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| Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl |
Above: Natural Cat's Eye Sri Lanka12.52ct |
Cat's Eye Chysoberl is the birthstone for November. Ancient believed cat's eye to provide the user protection against evil, brings forward luck and healing energy for the mind and body. Cat's Eye are found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Russia and South Africa. On the Mohs scale of hardness, sapphire ranks 8.5. Cat's Eye are considered very rare amongst the gemstone family of chrysoberyl. Alexandrite Cat's Eye are even more rate. Cat's Eyes are birthstones for November. TreatmentThere is no treatment for this stone. Some substitute immitation stones are tiger's eye, glass, chatoyant apatite, chatoyant tourmalines. |
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| Sapphire |
Above: Natural Unheated Ceylon Sapphire 6.20ct |
The word "Sapphire" comes from the Persian word "lazhward" which was the name of a place known for its deposit of deep blue stone. It symbolized truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. The ancient believed that sapphires draw protection and prophetic wisdom to the user. Tradition holds that Moses was given the ten commandment on tablest of sapphire, making it the most sacred gemstone. Because sapphire is associated with divine favor, it is most often the gemstones used for kings and high priest. Sapphires are found in India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa. On the Mohs scale of hardness, sapphire ranks 9. All the corundum other than ruby and padparadscha, are given the name sapphire. Sapphires are birthstones for September and are recommended for the 45th year wedding anniversary. TreatmentLike ruby, sapphire are usually heated. Natural unheated sapphire are very rare. Diffusion heating is another kind of treatment where pigment is added to intensify the color of the stone. The color is permanent in diffusion treated gemstone. |
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| Emerald |
Above: Natural Columbian Emerald 5.39ct |
The emerald has been known since ancient Egypt. Believed by the ancient to empower the owner with foresight into the future and protection to the eyesight and pregnant women. Cleopatra prized emeralds more than any other gemstone. It is found in Columbia, Brazil, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Russia, and North Carolina. On the Mohs scale of hardness, emeralds rank 7.5 to 8. However, compared to the rest of the beryl family, emeralds are somewhat more brittle due to its natural inclusions. Emeralds are birthstones for May and are recommended for the 20th and 35th year wedding anniversary. TreatmentPerfect natural emerald with no inclusions are very rare. It is common practice to immerse emerald in oil or dip in resin to minimize the appearance of the natural inclusions. If the stone is dipped in oil, the oil will dry up over time, and the stone will need to be re-dip again to maintain the luster. Unlike diamond, this practice does not devalue the the stone. |
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| Ruby |
Above: Natural Unheated Burmese Ruby 4.35ct |
Since the beginning of time, many cultures and peoples have admired this gemstone because of its beauty and color. Rubies represent love, passion, sexual desire and power. Rubies are found in Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. On the Mohs scale of hardness, rubies rank 9- strongest after diamonds. The durable, strong gemstones have a beautiful luster, not as bright as diamonds, but beautiful in their unique way. Rubies are birthstones for July and are recommended for the 15th year wedding anniversary. TreatmentPerfect natural rubies that are pure red with no brown or blue overtones are rare and expensive. Some producers do heat enhancement on rubies. Heat enhancement intensifies or lightens the color; it is a permanent and stable process. Other types of enhancements are surface diffusion, fracture filling, and cavity filling. Surface diffusion makes a colorless or light sapphire red by adding a layer of red color. Fracture filling is when the gem's fractures are filled with oil or resin. Cavity filling improves clarity by filling cavities. Heat and surface diffusion are stable enhancements, but fracture and cavity fillings are fair. Heat or chemicals can damage or destroy the filling. |
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