Birthstones

Emeralds almost always have some sort of impurity. However, unlike other gemstones, this rarely affects their sale price.

Some Zircon gems are more than 4.4 billion years old, making Zircon the oldest gemstone found on Earth today.

The largest faceted gemstone in the world is the El-Dorado Topaz. This impressive gemstone weighs a whopping 31,000 carats!

Did you know that 95% of the world's opals are mined in Australian opal fields?

Usually thought of as blue, sapphires come in many colors. These differently-colored sapphires are known as "fancy sapphires."

The gemstone peridot can be found in meteorites! This variety differs from the kind found on Earth as it contains no nickel.

Did you know that the same mineral which gives rubies their deep red hue, chromium, also causes them to crack?

People born in June can choose between three different birthstones: pearls, moonstones, or alexandrites.

Ancient Roman soldiers sometimes wore breastplates decorated with diamonds, believing that the gems would add extra protection.

In Ancient Rome, aquamarine was given to sailors to protect them at sea, as they believed the gem to be the treasure of mermaids.

Did you know that Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that amethyst could help them avoid a hangover?

The oldest garnet necklace ever discovered was located in an Egyptian tomb and is believed to be over 5,000 years old.