Faye's Diamond Mine Jewelry Store

Faye's Diamond Mine

Gemstones

This section provides you with valuable information on the history and character of these precious stones, as well as giving you some practical information on judging their quality, to help you make an informed purchase.

Amethyst
Aquamarine
Blue Topaz
Citrine
Emerald
Garnet
Iolite
Peridot
Ruby
Sapphire
Tanzanite
Tourmaline

Faye's Diamond Mine
Northside Shopping Center
Highway 65 North
Clinton, Arkansas 72031
501-745-8434
faye@fayesdiamondmine.com

Amethyst

Facts
The birthstone for February, amethyst is a very popular, attractive, affordable gemstone. Its name is derived from the Greek word amethystos, meaning 'not intoxicated'. Ancient cultures believed that amethyst could protect its owner against drunkenness. Amethyst is also mentioned in the Bible and was believed to bring peace of mind to the wearer.

A beautiful purple color, amethyst is a member of the quartz family, which are transparent, coarse-grained silica minerals. It contains more iron than any other type of quartz, which experts believe is the cause of its violet color. The sparkling yellow gem citrine is also a member of the quartz family. Amethyst is mainly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Canada and the United States (North Carolina).

Buying Guide
Look for saturated, even color, as well as good clarity when purchasing amethyst.

Back to Top

Aquamarine

Facts
The birthstone of March, aquamarine is a member of the beryl family (like emeralds), a relatively hard crystal mineral. Its color can range from light to dark blue and contain hints of green (Its name means “sea water” in Latin). It tends to be free from inclusions, making it more attractive and durable than some other stones. In its pure form, beryl is colorless, but the presence of impurities (like iron, chromium or manganese) can cause it to be various colors, including blue, pink, yellow, orange or red. Aquamarine usually has a high transparency and clarity, as well as very even color and great durability. Most aquamarine comes from Brazil, while Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Ukraine are other major producers.

Aquamarine has been reputed to cure laziness and insomnia, increase wisdom, provide everlasting youth and even cure hiccups!

Buying Guide
When purchasing aquamarine jewelry, look for stones that have good clarity, as well as good, even color. Some people prefer stones with less green in them (which generally cost more), but this is purely a matter of taste.

Back to Top

Blue Topaz

Facts
Usually light brown when mined, topaz turns colorless or very pale blue when it is exposed to light or heat. Blue Topaz is the birthstone for December. Colored topaz, especially yellow, orange and pink, are more valuable. The world’s largest producer of topaz is Brazil. However, other countries such as Germany, Russia, Mexico, the U.S., Pakistan and Sri Lanka also produce it. Since red is the rarest color for any gem, the red or very pink varieties of topaz are the most valuable. Yellow or orange topaz that has reddish or pink overtones is also known as imperial topaz, and commands much higher prices. Colorless topaz has also been used to simulate diamonds.

Buying Guide
Many stones that are called topaz actually aren’t--they’re colored quartz. Citrine, for example, is sometimes called “Bohemian Topaz”, “Madeira Topaz” and “Occidental Topaz”. Other stones with “Topaz” in their names may in reality be various types of quartz, so be careful to verify that the topaz you purchase is indeed topaz. A very soft stone, it is easily broken, chipped or cracked--even when dropped.

Back to Top

Citrine

Facts
The birthstone for November, citrine is prized for its yellow to brownish color and its resemblance to topaz, a much rarer gem. Like amethyst, citrine is a member of the quartz family, which are transparent, coarse-grained silica minerals--although it is more rare than amethyst. Its iron content gives citrine its golden orange color. Citrine is mainly found in Brazil, Uruguay, the Urals, Scotland and the United States (North Carolina).

Buying Guide
Look for saturated, even color, as well as good clarity when purchasing citrine.

Back to Top

Emerald

Facts
Because of its intense, striking green color, (its name comes from the Latin word for “green”), emerald is one of the most sought-after and prized of all gems. The birthstone of May, Emerald can come in different shades of green, from dark to ‘leaf green’ to light. A member of the beryl family, like aquamarine, emeralds are composed of a crystal structure, giving them exceptional color. However, the presence of inclusions makes them susceptible to shattering on sharp impact.

Most emeralds are produced in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia. They are also found in South Africa, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Australia and Russia.

There is some evidence that emerald was present in Egypt as early as 3500 BC. However, it wasn’t until the conquistadors brought them back to Europe in the 1500s from Colombia that they became used in large quantities.

Buying Guide
The most important thing to look for when it comes to emeralds is their color. More vivid stones are more valuable. Another factor to consider is the number of fractures or cracks on the stone’s surface--fewer fissures means higher value. Some emeralds are treated with oil to conceal the fractures.

Back to Top

Garnet

Facts
Known as the stone of friendship and commitment, garnet is a very hard, durable, versatile gem. It is the birthstone of January, and was believed to represent faith, loyalty, truth and devotion. Legend has it that wearing garnet can improve your interpersonal relationships and keep you out of harm’s way. Garnets are usually thought of as red (they are named after the Latin word for “pomegranate”, because of their color and seed-like shape), however, they occur in various shades of green, yellow, orange, brown, pink or purple. There are several types of garnet, including Andradite, Spessartite, Almandite, Pyrope, Grossular, Rhodalite, Grandite, Malaya, Hessonite and Tsavorite, as well as various combinations of the same.

Garnet jewelry is thought to have been worn as early as 3100 BC in Egypt and was very popular in Europe in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Garnet can be found in several countries, including Russia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Argentina, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Canada, Mexico, Tanzania, India and the US (California).

Buying Guide
The most important thing to look for when it comes to a garnet is its color. More vivid stones are more valuable.

Back to Top

Iolite

Facts
A bluish-violet color, Iolite was mainly considered a collector’s stone before the 1980s because so little of it was sold. Today, Iolite is more readily available and is often used as a substitute for sapphire or tanzanite because of its rich blue coloring. The name Iolite comes from the Greek word for violet, ios. Iolite is sometimes called Cordierlite, after a French geologist. Some people have referred to Iolite as Water Sapphire, because it resembles sapphire face-up and looks clear or watery from the side. The color of Iolite actually appears different when viewed at three different angles--a characteristic known in gemology as trichroism.

Iolite has also been referred to as the “Viking’s Compass”, because on cloudy days, the Vikings were able to locate the position of the sun by looking through thin, colorless slices of Iolite. The Vikings probably found Iolite in Greenland and Norway, but today most Iolite comes from India, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Tanzania. Iolite is also mined in Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Namibia.

Buying Guide
In terms of its coloring, Iolite should not be overly dark, or pale. As with other stones, avoid Iolite gems that have many inclusions. More bright and vivid stones are the most valuable.

Back to Top

Opal

Facts
This colorful gem is the birthstone for October and is in reality a delicate combination of small, closely packed silica (sand) and water. The silica occurs in sphere shapes , which refracts the light that enters the stone and causes the “play-of-color” or shift in the spectrum of light reflected to our eyes. The range of colors in opals is determined by the size of the spheres. The majority of the fine-quality opal found today comes from Australia. It is also found in Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Honduras and the United States.

Buying Guide
The wider the range of colors an opal displays, and the more bright and distinctive the “play” is, the more rare and valuable the opal. Opals that have no play of color and are translucent or opaque are not nearly as valuable as the variety with a play of color, which are sometimes called precious opals. Generally, black opal is more valuable than light opal (of comparable quality). Also, the overall brightness in both strong and weak light sources is an important factor to look for in an opal. Another factor is its shape. While oval is the traditional shape, many people prefer more distinctive freeform shapes. We should mention that opals are soft and fragile, so don’t leave them in the sun or subject them to sudden changes in temperature. Also avoid ultrasonic jewelry cleaners.

Back to Top

Peridot

Facts
The birthstone for August, peridot is a popular, attractive, affordable gemstone. It comes in a variety of colors, with green being the most popular. According to legend, wearing Peridot protected the wearer from evil spirits. The main sources of peridot today are Arizona and Pakistan, although it has also been mined in the Red Sea, China , Brazil, Kenya and Norway.

Buying Guide
Look for saturated, even color, as well as good clarity when purchasing peridot. Generally speaking, the greener the stone, the higher its value.

Back to Top

Ruby

Facts
Since red is in fact the rarest naturally occurring color in gems, rubies are extremely valuable, and are known as the “king of gems”. July’s birthstone, ruby is actually the same exact mineral as sapphire--corundum. They share the same physical characteristics and the same chemical composition. In fact, before 1800, other stones were called rubies until it was discovered that ruby and sapphire were both corundum. Ruby has strong ties to royalty: In England, the ruby was used for coronation rings, while the Hindus thought that if they offered rubies to the god Krishna, they would be reincarnated as an emperor. Because of its blood-red color, ruby has also symbolized courage, bravery and love. Its name comes from the Latin word for red, rubeus. Ruby (as well as sapphire) is also the second hardest gem after diamond. They are very durable and strong, making them useful in many industrial applications (as is the case with diamonds). They are mined in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Kenya and Tanzania.

Buying Guide
Rubies are only surpassed today in value by diamonds (although in exceptional qualities, emeralds and rubies can exceed diamonds in value). In purchasing a ruby, you should look for color that looks good in any light, as well as good clarity (the fewer the inclusions, the better). Its color should be a pure red, with no hints of other colors, such as brown or blue. They are found in Afghanistan, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka.

Back to Top

Sapphire

Facts
The birthstone for September, sapphire is actually the same exact mineral as ruby--corundum. They share the same physical characteristics and the same chemical composition. Sapphires have long been connected to royalty: They were worn by kings and queens, as well as high church officials. Its name comes from the Greek word for blue. However, they do come in other colors, such as pink, orange, yellow, green and purple. There are even colorless sapphires, which has become popular as a diamond substitute. Sapphires are found in Kashmir, Myanmar Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, India, Cambodia, Australia and the United States (Montana).

Buying Guide
Color is very important when judging sapphires. While the amount of blue in the stone is primarily a matter of taste, you should look for stones that have no gray or black tones, and lack any greenish tint. However, stones with a more pure blue hue have the most value.

Back to Top

Tanzanite

Facts
Discovered only 30 years ago near Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa by accident, tanzanite has fast become a popular gemstone. It was later renamed after Tanzania (the country in which it was found) by Henry Platt, director of Tiffany & Co. Its nature gives it the ability to transmit various colors of light, depending on the angle it’s viewed at. It can look deep blue one moment, purple another. A variety of the mineral zoisite, Tanzanite can also display flashes of red, yellow, orange, green or brown.

Buying Guide
Color is the most important factor in determining the quality and value of tanzanite. Generally speaking, stones with a more blue color are more desirable and valuable than those with a more purplish hue. Also, stones with very dark or very light shades of coloration are less valuable.

Back to Top

Tourmaline

Facts
The birthstone for October (along with Opal), Tourmaline comes in the widest variety of colors of any gemstone. Besides being available in a spectrum of colors, tourmaline can be multicolored in one piece. Until the 18^th century, red and green tourmaline was actually considered a type of ruby or emerald. A curious characteristic of this beautiful stone is that it becomes electrically charged when heated, enabling it to attract small, non-metallic objects. There are several popular types of tourmaline, including green, pink, red, blue, yellow, orange, brown, black, colorless, parti-colored and cat’s eye. Tourmaline can be found in several countries around the world, including Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, East Africa, Sri Lanka, the Soviet Union and the United States (Maine and California).

Buying Guide
Since tourmaline comes in such a wide variety of colors, it is a very versatile gemstone. However, the more bright and vivid stones have the highest value. The most popular colors are green (chrome) tourmalines and Paraiba tourmalines, which are blue. Red, or rubellite, tourmalines are also popular. Tourmalines, because of their vivid, rich colors are often substituted for more expensive emeralds, sapphires and rubies.

Back to Top