The birthstone chart everyone argues over isn’t ancient. It was standardized in 1912, when the American National Retail Jewelers Association met in...
The island that gave topaz its name never held any. Topazios, a small volcanic island in the Red Sea now called Zabargad, was mined for peridot — y...
Key Takeaway
Sapphire is corundum — the same mineral as ruby — and at 9 on the Mohs scale it’s the hardest classic gemstone after diamond. For rou...
Most citrine on the market was born purple. The bright golden stone in the display case usually started as amethyst and turned amber in an oven — a...
Key Takeaway
Ruby is the red variety of corundum — the same mineral as sapphire — colored by chromium and ranking 9 on the hardness scale, second ...
Moonstone is a feldspar gemstone known for one thing above all: a soft blue-white glow that seems to float just under the surface and drift as you ...
Key Takeaway
Lapis lazuli is a deep-blue rock — not a single mineral — flecked with gold pyrite and white calcite. For 6,500 years it has meant ro...
A gemstone changes what a men's ring says. A plain silver band reads as one thing; the same band with a deep red garnet or a golden tiger's eye rea...