Gems and Jewels

Lensography - Everything you ever wanted to know about gems and more

• Comprehensive guide to buying Citrine gemstones
  Citrine is the yellow or orange version of Quartz. Quartz its self is very common but yellow quartz found in natural is rare. Most Citrines on the market today are actually heat treated Amethyst or Smokey Quartz. These heat-treated gems are a much d
• Sapphires
  When most people hear the word Sapphire they think Blue, but Sapphires come in every color of the Rainbow except red. Red Sapphires are Rubies. Sapphires can come in pure white, looking very much like a Diamond to almost black which is called Midnig
• Comprehensive guide to various kinds of Garnet gems
  Everything you ever wanted to know about Garnet Gems When most people hear the name Garnet they think red. But Garnets are more then just a cheap red gemstone. Garnets can come in a wide variety of colors and some can be quite valuable. This guide
• Zircon a beauiful natural gem not to be confused with CZ's
  The Beautiful Zircon gems' reputation has suffered for the past 30 years due to the introduction of a diamond simulant Cubic Zirconia. A natural mined from the earth Zircon Gem is NOT the same material as the artificial gem material Cubic Zirconia (o
• Comprehensive guide to buying Amethyst
  While Amethyst it's self it quite common certain varieties of Amethyst are quite rare and valuable. The color purple is traditionally the color of royalty and amethyst has been used since the dawn of history to adorn the rich and powerful monarchs
• Comprehensive Guide to buying Alexandrite gems
  Alexandrite the original color change gem. If you or a loved one was born in June now is the time to buy an Alexandrite. The prices have never been lower. Discovered in 1830 in Russia and named after Czar Alexander II, who was then Crown Prince
• Emeralds
  Comprehensive guide to buying Emeralds History Emeralds have been known and loved for at least 5000 years. From Egyptian Pharaohs to the Aztecs and Incas of pre Colombia Emeralds have dazzled the t hearts of rulers through out History. The firs
• The Fascinating world of Spinel gems
  Everything you ever wanted to know about Spinel Gems Spinel is known as the great imposter because has often confused with Rubies and Sapphires. "The Black Prince Ruby" in the English Crown Jewels is a perfect example of a Spinel mistaken for a Ru
• Rubies
  Comprehensive Guide to buying Rubies History Rubies are one of the most expensive and sought after of all gems. Rubies have been loved for thousands of years. In ancient India, stories circulated that God created the Ruby and then created men to
• Sphene: The Green Gold Gem
  Sphene or Titanite The use of sphene as this mineral's name has been discredited by the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names (CNMMN); Titanite is the "approved" name. However, Sphene persists as the in
• Tourmaline
  Tourmaline: buying guide to the Rainbow Gemstone Legend has it that on the long way from the Earth's heart up towards the sun, Tourmaline traveled along a rainbow. And on its way it collected all the colors of the rainbow. It is easy to see why a
• Ametrine
  Ametrine: Two gems for the price of one. Ametrine Traditional Octagon cut Ametrine Ametrine is a wonderful combination of Amethyst and Citrine. Only found in the Anahi Mine in Bolivia, natural Ametrine is becoming increasingly rare. Some
• Apatite : The yummiest of all blue gems
  Apatite, a stone seldom found in jewelry stores and virtually unknown to the general public, is beloved by collectors for its many different colors and forms. Only with the recent availability of the neon blue-green variety from Madagascar, has its j
• Comprehensive Guide to buying Aquamarine gems
  Aquamarine buying guide to the most popular light blue gem. Aquamarine is extremely popular worldwide and has been used in Jewelry for thousands of year. Aquamarine is a beautiful light blue, blue-green or aqua blue gem. It is a member of the B
• Iolite
  In the early days of Sea exploration Traveling to far from shore was very dangerous and often lead to disaster. That was until Vikings discovered a unique property of Iolite. Iolite acts as a polarizing filter. Looking through an iolite lens, Viking
• Scapolite: Guide to a rare and little known gemstone
  Scapolite is a rare and little known gemstone. It is a beautiful gem that comes in many colors. Scapolite was originally discovered in 1913 in the Mogok Stone Tract in upper Burma (Myanmar). There, white, pink, yellowish or violet stones of high qua
• Comprehensive Guide to buying Andalusite gems
  Andalusite is poised to be the next beauty queen on the gem market. This beautiful multi color gems is still surprisingly affordable. It is being called the poor man's Alexandrite because of the way it can appear to change colors depending on how it
• Obsidian: A gems born of a Valcano
  Obsidian is the result of volcanic eruption near a lake or ocean. When hot lava comes in contact with water it cools quickly. This process produces a glassy texture in the resulting rock. Iron and magnesium gives obsidian a dark green to black color.
• Topaz: Everything you ever wanted to know about Topaz gems.
  Topaz has been around for centuries. It is relatively common and plentiful.It is found all over the world including Australia, Brazil, Russia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Nigeria, Mozambique, Pakistan, Norway and China.Topaz comes in a wide array of colors inc
• Sunstone: A beautiful Sparkling gem
  Suntone in found in United States (Oregon), India, Canada, South Norway and Russia. Gems can be clear and sparkle like diamonds, golden orange or display vibrant rainbow colors.
• Labradorite
  Labradorite is truely a fascinatingly beautiful mineral. Its a mineral whose charm is not fully noticed and may be overlooked if not viewed from the proper position. Generally a dull, dark looking mineral with no special virtue until the colorful shi
• Kyanite
  Kyanite is everything a blue sapphire wished it was....except Kyanite is too soft.
• The Chrysoberyl Species of gems
  Alexandrite Pear The Chrysoberyl species of gems includes Alexandrite one of the rarest and sought after of all color change gems. Other gems in the Chrysoberyl species are Cat's eye and green, yellow and brown Chrysoberyl.
• Tanzanite: Information and Buying guide
  Tanzanite is one of the newest gemstones on the market. Discovered in 1967 in the Merelani Hills near Arusha in the north of Tanzania it was celebrated as The Gemstone of the 20th century'
• Peridot: August Birthstone
  Up until just a few years ago Peridots were a little hard to get. Known sources were somewhat depleted. However recent finds in of find gem grade Peridot in Pakistan and Afghanistan have revived the popularity of this gem. Today fine gems of up to 5