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January - Garnets
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COLORS: |
It occurs in every
color except blue. |
| SOURCES: |
North Carolina,
Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Tanzania, South Africa, Brazil, India,
Rhodesia, Arizona, Russia, Italy, Burma and Madagascar. |
| MARKET: |
Abundant except
for fine yellow, orange and brown. Green rare over 1 carat.
Carried as an amulet to avoid accidents while travelling. |
| HISTORY: |
Used as bullets
by Asiatics and Southern Indians. Persians used it as
a royal gem. Red Garnet used to relieve fever,yellow to
cure jaundice. |
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February - Amethyst
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DESCRIPTION:
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A quartz which occurs
in light to dark purple. |
| SOURCES:
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Brazil, Uruguay, Russia,
Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Mexico, Japan and Rhodesia. |
| MARKET:
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Readily Available. |
| HISTORY
AND LEGEND: |
Used by Ancient Greeks
as charm against intoxication. Bacchus, God of Wine, angered
at a slight, swore to turn next human into a tiger. Amethyst,
a beautiful maiden on way to worship at shine of Diana.
Diana, the huntress, turned maiden Amethyst colorless
to protect her. Bacchus relented and poured his wine over
her-hence purple color. |
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March - Aquamarine
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COLOR: |
Blue to bluish-green
or Greenish-blue. |
| SOURCES: |
Brazil, Madagascar,
Sri Lanka and India. Market strong with 700 to 800% increase
in last five years. |
| HISTORY: |
From Latin word
meaning sea water. In 1910 a 243 pound crystal was found
in Brazil. The American Museum has a 13 pound piece of
this gem. |
| USES: |
Because of large
flawless crystals often used in pendants and large rings. |
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April - Diamond
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DESCRIPTION: |
The hardest most
romantic and brilliant of gems. Toughness excellent. Hardness
10. First found in India now Africa is greatest source.
Russia is also a present source. |
| COLOR:
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Clear to shades
of blue, pink, green and yellow. |
| HISTORY:
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Western civilization
considers the diamond the symbol of marital happiness
and good luck. Endows the wearer with superior strength,
fortitude and courage. |
| FAMOUS
STONES: |
The Kohidor(Mountain
of Light), The Hope Diamond-blue in hue. |
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May - Emerald
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DESCRIPTION:
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Green variety of
beryl. Top color is intense medium tone of slightly yellowish
or bluish green. |
| SOURCES:
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Brazil, Colombia,
Rhodesia, South Africa, Russia and India. |
| MARKET:
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Mines almost completely
closed. Hoarding of stones. |
| HISTORY
AND LEGEND: |
Nero is said to
have used large Emerald as a sunglass while watching chariot
races. Emerald said to help foretell future. It also strengthens
owners memory and quickens intelligence. Also said to
make wearer more frugal and apt to become wealthy. Women
considered it as protection against ills especially problems
of childbirth. |
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June – Pearls
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DESCRIPTION:
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Calcareous concrete
made from layers of nacre. |
| COLORS: |
Pink, pink rose,
white, white rose, cream, cream rose, yellow, gray, blue,
violet and green. |
| SOURCES: |
Persian Gulf, Straits
of Manaar, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Burma and
South Seas. |
| MARKET: |
Demand constants-supply
low due to polluted water. |
| HISTORY: |
Once a royal gem,
whose use was restricted by decree. Widely used by American
Indians as jewelry. Believed to have been formed by drop
of dew that fell into the sea. In dark whether a dark
pearl was formed, in good whether a lovely light pearl
was formed. |
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DESCRIPTION: |
A rare variety of medium to
dark red. So scarce that 2 carat stones are rare. |
| SOURCE: |
Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka,
Africa and India. Toughness excellent. |
| HISTORY: |
Ancient Burmese believed the
"Blazing Red" stones came from bottomless blood
ailments. Supposed to eliminate evil thought lover’s
disputes and to rekindle desire. |
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DESCRIPTION: |
Silicate of Iron
and Magnesium occurring in yellowish green, brownish green. |
| SOURCES: |
Island of Zeberet(Egypt),
Burma, U.S.A and Mexico. |
| MARKET: |
Steady but slow. |
| PROPERTIES: |
Hardness 6-1/2,
toughness fair to good. |
| HISTORY: |
Ancients called
gems of sun. It was used to dispel enchantment and evil
spirits. Worn as talisman set in gold since 1500 B.C.
Zeberet freed of snakes to facilitate prospecting. Prospecting
done at night because were almost invisible in daylight. |
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DESCRIPTION: |
An aluminum oxide
occurring in light to dark blues, violet, reddish orange,
clear, pink and orange. |
| SOURCES: |
Kashmir, Burma,
Thailand, Sri Lanka(Ceylon), U.S.A, Africa and Australia. |
| MARKET: |
Abundant, Over 3
carats used. |
| HISTORY: |
Persians believed
the earth rested on great sapphires. Symbolizes truth,
sincerity and constancy. Worn as a protection against
capture or poison. Rays from stone said to kill snakes.
Before value appreciated was used in Kashmir as fire making
flint. |
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DESCRIPTION: |
An amorphous silica
which displays flashes of color. |
| COLOR: |
Black and white
with various degrees of transparency and varying color
flashes. |
| SOURCES: |
Australia, China,
Brazil, U.S(California, Nevada), and Mexico. |
| MARKET: |
China big buyer
with fine black background and strong color flashes most
valuable. |
| HARDNESS: |
5-1/2 – 6-1/2,
Toughness-Poor to fair. |
| HISTORY: |
Roman considered
it a symbol of hope and purity. Arabs believed opals came
from heaven in flashes of lightning. Thought to preserve
wearer from disease. |
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DESCRIPTION: |
A fluosilicate of
aluminium occurring in transparent yellow, brown, orange
brown, shades of red, blues and violet hues. |
| MARKET: |
Strong with best
value for pink and sherry hues. |
| SYNTHETICS: |
None, toughness-poor. |
| HISTORY: |
Originated with
Mexico Polo’s voyages of 13th century.
Worn as necklace to dispel enchantment. Powered to cure
asthma, insomnia, burns and hemorrhage. Powers subject
to moon changes. |
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DESCRIPTION: |
Turquoise is a greenish-bluish
stone sometimes found near copper. It is cabochon cut
often with the matrix showing. |
| HARDNESS: |
It is fairly durable
but sometimes soft and porous enough to be affected by
dirt and grease. It is often treated to prevent this and
the better quality gems do not require this treatment. |
| SOURCE: |
Today turquoise
comes mainly from the Southwestern parts of the United
States. |
| LORE: |
Previously mined
in Persia, Turquoise was believed to bring success in
money and love plus general good fortune. |
| MARKET: |
Used mainly in India
jewelry it is also used as added decoration to accompany
other gems. |
