Crystal and stones » sapphire

Sapphire as talisman

precious stones — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:09:25 +0000

The Sapphire as talisman

Sapphire, one of the earliest gems known to man, is found in riverbeds and torrents, the force of the water washing the stones from their matrix ; and to this day are still found under these conditions. In its finest quality the Sapphire is of a deep blue colour, and the [...]

History of birthstones

precious stones — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:27:19 +0000

The historian Josephus proclaimed a connection between the twelve stones in Aaron’s breastplate, the twelve months of the year and the twelve signs of the zodiac. The Breastplate of Aaron, referred to in Exodus 28:17-20:

10 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, [...]

Healing stones

precious stones — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:37:36 +0000

In the sixteenth century sapphires, emeralds, rubies, garnets, jacinths, coral and sardonyxes were used in all tonics prescribed to protect the heart against the effects of poison and of the plague. As it was noted that these remedies were frequently ineffectual, an explanation was sought in the fact that spurious stones were often used, the [...]

Birthstone

precious stones — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:23:24 +0000

Birthstones have their roots in ancient astrology, and there have been many birthstone lists used over the years. The most common one today is based on a list first publicized by the U.S. jewelry industry in the 1950s.

This list assign birthstones as follows:

* January – Garnet * February – Amethyst * [...]

Chrysoberyl

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:54:00 +0000

There are certain stones and other minerals which, owing to their possession of numerous microscopically fine cavities, of a globular or tubular shape, have the appearance of “rays” or “stars,” and these are called “asteriated.”

Several of such stones have been discussed already in the last chapter, and in addition to these star-like rays, [...]

Sapphire

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:48:37 +0000

The Sapphire is not so easy to imitate, as its hardness exceeds that of the ruby, and imitations containing its known constituents, or of glass, are invariably softer than the natural stone.

As before remarked, almost any form of corundum other than red is, broadly, called sapphire, but giving them their strictly correct designations, [...]

Violet gemstones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:22:28 +0000

Violet gemstones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Amethyst 7 2.661 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Quartz (Amethyst) 7 2.670 Sapphire 9 4.049-4.060 Spinel 8 3.614-3.654 Tourmaline 7-1/4 3.160

Green gemstones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:20:47 +0000

Green gemstones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Aquamarine 7-3/4 2.701-2.800 Chrysoberyl 8-1/2 3.689-3.752 Chrysolite 6-7 3.316-3.528 Chrysoprase (Quartz) 7 2.670 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Dioptase 5 3.289 Emerald and Oriental Emerald 7-3/4 2.690 Euclase 7-1/2 3.090 Garnet (see also Red Garnet) 6-1/2-7-1/2 3.400-4.500 Heliotrope (Chalcedony) 6-1/2 2.598-2.610 Hiddenite (a variety of Spodumene) 6-1/2-7 3.130-3.200 Jade 7 [...]

Red and rose gemstones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:11:03 +0000

Red and rose gemstones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Carnelian (a variety of Chalcedony) 6-1/2 2.598-2.610 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Deep Red Garnet 7-1/4 3.40-4.50 Jasper 7 2.668 Opal (the “Fire Opal”) 5-1/2-6-1/2 2.21 Ruby 9 4.073-4.080 Rhodonite 5-1/2-6-1/2 3.413-3.617 Sapphire 9 4.049-4.060 Spinel Ruby 8 3.614-3.654 Topaz 8 3.500-3.520 Tourmaline 7-1/4 3.024 Zircon 7-1/2 4.70-4.88

Yellow Stones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:02:53 +0000

Yellow Stones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Amber 2-1/2 1.000 Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.810 Chrysoberyl 8-1/2 3.689-3.752 Chrysolite 6-7 3.316-3.528 Corundum (the yellow variety known as “Oriental Topaz”) 9 3.90-4.16 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Garnets (various) 6-1/2-7-1/2 3.4-4.5 Hyacinth (a form of Zircon) 7-1/2 4.7-4.88 Quartz (Citrine) 7 2.658 Sapphire 9 4.049-4.060 Spinel 8 .614-3.654 Topaz (for “Oriental [...]