Alexandrite

Alexandrite is a rare and exotic gemstone. The gemstone is named after Czar Alexander the Great of Russia when alexandrite was discovered on his birthday around 1830. The gem is considered lucky and worn as an amulet of good fortune.

A birthstone of June, alexandrite is also recognized as the gemstone for a 55th anniversary. A rarity in the gem kingdom, alexandrite is a form of chrysoberyl that exhibits a strikingly different color when viewed in different light. Its availability is limited, and a fine stone over 2.0 carats is rare.

Soapy water, alcohol, mild household cleaners, and ultrasonic cleaners are safe for alexandrite.

Amethyst

Amethyst, a much-prized member of the quartz family, is the birthstone for February. Known for its rich, violet color it has always been favored as a regal gem worldwide. Also found in pale lilac to violet with deep reddish violet tones, amethyst can be found in large unblemished stones. Affordable and lovely, amethyst suits various cutting shapes and jewelry styles.

Soapy water, alcohol, mild household cleaners, and ultrasonic cleaners are safe for amethyst.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine's Latin name means "seawater," fans of aqua's fine light blue color see the ocean when they look at aquamarine. The fresh blue color looks cool and inviting, and aqua lends itself to many different cuts and shapes. A bright and durable gem, aquamarine is an excellent stone for rings, pendants, and earrings and looks spectacular when set off by diamonds in white gold or platinum. Deeper shades of aqua look rich in yellow gold as well.

Soapy water, alcohol, mild household cleaners, and ultrasonic cleaners are safe for aquamarine.

Citrine

Citrine, like amethyst, is another member of the quartz family. Typically seen as a golden yellow gem, it is also found in light yellow gems known as "lemon quartz" and the more exotic orange to red-orange colors. Large stones are available, and citrines are affordably priced, cutting into many shapes and suited to many jewelry styles.

Soapy water, alcohol, or mild household cleaners as well as ultrasonic cleaners are safe for citrine.

Emerald

Emerald is the birthstone of May. Its vibrant green color is often tinged with blue in the finest gems, and emerald is often identified with the presence of "jardin" or garden-type inclusions in the stone. The best emeralds have a rich color and are relatively free from these inclusions, and fine large emeralds are rare and costly.

Chosen as a 20th and 35th anniversary stone, emerald is distinct with its glowing color and velvety appearance.

Mild soapy warm water, and a soft brush are the best for cleaning your emerald.

Garnet

Garnets are best known as red gemstones and are named for their similarity to a pomegranate seed's color, but garnets can be pink, purplish-red, orange, yellow, and even green. Found all over the world, they are bright clear gemstones and can be cut in various shapes and sizes for jewelry of all descriptions.

Soapy water, alcohol, mild household cleaners, and ultrasonic cleaners are safe for garnet.

Jade

Jade is not a listed birthstone, but with a wide range of colors and characteristics, it is a unique gemstone much prized for the rich green color of Burmese jade. Fine jade is known as jadeite and is a durable and beautiful stone suitable for men's and women's jewelry as it is used as a dome-shaped or cabochon cut gemstone that is not cut with facet planes.

Jadite is also excellent for inlaying into a ring setting. Fine green jadeite is rare and costly, and large stones are hard to obtain.

Soapy water, alcohol, mild household cleaners, and ultrasonic cleaners are safe for jade.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli. An extraordinary deep blue gemstone found primarily in the far East, Lapis is the stone much loved by the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Beautiful in rings, earrings, and pendants, lapis often has small deposits of bright silvery pyrite and reminds you of a dark sky with stars. Fine lapis was once the "gold standard" in the royal treasury of the Sultans of Afghanistan.

Mild soapy warm water and a soft brush are the best for cleaning your lapis lazuli.

Moonstone

Moonstone is a mystical gemstone. It is a tough, fibrous stone, and it is these fibers inside the stone are struck by light and give the mysterious glowing "eye" that moves across the polished surface of moonstone. Typically white in color moonstones are also found in grey, peach, and yellow colors. There is a green moonstone and a rare "blue flash" moonstone, but they are difficult to find and usually small. Moonstones look great in a ring or pendant that catches light and shows of their "moonglow."

Soapy water, alcohol, mild household cleaners, and ultrasonic cleaners are safe for Moonstone.

Opal

Opal is the best-known October birthstone. Known for its lovely play of colors across a light background, opals are delicate and inviting in appearance and are cut as a cabochon or domed form. Found in different locations around the world, an especially rare form of Australian opal known a "black opal" is a dark base exhibiting bright play of color making a captivating gem for a pendant or a carefully worn ring. A new find of opal in Ethiopia exhibiting bright bands of intense color in a clear or light yellow base is the latest entry in the world of opal. Opal is a delicate gemstone and can be scratched or chipped through careless wear but will reward the wearer with a lifetime of fascinating color play if it is carefully worn.

Mild soapy warm water and a soft brush are the best for cleaning your opal.

Pearl

Pearls are a June birthstone, and they are the only gem found in the form they appear in as finished gems. Cultured pearls range in size, color tones, luster, and value. Large pearls from the South Seas and Tahiti can be obtained up to 25mm and larger. The largest pearls of fine quality are extremely rare and only a fortunate few will ever own them. Traditionally, pearls are made into lovely necklaces of carefully matched pearls and are a popular accessory for many women, often handed down through several generations as a family treasure.

Do not use wet solutions on your strung pearls. Use a soft cloth to gently rub away dirt and a soft toothbrush to dust between your knotted pearls. Modern professional stringing typically lasts for 3-5 years of frequent wearing, but the string does wear away and stretch and will break down over time.

Peridot

August's birthstone, peridot (pronounced pear-ih-doe) is also recognized as the suggested gift for a 16th wedding anniversary. Volcanic in origin, peridot ranges in color from intense yellowish green to olive and while its color can be exceptional, it will seldom approach the shade of green characteristic of emerald. The finest peridot is bright green to yellowish green with no shade of brown. Peridot is widely available and quite affordable. Its cut into in a large variety of shapes, showing strong color even in smaller sizes, but larger gemstones, especially when internally void of flaws, are difficult to find and costly. Peridot is easily scratched and should be worn carefully and only occasionally in a ring.

Mild soapy warm water and a soft brush are the best for cleaning your peridot.

Ruby

Ruby is the rich, exotic red birthstone for July. Fine color rubies are rare and typically found in sizes up to 2 carats. Known for the passionate nature of its color, ruby signifies love and fire and is a popular gemstone in rings for men and women. Ruby is hard and durable and displays what the ancients called "unquenchable fire."

Soapy water, alcohol, or mild household cleaners as well as ultrasonic cleaners are safe for Ruby.

Sapphire

September is the birth month of sapphire. Mostly seen as a deep blue gem, sapphire also presents itself in colors spanning the rainbow. Often found in nearly flawless stones, sapphire is a favorite for special rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets. Suitable for men and women, sapphire is a beautiful and durable stone cut in all popular shapes and looks great in any setting style.

Soapy water, alcohol, or mild household cleaners as well as ultrasonic cleaners are safe for sapphire.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite was first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania as a newcomer to the gem world by a Portuguese miner looking for a sapphire. A stone prized for its vivid bright violet-blue color that can make your knees weak, tanzanite makes wonderful earrings, pendants, and pins, but should be worn carefully in rings because it is a delicate stone. Cut in various shapes and sizes; tanzanite makes a spectacular piece of jewelry.

Mild soapy warm water and a soft brush are the best for cleaning your tanzanite.

Topaz

November's birthstone is the honey-colored topaz. Bright and sparkly, a natural topaz may be pale golden yellow to yellow or even pink and orange. Since the discovery of irradiating a topaz to turn it blue, blue topaz has dominated the light blue gemstone market. It is a durable and lively stone that can be found in many shapes and sizes, and large topazes are especially fine as pendant stones.

Soapy water, alcohol, or mild household cleaners as well as ultrasonic cleaners are safe for topaz.

Tourmaline

As a pink, red or green stone, tourmaline is a gem of many colors. A birthstone for October, tourmaline is found in fine large stones and exhibits strong color in small stones as well. A rare form of emerald-like green tourmaline called " Chrome Tourmaline" makes a spectacular ring stone and the exotic dark red tourmalines are so ruby-like in appearance they are named "Rubellite".

Turquoise

Turquoise is mostly associated with traditional Native American jewelry and it looks fabulous in silver. In colors that evoke the sky this is a substantial and satisfying gem. Cut in cabochon dome shapes; turquoise makes a beautiful ring, pendant, earrings, or bracelet. Its natural coloring looks good on men and women and will hold up to years of careful wear. Often set in silver, the rich blue color looks splendid in yellow gold as well. Turquoise has been significant to cultures in all parts of the world.

Mild soapy warm water and a soft brush are the best for cleaning your turquoise.

Zircon

Zircon is the birthstone of December, along with its companion stone, turquoise. Not to be confused with a laboratory-produced "zirconium," the most delicate natural zircon is found on St. John's Island, near Burma. The lively and intense sky blue color is dazzling, and zircon has a brilliance that resembles a diamond. Outstanding in a pendant or earrings, this spectacular-looking gem is delicate and looks spectacular but should be carefully worn when in a ring in which the stone is exposed to abrasion and contact.



Mild soapy warm water and a soft brush are the best for cleaning your zircon.