Diopside was named in 1800 from the Greek word “dis” meaning double and “opsis” meaning vision, in reference to the pleochroism (different colors displayed when viewed from different angles) found in its prismatic form. Legends and lore Diopside is also called the...

The word Diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas,” meaning unconquerable or invincible. “Diamonds are forever,” sang Shirley Bassey, while Marilyn insisted they were “a girl’s best friend.” Celebrated in song, over the last century Diamond (April’s birthstone) has become the...

Citrine is the yellow variety of macrocrystalline Quartz that takes its name from “citron,” the French word for lemon. Citrine is a beautiful transparent gemstone and one of November’s birthstones. Legends and lore Citrine was first used in jewelry in Greece during...

Chrysoprase’s name comes from the Greek words “chrysos,” meaning gold and “prason,” meaning leek, due to its color similarities with the vegetable. One of the most coveted varieties of Chalcedony Quartz, Chrysoprase is prized for its apple green color and rarity. Legends...

The gem of springtime, youth and innocence, the name Chrysoberyl is derived from the Greek words for golden, “chryso,” and green gemstone, “Beryl.” Its rarest variety, Alexandrite (the color change variety of Chrysoberyl), is quite well known, although the number of...

Chalcedony’s (also spelled Calcedony, it is correctly pronounced as “Kal-ced-on-ee” and is the catchall term for cryptocrystalline Quartz) name is derived from Chalcedon or Calchedon, an ancient port of Bithynia, near present day Istanbul, Turkey. It has a waxy luster and...

Also known as Sadoine or Mecca Stone and sometimes spelled Cornelian, the name is derived from the Latin world for flesh, “carne,” due to its orangey red color. Legends and lore Carnelian has been an important gem in nearly every great civilization....

The name Beryl is from the ancient Greek “beryllos” for the precious blue-green color of sea water. This was originally applied to all green gemstones, but later used only for Beryl. Some scholars believe the word Beryl is related to...

Aventurine’s name is derived from an accident. During the 18th century, Venetian glass workers were preparing molten glass when copper filings accidentally fell into the batch, producing glass with sparkles. The name Aventurine comes from the Italian “a ventura” which...

Symbolizing the near perfect clarity and transparency of the ocean, the sheer beauty of Aquamarine, with its wonderful color and fantastic clarity, makes it popular with both the collector and the wearer of fine jewelry. It will come as no...

While it sounds like it’s hungry, it’s actually trying to fool you! The name Apatite comes from the Greek word “apatao,” meaning “to deceive,” as Apatite has often been confused with gems such as Paraiba Tourmaline, Peridot (Olivine) and Beryl....

Andalusite, an aluminum silicate, derives its name from the site of its discovery, Almeria in the southern Spanish province of Andalusia. While Andalusite’s color play has been compared to Alexandrite, this is technically incorrect, as pleochroic (displaying different colors in different...

Ametrine is one of the world’s most unusual gemstones in that it is actually two gems in one! Multicolor Ametrine blends the golden sunburst of Citrine with the purple sunset of Amethyst. Legends and lore Ametrine is said to posses all the...

AMBER -Preserves prehistoric life forms Origins – Russia Colors Found – Golden yellow, pale yellow, blue, green, deep cherry red to dark brown Family – Organics Hardness – 2.00 – 2.50 Refractive Index – 1.53 – 1.55 Relative Density – 1.05 – 1.09 Amber is the ancient...

.An Overview of Amethyst .Composition .Color and Grade .History .Alternate terminology .Geographic distribution .Value .Amethyst in mythology and astrology Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz often used as an ornament. The name comes from the Greek a (“not”) and methustos (“to intoxicate”), a reference to the belief...

Known in Russia as the “gem of the tsars,” Alexandrite is truly a miraculous gemstone. Often described as “Emerald by day” and “Ruby by night,” when viewed under sunlight Alexandrite appears teal to forest green, but when seen by candlelight,...

Agate is the banded form of Chalcedony (also spelled Calcedony and correctly pronounced as “Kal-ced-on-ee,” it is the catchall term for cryptocrystalline Quartz) and its name was derived from the site of its discovery, the river Achates (now Dirillo) in...

When shopping for a gemstone, you are faced with an array of amazingly diverse choices, with as many different colors, cuts and countries of origin to choose from as there are individual styles. As a bridge between two cultures,...