Jewelery connoisseurs are starting to favor colored stones, especially as Kate Middleton's sapphire ring has revived interest in color. Professionally cut stone from quality raw material is the most important thing in jewelry. Our jewelry workshop offers precious and semi-precious stones as inserts in jewelry made in our jewelry workshop. The stones we offer: amethyst, topaz, aquamarine, ruby, sapphire, emerald, chrysolite, rauch-topaz, tanzanite and others of your choice will delight the eye with an impeccable and original cut. We will help you select the rare and best stones in color and clarity in your group with the best characteristics.

It is hardly worth saving up money - inflation will eat it. But you can, for example, buy diamonds weighing 1 ct - 2 ct of average characteristics, you will not only save your investments, but also increase them. The sale of such diamonds occurs much more often than the sale of investment diamonds weighing 3 - 5 - 10 ct of the best characteristics. Consequently, if you need to sell a diamond, it will not take you much time. Money depreciates, but gold and diamonds do not. Gold and diamonds yield much higher returns than other assets. It is reliable, and this is the main thing now.

We offer certified gemstones: rubies, sapphires, emeralds and certified diamonds. Taking into account your requirements for price, weight, color, quality and other characteristics.

What stones are considered precious?

Precious stones are natural minerals formed in a complex way in the earth's crust.

The main requirement for a stone to be considered precious is its rare occurrence. It is also necessary that the mineral be sufficiently hard, that is, resist external influences (not scratched, not chipped off).

To precious stones in Russia in accordance with Federal law"About precious metals and precious stones" includes natural diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, alexandrites, natural pearls.

Unique amber formations are also equated with precious stones.

What natural stone?

The terms "genuine" and "natural" are synonymous and refer exclusively to natural substances formed without human intervention.

What is synthetic stone?

Synthetic stones are crystallized minerals, wholly or partly produced by humans using various methods in special laboratories. For example, a grown emerald.

What is a fake stone and how can it be distinguished from natural stone?

There is no such term as “fake stone” in the practice of trading in jewelry stones. Distinguish between imitation stones, which are fakes of natural or synthetic stones. These stones mimic the effect, color and appearance of natural stone, without transferring them chemical composition and physical properties... A specialist with the help of instruments can easily distinguish a fake.

It is well known that gemstones have high hardness, but sometimes chipping occurs when the jewelry is worn. Why is this happening?

Cleavage of a gem occurs due to the fact that the stone has cleavage. Cleavage of precious stones - natural divisibility of precious stones in crystallographic directions. Cleavage has nothing to do with hardness. Cleavage is diamond, topaz, tourmaline, chrysolite. This property must be taken into account when setting and wearing stones - great care is required so that no chipping occurs.

Can a gem change its color?

The color of precious stones comes from impurities of metallic oxides (chromium, iron, nickel, cobalt, titanium). For some stones, the color can be changed by heating. For example, amethyst, as a result of slow heating (in the sand), can change its purple color to yellow. The yellowish-brown beryl, as a result of heating, can become a bright blue, close in color to aquamarine. The porosity of gray chalcedony allows them to be easily stained (orange carnelian, apple-green chrysoprase, black onyx are obtained). The gemstone can fade in the sun (amethyst, topaz). Bright blue turquoise can turn green from contact with the skin to which the makeup is applied.

How to correctly determine the color of a gemstone?

Coloration is one of the most characteristic distinguishing features of most minerals.

The color of a gem is determined against a white sheet of paper in daylight from the north side or under fluorescent lighting. When assessing color, attention should be paid to all deviations from a uniform distribution of color in density, tone and color. It must be borne in mind that color heterogeneity affects a decrease in the quality of a gemstone. Coloring a stone primarily evokes emotions in the perception and choice of jewelry.

Types of cut and color of gemstones

Diamond

Most diamonds are prized for their lack of color. However, only some of them are truly completely colorless, the rest have a slight yellowish or brown tint. Colorless diamonds are called "white" diamonds. The color (or lack thereof) of diamonds is usually assessed in comparison with a set of sample stones. The most respected organization that conducts such assessments is the American Gemological Institute (GIA) - tables of correspondence and characteristics, the gradation in alphabetical order, proposed by him, has been spread all over the world; grade "D" is assigned to the best white or colorless stones, then the rest of the letters go up to "Z", after which the stones already have a fairly pronounced yellow tint and are regarded as "colored". The "D", "E" and "F" categories are colorless or "white" diamonds, and the difference between them is almost impossible to notice with the naked eye, even on closer inspection. However, despite the fact that they are visually almost indistinguishable, these stones differ greatly in price.
The absence of defects is established in the process of examining the stone at a tenfold increase (x 10). A stone in which no cracks are found at this magnification is considered “intrinsically complete” (IF). The presence of the smallest crack means a decrease in the category to WS, grade 1 or 2. If the crack is slightly larger, the stone is classified as category VS, grade 1 or 2. The next category is SI, when the crack is visible to the naked eye, although it is extremely small. Further, the stones are recognized as "defective" (I). In this case, the cracks are so pronounced that they affect the luster of the stone. Damage to the surface, however slight, also means that the stone does not fall into the IF category, although the certificate may indicate that it is “potentially intact” if re-sanded, although there will be little weight loss. As with color, the presence of defects greatly affects the value of the stone.
Cut is also an important factor in the pricing of diamonds: a classic volumetric cut from the 19th century can cost 25% less than a well-cut modern stone. The "fire" of a stone is best seen when a brilliant cut achieves "total internal reflection", in which the lower facets of the stone act like mirrors, reflecting the light that penetrates the stone, onto each other and throwing it back, already broken into all the colors of the rainbow. At the beginning of the 20th century, jewelers began to understand that this effect is achieved only with strict adherence to the proportions of a brilliant cut and at certain angles between the facets. Unfortunately, this loses a significant portion of the weight of the rough diamond, and since many antique stones have been re-cut, they have lost some of their value. It is more difficult to evaluate stones of fancy cuts, for example, emerald, pear cut (the archaic name is "pandelok") or "marquise". In this case, with the same weight, the proportions of stones can vary greatly, in addition, the quality of processing affects the price. The most expensive are the stones, the cut of which is recognized as "most suitable" or "exemplary". Fancy cuts are influenced by fashion. For stones weighing more than 20 carats, the emerald, marquise or pear cut is preferable to the classic brilliant cut; if you give a diamond cut to a 40-carat stone, it will be almost impossible to insert it into a ring, but if you choose the "emerald" shape, it will turn out to be simply luxurious. For stones less than 10 carats, brilliant cut is more suitable than fancy cut.
Finally, the weight of the stone must be considered: a 0.99-carat diamond will cost much less than a 1.10-carat diamond; It is much more difficult to sell a stone weighing exactly 1 carat, since even a small grinding of the edges in order to eliminate abrasions that occur during the wear process will lead to the weight of the stone being less than 1 carat. The price per carat for a 2 carat stone will be higher than for a 1 carat stone with the same color and clarity, the same for a 3 carat stone, and so on. Weighing over 10 carats, the rarity of such a stone will significantly raise its price. Therefore, when evaluating diamonds, one has to balance between four main categories: color, clarity, cut and weight.
Diamonds of the most different colors... Most often, these are shades of yellow and brown. The classification includes both "colorless" and "nearly colorless" stones. Depending on the severity of the color, the stones can be “with a barely noticeable color”, “with a very light color”, “with a light color” or “colored”, according to the gradation of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The least valuable are brown colored diamonds, which are also called "cognac" or "cinnamon", although fashion makes adjustments to their cost - after all, they look very attractive. They are followed by colored yellow diamonds, the color of the canary, the most popular stones are the color of yellow daffodils. Blue and pink diamonds are extremely rare, therefore, even with a weak color, they are very expensive. Ideally, blue diamonds should be completely grayed out, while pink diamonds should be completely brown. Until recently, small quantities of fine stones of deep pink and sometimes even purple color were mined from the Argyle diamond vein in Australia; despite the fact that their weight rarely exceeded 1 carat, they offered a huge price for them. The rarest are green and red diamonds. The lucky owner of such a stone can ask for almost any price for it: their appearance on the market makes a real sensation. Recently, the highest auction price was paid for a 0.95 carat red diamond at $ 880,000 ($ 926,315 per carat), which is 100 times the price of a colorless diamond of the same size.
Some collectors collect exclusively colored diamonds and have sufficient financial resources to acquire these rarest examples of the Earth's treasures.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a discovery was made: diamonds, burned for a certain time with radium salts, acquire a green tint. Unfortunately, after such a procedure, the stones remained radioactive for a long time; there were terrible rumors about how their unlucky owners were dying of skin cancer. Over time, this process has been improved, and now diamonds are processed in nuclear reactors, giving them different shades, but without residual radiation. Establishing whether a diamond has been artificially colored requires a complex study that can only be done in a laboratory. Therefore, no colored diamond is offered for sale without a certificate from a reputable gemological laboratory confirming the natural character of the color.

Stones that are commonly used to imitate diamonds

Natural: White Sapphire

White topaz

Rock crystal (quartz)

White beryl

White zircon

Artificial: KSC (cubic stabilized zircon)

Strontium titanite

GGG (gadolinium gallium garnet)

Lithium niobate

Moissanite

Ruby

Among the colored gemstones, ruby ​​is the most valued, and only the rarest pink, blue and green diamonds surpass it at a price per carat. The most expensive rubies are found in only one small region.
The city of Mogok in Upper Burma is a remote, almost inaccessible place, and has been that way for hundreds of years; not so long ago, the government of the republic restricted the entry of foreigners there, and now visas are issued to them only for as soon as possible... For centuries the best rubies in the world came from this tiny region of several square miles, but it was only after the annexation of this area by the British Empire that rubies began to be mined. effective methods, under the patronage of Edwin Streeter, a Bond Street jeweler. However, relatively little was mined during the British possession of stones weighing over 5 carats, and with the withdrawal of the British from this territory just before World War II, development was carried out sporadically and disorganized.

To understand why Burmese rubies have been valued so highly for centuries, you need to know a little more about this stone. Ruby is a combination of minerals, otherwise called corundum. In its pure form, corundum is colorless (white sapphire). Ruby owes its red color to a small amount of chromium oxide (in some cases, iron). Burmese rubies are mainly colored with chromium, due to which they have the characteristic shade of red blood (also called pigeon blood), which distinguishes the best examples of this mineral. The presence of chromium as a coloring agent in gemstones is often the reason for its strong fluorescence. In the case of Burmese rubies, fluorescence is noticeable under artificial light, which, being especially strong in the red part of the spectrum, makes the stone "sing", making its color more intense; often the stone seems to be illuminated from within, shimmering like hot coal.

Today, jewelers most often use rubies from Thailand. The appearance of these stones can be very disappointing for the buyer, but such disappointments almost always occur in daylight. Thai rubies owe their color to the presence of iron, therefore they have a brownish tint, slightly reminiscent of garnet, often their color is so intense that it can be compared with the blood-red color of Burmese stones. Iron absorbs fluorescence, and as a result, Thai rubies generally do not have the "fire" characteristic of Burmese and the best Sri Lankan examples. In daylight, the difference is not so obvious, but the price differs by orders of magnitude: a Burmese ruby ​​weighing 5 carats can cost ten times more than a ruby ​​of the same quality from Thailand.
But Burmese rubies are valued differently. Ruby is not a rare stone. Some Burmese rubies can cost as little as $ 20 per carat, while the best examples run up to $ 200,000 per carat or more. As with other gemstones, the price is determined based on the richness and beauty of the color (or lack thereof in the case of a colorless diamond), the degree of purity and the absence of defects. A skeptic would also mention here that the rarity of the mineral is also very important. There is no doubt that when choosing between an excellent Burmese ruby ​​and a stone from Thailand, the buyer will prefer the former, if only for its beauty. However, how often is an amateur given the opportunity to make such a comparison? Other places where rubies are mined include East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) and Pakistan. All three fields have been discovered relatively recently and are being actively developed. In the past few years, quality rubies have appeared on the market from a new mine in Vietnam. They are similar in properties to Burmese, have high fluorescence and are rich in chromium. For stones with good color, high purity and sufficient size, the mining site is an important factor in the assessment. For smaller rubies of inferior quality, it is no longer important whether they were mined in Burma or elsewhere;

Both rubies and sapphires undergo a variety of procedures that improve the quality of the stone, enhance its color and transparency, and create asterism.

For this use; irradiation (mainly yellow sapphires are exposed to it); surface diffusion; high-temperature processing, both with additives and without; filling cracks and cavities with colorless substances and dyes. High temperature treatment is usually used to improve the color of sapphires and rubies, and to remove invisible "silk". On stones that have undergone such a procedure, especially rubies, one can find glassy particles filling the surface cavities; they stay there even after re-grinding. Often, high-temperature processing ends with the expansion of some inclusions inside the stone, which leads to the formation of characteristic disc-shaped splits.

Other red stones confused with ruby

Natural red spinel is a very attractive and effective stone, however, jewelry rarely used. The color of red spinel is rather strawberry, as opposed to raspberry in ruby. Like many Burmese and Sri Lankan rubies, spinels are highly fluorescent. The phenomenon known as "silk" is common to most Burmese, Vietnamese and Sri Lankan rubies. To the naked eye, it appears as a whitish glow inside the stone, capturing light if the stone is tilted. This effect is produced by the mineral rutile, which forms the finest filaments.

"Silk" is a common attribute of natural rubies and sapphires. This is the inclusion that any aspiring gemologist will learn about first; having found it in a red stone, it is safe to say that it is a ruby, however, sometimes it is also introduced into synthetic minerals. Spinel is characterized by inclusions of crystals that look like bubbles, because of which amateurs often mistake spinel for a red rhinestone.

Red tourmaline is often referred to as a mineral that can be confused with ruby. High-quality red tourmalines are otherwise called "rubellites", but they rarely come close to ruby ​​red in color. Unlike ruby, it does not fluoresce.

Sapphire

Sapphire is considered by many people to be the most beautiful of all gemstones, although it is not the most expensive.

As with the ruby, the origin of the sapphire greatly affects its value. If the best rubies are mined in Burma, then the birthplace of the best sapphires is Kashmir, and in the same way they are mined there very little. The color of a quality Kashmiri sapphire is simply gorgeous, it is a perfect velvety mid-blue, often accompanied by the characteristic aquamarine dichroism visible when light passes through the stone. This color is often described as "sleepy", covered with a milky haze that appears due to the presence of cavities in sapphire filled with liquid, or crystals so tiny that they are difficult to see even under a powerful microscope.
It is much easier to notice the “zoning” phenomenon characteristic of sapphire, in which the color is, as it were, concentrated in parallel lines. In addition, Kashmir sapphires retain their color under artificial light, which is rare for this gem.
Unlike rubies, large sapphires weighing more than 50 carats are not entirely rare, although a Kashmir stone of this size is a real treasure; all sapphires from this region weighing over 10 carats are very expensive.
Burmese sapphires can also be of excellent quality: their color is more saturated, tending to ultramarine blue.

Sapphires from Sri Lanka are usually paler, with pronounced dichroism, some of them are almost colorless; but the best stones nevertheless approach the color of Kashmir. In both Burmese and Sri Lankan stones, there are inclusions that look like white needles, like in rubies, which catch light when the stone is rotated, as well as cracks filled with liquid.
The presence of "silk" in a stone is usually sufficient evidence of its natural origin; however, if the "silk" is visible to the naked eye, this can significantly reduce the cost of the stone, unless it forms a "star". True, "silk" in the shape of a star can also be found in artificial sapphires.
Zircon inclusions are a characteristic feature of Sri Lankan sapphires, since in this region they occur in the same places. Zircon has little radioactivity, it gradually destroys the crystal lattice of the minerals immediately adjacent to it in the deposit, creating a "halo" around itself.
Thai sapphires are usually quite dark in color, similar to blue spinel. The darkest and therefore the cheapest sapphires come from Australia. Some of the Australian stones are so intensely colored that they appear black (possibly due to excess iron, a coloring agent) if not kept in direct light. Such stones are rarely used in quality jewelry. Quite good sapphires are mined in Cambodia, especially in Pailin. In the last quarter of the 19th century, deposits were discovered in Montana, USA, the sapphires extracted from them are called stones from the "new mine". They are distinguished by their distinctive electric pale blue color and are often found in products created before the First World War.
High temperature processing of sapphires has been widespread for a long time. With its help, it is possible to remove "silk" from the stone and, what is much more important, to significantly lighten samples with a rich color. Therefore, it is not surprising that mainly Australian sapphires were subjected to this treatment; Since the operation was learned to be produced in Thailand, it has become more difficult to determine how much of the stones sold in Bangkok are actually of Thai origin.
It has already been mentioned above that only rare sapphires do not change color under artificial light. Sri Lankan sapphires change their color most noticeably, in which it turns dark purple due to the presence of chromium in the stone; if you look at such a stone under a color filter, it will shine like a ruby. Until recently, such discoloration in sapphires was considered undesirable, and can negatively affect the value of the stone.

Other blue stones that are confused with sapphire

Blue spinel may resemble sapphire, although it is too dark, inky, and can only be confused with low-quality sapphires. Artificial blue spinel rarely resembles sapphire in color (more likely ultramarine) and under the color filter it appears bright red. It also has a noticeable absorption spectrum due to the presence of cobalt as a coloring agent.

Emerald

The last in the line of precious stones - emerald - like sapphire and ruby, is valued depending on where it was mined. If for a ruby ​​the “password” is Burma, and for a sapphire - Kashmir, then for an emerald it is Colombia, more precisely, a mine in Muzo, not far from Bogotá, where stones of the most beautiful grassy green color are mined.
Without a doubt, most emeralds are treated with transparent organic oil after polishing, this technology is as old as the extraction of emeralds itself. Usually, its effects are reversible (as many who have agreed to ultrasonic clean their stones have already been convinced). Generally speaking, a colorless oil treatment can be considered acceptable, especially since it is reversible. But other types of processing, for example, using wax or epoxy resins (colored or not), are unacceptable, since their consequences are not eliminated. Fortunately, good gemological laboratories issue certificates confirming the presence or absence of traces of oil treatment or other procedures for filling cracks, and some may even establish the origin of the substance used for this.
Most emeralds have defects that are much more pronounced than sapphires and rubies. Many emeralds are not even transparent, at best they have a green color, but not play. Very large emeralds are not uncommon; during mining, crystals come across, extending meters into the depth of the rock.
For thousands of years, emeralds have been highly prized. It is believed that some excellent samples came from India, but they are unlikely to be mined there, most likely the result of the trading operations of Spanish merchants who discovered deposits in South America in the 16th century. In jewelry circles, they often speak of "old stones"; usually these are samples of deep green color, which appear on the market quite rarely, and almost never come across in new deposits. It is for them that the highest price is given. It should be noted that emeralds of this quality and size are as rare as the finest Burmese rubies and hardly ever make it to the market.
Emerald is a beryl silicate, and its color in most cases owes to traces of chromium, an element that gives an expressive red color to Burmese rubies. When viewed through a color filter, most emeralds appear red or brown due to the presence of chromium. Emerald is a relatively soft mineral, its surface is easily abraded, and scratches remain on the edges. If an emerald has been stored for a long time in the same container with diamonds, sapphires and rubies, it can look almost matte, devoid of luster due to constant damage from harder materials.

Other green stones that are confused with emerald

A fake emerald is more difficult to distinguish from a real one than a sapphire or ruby. The streets of Bogota, the "emerald capital" of Colombia, are full of gem dealers selling artificial emeralds that even a knowledgeable lover can hardly distinguish from real ones. Arriving in Colombia, Brazil or the Far East, people think that since mining is already going on here, then both venerable traders and street dodgers trade exclusively in natural stones. In fact, they, firstly, acquire emeralds at a price no less than in Europe or the United States, and secondly, and this is the worst, they may well get a low quality stone, artificial or even rhinestone. The gem market is international and most dealers, whether in Bangkok or New York, are highly aware of the value of their merchandise.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite- gemological name of a variety of zoisite mineral, aluminum and calcium silicate.

Tanzanite was discovered in March 1966 on the Merelani Plateau, near the slopes of Kilimanjaro.

The mineral is mined only in the province of Arusha in northern Tanzania.

He became famous thanks to the American jewelry company "Tiffany", which proposed the name in honor of Tanzania, where there is the only mine in the world. The popularity was promoted by the competent advertising policy, rarity, gorgeous color and the use of jewelry made from it by the movie star Elizabeth Taylor.

It is found in blue, purple and yellow-brown colors, the latter, after heat treatment, also become blue-violet in color and are used in jewelry.

Good quality stones have an ultramarine or sapphire blue color. Under electric light, it acquires an amethyst-violet hue. When heated to 400-500 ° C, brownish and yellowish shades disappear and the blue of the stone deepens. Also known tanzanite cat's eye.

The deposit is represented by veins and cracks with overgrown crystals in gneisses.

Glass imitations of tanzanite and glass doublets with a tanzanite top or two colorless synthetic spinels held together with blue glue appear on the jewelry market. Tanzanite can be confused with natural and synthetic sapphire. The newly discovered green variety of zoisite is named chrome (green) tanzanite.

Topaz

Of all the semi-precious stones, topaz is the established favorite. The best examples have the famous orange-red color of "royal jelly" and are extremely rare, although this fact does not affect their value. Until the adoption of the "Inventory of the Jewelry Trade" under the same name (with great profit), yellow quartz was sold, the real name of which is citrine. This practice is common to this day, to our great regret. Citrine is a common and therefore inexpensive stone, with which only low-quality topaz can be confused.
Topaz is an excellent jewelry material, with a strong luster, perfectly tolerates grinding. Its color ranges from white to yellow, reddish brown or blue. The pink color of topaz is the result of high-temperature processing to which the red-brown stone has undergone. The most expensive are orange-red samples, blue ones, similar to aquamarine, are sold cheaper, their color is enhanced artificially, and colorless topaz, like other colorless stones, except diamonds, are relatively cheap.
The most common forms of topaz cutting, especially for the early period of jewelry art, were and remain a long oval or elongated slab, which are obtained by cutting a crystal along its length. Since topaz crystals easily split along strictly parallel lines to the very base, characteristic flat splits are often found inside the stone, at right angles to the edges. It is necessary to remember about the tendency of topaz to split and handle these stones carefully, trying not to drop them.

Stones confused with topaz

The color of "royal jelly" in topaz, once seen, is impossible to forget. However, it is often imitated by artificial sapphires. Yellow and yellow-brown citrines can be mistaken for topaz.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine refers to an emerald like a ruby ​​to a sapphire. Both are forms of the mineral beryl. The name "aquamarine" exactly matches the ideal blue color of sea water, which is demonstrated by its best examples. Stones with a noticeable green tint are valued much less.
Unlike emerald, aquamarine is less prone to defects, but its cost remains quite modest. The only noticeable inclusion in it, the so-called "rain", is small needle-like crystals or cavities running parallel to the main axis. The more expressive and intense the blue tint of the stone, the more expensive it is.

Stones confused with aquamarine

The cheapest and most widespread imitation of aquamarine is the artificial blue spinel, which, like other artificial spinels, can be distinguished by the spherical bubbles. Blue topaz, which is often big size, is quite similar to aquamarine, but is much cheaper. Blue topaz exhibits more brilliance and play than aquamarine. Blue zircon has even more fire and brilliance than blue topaz,

Chrysoberyl, Alexandrite and Cat's Eye

Chrysoberyl is a curious mineral whose derivatives range in color from transparent yellow, greenish yellow, and yellow-brown stones to the rare color-changing alexandrites. Among them there is also a precious "cat's eye", translucent, rich honey color, which is usually cut with a cabochon. The phenomenon that gave these stones their name is the presence of microscopic rod-shaped crystals or cavities, parallel to which, as the stone rotates, a strip of light runs along its surface. A similar effect can be seen on a line spool.

Chrysoberyl cat's eye can be great, and its best examples, where the eye is well defined, with a rich honey color, are rare and highly prized. Much more often, however, is the quartz "cat's eye", and since it costs much less, it is necessary to be able to distinguish between them. As a rule, quartz "cat's eye" is much less transparent, and approaches greenish or pale brown in color. In addition, since the "eye" in quartz is formed from relatively large asbestos fibers, it does not look as pronounced as in chrysoberyl.

Alexandrite is the most valuable form of chrysoberyl. The main thing that an amateur needs to know about these stones is that they are extremely rare and, therefore, very expensive. The best examples show a beautiful green color in daylight, which changes under artificial light (except fluorescent) to the red color of Burgundy wine.
The value of genuine alexandrite depends on the intensity and beauty of the color change. Low-quality specimens that change to a dirty brown color (usually stones from Sri Lanka) cost no more than a few hundred pounds per carat. But the price of a stone that changes color to a deep red can reach many thousands of pounds per carat (usually stones from Siberia); in addition, rare forms of "cat's eye" are highly prized.

Spinel

With regard to jewelry, only the red and blue varieties of spinel are worthy of mention. Red spinel is a very beautiful and relatively rare stone, the best examples of which compete with ruby, especially since both are colored with chrome. Experts distinguish spinel by its color, which tends to "strawberry" (also called "sweet red"), as opposed to blood red ("pigeon blood") in quality rubies. Still, a good red spinel is a great stone, renowned for its game; however, it rarely exceeds 5 carats in size.

Artificial spinels, which are quite common, are similar to rubies and sapphires. In addition, it should be borne in mind that colorless artificial spinel is often used as an imitation of a diamond, since it has a cubic crystal lattice and a single refraction, like a diamond.

Zircon

In jewelry, the most popular, blue, variety of zircon has only been used since the First World War. Among amateurs there is an opinion that all zircons are blue, but in fact they owe their color to high-temperature processing, which most often undergoes orange-brown stones found in the Mekong Delta. Bangkok. Unfortunately, the color of processed blue zircons is unstable and can fade over time.
A characteristic property of zircons, in addition to green and brown ones, is a high level of double refraction.
Colorless, or white, zircons, formerly called "jargon," because of their high dispersion, are often used to imitate diamonds, especially in Indian jewelry, since Sri Lanka is the main source of this mineral. True, diamonds with their single refraction can be easily distinguished from zircons using a simple magnifying glass.
The presence of radioactive elements in zircon can lead to the destruction of the crystal lattice of the stone. From a commercial point of view, only blue and, less often, orange-brown samples deserve attention, which, as a rule, have "outstanding" qualities: high dispersion, strong double refraction, unreadable refractive index, and, in addition, strong gloss.

Tourmaline

This mineral is common and comes in a variety of colors, most often green or red. High-quality green tourmaline is a beautiful stone that lends itself well to grinding, with a rich color tending to black-green. All tourmalines have a pronounced dichroism: when turning the stone, you can easily notice two shades of green in it, usually bluish and yellowish. If you look at the length of the stone, its color becomes saturated almost to black. Red tourmalines are sometimes used to imitate low-quality rubies, also called ru-bellites. They can also be distinguished by their strong dichroism as well as by their raspberry hue. Usually these are stones that have undergone high-temperature treatment.
Most tourmalines have pronounced defects, the most common inclusions here are fluid-filled cavities that appear black under the microscope. Pink tourmalines can be confused with the much more valuable pink topaz.
There are also blue, brown and black varieties of this stone, as well as rare samples of "watermelon color", shimmering with pink and green hues. Recently, good samples have been received from Mozambique, among them there are stones of a rare green hue characteristic of peridots, as well as stones of a good blue color.

Peridot

Previously, this stone was called olivine, because it is a valuable variety of this mineral, but then the name "peridot" was assigned to it, ending the confusion when the same word meant demantoid garnets.
The classic site for mining peridots is the island with the romantic name of St. John in the Red Sea. There are also good samples from Burma and Arizona. Peridot was widely used in jewelry in the 1830s and 1840s, and, like the demantoid garnet, was one of the favorites of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Garnet

The name "garnet" refers not so much to a specific stone as to a group of minerals with the same chemical composition and cubic crystal lattice. Most garnets found in jewelry are red or brownish-red in color and are inexpensive but can be quite beautiful. The best samples, colored with chrome and called "pyropes", are close to rubies in color. Jewelers, as a rule, do not specify whether the garnet is pyrope or almandine, or some other variety, since this has little effect on the value of the stone. In the past, the attractive tangerine-orange spessartine garnets known as "tangerine pomegranates" were popular.
Green garnet is a rare and valuable stone. A quality demantoid garnet, a type of andradite, can be quite attractive due to its higher dispersion than diamond, which gives the stone an excellent "fire" and play. The best examples have a radiant herbaceous green color, but they cannot be confused with emerald due to their yellowish tint and strong shine. Green pomegranates, which first appeared on the market in the second half of the 19th century, were mined in the Urals, and most often they can be found in products dating from about 1895 to the time of the First World War. The best specimens can cost several thousand dollars per carat, but their size rarely exceeds 5 carats, these stones are mostly small. Their characteristic inclusions are called "horse tail" - these are brownish asbestos fibers.

Pearl

Pearls are the only jewelry material formed in the body of mollusks, and they are, perhaps, one of the oldest stones used as decoration, since it does not need additional processing. For centuries, high-quality pearls have sold at exorbitant prices, but with the introduction of cultured pearls into the market in the 1920s and 1930s, this price superiority ended.
The formation of a pearl inside an oyster bag is the reaction of a mollusk to the presence of an irritating particle. The mollusk sequentially envelops it in layers of aragonite crystals (calcium carbonate), holding them together with organic matter, conchialine. The layers grow like an onion and a pearl appears. The aragonite crystals are stacked in the same order as the roof tiles - hence the inimitable pearl shine.
In a cultured pearl, a bead acts as a core, on which the mollusk lays layers of natural mother-of-pearl. Good cultured pearls have a thick layer of natural mother-of-pearl, while low-quality pearls are just a thin film on the surface of the bead. The thickness of the mother-of-pearl layer on cultured pearls can be approximately 0.5 mm to 3 mm.
I must say that a person who once studied pearls begins to understand its varieties, which is most important when working with natural samples. The pearl should be of good color and luster, and the best pearl is pink shade, and his "skin" should be as smooth as possible, intact. Low-quality cultured pearls are usually waxy in color, with imperfections similar to mold marks on the surface. How better color and the shine, the higher the value of the pearl. Large natural pearls of good color, shiny, smooth and correct shape are still extremely expensive. Such a pearl over 10 mm in diameter is considered rare and highly prized. Even cultured pearl necklaces can be worth over a million dollars at auction.
“Baroque” and irregular pearls, cultured or natural, are much cheaper than round or regular specimens. "Blister" pearls are cut from the shell of a clam, so they take the form of a cabochon. Two blister pearls held together can mimic a large round pearl if the seam line is masked with a rim. The jap or mabe pearls are also blister pearls, and their core is a disc; the cost of any blister pearls is low.

Glass beads usually serve as "imitation" of pearls, on which a layer of "oriental essence" extracted from fish scales, or hollow beads coated with the same substance from the inside. To check in this case, you can rub the pearl on the front teeth in the old fashioned way, while natural or artificial pearl will become a little rough, and the imitation will remain smooth.
Pink coral-like pearls grow in shells and are distinguished by their characteristic "fire-like" pattern on the surface, visible through a magnifying glass, and a silvery sheen. The best ones can cost up to several thousand pounds.
Non-nuclear cultured pearls produced on river farms in Japan, and more recently in China, in huge quantities; such pearls weigh less than conventional cultured specimens, they are whiter, but can be specially dyed, their shape is rather oval. Once you see them, it is easy to distinguish them later, their cost is small.
Natural "black" pearls are rare and highly prized. Cultured pearls are sometimes stained with silver nitrate to appear black, but this induced color is darker and more uniform. There are ways to grow cultured black pearls, and if the samples grow to a significant size, then the cost can be high.

Jade

Jadeite is a valuable form of jade, also called "New Zealand" stone; however, jade is much more widespread and less attractive according to most buyers. Its existence must be remembered, since quality jade necklaces sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds and jade for less than a thousand.
The best jadeites are distinguished by their color - from the color of a bright green apple to grassy green; so translucent and very beautiful stones are called "imperial". The most common and cheapest form, lamb fat, is often used for handicrafts in China.
Jade never matches the exceptional emerald green color of jadeite. Most green jades are darker in color, similar to willow leaves, and can be sanded to a smooth finish.

Turquoise

Turquoise is traditionally considered to be of high quality, having a bright blue tint of the summer sky. This must be borne in mind, as turquoise is often considered the blue-green color that many specimens possess, especially those found in Arizona.

Quartz family: amethyst, citrine

Quartz- the most common mineral, and due to its hardness and luster, it is ideal for use in jewelry. In crystalline form, it forms two semiprecious varieties that we will talk about: amethyst and citrine. The latter is often confused with topaz, a much more valuable mineral. Citrine is obtained in large quantities and is widely used, the most beautiful are its yellow and yellowish-brown samples.

Amethyst- purple or violet form of crystalline quartz. Its best examples, which had a rich saturated color, were popular in the middle of the 19th century and were then mined in Siberia. Nowadays, Brazil is the main source of amethysts. The characteristic amethyst inclusions are fluid-filled cracks called "tiger stripes" or "fingerprints." It should be noted that most citrines are obtained from low-quality amethysts through high-temperature processing.
Cryptocrystalline quartz (which has no crystal structure visible) forms a variety of ornamental materials of little value. This group also includes onyx, a mixture of black and white varieties (not the pale green mineral mistakenly referred to by the same name, which is actually a variety of alabaster); jasper; sardonyx (a mixture of brown and white varieties, often used for cameos); heliotrope, or red iron ore (green with streaks of red) and agate.

Amber

Amber is often the subject of counterfeiting because it is easily imitated by plastic. This is a frozen resin (in it you can find insects that lived on our planet about forty million years ago); in color, amber ranges from yellow, the color of acacia honey found in the Baltic, to the reddish brown and brown, the color of Oloroso cherry, characteristic of its Burmese variety.

Coral

Coral is similar to pearls: both are harvested from the sea, organic and formed from calcium carbonate. In the 19th century, corals from the Gulf of Naples were carved by Italian jewelers, turning them into cameos, or used in their natural form for brooches and necklaces. Coral is usually orange-red in color; There are also pink varieties known as “peau d“ ange. ”As sea pollution has killed many coral colonies, this material is becoming increasingly rare and its prices are steadily increasing. porcelain The easiest way to distinguish a fake is with a drop of hydrochloric acid: the coral, which is a carbonate, will sizzle.

Jet

Like amber, jet is a fossil derived from wood, and this origin makes it related to coal. It is not surprising, therefore, that England was the main supplier of jet. In the 19th century, most of it was mined in Whitby, on the coast of Yorkshire. The Victorian adherence to funeral decorations made the jet popular; it was most often used in cameos and necklaces. Nowadays, it is valuable only for collectors.

Opal

Many people have seen colorful spots flickering like lightning inside the opal. The richer and brighter these colors are, the more expensive the stone is, especially if the background color is dark gray or black, like “black” opal. Black opals are dominated by blue and green areas, but if there are no other shades, the cost of the stone will be low. Red and gold shades are highly prized, ideally the color “zones” or “areas” should be evenly spaced across the entire surface of the stone. Black opals have been mined in Australia since the late 19th century. Opals, the background color of which tends to white or light green, are cheaper, obviously because the play of colors on them is not so impressive. The transparent variety of this mineral is called "water" opal. Mexico is mined a small amount of amazing transparent orange gems known as "fire" opals.

Precious stones (stones of the first category) include: diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby, natural sea pearls.

The cost of a gem depends on its characteristics... it cut, weight, color and clarity.
Color and clarity are bestowed on the stone by nature, but only the masterly work of the master-cutter gives the stone a magnificent game and reveals its beauty.

The weight gemstones are measured in carats (ct). One carat is equal to 0.2 grams.
Colour- the degree of visual sensation of color, its tonality and saturation.
Most natural materials are characterized by inclusions and defects, but in their artificial counterparts they just do not have defects, which, in fact, betrays their laboratory origin.

Diamond- the most expensive and beautiful gem.

By weight diamonds are divided into three categories: small (up to 0.29 ct.), medium (from 0.30 to 0.99 ct.) and large (from 1.00 ct. and more).
If the price of one single gram of gold and one gram per kilogram is the same, then the cost of diamonds increases in progression with the increase in their size.

Colour a diamond is rarely completely transparent, but it is he who is most valuable. The price can go up to tens of thousands of dollars per carat. But stones that have impurities that determine the color are much cheaper. The closer a diamond's color is to a yellow-brown hue, the more negatively it affects its price.
Russian classification by color suggests 9 color positions for diamonds:
1, 2 - colorless diamonds
3, 4 - slightly yellowish diamonds
5, 6 - pronounced yellow tint diamonds
6, 7 - yellow diamonds
8 - yellow brown diamonds
9 - brown diamonds
The exception is the so-called fancy diamonds - pink, green, red, blue, etc. Such stones (especially pink ones) are very rare and sometimes cost more than transparent ones.

Purity or transparency diamonds can have a very significant effect on the price of a stone - two stones of the same weight can have several times different prices. It's all about the presence of internal inclusions and defects - the more there are, the lower the cost of the stone.
Russian classification provides 12 positions for assessing purity diamonds:
1 - no defects
2 - subtle defects
3, 4 - minor defects
5, 6 - small defects or minor inclusions
7 - small inclusions
8, 9 - inclusions visible to the naked eye
10, 11, 12 - numerous inclusions are clearly visible with the naked eye

Traditional cut shape for a diamond - round with 57 facets (Kr-57). This is the most common and expensive cut. The stone is able to reflect almost all the light falling on it and has a truly dazzling game.
In addition to the round diamond, fancy diamond shapes are also popular (marquis, princess, oval, pear, emerald, heart, baguette), each of which is beautiful in its own way and looks great in jewelry.

Taking into account these characteristics, you can easily "decipher" the meaning of the abbreviation of the label, at first glance:
2 BrKr57 0.11 ct. 3/2
where 2 Br is the number of diamonds; Cr 57 - 57 facet round cut; 0.11 ct is the total carat weight of the diamonds; 3/2 - color / clarity characteristics.

Ruby- This bright red gem can often be seen in rings or earrings. Rubies, like diamonds, have a different value, which depends on their weight, quality and color.
The color scale of rubies starts with light pink Thai stones (color characteristic - 3), which are not very highly valued, and ends with fiery red saturated rubies from Burma (color characteristic –1). The cost of such rubies approaches the price of diamonds, especially if the clarity values ​​are also high enough.

Sapphires- these are minerals of a magnificent cornflower blue color. The richer the blue tint, the more expensive the stone is.
1 - bright blue, with a cornflower blue tint.
2 - blue, moderately saturated
3 - light blue
There are also yellow, green, orange and even colorless sapphires, which are often tried to pass off as diamonds. But sapphires themselves are also often counterfeited - it can be ordinary colored glass, tourmaline or cyanite. A fake can be distinguished by the absence of natural impurities and inclusions in the structure of the stone.

Emeralds attract with their green tint, which can be more or less saturated and bright.
Depending on the color tone and lightness, emeralds are divided into five color groups:
1 - dark green
2 - medium dark green
3 - medium green
4 - medium light green
5 - light green
Naturally, Colombian emeralds of a dense grassy hue are valued ten times more expensive than light green stones from the same Africa or Brazil. It is quite difficult to recognize a natural stone - modern technologies allow to artificially grow emeralds with inclusions.

By cleanliness faceted rubies, sapphires and emeralds are divided into 3 groups depending on the number and location of defects in the stone:
G1 - transparent, have barely visible inclusions or cracks
G2 - transparent, inclusions and cracks form thickenings and a network in separate zones of the stone, visible to the naked eye.
G3 - with areas of turbidity, partially lost their shine and play.
There are stones that are not assigned the category of purity. Stones of the so-called "ornamental" quality. They are often used in silverware.
Cabochon cut stones are divided into 2 groups:
K1 - partially transparent, there are inclusions and cracks visible to the naked eye.
K2 - opaque, have a dense network of visible inclusions or cracks.

Separate word about pearls.
Pearls are, of course, considered a gem only if they are real pearls of organic origin. Such natural pearls are highly valued, but cultured ones are several times cheaper.

In middle class jewelry, mainly cultured sea pearls are used, as they are more affordable. But don't confuse cultured pearls and imitation pearls! Imitation is a plastic coated with mother-of-pearl enamel.

Pearl Evaluation Criteria: Size, Shape, Thickness of the pearlescent layer, Surface evenness, Color, Shape.

Good afternoon, dear jewelers and connoisseurs of precious stones. Among the owners of jewelry inlaid with precious stones, there is a debate about which sapphire or emerald is more expensive.

Undoubtedly, these two stones are beautiful and valuable in their own way, but can they be evaluated relative to each other? What are the criteria for evaluating the value of the stone and can they be worn together? This is what this article is about.

What is an emerald

This stone is one of the varieties of beryl and, in terms of chemical composition, is chromium vanadium oxide. Unlike other precious gems, for example, a diamond or a ruby, the hardness of an emerald on the Mohs scale is 8 points, therefore it is used exclusively in jewelry production. In many ways, its high cost is determined by the complexity of mining, because the mineral is obtained deep from the ground. Most often it is mined in places of greisenization (points of interaction between magma and certain minerals).

Most often, small fraction emeralds are used in jewelry production, as they are transparent and without any inclusions.

The overwhelming majority of large stones have small inclusions of mica, which is why they are not suitable for making earrings or rings. There are also hydrothermal rocks, that is, grown in a laboratory. In terms of properties, they sometimes surpass natural minerals, but due to their artificial origin, they are still an order of magnitude cheaper.

What is sapphire

These are varieties of corundum that can be transparent or opaque. Unlike the previous mineral, sapphires are mined much easier and easier and they have more deposits on the planet. They have a bright deep blue color and are actively used in jewelry. Many models and actresses prefer sapphire in excellent gold or silver cut as jewelry. The most famous and valuable are the following types of corundum:

• Kashmiri... These are the most expensive and valuable gems. The mineral deposit is located in the Indian state of Kashmir. It has been mining since the nineteenth evening to this day. Gems from these quarries have over 15% purple and violet colors. They shine perfectly in the light and have a deep blue color with purple hints.
• Sri Lankan... In Sri Lanka, sapphires are mined mainly of the Padparadscha type. They shine in pink and orange hues. At the same time, gems from the city of Ratnapura are famous for their blue and blue tint, which Kashmir stones do not have, so they are in great demand for making jewelry. Due to the unusual shimmering minerals from Ratnapura got their own color name "Ceylon color".
• Thailand... These gems are distinguished by their greenish tint, which is why they are called "Siamese". For a long time, it was in Thailand that the largest sapphires were mined. So at one time a stone was found weighing 958 carats, which was the largest on the planet. Some minerals mined in this country have an indigo color, which, at different angles of incidence of light rays, turns dark green, then dark blue.

Stone selection criteria

Stone appraisers rely on the following criteria when determining the value of a stone:

• Colour... Color saturation directly affects the price of a product. Also, the pebble should be bright and transparent. If the color is somewhat unclear, then the price of the product can drop significantly.
• Purity... The specimen must be clean, free from blotches and stains. The purer the stone, the more expensive it is in price.
• Cut... Here, the cost of a stone directly depends on the professionalism of the jeweler. One thing works here important rule: a high-quality small pebble is more expensive than a low-quality large one. That is, the quality of processing is more important than the weight of the product.
• The weight. This indicator directly affects the cost of a sapphire or emerald. However, again, do not forget the three previous points: if a 0.5 carat cat has a low purity class, color and is poorly processed, then it will be cheaper than a 0.1 carat stone with excellent first three indicators.

Which stone is more expensive: the cost of emerald and sapphire

To understand which stone is more expensive, it is necessary to compare the average cost of different quality of these stones in the world. When evaluating emeralds, you should rely on the quality of processing and the weight of a particular specimen. Here are the average prices for green minerals in the world:

• Poor quality of the mineral - about four hundred dollars and one carat.
• Average quality - from seven hundred to two and a half thousand dollars.
• Good quality - from two and a half to five thousand dollars.
• Top quality - from five to eight thousand dollars.

It is worth noting that green gems over ten carats are valued somewhat differently. So a good quality copy that weighs more than ten carats is estimated in the range of ten to twelve thousand dollars per carat. This feature takes place for the reason that transparent bright emeralds without any additional inclusions and "inappropriate" cracks are not often found in nature. Some of these "large" minerals adorn the earrings of famous showbiz stars.

The cost of blue corundum is determined by slightly different criteria. So, first of all, they pay attention to the color and its processing. Here are the average prices for items of different colors per carat:

• Green sapphire. Unlike emeralds, green is no longer an advantage, but a disadvantage. Such sapphires are the cheapest and their price ranges from seventy-five to one hundred dollars.
• Yellow. A beautiful, but at the same time not quite "natural" color for a sapphire costs from one hundred to one hundred and twenty dollars.
• Padparadscha. These minerals shine in three colors at once: purple, orange and pink. This combination of colors made it very popular in the jewelry industry. Its price ranges from one hundred thirty to one hundred and fifty dollars. However, this price range applies to products weighing up to five carats. Large gems are much more expensive and are priced on an individual basis, without average prices.
• Blue. The most precious of blue corundum, used to make rings, necklaces and necklaces. Those minerals that have undergone preliminary heat treatment cost from three hundred to six hundred dollars, and those that are not subject to processing cost over a thousand dollars.

From the foregoing, we can conclude that with general indicators of weight and quality of processing, emeralds are more expensive than sapphires. However, large cornflower-blue corundums, which are the most expensive of this type of gem, can exceed the price of an emerald at similar rates. Also, the price is strongly influenced by the manufacturer of the jewelry. In a famous jewelry house, you will have to fork out more for jewelry than in a jewelry company of a lesser known brand.

Can emerald and sapphire be worn together?

Opinions vary as to whether emerald and sapphire can be worn together. How can you tell if certain gems are compatible with each other? There are several criteria:

• By the color of minerals... Not all specimens match in color with each other. For example, orange and yellow sapphires cannot be worn at the same time blue stones of the same kind. But the color of the emerald will look great with blue or yellow sapphire (when they are separately), and with almost all colors of stones. The exceptions are red rubies, which should not be worn with a green emerald.
• By eye color... It is recommended to choose pebbles that are similar in color to the eyes or, on the contrary, opposite in color. So to blue eyes earrings with blue gems are perfect, which will emphasize their grace and beauty. Brown eyes it is best to emphasize with amber, and depending on the tone of the eyes, you can choose light or dark amber. Emerald is perfect for green and dark green eyes.
• By style of clothing... Here the girl has a place to roam. In the selection of a gem according to the style of clothing, the same principle applies as in the color of the eyes - either an identical color or exactly the opposite. For example, an emerald will look perfect with green or black. evening dress and a necklace of black pearls. A sapphire and emerald ring will accentuate the elegance of a satin dress in blue, green, black and white colors. Products with ruby ​​and bloodstone are perfect for business suits.

It is worth noting, of course, that most people still use their own preferences, and not general rules.

We hope you enjoyed this article on gems. You can add it to your social networks so that your friends can also find out about the compatibility of gems.

Team LubiStones

The world of fashion is fleeting, and this trend is increasing every day. The number of brands is growing from year to year, and the trend is becoming so fleeting that there seems to be no way to keep track of it. The choice of jewelry, small gizmos that cost a lot of money, in such a situation becomes a difficult task. And we, in order not to be mistaken for sure, prefer to choose universal products that can be worn today, tomorrow, and in many years, and, if possible, for any outfit.

These days, it is this approach that has made diamonds the leader among gemstones and made them best friends girls, and not their hardness or other physical properties. Manufacturers and designers follow the lead of buyers - and simply flooded the market with diamond jewelry. To be convinced of this, it is enough to visit any jewelry exhibition. Diamonds and cubic zirkonia (a synthetic attempt to replicate a diamond) sparkle everywhere, leaving a lovely trio in the shadows. It's about emerald, sapphire and ruby- precious stones, with which few people are really familiar. But we will try to fix it.

In ancient times and the Middle Ages, no one perceived rubies as an object of aesthetic pleasure; people who wore jewelry with rubies pursued a goal that was quite practical for those times - to convey part of the magical power contained in the stone. For example, even before our era, Indian and Chinese women sewed cut rubies into their shoes: such shoes brought good luck even to the most unlucky person. Rubies were added to the foundations of temples, the Chinese wars decorated their armor and weapons with them. In Medieval Europe, rubies were worn mainly by men: knights, members of the royal house, kings and emperors.

For centuries, one of the main ruby ​​deposits was the Magok Valley in Burma, where the largest and cleanest stones in the world were mined, for which collectors hunt to this day. From here, by trade caravans, they spread throughout Asia, and then along the Great Silk Road they reached Europe.

A ruby ​​of perfect clarity, weighing one carat, can cost four times as much as a similar diamond. It is quite easy to find a ten-carat diamond on the gem exchange, while rubies of the same size are practically not found on sale.

The twin brother of the ruby, the sapphire, is no less valuable. Both stones belong to the corundum family, which often misleads ordinary buyers. It is not completely clear why, maybe because of historical features, maybe because of the jewelry collection of the late Princess Diana, or maybe because of the ring on Kate Middleton's left hand, we used to think that sapphires are extremely dark blue, but this is far from the case. In fact, a sapphire can have almost any color and the name is nothing more than a convention - red sapphires are called rubies, and light red rubies are usually called pink sapphires. But in the mass consciousness, sapphire will always have a deep dark blue hue.

The first mention of sapphires in jewelry dates back to 800 BC. In the historical sources of Asia Minor, mentions have been preserved that the rulers of Ancient Persia wore sapphire rings. It was believed that the sapphires reflected the Cosmos, the energy of which was transmitted to the owner through the stone.

In the Middle Ages, sapphire was valued by witches more than other stones. They believed that he helped to understand predictions and prophecies more clearly and protected the owner on his travels through the afterlife. Wherein simple people used sapphire to protect against evil spells, which returned back to the sorcerer if he tried to cast a spell on the owner of the sapphire.

Sapphire was also used for healing. It was used to treat poisoning, skin diseases, plague and fever. It was believed that sapphire could save the eyes of a smallpox patient if rubbed against the eyelids. Throughout the 17th century, St. Paul's large sapphire was used to treat eye diseases.

In ancient legends, sapphire was often referred to as a stone - the patron saint of love, and for Buddhists, sapphire was a symbol of friendship and fidelity. There is a legend that Charlemagne possessed an amazing talisman: two sapphires inserted along the edges of the fragment of the Cross of the Lord. This talisman was made by his contemporary, the ruler of the East, Harun al-Rashid, and presented to Karl to protect his love for his wife. They say that the power of the relic was so strong that their love did not fade away even after death.

To date, padparadsha sapphires are considered the most valuable.- the rarest of the non-blue sapphires. Its color - between pale pink and orange, in Sri Lanka is romantically called: "the color of the lotus flower at sunset." These stones are so rare that their cost can be several times higher than the cost of "classic" blue sapphires.

Likewise, the value of the emerald was due to the supernatural properties and symbolism that people put into it. For those born in arid deserts, ancient Islamic cultures, the rich green color and longevity of the emerald embodied spring, symbolizing love and life.

Cleopatra was perhaps the most famous connoisseur of emeralds in the ancient world, her collection of jewelry: gold rings, earrings, necklaces, tiaras, without exception, were inlaid with emeralds. Her love for these stones was immortalized in the name of the largest and oldest emerald deposit in Egypt. But, although Africa has supplied emeralds to the whole world for several millennia, the Spaniards brought real popularity and fame to this stone, discovering South America.

In what is now known to us as Colombia, by the Muzo Indians around 500 AD. the largest deposit of emeralds was discovered and developed, which was hidden from prying eyes so well that it took the Spaniards another 20 years after the capture of the country to find them.

When the mines were captured and trade routes were established, emeralds flowed like a green river across the Atlantic Ocean to Spain, and from it to Europe and India. The treasures of the New World were appreciated by the powerful Europeans, every rich man from Glasgow to Corsica wanted a necklace or at least a ring with an emerald. This was the beginning of the famous emerald Colombia, where the extraction of precious stones continues to this day.

Emeralds have a more complex structure than diamonds and sapphires, because of this it is almost impossible to find a clean, crack-free stone, if they are sold, then their price can be several times more expensive than the price of similar diamonds.

Take a look at the emerald on a cold February night and it will promise you spring will come soon. The red shine of a ruby ​​will always warm you and help you find new strength. Look into the pure depth blue sapphire on a cloudy day, and you will believe that very soon the clouds will disperse. Finding jewelry with emeralds or rubies is more difficult than buying a ring with one diamond or a pendant with cubic zirconias. But their warm light can give a person much more than the cold "business" shine of diamonds.

Diamond.

Diamond is the most popular gem in Russia and the whole world. A diamond is a cut diamond. Usually this gem is colorless or has indistinct yellow, pink, brown, green, gray, green and rarely black shades.

There are over 1000 varieties of gem-quality diamonds.

A diamond is a symbol of courage, equanimity, firmness. This stone gives its owner firmness of character and helps to make the right decisions. In ancient times, it was believed that a diamond (brilliant) retains hearing acuity, protects its owner from witchcraft and evil spirits. A diamond should be bought freely, without violence and coercion, then it will not bring failures, and will have more power. Diamonds, which are inherited from father to son and from mother to daughter, usually have great power.

The diamond is directly related to the Sun, with its energy and is used as a tonic and mood-lifting agent. According to the beliefs of our ancestors, this stone rejuvenates and helps to develop spiritually. If you wear a diamond ring in gold on the ring finger of your right hand, then it will help you feel more confident and relaxed. You should never wear someone else's diamond rings.

It is believed that the very name "diamond" was formed from the Greek word "adamas" - indestructible, irresistible. The name "diamond" comes from the French word "brilliant", which means "sparkling" in Russian.

Emerald.

Emerald is a transparent variation of beryl with green hues, sometimes with blue. Some shades of emerald, such as dark green, are prized over diamond. V Ancient Greece it was called the "Stone of Radiance". The ancient Slavs considered the emerald a stone of composure, wisdom and hope.

The "emerald" itself can be attributed to the green variation of beryl "aquamarine", an aquamarine mineral. Emerald is also called green ice.

Emerald, along with ruby ​​and diamond, is one of the most expensive precious stones. Since the material of a pure emerald green hue, as a rule, has enough defects, faceted stones of a beautiful color and without flaws weighing more than 5-6 carats are especially highly valued and are inaccessible to the overwhelming majority. Pale emeralds are not highly prized.

It is accepted that the emerald is able to relieve joint pain and headaches, normalize blood pressure, treat inflammation of the bladder, stomach diseases, and also has an antibacterial effect (if you put it in a glass of tap water, you can drink it unboiled). In ancient times, it was believed that the stone allows you to get rid of eyesore, epilepsy, night blindness. Modern lithotherapists assure that the bearer of the emerald is not threatened by unreasonable fears, insomnia, increased fatigue and nightmares.

Nursing mothers, sailors and travelers use the emerald as a talisman. As an amulet, it protects young men and women from predisposition to debauchery and vicious inclinations. Emerald grants uplift and inspiration to creative individuals, and business people attracts luck and success.

Sapphire.

Sapphire is considered a stone of chastity, modesty, and fidelity. It is a transparent corundum (Al2O3 alumina) with a blue tint. Sapphire owes its unsurpassed color to the combination of iron and titanium. Other shades of stone, besides blue, are called "fantasy". Corundum (common sapphires) orange are called "padparadscha". Sapphire is considered a symbol of reflection and contemplation.

The very name "sapphire" comes from one of the versions of scientists from the ancient Indian word "canipriya" - beloved by Saturn. Its other name is azure yacht.

Sapphire as a talisman endows its owner with the ability to contemplation and reflection, develops clarity of mind and encourages the owner to learn the unknown. This talisman suits philosophers, scientists and poets. Sapphire with great success can be a talisman of those people who are overcome by hopeless laziness. He helps his master get rid of this very negative quality.

Today, sapphires are synthesized on an industrial scale.
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Ruby.

The word "ruby" (from Lat. Rubella - red) appeared only 300 years BC. You can also find other names of the mineral and its varieties: ratnanayana, yahont, manicia, noble red corundum. It was the ruby, which illuminates the darkness like a red-hot ember, that was valued in ancient times above the diamond. The Romans dedicated this stone to the titan Kronos and the god of war Ares, and in India, Burma, Japan, China, it was considered a symbol of love, passion, vitality and royal dignity.

Ruby is dedicated to the Sun, has magical power, a stone of possession of the forces of energy, tests. He will help fight fear, overcome the forces of darkness. It is a stone of power. Ruby is an indispensable talisman for people with professions directly related to the risk of their lives: rescuers, firefighters, soldiers, policemen. The gem grants help to people with with a pure heart and good thoughts. It energizes them, gives them courage and protects them from injury. It is believed that a ring with a ruby ​​will prolong the life of its owner, give a feeling of joy, improve memory, and increase vitality.

Ruby is a stone of the fiery element, passionate and ardent love between a man and a woman.
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Topaz.

Topaz is found in various color variations: from blue and light blue, green, with a wine-yellow tint to orange and pink. There are also colorless topazes. If we consider the chemical composition of topaz, then it is a fluorine-containing aluminum silicate. Topaz is able to develop intuition, enhance forebodings, sharpen the reaction to the world Topaz is highly regarded for its unique beauty. Beyond the impeccable appearance, topaz has healing properties... It is believed that if the topaz is framed in silver. worn around the neck, it is able to relieve insomnia, relieve asthma attacks, exacerbate taste sensations, and help during epileptic seizures. The use of topaz for chronic diseases increases the effectiveness of other methods of recovery. This stone is used in the treatment of diseases of the throat, with inflammation of the tonsils, will help get rid of diseases of the spine.

The word "topaz" comes from the Latin "topazus". Otherwise, topaz is also called imperial or Brazilian ruby. Often in nature, colorless topaz or topaz with various shades are found, such as: golden, pale yellow, pink, cherry brown, red, blue, golden brown, pale green. There are also stones with the so-called "cat's eye" effect. Talismans with topaz are used as a means of attracting material wealth and good luck, success in business. This is the mascot of travelers, scientists, merchants, businessmen. A talisman in the form of a brooch or a pendant will help the owner overcome difficulties, give strength, and help achieve material well-being.
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Amethyst.

Amethyst is called a quartz of purple colors from dark to slightly noticeable. Prolonged exposure to sunlight renders dark amethyst pale. The stone is a symbol of sincerity, sincerity, peacefulness. It should be worn when worried about mental excitement and anxiety. Beads or a ring are best suited for this. The internal energy of amethyst helps to find inner harmony and peace of mind, as well as maintain health. Amethyst serves as a symbol of devoted, faithful love. As a talisman, amethyst serves as a reliable protection against discontent and anger of persons of high rank, is a talisman against drunkenness.

Jewelers recommend wearing the stone on the ring finger: for men - on the right hand, for women - on the left. Today, amethyst is not that expensive compared to other gemstones. And the reason is not only that enough deposits of amethyst have been discovered, but that people have learned how to create amethyst on their own, and so successfully that even highly qualified professionals with the help of laboratory research unable to distinguish synthetic from natural amethysts. In addition, artificially created amethysts do not fade in sunlight, and can be given the desired color during manufacture.
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Pearl.

Pearls have long been regarded as a sign of loyalty in love; they symbolized the strengthening of marriage bonds. There was a belief that pearls become dull on a person who decided to make a deal with his conscience and change his principles. Therefore, our ancestors regarded pearls as a kind of "barometer" of human behavior.

The name comes from the Latin "pernula" - which means seashell. The word "pearl" itself comes from the Tatar "zenju", the Arabic "zechuk", the Chinese "zhenju". Pearls are also called pearls, pearl grain, oriental.

Pearls are nothing more than aragonite plates composed of calcium carbonate. Pearls can be white, yellow, blue, red and black. Distinguish between river and sea pearls.

Pearls are mined in warm seas off the coast of Japan, Venezuela, Australia, etc.

In Russia, the very word "pearl" first appeared in 1161. Pearls are called gems by the British, French and Germans. As a talisman, pearl jewelry helps its owner to establish close trusting relationships with other people, and pearls also pacify the owner's pride, relieve him of vanity.

Pearls are also made artificially, but they are valued much lower than natural sea or river pearls.
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Turquoise.

Turquoise has always been considered a stone of happiness. It can be green and sky blue with a grayish and blue tint.

More often than any other stone, turquoise was credited with medicinal and mysterious properties. It has long been believed that anyone who looks at turquoise in the morning will feel carefree throughout the day. Examining a gem in the morning improves vision. If you wear turquoise in a pendant or earrings, it will save you from fatigue, eliminate fear and strengthen your heart. People wearing turquoise will never know money problems. Wearing turquoise promotes longevity and prosperity. This gem enhances abilities, intuition, gives courage, ambition, insight, brings peace and happiness to the family. Light blue turquoise is a symbol of the fight against evil and spirituality. Blue turquoise is a stone of strong energy. The word "turquoise" is translated from Persian "firuza" as "stone of happiness".

As an amulet, turquoise should be worn to attract love, health, well-being, good luck. This stone will save travelers from danger on the way, and also make their journey pleasant and easy.

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Amber.

Amber is a suitable talisman for those seeking to keep in touch with the past: archaeologists, anthropologists and historians. The stone helps to accurately predict events, allows you to establish a connection between times, synthesize and combine them into a complete picture, and make the right choice. Amber is a talisman against various evil spirits and evil spirits, envious people, enemies and persecutors. Being a talisman against lightning and fires, the stone helps travelers: it gives them a safe haven, and protects them from shipwrecks while traveling by sea. Also, amber has an amazing property to cleanse the body, soul and space.

If you wear amber near the neck, it will cleanse the body of toxins and give an energy impulse to the carotid arteries, prevent an asthma attack. A necklace made of amber around the head will protect against headaches, have a positive effect on the state of mind, and also soothe negative impact bad weather.

All amber jewelry has healing properties. Amber beads help with the disorder of the thyroid gland. For headaches, amber plates are rubbed against the temples, and for arthritis, painful joints. In ancient times, a bead of amber was sewn into the folds of children's underwear in order to protect against diseases and troubles.

Amber has always been an organogenic stone. Shades of amber range from light yellow to reddish brown. You can meet stones that are almost black. Jewelers consider amber pieces to be especially valuable if they contain air or water bubbles.
The name of the amber is translated as "Baltic gold".
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