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Gem in the Spotlight: Sapphire

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Sapphire

Few gems capture the imagination as does sapphire. Sapphire‘s beauty inspired people to wonder. Ancient cultures had many lore and beliefs about the sapphire. The … the earth rested on a giant sapphire whose reflection gave the sky its color. Ancient priests and sorcerers honored sapphire above all gems, for this stone enabled them to interpret oracles and foretell the future. Symbolizing truth, … partners put great faith in the stone. If its luster dimmed, one knew his or her spouse had been unfaithful. Sapphire refused to shine when worn by the wicked or impure. Known as the celestial gemstone, the sapphire has been treasured for …

Gem in the Spotlight: Iolite

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Iolite, Jewelry History

…near the top of the list. Iolite’s color range of blue, blue-violet, and violet competes for public attention with sapphire, tanzanite, and amethyst. They may have name recognition, but iolite has a rich, unique color and great gem value on …. The Gemology of Iolite Iolite is the gem variety of the mineral Cordierite. Iolite was once known as a “water sapphire”. Dichroite is another synonym for iolite. Dichroite is a Greek word which loosely translates as two-colored rock. This …

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Birthstones, Folklore, Gemology

… been a symbol of love, charity and victory. The bible states that wisdom is “more precious than rubies”. Rubies and sapphires are the same mineral, corundum. Ruby is red and any other color is called sapphire. Learn more about Ruby August’s … and durability making it suitable for regular wear and its brilliance is on par with even the most beautiful sapphires and rubies. It has a long and rich history and has even been mistaken for ruby in the crown jewels. Sardonyx is a lesser …

Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Jewelry History, Spinel, Synthetic Gemstones

… out of the shadows and be appreciated in its own right, and we can see why. Its colors rival even the best rubies, sapphires, tourmalines, and other more popular gems. For only the 3rd time in the last one hundred years, the industry is … of all time. Spinel was first made in a lab over 100 years ago when scientists who were trying to synthesize blue sapphire wound up creating spinel by mistake. Since then many processes have been used and perfected to create spinel in even …

What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?

FJU Category: Lab Grown Diamonds | Tags: Consumer Protection, Gemology, Lab Grown Diamonds, Moissanite, Synthetic Gemstones

…. Simulants are gems that look like a real, natural gem but are actually another material. So, a clear or white sapphire can be a diamond simulant because it looks like a diamond. That white sapphire can be natural or, here’s the trick, …natural vs synthetic), but that it is a substitute that looks like another gem. So, we can say that a man-made white sapphire is a “synthetic sapphire” or that it can be used as a “diamond simulant,” but it would be incorrect to say that it …

Alternative Metals for Men’s Jewelry

FJU Category: Jewelry Metals | Tags: Alternative Metals, Black Band, Non-Traditional

… 6,191 degrees Fahrenheit. Tungsten is rated at about a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness which is the same as Ruby or Sapphire and just below diamond (which is 10). Like these gems, tungsten is very scratch resistant and will not bend out of …come in around 7-8 on the Mohs hardness scale which is about the same as quartz or topaz but softer than tungsten or sapphire. Like most alternative metals, cobalt chrome bands are hypoallergenic and biocompatible. But, in our experience, …