Perhaps because fine gemstone jewelry can be quite an investment, from selecting the perfect color and cut of the loose gemstone to finding the right metal and setting to house the colored stone to choosing the accents, it is no wonder so many people think there are “rules” to wearing fine gemstone jewelry. Do you have to save these pieces for just “special” occasions? Can you mix different color metals? How many rings are too many?

Lets take these one at a time:

Arent you supposed to save your colored gemstone jewelry for special occasions? No way! If the piece is very ornate (large and dripping in diamonds) or costly you might want to hold off wearing it until that special event: but otherwise your gemstone jewelry is meant to be worn, and enjoyed: and will look great even with a t-shirt and jeans. Burma rubies, sapphires, and stones like aquamarine, spinel, demantoid garnet, alexandrite and the range of beautiful tourmaline are all durable enough to wear every single day. The only time you might take off your pieces is when youre doing heavy yard work, painting, working with harsh chemicals, or doing other tasks of the sort.

Are colored gemstones acceptable for use in engagement rings? Absolutely! Many women through the ages (royalty, the incredibly wealthy and just regular folks as well) have chosen a colored gemstone as the centerpiece in the ring theyll wear for the rest of their lives. This trend is increasingly popular, with rubies and sapphires leading the way: but with so many other rich and beautiful gemstones, theres no limit to the color you can choose and the ring you can create - a piece as unique and beautiful as your love.

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Choosing a loose colored gemstone to be a part of your jewelry wardrobe is a smart move: and it gives you plenty of options in terms of colors, shapes and sizes. Of course stunning gemstone jewelry isnt the only way to enjoy fine quality gems. Often collectors purchase and display beautiful specimens as part of an extensive gem collection that can also be admired and appreciated.

Whether youd like to wear or just admire a gemstone, buying loose stones is an increasingly popular, and very smart, way to buy. Heres why:

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Due to its proximity to some of the most historic and profitable mines in the world, Bangkok has a wide-reaching reputation for being the premier gem trading capital. Bangkok is not only a gem cutting and fashion center, but it also offers a wide range of high quality gems that can be shipped quickly to customers anywhere. Plus, the government has a hand in organizing massive gem and jewelry sales for which they will even provide taxicabs to transport buyers.

Bangkok is surrounded by mines - not only across Asia, but also in Thailand. Thailand (the country in which Bangkok is situated), is known for its sapphire mines. Myanmar, where the rare and valuable Burma rubies are mined, is located a short distance away. Burma not only produces the finest rubies, it also produces exquisite sapphires and the worlds finest jadeite jade stones. In addition, there are exquisite sapphire mines located in nearby Cambodia. Therefore, Bangkok provides a center point for gemstone trade and fashion based on its central Asian location and on the eagerness of gemologists to maintain the citys reputation for providing the highest-quality possible gemstones.

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This is a service to all the jewelry-loving women out there, whose significant other has no clue about how to choose the right jewelry for her. The holidays are almost upon us, and many men will be agonizing over just what to get. When it comes to jewelry giving, there are lots of options:an endless number of stunningly colored gemstones: different metals and accent stones: its hard to know what to choose or where to start.

Buying the right colored gemstone piece for the woman in your life isnt hard: if you think about each of the types of jewelry you can design with her in mind…

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the name of this stunning gem comes from the Sinhalese words for the lotus blossom: an apt description as these remarkable color stones range from an orange pink to pink: a perfect blend of the pink of the lotus flower and a tropical sunset. The child born of the marriage of a rich red ruby and a yellow sapphire, the padparadscha is the only other corundum, besides ruby, to have earned the distinction of being given its own name.

The most well known source of padparadscha is Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and many purists today believe the name should be restricted only to stones from this region. However, fine specimens have also been found in Vietnam, Tanzania and Madagascar. Stones from these areas often have brown overtones and come in rich “orange-juice” or “papaya” oranges that are quite striking and beautiful.

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Whether you are a jeweler looking for a high-quality gemstone to feature in your next colored stone necklace or are a wholesaler wanting to make sure you have a complete collection for your customers to choose from, having gemstones in the right shapes can sometimes make or break your business. Not only do you need to have gemstones in the right shapes, but you also need to know what shapes are available just in case a customer asks.

Nearly every gemstone can be shaped into just about anything. In fact, there are more than 20 common shapes alone. Here is an overview of some of the most popular gemstone shapes, including those shapes that we carry at AJS Gems:

Heart Cut

The heart cut is a gemstone literally shaped like a heart. If cut correctly, a heart-shaped gemstone with have brilliant color as the light reflects off of each of the precise angles…

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through the ages gemstones have been appreciated for their beauty and also credited with a variety of different properties. The metaphysical properties of some of the most beautiful natural colored gemstones are discussed in an earlier post, now its time to get more specific on how you get those benefits: the calming, the healing, the inner strength: whatever it is you seek from a particular gemstone.

Begin this process by thinking about the things you need in your life: the energy that you would like to attract. Next, review the list of gemstones to see what properties each brings to the wearer. Perhaps its the calming and wisdom of the rich red Burma Ruby: the healing, balancing energies of garnet and amethyst: the ability to attract wealth that comes from sparkling citrine: or the need for a bit of peace and joy that is the gift of rich, radiant sapphire: there are enough choices for every need and stage of life…

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Further exploration of Joe the Aspiring Designers Cornflower Blue Sapphire to learn more about its origin and treatments…

This is a darkroom view with the table facing up. The cat scratch type inclusions that are more or less parallel and linear are rutile crystals forming long needles. These arent the same types of needles you see as text book examples, but these are rutile inclusions in crystalline form that appear in various corundum from various places. The nail head type inclusion near the bottom is also seen in Madagascar rubies as well as something that GRS has imagery of in Burma sapphires. If you look near the center of the image, there appears to be another faint set of rutile crystals, and what you might call a fingerprint type inclusion. Other imagery suggests this liquidy yellow field is a field of F-phlogobites based on sources contributing to GRS. These things are found in Madagascar sapphires. You can see the crystals near the top of the image out of focus…

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Owning beautiful jewelry and keeping it looking as incredible: as dazzling as the day your bought it is easy if you follow some general care and cleaning tips. Now that youve made the choice to invest in colored gemstones taking care of them is the best way to ensure your investment stays looking its best, today and for years to come.

Here are the three biggest things you can do for your gemstones:

#1: Give Your Gemstones a Home

Jewelry boxes arent just a pretty addition to a dresser or vanity: they have an important function. Lined in soft, colored velvet, these boxes are a perfect way to protect your fine jewelry. Rather than having all your pieces jumbled together, where its hard to find what you want: a quality jewelry box has a safe place for all your loose gems or finished pieces. Just lift the top and your collection is spread, in all its glory, before your eyes.

Jewelry boxes come in all manner of shapes and sizes: with locks and without: mirrored or not. There are tabletop models, travel models and free standing jewelry armoires to house larger collections. With all the options out there, it wont take long for you to find something that suits the space and number of pieces you own.

Whats more, storing your pieces properly cuts down on bumps and scratches that often happen when you toss something into a box or tin. While the stones themselves arent likely to scratch each other, the metal theyre mounted in can be scratched: looking old and worn before its time. Tangled pendant chains, lost earring backs and broken bracelet catches can be costly too - by storing your things properly, youll extend the life of all your gemstone pieces…

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though diamonds are thought to be a girls best friend: lots of smart, savvy, style conscious women today are expanding their circle of friends to include the rainbow hues of natural colored gemstones. A bit unexpected: a quality colored gem stone will command attention from everyone who sees it. Whether its in a ring, a bracelet, a pendant or a magnificent pair of earrings: that rich, vibrant color catches the eye and wont let go.

When it comes to buying quality natural gems like amethysts, rubies, sapphires, Tsavorite garnet and the many colors of tourmaline you need to look no further than those four Cs youve always heard about - cut, clarity, color and carat weight. These measures of quality will help guide your purchase, though color is by far the most important of the four when buying a colored gemstone. Whatever shade youre choosing: you want color that is rich and vibrant: evenly distributed through the gem.

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