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In this family there is another, less expensive, lighter green variety which is simply called green beryl. The word emerald is derived from the Ancient Greek 'smaragdos' meaning green.Įmerald belongs to the beryl family. Which sparkly stone will you choose?Ĭolombia, Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Afghanistanīluish green to slightly yellowish green. from bold, enviably green stones to refreshing, minty green gems. These man-made gems are more durable than any other popular gemstone including diamonds, sapphires, rubies or emeralds.Green gemstones symbolise new life, growth, and ambition and with its strong ties to nature, the colour green provides endless possibilities.
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These crystals are fashioned into moissanite gemstones that rival any natural gemstone for fire and brilliance. It was not until the late 90s that scientists–working in a research laboratory located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina–developed the innovative thermal growing process that creates silicon carbide crystals. He discovered microscopic particles of the gem that would eventually bear his name in Arizona, at the site of a massive meteorite strike. It wasįirst discovered in 1893 by a French scientist named Henri Moissan, who later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Moissanite is a gemstone born from the stars. Find what speaks to you and your special commitment, and it will make a beautiful, meaningful piece of jewelry.Īnother fascinating choice would be lab created Moissanite. So today there is a whole array of colorless or white gems to choose from.
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There is another type of white stone that is cut in the shape of little gumdrops, which are known as white star sapphire and white moonstones. There are also near colorless tourmaline as well as more unusual stones like white faceted opal mined in the state of Oregon. Historically, many thought white zircons as great imitation diamonds due to their remarkably high brilliance, but they deserve to be in a class of their own as well.
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There are beautiful white and near white sapphire, lustrous white beryl (these are colorless version of emerald and aquamarine), and large white quartz, which is the white version of amethyst and citrine. So, what are some of the options for white, colorless gems? Diamonds still remain the most preferred choice for jewelry including engagement and wedding rings, however it is not as well known that many gemstones that are popular for their vivid colors also come in clear versions! When people think of white gemstones (meaning clear and colorless) they often think of diamonds, which are hard, durable, and amazingly beautiful. September’s birthstone is Sapphire, known to symbolize fidelity and the soul, it also given as a gift for 5th anniversaries as well as for celebrations of 45 years of marriage.Sapphires, like rubies also measure 9 on the Mohs scale, making them not only valuable in jewelry, but also for industrial applications such as scientific instruments, high durability windows, watches, and electronics.Falling just below this color requirement are the coveted pinkish-orange sapphires called padparadscha (Sri Lankan for lotus flower), which can draw even higher prices than some blue sapphires. in order to be considered a ruby, the mineral corundum must meet a minimum red color saturation. The origin of a sapphire affects their value as much as the color, cut, clarity, and carat size.All other colors of sapphire that are not blue, are known as “fancies”.Sapphires come from the same mineral (corundum) as rubies, therefor anything deemed the right hue of red is considered a ruby, not a red sapphire.
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