Many of the children born on that day are now coming of age. They haven’t grown up in a world where we haven’t been at war, in fact, that’s all they know. I’m not sure how sensitive they are to the great loss the we all faced that early Tuesday morning in September 2001. A […]
Tag Archives: Afghanistan
Where Do Rubies Come From?
The Mogok Valley in Upper Myanmar (Burma) was for centuries the world’s main source for rubies. That region has produced some of the finest rubies ever mined, but in recent years very few good rubies have been found there. The very best color in Myanmar rubies is sometimes described as “pigeon’s blood.” In central Myanmar, […]
The Lore of Ruby
Like a perfect red rose, the Ruby’s rich color speaks of love and passion. Called the “Rajnapura” or King of Gems by ancient Hindus, July’s birthstone is among the most highly prized of gems throughout history. The Ruby was considered to have magical powers and was worn by royalty as a talisman against evil. It was thought […]
The World’s “Largest” Emerald Is a Fake
The story begins with much excitement. The gem, named Teodora, was found in Brazil and cut in India, before being sold to rare gems dealer Reagan Reaney in Calgary – but there are doubts over whether it is in fact a true emerald. ‘I’m positive it contains emerald but I’m not sure how much of […]
World-famous Emeralds
One of the world’s largest emeralds is the so-called ‘Mughal Emerald’. It dates from 1695, weighs 217.80 carats, and is some 10cm tall. One side of it is inscribed with prayer texts, and there are magnificent floral engravings on the other side. This legendary emerald was auctioned by Christie’s of London to an unidentified buyer […]
Emerald Gemstone and Jewelry Care and Cleaning
Precious emerald is sensitive to pressure and vulnerable to household chemicals. Although emerald is one of the harder gemstones, it does still require careful handling, due to its naturally included and flawed formation. Extra care should be taken when handling emeralds as they are more fragile than other forms of beryl. Avoid wearing emerald jewelry […]
Emerald Gemstone and Jewelry Design Ideas
Green emeralds are excellent gemstones for most types of gemstone jewelry. They are considered to be fairly hard, although not so tough owing to the natural flaws of emeralds. They also have a good level of fire and brilliance which makes them ideal gemstones for open settings. Green emeralds are perfect for setting in large […]
The More About Emeralds the Wiser Your Are
Identifying Emerald Almost all-natural emeralds contain distinct characteristic inclusions and almost all are treated with oil or resin to fill tiny fissures and cracks. It is the presence of these flaws and oil which makes it quite easy to identify and distinguish natural emeralds amongst other similar gemstones. Artificial light will expose and amplify inclusions […]
Where Do Those Beautiful Emeralds Come From?
Emerald mining is almost exclusively done from host rocks, where the emerald has grown into small veins or on walls of cavities. Colombia is the international center of emerald mining. The Muzo Mine, northwest of Bogotá, produces fine-quality stones of a deep green color. The Chivor Mine, northeast of Bogotá, is another important deposit, and […]