6-----Amethyst or Garnet Jewelry
Year 7-----Onyx, Cooper, or Lapis Jewelry
Year 8-----Tourmaline, or Bronze Jewelry
Year 9-----Lapis Lazull or Tiger Eye Jewelry
Year 10----Diamond or Onyx Jewelry
Year 11----Turquoise or Hematite Jewelry
Year 12----Jade or Agate Jewelry
Year 13----Citrine, Malachite or Moonstone Jewelry
Year 14----Opal, Ivory or Moss Agate Jewelry
Year 15----Ruby or Crystal Jewelry
Year 16----Peridot or Aquamarine Jewelry
Year 17----Amethyst or Citrine Jewelry
Year 18----Chrysoberyl or Opal Jewelry
Year 19----Topaz or Aquamarine Jewelry
Year 20----Emerald or Platinum Jewelry
Year 21----Iolite Jewelry
Year 22----Spinel Jewelry
Year 23----Imperial Topaz or Sapphire Jewelry
Year 24----Tanzanite Jewelry
Year 25----Sterling Silver Jewelry
Year 30----Pearl Jewelry
Year 40----Ruby Jewelry
Year 50----Solid Gold Jewelry
Year 60----Diamond Jewelry
Year 75----BIG Diamonds

Colored Diamonds - A Fall Trend

The new wave in the jewelry industry and the fashion world is Colored Diamonds, which have become extremely popular over the last 3 years. In light of the growing interest in color diamonds it is important to clear the confusion between treated and natural color diamonds.

Technological developments now allow us to create diamonds of almost any color, either completely artificially or from natural Diamonds whose color is unattractive not clearly defined, yellowish, brownish etc. Such stones can be manufactured at will, resulting in the production of goods that are the exact contrary of what they are substituting for, diamonds by definition are unique, rare, and exceptional.

A natural Colored Diamond is unique. It is a product of nature, shaped by millions of years of crystallization. Its color is the product of chance and not two natural color diamonds can be identical, it is this uniqueness, this rareness that gives them all their value, and a high price tag. Natural Colored Diamonds are considered like any authentic work of art.

Diamonds that are treated to bring out there basic color on the other hand, still have a exquisite look and are unique on their own, with a much more affordable price tag to the consumer. The Colored Diamond Jewelry that OldCities offers has treated Diamonds. Please feel free to look at our fine collection, and let us know if you have any questions, 360-668-2658.

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Ruby Eduction - July's Birthstone

Birthstone: July
Moh's hardness: 9
Specific Gravity: 3.97-4.05
Color: Varying red
Chemical Composition: Al2O3 aluminum oxide
Refractive Index: 1.762-1.778

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Two color varieties of curndum are used for making jewelry, the red ruby and the sapphire. Common corundums i.e. those not of gemstone quality serve as cutting and polishing material. The well-known polishing material emery is mainly fine-grain corundum, to which magnetite, hematite and quartz are added. The name corundum has its origin in India and probably referred to ruby.

Ruby is named because of its red color. It was not until about 1800 that ruby, as well as sapphire, was recognized as belonging to the corundum species. Before that date, red spinel and the red garnet were also designated as ruby.

The red color varies within each individual deposit, so it is not possible to determine the source area from the color. The designation "Burma ruby" or Siam ruby" are therefore strictly erroneous and refer more to quality than origin. The most desirable color is the so-called "pigeons blood", pure red with a hint of blue. The distribution of color is often uneven, in stripes and spots. The substance that provides the color is chromium and in the case of brownish tones, iron is present as well. AS a rough stone ruby appears dull and greasy but when cut the luster can approach that of a diamond. Heat treatment is commonly used to improve the color.

Ruby is the hardest material after diamond. Inclusions are common. They are not always indicative of lower quality, but show the difference between natural and synthetic stones. The type of inclusion {minerals, growth structures, canals, or other cavaties} often indicates the source area.

Sapphire Education - Septembers Birthstone

Birthstone: September
Moh's hardness: 9
Specific Gravity: 3.95-4.03
Color: Blue in various tones, colorless, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black
Chemical Composition: Al2O3 aluminum oxide
Refractive Index: 1.762-1.788

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The name sapphire {greek means blue} used to be applied to various stones. In antiquity and as late as the Middle Ages, the name sapphire was understood to mean what is today described as lapis lazuli. Around 1800 it was recognized that sapphire and ruby are gem varieties of corundum. At first the blue variety was called sapphire and corundums of other colors {with the exception of red} were given special, misleading names, such as "oriental peridot" for the green variety or "oriental topaz" for the yellow type.

Today corundums of gemstone quality of all colors except red are called sapphire. Red varieties are called rubies. The various colors of sapphire are qualified by description, e.g. green sapphire or yellow sapphire. Colorless sapphire is called leuko-sapphire {greek means white}, pinkish orange sapphire Padparadscha.

There is no definite demarcation between ruby and sapphire. Light red, pink or violet corundums are usually called sapphires, as in this way they have individual values in comparison with other colors. If they were grouped as rubies, they would be stones of inferior quality. The coloring agents in blue sapphire are iron and titanium; and in violet stones, vanadium. A small iron content results in yellow and green tones; chromium produces pink, iron and vanadium orange tones. The most desired color is a pure cornflower-blue. In artificial incandescent light, some sapphires can appear to be ink-colored or black-blue.

Through heat treatment at temperatures of about 3100-3300 degrees F {1700-1800 degrees C}, some cloudy sapphires, non distinct in color, can change to a bright blue permanent color.

Hardness is the] same as ruby and also differs clearly in different directions {an important factor in cutting. There is no fluorescence characteristics for all sapphires. Inclusions of rutile needles result in a silky shine; oriented, i.e. aligned, needles cause a six-rayed star sapphire.

Onyx - August's Alternate Birthstone

Onyx: comes in many forms, from sardonyx, to cameo's, to intaglio's, to cabochons, and many more forms.

Birthstone: August
Moh's hardness: 7
Specific Gravity: 2.65 - 2.66
Color: Black, white, green, brown, red
Chemical Composition: SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide
Refractive Index: 1.543 - 1.552 to 1.545 - 1.554

Onyx is a layer stone with the combination of a black base and white upper layer also called true onyx or Arabic onyx. In cabochons and beads, black and white layers may alternate. On the other hand, onyx is also a name sometimes used for unicolored chalcedony. This must not be confused with onyx marble, which in short is also called onyx. The name onyx has its origin in the Greek language and means "fingernail" probably because of its weak transparency.

Onyx Intaglio: name for engraving with negative image into that stone, as used for seals.

Onyx Cameo: name for a relief which is cut so that it is raised, usually the bottom layer being a dark color while the relief being carved out of the white layer on top.

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Peridot Gemstone Education - August's Birthstone

PERIDOT also called Chrysolite and Olivine

Birthstone: August
Moh's hardness: 6.5-7
Density: 3.28-3.48
Color: Yellow-green, olive-green, brownish
Chemical Composition: (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Refractive Index: 1.650-1.703

Peridot is the best known gem variety of olivine, a species name for a series of magnesium-iron rich silicate minerals. This bright yellow-green to green to a brownish colored gemstone has caught the fancy of humans for thousands of years. Some historians even think that at least some of the "emeralds" worn by Cleopatra were actually peridot! Much of its recent popularity can be explained by its currently being recognized as the birthstone for the month of August, people wear the stone because it is supposed to bring the wearer success, peace, and good luck.

The United States was for many years the largest producer of peridot, the value of production in 1993 was estimated to be about $1.5 million, according to the USBM. Now a days, the United States is getting major Competition from China and Pakistan for the title of world's largest producer. Arizona and New Mexico produce the largest supply of peridots in the US.

Historically important deposit was on the Red Sea volcanic island Zabargad (St. John), 188 miles east of Aswan Egypt; it was mined for 3500 years but forgotten for many centuries and rediscovered only around 1900. Most of the earliest known peridot gems came from this location and small amounts of material are still being produced from there today. Later, very large, fine-quality peridot was produced from deposits in Myanmar (formerly Burma). These deposits were well known for their 20- to 40-carat cut stones of superb color and clarity, but since the socialist government came to power, the supply of Burmese peridot has been curtailed to such a point as to no longer be a factor in the industry. One can only guess as to whether the deposits are mined out, or if government policies have resulted in the shortage of material.