The Austrian Imperial Crown was created in Prague in 1602 for the Habsburg Emperor Rudolph II and remains to this day one of the most stunning works of the great Bohemian goldsmith, Jan Vermeyen. It is comprised of three major parts. The base circle with the fleur-de-lis form the traditional royal crown. The golden mitre […]
Tag Archives: August birthstone
Why Rubies Owe Their Fame to Spinels, The Red Stone Reclaiming Its Place in The Spotlight
The gemstone is finally getting the recognition it rightly deserves! Natural uncut and rough pink spinel crystal. Historically, spinels were revered more than diamonds and rubies because of their luster, durability and hardness. Red is the color of danger and allure, of mischief and passion. On the catwalk, it is the color of the season, […]
It Took 100 Years, But August Has Been Upgraded
Everyone knows that each month has its own birthstone/s and many of you may know what they are. Those of you familiar with August’s birthstones are aware that peridot and Sardonyx represent the summer month, with the latter stone being the original birthstone and the former being added later on before becoming the month’s primary […]
Meet the New August Birthstone: Spinel
This story may make you go from green to red. If you were born in the month of August, you are most likely a Leo or (for those born after August 23), a Virgo. You have also been long accustomed to your birthstone being the light green Peridot. However, the Jewelers of America and the […]
Art from Outer Space
Art from Outer Space Formed by the most powerful forces in the universe, meteorites can often seem like works of art. James Hyslop, Head of Science & Natural History in London, selects highlights from Deep Impact: Martian, Lunar and Other Rare Meteorites. 1 The Canyon Diablo: blending art and science This Canyon Diablo meteorite […]
Sardonyx and Onyx in History
The historical uses for Sardonyx and Onyx consists of a long history of use for hardstone carving and jewelry, where it is usually cut as a cabochon or into beads. It has also been used for intaglio and hardstone cameo engraved gems, where the bands make the image contrast with the ground. Some onyx is […]
Sardonyx – The Flower Red Poppy
Sardonyx – The Flower Red Poppy The Sardonyx is the birthstone of August and its related flower is called the red poppy, a strong and wild species. This meaning that if you have a baby and he/she is born between the 23 July and the 23 of August he/she will be associated with the elements of protection […]
The Green Goddess
The August birthstone is sometimes referred to as the extreme gem due to the fact that peridot is found in volcanic rock and meteorites. The word peridot comes from the Arabic faridat which means gem. Do you have an August birthday and call peridot your birthstone? Celebrate this month in style with a look at one of the world’s finest […]
The Rich History of Sardonyx
Sardonyx combines alternating layers of sard and onyx—two types of the layered mineral chalcedony—to create a reddish zebra-striped stone with white bands. Its name, similarly, combines sard (referencing the ancient Persian city, Sardis, in present-day Turkey, where the red stone was found) with onyx (from the Greek word of the same spelling, which meant “nail […]
Sardonyx and What You need to Know Before You Buy
Before you consider purchasing August’s alternative birthstone, let’s get in to the differences between what you can come across in the marketplace. An educated buyer is always a better buyer! Sard and Sardonyx The terms sard and sardonyx are often subject to confusion in the gemstone world. Do they refer to the same gemstone? How […]