Conch “pearls,” calcareous concretions produced by the Queen conch mollusk, formerly known as Strombus Gigas or more recently as Lobatus Gigas, has mostly a very attractive pink color that may be enhanced by a characteristic silky-looking “flame structure”. Some conch “pearls” show a smooth and shiny porcelain-like luster that makes very attractive.   Although they […]

By: Diane Nicole Go, GIA Graduate Gemologist   Sapphire may be known for its blue color, but lately, its rainbow counterpart (link to Rainbow Sapphire article) has become a popular choice for candy-colored jewelry pieces. That’s because sapphires are durable and almost as hard as a diamond— and a colorful option at that.   Sapphires […]

By: Diane Nicole Go, GIA Graduate Gemologist   Red is an intense and passionate color, often associated with love, or even power and desire. It’s a prevalent color found in red roses, juicy cherries, or the life-giving blood that flows in our veins.   But when we’re talking about red gemstones, the first thing that […]

By: Diane Nicole Go, GIA Graduate Gemologist   Pearls are as mysterious as they come. Milky white with a luminescent luster that glows like the moon, they are a special form of treasure from the Earth’s lakes, seas and oceans. Many cultures associate pearls with the moon because of its spherical shape and luster, while […]

By: Diane Nicole Go, GIA Graduate Gemologist   Did you know that there are gemstones that can actually change color? Take Alexandrite for example.   Known as an “Emerald by day, Ruby by night”, an Alexandrite is as rare as it is beautiful because it can appear in different colors— depending on the kind of […]