Opals display a phenomenon known as play-of-color. When an Opal has play-of-color, it is categorized as precious opal. The main categories of precious opal are white, black, boulder, and crystal or water. Fire opal, also known as Mexican Opal, sometimes does not show play-of-color. How Opals Formed Opal is the result of seasonal […]
LEARN MOREConch “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 […]
LEARN MOREBy: 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 […]
LEARN MOREBy: 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 […]
LEARN MOREBy: 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 […]
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