All About Garnets
by Jourdan Block
February 24, 2021
All garnets have essentially the same crystal structure, but they vary in chemical composition.
Engagement Ring Styles: Seven Irresistible Trends
by Jourdan Block
February 24, 2021
Trending diamond shapes include marquise, cushion cut and oval. Pink is in, as are two-tone halo settings.
A Peach of A Gem
by Jourdan Block
February 24, 2021
Morganite — named after financier J.P. Morgan — is most often pale pink to orange-pink.
Way to Glow!
by Jourdan Block
February 23, 2021
The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center is produced in nitrogen-bearing diamond through the combination of a single nitrogen atom and a vacancy. It can ...
Jurassic Jewelry
by Jourdan Block
February 23, 2021
Part fossil, part gem — Ammolite is the trade name for fossilized ammonite, an extinct marine invertebrate, that has an iridescent sheen. A lot h...
Dyed-in-the-Wool Opals?
by Jourdan Block
February 23, 2021
Purple opals exist but are not known to display play-of-color like these specimens do.
All Eyes on Moonstone
by Jourdan Block
February 23, 2021
Moonstone can come in a variety of colors, including colorless, green, orange, gray and brown. The most valuable moonstones are colorless with an...
Corundum Rock Stars
by Jourdan Block
February 23, 2021
The definition of a phenomenon as “an object or aspect known through the senses,” according to Webster’s dictionary, might explain why some gemst...
The Perfect Host
by Jourdan Block
February 23, 2021
This glowing ruby reportedly from Badakhshan, Afghanistan is nestled in white marble host rock. Marble-hosted ruby is typically more sought-after...
A Striking Family Photo
by Jourdan Block
February 23, 2021
Labradorite feldspars can come in many different colors, but labradorites that display labradorescence — broad, iridescent flashes of color — are the most well-known and sought-after.
Nature's Time Capsule
by Jourdan Block
February 23, 2021
Did you know that all amber is over a million years old? In addition to having a beautiful glow and a wonderful scent when rubbed or burned, this...
Ignite Your Passion for Opals
by Jourdan Block
February 23, 2021
Opal evaluation should be done under controlled lighting on a dark background.
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