- September 25, 2017
Lost Wax Casting
Lost-Wax Casting Lost-wax casting is an ancient process used for making jewelry. Bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) and gold objects have been found that can be dated to the fourth millennium B.C. The earliest recorded reference to lost wax casting is found in a Babylonian cuneiform tablet
- September 25, 2017
Peridot: Birthstone for August
Peridot: Birthstone for August Peridot is gem-quality olivine, which is has the chemical composition (MgFe)2SiO4. The beautiful green color results from the presence of iron; the higher the iron content, the richer the quality of green. Peridot has often been mistaken for emerald, which is a variety of the
- July 3, 2017
Ruby: Birthstone For July
Of all the colored gemstones, ruby has consistently been at the top of the price-list. In 2015, a 25.59 carat Burmese ruby (the “Sunrise Ruby”), set in a ring by Cartier, was auctioned by Sotheby’s for $30.42 million. This was a world record price for a colored gemstone. It is no accident
- June 8, 2017
Alexandrite: Birthstone For June
Very scarce and rarely seen in large faceted specimens, Alexandrite is truly a remarkable gemstone. Depending on the lighting conditions, Alexandrite can appear green or purplish red. Alexandrite has aptly been described as being “Emerald by day, ruby by night.” When viewed in daylight or fluorescent light, Alexandrite will appear
- May 30, 2017
Emerald: Birthstone for May
Emerald: Birthstone for May Epitomizing the color green, emeralds have been sought after for millennia. Said to be the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra, emerald was actively mined by the Egyptians as early as the fourth century B.C. The word emerald has an etymology which can be traced back to
- April 5, 2017
Diamond: Birthstone for April
Diamond: Birthstone for April. Diamonds are about superlatives: the most desirable of gemstones, and unparalleled in brilliance, diamonds have been sought after for millennia. Diamond is 58 times harder than the next hardest substance (corundum). The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) notes that “diamond is the only gem made of a
- April 11, 2017
Diamond: Birthstone for April, Part 2
Diamonds are graded by the 4 “C’s”: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. The GIA color scale and clarity scale have both allowed for a much greater amount of precision and consistency in grading diamonds. The GIA clarity scale is divided into five distinct groups: flawless/ internally flawless; very, very
- March 1, 2017
Aquamarine: Birthstone For March
Aquamarine: Birthstone for March Aquamarine is a variety of beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18), making it very closely related to emerald. The stone is named from its resemblance to the bluish-green color of the ocean. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “aquamarine” is derived from the Latin aqua
- February 8, 2017
Amethyst: Birthstone For February
Amethyst: Birthstone for February A beautiful yet affordable gemstone, amethyst has a rich history. The deep purple color of amethyst has been associated with wine for millennia. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word amethyst literally means “not drunken”; the Greek word root is μέθυ, translated as “wine”. The ancientCopyright © - Carla Bijouterie Gallery of Fine Jewelry
