Tsavorite is a very modern gemstone, and it has two things in common with tanzanite: it too was found for the first time in East Africa in 1967, and was marketed by the Tiffany jewellery company of New York. Unlike tanzanite, tsavorite is a stunning green in colour, and is a member of the garnet family of gemstones, whereas tanzanite is blue and belongs to the zoisite family.

Why Tsavorite? The name is derived from the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, near the Tanzanian border, and the Tsavo River which flows through it. The gemstone was actually first found in Tanzania, but exploitation was not possible at that time. In 1971 it was found again, this time in Kenya, and mining could begin.

Tsavorite is prized by gemologists for its brilliant green colour, and its lack of inclusions. It has a similar hardness to emerald, being about 7.5 on the Mohs scale, and greater brilliance. It is a lot less expensive than emerald, but this is due largely to the greater rarity of emerald, and the lore of it’s long history. Indeed, tsavorite is a brilliant natural-green gemstone which has no need of enhancement as is the case with many other gemstones.

Tsavorite’s robustness makes it particularly hard-wearing when set in jewellery, and along with demantoid it is one of the most sought-after members of the garnet family. Sapphires and rubies may be harder then tsavorite according to the Mohs scale, but tsavorite, like all garnets, is extremely resistant to cracking, and in terms of a lack of inclusions is one of the most stable of gemstones. Like all garnets, it has a very high refractive index, and its sparkle surpasses the majority of gemstones, with the obvious exception of diamonds.

Unlike its geographical neighbour tanzanite, which often yields crystals in excess of five carats, tsavorite crystals tend to be smaller, and hence any tsavorite above two carats is likely to command a premium price. But whereas tanzanite is prized more for its colour than its brilliance, tsavorite has both beautiful colour and exceptional brilliance, and therefore is more desirable in the smaller sizes yielded by the rough tsavorite crystals.

Taking into consideration all of tsavorite’s qualities, such as its beautiful green colour, exceptional brilliance, excellent wearing qualities and relatively reasonable price, it is little wonder that it has become one of the most popular gemstones available today.

Tourmaline is known the world over as one of the most colorful gemstones available. Tourmaline jewelry is found in a number of colors depending on where the gemstone is mined. Also, it is very popular because of its hardness rating. The clarity of Tourmaline also makes this gemstone a big seller. Because of these reasons, Tourmaline has become a very popular gemstone in recent years.

The price of Tourmaline gemstones can vary just about as much as the gemstone itself. Like most gemstones, the price depends mainly on the rarity of the color. The rarer the color the higher the price one can expect to pay. Here again, the price swing can be vary greatly. Some Tourmaline can fetch astronomical prices, while others can be nearly worthless.

The Tourmaline that is the cheapest is black tourmaline. It is relatively common and easy to obtain; however, it is still a beautiful gemstone that makes wonderful jewelry. Other varieties of tourmaline that are quite inexpensive include orange, brown, and yellow. Like the black, these still are beautiful gemstones that make excellent pieces of jewelry. These colors can be considered a great buy since you are still getting a beautiful stone with a great hardness factor.

The mid-priced tourmaline includes watermelon and pink. Pink tourmaline is very popular jewelry and can be found in a number of different settings. Also, watermelon tourmaline which contains traces of green and red is one of the most popular tourmaline gemstones for jewelry. Watermelon tourmaline is a fantastic stone that looks great in all pieces of jewelry, from necklaces to earrings. In addition, there are many other varieties of tourmaline that contain several different hues. These multicolored gemstones are also very popular. Basically, the more complex the colors the higher the value.

The most expensive gemstones of the tourmaline family include the Paraiba and the chrome. Paraiba was discovered quite recently in Brazil. This gemstone is influenced by manganese and copper. These influences give the gemstone a greenish blue tint. The chrome tourmaline is found in Tanzania and is a very dark green.

So, as you can see there are many different types of tourmaline gemstones to choose from. No matter your price range there is sure to be one to fit your taste. Tourmaline has become one of the most popular gemstones in jewelry today. The sheer variety of this stone should guarantee its popularity well into the future.

Pink tourmaline is a fantastic gemstone that is vary versatile. Information on pink tourmaline jewelry can be found at this link.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Rather

Amethyst: Introduction

The Amethyst color is unique as it is seductive. Its transparent, coarse grained, purple color makes it suitable for most jewelry. The Amethyst is the birthstone for February. The amethyst is part of the Quartz family. Though a gemstone must be purple quartz in order for it to be an amethyst, it comes in a wide range of purple shades and colors. It ranges from light lilac or lavender to a deep, rich, dark purple and violet. In the Mohs scale it rates a 7, which makes it hard enough to be suitably made for jewelry. At a point in time it was revered as a precious stone, today its abundance has made it inexpensive and commonplace but it still revered as a beautiful and powerful gemstone.

Amethyst: History and Mythology

The name Amethyst comes for the Greek words meaning a for “not” and methustos for “drunken” (not drunken). This was reference that the Greeks believe that the stone was an antidote against drunkenness. Wine goblets were carved out of the stones and the it still symbolizes sobriety until this day. The story behind this is that the Greek god Dionysus (god of intoxication) was angered one day by an insult of a mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that he encounters. Dionysus came across the mortal Amethyst, a beautiful maiden who worshipped the goddess Diana. Dionysus created tigers to attack the maiden but Diana turned the maiden into pure crystalline quartz to protect her. At the sight of the crystal, Dionysus cried tears of wine which gave the crystal a purple color and creating the amethyst.

Purple is the color of royalty and amethyst has been used to adorn the rich and powerful monarchs and rulers. Fine amethysts were featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also a favorite stone of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty. Amethyst is mentioned in the Bible as one of the 12 stones adorning the breastplate of the high priests of Yahweh. Because amethyst was thought to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, it was an important ornament of Catholic and other churches of the Middle Ages. It was considered to be the stone of bishops, who still often wear amethyst rings. In Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often fashioned from it.

Amethyst: How are they formed?

Amethysts are formed in silica-rich liquids deposited in gas cavity geodes in lava that occur in crystalline masses. These cavities are formed in the earth’s crust by gas bubbling in circular cavities or filling of veins. When conditions permit, it forms hexagonal crystals that are usually grown from a base. These crystals are most often not well developed, and so are generally found as clusters of crystal points and are called Amethyst druze. Although most commonly found in geodes, Amethyst is sometimes found as a stalactite.

Amethyst: What is made of?

Amethyst is of the Quartz family, which is in the Silicates group where silicon and oxygen (SiO2) form tetrahedral silica that combines with various metals or semi-metals. Amethyst can occur as long prismatic crystals that have a six sided pyramid at either end or can form as druzes that are crystalline crusts that only show the pointed terminations. As a mineral specimen, amethyst is popular for its color and nice crystal shapes that produce a handsome, purple, sparkling cluster.

Amethyst: Color

The color of amethyst can come in any shade of purple from light to dark. A paler, lavender shade of purple called “rose de france” was popular and valuable a few decades ago. The most prized color grade however is the “Siberian”, which derives in several locations in Siberia, notably Uruguay and Zambia. The Siberian contain hues of mostly purple, blue and some secondary hues or red. In amethyst, color often occurs in bands or waves. This is very characteristic and can be used to identify amethyst out of other purple stones. In the 20th century, the color of amethyst was thought to be attributed from the presence of the chemical element manganese. But since the color can be altered by the presence of heat, the color was believed to be organic from Ferric thiocyanate and sulfur which is detected from the material. Further study has proved that iron and aluminum is responsible for the color.

As stated in previous paragraph, when heated the amethyst can fade and lose some of its color. It is best to keep these stones away from extended exposure from the heat and sun. If heated intensely the color can lose its color completely and change to a yellow color thus making it a Citrine. Since amethyst is more widespread, this is how commercial Citrine is created. When Citrine and Amethyst are grown together naturally and in the same crystal they create alternating bands of yellow and purple creating what is called Amertine.

Amethyst: Synthetic

As I stated previously, amethyst is so widespread and abundant, that it makes it very inexpensive and cheap. What makes it worse is that technology has advanced so far to make synthetic amethyst that it even imitates even the highest quality amethyst and makes it hard to distinguish between them. Manufacturers of synthetic amethyst have even learned how duplicate the natural growing process, also correcting twinning of the axes, making the growth pattern more identical to natural and making detection even more difficult. Laboratories can test each stone to detect synthetic amethyst but the process of testing is even more expensive than what the stone is worth.

Thought to activate the laws of attraction and bring about manifestation of your desires, blue topaz is the beautiful birthstone for the month of December. Although pure topaz is colorless (or more popuarly referred to as white topaz, a great diamond alternative) you will find topaz in a wide range of colors. It is not uncommon to have yellow, gold, pink, red and even green topaz stones. The blue color that most envision when they think of a topaz stone is actually created when the gem is heated, be it natural heat or man-made engineered heat. A blue topaz comes in three distincly different “shades” of blue; sky, swiss and london blue.

The London blue topaz is a beautiful deep blue that is often mistaken or substituted for a Sapphire. The sky blue topaz
is the traditional topaz that most of us think about when considering the December birth stone. A symbolic sign of
love and fidelity – this holiday season is the perfect time to give the gift of topaz!

Blue Topaz as an Engagement ring: Although the diamond solitaire will always have it’s place as the traditional
enagement ring, gemstone engagement rings and birthstone engagement rings are increasing in popularity. As many in generation y begin to reject the notion that you have to spend three months salary on the ring, unique alternatives
to the traditional diamond are highly sought. A topaz ring is a perfect option if your love celebrates her birthday
in December or if she just loves the stone in general. You can add to the natural splendor of the blue topaz with a
diamond setting around the band of the ring. Not only is this a truly unique option but it is also affordable.

Blue Topaz as a Holiday Gift: Whether you’re celebrating the Holiday season or a December birthday, topaz is a
perfect gift for the winter season. The great thing about jewelry is that it is really a perfect gift for all ages and both genders. If you’re shopping for a young girl, a pretty topaz earring, necklace and bracelet set is certain to bring a smile to her face. Jewelry may not be your first choise when shopping for a man, so look for other things that may incorporate a topaz stone such as a personalized money clip, watch, flask or pocket watch.

If you’re anything like me, you really want to avoid the holiday crowds – fortunately you can find a ton of great deals from reputable retailers right on the internet!

If your ring is going to be different, don’t just let it be strange, let it mean something. You have to choose a ring that actually says something without saying anything. You should be able to get down on one knee, open that box, and see her nodding her head before you even get the words out. Her quick reply won’t be because she’s in love with the jewelry, but because she’s in love with a person who knows her enough to get a ring that is absolutely perfect.

You can’t send that message any better than you can with the enviable green majesty of an emerald engagement ring. Known for being the sacred stone of the Greek goddess Venus, emeralds have also been long associated with bringing reason and wisdom to those who wear it.

Beautiful by itself or accented by diamonds, an emerald will complement any skin tone. It does look especially nice though, against caramel skin or for anyone with olive colored undertones. Extremely refractive, emeralds will shine in any light, and it’s guaranteed to be a beauty she’ll be proud to show off to her friends. The only difference between an emerald and an aquamarine is that the emerald has less air bubbles in the stone itself, which produces the much darker green color.

You can find emerald engagement rings at almost any of your local jewelers. If you are hunting for something more than extraordinary, you may need to go online or search in your phone book for jewelers that do custom emerald engagement rings. That way, you can choose every facet of the most important ring she’ll ever wear.

At www.israeldiamonds.com, you can design your own emerald engagement ring right online. They have selections for bands, settings, metal, and type of gemstone. You can select the color, cut, and clarity of the stone as well. Good luck in your search for the emerald that matches her eyes.

Tanzanite engagement rings: So you are asking the love of your life to marry you, but you are in a quandary about the type of engagement ring to propose with. Why not show her what a rare and special gem she is to you by presenting her with a tanzanite engagement ring. Is her birthday in December, are you proposing in December, or is there a special date in December that you want to commemorate? Then tanzanite is the way to go as it was added in 2003 by the American Gem Trade Association as a birthstone for the month of December, the first gemstone added to the list in nearly one hundred years. Tanzanite was first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, Africa and so far this is the only place that tanzanite is found and mined. Tiffany’s was the first to be presented with the gem after its discovery and they quickly realized its value. Through their promotion and advertising tanzanite became one of the most desirable and well-liked gemstones in the world.

When looking at a tanzanite in different lighting, you will see a stone that consists of dark blue, green-yellow, and reddish-purple coloring. The most sought after color of tanzanite is the one that is deep blue with hues of purple at the edges. Be sure that you are dealing with a reputable jeweler because some will substitute a different less expensive stone for tanzanite. Tanzanite may not be easy to find, but below are some websites that may offer you some help:

• http://www.myjewelrysource.com/tanzanite-rings.htm

• http://www.jewelsforme.com/itemlist-main.asp?

• http://www.ampalian.com/jewellery/search/tanzanite/

• http://www.ross-simons.com/Tanzanite/Rings.html

• http://www.angara.com/shop.do?cID=1941

Most, if not all, of the tanzanite that you view will have been heat treated to bring out the blue coloring. Tanzanite in its natural form is typically gray or brownish in color. If at all possible, it is best to look at loose stones and purchase one to place into a setting of your choice. The reasoning behind this is that you get a much better look at the stone and can inspect it for cracks or blemishes. Tanzanite is a softer stone that can damage easily and if the stone that you select already has a crack in it, the possibility that stone is going break increases. As with most gemstones, a tanzanite can be in whatever shape you desire. The trillion cut is the most expensive cut, being triangular with fifty-eight facets to reflect light creating sparkle or fire. Due to the fact that tanzanite is only mined in Tanzania, it is probably going to be one of the more expensive stones to consider for an engagement ring.

As mentioned earlier, tanzanite is a softer stone than most so it needs to be given a little extra consideration when taking care of it. Do not place tanzanite jewelry in an ultrasonic cleanser because the tanzanite will become damaged beyond repair. It is best to remove a tanzanite ring prior to washing dishes, using everyday household cleaners, or showering to prevent the stone from becoming damaged. To avoid damage when not being worn, place separately from other jewelry to prevent accidentally damaging the tanzanite stone. You should consider insuring your tanzanite against loss or theft because it is such a rare and valuable stone.What better way is there of saying “you are precious” than to present your bride to be with a precious and rare tanzanite engagement ring.

The author just celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect ring.

The history of turquoise dates as far back as 3,000 B.C. The beauty of this gemstone has adorned many historical artifacts from all over the world from Egypt, Mexico, Turkey, Persia and the United States. The turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphate that occurs naturally in all shades of blue. You can find it in shades from sky-blue, robin’s egg blue, blue-green, grayish green, or green. The more copper that the stone is composed of makes the stone bluer, while the more iron or chromium makes the stone greener. Rarely if ever, will you find a turquoise that has been faceted because faceting brings out the reflective properties of clearer gemstones, and turquoise is not clear. However, you can find many popular shapes such as marquise, oval or heart.

Due to the softness of turquoise, usually only a six, many stones are given a hardening treatment to make them more durable, as well as waxing or polishing to promote their color. Some stones may be dipped in a coloring agent before being sealed; according to rules of the ICA this must be indicated. Due to the softness of the stone, gentle care and cleaning are required. It is recommended that one should remove the turquoise before sun tanning as the UV rays can change the color of the stone. Also, when washing dishes, using household cleaners, or bathing the turquoise engagement ring should be removed to prevent damage. When storing, it should be stored away from other jewelry to prevent damage to the stone. If you have any doubts about the care or cleaning of your engagement ring, contact a reputable jeweler that has knowledge about this gemstone’s care.

Due to the uniqueness of using turquoise as an engagement stone, it may be very hard to find one unless you live in the Southwestern United States. Below we have listed a few links to help you get started.

http://www.silver-rings-direct.com/turquoise.html.

http://engagementrings.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Turquoise_Engagement_Rings

http://www.purple-label.com/search/web/colour/aqua-or-turquoise

http://www.daysjewelers.com/category/rings/gemstone+rings/other+gemstone+rings.do?sortby=ourPicks&page=3

If you really want to impress your bride to be, consider custom designing her engagement ring. This will show her that a lot of love and thought went into the creation of her ring. One such designer that specializes in unique gemstone ring design is:

http://www.joannarepton.co.uk/jewellery_engagement_rings.asp

Show her that the sky is the limit when it comes to your love for her with a beautifully designed engagement ring that has “a piece of the sky” as the gemstone.

The author just celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect ring.

Onyx is actually a form of agate that is composed of microcrystalline quartz. In its natural state, onyx is usually banded and is intriguingly unclear. Most often onyx is tinted black to minimize the variations of coloring. Onyx is most often found where there is volcanic activity.

The onyx only has a moderate hardness compared to diamonds or other gemstones. One must exercise caution when wearing onyx jewelry to avoid sharp contrast in temperatures, ultrasonic cleaners, and common household cleansers. It is recommended to remove an onyx engagement ring when washing dishes or performing other household cleaning.

There is a multitude of ways that one can design an engagement ring with an onyx. Settings made of white gold, platinum, silver, or yellow gold. The blackness of the stone lends to creativity and versatility. No matter what your beloved wears, an onyx engagement ring will compliment her clothing choice from dressy to casual. The most elegant settings for onyx are often antique in style.

Most jewelers carry a variety of onyx rings in a variety of settings, but if you need a little help choosing the engagement ring that stands out, we have a few sites that may aid you in your search.

http://www.ross-simons.com/Onyx/Rings.html

http://www.antiquejewelrymall.com/onyxrings.html

http://www.jmauerjewelry.com/ondienri.html

http://www.the-way-we-were.com/onyxrings.html

If you wish to present your intended bride with a ring that is stylish, simplistic, and unique, you cannot go wrong with an engagement ring that is designed with an onyx gemstone.

The author just celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect ring.

The aquamarine is aptly named because of the wide spectrum of blue colors that it comes in; from a pale blue to a deep sea blue-green. The deeper colors are more sought after, therefore more expensive. No matter what shade that you decide on for the stone for an engagement ring, the ring will is bound to be commented on.
Most aquamarine stones have been heat-treated to enhance the blue coloring. This treatment has no effect on the quality or the hardness of the stone. The aquamarine rates a 7.5 on the hardness scale, making it a perfect choice for daily wear.

The aquamarine is a virtually flawless stone, rarely if ever having inclusions that are sometimes common in other gemstones. This gemstone is great for being cut into any shape and faceting enhances the sparkle and beauty of the stone. Due to the beautiful blue coloring of the aquamarine, the most common settings are either platinum or white gold. However, the blue is equally as beautiful in yellow gold settings.

Caring for the aquamarine gemstone is simple. Simple cleaning with soap and water brings back the beauty of the stone. Avoid using ultrasonic cleaners, rapid temperature changes, and contact with most household cleaners to prevent damaging the gemstone.

Finding aquamarine gemstone rings for engagement purposes should not be hard as most jewelers carry a variety of styles. But if you do have difficulties or cannot find a design that strikes you as the one you must have, you should look online and you will find many reputable jewelers. So if you are planning a wedding by the seaside or just want a ring that is special and unique, consider the distinctive aquamarine gemstone for the engagement ring you present to your beloved.

The author just celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect ring.

Chances are the love of your life adores pink and has been surrounded with the color in her bedroom, dreaming of you and a fairytale wedding. Wow, that can be a lot of pressure! Do not feel you have to make this decision alone, and enlist advice from your girlfriend’s family and friends. They are certain to be tickled pink being included!

The traditional cost of an engagement ring is said to equal to two-month’ salary. There has been a trend in colorful pink and green theme weddings. This is a perfect blend of classic feminine and masculine colors. It is only natural for a pretty girl to ‘be in the pink’.

The sapphire is linked most often to qualities of loyalty, faithfulness and honesty. This is why it is a chosen favorite for engagement rings. The sapphire received immense popularity when Prince Charles presented Lady Diana with an oval sapphire surrounded by fourteen diamonds for their engagement. There is a legend that the Ten Commandments are believed to have been made of sapphire.

Pink Sapphires are offered in round, or oval shapes; rectangular and square cuts are also available. Sapphires are quite hard, measuring 9 on the Mohs scale, with the diamond being the only gem that is harder. Synthetic sapphires were first created in 1902, and it is hard to tell them from natural sapphires except by the trained eye. Sapphire is the birthstone for September, and in the same gem family as the ruby.

The popular star sapphire, called so because of the appearance of a sparkle in its center, has historically been thought of as a love charm throughout many cultures. Helen of Troy attributed her battle conquests to a star sapphire she owned. The bands of light across the stone that created the star like appearance are said to represent destiny and hope. The rare pink sapphires are most found in Madagascar and Sri Lanka.

Sapphires are said to have given wisdom and afforded protection to generations of Kings. In ancient times, priests often used the sapphire in order to help them to predict the future. In the Bible, the sapphire was one of twelve stones given to Moses to place in the breastplate of Aaron. Sapphires were also placed in the foundation of the walls of Jerusalem.

Sapphires are a durable gem, and easy to care for, which do not scratch or crack easily. Their value depends on color, transparency, and size. Sapphires have with a rich history and unusually long life expectancy.

Sapphire is given for the 5th, 23rd, and 45th wedding anniversaries. The Star Sapphire is often gifted on the 65th anniversary. Your new wife will cherish her ring, and pass it down for many generations to come! Congratulations, Prince Charming, your captivating Princess awaits you, and that stunning pink sapphire engagement ring!

The author just celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect ring.

You are about to ask the woman of your dreams to marry you and you want to select a stone that epitomizes all of the qualities that your beloved possesses. A Yellow Sapphire represents wisdom, virtue, future, devotion, truthfulness, and children just to name a few things among many. The color yellow brings to mind happiness and warmth. Isn’t that exactly what your future wife brings into your life?

With the rising costs of gasoline today, which in turn raises costs in just about every other market, one probably does not have a large budget with which to purchase an engagement ring. The good news is that Yellow Sapphires are very affordable. It is easy to select a larger carat stone in a beautiful setting for a lot less money than a smaller diamond ring would cost. As far as what types of cuts are available for Yellow Sapphires, the sky is the limit. This gemstone looks beautiful in emerald cuts, marquise cuts, oval cuts, pear cuts, or other traditional cuts.

Sapphires of all colors are found in Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar and Australia. Some are even found right here in the U.S. in Montana. Yellow Sapphires come in shades of pale lemon to very rich golden hues. A Yellow Sapphire looks absolutely stunning when placed into settings of white gold, platinum, or silver.

When it comes to durability, a sapphire is a perfect choice. According to the Mohs scale, sapphires rate at a 9 for hardness, the only gemstone that rates higher is the diamond which rates a 10. A Yellow Sapphire is a great choice for woman who wears her ring daily, not wanting to keep it in the jewelry box most of the time. As with most gemstones, caution should be used when using household cleaners.

A Yellow Sapphire engagement ring is sure to please your lady-love, and be a real conversation piece. Show her just how special she is with an engagement ring that shows how much thought and consideration went into the selection of her ring.

The author just celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect ring.

Blue sapphire engagement rings have been known to be preferred by royalty because the blue sapphire stone is even more rare than a diamond and is almost as hard. This is a nice factoid to share with your number one queen as you slip a blue sapphire engagement ring on her ring finger. Blue sapphires come in a range of shades from a light to deep blue. The blue color is due to the level of titanium in the stone: the more titanium, the richer the color. However, too much color can actually create a dull black effect, reducing the price of the stone.

Most blue sapphires are found in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Madagascar. Burmese sapphires tend to cost more than those from Sri Lanka and Madagascar due to their brilliant color. Kashmir blue sapphires are the most rare and expensive of all as the supply found in a remote region of India was exhausted around a 100 years ago, thus escalating price and demand.

Prices for blue sapphires depend on whether or not they’ve been treated (with untreated costing much more) as well as color, cut, tone (lightness or darkness of stone), saturation (degree to which hue is hidden by other shades), and clarity. One carat blue sapphires can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

Buy your ruby engagement rings with pride! Don’t let anyone tell you that diamonds are better as engagement rings. Only you and your potential spouse should decide what fits in with your style, taste, and budget……..not popular opinion…. or your future mother-in-law. Besides, you can always tell the nay-sayers that large rubies are even more rare than diamonds. Rubies belong to the corundum family. Any other color besides red from this family is considered a sapphire. Rubies are almost as hard as diamonds. Diamonds are considered a “10″ on the hardness scale while rubies come in at a 9. Rubies have somewhat less clarity than other gemstones and tend to have at least some small inclusions. Most rubies are heat-treated to improve their color, but stones in their natural form do exist. Cushion cut and oval rubies are the most common shape. Burmese rubies are considered to be the most desirable.

You may be able to save money by purchasing a ruby with a slightly off-shade i.e. a little bit lighter or darker than what is considered ideal… a vivid red color. You can also save some dough by purchasing synthetic versus natural rubies. Rubies belong to the corundum family. Any other color besides red from this family is considered a sapphire.

Rest assured that buying opal engagement rings for your partner will not bring them bad luck but perhaps even the opposite. Concerning the opal gemstone superstition, some still feel that it is bad luck to purchase an opal for oneself, but good luck if someone else gives one to you. Throughout history there have been negative connotations associated with opals. Interestingly enough, it is said that the diamond dealers became nervous in the 18th and 19th century about the beatiful gemstone stealing away diamond customers and further perpepuated stereotypes of the opal to prevent this from happening. The powers that be tried hard to defeat this bad luck urban legend when huge amounts of opals were found in Australia.

I personally love opal engagement rings. With their rainbow hues, I just think opals are some of the prettiest stones around. The rainbow shades are oftened referred to as a “play of color.” Most of the opal supply come from our Aussie friends in Southern Australia.

Here’s the science behind the opals. Opals are a noncrystalline form of the mineral silica which are formed from amorphous “balls” or “lumps” of silica. In other words, water in the ground carrying dissolved silica seeps through sand and dirt, where the silica particles are deposited in cracks. As the water evaporates, the silica particles cement together to form the opal. The color is caused by the diffraction of light. Where the tiny spheres of silica are of a similar size and arrangement, the light reflecting from them is divided into its spectral colors, and the stone appears to contain all the colors of the rainbow. Where the spheres are larger and less uniform, the range of color is more limited.

One of the major downfalls of opal engagement rings compared to diamonds is that opals are a much softer stone. While the diamond is considered to be a 10 on the Mohs hardness sclae, the opal rates between a 5 and a 6. This means that over time, it is possible for the opal to break and you must be careful to treat it with care and look for a ring setting that best preserves its integrity (i.e. semi-bezel is a good choice).

Opals exhibit an impressive color range. They can be white, pink, green and blue, gray, or black. Australian boulder opals are the most durable of opals as well as the most robust in color. As a result, they are considered to be valuable and are pretty pricey Black opals are actually the most rare and expensive. They have a dark backdrop with a rainbow colors or deep blue-green hues. Fire opals, which have any color backdrop but exhibit an unusual amount of red color play are also fairly rare

There are a thousand legends and stories related to the opal gemstone.

The Ancient Greeks believed opals fell from heaven during flashes of lightning and provided individuals with the ability to see into the future.

The Romans thought that wearing opals made one more lucid in thought and spontaneous in action.

Can you believe this? In his play “Tweltfh Night,” Shakespeare made use of the gemstone to make an analogy between the opal’s changing colors and the ever-changing moods of a woman. Hmmmmmmmm…….not sure if I like the comparison.

The author just recently celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut diamond on her ring finger. She and her husband put together http://ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect engagement ring.