Garnets

The most popular garnet gemstones are dark red, and mimic transparent crystals in appearance.  They are usually cut in ovals, and their cost varies based quality and the number of carats.

 

Sapphires

Sapphires come in many colors (white, pink, purple, green, red, and yellow), however, one of the most popular colors is blue.  Although green and purple sapphires are indeed rare, they can be found in Sri Lanka!  (Red rubies are actually red sapphires.)  Sapphires are the most durable gemstone, second only to diamond.  The largest star-sapphire (536 carats) was discovered in Sri Lanka.

 

Cat’s Eye

The Cat’s Eye gemstone has historically been believed to bring good fortune and protect its wearer.  It is so named due to the nature in which it reflects light down its centerline, mimicking the pupil of a cat’s eye.  In fact, the clarity and intensity of this distinctive band of light significantly impacts the gem’s value. 

 

Tsavorite

The name “tsavorite” usually signifies a dark green garnet gemstone.  They are considered very rare when found in excess of 3 carats, and worldclass when in excess of 18 carats.

 

Amethyst (Quartz/Topaz)

Amethyst has long been the most prized variety of quartz.  It is one of the world’s most popular gemstones, and can be identified by an optical illusion of concentric stripes, similar to a fingerprint.

 

Citrine (Quartz/Topaz)

Citrine is a yellow/golden colored type of quartz.  It is colloquially known as the “lucky merchant stone”  because it is believed to  increase business prosperity.  It has also been used by healers to increase self-esteem, protection from enemies, and to open the mind to new ideas.

 

Spinel

 Spinels are outstanding gemstones that often look like red rubies or blue sapphires.  Also akin to sapphire, spinels are incredibly hard and are frequently used in jewelry.  They can be cut into ovals, spheres, and occasionally double-pyramids

 

Moonstones

 Moonstones can easily be identified by the optical phenomenon known as adularescence, in which their surface reflects different shades of light, depending on the angle in which the stone is held.  The highest quality moonstones may even appear three-dimensional from this effect.  While moonstones are typically white, they can occur in gray, yellow, orange, pink, and blue.

 

Peridot

Peridot gemstones appear in green/yellow and green/blue.  They are most desirable in excess of 10 carats