Inclusions can tell a natural diamond’s story. What can we learn from this snail-shaped one? 🐌
This 4.00 ct near-colorless diamond contains a purple-red pyrope garnet crystal and a green diopside crystal suspended together to make what looks like a snail. Inclusions like these can help verify what environment a diamond formed in. In this case, the diamond likely formed in an ultramafic peridotite environment. While different types of inclusions often occur independently within diamond, it is quite rare to find more than one occurring simultaneously, let alone in contact with each other.
This photomicrograph was taken at a field of view 1.99 mm.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Vendrell
Learn more about this unique inclusion at the link in our bio.
The name of this stunning jewel is derived from a poem by the 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi:
“In the early morning hour,
just before dawn, lover and beloved wake
and take a drink of water.
She asks, ‘Do you love me or yourself more?
Really, tell the absolute truth.’
He says, ‘There's nothing left of 𝙢𝙚.
I'm like a ruby held up to the sunrise.
Is it still a stone, or a world
made of redness?’”
The 25.59 carat (ct) Sunrise ruby is truly something to marvel at. This beautiful piece was auctioned off for roughly $30.42 million in 2015 ($1.19 million per carat), rivaling the price of some fancy color diamonds. What makes it so valuable?
It is unheated and a vivid pigeon’s blood red, an incredibly rare color in rubies. It was also mined in Myanmar (formerly Burma), a legendary ruby source.
Seen here, the Sunrise ruby is set in a ring by Cartier between two heptagonal, E color diamonds weighing 2.47 cts and 2.70 cts.
Image courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Freshwater pearls come in a wide range of colors and sizes. Get to know the most affordable cultured pearl, freshwater pearls:
- Freshwater pearls are the most commonly produced cultured pearls.
- They come in a wide range of sizes, from less than 3 mm through 15+ mm.
- Colors include white, peach, pink, lavender and more.
- Freshwater pearls are cultured in lakes and ponds, while akoya, South Sea and Tahitians pearls are cultured in the ocean.
- China is the leading producer of freshwater cultured pearls.
Check out the posts from earlier this month to find our four-part series about the different pearl types: ayoka, South Sea, Tahitian, and freshwater pearls.
Learn more about different pearl types at the link in our bio.
Courtesies: 1. Valerie Power/GIA 2. The Cultured Pearl Association of America / @karinjacobsonjewelry
When buying a diamond, don’t compromise on cut! Here’s why:
- Proportions impact the face-up appearance, allure and attractiveness of diamonds.
- Diamonds with Excellent cut grades are very bright. They show an even pattern with good contrast between light and dark areas, so their reflections appear crisp and balanced.
- Diamonds with lower cut grades aren’t as bright. Their reflections appear dull with less contrast.
Learn more about your diamond’s cut at the link in our bio.
We are smitten with this Fancy purplish red diamond! Earlier this month, @sothebysjewels held the long-awaited Magnificent Jewels Auction where several GIA-graded gemstones were shown, including this pear-shaped beauty. Red diamonds, notably, unlike other fancy colors, do not show a distinction in tone, i.e. a “light red” diamond would be classified as pink.
Find the full GIA report breakdown for this specific stone below.
'Unmounted Fancy Purplish Red Diamond’
- 0.73 carats
- Fancy purplish red
- Natural Color
- SI2 Clarity
- Very Good Polish
- Good Symmetry
- Faint fluorescence
Image courtesy of Sotheby’s
Did you know over 90% of emeralds are treated? Emeralds often contain fissures that require treatment to increase their attractiveness or durability.
The most common treatment is oiling. Oils like cedarwood oil are used to fill fissures, making the emerald appear to have higher clarity. Fracture-filling with a hard substance such as resin is sometimes used to improve both clarity and durability. Fracture-filling is slightly more stable than oiling, but neither treatment is permanent.
Emeralds may need to be re-oiled or to have fracture-filling redone as the oils wash out or the resin yellow and age over time. GIA classifies treatment as: minor, moderate, or significant. Stones with no treatment or minor treatment are rare. Keep your eyes out for flattened gas bubbles and the flash effect (a rainbow flash of color), as they are telltale signs of treatment. Lastly, don’t forget that emeralds should not be cleaned ultrasonically -- this can remove oiling and fracture-filling or even damage the stone.
Photos courtesy of (1) Mayer & Watt, Mark Kaufman, and Michael Nemeth Inc. Photo by GIA staff (2) Sotheby’s
What makes Tahitian pearls the striking dark horse of the four cultured pearl types? Here are some key facts about these sophisticated gems:
- They are gray, black or brown in color with blue, green, purple or pink overtones.
- One of the most sought-after colors is “peacock” (seen in the third and fourth images) which describes greenish bodycolor with strong (often pink) overtone or orient.
- They range in size from 8.00 mm to 14.00 mm.
- They are mostly farmed in the French Polynesian islands, with Tahiti being a major trading hub.
- They are grown in black-lipped pearl oysters 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘢. Oysters produce pearls that are the same color as the “lip” or outer rim inside its shell.
Follow for more in our four-part series about the different pearl types: akoya, South Sea, Tahitian, and freshwater pearls.
Learn more about different pearl types at the link in our bio.
Courtesies: 1-2. evelynH Jewelry Inc. 3. @assaelpearls 4. GIA
Earlier this month, @sothebysjewels hosted The Magnificent Jewels auction where a stunning GIA-graded diamond weighing 53.04 carats was sold for $3.48M! This pear-shaped diamond received a D color grade and an Internally Flawless clarity grade from GIA 💎 Find the full report breakdown below.
‘A Magnificent Unmounted Diamond’
- 53.04 carats
- D color grade
- Internally Flawless
- Type IIa
- Very Good Polish
- Good Symmetry
Photos courtesy of Sotheby’s
Did you know that alexandrite is known as the chameleon of the gemstone world? Here are some quality factors to look for in this ultra-rare, color-changing gemstone!
-Color: The ideal alexandrite changes between greenish blue to straight purple. Value decreases when the stone appears brownish, pale, or too dark.
-Degree of Color Change: The more dramatic the change in color, the more valuable the stone. This is measured by percentage (with 100% color change being ideal).
-Carat: Fine alexandrites over one carat in size are extremely rare and valuable.
-Clarity: The finest alexandrites are faceted, while more opaque, included stones are polished into cabochons.
-Origin: Russia and Brazil are known for producing high quality alexandrite. Other modern producers include Sri Lanka and East Africa.
Learn more about this fascinating color changing gem at the link in our bio.
These “firework” inclusions really blew our minds! GIA scientists recently studied unusual rock crystal quartz specimens containing sprays of hot pink crystal. They were surprised when advanced testing revealed that these sprays are epidote, which is typically dark brownish green. Further testing revealed that these epidote are colored by manganese.
This is the first time GIA scientists encountered red epidote and the first reported instance of a red epidote in quartz!
This image of this inclusion is called a photomicrograph and was captured using a microscope with a high quality camera attached, which is used to explore microscopic features in gems. The field of view for this image is 2.16 mm.
Read more at the link in our bio.
Photo: Adriana Robinson/GIA
Sapphire has been popular for thousands of years. What gives it its enduring appeal?
Sapphire’s blue color sets the standard for blue gemstones. From cornflower blue to rich royal blue, blue sapphires have been prized by royalty throughout history. In addition to the signature blue, it comes in a fun array of fancy colors, from yellow and pink to purple and recently popular teals, making it a gem with endless variety. It is durable. With a Mohs hardness of 9, Sapphire (corundum) is the second hardest precious gemstone, just after diamond.
Learn more about sapphires at the link in our bio.
Courtesy: @gembreakfast and @madebygembreakfast
Create a ring stack that reflects your unique style and love story by mixing different metal colors!
Here are a few expert tips to keep in mind:
-Pairing a white gold or platinum engagement ring with yellow or rose gold bands can add subtle contrast and visual interest to your ring stack.
-While white gold eternity rings offer a clean, “icy” aesthetic, rose gold eternity rings can add a touch of softness, romance and glamor to your look.
-Warm metals can also help you save, because they pair well with diamonds that are somewhat lower in color grade.
Photo courtesy of @bybonniejewelry
