Gemstones

The traditional classification in the West, which goes back to the Ancient Greeks, begins with a distinction between precious and semi-precious stones; similar distinctions are made in other cultures. The precious stones are diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire, with all other gemstones being semi-precious.
This distinction is unscientific and reflects the rarity of the respective stones [...]

The History And Lore Of Birthstone Rings

By Casey Buell
Since ancient times, rings have been recognized as a symbol of relationship, or a bond between the giver and the wearer of the ring. In some cultures, this was interpreted as a physical bond of ownership and control. For example in the ancient Greek myth of Prometheus, the god Zeus uses [...]

7 Interesting Things You Need to Know About Birth Stones

By Harrison Fray
If you’re looking for a gift that will represent the recipient, a birth stone jewelry is one of the most ideal items that you can give. As the term implies, a birth stone represents a month in the calendar and it is often used for various jewelry designs for the young and old.
One [...]

Birthstone Charts – Choosing Gifts with Traditional, Astrological and Celtic Birthstones

By Gary Roll
Birthstones make ideal gifts, but did you realize that there is more than one list of birthstones. If you combine the different birthstone gems, flowers and colors from the different lists the combinations can be bewildering. However, by choosing from the various birthstone charts we can create many unique gift ideas.
The first birthstone [...]

How the Concept of Birthstones Originated?

By Mithun Rao
Gemstones have traditionally been associated with magical properties and there is a mention of these in Indian and Babylonian civilizations. Gemstones have traditionally been used in different cultures as birthstones (one assigned for each month), for warding off evil influence of planets and for their healing properties.
In the first century, Josephus, a Jewish [...]

How Natural Birthstones and Gemstones Are Formed

By Alan King
Deep within the earth, molten rock and gasses continually move against the earth’s crust. It is within this extremely high pressure and heat that diamonds and peridot are formed. Diamonds begin to crystallize in the magma 109 to 149 miles beneath the earth’s surface, and peridots are formed 20 to 55 [...]

Watch For The Four C’s When Buying Diamonds

Of all the precious stones in the world, the diamond is certainly the most popular. You’ve seen it worn by royalties and celebrities, but it’s also available to every me and you.
Its toughness and beauty have been known and praised since ancient times. The actual word “diamond” comes from the old Greek “adamas”, which means [...]