Tourmaline

Tourmaline 
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Tourmaline is a fascinating mineral that can sometimes exhibit two or more colors. 
It is 7.5 on the Mohs??? scale and has no cleavage, making it suitable for many types of jewelry use.
Sometimes referred to as the “electric stone,” tourmaline becomes statically charged when heated or rubbed, attracting dust, lint and small pieces of paper.
Tourmaline possesses one of the widest color ranges, reproducing every conceivable color in the universe.
Tourmaline is fairly hard and durable, making it very wearable and an ideal gem for jewelry.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite 
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The mineral zoisite was discovered around 1805 in the Austrian area by a Baron for whom it was named. It was usually brown in color, often nearly opaque.
The discovery by accident of the tanzanite version, in the late 1960’s was a great surprise in Tanzania Africa, where it was first thought to be sapphire crystals.
The name Tanzanite was coined by Tiffany who had first and exclusive rights to the pretty blue violet mineral for many years. 
Wearing a well-cut Tanzanite communicates self-confidence, individuality, and maturity. 
Its brilliant color and its exclusive origin in Tanzania combine to make Tanzanite a unique and highly sought after gemstone.

Sunstone

Sunstone 
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Sunstone is a gemstone in the feldspar group that exhibits schiller or sheen. 
Sunstone is about 6 to 6.5 hardness on Mohs’ scale.
Sources for the best sunstone include Tvedestrand and Hitero on the South Coast of Norway. 
 

Spinel

Spinel 
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Some of the most famous rubies in history are actually red spinel.
As one of nature’s rare beauties, spinel is one of the few gems currently not enhanced or treated.
Its durability and beauty make spinel the ideal gemstone for jewelry and gemstone collections.
According to legend, a red spinel actually saved the life of King Henry V.
  Spinel is commonly fo
Spinel is commonly found with ruby and Spinel deposits in Burma, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. 

Spessartite

Spessartite 
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Malum granatum, Latin for garnet, refers to red pomegranate seeds.
Found in many parts of the world and in a wide range of colors, garnet is a popular and exciting gemstone family.
Spessartite is a rare garnet ranging from a yellowish-orange to an intense fiery orange known as mandarin garnet. 

Sapphire

Sapphire 
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The name sapphire may derive from the Greek Sanskrit sanipriya, meaning “dear to the planet Saturn.”
Sapphire appears in a rainbow range of breathtaking hues.
Most expensive and sought after fancy color of sapphire might be the padparadscha sapphire. Padparadscha means lotus blossom in a Malaysian language—and is the color of these beautiful peach-orangey-pink stones.
Due to its hardness, brilliance and variety, some experts consider Sapphire to be the most important and most versatile of the gem families.
Some of the most desired sapphires come from Kashmir, India.

Ruby

Ruby 
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This prized gemstone has been considered the foremost precious gemstone throughout history.
A well-cut ruby can approach the brilliant luster of a diamond.
Some of the most famous rubies in the world are star rubies which have needle like inclusions. They are cut en cabochon to display the crossing 6 rayed stars.
The finest rubies in the world are hidden in the remote valley of Mogok in Upper Burma, between India and China.
Ruby comes from ruber, Latin for red, and describes the purest beauty of red imaginable.
Some of the ancient Sanskrit names for ruby can be translated as “king of precious stones,” “leader of precious stones,” and “red as the lotus.” 

Rubellite

Rubellite  
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Red to pink colors of tourmaline are often referred to as rubellite.
Perfect for everyday wear, tourmaline is fairly durable at 7.5 on the Mohs’ scale and has no cleavage (reducing breakage and chipping).
Sometimes referred to as the “electric stone,” tourmaline becomes statically charged when heated or rubbed, attracting dust, lint and small pieces of paper.
Tourmaline possesses one of the widest color ranges, reproducing every conceivable color in the universe.
Brazil stands as the most important supplier of tourmaline.

Petalite

Petalite 
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Primarily a collector’s piece, petalite crystals are rare and somewhat brittle due to its perfect cleavage.
Its vitreous luster gives it a glassy appearance with a pearly luster on cleavage planes. 
Petalite occurs in Western Australia, Brazil, Italy, Namibia, Sweden, Zimbabwe, and the United States.

Opal

Opal 
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Distinguished for its play-of-color, opal displays a brilliant range of rainbow-like colors when seen from different angles.
Opal was once considered a symbol of fidelity, assurance, and religious devotion.
The ancient Roman historian, Pliny the Elder, suggested the opal is difficult to describe because it blends so many colors in a “brightness that is incredible.”
Australia is the primary source of Opal.
Opal is the birthstone for October.