Ametit

19/02/2017

This week's stone is the page's namesake: AMETHYST

Amethyst is one of the most precious and valuable stones belonging to the quartz group of minerals, with exception to rare blue-green gem silica.

It is recognized as the official birthstone for the month of February. Amethyst owe its violet/purple color to iron and aluminum impurities. Without such coloring agents, amethyst would simply be transparent, ordinary colorless quartz. Like other varieties of macrocrystalline quartz, amethyst has transparent to translucent clarity and a vitreous luster.

Since purple is considered to be one of the royal colors, amethyst has a historical importance as an insignia of power. Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and they were also a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty. Amethyst also holds a high place in the ranks of the Christian church and was referred to as "the stone of bishops".

The Greek word "amethystos" translates into "not drunken" and it was often worn as an amulet to protect against intoxication. Since amethyst was considered an antidote against drunkenness, many wine goblets were carved from amethyst stone. Still to this day, violet-purple amethyst is a symbol of sobriety.

30/01/2017

This week's stone is calling back the summer: Heliodor!

Heliodor is a golden yellow stone that was first discovered at Rossing, Erongo, Western Namibia in 1910. Heliodor is a form of beryl, and is actually the most brilliant form of all the beryls.

Because of the stone’s unusually vibrant yellow color, it was given the name heliodor, from the Greek words helios and doron, meaning, gift from the sun. Heliodor in fact, has always been linked with the sun.

Heliodor is a hope stone, alleviating irritability and nervousness, and providing relief from heavy burdens and immense pressure. It brings stability and optimism.

Heliodor has been used as a talisman to bring out honesty in others, and to regain what has been lost in terms of employment, prospects or money. It is an excellent crystal for the self-employed, or for those who struggle to balance care-giving and career.

In the workplace, Heliodor boosts drive and determination to succeed if others have worn away your enthusiasm. Carry or wear Heliodor to persuade others to back you financially or with resources.

Keep Heliodor in your home, or wear it as a gem, to increase your happiness and buoyant energy, especially in winter or if your home is dark with little natural light. It also helps you acclimate if you move to a colder part of the world, and a small piece of Heliodor allows tropical animals, fish and birds to live happier in a cold environment.

05/01/2017

A new year calls for something truly special - the PARAIBA TOURMALINE!

The unusual blue-green paraiba tourmaline was first discovered in the Brazililan state of Paraiba in 1989 by a dedicated miner named Heitor Barbosa. Barbosa worked the Mina da Bathalha for over 5 years before he found the first samples of this extremely rare tourmaline. These gems had an unusual vivid blue-green that had never been seen before in any gemstone. They appeared to glow with a neon or electric-like quality, even in the rough stone. Analysis showed that this unique effect was due to the presence of copper and manganese.

The market demand for Paraiba tourmaline was so strong, and the supply so limited, that it became almost impossible for gem dealers to buy stock. However, in 2001 some similar copper-bearing blue-green tourmaline was discovered in Nigeria, though the color saturation was not as good as the Brazilian material. Then in 2005, a third find was made, this time in Mozambique. The Mozambican material was found in a range of colors, from green to blue-green or violet, with a color similar to the Brazilian Paraiba. In fact the Mozambican paraiba is often cleaner than the Brazilian (which tends to be heavily included) and is found in larger sizes.

26/12/2016

This week's stone is the EMERALD!

Emerald is the most precious stone in the beryl group. The name comes from the old French word 'esmeralde', which was derived from the Greek word 'smaragdos' meaning 'green stone'.

The historical green color of emerald is unparalleled in the world of gemstones and it is considered as one of the most 'precious four' of all gemstones, which also includes sapphire, ruby and diamond. Although emeralds are one of the most valuable gemstones available today, most are very heavily included, rendering their resistance to breakage as generally poor.

Although Colombia is the most famous source for 'deep green' emeralds, emerald deposits are mined from many locations around the world. Recent decades have seen emerald production increase as a result of newly discovered deposits in South America, Africa and across Europe. Today, Brazil and Zambia are among the leading producers of fine emeralds, following Colombia. Brazilian emeralds are prized for their excellent clarity and slightly yellowish green color, while Zambian emeralds are desired for their slightly bluish green color, which is similar to that of Colombia's 'emerald-green' emeralds.

Innumerable fantastic stories have grown up around this magnificent gem. The Incas and Aztecs of South America, where the best emeralds are still found today, regarded the emerald as a holy gemstone. However, probably the oldest known finds were made near the Red Sea in Egypt. These gemstone mines, exploited by Egyptian pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 B.C. and later referred to as "Cleopatra's Mines", had already been exhausted by the time they were rediscovered in the early 19th century.

Written many centuries ago, the Vedas, the holy scriptures of the Hindus, say the following of the precious green gems and their healing properties: 'Emeralds promise good luck' and 'the emerald enhances the well-being'. No wonder the treasure chests of Indian maharajas and maharanis contained wonderful emeralds. Emerald is the official birthstone for May and the official anniversary gemstone for commemorating the 20th and 35th year of marriage.

17/12/2016

Rarest gemstones summed up! What's your favorite?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjn7yPzwCT8

Here are the 13 most rare and valuable gemstones and minerals ever seen in the world like the blye Benitoite and red diamonds! Subscribe for new videos Monda...

15/12/2016

Winter is here, so This week's stone has some "internal fire": IMPERIAL TOPAZ

Imperial topaz is also known as "precious topaz". It is the most sought after natural topaz.

Considered to be the colour of the setting sun, imperial topaz gets its name from the Russian Tsars of the 17th century. This is because the tsars claimed exclusive rights to the pink topaz gemstones that were mined in Russia.

Imperial topaz is rarer than other types of naturally occurring topaz, which makes it more valuable. It was traditionally considered to be orange with red dichroism, (this means that when tilted in the light, imperial topaz can appear red or orange), but nowadays it is more widely defined as yellow, pink, red, lavender-pink and peach-pink topaz.

The natural pink variety is very rare. Brazilian imperial topaz can range in colour from bright yellow to deep golden brown and is sometimes even violet.
Imperial topaz can be distinguished from other pink gems such as kunzite, tourmaline, sapphire and ruby by its hardness (8 on the Mohs scale).

The ancient Greeks believed that topaz was a powerful stone that could increase the strength of the wearer and even provide invisibility. Both the ancient Egyptians and the Romans associated yellow topaz with the Sun God.

Imperial topaz is the birthstone for those born in November and for those born under the zodiacal sign of Sagittarius. It is also the gemstone that commemorates the 23rd wedding anniversary. In traditional Indian belief systems, topaz is said to unlock the throat chakra, which facilitates communication and self-expression. Therefore, topaz is thought to be beneficial to artists, writers, public speakers and others who are concerned with self-expression.

11/12/2016

What's your birthstone? Does it match your coloring :) ?

11/12/2016

Did you know? There's always a reason to celebrate love and beauty. Sometimes even both!

11/12/2016

This week's stone is CHRYSOBERYL:

Chrysoberyl is a rare gem with some outstanding characteristics, but it is so little known that even many gem dealers don't stock it.

Despite its name, chrysoberyl is not a member of the beryl species! The beryls (emerald, aquamarine, golden beryl and morganite) are aluminum beryllium silicates, whereas chrysoberyl is beryllium aluminum oxide. However, the chrysoberyl species does have some very distinguished members. The chrysoberyl family includes two even rarer gemstones; alexandrite, which is famous for its color change, and chrysoberyl cat's eye, the original cat's eye gemstone.

So what makes chrysoberyl so special? For one thing, it is an extremely hard gem, with a rating of 8.5 on the Mohs scale. Only ruby, sapphire and diamond are harder. Chrysoberyl also has a high refractive index, just slightly lower than ruby and sapphire, so it has excellent brilliance. It has a vitreous luster and very clean and transparent specimens can be found. It is always untreated. Yet it sells at very affordable prices, primarily due to its low profile in the gemstone world.

In gemstone lore, chrysoberyl is associated with discipline and self-control. It is said to promote concentration and the ability to learn. Additionally, it is thought to help the wearer strive for excellence. Chrysoberyl is also said to bring peace of mind, clearer thinking and increased self-confidence.

Chrysoberyl deposits are found in Brazil, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Russia, United States and Zimbabwe.

For more information and availability of chrysoberyl gemstones, contact us!

05/12/2016

Blue Quartz

05/12/2016

New items!

21/11/2016