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Gemstones
Organic & Inorganic Gemstones:
Some gemstones (like pearls, coral, and amber) are classified as organic, meaning that they are produced by living organisms. Others are inorganic, meaning that they are generally composed of and arise from minerals. Stones that are identified as lab-created or synthetic are created in a laboratory (as opposed to natural gemstones, which are created by natural processes without human help).
Lab Created or Synthetic Gemstones
Lab created and/or synthetic gemstones are made of the same mineral composition as natural gemstones, and are created in laboratories with equipment that simulates the high pressures and heat that nature used to create the real gemstones far beneath the surface of the earth. A lab created or synthetic gemstone is identical to the natural gemstone in it's optical, physical, and chemical properties. Although it is not naturally mined, it replicates the color, hardness, composition, luster, and looks of it's natural counterpart. The only difference between a lab created or synthetic gemstone and a natural gemstone is that the natural gemstone mst likely has flaws called inclusions. Lab-created and synthetic gemstones have no flaws or inclusions, as the mineral composition, heat, and pressue are controlled in the laboratory.
Glossary of Gemstones
Baltic Amber:
Amber, an ancient organic gemstone, is composed of tree resin that has hardened over time. According to the GIA, the stone must be at least 1 million years old to be classified as amber, and some amber can be up to 120 million years old. Amber can come in a number of different colors, ranging from yellow to golden orange to red. Most of the world’s amber comes from the shores of the Baltic Sea in Eastern Europe. All Amber jewelry available at CarterTradingCo.com meets GIA standards, the majority of these pieces are hand-crafted in Poland.
Amethyst:
Amethyst has historically been the most prized gemstone in the quartz family. It is treasured for its purple hue, which can range in tone from light to dark. The finest amethyst will have strong color saturation and a medium to dark reddish purple or purple color. Its attractive color, along with is affordable price compared to other precious gemstones, make amethyst consistently one of the most popular gems.
Black Onyx:
Black Onyx, a member of the chalcedony family, is a gemstone made up of tiny microscopic crystals. It is a very popular gemstone in both women’s and men’s jewelry because its black color acts as a great complement to white metals like sterling silver, as well as clear crystals and CZs. Most black onyx on the market today is treated to give it its dark black color. Black onyx is sometimes faceted or fashioned into beads.
Chalcedony:
Chalcedony is a unique type of quartz, most often opague yet rich in color. It is classified separately because, unlike most other forms of quartz, it is composed of very small microscopic crystals. It can come in a wide variety of looks and colors, however most common are Blue Chalcedony and Green Chalcedony.
Citrine:
Citrine is known for its stylish yellow to brownish color, and is generally considered the top selling gemstone of this color in the United States. It is a member of the quartz family, and has a large crystalline structure.
Coral:
Coral is an organic gem that comes from the skeletal remains of sea creatures (which are themselves called Coral). The most common colors associated with coral jewelry are pink and red. Coral requires pristine environmental conditions to grow, meaning that producers must maintain calm waters free of pollution. According to the GIA, coral is believed to have been used in jewelry for about 30,000 years.
Emerald:
Emeralds are one of the three main precious gemstones (along with rubies and sapphires) and are known for their fine green to bluish green color. They have been treasured throughout history, and some historians report that the Egyptians mined emerald as early as 3500 BC. Today, emeralds are increasingly being used in faceted rough-cut designs that provide a bold look at an affordable price. CarterTradingCo.com carries a large selection of rough-cut emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, most are large carat weight gems set in Sterling Silver.
Garnet:
Garnet is most commonly a deep red to purplish red gemstone with a cubic crystal structure, although it is available in nearly every color. Garnet is considered an affordable alternative to more expensive red gemstones like rubies or tourmaline, and is found all around the world.
Jade:
Jade is most commonly associated with the color green, but can come in a number of other colors as well. Jade has been treasured by the Chinese for more than 7,000 years and is closely linked to Asian culture, history, and tradition. It is sometimes referred to as the “stone of heaven.”
Jasper:
Jasper, a fine-grained quartz, is a semi-translucent to opaque gemstone, of the chalcedony family, that comes in a variety of colors. Oftentimes, jasper will feature unique and interesting patterns within the colored stone. Picture jasper is a type of jasper known for the colors (often beiges and browns) and swirls in the stone’s pattern. These unique patterns occur in nature and make each piece of jasper a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Lapis:
Lapis, or Lapis Lazuli, is an opaque gemstone often featuring a deep midnight blue to violet-blue color. It frequently contains gold colored pyrite flecks sprinkled through the gem, making each piece of lapis beautiful and unique. Lapis is a versatile and affordable gemstone that is used in many different jewelry styles, and is prevalent in Bali jewelry.
Opal:
Opal is a gemstone that comes in a kaleidoscopic array of colors. It is typically formed in desert areas over long periods of time from layers of silica deposits in deep underground rock. It is known for its fascinating “play of color” (sometimes referred to as fire) that occurs when light interacts with the opal’s silica layers. CarterTradingCo.com carries many genuine opal products, as well as blue, pink, and white synthetic opal pieces which often have more color or fire than natural opals.
Peridot:
Peridot is a gemstone in the Olivine mineral family, and commonly originates in volcanic areas that are rich in iron and magnesium. Although most often a light green, it exhibits a range of vibrant greens from yellow-green to olive green to brownish green, and a vitreous and oily luster. Peridot is one of the softer gemstones on the market, with a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.
Quartz:
Quartz refers to a very large family of crystalline gemstones of various colors and sizes. Among the well-known types of quartz are rose quartz (which has a delicate pink color), and smoky quartz (which comes in a variety of shades of translucent brown). Rutilated quartz is a popular type of quartz containing needle-like inclusions. A number of other gemstones — like Amethyst and Citrine — are also part of the quartz family.
Ruby:
Rubies are known for their intense red color, and are among the most highly valued precious gemstones. Rubies have been treasured for millennia. In Sanskrit, the word for ruby is “ratnaraj”, meaning “king of precious stones.” Although rubies can command one of the the highest per-carat prices of all precious stones, they are increasing being used in “rough-cut” faceted designs at much more affordable prices. CarterTradingCo.com carries a large selection of rough-cut rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, most are large carat weight gems set in Sterling Silver.
Sapphire:
The most popular form of sapphire is blue sapphire, which is known for its medium to deep blue color and strong saturation. Although sapphire is available in a wide variety of other colors, blue sapphire is the most popular. Sapphire is also the most affordable of the three major precious gemstones (emerald, ruby, and sapphire). Like emeralds and rubies, sapphire is increasingly being used in rough-cut faceted designs that provide a strong, bold look at an affordable price. CarterTradingCo.com carries a large selection of rough-cut Sapphires, rubies, and emeralds, most are large carat weight gems set in Sterling Silver.
Tiger’s Eye:
Tiger’s Eye is a gemstone known for its unique and rich striped brown color, which, as its name suggests, can resemble the patterns on a tiger’s coat. It is a member of the quartz group of gemstones. It has a microcrystalline structure, meaning that it is made up of crystals that are smaller than those of quartzes like rose quartz and smoky quartz, but larger than the crystals of chalcedony group gemstones.
Topaz:
Topaz is a bright clear gemstone which is often used to create bold, eye-catching designs. The most popular variety of topaz in the market today is blue topaz, which has a bright light blue color and is relatively inexpensive. This color is produced with irradiation and heat treatment (in nature, topaz is most often colorless). Pink topaz and Mystic Fire Topaz are other popular varieties of this gemstone.
Turquoise:
Turquoise is found in only a few places on earth, and the world’s largest turquoise producing region is the southwest United States. Turquoise is prized for its attractive color — most often an intense medium blue or a greenish blue — and its ancient heritage. Turquoise is used in a great variety of jewelry styles. It is perhaps most closely associated with southwest and Native American jewelry, but it is also used in many sleek, modern styles. Some turquoise contains a matrix of dark brown markings, which provides an interesting contrast to the gemstone’s bright blue color.
Birthstones
The table below is a copy of the official birthstone list from the American National Association of Jewelers, as adopted in 1912. Although there are many variations of birthstone lists, below are the Modern Birthstones most widely accepted in the United States.
| Birth Month |
Birthstone |
| January |
Garnet |
| February |
Amethyst |
| March |
Aquamarine |
| April |
Diamond |
| May |
Emerald |
| June |
Pearl, Moonstone |
| July |
Ruby |
| August |
Peridot |
| September |
Sapphire |
| October |
Opal, Tourmaline |
| November |
Yellow Topaz, Citrine |
| December |
Blue Topaz, Turquoise |
Things to consider when purchasing Gemstone Jewelry
There are many factors that determine the price of any jewelry piece. The type of metal the item is crafted in, the type of gemstone(s) it features, and the quality of craftsmanship are usually most important. When purchasing gemstone jewelry pieces there are several things to consider.
Obviously, the type of gemstone in the piece can have an enormous effect on its price, as some gemstones are more precious or rare than others. Naturally mined, genuine gemstones are usually more expensive, although lab-created and synthetic gemstones are usually flawless and have more vivid colors. It's also important to know that dealers may sometimes say that an item is "created" or "synthetic" when in actuality it is simulated. Simulated gemstones are glass, rhinestones, or any other material that is made to look like a genuine gemstone. A simulated gemstone does not have the same composition and properties as a natural gemstone, whereas lab-created and synthetic gemstones do.
Another factor that affects the price of a gemstone jewelry piece is the size and quality of the gem. As with diamonds, the majority of gemstones are measured in carats. The higher the carat weight, the larger the stone, and the more valuable it is. And although no natural gemstone is flawless, noticeable scratches, chips or inclusions will lower the value of an item.
Another thing to keep in mind is that jewelry prices vary immensely. Precious metals prices change from day to day, as do prices of many precious stones, such as Tanzanite. The timing of your purchase could affect the price of your item as much as anything else. And of course each retailer may have a different mark-up, so shopping around is always a good idea. In the end, the most important thing by far is that you'll be happy with your purchase for years to come! If you're anything like me, when you find that piece of jewelry that you instantly fall in love with, nothing else matters!
Please feel free to contact us if there's anything we can help you with.
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