Alexandrite changes color from green in daylight to red in incandescent light. The first time you see it, it is hard to believe your eyes!  Alexandrite was first discovered in Czarist Russia, in the Ural mountains, in 1830.  Since the old Russian imperial colors were red and green it was named after Czar Alexander II on the occasion of his coming of age.  Genuine Alexandrite is one of the world's rarest and most coveted Gemstones, it's so rare that most people have never even seen one.  Alexandrite is in the Chrysoberyl mineral family and is one of the most fascinating gemstones throughout history.  A color change occurs in very few gemstones.  Alexandrite is highly prized, and, as always, the exact tone of the color is an important factor in it's value, the most expensive being brilliant green turning to very red.  The natural color change in Alexandrite ranges from various shades of Green (blue-greens, kelley-greens, olive-greens, teal-greens, etc.) when the gem is under "fluorescent" lighting, or in natural outdoor light "in the shade" (not direct sunlight)... then the color changes to various shades of Red (burgundy-reds, purplish-reds, reddish-purples, violetish-purples, amethyst, etc.) when exposed to light in a room with only incandescent light, tungsten light, or candlelight (a flashlight will bring out the color change too).  To get the maximum color change effect the gem is best viewed in a dark room with no outdoor light at all, then turn on a fluorescent light to see the green shade, then turn on a standard incandescent light bulb with the fluorescent light off to see the reddish shade.  You can cycle the lights back and forth to see the distinct color change.  Alexandrite will normally darken when taken out into direct sunlight, since it is subjected all the colors in the spectrum,  also if subjected to several types of lighting sources at the same time the colors may twinkle with both the red and the green color bouncing around different facets in the stone.  When the primary color has a bit of brownish in with the green, this is due to the bleeding of the two colors.  Typically this is referred to as the percentage of color change.  The higher the color change percentage, the more expensive the gem. 
When the color change from fluorescent light to tungsten light is not an obvious color change from one of the various shades of green to one of the shades of red, the gem is usually called "alexandrite like" or a "color change Chrysoberyl" since it does not quite have the distinct greenish to reddish color change to be called "Alexandrite".
Alexandrite can be found in jewels of the period as it was well loved by the Russian master jewelers. Master gemologist George Kunz of Tiffany was a fan of alexandrite and the company produced many rings featuring fine alexandrite in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, including some set in platinum from the twenties. Some Victorian jewelry from England features sets of small alexandrites.  Russian Alexandrite is extremely rare, the original source in Russia's Ural Mountains has long since dried up after producing for only a few decades.  A few Russian miners are still working those trailings there in the Urals, and they are finding a few fine gems, but only in very limited quantities.  We secure these rare Russian gems as soon as they are found and made available to us.  Most are small stones, less than a carat, but they all have a dramatic color change.  We are happy to be able to make these beautiful rare gemstones available to you.   Material of Russian origin like this is particularly valued by collectors.  We also have some of the finest alexandrite from Brazil, a locality called Hematita.  This Brazilian alexandrite find was made in 1987 and some of these gems show a striking similarity to the fine Russian gems having an attractive color change from bluish-green to raspberry like purplish-red.  The Brazilian gems are also in limited quantities, so they remain extremely rare and expensive, but we are able to get them in larger stones over a carat and make them available to you.  The production of this new material means a new generation has the opportunity to own this beautiful and rare gemstone.  We also have top Ceylon alexandrite with very good color change, it is not quite as dramatic as the Brazilian and Russian, so the price per carat is a little more obtainable.
When evaluating alexandrite, pay the most attention to the color change: the more dramatic and complete the shift from red to green, without the bleeding through of brown from one color to the next, the more rare and valuable the stone. The other important value factors are the attractiveness of the two colors - the more intense each color is the better - then look for the clarity, and then the cutting quality.  Because of the rarity of this gemstone, large sizes command very high premiums. There have been Synthetic Alexandrite stones produced for many decades, some of it is very close in appearance to the real thing.  We do not sell Synthetics.  To assure you that you are getting a genuine Alexandrite from us, we normally provide you with a Gem Identification Report from a reputable Independent Gem Laboratory.  The cost of this Gem Report is included in the price of the gem.  Some of the smaller Alexandrite gems may not have a Gem Report listed, in that case we will normally provide a "Statement of Sale and Evaluation for Insurance", and this report would include the specific details on that particular gem as our guarantee of authenticity.
Alexandrite is an excellent investment stone since it is a "Very Rare" gem. 
TREATMENTS - Typically Alexandrite is not treated since it would adversely affect the natural color change phenomena.
CARE - Alexandrite is also excellent in jewelry since it is quite hard, however, as with all Chrysoberyl, it should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Alexandrite in jewelry.
NOTE -  If you own a gem that you suspect is an Alexandrite, and you are wondering how to tell the difference between Synthetic and Genuine Alexandrite, we recommend you send the stone to a reputable Gem Laboratory and ask for a Gem Identification Report.  Prices for these reports usually start at around $100 and can be as much as $600, it depends on how much detail you want on the report.  If you don't know who to contact, here are a few links to Accredited Gem Labs:  AGA | AGL | AGS | AGTA | CCGL | EGL | GIA | GQI | GRS | GUBELIN | GUILD | IGI | LPSL | SSEF

Alexandrite is rare, a Cat's Eye Alexandrite is even more so.  This Gem is cut as a Cabochon. The stone is usually translucent with a color change of Green or greenish in sunlight or fluorescent light to Grayish/Purplish in candlelight or tungsten light.  This gemstone has a strong Grayish/Bluish White eye (chatoyancy) which reaches from girdle to girdle.
TREATMENTS - Typically Cat's Eye Alexandrite is not treated since it would adversely affect the natural color change phenomena as well as the chatoyancy.
CARE - Cat's Eye Alexandrite is also excellent in jewelry since it is quite hard, however, as with all Chrysoberyl, it should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  Warm, soapy water and a soft brush are the best way to clean Cat's Eye Alexandrite in jewelry.
This is a Very Very Rare Gem with a great investment potential!

Amethyst, a member of the Quartz mineral family, and has Purple hues that vary from very pale to dark.  The medium-dark to dark tones are considered the most desirable and of course are quite a bit more expensive than the lighter tones.  Most Amethysts are relatively free of inclusions.  Sources for this gemstone are Brazil, Zambia, U.S., Canada, India, Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
TREATMENTS - Typically Amethyst is not treated.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Amethyst jewelry in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.

Also called Poor Man's Alexandrite, because it has a faint color change and can look vaguely similar. Andalusite usually varies from light yellowish brown to green-brown, light brownish pink, red-brown to dark-red, grayish green, olive, even violet brown-green, or rarely definite green and has strong pleochroism that makes it hard to identify the main color.  Andalusite is a transparent gem that's almost iridescent with an unexceptional vitreous luster.  Andalusite is a natural Gemstone found in Andalusia Spain (thus the name), Sri Lanka, Brazil, Quebec Canada, Russia and Maine/Massachusetts USA.  Andalusite is normally cut as a faceted mixed oval cut to enhance the luster and strong pleochroism (color change phenomena).  The most valuable stones have greenish to reddish pleochroism.
TREATMENTS - Typically Andalusite is not treated since it would adversely affect the natural color change phenomena.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Andalusite jewelry in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.
Andalusite is not plentiful on the market and is mainly in demand with collectors.  Large cuts are rare.

Apatite ranges in color from colorless to pink, yellow, green, blue, and violet.  It has a vitreous luster and is sensitive to acids.  Apatite is easily confused with Beryl, Topaz and Tourmaline.  Sources for this gemstone are Brazil, Burma, Sri Lanka, Czechoslovakia, India, Malagasy Republic, Mexico, and the U.S.
TREATMENTS -Typically Apatite is not treated.
CARE - Apatite should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your Apatite jewelry.

Aquamarine ranges in color from light to deep Blue. The richer the color, the more costly the gem is per carat.  Aquamarine achieves its Blue to greenish Blue color from Iron in the ferrous state.  Its name is Latin for sea water which appropriately describes the color.
Aquamarine is a member of the Beryl mineral family, along with Emerald, Golden Beryl, Goshenite, Bixbite and Morganite.  Sources for this gemstone are Brazil, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia, U.S., and the former U.S.S.R.
TREATMENTS - Over 99% of all Aquamarine  on the market is "heat treated" or "Irradiated" to stabilize and enhance the color, and/or,  to eliminate green, so you should assume that all Aquamarine "may have been" treated.  The typical treatment process is a permanent process that does not adversely affect the performance and durability of the gemstone, so there's no need to worry when you see this enhancement disclosed.
CARE - Aquamarine should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.

The Beryl mineral family is a popular one because of the beautiful varieties of colors and the durability of the stones.  Beryl is an excellent choice for jewelry. The Beryl mineral family includes Aquamarine, Bixbite (red beryl), Emerald, Golden Beryl, Goshenite, and Morganite.  With the exception of Emerald and Bixbite, all other Beryls are typically clean stones, virtually free of eye visible inclusions.  Beryls colors include Colorless, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, Peach and Red.
TREATMENTS - See the individual class of Beryl for the typical treatment process that may apply.
CARE - Beryls should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.

Bixbite is the Red Beryl, extremely rare, probably 100 times more rare than Alexandrite.  Typically a strong Ruby Red or slightly violetish Red color, with numerous inclusions and internal flaws.  It's pleochroism is comparable to Burma Ruby.  This gem is typically heavily included, opaque, and the faceted Gem is very very expensive.  You could expect to pay $15,000 to $20,000 for a one (1) carat Red Beryl.
TREATMENTS - Typically Red Beryl is not treated since it would adversely affect the value.
CARE - Red Beryl should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Red Beryl.

Goshenite Beryl is the Colorless Beryl, named after a find in Goshen Massachusetts, which may have a very slight tint of Blue or Silver. This transparent, faceted Gem is an inexpensive choice for jewelry.  Goshenite is found in Brazil and the U.S.
TREATMENTS - Typically Colorless Beryl is not treated.
CARE - Colorless Beryl should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Colorless Beryl.

Golden Beryl varies between lemon yellow and golden yellow, and typically has visible inclusions. This transparent, faceted Gem is an inexpensive choice for jewelry.  Golden Beryl is found in Sri Lanka and Nambia.
TREATMENTS - Typically Golden Beryl is not treated.
CARE - Golden Beryl should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Golden Beryl.

Heliodor varies between lemon-yellow and gold to olive oil colored.  Typically it has liquid type inclusions typical of beryl, but they are usually clear.  Heliodor is similar to chrysoberyl in appearance, but is usually more lustrous and and has different physical characteristics.  Heliodor is found in Brazil and Nambia.
TREATMENTS - Typically Heliodor is not treated, but the pigment is uranium oxide and so this gem is not a suitable choice for jewelry.
CARE - Heliodor should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean this gem.

Chrysoberyl has a natural color that ranges from Pale Yellow to Pale Greenish Yellow or Green, or Pale Brownish Yellow.  It's color range is like the Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye but a bit more green or brown.  The pale yellow color closely resembles Light Yellow Sapphire, but it is not as brilliant.  Normally this gemstone is found in Mixed Oval cuts and  Round cuts to bring out the excellent luster of the stone, and sometimes it can even be found in Trilliant, Marquis, and Pear cuts.  Our main source is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known for producing some of the finest Gemstones in the world.  Other sources for this gemstone are Madagascar and Brazil.  The value of Chrysoberyl is about the same as Tourmaline and Spinel.
TREATMENTS - Typically Chrysoberyl is not treated.
CARE - Chrysoberyl should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush are the best way to clean Chrysoberyl jewelry.

Many Gems have Cat's Eyes, but Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye is the best known. A Cat's Eye stone is a Cabochon which has fine tubes or needles which run across the stone (chatoyancy). When properly cut, the light reflects as a floating silky eye. The sharp eye in the Cabochon resembles the iris of a Cat's Eye, hence the term Cat's Eye.
Chrysoberyl Cat's Eyes are normally pale Yellow, honey Yellow and Brown/Yellow, sometimes with a touch of Green. The very best and hardest to locate is a honey Brown. The rarest Cat's Eye is one where a light shown through the side of the stone creates a shadow in the stone. Two shades of color separating the Cat's Eye are then evident. This is called a milk and honey effect due to the lighter and darker shades of color. The strength of the Eye, clarity, color and size of the Cabochon determine the price per carat.
TREATMENTS - Typically Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye is not treated since it would adversely affect the natural  chatoyancy.  Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye is often times found to be radioactive, so it must pass the RDX test and have -0- radiation to be imported into the US.
CARE - Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye (non-radioactive) is excellent in jewelry since it is quite hard, however, as with all Chrysoberyl, it should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush are the best way to clean Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye jewelry.
We only feature and offer Natural Non-Radioactive Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye.

Citrine, a member of the Quartz mineral family, is a Quartz whose color is probably caused by Iron traces.
Citrine's name is derived from the French Citrine for lemon.  Color ranges from medium yellow to medium-dark orange-yellow.  Madeira Citrine's color ranges from medium-dark orange-yellow to Root Beer. Sources for this gemstone are Brazil, Bolivia, and Madagascar.
TREATMENTS - Citrine is routinely heat treated to bring out the reddish tints, whereas natural citrine is pale yellow in comparison.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Citrine jewelry in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your Citrine jewelry.

Emerald, the first stones were mined in the deserts of Egypt near the Red Sea in what were known as Cleopatra's Mines.  Egyptian Emerald mined today are small and dark stones.  Sources for this gemstone are Colombia, Africa, and Brazil.
Emerald is a member of the Beryl mineral family, along with Aquamarine, Golden Beryl, Goshenite, Bixbite and Morganite. The name for Emerald is taken from the Greek smaragdos, meaning Green stone.  Chromium, vanadium, and iron are the trace elements that give emerald it’s color.  The presence or absence of each and their relative amounts determines the hue, tone, and saturation of an emerald.  Generally, the higher the chromium or vanadium content, the more intense the green color. As iron content decreases, so does emerald’s degree of blue.  When iron content is relatively high, emerald is a bluer green. When iron content is relatively low, emerald is a purer green.  Emeralds can be very strong bluish green to green hues, although some emeralds may be very slightly yellowish green.  The most desirable emerald colors are bluish-Green to Green, with strong to vivid saturation and medium to dark tone.  If the hue is too yellowish or too bluish, the stone is not emerald, but a different variety of beryl.  As with other colored stones, a well-trained eye is normally required to recognize the sometimes-subtle variations that make significant differences in emerald value.  Inclusions are generally accepted in Emeralds since all but the rare few have visible inclusions of Mica, Pyrite or Calcite or the "garden" type inclusions.  The most prized emeralds are highly transparent, with evenness of color, and with no eye-visible color zoning.  Inclusions can be important in separating natural from synthetic emeralds as well as for identifying the country of origin.
TREATMENTS - Virtually all Emerald on the market has some sort of surface-reaching fractures and openings. The visibility of the inclusions is reduced by filling them. Traditionally, oils (such as cedarwood oil) are used but in time they tend to dry out thus making the inclusion more readily visible again and the gem would require another oil bath.  Today, natural resin or wax type materials are preferred over the traditional oils, since the resin or wax is a natural substance with more of an almost permanent treatment life.  Emerald enhancement processes date back over 600 years, and oil, natural resin, or wax type treatments are accepted trade practices that do not adversely affect the performance and durability of the gemstone, so you can expect all Emeralds will have some type of enhancement.  There's no need to worry when you see these enhancements disclosed.
CARE - Emeralds must be treated with care to prevent chipping.  Emerald jewelry should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. We recommend ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Emerald jewelry.
We only feature and offer Natural Emeralds.
The vibrant Green incomparable beauty is reason enough for owning this Gem.

The Garnet group of minerals has 20 different species.  The most commonly recognized are Pyrope, Almandite, Spessartite, Grossular, and Andradite.
Garnets are available in all colors except pure Blue.  Pyrope and Almandite Garnets are orangy Red, Red, or Violet; Grossular Garnets are Colorless, Orange, Yellow, yellowish Green or Green; Spessartite Garnets are Orange or reddish Orange; Andradite Garnets are Green or yellowish Green.
The Latin root word for Garnet is Granatum, meaning pomegranate, thought to resemble the fruit's seeds.
Our source for Garnet is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known for producing the finest variety of Garnet.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Garnet jewelry in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.

Among the rarest Gems in the world is the Color Change Garnet.   Only with our direct connections are we able to bring you the finest Color Change Garnets  that command substantial prices.  There are very few stones in the worldwide market.  Color Change Garnet is a very highly valued Collectors Gemstone.

Pyrope Garnets are the most common on the market.  They are typically Red with a brownish tint, or Brick Red in color.  Pyrope is sometimes called "Cape Ruby" and sometimes confused with Almondine and Spinel.  Pyrope Garnets are tough wearing stones, so an excellent choice for jewelry.

Rhodolite is the name used to describe the lovely pinkish, purplish or lavender Red Garnets which are a mixture of Almandite and Pyrope. This name was first used in the late 1800's to describe the new rhododendron shade of Garnets discovered in North Carolina.
Rhodolite Garnets are not as dark as the common Pyrope Garnets.  Rhodolites are normally African in origin and are bright, transparent Gems.  Rhodolites are usually Red stones, purplish Red and the popular Raspberry Rhodolite, rich Purple with bright Lavender highlights.  Prices are based on the color, size and clarity of the stone.

Green Demantoid Garnet is one of the rarest Garnets. Discovered in Russia in 1868, the  supply was consumed in jewelry by 1896.  Production now is limited to a few stones a year. Utilized in Art Nouveau jewelry during the turn of the century.  Demantoid is important to Gem aficionados for four reasons: its great rarity, its color, its high dispersion and its distinctive inclusion.  Dispersion, or the breaking of White light into spectral colors, is measured at 0.044 for Diamond and 0.057 for Demantoid.  Demantoid's name means "diamond" in German, an indication of its beautiful luster.  Demantoid deposits of lesser material exist in San Bonito County, California, the Piedmont area of Italy, Iran, Nambia, Korea, the Congo and the Stanley Butts area of Arizona, but because the original locality for demantoid was in Russia’s Ural Mountains, the Russian material remains the standard by which the gem is judged.  While the color of demantoid never equals that of the finest emerald, an emerald-green is the ideal.  The color should be as intense as possible, without being overly dark.  Many stones are in the yellowish-Green range with lesser qualities being brownish Green of grayish Green.  The color of demantoid is believed to be due to chromium.  It should be noted that the fire in a demantoid is best seen in the lighter, less saturated gems. Thus color preference is a matter of individual taste.  Some people will choose an intense body color and less fire, while others prefer a lighter body color and more fire.  Demantoid garnet generally looks best under daylight.  Incandescent light makes it appear slightly more yellowish-green.  Because of its high dispersion, demantoid looks great in the same type of lighting as diamond, i.e., multi-point (as opposed to diffuse) lighting.  Demantoid is relatively clean, thus when buying one you should look for an eye-clean or near-eye-clean stone.  Demantoids exhibit a unique Byssolite inclusion called a "horse tail."  This inclusion is formed by Asbestos, needle-like fibers which radiate from a central crystal, usually Chrysolite, in a curving style similar to a horse's tail.  Gem cutters often fashion a Demantoid to better show the inclusion since this is a definite characteristic of a Demantoid.  Generally you will only find  round brilliant, oval, or cushion cuts.  Typically crystals are small and not plentiful, generally under 1 Carat.  Demantoid is rare in faceted stones above 2 cts.  Fine demantoids above 5 carats can be considered world-class pieces.  Some demantoid garnet is heat-treated to improve the color, and the resulting stones are stable under normal wearing conditions.  Demantoid is among the most expensive of all garnets, but like all gem materials, low-quality (i.e., non-gem quality) pieces may be available for a few dollars per carat.  Prices for demantoid vary greatly according to size and quality, but gem quality stones with no enhancement may reach as much as $10,000 per carat.  Demantoid Garnet is a valued Collectors Gemstone.

The Grossular Garnet species incorporates many colors: Colorless, Yellow, Green, Orange, Brown, Pink and Black. Of course there are many variations and shades of these colors.  Pure Grossular is Colorless.  Grossular Garnets can have a particular inclusion which is an identifying characteristic. A treacle or swirly appearance created by tiny included crystals, generally Diopside crystals, is common to Grossular Garnets.
Our source for Garnet is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known for producing the finest variety of Garnet.   Other sources are Canada, U.S., Mexico, Africa, Australia and Brazil. Grossular Garnet is a valued Collectors Gemstone.

Part of the Grossular Garnet species.  Hessonite Garnets are available in Yellow, Orange and Red/Orange. The Red/Orange Hessonite is often referred to as "Cinnamon" stone because it matches the color of oil of cinnamon produced in Ceylon.  Our source for Hessonite Garnet is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known for producing the finest variety of Garnet.  Other sources are Canada, Mexico, U.S., Brazil and Africa.  Hessonite Garnet is a valued Collectors Gemstone.

Tsavorite is the intense Green Grossular Garnet named after the Tsavo National Park in Kenya.  Tsavorite was first discovered in 1967 and was named by Henry B. Platt, vice-president of Tiffany & Co., after the site of that find.
Tsavorite is often compared to other Green Gemstones, and it is easily a match for the better known Emerald. Actually Tsavorite is superior to the Emerald in many ways, and it is a rarer stone. Tsavorite is a tougher, more durable stone with a higher luster, resulting in a higher polish.  It also has a higher refractive index, 1.74 for Tsavorite compared to 1.57 for Emerald, so Tsavorite is the brighter stone for setting with Diamonds since the Tsavorite will display more sparkle and fire.
Shades vary from pure Green to yellowish Green.  Like Emerald, most Tsavorites will have some visible inclusions.  Most Tsavorite production is under 1 Carat.  A 2 Carat Tsavorite is considered large! Tsavorite a is a valued Collectors Gemstone due to its rarity and its beauty.

Spessartite Garnets are not commonly found on the market.  Their vivid Orange color, sometimes with a Orange-Red to Orange-Pink color, is the most desired.  This Gem is especially Rare in clean faceted stones larger than 3 carats, and Gems over 10 carats are extremely Rare. The labor involved is arduous because the crystals are buried in pockets in pegmatites, once molten lava, and the miner slowly moves from pocket to pocket to retrieve the crystals.  Spessartite has good transparency, considerable luster, and normally found in Mixed or Oval cuts.  This Gem received its name from the area in Spessart, Germany, where it was originally found in the 1800's.  Since all Garnets are tough wearing stones, Spessartite is an excellent choice for jewelry.  Spessartite a is a valued Collectors Gemstone due to its rarity and its beauty.

A combination of two Garnet species: Pyrope and Spessartite. This Orange Garnet has an unusual history. In the late 1970's, East African miners included this Orange and reddish Orange stone in parcels of Rhodolite Garnet being offered to Japanese dealers. The "off" colors, summarily rejected for their obviously different color, were contemptuously called Malaya by the miners. This Swahili word means outcast or prostitute.  German and American dealers saw the beauty of this "outcast" Gem and began marketing Malaya Garnet in 1979. Top color Malaya Garnets are pure Orange or Red/Orange, sometimes with a touch of Peach. These vibrant stones are beautiful especially when mounted in Jewelry.

The latest discovery in the Garnet family. From Mali, Africa, these attractive Garnets are a rare mixture of Andradite and Spessartite and only came into the market in late 1994.  Mali Garnets are much rarer than Tsavorite Garnets.  All are a bright, uniform light yellowish Green. These are extraordinary stones that are expected to increase in value.

This "Sunkist" Orange Garnet is a newcomer to the Gem Markets.  Discovered in 1992 in Namibia near the north border with Angola, Mandarin Garnet is mined in wasteland conditions. Temperatures have been known to reach 140°F in a desert area populated by Angolan soldiers who have fled their homeland.  Mandarin Garnet is part of the Spessartite Garnet species and has a hardness of 6-6.5. Its uniform, vivid color of pure Orange sets it apart from other Orange stones.  Garnets take a good polish, so this is a beautiful Gem for mounting.  Potential for this Gem is good because jewelry demand will grow due to its vivid color and brightness.

Iolite, also called Cordierite, Dichroite, or Water Sapphire when the color is not very intense.  Iolite varies from quite Deep Blue to violet Blue to light grayish-Blue, but it always has a strong pleochroism. Our source for these vitreous, transparent, faceted stones is Sri Lanka and Brazil.  This Gem is usually just a few carats in weight and cut to maximize the color and pleochroism.
The most common cut to be found is Oval or Rectangular step cut.
TREATMENTS - Typically Iolite is not treated.
CARE - Jewelry featuring Iolite should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Iolite.

Kunzite, named after George F. Kunz, the noted Gemologist for Tiffany & Company, in 1902, is probably the best known member of the Spodumene mineral family.  Our source for these beautiful, transparent, faceted stones is Brazil.  This Violet-Pink Gem is frequently encountered in very large sizes and in deep cut Gems as a way of maximizing the color. Smaller stones, those under 10 Carats, will usually have lighter color than larger ones.
TREATMENTS - The very nature of Kunzite requires it's color to be enhanced and stabilized by Irradiation followed by Heat treatment.  Caution should be exercised regarding exposure to sunlight, however, since the color can become faded.
CARE - Jewelry featuring Kunzite should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Kunzite.

Morganite is in the Beryl mineral family.  The public was just begining to gain awareness of this soft pink stone named after J.P. Morgan (Morganite) but is now gaining recognition by a new name "Pink Emerald".  This Gem is truly rare, especially in the larger sizes with good color.  In reality, green emerald is not rare, diamond is anything but rare, since everyone in the world has one, regardless of their income level, but Morganite is very rare.  Gem dealers in the know have one tucked away because they've always thought it would be an important gemstone.  Pink Emerald is finally receiving the appreciation and price level it deserves.  Pink Emerald prices are now at around $450 per carat for some of the smaller stones (<3 carats) in lighter colors, and range to upwards of $10,000 per carat for large stones with rich color.  Some dealers see Morganites easily being $10,000 to $30,000 per carat in the very near future.  Morganite, or Pink Emeralds are following the lead taken in 1990 when  red beryl, or bixbite, was being sold and marketed as Red Emerald.  Red Emerald and Pink Emerald are both beryllium aluminum silicates colored by manganese and chromium, among other things.  These precious gems are extremely desirable and beautiful.  As with most gems, the larger the Pink Emerald the more it's cost per carat, and the more saturated the color, the higher the price of the gemstone.  It is very difficult to find "choice" Brazilian stones like ours, and the price is consistently going up.  A clean and well cut Pink Emerald (Morganite) with moderate to moderately strong pastel pink color is definitely a winner, a gem you'd be proud to own, but to maintain it properly, make sure you clean it often, following the instructions below.  Pink Emerald or Morganite, is one of my personal favorites.
TREATMENTS - Typically Morganite is not treated or  enhanced.
CARE - Jewelry featuring Morganite should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Morganite.
This is a valued Collectors Gemstone that will continue to gain popularity and increase in value.  Morganite is in the Beryl mineral family.

Peridot is a member of the Olivine mineral group. The amount of Iron determines the color saturation. Peridot ranges in color from yellowish Green to deep olive Green.
Peridot's name is derived from the Greek peridona, meaning to provide plentifully.
The U.S. has become the major source for Peridot since the world's largest known deposit is on the San Carlos Apache reservation 80 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona.  The rough is dug by Native Americans who sell to nearby dealers.  The faceted Arizona Peridot is bright, yellowish Green with minimal inclusions.
Burmese Peridot is a rich olive Green and was readily available in large Gem quality stones.  Sources
for these fine stones are quite limited now, and premium prices can be demanded for fine, Gem quality
Burmese Peridots.
TREATMENTS - Typically Peridot is not treated.
CARE - Peridot is an excellent choice for jewelry, but should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Peridot.
Top Quality Large Peridot Gems are also excellent for a Collectors Gemstone.

Ruby is one of the symbols of love.
Ruby is of the mineral Corundum as is Sapphire.  The red color is called Ruby.  Some gem dealers debate the borderline between ruby and pink sapphire. Historically, the word ruby referred to shades of red, which technically included pink. But the names ruby and pink sapphire reflect a bit of a difference in value. That’s why, given a choice, a gem dealer would prefer to be able to call a corundum gem ruby rather than pink sapphire.  Pink Sapphire is really just Light Red Ruby. The International Colored Gemstone Association passed a resolution that the light shades of the red hue be included in the category Ruby since it was too difficult to legislate where red ended and pink began.  In practice, however, pink shades are now known either as Pink Ruby or Pink Sapphire.  Either way, these gems are among the most beautiful of the corundum family. 
Ruby hues range from strongly purplish-red to orangy-red.  The finest ruby has a slightly purplish-red to pure vibrant red hue.  As the hue becomes more purplish or orangy, the ruby moves down the quality scale into good and commercial ranges. The highest-quality rubies have  vivid saturation.  Medium tone to medium-dark tones are preferred as long as the tone is not so dark that it has a negative effect on brilliance.  At the other extreme, if the tone is too light, the stone is considered pink sapphire, even if saturation levels are high. The most valuable ruby colors are red (R) to slightly purplish red (slpR) with medium (5) to medium-dark (6) tones and strong (5) to vivid (6) saturation.  Typically these are called Cherry Red to Pigeon Blood Red colors.  Chrome imparts the Redness to Ruby.  Here are charts showing the GIA master hue/tone/saturation to determine if corundum is ruby, or if it’s pink, purple, or orange sapphire.  Gem Laboratories that use the GIA scale, grade on the principle that red must be the dominant hue before a stone can be called a ruby, and since identification of the dominant hue is subject to personal perception, in some areas of the world pink sapphires are considered rubies.  Ruby is an excellent choice for jewelry and has a high refraction which produces a bright stone.  Ruby's relative density is high, so a one Carat Ruby will be smaller in millimeter dimensions than a one Carat Diamond.
We typically offer only the finest Burma and Ceylon Rubies.  The Mogok region in Burma, or Myanmar, is the source historically for the finest Rubies.  Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and Mong Hsu Burma Rubies are what we would consider the regions producing the next to the finest grade Ruby, whereas Rubies from Thailand, Africa and Vietman are typically in the commercial grade of Ruby.  Facet grade Ruby stones are usually cut in the Cushion or Oval shapes.  Native cutters take liberties with the cutting of the pavilions or back side of Rubies to produce larger stones by lifting out dark inclusions, sometimes leaving small cavities (or divets), allowing the culet or bottom point to be a little bit off-center, or by having deeper or shallower than ideal pavilions. Generally these minor points are not noticeable when the stones are mounted, and generally they do not affect the price. Precision cuts required for designer jewelry are cut by strict standards, and consequently the cutting adds to the overall cost of the item.
Ruby was the first mineral to be produced by commercial Gem synthesis and dates to the 1880's.  Many customers have brought family heirlooms for insurance only to be told that their "Gem" is not a natural stone, so just because it's old doesn't mean it's the real thing.  We have only genuine natural Ruby, so you will not find synthetic Ruby, among our Gemstones.
TREATMENTS - Over 99% of all Ruby on the market is heat treated, to stabilize and/or enhance the color and/or clarity.  The typical heat treatment process is a permanent process that does not adversely affect the performance and durability of the gemstone, so there's no need to worry when you see this enhancement disclosed.  The typical heat enhancement procedure performed on Ruby from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) normally refers to the lower temperature wood 'blow' heat method, whereas and the typical heat enhancement procedure performed on Mogok, Myanmar, MongHsu, Thai, Vietnamese, and African Ruby usually refers to the high temperature furnace fired method.  Both heating methods are accepted trade practices, and have been for many generations.  The heat treatment process is permanent and does not adversely affect the performance, and durability of the gem, but in recent years demand for natural non-heated non-treated top quality Ruby has caused these gems to command a somewhat higher premium, depending on the gem.  We take pride in finding and featuring many of these non-heated natural Rubies.
COLOR - The most important factor in the value of a RUBY.  The top qualities are as red as you can imagine: a saturated pure spectral hue without any overtones of brown or blue.  After color, the other factors which influence the value of a ruby are clarity, cut, and size.  There are many variables in colored gem pricing because it's not a controlled market like the diamond market is.  One dealer may sell an Ruby of the same quality at one price and another dealer may sell that same Ruby for another price.  There is no price guide as in diamond purchasing.  Whatever a dealer can get for that rarer colored gem is what it's worth and if he wants to hold out for a certain amount of money he just  has to hope he's making the right move.  So you need to be educated enough to know what you're doing!  Since we cut out these middleman dealers, you can expect to get a great quality stone for considerably less.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Ruby in an UltraSonic Cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend Ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Ruby jewelry.
Rubies are an excellent choice for investment that are today still more valuable and rare than even the top quality colorless diamonds.  Natural "unheated" top quality Ruby never decreased in true value and remains a highly valued Collectors Gemstone.

Ruby sometimes displays a three-ray, six-point star. These star rubies are cut in a smooth domed cabochon cut to display the effect. The star is best visible when illuminated with a single light source: it moves across the stone as the light moves. This effect, called asterism, is caused by light reflecting off tiny rutile needles, called "silk," which are oriented along the crystal faces.
The value of star rubies and star sapphires are influenced by two things: 1) The intensity and attractiveness of the body color, and 2) The strength and sharpness of the star.   All six legs should be straight and equally prominent. Star rubies rarely have the combination of a fine translucent or transparent color and a sharp prominent star, but when offered, these gems are valuable and expensive.
If you own one and aren't sure if it's genuine, here's a few quick ways to tell the difference... First thing to look at is the bottom, if there is an "L" stamped in the stone, it's a Lindy Star and synthetic... if it passes that test  look for imperfections within the stone, and/or unevenness on the bottom, and/or stripes or lines of color that shows through the top, most naturals have one or more of these natural imperfections... then look at the star itself, using a flashlight, most natural stars do not have a "perfect" star, whereas the natural will most likely have 1 or more of the 6 legs not exactly the same length, or maybe not all 6 are perfectly straight... also the star must travel around following the light source, whereas if the star is stationary it is definitely synthetic, the most common synthetics jump out as way are too perfect looking.  You can also take it to a jeweler that has a diamond tester (with has a needle gauge instead of the ones that just making a beep), the dial should jump to the mark just before a diamond to tell you it's corundum.  These are just simple things you can do to rule out the majority of synthetics, but if you have a perfect star, a super clean stone with great color, the only way to be sure is to send the stone to a reputable Gem Laboratory and ask for a Gem Identification Report.  Prices for this report will range between $100 to $500, depending on how much detail you want on the report.  If you don't know who to contact, here are a few links to Accredited Gem Labs: AGA | AGL | AGS | AGTA | CCGL | EGL | GIA | GQI | GRS | GUBELIN | GUILD | IGI | LPSL | SSEF
TREATMENTS - Star Ruby is normally "not treated", since the treatment process would dissolve the rutile needles that causes the asterism to form a star.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Star Ruby in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Ruby jewelry.
Our sources for Star Ruby is Burma and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), both known for producing the finest variety of Ruby and Sapphire.  Star Rubies are very highly valued Collectors Gemstones.

Sapphire and Ruby comprise more than half of all Gemstones sold worldwide. Sapphire's popularity is not based on color alone.  Its hardness of 9 places it next to Diamond (10), making it an excellent choice for jewelry worn daily.  It is frequently featured in engagement rings.  Most people relate Sapphire to the color Blue.  But this form of Corundum is readily available in an array of other colors: Pink, Golden, Green, peachy Orange, Purple and Colorless.  Fancy colors in Sapphires are described as being variations of the standard hues.  Color change Sapphires are those which have two colors which are distinct when the light source is changed from fluorescent to incandescent.  Generally, the more clear and vivid the color, the more valuable the fancy sapphire.  If the color is in the pastel range, the clarity should be good: because in lighter tones inclusions are more noticeable, the trade usually prefers the gemstones to be cleaner with fewer visible inclusions.  In a lighter colored gemstone, the cut is also more important: it should reflect light back evenly across the face of the stone, making it lively and brilliant.  With darker more intense colors, the cut isn't as critical because the color creates its own impact.
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) positively produces the finest all-round Sapphires in the world. The very name commands a premium, and Ceylon Gems have constantly increased in price.  We have always been on top of the Gem market in Ceylon and stay up with current prices and new discoveries.  It is a very difficult market due to political unrest. It IS dangerous to go there, and it's more dangerous to go outside the capital city into the countryside where the stones are hand dug from the pits.  We constantly buy fine Ceylon Sapphires when the price is "right."  To be "right" we have the connections to know who needs quick and ready cash.  Every stone is negotiated differently, thereby affecting the price per carat.  We work hard to bring these highly valued Gemstones to you at very very affordable prices.  Sapphire of lesser quality comes out of Australia, Thailand, Colombia, Kampuchea (Cambodia), Kenya, Tanzania and Montana USA, and we do not usually offer these stones.
TREATMENTS - almost all (99%) Sapphire is routinely treated with "heat" to enhance and stabilize the color.  The typical heat treatment process is a permanent process that does not adversely affect the performance and durability of the gemstone, so there's no need to worry when you see this enhancement disclosed.  The typical heat enhancement procedure performed on Sapphire we offer from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) normally refers to the lower temperature wood heat method, and the typical heat enhancement procedure performed on Sapphire from Burma, and other countries in that region, usually refers to the higher temperature furnace fired method that is performed at another location, both heating methods have been accepted trade practices for generations.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Sapphire in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Sapphire jewelry.
We specialize in obtaining Ceylon Sapphires that are natural "untreated" gems, not heated or chemically treated in any way.  The exception is Golden Sapphire, Orange Sapphire as well as some of the darker shades of Blue Sapphire, and these Ceylon stones are typically heat enhanced to stabilize the color. Even though it does not normally adversely affect the performance, durability, or value of the gem, in recent years demand for unheated top quality Blue Sapphire has caused the unheated gems to command a somewhat higher premium, depending on the gem.
Buyers Beware: There is a new treatment process being performed in Thailand that changes a lower quality Sapphires into beautiful color Blue, Padparadscha, Orange, Pink, and Yellow Sapphire.  AGTA and GIA gem labs, after examination of this 'bulk diffused' heat treatment process reveals that the color does not go all the way through the gem, but is only in the outer layer, so if the stone is ever scratched or recut the outer color layer would be removed and the original color would then be visible underneath the outer layer of the gemstone.  Since Asian gem suppliers (and there are many online now) are now disclosing the process, but they are also misrepresenting it as a good thing to happen to the gem industry.  Nothing could be further from the truth, so Buyers please Beware.  For example, you may see a premium Ceylon Padparadscha Sapphire advertised on one of those websites for what appears to be pennies on the dollar, be assured that the stone was most likely altered by one of these Asian factories.  Some of these gem suppliers even go to great lengths to try to convince the public that there is no difference in the value of their artifically colored and/or treated gem, and the value of a natural gem, but any experienced jeweler will verify that a statement like that is totally untrue. 

Although everyone has heard of the fabled Burmese Kashmir Sapphire, few have ever seen one.  We constantly see  appraisals that refer to Kashmir Sapphire, but it's just about always refers to a top gem quality Deep Royal Blue Ceylon Sapphire from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon).   Once in a great while we are able to acquire a real one, but since the mine has been depleted and these highly prized stones are old stones that are simply brought back onto the market, they don't last long.  Authentic Kashmir Sapphires carry a particularly high cost per carat and are very highly valued Collectors Gemstones.
Kashmir Blue Sapphire from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) also carries a particularly high cost per carat and these are very highly valued Collectors Gemstones, especially when they are in the super rich Velvety Royal Blue color.
The Blue Sapphire color next on the popularity scale is Cornflower Blue.  The Cornflower Blue color shades vary but all usually allow more light into the stone for a brighter appearance, so these stones are usually cut in the Cushion or Oval shape to make it as brilliant as possible.  Price per carat reflects the size, evenness of the color, the clarity and the brightness of the stone.

A color change Gemstone is one that changes from one color to another due to the light source. The color change comes about in a Gemstone due to the atomic structure of the stone. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight or fluorescent light excite the atoms in a color change Gem, but artificial (incandescent) light does not.  Sapphire is one of the few Gemstones that can have a color change. The more dramatic the color change, the rarer and more expensive the stone. All of our Color Change Sapphires are are very highly valued Collectors Gemstones.

These Sapphires are generally a strong, bright green color, sometimes from green to bluish green or yellowish green pleochroism. They are not the same tone of Green as the Chrome Tourmaline, Tsavorite Garnet, or Emerald, but can at first glance look very similar.  The mixed Oval and Cushion cut are the most common, but you can sometimes find square or rectangular step cuts.  Green Sapphires are excellent choices for mounting in jewelry as well as in any Collection.  Due to the rarity of Green Sapphire it is difficult to find stones of any size.

Pink Sapphires are one of the HOTTEST of the fancy color Sapphires. The Hot Pinks have seen the largest increase in value over the past 5 years of any of the Sapphires. True Hot Pinks are very rare.  Pink Sapphires are treasured Gemstones in any Collection.  Price per carat reflects the size, evenness of the color, the clarity and the brightness of the stone.

Padparadscha is the Sinhalese word meaning "lotus blossom".  Padparadscha is Corundum in the pastel shades of delicate Orange-Yellow-Pink.  Padparadscha can run from a more predominant Pink with nice Yellow-Orange mixed in, to the intense pastel tones of predominantly Hot Pink with Yellow-Orange mixed in, this means the Pink would be the more predominant color in the stone but the others are present and visible.  At the other end of the color spectrum Padparadscha can run from a more predominant pastel Orange with nice Pink-Yellow mixed in, to the darker tones of Orange with Pink-Yellow mixed in.  One color can be more predominant than the others, but never without the others.  The AGTA Lab recently took a variety of stones that dealers suggested met the criteria of Padparadscha and scientifically defined the color range using an imaging spectrophotometer.  Unfortunately, the results of that attempt almost entirely excluded the stones produced from Tanzania’s Umba Valley.  Most dealers and gemologists feel that the Umba stones do not qualify because of their overly dark tones and strong brown (’garnety’) component.  The spectacular “aurora” red-orange stones from Vietnam and Madagascar, even though there are no brown components in those  stones, are also excluded by the AGTA definition because of their oranges of high saturation and/or dark tones, this is mainly because Sri Lanka has traditionally never produced such colors.  In other words, when it comes to getting a gem report on Padparadscha, if it isn't from Sri Lanka and in a pastel shade, it isn't Padparadscha.  Most Padparadscha tends to have slight inclusions, especially in the rich intense tones, so if you see one that is a well cut and eye clean (or better) stone, with rich pastel blended color having all three colors evenly balanced and saturated throughout the stone, you are looking at one of the most expensive and sought after top quality Padparadscha gems available from the mines in Sri Lanka (Ceylon).  We only carry the finest natural Ceylon Padparadscha Sapphire which carries a premium price nearing and sometimes surpassing the price for fine Ceylon (kashmir and royal) Blue Sapphire.  Fine Padparadscha Sapphire is rarer than fine Ruby with a great investment potential!
 

White or "Colorless" Sapphires have a great deal of brilliance, are attractive, durable and well priced. Colorless Sapphires are not common. In fact they are very difficult to obtain, so prices should continue to move upward in the market.  Some Colorless Sapphires have a very light tint of Blue, Yellow, or Pink but are still considered colorless.
Colorless (white) Sapphire (corundum) is a 9 on the Moh's scale, and a refractive index of 1.76 and Diamond is a 10 on the Moh's scale, and a refractive index of 2.41, the highest for colorless minerals.
Colorless (white) Sapphire has been used as a substitute for Diamond for years, but despite it's luster, it is very easily distinguished from diamond since it has less dispersion and fire.  We often suggest Colorless (white) Sapphire as the accent stones in jewelry pieces, and the larger gems make excellent main stones in pendants and rings, but we do not recommend it if you expect it to be as brilliant as a diamond.  White Sapphire is a natural precious gem, and as such, stands on it's own merit as a beautiful precious gemstone.  Brilliant and Clean Colorless  (white) Sapphires are gaining popularity as a highly valued Collectors Gemstone.

Yellow Sapphires are intense, bright stones ranging from medium light Yellow to deep golden Yellow. These faceted Gems are exceptional in jewelry and have become quite popular as an alternative color for Blue.

Sapphire sometimes displays a three-ray, six-point star.  These star sapphires are cut in a smooth domed cabochon cut to display the effect.  The star is best visible when illuminated with a single light source: it moves across the stone as the light moves. This effect, called asterism, is caused by light reflecting off tiny rutile needles, called "silk," which are oriented along the crystal faces.
The value of star sapphires are influenced by at least these two things: 1) the intensity and attractiveness of the body color, and  2) the strength and sharpness of the star.  Of course all six legs should be straight and equally prominent.  Star sapphires rarely have the combination of a fine translucent or transparent color and a sharp prominent star, but when offered, these gems are highly valued and the most expensive.
If you own one and aren't sure if it's genuine, here's a few quick ways to tell the difference... First thing to look at is the bottom, if there is an "L" stamped in the stone, it's a Lindy Star and synthetic... if it passes that test  look for imperfections within the stone, and/or unevenness on the bottom, and/or stripes or lines of color that shows through the top, most naturals have one or more of these natural imperfections... then look at the star itself, using a flashlight, most natural stars do not have a "perfect" star, whereas the natural will most likely have 1 or more of the 6 legs not exactly the same length, or maybe not all 6 are perfectly straight... also the star must travel around following the light source, whereas if the star is stationary it is definitely synthetic, the most common synthetics jump out as way are too perfect looking.  You can also take it to a jeweler that has a diamond tester (with has a needle gauge instead of the ones that just making a beep), the dial should jump to the mark just before a diamond to tell you it's corundum.  These are just simple things you can do to rule out the majority of synthetics, but if you have a perfect star, a super clean stone with great color, the only way to be sure is to send the stone to a reputable Gem Laboratory and ask for a Gem Identification Report.  Prices for this report will range between $100 to $500, depending on how much detail you want on the report.  If you don't know who to contact, here are a few links to Accredited Gem Labs: AGA | AGL | AGS | AGTA | CCGL | EGL | GIA | GQI | GRS | GUBELIN | GUILD | IGI | LPSL | SSEF
TREATMENTS - Star Sapphire is normally "not treated", since the treatment process would dissolve the rutile needles that causes the asterism to form a star.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Star Sapphire in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Sapphire jewelry.
Our source for fine Star Sapphire is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known for producing the finest variety of Sapphire available.  Star Sapphires are highly valued Collectors Gemstones.

Spinels are genuine Gemstones with a long history. The availability of Red, Pink, Blue, Purple and Orange Spinels and all of their accompanying shades has created confusion between natural Spinel and other Gems for those unfamiliar with this natural stone.
Spinel is a mineral group composed of Magnesium Aluminates. The addition of Chromium produces Pink or Red Spinels. Iron or Titanium additions produce Lavender or Blue Spinels. Spinel takes a brilliant polish, so it is an excellent choice for jewelry. Generally Spinel crystals are quite clear and clean of flaws. Spinel received its name from either the Greek spina meaning "little thorn" or from the Greek spinther meaning "spark" in allusion to its color.
TREATMENTS - Typically Spinel is not treated.
CARE - It is usually safe to clean Spinel in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer. We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Spinel jewelry.
Our sources for Spinel is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known also for producing the finest variety of Sapphire, Garnet, Tourmaline, Taaffeite, and Ruby.  Other sources are Myanmar, Thailand, Afghanistan and Russia. All colors of Spinel are highly valued collectors Gemstones. Many of the colors are rare and scarce in large, clean stones but are less per carat than some of their better known look alikes.

Top quality Blue Spinels rival the color of Blue Sapphire, or they are a vibrant cobalt Blue. Other shades include grayish Blue or slightly greenish Blue. Our stones are transparent, faceted Gems with no eye visible inclusions.  All are nicely cut, ready for your jewelry or collection.

Red Spinel has been confused with Ruby throughout history. Modern gemologists have identified Red Spinels in the Crown Jewels of England, Russia and Iran. If you have ever been to London and seen the British Crown Jewels, you would have noticed a giant red gemstone set in the center of the Imperial State Crown. This stone, quite possibly the most famous gem in the entire world, is the Black Princes Ruby. It is as large as a chicken egg, weighing approximately 170 carats, and measuring five centimeters in length, the Black Princes Ruby is a spectacular red, and it seems to glow with an internal fire of its own. It is so remarkable that it has become one of the worlds most cherished jewels. Guess what, the Black Princes Ruby really isn't a ruby at all.. Its actually a Red Spinel. This Black Princes Ruby is by far the worlds most famous Red Spinel, it is definitely not the only one ever possessed or coveted by kings, queens, and emperors. The Timur Ruby, also in the Crown Jewels of England, is even larger, weighing 361 carats, or more than 70 grams. It is inscribed with the names of six of its former owners. The Kremlin Museum in Moscow has another giant Red Spinel that probably belonged to the Tsar; this one weighs 414 carats.  The most dazzling collection of fine red spinels is found in the Crown Jewels of Iran. The largest one is around 500 carats, and the biggest on record. There are a handful of others weighing over 100 carats, a few with the name of Jahangir, a Mogul emperor over 350 years ago. Once you have seen a fine Red Spinel, you will easily understand why ancient royalty esteemed it as much as Ruby, and sometimes even more. Top quality Red Spinels and Rubies have superb pure red colors, and they have a fluorescence, or a glow, in natural light. Not only do the two gems have the same color and fluorescence, but they are often found together in the same mines, and rubys physical properties are very similar to spinels.  Today Red Spinel is not as abundant as Ruby, in fact it is quite difficult to find. The old mines in Afghanistan that produced so many of the giant stones in the past are worked out, and the gem gravels of Sri Lanka and Africa, which give up many beautiful pastel colored spinels, only rarely contain gems with the pure intense red color of the Black Princes Ruby.  Now only the famous mines of Mogok, Burma, hold substantial quantities of fine Red Spinels.  No one really knows how many gems remain there undiscovered, but perhaps there is still one that will rival even the Black Princes Ruby and remind us all of the days when kings and emperors held sway over vast domains and counted their wealth by the natural beauty that they owned.  Fine Red Spinels are less costly per carat  than Fine Ruby, but as with Ruby, the larger and redder the Spinel, the higher the cost per carat. Our stones are priced according to the size and the depth of color. They are transparent and eye clean.

Tanzanite is known for the exquisite combination of purple and blue hues, one of the loveliest of gems that was discovered in modern times. Tanzanite, discovered in Tanzania in 1967 and introduced to the world in 1968, is mined as a greenish yellowish brownish crystalline material that resembles Andalusite.  Tanzanite is basically the Blue variety of "Zoisite", and mined in Tanzania just below the majestic Mount Kilamanjaro.  Zoisite was originally used in lamp shades and other ornamental art carved items.  Tiffany's acquired rights to the trade name "Tanzanite".  Tanzanite has been adopted as a December birthstone by the American Gem Trade Association and shares its last-month-of-the-year membership with turquoise and zircon. It's affordability and distinctive beauty have earned this gem a status that rivals Kashmir Blue Sapphire.  Tanzanite can be cut to emphasize its blue or violet color component, so it can resemble the finest royal-blue sapphire or hint at amethyst purple. This color versatility has endeared this member of the zoisite family to leading jewelry designers in America, Europe and Japan.  Tanzanite has became a staple gem, and now that supplies show no sign of letting up, it was deemed as worthy of membership on the birthstone list as aquamarine and sapphire, the birthstones for March and September.  Even though all the major industry associations agreed that the public would respond positively to a dynamic new birthstone choice for December, amending the birthstone list is like amending the Constitution. There must be compelling reason and wide support. The last time the birthstone list was revised was 1912, when jewelry industry leaders met to give gems discovered since the formulation of the traditional list a shot at birthstone status. Alexandrite made the 1912 list, and now that Tanzanite has been given birthstone status it shows the degree to which this gem is revered by the trade and public alike. Top Gem Tanzanite is very beautiful and looks great in jewelry. 
TREATMENTS - Virtually every Tanzanite is heated to permanently change its color from it's orange-brown state to the spectacular violet-blue color for which this precious gemstone variety is known.  Moderate heat (750-950 degrees) is applied to get the color you see today ranging from light blue/blue-violet (very inexpensive) to Top Gem colors of rich deep Intense blue/blue-violet. The typical heat treatment process is a permanent process that does not adversely affect the performance and durability of the gemstone, so there's no need to worry when you see this enhancement disclosed.
CARE - Tanzanite should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, since this cleaning method can cause irreparable damage to the stone.  We recommend ionic Cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Tanzanite jewelry. Since Tanzanite is of the softer variety of gems, like emerald, we recommend it be handled as though it is was as soft as opal. Also, if mounted on a Ring, since rings are susceptible to knocks and abrasion, we recommend mounting in a bezel or protected with heavy prongs as much as possible.  Tanzanite has a hardness of 6 1/2 to 7, perfect cleavage (as in topaz), but the fracture is uneven and brittle, and the gem is heat sensitive and reacts poorly to pressure, so care must be taken when mounting in jewelery.
If you are considering Tanzanite, we stock the finest gems available in AAA and AAA+ Top Gem colors of rich deep Intense blue/blue-violet.

Topaz is available in several different colors: Colorless or White, Blue, Yellow to Orange and Pink.  Topaz is a very bright and attractive Gem that is appropriate for any kind of jewelry.
CARE - Jewelry featuring Topaz should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Topaz jewelry.

The most popular shade used in jewelry.  Although some Blue Topaz is produced in nature, the natural shade is generally too pale to excite any interest.
TREATMENTS - The Blue Topaz readily available in the market actually begins as Colorless Topaz and is irradiated to produce the vibrant Blue Shades. Then it is heated to stabilize the color.
The value increases with the intensity of color, provided it is attractive.  At first sight it has a resemblance to aquamarine, but, aquamarine always displays a strong pleochroism from blue to greenish blue, whereas Topaz is a more definite blue or blue with a grayish tone.

The Yellow to Brownish Yellow is the least expensive stones of the Yellow hues.

The Golden and peachy Orange shades are more vibrant, more desirable and more expensive.

The most expensive and most desired of the Yellow tones, ranging in shades of peachy Orange to medium intense Orange to reddish Orange, with sherry Red, deep Pink, and reddish Orange hues. Imperial Topaz is found in only one location in the world, Ouro Preto in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. The world's entire supply of Imperial Topaz is mined in a 100 kilometer (60 miles+) area around Ouro Preto.  Most of it comes from two mines, the Vermelhao Mine and the Capao Mine.  Even though Brazil has the richest and largest concentration of all Gem bearing pegmatites, Gem experts still expect the Imperial Topaz sources to be completely exhausted within a few years.
This is a very highly treasured Collectable Gemstone that will increase in value as supply is reduced.

Pink Topaz is usually a light to medium pink in color.  It is rare to find stones without the typical zoning of color.  The most common cut is oval or pear shape.  Pink Topaz is strongly transparent and lustrous, and can be mistaken for kunzite, morganite, and some pink tourmalines.  When it is a fairly intense color, it can be one of the most valuable of the second level of gemstones like aquamarine, etc.  Pink Topaz comes mainly from Brazil.

These inexpensive stones are actually a Citrine, properly called Smoky Quartz.  Unfortunately Smoky "Topaz" is a very inexpensive variety of Quartz, not in the more precious Topaz family.  It its sold by many unscrupulous persons and unknowing jewelers as Smoky "Topaz" in an attempt to create more sales in the November birthstone month.
Although Topaz of any color is the birthstone for November, other Gemstones have also been used as a
November birthstone substitute.  Yellow is the dominant color used in November birthstone jewelry.

Tourmaline is a large family of Gemstones with more than 100 hues available.  Its name comes from the
Sinhalese turmali, meaning mixed Gemstones due to the tendency to confuse Tourmalines with other Gems.
Tourmaline from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) was first introduced to the Europeans in the late 1600's or early 1700's by Dutch traders. Our source for Tourmaline is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known for producing the finest variety of Tourmaline.
Tourmaline crystals are often cracked and flawed, especially in the Red, Pink and Bi-colors. Clean stones of 10 Carats or more in these colors command a premium price. The Green and Blue colors are generally very clean. The vivid colors like Bubble Gum Pink in Tourmaline is Heat or Cobalt Irradiation treated to enhance and stabilize the color.
CARE - Tourmaline is a very good choice for jewelry but it should be stored in a separate compartment or in a jewelry bag to prevent scratching by harder Gemstones.  Jewelry featuring Tourmaline should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Tourmaline.

Chrome Tourmaline is a rare variety of Green Tourmaline that is found only in Kenya, Zambia, Namibia and Tanzania. The finest Chromes rival the top color of Emerald and offer a more durable stone for jewelry.  Chrome Tourmaline's vivid Green color is determined by the presence of Chromium or Vanadium oxides.  Chrome Tourmaline was first mined in Tanzania in the 1960's.  One of the largest crystal chambers was uncovered by accident in Namibia when an explosives expert shot off excess dynamite.  Gem quality Chromes are extremely difficult to locate.  Stones over 3 Carats are considered very rare in this Gem.  All of our stones are well faceted and eye clean.  A very rare Gem with a great investment potential!

Green Tourmaline is the most recognized of the Tourmaline colors.  Green Tourmalines are typically eye clean stones. Most are cut in the rectangular shapes.  Shades range from a pastel Green to a deep, vibrant Green.

Indicolite is the proper name for Blue Tourmaline.  One of the finest  Indicolite colors are in the medium dark Blue range, close to the color of kashmir Blue Sapphire.  Recently another Indicolite find in the Mulungu mine, and Alto dos Quintos mine, in Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, have produced limited quantities of various shades of turquoise blue-green material, similar to the color of Paraiba (below), but not as vivid a color due to a lower copper content.  These  turquoise blue-green colors demand a higher premium than some of the Blue Indicolite, but should not as high as Paraiba, which only comes from the Paraiba mines.  Our source for fine Indicolite Tourmaline is Brazil, and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), both are known for producing the finest varieties of Tourmaline.  Other sources for Indicolite are Madagascar, California and Maine.
Indicolite is typically a clean Gemstone, seldom with eye visible inclusions and range in shades of medium light to medium dark Blue.   Indicolite Tourmaline is a highly valued Collectors Gemstone.

"Paraiba" Tourmaline is another of the world's most unusual Gemstones. At first it was called "Electric" then "NEON." This new gemstone was discovered in Brazil in 1982.  It's brilliant blue and green are more vivid than any ever seen before. The term "NEON" accurately describes the tone of color.  It is so vivid it will shock you with its beauty. You can see this stone from across the room!  These vivid turquoises, electric blues, rich twilight blues, and neon greens haven't been seen with any consistency in any other gemstone variety.  The only Tourmaline in the world that contains Copper, but a recent study by the German Foundation for Gemstone Research also discovered a surprisingly high gold content, 8.6 parts per million, If it wasn't for the fact they were so beautiful, they could have been in danger of being crushed for the gold salvage!  This gem was found only in one "football field" size spot in the world, its location is near a village called São José da Batalha, in northeastern Brazil, in the state of Paraiba.  Production is sporadic and does not keep up with the strong market demand.  The mine shafts are hand-excavated tunnels up to 60 meters deep and the paraiba tourmaline is found only in very thin veins.  This means the supply will always be limited and paraiba always be rare and expensive.  Don't be surprised to see retail prices of over $20,000 per carat for the fine specimens, but even that is very little when you realize how rare these gemstones are. Diamonds are quite common in comparison.  The price per carat reflects the size, clarity, color and the intensity of the particular shade.  Neon Paraiba Tourmaline is an attractive, highly desirable Gemstone which should be purchased when you can.  The most desired colors have been the shades of clear bright greenish Blue or bluish Green; pure Green; or the medium intense Blue.  Naturally variations of tones create exciting "Neons." Stones are usually transparent with minimal inclusions. This rare Gemstone is a definite winner! 

Pink Tourmaline has become a favorite for mounting because it is available in so many shades, ranging from pure light Pink to intense "HOT" Pink to orangy-Pink and Fuchsia Pink.  Gemologists think that natural irradiation produces the Pink, Red and Violet colors in Tourmaline.  To enhance the color to get the very HOT Pinks, you can expect it to be Cobalt treated.  The darker reddish colors tend to have more natural inclusions than the other Tourmaline colors because they are formed near the center of the crystal pocket and receive more stress and pressure during formation.
We carry the best gem quality Tourmaline available on the market.  Prices per carat vary with the size, color and clarity of the stone. Pink Tourmaline is a highly valued Collectors Gemstone.

Called Rubellite because the deepest shades appear to be Ruby-like RED.  Like all tourmalines, it has strong pleochroism.  Eye clean Rubellite is one of the most expensive of the Tourmalines since most Rubellite has visible inclusions. Clean Rubellite is very rare, so if you see a super clean stone it's probably a Pink Tourmaline or a Rubellite Garnet.  Rubellite's intense RED color makes it a beautiful Gem for mounting.  Colors range in Rubellite from Fuchsia to maroon Red to Red. The price of Rubellite goes up dramatically as the size increases or the Red deepens in intensity.  There have been no new stocks of clean Rubellite Tourmaline on the market for several years.  Expect it to continue to move upward in price.

Sometimes the mineral deposit in the Tourmaline crystal will form a color band along its length or width which will then be appropriately called Bi-color, Tri-color or Watermelon if the colors are Green and Red with a White separation. The vast majority of the stones are obscure or heavily included. Clean Gems are much more expensive.
We offer some of the finest, cleanest Watermelon Tourmalines available in the Gem market.  Definitely one-of-a-kind Gems.  Watermelon Tourmaline is a highly valued Collectors Gemstone.

Zircons are natural Gemstones available in an array of colors.
Zircon's name comes from the Arabic zargoon, meaning vermilion.  Natural Zircons are one of the few Gemstones with dispersion or fire.  Zircon approaches Diamond in fire, so the Colorless Zircon has been a successful natural substitute for Diamond.  Our Zircon is not Heat or chemically treated unless specified.
Our source for Zircon is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known for producing the finest variety of Sapphire, Garnet, Tourmaline, Taaffeite, and Ruby.  Other sources are Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Colorless, Blue, Green, Golden, Red, Rose and Fancy colors provide an ample choice of colors, the rarest of which is colorless followed by blue and red Zircon in priority of rareness.
Zircons are beautiful, natural Gemstones which are currently under priced in the Gem markets.
Zircon is a beautiful and affordable addition to any Gemstone Collection.
CARE - Zircon is a very good choice for jewelry but it should be stored in a separate compartment or in a jewelry bag to prevent scratching by harder Gemstones.  Jewelry featuring Zircon should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean Zircon.