COLOURED GEMSTONES
CHOOSING THE BEST STONE
A gemstone (or gem, fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semi-precious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewellery. Certain rocks, including lapis lazuli and opal and some organic materials that are not minerals (such as amber, jet, and pearl) are also used for jewellery and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well.
Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewellery because of their sheen or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity is another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone.
HARDNESS & RESILIENCE
When considering a coloured gemstone in an engagement ring or other jewellery it is important to choose a stone which is not just pleasing to the eye but which will withstand regular wear and impacts.
A natural diamond has a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale. Sapphires and rubies have a hardness of 9 which is one of the reasons they have proven popular over the years in jewellery design.
Emeralds possess a hardness rating of 8 with aquamarines, amethysts, opals and tanzanite between 6.5 and 7. Gemstones much below this Mohs rating are less suitable for use in jewellery which will be worn on a regular basis.
SAPPHIRE
Sapphire and ruby are both gems of the mineral corundum. Both of these gemstones have the same chemical composition and the same mineral structure. Trace amounts of impurities determine if a gem corundum will be a brilliant red ruby or a beautiful blue sapphire. Trace amounts of iron and titanium can produce a blue colour in corundum. Blue corundums are known as "sapphires." The name "sapphire" is used for corundums that range from a very light blue to a very dark blue colour. The blue can range from a greenish blue to violetish blue. Gems with a rich blue to violetish blue colour are the most desirable.
TANZANITE
Tanzanite is a trade name that was first used by Tiffany & Co for gem-quality specimens of the mineral zoisite with a blue colour. Tiffany could have sold the material under the mineralogical name of "blue zoisite," but they thought the name "tanzanite" would stimulate customer interest and be easier to market. The mineral zoisite naturally occurs in a wide range of colours that include colourless, gray, yellow, brown, pink, green, blue, and violet. The name "tanzanite" is used for a colour variety of zoisite that ranges from blue to bluish purple to bluish violet.
RUBY
Rubies are gem corundums with a dominant red colour. The colour can range from orangey red to purplish red or brownish red. The most desirable colour range is a purplish red to a vibrant red, with prices varying significantly.
The red colour of a ruby is produced by the presence of chromium in the gem.
There must be enough chromium to give the gem a distinctly red colour.
EMERALD
Emeralds are gem-quality specimens of the beryl mineral family with a rich, distinctly green colour. They are found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks in a small number of locations worldwide. Emerald is defined by its green colour. To be an emerald, a specimen must have a distinctly green colour that falls in the range from bluish green to green to slightly yellowish green. To be an emerald, the specimen must also have a rich colour. If the beryl's colour is greenish blue then it is an "aquamarine."
AMETHYST
Amethyst is the purple colour variety of quartz. It is the most popular purple gem and one of the most popular gemstones of all time. Amethyst is used to produce faceted stones, cabochons, beads, tumbled stones, and many other items for jewellery and ornamental use. Amethyst is an extremely popular gem because of its attractive purple colour. Like the word "turquoise," the word "amethyst" is now the name of a colour as well as the name of a gem material.
LAPIS LAZULI
Lapis lazuli, also known simply as "lapis," is a blue metamorphic rock that has been used by people as a gemstone, sculpting material, and ornamental material for thousands of years. Unlike most other gem materials, lapis lazuli is not a mineral. Instead, it is a rock composed of multiple minerals. The blue colour of lapis lazuli is mainly derived from the presence of lazurite, a blue silicate mineral.