Some gemstone minerals exhibit a luminous band reminiscent of a cat’s eye. The fascinating discovery of scientists to this phenomenon of the stone replicating a cat’s eye is believed to be due to the very fine inclusions, deposited in the stone. When light is reflected off the stone, a bright strip of light appears on [...]
Besides the diamonds, the gemstone that makes an exclusive statement is the Emerald. Emeralds are fascinating gemstones that possess, the most intense and most radiant green that can possibly be imagined. Technically emeralds are a rare variety of the mineral beryl, which is green because of its chromium content and is valued as a gem. The [...]
The fascinating stories revolving around gemstones are many and varied. The Ammonite is one such gem with an absorbing story behind its discovery. Ammonites are marine animals or mollusks of the prehistoric era which have become extinct. They are similar to squids. But they have left behind unusual gemstones, treasured and valued. The story dates back to seventy [...]
It is interesting to study the origin of gems and their discovery, which makes a fascinating story. Gemstones are actually minerals found in rocks with a certain quality and intrinsic value. When rocks (igneous metamorphic or sedimentary) change due to the intense heat and pressure within the earth, new rocks with minerals are formed which often have [...]
There are interesting anecdotes which relate to the discovery of gems and how they were acquired. These tales were gathered from tales retold by the travelers about their travels and travails. One such is recounted below-a tale of the diamond. Diamonds have been an age old statement of power and wealth. They have always been cherished and [...]
Admired for centuries for its brilliant color, the Ruby is a red variety of the mineral corundum. All other varieties of corundum are called sapphire. It is the Red that stands out among the sapphires. The color of ruby ranges from bright red to dark reddish-brown to shades of pink and purple, depending on the chromium and [...]