Garnet

Turquoise is composed of aluminium phosphate and copper. Origin of name: from French for Turkish stone as in ancient days it was transported through Turkey. It was very popular during the days of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Persia and known to man since at least 6,000 BC. Delicate veining, caused by impurities, is desired by some collectors as proof of a natural stone.

Colour: Blue, blue-green, green

Hardness: 5-6

Topaz is a fluorosilicate and can contain trace elements that cause different colours within the Topaz. Origin of name: from Greek Topazion, a Red Sea Island often covered in mist. Topaz wasn’t really known about before the classical era, in the Middle Ages the name topaz was used to refer to any yellow gemstone. Deposits of topaz are found in the regions of Russia, Siberia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Africa and China, Japan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Australia, Mexico, and in the United States.

Colour: Varies in a broad range of: yellow, blue, pink, peach, gold, green, red, and brown.

Hardness: 8

N.B. Topaz is often heated to change or enhance it’s colour.

Aquamarine belongs to the gemstone family of Beryls. Origin of name Latin “aqua” meaning water and “mar” sea. Legend has it that Mermaids tails were made of aquamarine. Aquamarine is usually free of inclusions and possesses a superior brilliance. The more intense the colour of an Aquamarine, the higher its value. The principle supply of aquamarine stones comes from Brazil, Russia, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan

Colour: pale blue to light greenish

Hardness: 7.5-8

Citrine is a form of quartz with ferric iron impurities and is rarely found naturally. Origin of name from the French word “citron” meaning lemon. Also called citrine quartz. Most commercial citrine is in fact heat treated amethyst or smoky quartz. Brazil is the leading producer of naturally mined citrine.

Shapes: Round, Square,Oval , Octagon, Marquise

Colour: the different shades range from yellow, gold, orange brown shades of transparent quartz.

Hardness: 7

N.B. Citrine and Amethyst are the exact same minerals, the only difference is the level of oxidation of the iron contained in the mineral. As this can be done artificially by heat or irradiation a large majority of Citrine sold today is heat treated amethyst. There are currently no scientific ways to determine if Citrine was changed artificially.

Is the gem quality variety of the mineral olivine. Origin of name either the Arabic word faridat meaning “gem” or the French word peridot meaning “unclear”. Peridot is one of the few gem stones that come in only one colour. The depth of green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure. Olivine is one of the most common minerals but the gem quality Peridot is rarer.

Colour: varies from yellow-green to olive to brownish green.

Hardness: 6.5 – 7

Tanzanite is part of the zoisite mineral species and is only found in East Africa. Discovered in 1967 in the Umba Valley near the Usambara Mts. in Tanzania. Tanzanite may be colourless, yellow-green, brown, or blue to violet when found; the crystals are heat treated to enhance their colour.

Colour: Tanzanite is noted for its remarkably strong trichroism, appearing alternately sapphire blue, violet, and sage-green depending on crystal orientation. (Trichroism is the property possessed by certain minerals of exhibiting three different colours when viewed from three different directions under white lights. However, most tanzanite is subjected to artificial heat treatment to improve its colour and this significantly subdues its trichroism.

Hardness: 6.5

N.B: Tanzanite is a brittle stone and although it can be worn daily, care should be taken to protect it from knocks, pressure and extreme temperature changes. Do not use a home ultrasonic to clean jewellery with tanzanite