Ever looked at a gemstone and wondered what all the different bits are actually called? You’re not alone. Most people can tell the top from the bottom, but that’s about it. But lapidarists (gem cutters), gemologists, and increasingly jewellery shoppers, use a proper set of terms for every part of a cut stone, and once […]
November is one of the coziest months on the calendar, all crisp air, golden light, and the last warmth before winter properly settles in. And its birthstone suits it perfectly. Yellow topaz has held the spot as November’s birthstone for far longer than its companion gem citrine, and it earns its place many times over.
Turquoise has a distinctive blue-green colour, ranging from the palest sky to a deep robin’s egg blue, that has captured the imagination of cultures across the world for thousands of years. From the tombs of pharaohs to the ceremonial objects of Native American peoples, turquoise has been treated not merely as a decorative stone but
Have you ever been drawn to a gemstone and not quite known why? Maybe it was the sunny warmth of a golden citrine, or the quiet calm of an aquamarine. Chances are, colour psychology had something to do with it. This is the first post in a new series exploring how colour affects our emotions,
Gemstones have captivated humans for centuries, not just for their natural beauty, but for the mystical powers they are believed to hold. Among the most revered in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions is the Navaratna, or “Nine Gems.” This sacred collection is deeply rooted in Vedic astrology, with each stone linked to a celestial force
Ancient Egypt was a land of myths, symbols, and rituals, and at the heart of it all was Osiris, the god of the afterlife, fertility, and resurrection. His story is one of betrayal, loss, and miraculous rebirth, and it inspired some of the most fascinating ceremonies of the ancient world. One of those rituals involved
When you start learning about gemstones, you may come across guides that describe certain gem species as Type I, Type II, or Type III. This is not a quirk of the guide, it is a reflection of something called gem clarity types, a classification system developed by the Gemological Institute of America, or GIA. The
November is one of the coziest months on the calendar, all crisp air, golden light, and the last warmth before winter properly settles in. Its birthstone suits it perfectly. Topaz may be November’s original stone, but citrine more than holds its own as a companion gem, a stone of warmth, optimism, and solar energy with
Turquoise, with its striking range of sky blues and blue-greens, is one of the most widely revered gemstones in human history. Worn by ancient Egyptians, carried by Native American medicine men, and prized by Tibetan monks, it has accumulated a rich and layered set of spiritual associations across thousands of years and countless cultures. Today
Imperial topaz and citrine share a warm, golden palette that has caused confusion between them for centuries. Both stones glow with amber and honey tones, and when cut and set they can look strikingly similar side by side. The confusion has been compounded by misleading trade names. Citrine has been sold as topaz quartz or
