THE 5 C’S OF COLORED GEMSTONES TODAY

COLOR:
There are three factors for describing the color of colored gemstones.

HUE: Any sensation of color other than black, white or gray.
TONE: The attribute of a color that causes the eye to perceive it as holding it in a position on a light to dark scale.
SATURATION: The attribute in which a color is distinguished as being vivid or dull and by which the eye perceives it as holding a position on a scale of vividness to dullness. The intensity/saturation of any hue can be lowered from a maximum by the admixture of brown or gray.

CLARITY

CUT
There are three factors used for establishing cut grades for colored gemstones:  Light Performance, Proportions and Finish

CUT GRADES ARE: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor

CARAT WEIGHT
Colored Gemstones and diamonds are weighed in carats. There are 5.00 carats to a gram. Each carat is divided into 100 points just like there are 100 pennies in a dollar. So, 100 points is 1.00 carat and 50 points is 0.50 or 1/2 carat.

CERTIFICATION
Colored Gemstone Reports/Documents are gemological documentation issued by a Gemological Laboratory in which is either a partial or total assessment of a colored gemstone.

THE 5 C’S OF DIAMONDS TODAY

COLOR
D  E  F  --  COLORLESS
G  H  I  J  -- NEAR COLORLESS
K  L  M  --  FAINT YELLOW
N  O  P  Q  R  --  VERY LIGHT YELLOW
S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  --  LIGHT YELLOW

CLARITY
FL – FLAWLESS
IF  --  INTERNALLY FLAWLESS
VVS1 -  VVS2  --  VERY VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED
VS1 -  VS2  -- VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED
SI1 - SI2  -- SLIGHTLY INCLUDED
I1   I2   I3  --  INCLUDED

CUT
There are seven factors for establishing cut grades for diamonds:
Brightness, Fire, Scintillation, Weight Ratio, Durability, Polish and Symmetry.

CUT GRADES ARE:
Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor

CARAT WEIGHT
Diamonds and gemstones are weighed in carats. There are 5.00 carats to a gram. Each carat is divided into 100 points, just like there are 100 pennies in a dollar. So, 100 points is 1.00 carat and 50 points is 0.50 or ½ carat.

CERTIFICATION
Diamond Reports/Documents are gemological documentation issued by a Gemological Laboratory which is an either partial or total assessment of a diamond including all the important aspects of the diamond and usually including a plotting diagram.

AMETHYST:
Amethyst has been used for centuries. The ancient Greeks and Romans thought it could help prevent drunkenness and wore jewelry made of amethyst or drank from vessels carved from amethyst. Yeah, good luck with that, right! The finest amethyst may show flashes of red, also known as Cairo red. Amethyst is reported to be one of the gemstones on Aaron’s breastplate. Amethyst is the birthstone for February.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Amethyst is the purple variety of Quartz.

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:  1.55-1.54
Specific Gravity:  2.65
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:  7 
Optic Character:  DR U+, AGG

WHERE IS AMETHYST FOUND:
Amethyst is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include The United States, Canada, France, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Brazil, Uruguay, Namibia, Si Lanka, Russia, Tanzania and Zambia. In America, Georgia produces some fabulous gem grade amethyst and the Four Peaks region of Arizona is famous for its deep-colored amethyst.

TREATMENTS:
Amethyst is normally untreated. It can occasionally be heated to lighten the color slightly, or to turn it into the rarer and more valuable ametrine.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Amethyst is very common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Amethyst online here:
(gemguy9 website)

AQUAMARINE:
Aquamarine is a blue to bluish-green gemstone. Reportedly first used as an amulet and in jewelry almost 3000 years ago. The name comes from the Latin words aqua (water) and marina (from the sea). The Santa Maria Mine in Santa Maria de Itabira in Minas Gerais, Brazil produced a deeply blue hue aquamarine. Since its discovery in the 1950’s, the mine today has been all but played out. Occasionally some of these rarer and more expensive aquamarines are still available for sale. Aquamarine is one of the birthstones for the month of March.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Aquamarine is a variety of Beryl

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:  1.58 – 1.57
Specific Gravity:   2.72
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:    7.5 to 8
Optic Character:  DR U-

WHERE IS AQUAMARINE FOUND:
Aquamarine is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan, Mozambique and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Two common treatments are known. Heating which tends to remove the green color. Irradiation and heat are sometimes both used to improve the aqua’s color. Not all aquamarine is treated.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Aquamarine is reasonably common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Aquamarine online here:
(gemguy9 website)

CITRINE:
Citrine has been used for centuries. It is the yellow variety of quartz, ranging in color from pale to golden yellow, honey or almost brown. Sometimes confused with yellow topaz. The name comes from the French word citron, meaning lemon. Citrine is one of the birthstones for November.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Citrine is the yellow variety of Quartz.

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:  1.55-1.54
Specific Gravity:  2.65
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:  7 
Optic Character:  DR U+, AGG

WHERE IS CITRINE FOUND:
Natural Citrine has been found in the Ural Mountains of Russia, Madagascar, Kazakhstan and few other localities. Today, most all of citrine on the market is mined as amethyst or smoky quartz from Brazil and Uruguay.

TREATMENTS:

Although citrine can be found in the golden to yellow color, it is rare. Most citrine is heat treated lower end amethyst to reach it’s golden to yellow to orange to reddish orange color hues.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Citrine is very common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes
Please view all of the current inventory of Citrine online here:
(gemguy9 website)

DIAMOND:
Diamond is the King of Gems. It’s named from the Greek "adamas", meaning invincible. Diamond is the hardest known natural material. Diamond comes in a multitude of colors. Diamond is the birthstone for April.

SPECIES: 
Diamond

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:              2.41
Specific Gravity:              3.52
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   10
Optic Character:   SR, ADR

WHERE IS DIAMOND FOUND:
Diamond is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Angola, Australia, Brazil, Botswana, Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Russia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
HTHP (High Temperature High Pressure), Irradiation, Coating, Clarity Enhancement (Laser Drilling and Fracture Filling)

USE IN JEWELRY:
Diamond is the most common gemstone and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in many varieties of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Diamond online here:
(gemguy9 website)

EMERALD: 
In todays, world, emerald is one of the most well-known colored gems after diamond. Emeralds have been mined and used in jewelry for over 3,000 years before present. It is a variety of the mineral beryl, colored green by minute traces of chromium, vanadium or a mixture of both. Emerald is reported to be one of the gemstones of Aarons breastplate. Although emerald is typically visibly included, there are very small amount that occur near flawless. This means that special care should be taken when cleaning emeralds. Emerald is the birthstone for May.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Emerald is a variety of Beryl

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:   1.58 – 1.57
Specific Gravity:  2.72
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   7.5 to 8
Optic Character:  DR U-

WHERE IS EMERLD FOUND:   
Emeralds are found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include the most famous location, Columbia. Emeralds are also found in Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Most emeralds have surface reaching fractures. They are normally treated with oils or resin to fill the fractures and increase their durability. These treatments may often increase the clarity grade.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Emerald is reasonably common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Emerald online here:
(gemguy9 website)

HESSONITE GARNET:
Hessonite Garnet is an orange-brown variety of garnet popular with the Greeks and Romans for jewelry. It was also believed that hessonite illuminated the night, therefore preventing evil from harming the wearer. The name was derived its name from the Greek word hesson, meaning inferior. It is a honey-yellow to red-brown cinnamon color. Garnet is the birthstone for January.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Hessonite Garnet is a species of the Grossular Garnet Group

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:     1.74
Specific Gravity:      3.61
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   7 to 7.5
Optic Character:  SR, ADR

WHERE IS HESSONITE GARNET FOUND:
Hessonite Garnet is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Brazil, India, Canada, Madagascar, Mexico. Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Tanzania and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
None

USE IN JEWELRY:
Hessonite Garnet is reasonably common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Hessonite Garnet online here:
(gemguy9 website)

JADEITE:
Jadeite Jade is the rarer of the two types of jade. In Chinese, jade is known as "yu", which means "heavenly" or "imperial". The rarest jadeite is the vivid green Imperial Jade, which, for the most part is transparent. Jade comes in many colors. Diamond is harder than jade but, jade is tougher than diamond. In other words, jade can chip easier than a diamond, but it is easier to break a diamond than it is to break a piece of jade.

SPECIES: 
Jadeite

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.68 to 1.64   Spot R.I. 1.66
Specific Gravity:     3.34
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   6.5 to 7
Optic Character:    DR B+  AGG

WHERE IS JADEITE FOUND:   
Jadeite is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Myanmar (Burma), Canada, Cuba, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Jade treatments are classified in 4 categories.
“A” Jade – No treatment
“B” Jade - Acid bleached, polymer-impregnated
“C” Jade - Dyed
“B” & “C” Jade - Acid bleached, polymer-impregnated & dyed

USE IN JEWELRY:
Jadeite is reasonably common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes including carved pieces as well.
Please view all of the current inventory of Jadeite online here:
(gemguy9 website)

KYANITE:
Kyanite is named for the Greek word “kyaneos” meaning “blue”. Blue kyanite has long been used as a sapphire imitation. Bright blue kyanite does look like fine sapphire, but is it much less expensive. Besides blue it comes in green, reddish-orange and a honey brown color.

SPECIES: 
Kyanite is species

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.73 to 1.71
Specific Gravity:      3.68
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   4 to 7.5
Optic Character:     DR B-

WHERE IS KYANITE FOUND: 
Kyanite is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Austria, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Kenya, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and the United States.

TREATMENTS:
Typically none. Sometimes oiled or polymer-impregnated for enhancement

USE IN JEWELRY:
Kyanite is somewhat common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Kyanite online here:
(gemguy9 website)

LAB CREATED EMERALD:
The term Lab Created or Synthetic are the same thing as long as they meet the following 3 criteria: They have to have the same chemical, optical and physical properties as the natural gem. Lab Created/Synthetic Emeralds were created as early as the late 1800’s. They are still created today. Lab Created/Synthetic Emeralds can also be used for the birthstone for May.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Lab Created/Synthetic Emerald is a variety of Lab Created/Synthetic Beryl.

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.57 – 1.56
Specific Gravity:    2.72 to 2.66
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   7.5 to 8
Optic Character:      DR U-

SYNTHETIC GROWTH PROCESS:
Flux & Hydrothermal

USE IN JEWELRY:
Lab Created/Synthetic Emeralds are very common and are very popular in jewelry. They can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Lab Created/Synthetic Emeralds online here:
(gemguy9 website)

LAB CREATED RUBY:
The term Lab Created or Synthetic are the same thing as long as they meet the following 3 criteria: They have to have the same chemical, optical and physical properties as the natural gem. Lab Created/Synthetic Rubies were created as early as the late 1800’s. They are still created today. Lab Created/Synthetic Rubies can also be used for the birthstone for July.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Lab Created/Synthetic Ruby is a variety of Lab Created/Synthetic Corundum

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.77 – 1.76
Specific Gravity:    4.00
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   9
Optic Character:      DR U-

SYNTHETIC GROWTH PROCESS:
Flame Fusion, Flux, Hydrothermal, Czochralski or Pulling

USE IN JEWELRY:
Lab Created/Synthetic Rubies are very common and are very popular in jewelry. They can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Lab Created or Synthetic Rubies online here:
(gemguy9 website)

LAB CREATED SAPPHIRE:
The term Lab Created or Synthetic are the same thing as long as they meet the following 3 criteria: They have to have the same chemical, optical and physical properties as the natural gem. Lab Created/Synthetic Sapphires were created as early as the late 1800’s. They are still created today. Many colors are available. Lab Created/Synthetic Sapphires can also be used for the birthstone for September.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Lab Created/Synthetic Sapphire is a variety of Lab Created/Synthetic Corundum

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.77 – 1.76
Specific Gravity:    4.00
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   9
Optic Character:      DR U-

SYNTHETIC GROWTH PROCESS:
Flame Fusion, Flux, Hydrothermal, Czochralski or Pulling & Floating Zone

USE IN JEWELRY:
Lab Created/Synthetic Sapphires are very common and are very popular in jewelry. They can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Lab Created/Synthetic Sapphires online here:
(gemguy9 website)

LAB CREATED COLOR CHANGE ( ALEXANDRITE LIKE ) SAPPHIRE:
The term Lab Created or Synthetic are the same thing as long as they meet the following 3 criteria: They have to have the same chemical, optical and physical properties as the natural gem. Lab Created/Synthetic Color Change ( Alexandrite Like ) Sapphires were created as early as the early 1900’s. They are still created today. Lab Created/Synthetic Color Change ( Alexandrite Like ) Sapphires can also be used for the birthstone for June.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Lab Created/Synthetic Color Change ( Alexandrite Like ) Sapphire is a variety of Lab Created/Synthetic Corundum

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.77 – 1.76
Specific Gravity:    4.00
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   9
Optic Character:      DR U-

SYNTHETIC GROWTH PROCESS:
Flame Fusion, Flux, Hydrothermal, Czochralski or Pulling & Floating Zone

USE IN JEWELRY:
 Lab Created/Synthetic Color Change (Alexandrite Like) Sapphire are very common and are very popular in jewelry. They can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Lab Created/Synthetic Color Change ( Alexandrite Like ) Sapphires online here:
(gemguy9 website)

LAB CREATED DIAMOND:
The term Lab Created or Synthetic are the same thing as long as they meet the following 3 criteria: They have to have the same chemical, optical and physical properties as the natural gem. Lab Created/Synthetic Diamonds were first created by the Schenectlady Laboratories at General Electric in 1955. These were non gem quality commonly referred to as bort. By 1971 they did finally produce gem quality diamonds. Lab Created/Synthetic Diamonds can also be used for the birthstone for April.

SPECIES: 
Lab Created/Synthetic Diamond is a species.

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    2.41
Specific Gravity:    3.52
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   10
Optic Character:      SR, ADR

SYNTHETIC GROWTH PROCESS:
C.V.D. ( Carbon Vapor Deposition ) & H.T.H.P. ( High Temperature High Pressure )

USE IN JEWELRY:
Since Lab Created/Synthetic Diamonds are very common, they are getting more and more popular in jewelry. Lab Created/Synthetic Diamonds can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Lab Created/Synthetic Diamonds online here:
(gemguy9 website)

MALAIA GARNET:
Malaia Garnet ranges from orange to reddish-orange and generally with pinkish hues. Malaia or Malaya Garnet is a mixture of pyrope and spessartite garnet. Rejected as rhodolite garnets because of their colors, they were called malaya, a word in Swahili meaning ‘prostitute’ or ‘out of the family’. Some of these Malaia Garnets where found to exhibit color change between daylight and incandescent light. Garnet is the birthstone for January.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Malaia Garnet is a pyrope/spessartine variety of the Garnet Group

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.76
Specific Gravity:    3.78 to 3.85
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:  7 to 7.5
Optic Character:  SR, ADR

WHERE IS MALAIA GARNET FOUND: 
Malaia Garnet is found in a small variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Kenya, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

TREATMENTS:
None

USE IN JEWELRY:
Malaia garnet is not too common. It is seen mostly in custom made jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Malaia Garnet online here:
(gemguy9 website)

MALI GARNET:
Mali Garnets are primarily yellow-green to brown but also (rarely) intense green, have compositions between grossular and andradite. Discovered in 1944, it ranges from bright yellow or yellow-green, to almost honey green or brown. Mint green or yellowish-green stones are highly desirable, whereas brownish stones are least desirable. The most valuable color is a rare chrome green color. Garnet is the birthstone for January.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Mali Garnet is a grossular-andradite variety of the Garnet Group

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.77
Specific Gravity:     3.61

Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   7
Optic Character:     SR, ADR

WHERE IS gem FOUND:
Mali Garnet is found in the Republic of Mali.

TREATMENTS:
None

USE IN JEWELRY:
Mali Garnet is somewhat common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Mali Garnet online here:
(gemguy9 website)

OPAL:
Opal is one of the birthstones for October. Pliny observed in 75 AD, “Some opal carry such a play within them that they equal the deepest and richest colors of painters. Listed here are the most of the types of opals: White opal, crystal opal, fire opal, boulder opal, black opal, semi-black opal, crystal black opal, gray base opal, moss opal, opal doublet, opal triplet, Ethiopian opal, cat’s eye opal, dendritic opal, oolitic opal, hydrophane opal and yowah nut opal.

SPECIES: 
Opal

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:      1.45
Specific Gravity:      2.15
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   5 to 6.5
Optic Character:     SR, ADR

WHERE IS OPAL FOUND: 
Opal is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Opticon, Oiling, Dyeing, Sugar Treated, Acrylic Polymer Coating

USE IN JEWELRY:
Opal is very common and is very popular in jewelry. They can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Opal online here:
(gemguy9 website)

PEARLS:
Pearls are the Queen of Gems. Although there are some natural pearls, most pearls are cultured either in salt water or fresh water. Pearls come in a big variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Pearl is one of the birthstones for June.

GROUP: 
Pearl is a Biological Organic Group

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.68 – 1.53
Specific Gravity:      2.78 to 2.72
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   2.5 to 4
Optic Character:    AGG

WHERE ARE PEARLS FOUND:
Pearls are found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Australia, Canada, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Gulf of Manaar, India, Indonesia Japan, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma) Persian Guld, Philippines, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Thailand, Vietnam, and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Dyeing, Bleaching, Irradiation, Heating, Coating, Peeling, Filling and Impregnation.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Pearls are very common and is very popular in jewelry. They can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Pearls online here:
(gemguy9 website)

PERIDOT: 
Peridot is part of the olivine group. It is an "idiochromatic" gemstone, which means its color comes from the basic chemical composition of the mineral itself, not from minor impurities, and therefore will only be found in shades of green. Peridot is one of the few gemstones found in only one color. Peridot is one of the birthstones for the month of August.

SPECIES/GROUP: 
Forsterite/Olivine

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:  1.69- - 1.65
Specific Gravity:  3.34
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   6.5 to 7
Optic Character:  DR B+  DR B-

WHERE IS PERIDOT FOUND:   
Peridot is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include China, Finland, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, The United States and the Island of Zabargad. Peridot is also found in meteorites from outer space. Some refer to these as Pallidot.

TREATMENTS:
Peridot is not normally treated.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Peridot is reasonably common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Peridot online here:
(gemguy9 website)

PYROPE GARNET:
Pyrope Garnet is usually blood-red in color but the hue may have a slight yellow to purple tinge. Pyrope garnets are the most popular garnets. Pyrope is sometimes referred to as Bohemian Garnet from its historical source in former Czechoslovakia. Pyrope was the European fashion stone of the 18th and 19th centuries and used widely in jewelry of that time.The word "pyrope" comes from the Greek word "puropus", made up of "pur" (fire) and "ops" (eye) meaning "fiery-eyed". This refers to the impressive brilliance of pyrope garnet. Garnet is the birthstone for January.

SPECIES: 
Pyrope is a species of Garnet

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:  1.74
Specific Gravity:    3.78
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   7 to 7.5
Optic Character:   SR, ADR

WHERE IS PYROPE GARNET FOUND:
Pyrope Garnet is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Argentine, Australia, China, Czechoslovakia, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
None

USE IN JEWELRY:
Pyrope Garnet is very common and is very popular in jewelry. They can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes
Please view all of the current inventory of Pyrope Garnet online here:
(gemguy9 website)

RHODOLITE GARNET:
Rhodolite Garnet purple or purple-red to rose-pink to red mineral pyrope-almandine mixture. The name is derived from the Greek "rhodon" for "rose-like". A very popular color. Garnet is the birthstone of January.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Rhodolite Garnet is a variety of the Garnet Group

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:      1.76
Specific Gravity:        3.84
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   7 to 7.5
Optic Character:   SR, ADR

WHERE IS RHODOLITE GARNET FOUND:
Rhodolite Garnet is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Norway, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
None

USE IN JEWELRY:
Rhodolite Garnet is very common and is very popular in jewelry. They can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Rhodolite Garnet online here:
(gemguy9 website)

RUBY:
This gemstone has withheld the test of time and maintained its popularity for centuries. It one of the highest valued colored gemstones. At times, rubies can be even more valuable than diamonds. Ancient Indians called it “the king of precious stones.” Burmese warriors thought it made them invulnerable in battle. Medieval Europeans believed it cured hemorrhages and inflammatory diseases. Ruby is the birthstone for July.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Ruby is a variety of Corundum

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.77 – 1.76
Specific Gravity:  4.00
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   9
Optic Character:    DR U-

WHERE IS RUBY FOUND:   
Ruby is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, China, Greenland, India, Kashmir, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Heating and Fracture Filling

USE IN JEWELRY:
Ruby is very common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Ruby online here:
(gemguy9 website)

SAPPHIRE:
Its name comes from the Greek word sappheiros. In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm. Traditionally, sapphire symbolizes truth, nobility, sincerity, and faithfulness. It has decorated the robes of royalty and clergy members for many centuries. Sapphires come in many colors including color shift and color change gems. Sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Sapphire is a variety of Corundum.

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:   1.77 – 1.76
Specific Gravity:    4.00
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   9
Optic Character:  DR B-

WHERE IS SAPPHIRE FOUND:
Sapphire is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Australia, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Camaroon, China, Columbia, Ethiopia, India, Kashmir, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Heating & Fracture Filling

USE IN JEWELRY:
Sapphire is very common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Sapphire online here:
(gemguy9 website)

SPESSARTINE GARNET:
One of the rarer garnets. Spessartine was first found in the Spessartine district of Bavaria. Its colors range from a yellowish-orange to an intense aurora-red to deep orangy-red. Garnet is a birthstone for January.

SPECIES: 
Spessartine is a species of the Garnet Group.

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:    1.81
Specific Gravity:     4.15
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   7 to 7.5
Optic Character:    SR, ADR

WHERE IS SPESSARTINE GARNET FOUND:
Spessartine Garnet is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Brazil, Bulgaria, India, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
None

USE IN JEWELRY:
Spessartine Garnet is not too common. It is seen mostly in custom made jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of gem online here:
(gemguy9 website)

SPINEL:
Spinel is becoming a very popular gemstone. It’s not been determined whether the name is derived from the Greek word for "spark" or the Latin for "thorn." Spinel comes in a variety of colors. Red is the most expensive and sought-after color. It’s been mistaken for ruby for centuries. Spinel is one of the birthstones for August.

SPECIES: 
Spinel is a species of the Spinel Group

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:      1.71
Specific Gravity:      3.60
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:    8
Optic Character:     SR, ADR

WHERE IS SPINEL FOUND:
Spinel is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

TREATMENTS:
Spinel can be heat treated. Small fractures can be filled. These treatments are rare overall.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Spinel is reasonably common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes including carved pieces as well.
Please view all of the current inventory of Spinel online here:
(gemguy9 website)

SUNSTONE:
Sunstone is a gem which should be more popular. It is colored by copper. Colors range from a light yellow, various shades of red and green to teal.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Sunstone can be a variety orthoclase and the plagioclase of the Feldspar Group

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:       1.59 – 1.52
Specific Gravity:        2.66 to 2.64
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:     7
Optic Character:     DR B+. AGG

WHERE IS SUNSTONE FOUND: 
Sunstone is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Madagascar, Norway, Russia and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Normally not.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Sunstone reasonably common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes including carved pieces as well.
Please view all of the current inventory of Sunstone online here:
(gemguy9 website)

TANZANITE:
Tanzanite is only found in Tanzania, although the species, Zoiste is found in other countries. Tanzanite forms in wide range of colors, from light sky blues and violets, to deep indigos and royal blue. Some tanzanites will show both the violet and the blue colors when viewed through the top of the gem. Tanzanite is one of the birthstones for the month of December.

SPECIES/VARITIES: 
Zoisite/Tanzanite

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:  1.72 – 1.68
Specific Gravity:  3.35
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   6 to 7
Optic Character:  DR B+, AGG

WHERE IS TANZANITE FOUND:   
Tanzanite is found in Merelani Hills region of Tanzania.

TREATMENTS:
Although Tanzanite is found naturally in the violet to blue colors, for the most part it is heat treated to get to those exciting beautiful colors.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Tanzanite is still plentiful and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes. Tanzanite is a bit soft for rings and therefore it is not recommended to worn every day.
Please view all of the current inventory of Tanzanite online here:
(gemguy9 website)

TOPAZ:
Topaz is allochromatic, which means that its color is caused by impurity elements or defects in its crystal structure rather than by an element of its basic chemical composition. Topaz comes from Topazios. Topaz actually has an exceptionally wide color range which includes various tones and saturations of blue, brown, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple. Colorless topaz is very plentiful, and is often treated to give it a blue color. Blue topaz is one of the birthstones for the month of December. Golden Topaz is one of the birthstones for November.

SPECIES: 
Topaz

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:   1.62 – 1.61
Specific Gravity:  2.65
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   7
Optic Character:   DR B+

WHERE IS TOPAZ FOUND:   
Topaz is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sweden, The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Heating & Irradiation

USE IN JEWELRY:
Topaz is very common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Topaz online here:
(gemguy9 website)

TOURMALINE: 
This gem features one of the most exciting widest color ranges of any gem species. It occurs is various shades of almost every hue. Tourmaline was first discovered by Dutch traders of the west coast of Italy in the late 1600’s. Tourmaline is one of the birthstones for the month of October.

Species/Varieties: 
Some varieties are classified with their own name such as, Rubellite, Indicolite, Paraiba, Chrome Tourmaline, Bi-Color Tourmaline, Dravite, Achroite, Elbaite, Liddicoatite, Watermelon and Uvite. There are also cat’s eye tourmalines. Other varieties of tourmaline exist, but not mentioned as they are rarely found in the jewelry industry.

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:   1.64 – 1.62
Specific Gravity:    3.06
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   7 to 7.5
Optic Character:  DR U-

WHERE IS TOURMALINE FOUND:
Tourmaline is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include, Afghanistan, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and The United States.

TREATMENTS:
Heating is sometimes used to improve the color. Lighter pink tourmalines are sometimes irradiated and then annealed to hold the color. Some tourmalines are either oiled or treated with polymers to fill surface reaching fractures and stabilize the gem.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Tourmaline is very common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Tourmaline online here:
(gemguy9 website)

TSAVORITE GARNET
Tsavorite Garnet was discovered 1967 by British geologist Campbell Bridges. Tsavorite garnet is 'named' after its discovery near the famous Tsavo National Park in Kenya. Tsavorite Garnet is a deep green, to a yellowish green to a bluish green. Garnet is the birthstone for January.

SPECIES/GROUP: 
Tsavorite Garnet is a species of the Garnet Group

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index: 1.74
Specific Gravity:    3.61
Mohs Scale Of Hardness: 7 to 7.5
Optic Character: SR, ADR

WHERE IS TSAVORITE GARNET FOUND:
Tsavorite Garnet is found in only a few locations in the world. These locations include the Kenya-Tanzania border and Madagascar.

TREATMENTS:
None

USE IN JEWELRY:
Tsavorite Garnet is reasonably common and very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Tsavorite Garnet online here:
(gemguy9 website)

ZIRCON: 
Definitely not a commonly known gem. The oldest known samples of zircon are from Western Australia and date back 4.4 billion years. It is actually the oldest know mineral on earth. In the Middle Ages, zircon was thought to drive off evil spirits, induce good sleep, and promote honor, riches and wisdom. Yellow zircon is reported to be one of the gemstones of Aarons breastplate. The blue to blue-green variety is one of the birthstones for December. Zircon comes in a variety of colors.

SPECIES: 
Zircon

PROPERTIES:
Refractive Index:  1.98 – 1.92
Specific Gravity:  4.70
Mohs Scale Of Hardness:   6 to 7.5
Optic Character:   DR U+

WHERE IS ZIRCON FOUND: 
Zircon is found in a wide variety of locations around the world. These locations include Australia, Cambodia, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), New Zealand, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam.

TREATMENTS:
Heating. Heat treatment in some blue zircons is not always stable. Some blue zircons will gradually revert back to their original brown color.

USE IN JEWELRY:
Zircon is somewhat common and is very popular in jewelry. It can often be seen in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Please view all of the current inventory of Zircon online here:
(gemguy9 website)