| Gems | |
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Agate Creatively striped by nature, agate gemstones form in a variety of colours and textures. The most popular are Blue Agate, Blue Lace Agate, Green Agate, Indian Agate, Moss Agate and Onyx. It is believed to cure insomnia, ensure pleasant dreams, protect from danger and promote strength and healing. |
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Amazonite Amazonite is a beautiful deep blue-green gem, often with white streaks. Named after the Amazon River, although it is mined in Brazil, deposits have never been found near the Amazon. The ancient Egyptians called it the "Stone of Courage" after the fabled tribe of Amazon women warriors. It is believed by some to enhance creative expression and has also been called the 'Hope Stone' believed to inspire confidence and hope. |
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Amethyst Valued as a semi-precious gemstone, the finest quality amethyst is medium to dark violet purple in colour. Amethyst has been popular throughout history and purple being the colour of royalty, fine amethysts are found in the British Crown Jewels and it was also a favourite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian Royalty. Early Greek legends associated amethyst with Bacchus, the god of wine and it was thought to prevent intoxication! Amethyst is mined is Brazil, India, Namibia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Zambia |
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Aquamarine One of the most popular and best known gemstones, aquamarine is related to the emerald, both belonging to the beryl family. Aquamarine is found in a beautiful range of light blue colours and its name is derived from the Latin aqua (water) and mare (sea). Aquamarine has good hardness and a wonderful shine. The more intense the colour, the more value is placed on it, however it is the clear blue that epitomises the aquamarine, because it brings out the immaculate transparency and magnificent shine of the gemstone. Aquamarine is found in Brazil, India, Russia (Ural mountains) and USA. |
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Aventurine Aventurine is a soft green semi-translucent to mostly opaque stone with mica flecks. It contains inclusions of small crystals that reflect light and give a range of colour. Aventurine derives its name from Italian - per avventura - by chance. Legends say that it is an all-purpose healer, used to reduce stress, develop confidence, imagination and improve prosperity. Aventurine is found in India, Chile, Spain, Russia, Brazil, Austria, and Tanzania. |
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Carnelian Carnelian is a translucent orange to red variety of Chalcedony and has been revered for its healing, spiritual and creative qualities. It has been recommended for those with poor memory and creative blocks. It is mined in India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, U.S.A and Uruguay |
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Garnet Garnets are best known as those wonderful deep-red gemstones found in antique jewellery. The captivating mystique of the "Queen of Gems" has made them a timeless symbol of feminine beauty. Most frequently found in a deep warm red, garnets also exist in various shades of green, yellow, fiery orange and some fine earth colours. The rhodolite garnet is a magnificent velvety red with a raspberry-red undertone. Garnets are found in Africa, India, Russia, Central and South America. |
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Iolite Iolite is a transparent violet-blue gemstone which changes colour depending on which angle it is viewed from. It has been compared to light blue sapphire and is sometimes known as 'Water Sapphire". Legend has it that the Vikings used thin pieces of Iolite as the world's first polarizing filter. Looking through an Iolite lens, they could determine the exact position of the sun on overcast days and navigate their boats safely. Hence Iolite is also know as the "Viking's Compass". Most of the Iolite available today comes from Sri Lanka, India and Madagascar. |
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Jasper Jasper is an opaque and fine grained variety of Chalcedony. It is found in red, brown, pink, yellow, green, grayish white and shades of blue and purple. It is believed to be an intensely protective gem which stabilizes the aura and rids it of dysfunctional energy, facilitating relaxation, contentment and compassion. Jasper is found in U.S.A., Madagascar, Germany, India, France, and Mexico. |
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Lapis Lazuli Lapis lazuli is an opaque deep blue gemstone with golden inclusions which shimmer like little stars. It was one of the first gemstones to be worn as jewellery. The incredible blue was also used in the world of art, ground up into powder, the marble like gemstone was used by the Old Masters to create brilliant blue paints which were used in many pictures of the Madonna. Lapis lazuli is regarded as the stone of friendship and truth and is said to encourage harmony in relationships. The main supplies of Lapis Lazuli are found in the Afghanistan, Egypt, Canada, Chile, the US, and South America. |
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Opal Fine opals shine and sparkle in a continually changing play of colours, described as "opalizing". Australia is the most important supplier of fine opals, although it is also found in Brazil and Mexico. |
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Onyx Onyx is a Chalcedony quartz with a fine texture and parallel bands of black and white. Associated with instincts and intuition, it is also thought to restore confidence in life and love, increasing happiness. |
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Pearls Pearls, perhaps the best-loved gems of all time, are organic gems, created when an oyster covers a foreign object with beautiful layers of nacre. Freshwater pearls are created in mussels, in much the same way that saltwater pearls occur in oysters in the ocean. When foreign material gets into the shell, causing irritation, the oyster or mussel covers the object with nacre, the substance used to build shells, which creates the pearl. Pearls are graded according to their shape, colour, lustre, surface clarity and size. Fine pearls have a very high lustre and sparkle and the surface is without marks or imperfections. Regularity of the shape, size and colour also affect the value of pearls with rose tints being the most favoured. Freshwater pearls are noted for their range of colour; found in white, silvery white, pink, salmon, red, copper, bronze, brown, lavender, purple, green, blue cream and yellow. Although white is the most common colour, the most desirable are the pastel pinks, roses, lavenders and purples. The different colours are a function of the mussel species, genetics, water quality and the position of the pearl in the shell. Generally pearls assume the colour of the shell in which they form. Freshwater pearls are cultivated on special aqua-farms mainly in Japan and China. Biwi pearls were formed when Japanese pearl farmers experimented with freshwater mussels in Lake Biwi, near Kyoto, Japan in the 1930s. Forming in unique and glorious colours, Biwi and Keishi pearls have a lustre and luminance which makes them most appealing Detecting natural pearls from imitation pearls: Natural pearls can be distinguished from imitation pearls with a simple 'tooth test'. Take the pearl and rub it gently against the biting edge of your front tooth. Natural pearls will feel slightly rough because of the texture of natural nacre. Imitations will feel as smooth as glass because the surface is moulded or painted on a smooth bead. |
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Peridot Frequently mistaken for emerald, Peridot has a magnificent vivid green colour with a slight gold shimmer. While the most valued colour hue is rich grass-like green, many Peridots with slight yellowish hues exhibit attractive colours that can still command premium prices. Peridot's popularity has been revived in recent years following the discovery of an exciting new deposit in Pakistan, and these stones are among the finest ever seen. Peridot is thought to be an excellent healing stone, inspiring renewal, purification, rebirth and growth. It is also said to alleviate anger, jealousy and irritation and is associated with stress reduction, relaxation, health, vigour, comfort and intuition. It is found in Myanmar, Pakistan, United States |
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Quartz One of Earth's most abundant minerals, Quartz is also one of the most interesting. It makes up about 12% of the Earth's crust, occurring in a wide variety of rocks. The gem varieties of Quartz have been used as gemstones for thousands of years. It is found in a variety of colours Rose Quartz is a pale and delicate powder pink, which can range from transparent to translucent. Smokey Quartz is a brown transparent quartz also known as 'Champagne on Ice". It is the national gem of Scotland. Rock Crystal is colourless quartz. Used universally in meditation, quartz is believed to possess healing properties and the ability to attract positive energies, such as peace and love. The subtle energy of Quartz is said to balance the emotions, giving inner peace and harmony. |
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Rhodochrosite Rhodochrosite is a very attractive gem with beautiful rose colour and vivid pink-rose hues that seems to be transmitted out of the crystal as if lit from within. Rhodochrosite is believed by crystal healers to be a gemstone of love and balance for emotions and male/female energies. It is found in Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Russia, Namibia, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, the USA and Canada. |
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Rhodonite Rhodonite is typically pink, red or orange colour with black or green. It is sometimes called the "Singer's Stone", because it is said to enhance sensitivity to sound. It is found in Russia, Australia, Sweden, Brazil and U.S.A. |
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Swarovski Crystal Austrian fine cut crystal available in a multitude of colours and cuts. |
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Tanzanite Tanzanite is an extraordinary striking blue gemstone, found in only one place in the world; the East African state of Tanzania. This fabulous blue gemstone ranges from ultramarine to light violet-blue. The most sought after colour is a blue surrounded by a fine hint of purple Discovered as recently as 1967, it is rapidly becoming one of the most coveted gemstones in the world, owing to its fantastic colour and the exclusivity of its origin. |
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Topaz Topaz comes in a wide array of colours including pink, blue, yellow, orange-pink and green with Blue Topaz being is the most popular. Its unique crystal structure makes Topaz a hard and dense gemstone and because of this pure clear Topaz has often been mistaken for Diamond. Topaz is found around the globe in Australia, Brazil, Russia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Pakistan, Norway and China. |
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Birthstones |
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| January | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine |
| April | Diamond |
| May | Emerald |
| June | Pearl |
| July | Ruby |
| August | Peridot |
| September | Sapphire |
| October | Opal |
| November | Topaz |
| December | Turquoise |
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Anniversary Stones |
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| 1st | Gold |
| 2nd | Garnet |
| 3rd | Pearls |
| 4th | Blue Topaz |
| 5th | Sapphire |
| 6th | Amethyst |
| 7th | Onyx |
| 8th | Tourmaline |
| 9th | Lapiz Lazuli |
| 10th | Diamond |
| 11th | Turquoise |
| 12th | Jade |
| 13th | Citrine |
| 14th | Opal |
| 15th | Ruby |
| 16th | Peridot |
| 17th | Watches |
| 18th | Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl |
| 19th | Aquamarine |
| 20th | Emerald |
| 21st | Iolite |
| 22nd | Spinel |
| 23rd | Imperial Topaz |
| 24th | Tanzanite |
| 25th | Silver Jubilee |
| 30th | Pearl Jubilee |
| 35th | Emerald |
| 40th | Ruby |
| 45th | Sapphire |
| 50th | Golden Jubilee |
| 55th | Alexandrite |
| 60th | Diamond Jubilee |
| 70th | Sapphire Jubilee |
| 80th | Ruby Jubilee |
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Care for Pearls
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