The Love Tree - Jewelry!

Despite the popularity of diamonds, colored gemstones have always been among the most popular and expressive forms of jewelry. The bright colors of these gems give each a unique personality, and personal tastes in color often vary due to the wearer and their unique style.

Legend has it that almost all colored gems were believed to have special powers or cure specific illnesses.

Today, gemstones are still loved for their beauty and personality. The precious gemstones; sapphire, ruby and emerald, are among the most prized. Precious gemstones of good size and quality are so rare that a natural, unenhanced, strongly colored stone can be worth as much per carat than that of a diamond, or more.

For hundreds of years, it has been common practice to heat gems to bring out their best color. This is viewed as simply extending what nature started, since it is the heat and pressure within the earth that gives gems their color.

Only three colored gemstones are considered precious. These are the emerald, sapphire and ruby, due to their extraordinary colors and extreme rarity. Precious gemstones with good color and large size are very hard to come by. Because of their rarity, it is common to use stones with inclusions and blemishes in jewelry.

The most valuable form of beryl and one of the world's most precious gems. The Color comes from chromium. Mohs' hardness rating of 8, but sometimes brittle. Green to bluish green. The brilliant green of a fine emerald is unmatched by any other stone. Emeralds that come from Columbia, are fairly costly. However, there are suppliers of emeralds that come from other mines.

Almost all emeralds have inclusions in them, the fewer the impurities, the more rare and costly the stone. Because of these inclusions, emeralds can be brittle, so protect your emeralds from hard contact when you wear them. Ultrasonic cleaners, which use vibrations to remove dirt and buildup, can be dangerous to heavily included emeralds. Natural emeralds also tend to have thin scratches on the surface. A layer of wax or oil is usually applied to smooth out their appearance and enhance their color. This layer may have to be replaced professionally every few years.

Legend has it that emeralds were believed to sharpen wits, bring wealth, foretell the future, tell whether a lover was lying and cure all types of evil and illness.

The Emerald is the birthstone of May.

Corundum or aluminum oxide, the same family as sapphire, with the color coming from chromium. Mohs' hardness rating of 9. Various shades of Red. Along with the emerald and sapphire, the ruby is one of the most prized colored gems. The main quality of the ruby is its bright red color. The best color usually comes from Burma and is very expensive. The stones from Thailand are darker but clearer and much more common. Only red stones are called rubies. If the color is too light to be called red, it is a pink sapphire.

Corundum, the main material of ruby, is the second-hardest material known after diamond. Inclusions and flaws are fairly common, and many rubies are treated to enhance their color. In general, you should look for a bright red stone with as few inclusions as possible.

Legend has it that a fine ruby had all sorts of magical powers. Rubies were the most valuable gems in ancient Southeast Asia, where they are found. Its color was thought to come from an undying flame inside the stone and it allowed its owner to live in safety, even in the midst of enemies. It was believed to bring its owner all kinds of protection and to stop bleeding. Rubies have become the symbol of love and passion.

The Ruby is the birthstone of July.

The colored varieties of corundum, with the color coming from iron and titanium. Mohs' hardness rating of 9. Blue, pink, green and yellow. Any color of corundum except red is called sapphire, although cornflower blue is the most popular and sought after sapphire color. The best colors of sapphire comes from Kashmir and Burma. The name sapphire refers to the blue variety. All other colors have the color name added to the stone, as in orange sapphire or pink sapphire.

Sapphire often has some inclusions, but the clarity is still good. Its base material, corundum, is the second hardest in existence and so it wears very well. Often, the sapphires used in jewelry are heat-treated or given chemical diffusion to enhance their color. These enhancements are permanent.

Legend has it that the sapphire was a mind-opening gem. It is supposed to relax the wearer and clarify thought, as well as attract divine favor. On a more personal level, it prevents envy and fraud, and brings truth and good health. It also was said to be a powerful antidote for poison.

The value of semi-precious gemstones can vary depending on the availability of the mineral; natural black opal, for example, is hard to come by and more valuable than most other semi-precious stones. As a rule, however, semi-precious stones are always more plentiful than precious stones. That makes it easier to find large, well-colored, very clean stones appropriate for jewelry. In addition, the wide range of colors available makes semi-precious stones the choice for people who want to create their own personal look with their jewelry.

The most precious form of quartz, amethyst receives its color from iron and manganese. Durable, with a Mohs' hardness rating of 7. Pale lilac to deep purple. Amethyst was a valuable gem until the discovery of large deposits in South America in the late 1800's. Brazil is still the primary exporter. Its deep and attractive color makes it extremely popular. Banding - darker and lighter zones of color - is quite common. A good amethyst will be very clear, and the deeper the color, the better. The most common enhancements are heat and irradiation. Try not to expose an amethyst to excessive amounts of bright sunlight, as this can fade its color.

Legend has it that the most unusual magical power is its ability to prevent drunkenness. It also is supposed to bring peace of mind to the wearer, and if properly carved, prevent fatal poisoning. In some legends, it represented piety and dignity.

The Amethyst is the birthstone of February.

A variety of beryl with its color coming from iron. Its Mohs' hardness rating is 8, making it very durable. Pale blue greenish to deep blue. Although aquamarine comes in many colors, the most prized is a rich, clear, watery blue. Fairly large and clear aquamarines with good color are among the more valuable semi-precious gems. Good clarity is important in these stones, especially lighter ones where flaws will be more visible. Brazil is the primary source of aquamarine, although it is mined in other places.

Legend has it that the aquamarine has long been a positive stone bringing with it health, hopefulness and youth. It could also bring love and affection if worn properly.

The Aquamarine is the birthstone for March.

Mohs' hardness rating of 7. Pale yellow to golden amber. Citrine is a clear yellow form of quartz and is often confused with yellow topaz. Because of its abundance, there are plenty of fairly large, clear stones available for jewelry. Clarity and a rich yellow color are keys to look for in a citrine. It has some of the same characteristics as amethyst, such as alternating bands of lighter and darker color, but these bands are harder to see in citrine. Citrine often comes from Brazil.

Legend has it that the citrine is a cheerful gem. Its powers are said to include making its wearer lighthearted, bringing cheerfulness in tough times and offering hope. It was also believed to help relax people and expel impurities from the body. People who wore citrine could expect to look healthy and feel happy.

The Citrine is the birthstone of November.

Silicates of aluminum, iron and magnesium. The level of iron or magnesium determines the color. Mohs' hardness rating of 7. Red and most any other color except blue. It comes in a variety of colors, including many shades of red, from very pale to brick to a red-black. It comes in larger sizes, usually has good clarity and has a respectable hardness that allows it to wear well.

Legend has it that, like many red stones, garnet was believed to stop bleeding. It was a symbol of loyalty and energy, promoted sincerity, and was said to have illuminative powers, both physically and spiritually. Garnet was also said to alleviate anger, promote tranquility and offer protection in health and travel.

The Garnet is the birthstone of January.

Opaque variety of quartz with alternating black areas interspersed with lighter-colored lines. Color from silicon dioxide. Mohs' hardness rating of 7. Black and white/gray or black and red to reddish brown. Onyx is part of the chalcedony family of colored quartz, which includes agate, cornelian and jasper. The striking black and crisp lines of onyx makes it especially popular for jewelry. Because the lines can form in many different ways, each piece of onyx has a unique appearance. Onyx is also popular for cameos. Onyx is opaque, meaning no light shines through it. Therefore, it is usually cut into a smooth, rounded, polished dome called a cabochon.

Legend has it that the onyx was supposed to drive away evil and high tempers. It was also said to cool the passions of love and promote independence between lovers, which can be good or bad, depending on your point of view.

Semi-translucent silicon dioxide with patches of many colors showing through. Mohs' hardness rating of 6. Iridescent white and sometimes black. Opal is made of the same ingredients as quartz, except it contains a little water and has not been compressed into crystals. As a result, it is softer than quartz and has to be treated a little more carefully to avoid damage. The shifting colors seen in the opal are called fire. That creates the colorful shimmering effect. There is no other gemstone that looks like it. It comes in both black and white varieties, with black being the most rare. Australia is the principal source of opal today. Like other non-transparent stones, it is usually cut into a smooth, rounded, polished dome called a cabochon.

Legend has it that the opal is good for the eyes, both improving vision and warding off eye troubles. It also has a reputation for sharpening the mind and the emotions. Opal is a symbol of fidelity, but it came with a price, since it would bring trouble to someone who was unfaithful.
The Opal is the birthstone of October.

Peridot

A crystal form of magnesium, iron and silicon. Its color varies with the proportion of the ingredients. Mohs' hardness rating of 6. Pale lime to olive green. Peridot is an ancient stone, mined at least as long ago as the ancient Greeks. Peridot is also often called chrysolite or olivine, which is the proper name for the mineral. Its color is its most important quality, and can range from yellow green to a striking chartreuse. The stones have good clarity and are appropriate for faceted cuts since light sparkles through them. They are relatively soft and should be protected from abuse.

Legend has it that peridot offered protection from depression and deception in Roman times and was used for inspiration and eloquence in the Middle Ages. It was also thought to cure liver disease and promote friendship. In general, it was believed to ensure good thoughts in the mind of the wearer.

The Peridot is the birthstone of August.

Tanzanite

Crystal of zoisite, a mineral formed of silicon, calcium and aluminum. Has a relatively soft Mohs' hardness rating of 6. Pale to deep violet and blue. While zoisite has been known for some time, gem-quality zoisite wasn't found until 1967, when a deposit was uncovered in Tanzania. This is still the only source for tanzanite, one of the most recent additions to the gem world. It gained almost immediate popularity both for its scarcity and its rich, blue-violet color. It is often heat-treated to bring out a uniform color. While a prized stone, caution should be used when it is worn in rings. It is fairly soft and can be scratched or chipped. Although it usually has good clarity, tanzanite can be damaged by ultrasonic cleaners, so other cleaning methods are recommended.

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Topaz

A mixture of silicon, aluminum, fluorine and hydroxyl. Comes in many colors, with blue being the most common. Mohs' hardness rating of 8. Pale blue to pink to yellow. Topaz, and especially blue topaz, has grown in popularity over the years. The pure topaz color is yellow, and was often confused with chrysolite, the yellow variety of peridot. Blue topaz is very popular in jewelry today. It has a watery blue, sometimes ice blue, similar to aquamarine, but often without the green overtones, and its hardness and good clarity make it an excellent gem. The blue color is often enhanced through heat-treatment and irradiation.

Legend has it that topaz was believed to have incredible medicinal powers in the Middle Ages, even against the plague. For a healthy individual, it brought about a pleasant disposition and patience and was a symbol of fidelity and love.

The Blue topaz is the birthstone of December.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline can be colorless and just about every other color in the rainbow and beyond. Tourmaline is a complex composition of aluminum silicate boron and varying amounts of sodium, calcium, magnesium, lithium, aluminum and iron. It has a hardness rating of 7 to 7 1/2 on the Mohs' scale. It is very popular in jewelry today because of its varying colors. Protect your tourmaline from hard blows and ultrasonic cleaners.

Legend has it that all colors of Tourmaline protect the wearer from misfortune and dangers. It also is said to help clear away negative emotions leaving you calm and clear headed.