Gemstones

Month Modern Birthstones Mystical Birthstones January   Garnet   Emerald February   Amethyst   Bloodstone March   Aquamarine   Jade April   Diamond   Opal May   Emerald   Sapphire June   Pearl   Moonstone   Moonstone July   Ruby   Ruby August   Peridot   Diamond September   Sapphire   Agate October   Opal   Tourmaline   Jasper November   Yellow Topaz   Citrine   Pearl December   Blue Topaz   Turquoise   Tanzanite   Onyx

There are literally dozens of different gemstones, sometimes called colored stones, and they come in many different colors and shapes. Some are costly and rare. Other beautiful gemstones are surprisingly affordable. Each gemstone has its own separate and distinct personality and thus different gemstones are often used as birthstones and to celebrate wedding anniversaries. We can help you select the right traditional birthstones and anniversary stones from our extensive gemstone selection – one of the largest in the Midwest.

There are three essential characteristics of gemstone quality.

• Hue, tone and saturated color. Look for gemstones that that include slight traces of other colors, are not too light or dark, and have abundant saturated color.
• Inclusions. These are tiny fractures and most gemstones have them, even expensive and high quality stones. Look for stones with a light to moderate number of inclusions.
• There’s no perfect cut. Rather, the right cut for a specific gemstones shows off the most color, exposes the fewest inclusions, and maximizes the stone’s presentation when set in Jewelry.
• Most gemstones are enhanced by heating or irradiation to bring out their color and deepen their hue. Enhancement is a normal part of the polishing and finishing process. Only a very few and exceedingly costly gemstones are not enhanced.