Zircon’s name is either derived from the Arabic word “zarkun,” meaning red, or a combination of the ancient Persian words “zar,” meaning gold and “gun,” meaning color. Despite this name, Zircon actually occurs in a myriad of colors. Zircon’s brilliant luster,...

The name Turquoise is derived from the French “pierre turquois” meaning “Turkish Stone.” This is because western Europeans mistakenly thought the gem came from Turkey. In fact it came from the Sinai Peninsula or the Alimersai Mountain in Persia (now Iran),...

Boasting a colorful and romantic history, Tourmaline rivals all but the most unique gems as it is found in an incredible array of gorgeous colors. Coming in a palette of over 100 different hues, Tourmaline is one of the world’s...

The origin of the name Topaz generates confusion, as some references point to the Sanskrit word “tapaz,” meaning fire, while others believe it is named after Zeberget, an island in the Red Sea that the Greeks called Topazius, the ancient...

Tiger’s Eye is the best known variety of chatoyant Quartz (or Cat’s Eye Quartz). Tiger’s Eye, with its bands resembling the eye of a tiger, received its name due to this similarity. Tiger’s Eye is also called Crocidolite Cat’s Eye...

We are not alone! Since the beginning of time the curiosity of humankind has been aroused by the descent of “shooting stars” or meteorites into our world. So catch a falling star as we discover the mystery behind this extraterrestrial...

Displaying an aurora of stunning blues and violets, Tanzanite’s popularity is well deserved. Demand for Tanzanite has rocketed in recent years, outstripping sales of all other colored gemstones, with the exception of Sapphire. A thousand times rarer than Diamonds and...

Radiating with the power of eternal light, sunstone has been coveted since antiquity for its ability to guide its wearer through the journey of life. Sunstone is also known as aventurine feldspar or heliolite, from the Greek “helios” for sun...

Spinel was once mistaken for Ruby and Sapphire, but it’s no impostor, rather a “master of disguise.” One of the gem kingdom’s best kept secrets, Spinel is treasured for its eternal brilliance and spectacular colors. Whether your fascination with gems...

Sphene is named after the Greek word for wedge, because its crystals are typically wedge shaped. As it contains titanium, Sphene is also sometimes referred to by its mineral name, Titanite. One of the world’s newest and rarest gems, Sphene possesses...

Beautiful and rare, Sillimanite is named for the famous American geologist Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864). Sillimanite is sometime referred to as Fibrolite. Sillimanite is not only scarce, but also difficult for miners to identify and problematic for cutters. These three attributes...

Since the dawn of time, Sapphires have captivated and mesmerized jewelry connoisseurs the world over. From hot pink to forest green, Sapphire’s spectrum of colors is truly kaleidoscopic. Fancy Sapphires get their unique colors from the iron, chromium, titanium and other...

Sapphires derive their name from the Latin word “sapphirus,” meaning blue, and are often referred to as the “gem of the heavens” or the “celestial gem,” as their colors mirror the sky at different times of the day. The word Sapphire,...

The beauty, rarity and historical mystique of Rubies are undeniable. Ruby derives its name from the Latin word for red, “rufus.” Ruby is July’s birthstone, the gemstone for Capricorns and the traditional 15th and 40th anniversary gift. Legends and lore The historical...

The Greeks originally named Quartz “krystallos,” meaning ice, but this term was soon applied to any crystal. In fact, the modern name of Quartz is derived from the Saxon word “querklufterz,” meaning “cross-vein-ore.” Although Quartz of sufficient beauty to be set...

Pyrite has a shiny golden yellow color and a metallic luster. The name comes from the Greek word “pyr,” meaning “a gemstone that strikes fire.” This is due to the sparks produced when Pyrite strikes iron. While Pyrite is often...

With its gorgeous greens and unique translucency, Prehnite is a wonderful rare exotic gem, which despite a suitable durability, has only recently gained popularity as a jewelry gemstone. Named after the Dutch mineralogist and early governor of the “Cape of Good...

Displaying gorgeous deep raspberry pinks, Pezzottaite is a relatively new gemstone that has been subject to much confusion due to its similarities with the Red variety of Beryl, Bixbite. Just the Facts Pezzottaite was discovered in November 2002 at the Sakavalana mine...

Shining with a bright green glow even at night, Peridot was called the “gem of the sun” by the ancient Egyptians and the “evening emerald” by Romans. Peridot was a favorite gemstone of Cleopatra and was historically mistaken for Emerald....

Pearls are one of the oldest known gems and for centuries were considered the most valuable. So valuable if fact, that the Roman General Vitellius allegedly financed an entire military campaign with just one of his mother’s Pearl earrings! Thankfully, the...