As the birthstone for March (and associated with the 19th wedding anniversary) aquamarine is one of the most often maligned gemstones of the age. Most people, if theyve seen the stone at all, have been presented with specimens that are so washed out they retain nothing of the proper color associated with the aquamarine gemstone.

Fine quality aquamarine comes from nature in colors from blue-green to a light sky blue: nothing colorless or washed out - these stones are supposed to look blue… Whats unique about aquamarine, is that the majority of these seawater blue stones are flawless: the perfect centerpiece for a fine piece of aquamarine jewelry

As the second most well known beryl (after emerald), aquamarine was once credited with protecting against poison, sailors carried and slept with the incredible colored gemstones to ensure a safe voyage. Today a gift of fine quality aquamarine jewelry can symbolize safety and security: especially in long term relationships. Some say it may even re-ignite love in a marriage.

So what piece of aquamarine jewelry to choose?

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If your birthday falls in the month of October or the astrological sign of Libra, you have the good fortune to have one of the most beautiful of gemstones associated with your birth. Available in shades from the palest pink to the scorchingly hottest pinks and everything in between: this gemstone has become a favorite of women everywhere. And with all the cuts to choose from - trillion, round, emerald, oval, square, pear and cushion - this fabulously colored stone is certainly ready to play its part at the center of any piece of pink tourmaline jewelry that you might choose.

Pink tourmaline is said to be a powerful influence on love and friendship, spirituality and creativity as well as granting wisdom and enhancing willpower. The prices and value of pink tourmaline vary tremendously, depending on the size and quality of the gemstone, and youll soon learn that no two stones are alike. When it comes to the gift of pink tourmaline jewelry, there are an abundance of wonderful styles to choose from…

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Long before Prince Charles gave Lady Diana that stunning sapphire engagement ring there were pieces of fine colored gemstone jewelry made to showcase this most precious of gems. September babies, those born under the zodiac sign Taurus (or those celebrating a 45th wedding anniversary) have long laid claim to blue sapphire as their own, prompting jewelry designers to create many distinctive styles that feature the full range of sapphire hues.

Still theres something about that blue that remains unmatched…

Todays sapphire earring styles run the gamut from casual to dazzling and drop dead gorgeous. Sapphire rings are an especially popular choice (even for engagement rings) since the gemstone is both beautiful and durable. Sapphire at the neckline continues to be popular, but the quality of the gemstone is king here: accent stones too must be a match to the quality of the center stone.

One of the most intriguing types of sapphire is the so called star sapphire. This type of sapphire is blessed with the rare characteristic of asterism caused by tiny quantities of rutile inclusions. These inclusions reflect light back in the form of a six-rayed star that looks as though it glides across the face of the gemstone. The effect is both striking and offers a special significance to the gift of these gemstones - shes your shining star.

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This is the Burma spinel I got from AJS Gems under darkroom illumination with my LED light source from my microscope, and a portable blacklight for a UV-A light source.

You can see how the stone appears naturally before turning the UV light on. Then you can see how it turns to a brown color as if it were absorbing the light. When the light goes off, it’s a dark brown color. However, it does gradually obtain its color back in time. There is no sign of phosfluorescence, and there is a total lack of fluorescence thus indicating it is a Burma spinel.

The orangey red variety from Mogok mine has a very high absorption rate within a window of the latter range of IUV to the lower end of VIS. I obtained a general graph of how spinels of different colors from Mogok behave under IR spectroscopy, and the graph shows the absorption rate of spectra within the lamp as being highest. A vivid red spinel is slightly less. There was no information available for spinels from Tanzania, but it’s a tell tale indicator of origin.

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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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