Tag Archives: quartz

Citrine – November Birthstone

It’s quite true that an overwhelming majority of commercial grade citrine is heated to either weak, watery, or garish, obviously unnatural colors. Darker colors of citrine are produced by heat treatment of amethyst and smoky quartz, and red undertones are usually – but not always – evidence of this treatment. Fine, natural citrine, however, is…

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Glass Isn’t Always an Imitation

Faceted Moldavite

Since the Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is this month, some of the more unusual things in the colored gem world are on my mind. I wanted to take the time to comment on a part of the jewelry industry that gets overlooked and has some of the coolest science behind it. Man-made glass…

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Amethyst – February

The Ancient Greeks once believed that if you kept an amethyst in your mouth, you could drink as much alcohol as you wanted and not become intoxicated; in fact, “amethyst” finds its roots in the Greek word “amethystos:” quite literally, “not drunk.” Of course, this was totally erroneous, and people would die because they choked…

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On the 3rd Day of Christmas…

Margo Morrison – 30% Discount I’ve got a thing for colored gemstones. I don’t meet many people with a passion for colored gems like I have, so when I first came across Margo’s line, I was a little stunned. There are dozens and dozens of gemstones out there perfectly suitable for jewelry, but most of…

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Check out these gems from the Tucson Gem & Mineral show

When I come back from the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, I’m full of inspiration. I’ve just seen one of the largest collections of rare colored and beautifully cut gemstones, fossils so intricate and fantastic, they beg to be on display, and unusual finds that are so breathtaking, they are truly in a class by…

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