All about Pearls

Freshwater Cultured Pearls

Freshwater pearls are cultured in mussels.  These pearls are generally inexpensive and can produce as many as 50 pearls at a time and normally take less than a year to grow.  When harvested the mussel can be impregnated over and over again making them very cost efficient compared to saltwater cultured pearls where the mollusk dies when harvested. The term “Chinese Pearl” often has a negative connotation, since they can be very inexpensive and of cheap quality. However, modern techniques in cultivation is yielding perfectly round pearls with a luster rivaling that of top quality Tahitian and South Sea Pearls. Freshwater pearls are evaluated following the same criteria as other cultured pearls.

Shape:

Value depends on how round it is. Although most Freshwater pearls are irregular in shape, the round ones are priced higher than oval or flat pearls.

Smoothness:

Smooth freshwater pearls are more valuable than those with bumpy or wrinkled surfaces.

Color:

Freshwater pearls come in every color and most of the white pearls 90% are bleached. Also it is important to note that most colored freshwater pearls are dyed.

Nacre Thickness:

Nacre thickness is important in both freshwater and saltwater pearls. Nacre thickness is generally high in freshwater pearls as they   do not have a bead nucleus.  But the thickness is still far lower than that of saltwater pearls and is therefore priced much lower.

Saltwater Cultured Pearls:

There three types of saltwater pearls are as follows: Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea.

Akoya: was the first pearls to be cultivated in Japan and were mostly white or cream in color. The Akoya  oyster is generally small so it does not produce a pearl larger than 9mm.  Akoya pearls are considered to be one step above freshwater in quality.

Tahitian Pearls: only on the market since the 1970’s these expensive and huge pearls appear in dramatic shades of eggplant purple, peacock green and a large variety of greys, blacks and grey blue.  Native to French Polynesia the warm nutrient rich waters of this area yield pearls 9mm up to a whopping 20mm in diameter. With its wide range of color these pearls are a favorite with jewelry designers.

South Sea Pearls are grown in the warm waters of Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand. This is where you will find the huge oyster, Pinctada Maxima which occur in two varieties, the silver lip which yields pearls of white, silver and slightly pinkish color and the golden lip type that yields pearls in a variety of yellow and golds.  South Sea Pearls are the biggest pearls in today’s market and have the thickest nacre of all the varieties.  Although they keep their luster for years they are very costly to produce and are therefore, more expensive due to their on average two year growing period before they can be harvested. The average size of these pearls are 9-20mm with average size being 13mm.

Things to know when buying a cushion cut diamond

Cushion Cut Diamonds

Cushion modified brilliant cut. The cushion cut, also known as the pillow cut, is probably the oldest shapes that are still popular at present times. Cushions have distinguishable curved corners and are pillow-like in shape.

Throughout the history of the diamond industry, we had seen trends that were constantly changing and cutting styles that had continuously evolved. Fashion trends seem to take up cyclic patterns and interestingly, we see the same scenarios happening with diamond cuts.

Did you know that cushion cut diamonds actually went “out-of-fashion” in the last century? It was only in recent times where retro and antique cuts came back in vogue. From old European cuts to old miner cuts, these long forgotten vintage designs are finding their way back into the mainstream market in the 21st century.

With its history of centuries, the cushion cut is ubiquitous when you take a look at the different royal family jewels. Also, if you take a look at a list of the most renowned or the biggest cut gemstones, you will see that the cushion cut is surprisingly well represented.

Cushion Shaped Diamonds in the Modern Market

Modern Style Cushion – Present Day

Nowadays, the cushion cut is just re-living its renaissance. Due to appearances amongst the Hollywood celebrities, it has regained much of its long-lost popularity. In the past, antique cushions are known for their steeper crowns, smaller tables, and larger culets. Even though they are not as fiery or brilliant as the modern round brilliants, it has a romantic and classic appeal.

Modern cushions typically have small or no culets at all because most consumers want an appearance associated with round brilliants. Instead of the broad chunky facets patterning seen in older cutting styles, modern cushion cuts also portray an outlook that is made of smaller individual facets.

What Should You Keep in Mind About Diamond Acquisition in General?

1.) Make sure that your diamond has a certificate from one of the renowned institutes like GIA or AGS. I highly recommend that you do not get a cushion cut with a clarity rating that is lower than SI1. Like the emerald shape, cushions have a tendency to show off their flaws as they are often cut with a large table facet. (table %)

2.) Due to lower brilliance and scintillation, cushions tend to “show off” their body color as compared to the rounds. If you are sensitive to seeing color in your diamond, I suggest you get a stone with a minimum of G color so that the stone will face up white.

3.) If possible, try to look at the diamond before laying your money down. And if you are looking at it, make sure that there is a jeweler’s loupe between the diamond and your eyes. Or better still; get high resolution videos/photos so that you can cross-examine the stone with ease. The important point here is to inspect the diamond under magnification.

Did you know that there are predominantly 2 types of cushion facet structures? These 2 types of cushion faceting patterns display pin fire and broad fire styles of optical characteristic. To find out more about the differences between them read on…

Should I Choose a Broad Flash or Pinfire (crushed ice) Cushion Diamond?

Cushion cut diamonds resemble the shape of those typical pillows found in every living room – and no, they are not soft and fluffy. Since the 19th century, the cushion (candlelight) cut had seen several major developments to improve its light dispersion and brilliance. This was largely due to better understanding of cut mechanics and the invention of better cleaving processes.

Speaking a little more technically, we could say that the modern cushion cut is a transition and hybrid between the Old Miner and the round brilliant cut. However, you must pay attention to what you understand by “transition”. You should not imagine them as the accurate average between them as there exists a wide range of cushions with different flavors.

Let us take a closer look at how the light reflecting properties can yield entirely different looking diamonds.

Two Types of Modern Cushion Cut Diamonds

While the modern day cushion cut may not be as fiery or brilliant as the round brilliant cut diamond with its 57-58 facets, the curved corners bring about a romantic and classical appeal. In present day, there are many variations of the cutting style and the placement of additional pavilion facets can alter the diamond’s appearance significantly.

 Broader Flash Or Pinfire Scintillation Characteristics?

The main difference between these two types can be originated from the differing size of the facets. A number of large facets yield a broader flash of fire – on the other hand, tinier facets yield smaller bursts of fire. To illustrate the idea between these two basic types, let us fantasize a little and apply imaginary alternatives to these cut types.

Let us create our analogies using the semantic field of fire. A broader flash diamond can be associated with the huge smooth flames of camp fires. On the other hand, pinfire stones could be associated with the number of sparklers put close together. Both sources of light emit light, the difference lies mainly in the size of the chunks – or quanta, if we want to use scientific lingo.

Cushion Modified Brilliant DOES NOT Equal Crushed Ice Look

Many people automatically assume that broad flash diamonds belong to the Cushion Brilliant categorization whereas the “crushed ice” appearance belongs to the Cushion Modified Brilliant categorization. This isn’t true. GIA reports indicate modified brilliants as diamonds with different faceting structures. This is usually due to the placement of additional facets on the pavilion side of the stone.

It is important to note that a diamond labeled as a Modified Brilliant may not necessarily result in a diamond with a “crushed ice” look. You would need to view the diamond (at least with a picture or video to determine its characteristics

 

 

 

How to Make the Choice Between the Two Types?

My personal opinion is that broader flash diamonds have a much more elegant, laid back feeling to them. On the other hand, pinfire diamonds are much closer to the common stereotype of the ever-sparkling diamond. Both of them can convey elegance and power in a different way.

In my experience, well cut broad flash cushions tend to have better fire and dispersion than the crushed ice types. On the other hand, well cut crushed ice cushions tend to exhibit better brilliance when compared the chunky cushions. There isn’t any right or wrong choices here as it is up to your individual preference on which kind of look you prefer.

The Hottest Bridal Trends for 2013

2013 is the year for something bold, something old, and often colorful when it comes to engagement ring trends. In response to the wave of women buying rings with diamond halo surrounds and the trend towards cushion-cut diamonds, the more adventurous of today’s engagement ring shoppers have been branching out from these classic, yet commonplace styles to express their own unique personalities. You’re seeing more and more brides-to-be wearing rings with colored stones, fancy cuts, different metals, and daring settings. These unconventional rings have become more distinctive and decorative than in previous years.

 Here’s a look at what has been setting the trend this year:

Unique and Original

Modern brides have been turning away from more traditional rings and asking for styles that better express their own individuality. There seems to be a backlash against the cookie-cutter styles of the past decade where many brides could be seen wearing similar rings. Today’s bride and brides-to-be want rings that are more memorable and uniquely theirs, the answer to this is the single or double row diamond pave surrounds and single or three sided pave diamond shanks. Many women have also added a new twist to their ring designs by replacing the clean gold shank with detailed coils and complex twists that create the perfect setting for their unique creations.  Most of these rings are fashioned to the bride’s individual taste and can be easily customized to her unique specifications. These trends are hugely popular and will continue through 2013-2014. 

Solitaire engagement rings with an elegant and unusual north-south-east-west setting have been increasingly popular. These rings typically have a round brilliant cut diamond set onto prongs arranged with a diagonal placement, which can also give the appearance of a larger stone.

Diamond eternity bands are a timeless classic, this popular wedding ring can be made either as a semi eternity or full eternity and are a beautiful complement to all engagement rings. Symbolizing the eternal nature of marriage, many brides want a simple, strong statement of their commitment and the find it in the eternity band. The eternity band is also a popular wedding anniversary gift.  

Old is New Again

The romance of past eras has found its way into the ring designs of today. The art and style of Victorian and Edwardian England, as well as the Art Deco “bling” of the Roaring Twenties can be seen in antique-styled designs made popular by such TV dramas as “Downton Abbey”.

These ring designs embrace the tradition and timeless appeal of a family heirloom with a nod to the retro-chic flair that appeals to modern sensibilities. Ornate openwork scrolls, delicate lacy filigree detailing, floral patterns, and other intricate designs add a romantic aura of chivalrous love and noble intentions. These rings make a bride feel as if she were taking part in a classic fairy tale.

Color is All the Rage

With such fashion trendsetters like Kate Middleton, Penelope Cruz and Halle Berry wearing colored gemstones such as ruby, emerald or sapphire over the traditional white diamond, there has been a surge of interest lately in engagement rings with colored center stones. Diamonds in shades of black, cognac and champagne browns, and especially the fancy yellows have been the most popular of the colored diamonds this year.

 Shapes, Settings, and Mixing Metals

 Another trend this year has seen women looking for diamond cuts that are different than what has been the norm over the past decade. Cushion, emerald, and princess cuts have been strong sellers though the more traditional round brilliant cut diamond still outsells all these other shapes.

 Brides are also getting creative with the settings and metals used. Where traditionally most rings would be gold or platinum, nowadays you're seeing many more exotic settings (like Kat Von D's black diamond and skulls ring). There are also many people who are taking a mixed-metal approach by stacking or twisting white, yellow, and rose gold into cool, modern statements that really stand out and start conversations.

 At  Ex Aurum we are pleased to provide high quality custom design bridal jewelry at wholesale prices. Our experience and quality is second to none. Please visit our website or call and make an appointment to see our fine jewelry.   It will be our pleasure to serve you.

Phillips Square - The origins of Montreal's Diamond District

Phillips Square and architect Claude Cormier

Montreal's Phillips Square is named for Thomas Phillips, a building contractor and city councillor who bought the land from fur trader Joseph Frobisher. Phillips died in 1842, and the land the square now sits on was donated by his widow to be used as a perpetual memorial to her husband.

In 1842, the square was first laid out in what was at the time a growing wealthy residential area on the fringe of the city of Montreal. The first merchant to open a business on Phillips Square was Alfred Joyce, known to be a "high class caterer and confectioner” and one-time mayor of the town of Outremont who built an elegant shop on the south side of the square in 1878. In 1891, Morgan’s department store, now "The Bay", established itself on the north side of the square.

The head office of Henry Birks and Sons was built soon after on the west side of the square in 1894. In 1910, another building was built on the square. Now designated as 620 Cathcart, it was originally named the “New Birks Building” and was used in part for the growing needs of Henry Birks and Sons. At 130 feet, it was at the maximum height allowed in the city at that time as that was as high a fire ladder could reach.

The square features a bronze statue of Britain’s King Edward VII, who ruled from 1901 to 1910. He visited Montreal in 1860, when he was still the Prince of Wales, to open the Victoria Bridge, named after his mother. The statue was erected in 1914.

The Birks Building was constructed at a time when the abutting elite residential area known as “The Golden Mile” was becoming the hub of the nations wealthiest families. In fact, 70% of all wealth in Canada was firmly in the hands of this small group. It was a natural place for merchants like watchmakers, silversmiths and jewellers to locate their businesses.

By 1923 Birks was the second largest jewellry store in the world; only Tiffany’s of New York was larger than Birks. A booming mail order business kept the Birks craftsmen busy, bolstered by American tourists. At that time Canada had no duty on diamonds, and a set diamond was subject to 45% duty in the US.

In more modern times, the jewelry trade has evolved, and is now largely made up of independent craftsmen. But the legacy of the presence of Henry Birks still exists in the fact that the bulk of Montreal’s leading edge designers, diamond dealers and jewellers still ply their trade in the many offices that line the square.

Ex Aurum Jewellers is proud to continue this tradition of fine handcrafted jewelry in Phillips Square. While our clients come from a broader spectrum of society than the area once catered to, they are still no less important to us.

GARNET - THE JANUARY STONE

There are many myths and legends surrounding the garnet.  One Biblical legend is that Noah hung this gem on the ark to light his way through the dark and stormy nights of God's wrath.  A Greek myth linked to the garnet is the story of the young goddess of sunshine, Persephone, who was abducted by Hades, god of the underworld. Hades eventually released Persephone, but not before he offered her some pomegranate seeds, which guaranteed her return to him. 

First mined in Sri Lanka over 2,500 years ago, the garnet is also found in Africa, Australia, India, Russia, South America; and in the United States, in Arizona and Idaho.  Although most commonly known as a red gemstone, the garnet comes in a variety of other hues, including muted yellows, vibrant oranges, rosy pinks, lime greens, and violets—a virtual bouquet of colors.  This diversity is due to unique combinations of elements within each particular gem, such as iron, calcium, and manganese. 

Archaeologist findings of primitive style garnet jewelry among the graves of lake dwellers dates the early use of this gemstone to the Bronze age.  But not all garnet is of gem quality.   It is also a very effective abrasive and is used commercially for grinding and polishing.  Garnet coated sandpaper is one such industrial use.  

The garnet continues to be the protective gem of journeyers. A gift of garnet is thought to be symbolic of love and the desire for a loved one's safe travel and speedy homecoming.  It is January's birthstone, but far from being only a winter gem, the garnet, with its brilliance and multitude of colors, is truly one for any season.

ALL ABOUT EMERALDS

Emerald

Emeralds are fascinating gemstones. They have the most beautiful, most intense and most radiant green that can possibly be imagined: emerald green. Inclusions are tolerated. In top quality, fine emeralds are even more valuable than diamonds.

The name emerald comes from the Greek 'smaragdos' via the Old French 'esmeralde', and really just means 'green gemstone'. Innumerable fantastic stories have grown up around this magnificent gem. The Incas and Aztecs of South America, where the best emeralds are still found today, regarded the emerald as a holy gemstone. However, probably the oldest known finds were once made near the Red Sea in Egypt. Having said that, these gemstone mines, already exploited by Egyptian pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 B.C. and later referred to as 'Cleopatra's Mines', had already been exhausted by the time they were rediscovered in the early 19th century.

Written many centuries ago, the Vedas, the holy scriptures of the Indians, say of the precious green gems and their healing properties: 'Emeralds promise good luck ...'; and 'The emerald enhances the well-being ...'. So it was no wonder that the treasure chests of Indian maharajas and maharanis contained wonderful emeralds. One of the world's largest is the so-called 'Mogul Emerald'. It dates from 1695, weighs 217.80 carats, and is some 10cm tall. One side of it is inscribed with prayer texts, and engraved on the other there are magnificent floral ornaments. This legendary emerald was auctioned by Christie's of London to an unidentified buyer for 2.2m US Dollars on September 28th 2001.

Emeralds have been held in high esteem since ancient times. For that reason, some of the most famous emeralds are to be seen in museums and collections. The New York Museum of Natural History, for example, has an exhibit in which a cup made of pure emerald which belonged to the Emperor Jehangir is shown next to the 'Patricia', one of the largest Colombian emerald crystals, which weighs 632 carats. The collection of the Bank of Bogota includes five valuable emerald crystals with weights of between 220 and 1796 carats, and splendid emeralds also form part of the Iranian National Treasury, adorning, for example, the diadem of the former Empress Farah. The Turkish sultans also loved emeralds. In Istanbul's Topkapi Palace there are exhibits with items of jewellery, writing-implements and daggers, each lavishly adorned with emeralds and other gems.

The green of life and of love
The green of the emerald is the colour of life and of the springtime, which comes round again and again. But it has also, for centuries, been the colour of beauty and of constant love. In ancient Rome, green was the colour of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love. And today, this colour still occupies a special position in many cultures and religions. Green, for example, is the holy colour of Islam. Many of the states of the Arab League have green in their flags as a symbol of the unity of their faith. Yet this colour has a high status in the Catholic Church too, where green is regarded as the most natural and the most elemental of the liturgical colours.

The magnificent green of the emerald is a colour which conveys harmony, love of Nature and elemental joie de vivre. The human eye can never see enough of this unique colour. Pliny commented that green gladdened the eye without tiring it. Green is perceived as fresh and vivid, never as monotonous. And in view of the fact that this colour always changes somewhat between the bright light of day and the artificial light of a lamp, emerald green retains its lively vigour in all its nuances.

Fingerprints of nature
The lively luminosity of its colour makes the emerald a unique gemstone. However, really good quality is fairly rare, with inclusions often marring the evenness of the colour – signs of the turbulent genesis which has characterised this gemstone. Fine inclusions, however, do not by any means diminish the high regard in which it is held. On the contrary: even with inclusions, an emerald in a deep, lively green still has a much higher value than an almost flawless emerald whose colour is paler. Affectionately, and rather poetically, the specialists call the numerous crystal inclusions, cracks or fissures which are typical of this gemstone 'jardin'. They regard the tender little green plants in the emerald garden as features of the identity of a gem which has grown naturally.

So where do they come from and how is it that they exist at all? In order to answer these questions, we need to look far, far back into the time of the emerald's origin. Emeralds from Zimbabwe are among the oldest gemstones anywhere in the world. They were already growing 2600 million years ago, whilst some specimens from Pakistan, for example, are a mere 9 million years young. From a chemical-mineralogical point of view, emeralds are beryllium-aluminium-silicates with a good hardness of 7.5 to 8, and belong, like the light blue aquamarine, the tender pink morganite, the golden heliodor and the pale green beryl, to the large gemstone family of the beryls. Pure beryl is colourless. The colours do not occur until traces of some other element are added. In the case of the emerald, it is mainly traces of chromium and vanadium which are responsible for the fascinating colour. Normally, these elements are concentrated in quite different parts of the Earth's crust to beryllium, so the emerald should, strictly speaking, perhaps not exist at all. But during intensive tectonic processes such as orogenesis, metamorphism, emergences and erosion of the land, these contrasting elements found each other and crystallised out to make one of our most beautiful gemstones. The tension involved in the geological conditions conducive to the above processes produced some minor flaws, and some major ones. A glance through the magnifying-glass or microscope into the interior of an emerald tells us something about the eventful genesis of this unique gem: here we see small or large fissures; here the sparkle of a mini-crystal or a small bubble; here shapes of all kinds. While the crystals were still growing, some of these manifestations had the chance to 'heal', and thus the jagged three-phase inclusions typical of Colombian emeralds were formed: cavities filled with fluid, which often also contain a small bubble of gas and some tiny crystals.

Logically enough, a genesis as turbulent as that of the emerald impedes the undisturbed formation of large, flawless crystals. For this reason, it is only seldom that a large emerald with good colour and good transparency is found. That is why fine emeralds are so valuable. But for the very reason that the emerald has such a stormy past, it is surely entitled to show it - that is, as long as only a fine jardin is to be seen, and not a rank garden which spoils both colour and transparency.

The world of fine emeralds
Colombia continues to be at the top of the list in terms of the countries in which fine emeralds are found. It has about 150 known deposits, though not all of these are currently being exploited. The best known names are Muzo and Chivor, where emeralds were mined by the Incas in pre-Columbian times. In economic terms, the most important mine is at Coscuez, where some 60 faces are being worked. According to estimates, approximately three quarters of Colombia's emerald production now comes from the Coscuez Mine. Colombian emeralds differ from emeralds from other deposits in that they have an especially fine, shining emerald green unimpaired by any kind of bluish tint. The colour may vary slightly from find to find. This fascinatingly beautiful colour is so highly esteemed in the international emerald trade that even obvious inclusions are regarded as acceptable. But Colombia has yet more to offer: now and then the Colombian emerald mines throw up rarities such as Trapiche emeralds with their six rays emanating from the centre which resemble the spokes of a millwheel.

Even if many of the best emeralds are undisputedly of Colombian origin, the 'birthplace' of a stone is never an absolute guarantee of its immaculate quality. Fine emeralds are also found in other countries, such as Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Russia. Zambia, Zimbabwe and Brazil in particular have a good reputation for fine emeralds in the international trade. Excellent emerald crystals in a beautiful, deep emerald green and with good transparency come from Zambia. Their colour is mostly darker than that of Colombian emeralds and often has a fine, slightly bluish undertone. Emeralds which are mostly smaller, but very fine, in a vivacious, intense green come from Zimbabwe's famous Sandawana Mine, and they often have a delicate yellowish-green nuance. And the famous emerald mines of Colombia currently face competition from right next door: Brazil's gemstone mine Nova Era also produces emeralds in beautiful green tones, and if they are less attractive than those of their famous neighbour it is only by a small margin. Brazil also supplies rare emerald cat's eyes and extremely rare emeralds with a six-spoked star. Thanks to the finds in Africa and Brazil, there are more emeralds on the market now than there used to be - to the delight of emerald enthusiasts - .

A sophisticated gemstone
Whilst its good hardness protects the emerald to a large extent from scratches, its brittleness and its many fissures can make cutting, setting and cleaning rather difficult. Even for a skilled gem cutter, cutting emeralds presents a special challenge, firstly because of the high value of the raw crystals, and secondly because of the frequent inclusions. However, this does not detract from the cutters' love of this unique gem. Indeed, they have developed a special cut just for this gem: the emerald cut. The clear design of this rectangular or square cut with its bevelled corners brings out the beauty of this valuable gemstone to the full, at the same time protecting it from mechanical strain.

Emeralds are also cut in many other, mainly classical shapes, but if the raw material contains a large number of inclusions, it may often be cut into a gently rounded cabochon, or into one of the emerald beads which are so popular in India.

Today, many emeralds are enhanced with colourless oils or resins. This is a general trade practice, but it does have the consequence that these green treasures react very sensitively to inappropriate treatment. For example, they cannot be cleaned in an ultrasonic bath. The substances that may have been used by the cutter during his work, or applied subsequently, seal the fine pores in the surface of the gem. Removing them will end up giving the stone a matt appearance. For this reason, emerald rings should always be taken off before the wearer puts his or her hands in water containing cleansing agent.

A matter of trust
Unfortunately, because the emerald is not only one of the most beautiful gemstones, but also one of the most valuable, there are innumerable synthetics and imitations. So how can you protect yourself from these 'fakes'? Well, the best way is to buy from a specialist in whom you have confidence. Large emeralds in particular should only be purchased with a report from a reputable gemmological institute. Such an institute will be able, thanks to the most modern examination techniques, to differentiate reliably between natural and synthetic emeralds, and will inform you as to whether the stone has undergone any treatment of the kind a purchaser has the right to know about.

And one more piece of advice on the purchase of an emerald: whilst diamonds generously scintillate their fire in sizes below 1 carat, you should go for larger dimensions when acquiring a coloured gemstone. True, there are some lovely pieces of jewellery with small coloured gems to set decorative accents, but emeralds, like other coloured gemstones, do not really begin to show that beautiful glow below a certain size. How large 'your' emerald ends up will depend on your personal taste, and on your budget. Really large specimens of top quality are rare. This means that the price of a top-quality emerald may be higher than that of a diamond of the same weight. The fascination exuded by a fine emerald is simply unique.

BLUE TOPAZ - THE DECEMBER STONE

White Gold Sapphire and Topaz Pendant

What is the birthstone for December?

There are actually three different stones associated with being the birthstone of December: the blue topaz, turquoise, and tanzanite. All three of these very different have one thing in common: a unique blue color that makes them perfect for use in birthstone jewelry or many kinds of fashionable and creative jewelry. But each of these stones also has unique characteristics and properties that make it special, so before choosing a December birthstone gift for yourself or a loved one, get to know each of these stones so you’ll be able to pick the perfect gemstone gift.

December birthstone: Blue Topaz

The most famous birthstone for December is the blue topaz, a variation on the common gem topaz. Topaz becomes blue when it is heated, a process that can happen naturally or artificially, and results in three shades of blue that varies in its intensity. The more intense and deep the color is, the more valuable the blue topaz is, although the most deep shade, London Blue, never occurs in nature and is only produced by gemological produces. Slight changes in the mineral composition, however, can create topaz with hues of green, yellow or pink.

The cool blue shade of the blue topaz, reminiscent of a clear mountain lake or a crisp, cold December sky, has made it a favorite for all kinds of jewelry for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks felt that its cooling effect could have the power of calming the temper and balancing one’s mental state. Some people believed that a topaz could even cool boiling water, perhaps because of its resemblance to a chunk of cold blue ice! Even today, blue topaz is said to represent love and loyalty, making it a romantic present as well as the perfect birthstone for December, the gift-giving month! Blue topaz is very well suited for use in fashionable jewelry like chandelier earrings and cocktail rings because it has a gem hardness level of 8 on the Mohs scale, making it durable and strong.