Category: Gemstones

The refractive index and double refraction are some of the most important optical properties of gemstones used for identifying stones. With the…

Turquoise, one of the world’s most ancient gems, is the birthstone of December, along with tanzanite, blue zircon and lapis lazuli. It was used…

Moonstone, one of the three birthstones of June, is a unique gem that displays a rare glowing sheen known as adularescence, resembling the glow…

Whether you are an expert looking for professional development or a gemstone lover looking to build a career in gemology, success requires…

At first sight, aquamarine and paraiba tourmaline are similar-looking gemstones. Both have soft blue to greenish-blue colours; however, the range of their…

The name of gemstone cut usually describes both the face-up appearance and the arrangement of facets, also known as gemstone cutting styles.…

Paraiba tourmaline, named after the region in Brazil where it was discovered in the late 1980s, is one of the rarest and…

Gemstone facets play a significant role in a finished stone’s optical performance. They not only create various geometric patterns on a gemstone…

Bloodstone, the traditional birthstone for March, is one of the first gemstones used by man. Popular in dome shapes, bloodstone is a…

Everyone has a birthstone regardless of age, gender, nationality and religion. Whether you were born in January or June, each month has…

Hardness is one of the main characteristics of a gemstone. It defines how resistant is the gem to scratches and may be…

At first glance, garnet and ruby look very similar to an untrained eye. Although both have a vibrant red colour, one is…