LIBRARY OF GEMSTONES

CARING FOR YOUR GEMSTONES

While most gemstones, appear to be unbreakable, they are still likely to be damaged with improper wear and care. Stones like Amethyst, Emerald and Tanzanite can be easily scratched, chipped or shattered with hard knocks and excessive changes in temperature. Emeralds can have an oily appearance, and care should be taken when cleaning to not remove this surface treatment. Most stones can be cleaned using warm water, gentle detergents and a soft toothbrush. Ensure that the stone is rinsed well and can be dried with a soft cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals with gemstones as they can alter the colour of some and effect the durability of others. When storing gemstone jewellery it is recommended to keep with either in individual soft fabric pouches or in a jewellery box with dividers so the stones are protected from contact with each other.

AMETHYST

  • Birthstone for February
  • Most precious of the quartz family
  • Colours range from lilac to deep purple, with green being produced through heat treatment
  • Grows in a ‘geode’, inside a rock formation
  • Can be worn as part of your everyday jewellery however it can be easily scratched by harder gemstones like diamond or sapphire so should be stored separately
  • Amethyst is said to be a symbol of empowerment and inner strength and may help with headaches, backache and alcoholism
  • Traditionally given on the 6th wedding anniversary

AQUAMARINE

  • Birthstone for March
  • The aqua colour can vary from a very desirable deep sea blue to the lighter greenish blue shades which look fantastic in white gold or platinum
  • 7.5 - 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making aquamarine durable for everyday wear
  • Said to keep sailors safe at sea, bring happiness in marriage and to be of help with arthritis and eye inflammation
  • Traditionally given on the 19th wedding anniversary

CITRINE

  • Birthstone for November
  • Citrine is a stunning yellow gemstone with brownish orange tones
  • The name comes from Citrine, the french word for lemon
  • Sitting at 7 on the MOHS hardness scale, Citrine is durable enough for everday wear
  • Citrine is said to have calming powers, bringing the wearer warmth and fortune
  • Traditionally given on the 13th wedding anniversary

EMERALD

  • Birthstone for May
  • A rare and precious stone known for its vibrant green hue.
  • One of the most valuable gemstones available
  • Most emeralds are included, this is considered part of the character of the stone and used to assure the purchaser of a natural stone
  • Thought to promise good luck, enhance well-being and make its wearer more intelligent
  • Traditionally given for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries

GARNET

  • Birthstone for January
  • Garnets are generally available in red but can also be found in orange, purple and vibrant green
  • Great for special occasion jewellery
  • Believed to bring good health, wealth and happiness to the wearer and symbolises affection and trust
  • Traditionally given for a 2nd wedding anniversary

MORGANITE

  • A beautiful pink based gemstone which may have overtones of purple or orange
  • Morganite was discovered relatively recently in Madagascar in 1910
  • Morganite is suitable for everyday wear due to its hardness
  • Due to its delicate pink hue, morganite is associated with romance and love and said to bring wearers healing and compassion
  • Traditionally given for a 9th wedding anniversary

OPAL

  • One of the birthstones for October
  • Opals are distinctly individual with the base colour of black, white or translucent with a play of wonderous patterns in all colours of the rainbow
  • Believed to reflect various moods of the wearer
  • Opals are rare and expensive to mine
  • Traditionally given for a 14th wedding anniversary

PEARL

  • Birthstone for June
  • Pearls embody purity, wisdom and innocence and were traditionally given as a wedding gift to a bride
  • Pearls are a soft natural gemstone and should be stored away from other jewellery to prevent damage
  • Pearls are available in a wide variety of colours and shades including white, brown, black, cream, pink depending where the originated from
  • As pearls are organic gems, they naturally grow in various shapes including, round, teardrop, button and baroque. The most valuable is the round pearl
  • Traditionally given for a 3rd or 30th wedding anniversary

PERIDOT

  • Birthstone for August
  • Peridot is a beautiful olivine gemstone with colours ranging from olive green to bright green, to a paler yellow-green
  • Peridot was a very popular gemstone in Ancient Egyptian times and is rumoured to have been Cleopatra's favourite stone
  • Peridot has been used to protect against evil spirits and 'terrors of the night'
  • One of the most attractive features of Peridot is that it retains the same colour in both sunshine and in the shade. It is known as the 'Emerald of the Evening'
  • Traditionally given for a 16th wedding anniversary

RUBY

  • Birthstone for July
  • One of the highest valued & coveted coloured gemstones
  • All rubies are found to be a deep red colour, and may have a purple, orange or pink tint
  • Large rubies can fetch higher prices than equivalent sized diamonds
  • Rubies are 9 on the MOHS hardness scale making them a very hard gemstone suitable for everyday wear
  • Its rarity and hardness made the Ruby dubbed the ‘King of precious stones’
  • Thought to assure the wearer of good health, prosperity, wisdom and a successful love life
  • Traditionally given for a 15th or 40th wedding anniversary

SAPPHIRE

  • Birthstone for September
  • Most famous for it’s deep blue colour, it can also come in a variety of other colours such as violet, green, yellow, orange, pink or purple. A red sapphire is classified as a ruby
  • Sapphires rank 9 on the MOHS hardness scale, perfect for everyday wear
  • Symbolizes truth, sincerity and loyalty and protects the wearer from harm
  • Traditionally given for a 5th or 45th wedding anniversary

TANZANITE

  • One of the birthstones for December
  • Was discovered relatively recently in the 1960's in the hills of Tanzania
  • Tanzanite varies in colour from deep blue to intense violet
  • Is ‘pleochroic’, which means that different colours show from different viewing angles
  • Believed to be a stone for higher consciousness, implementation of desire, self-expression, creativity, wisdom and communication
  • Jewellery with Tanzanites should be treated with care and not exposed to hard knocks, sudden temperature changes or rough activity
  • Traditionally given for a 24th wedding anniversary

TOPAZ

  • Blue Topaz is one of the birthstones for December
  • Although it sits at 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness it is somewhat fragile.
  • Topaz is most famously know for its blue colour, but is also available in ranges of green, yellow, orange, red, pink and purple
  • Believed to provide its wearer with wisdom and longevity
  • Blue topaz is traditionally given for a 4th wedding anniversary and imperial topaz (pink/orange) for the 23rd wedding anniversary

TOURMALINE

  • Pink Tourmaline is one of the birthstones for October
  • Tourmaline comes from the word toramalli which means 'mixed coloured stone' since you can often find multiple colours in one gemstone
  • Tourmalines are available in pink, red, orange, yellow, purple, green and blue or a combination of two or three colours
  • Rated 7-7.5 on the MOHS hardness scale, tourmalines can be worn in everyday jewellery without any problems
  • Pink tourmaline is associated with love and compassion while green tourmaline offers the wearer courage and strength
  • Traditionally given for the 8th wedding anniversary