Tag Archives: birthstone

Gemstones

March Birthstone Spotlight: Aquamarine

Posted on by Julianne Jacobs
aquamarine - March birthstone
05
Mar

When the calendar hits March, Dallasites know to get ready for beautiful days mixed with spring showers. That’s why aquamarine is the perfect gemstone for those with March birthdays. The sparkle and color perfectly embody the mix of sunshine and rain that spring brings. However, aquamarine connects to a different kind of water source: the ocean. The name Aquamarine comes from the Latin word for “water of the sea,” and the bluish hues are said to bring a sense of calm. Sailors would often carry this gemstone on their ships in hopes of calmer water. Read on to learn more about this March birthstone! What is Aquamarine? Aquamarine is the green-blue to blue variety of the mineral beryl. Its color is usually a light pastel greenish blue. Darker blue aquamarines are typically more desirable, so heat treatments deepen bluish hues. The Aquamarine is fairly durable, ranking 7.5 to 8.0 on the Mohs hardness scale, and can be mined at high elevations in Pakistan’s Karakoram Mountains, according to GIA. Additionally, miners find Aquamarine in Brazil, China, Kenya, Madagascar, Ukraine, and even here in the United States. Aquamarine was designated the March birthstone in 1952 and is the gem of the 19th wedding anniversary. As a member of the beryl family, it is closely related to emerald and morganite. Aquamarine Carvings and Jewelry Like other beryls, aquamarine forms large crystals suitable for large carvings and fashioned gems. While carvings are popular for translucent to opaque aquamarine, the deeper blue aquamarines in the right hands make beautiful jewelry. Gemologist can cut Aquamarines into almost any shape, and faceted aquamarines often have no eye-visible inclusions. A popular shape for this stone is round or oval brilliant cuts and emerald cuts. In some stones, cut-cornered cuts prevent chipping. Aquamarine is a great option for jewelry because it is readily available. Additionally, it has an intense sparkle even under low light conditions. During her wedding, Meghan Markle has sported this stone in a cocktail ring. As a result, interest in the aquamarine resurfaced. She received the unique piece from her husband, Prince Harry, during their wedding. According to Gem Society, the yellow gold cocktail ring belonged to the late Princess Diana.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Clayton Delville – Gem & Jewel (@clayton_delville) Even if it isn’t your birthday or 19th wedding anniversary, we think aquamarine is a fabulous gemstone for all occasions. Visit us to see some beautiful aquamarine pieces in person! If we don’t have the right piece, we’ll find or make one for you with our talented jewelers.

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Gemstones

August Birthstone Spotlight: Peridot, Sardonyx and Spinel

Posted on by Julianne Jacobs
05
Aug

June isn’t the only month that gets three birthstones. Bestowed upon those with August birthdays are the gemstones peridot, sardonyx and spinel. Each gemstone is vastly unique from the other and gives August babies a number of options to choose their perfect look! Read on for details on each August birthstone. Peridot Peridot is the primary August birthstone. A gem variety of the mineral olivine, peridot ranges from yellowish green to greenish yellow and has been often mistaken for emerald and topaz throughout history. In fact, some historians speculate that Cleopatra’s vast emerald collection was actually comprised (partially) of peridot. Not only is peridot the August birthstone, but it’s also the 15th anniversary gemstone. This is a great gift option for every budget, depending on the size of the peridot. While large, grass-green peridots are more expensive, there are plenty of smaller stones that would fit a smaller budget. Sardonyx Sardonyx is the original gemstone — the OG, if you will — assigned as the August birthstone. When peridot joined the party, it became the primary August birthstone ahead of sardonyx. As the name suggests, sardonyx combines alternating layers of sard and onyx. These two types of mineral chalcedony separate to create reddish and white zerbra stripes. The finest examples of sardonyx display sharp contrasts between layers. According to the American Gem Society, “sardonyx is widely available and relatively inexpensive as gems, beads, and jewelry. It is often carved into cameos, intaglios, and brooches to show the color contrast between layers.” Spinel Remember how we said the ruby is the most valuable colored gemstone besides diamonds? Well, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option for a ruby, that’s where the spinel gemstone comes in handy. It comes in a wealth of colors, including intense red, and is less pricey. Often mistaken for other gemstones throughout history, the spinel has been dubbed “the great imposter.” In fact, one of the most famous “rubies” in the world, the Black Prince’s Ruby, in the British Imperial Crown is actually a red spinel. Not only is the gemstone strikingly beautiful, it carries great historical meaning. Just how great is its historical meaning? We can thank spinel for the study of gemology! As a result of the spinel’s similarity to ruby, people began to study the gemstones and their differences. Without spinel, we may not even have birthstones!

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