Gemstones

There are over 3000 minerals but only 50 rare minerals are used as Gemstones, with their natural beauty, strength and resilience of gems they have gathered a

wealth of history and have inspired belief in their supernatural origins and magical powers.

about-gemstone

Introduction

Over centuries, gemstones have been in widely used because of their attractive and enchanting lustrous colors. Gemstones are suitable for wear and others are too soft and lack strength due to which they get easily scratched. They are mostly natural and inorganic with a fixed composition structure. Pearls are among few of the organic gems.

The most valuable and highly prized gemstones are Diamonds, Sapphires, Ruby, Emerald and Pearls. Their exquisite colors, play of light with brilliance and fire within them;  their strength and durability makes them very valuable.

Fancy Color Diamonds

Fancy color diamonds are rare and natural gems and have same characteristics as diamonds, but extremely rare in occurrence.

In Fancy Colored diamonds value increases with the shade and purity of the color, the deeper the shade, more the value. Large and vivid colored diamonds are extremely rare, hence extremely valuable.

They are available mostly in fancy, light to dark shades of yellow and brown, and are less expensive than other colors. As the latter are rarer colors.

The most rarest Fancy Colored diamonds ever found are…

Red Diamond

Blue Diamond

Pink Diamond

Orange Diamond

Green Diamond

Ruby

Ruby belong to Corundum family and is the second hardest mineral found on Earth after Diamond.

Rubies may vary in shades of red, from pinkish to purplish or brownish red. Their color variation depending upon its chemical composition, geological conditions and mineral present.

Rubies are mostly available all cuts like round cut, oval cut, crushion cut, pear cut and many more…

The finest Rubies are sourced from Burma, aka ‘Burmese Rubies’. Brownish red shade rubies are from Thailand; Bright Red stones are from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Vietnam. Dark and sometimes opaque Rubies are from North Carolina- USA, Russia, Australia, Norway and India.

Sapphires

Corundum family gemstones that are not red in color are called Sapphires similar qualities to Ruby.

Sapphires are mostly associated with blue in color and the most valuable is clean deep blue color. The variation in its color is vastly due to its iron and titanium impurities.

Sapphires are mostly available in all cuts like round cut, oval cut, cushion cut, pear cut, trilliant cut, heart cut and more.

The best Indian sapphires is cornflower blue found in Kashmir. Some of the finest Sapphires are found in Burma, Sri Lanka and India. Dark Blue, nearly black from Thailand, Australia ad Nigeria. Metallic Blue color sapphires are from Montana. Some other locations across the world are Cambodia, Brazil, Kenya, Malawi and Colombia.

Sapphires are also found in other colors like

Colorless/ White Sapphires- Transparent without impurities therefore without color and are highly rare.

Pink Sapphires – Pale and delicate pink to a near red.

Yellow Sapphires – Yellow to greenish yellow in color.

Green Sapphires – Dark green color mixed with blue and yellow shades.

Emeralds

Emeralds belong to a Beryl Family and are derived in beautiful green color because of the presence of chromium and vanadium minerals.

They are found in granites, pegmatites, as well as alluvial deposits. Mostly cracks and inclusions are common in Emeralds and to hide these flaws and enhance its color, it is often oiled to fill and disguise these cracks.

They are generally cut in “step-cut” also famously known as the Emerald Cut. They are also available in cuts like oval cut, pear cut and others.

Emeralds are rarely flawless, but the finest and most valuable are from Columbia. They are also found in Australia, Austria, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, The USA, Norway, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and India.

.

Pearls

Pearls are organic gemstones formed in shellfish especially like oysters and mussels.

Layers of aragonite aka nacre are secreted around the irritant and gradually build up to form the solid pearl. Its iridescent lustre, reflecting light is produced by these multiple layers. 

In Cultured Pearls, a small bead is used as nucleus around which the layers of nacre are secreted.

The color variation depends upon the type of mollusk and water used. Their color varies from white, white with hint of pink, golden, gray, black. They are less durable than other gemstones because of its sensitivity to acids, dryness and humidity.

Pearls are mostly available in Sphere shapes, but Baroque pearls are also available.

Natural Pearls are harvested from the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Manaar and the Red Sea. Some Cultured Pearls are produced in Polynesia and Australia. Freshwater and Salted pearls are cultivated in Japan and China. Some Freshwater pearls are also found in Scotland, Ireland, France, Austria, Germany and Mississippi.

Semi-Precious

Semi-Precious

We can arrange the following Gemstones listed below on request only. For more reach us at Ask the Designer.

  • Amethyst
  • Aquamarine
  • Garnet
  • Morganite
  • Tanzanite
  • Tourmaline