gem indentification

Garnets are the birthstone for January. A deep red color is most common but they come in every shade of the rainbow except blue. As early as the time of the Egyptian pharaohs, garnets were popular. They have been found with their mummified corpses. Garnets were very popular in the 19th and 20th century and are a popular stone today because it is common and inexpensive. If you look hard...

Citrine is the birthstone for November and is the 17th year marriage anniversary gift.  This semiprecious stone whose name is derived from the French word citron meaning “the yellow of lemon”, is a most sought after stone and the clearer it is the more value it possesses. The best color is a saturated yellow to reddish orange with no hint of brown.  The larger the stone, the more golden it...

An amethyst ring is of the quartz variety and comes in shades of purple.  When looking for an amethyst ring, bracelet, pendant or earrings, you will want to look for a stone with a medium dark, strongly saturated reddish purple hue. It is the birthstone for February and the older popular beliefs offered by this stone are protection from drunkenness, protection against evil spirits and it is supposed to bring...

You have your heart set on an estate opal ring or a vintage opal ring surrounded by diamonds.  To follow is information about this luxury stone, the white opal. The background of your white opal ring would be translucent white to gray in color that shows a play of color when tilted back and forth. Commercial grade opal will look “pale and cloudy yellow or brownish with faint, scattered play...