New mineral discovery

A recently discovered species of mineral will be named after John Koivula, veteran gemologist and researcher with GIA. A 1.16 ct. crystal of the new mineral—now christened johnkoivulaite—was found in the Mogok Valley of Myanmar by local gemologist Nay Myo. It was confirmed as a new mineral species by the GIA and California Institute of Technology,…

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Sapphire, September birthstone

Sapphire comes in a variety of colors but blue reigns as number one among sapphire lovers. Sapphire is one of the three top colored gemstones, along with emerald and ruby. It is hard to beat any one of these three when it comes to choosing a piece of jewelry. The most valuable color of Sapphire…

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Blue Diamond and Tie-Dye Jewelry

Okavango, the Botswana government-owned diamond seller that markets 15 percent of the country’s diamond production, has unveiled a 20.46 ct. blue stone, which it calls the largest blue diamond ever discovered in the country’s mines. The brilliant oval stone, christened the Okavango Blue, comes from a piece of 41.11 ct. rough originally discovered at the Orapa mine. The…

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Once in a Blue Moon And Cannes Film Festival

A jewelry exhibition in NY of course, at Aaron Faber Gallery. It is themed around blue gemstones and 21 individual artists. When it comes to blue gemstones, there are quite a few and its all about personal preference. This show should please all blue gemstone lovers. Articles courtesy Amy Elliott, JCK magazine. The stones that…

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TURQUOISE

Admired since ancient times, turquoise is known for its distinct color, which ranges from powdery blue to greenish robin’s egg blue. It’s one of few minerals to lend its name to anything that resembles its striking color. The word turquoise dates back to the 13th century, drawing from the French expression Pierre tourques, which referenced…

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November Birthstone!

Through much of history, all yellow gems were considered topaz and all topaz was thought to be yellow. Topaz is actually available in many colors, and it’s likely not even related to the stones that first donned its name. The name topaz derives from Topazios, the ancient Greek name for St. John’s Island in the…

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Ruby Red Love !

A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminum oxide). Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. Ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems, together with amethyst, sapphire, emerald, and diamond. The word ruby comes from ruber, Latin for red. The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium. The quality of a ruby is determined by its color, cut, and clarity,…

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Aquamarine

Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin for seawater and it was said to calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. March’s birthstone was also thought to enhance the happiness of marriages. The best gems combine high clarity with limpid transparency and blue to slightly greenish-blue hues. Like many beryls, aquamarine forms large crystals suitable…

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