Sri Lanka Jewelers

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4

Jewelry from 3000 BC Egypt to the 21st Century
2007-11-17 09:57:00
Egypt The use of gold jewelry can be dated back to Egypt 3000 BC. Goldwas the preferred metal for jewelry making during ancient times. Itwas rare, it was easy to work with, and it never tarnished.Magnificent bracelets, pendants, necklaces, rings, armlets, earrings,collars, and head ornaments were all produced in ancient Egypt, theland of the Pharaohs.In 1922 Howard Carter's excavations led to the discovery ofTutankhamun's tomb and many gold artifacts, all showing the art workof ancient Egypt. Greece In ancient Greece, gold beads in the shape ofshells, flowers and beetles were very common. In Northern Greecebeautiful necklaces and earrings have been excavated from burial.By 300 BC the Greeks were using gems such as emeralds, garnets,amethysts and pearls. They also created colored glass stones andenamel stones. Carved agate cameos and gold filigree work were widelymade. Italy The Italian Etruscans produced granulated textured goldwork. They made very large, necklaces, bracelet...
More About: Jewelry , Egypt , Century

How to buy art jewelry you will actually wear?
2007-11-17 09:52:00
In the past you have done it. You have bought something you wouldnever wear. It may have been cloths, shoes, or jewelry but it isalways disappointing. Choices can be so overwhelming that you buysomething that seems like a good idea at the time but than you gethome and you wonder why you bought it. Art jewelry comes in manystyles. Murano glass jewelry, semi precious stone jewelry (includingamber and Larimar), shell jewelry, and sterling silver, are just a fewof the types available. Sometimes choosing just one piece or even afew pieces can be overwhelming so here are a few guidelines that canhelp.1. Consider the size.When you are walking in a cute downtown and you see a great piece ofart jewelry in the window you may just have to go into the shop. Youtry it on and it looks great but than you start second guessingyourself. Is it to big or to small? Try on the piece (or hold it up ifit is earrings). If the piece looks good on you it is not to big. Samegoes if you think it is to small. I...
More About: Jewelry , Wear

How to identify a good gemstone?
2007-11-17 06:28:00
What could be more tempting than a jewelry display packed with a rainbow ofbrightly colored gemstones? Go shopping and you'll see natural, synthetic,and imitation stones of every color, shape, and size. Can you tell one typeof stone from another? Here are some tips to help you understand thedifferences so you can ask the right questions before you buy a coloredgemstone.Natural stones are courtesy of nature, with no interference from humans.Don't assume that just because it's natural a stone should carry a highprice tag. Prices are driven by desirability, quality, and availability. Abrilliantly colored ruby with "perfect" clarity will cost thousands ofdollars more than a garnet of similar quality. Become acquainted with thegemstone market before you buy.Most natural stones are treated to improve appearance. Heat and radiationchange or enhance colors. Diffusion deepens color, but only within a stone'souter layers. Oil and waxes are used to fill-in surface-bre...
More About: Good , Gemstone

Sapphire Buying Guide
2007-11-17 06:06:00
Blue Sapp hire Enduring and most popular color hue of the sapphire family comes in a widerange of blue colors. With the exception of the rare and collectablepadparadscha sapphires, blue sapphires are thought of as the most desirableand expensive of the entire sapphire family. Graduating in color from lightpastel blues all the way through to the depths of midnight blue, the mostbeautiful blue sapphire colors and the highest values sit in the middle ofthe blue-color range. While the pale blues and darker midnight blues offerthe purchaser the best value, the rare and captivating cornflower bluesoffer the consumer unbeatable color with a captivating beauty - but at apremium.Padparadsha SapphiresSapphires that combine the three colors of pink, purple and orange in onegem can resemble the famed and beautiful lotus flower known to the SriLankans (Ceylon) as "padparadsha". Taking its name from the flower,padparadscha sapphires are so rare and beautiful that they are highly prizedand...
More About: Buying , Guide , Guid

Padparadscha sapphires
2007-11-05 12:20:00
Padparadscha sapphires are a special variety of the gem class termedcorundrum. A natural padparadscha sapphire is a delicate color thatis a combination of pink/red and orange and the best specimens arefrom Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Padparadscha is derived from the Sanskritword padmaraga meaning lotus flower: The petals of the finest lotusblossoms are a blend of pink and orange.Padparadscha sapphires are one of the world's most expensive gems,with prices similar to those fetched by fine rubies or fine emeralds.Prices for padparadscha sapphires are difficult to determine becausesome sources value them at the highest range of a pink sapphire at$3,125/carat, whereas others value them in their own category at up to$30,000/carat.Padparadscha sapphires tend to demand a greater clarity than anequivalent ruby since an inclusion is more prominent in thepadparadscha sapphire. Nevertheless, an equivalent sized padparadschasapphire is much more rare than a ruby. Any fine padparadschasapphire g...
More About: Sapphires , Sapp

Export Procedures
2007-11-03 19:15:00
Export Procedure for Gemstones and Jewellery Purchased in Sri Lanka:A foreign buyer can export gemstones in two ways:(1) Personally hand carry the gem stones or jewellery purchased - The buyerwill have to show proof that he has brought in or remitted the requiredfunds to purchase the items. The gemstones or jewellery can be personallyhand carried by the buyer and should be declared at airport customs ondeparture. The buyer will have to present to customs all receipts for thepurchased items. There is no export duty to be paid.OR:(2) Seal the purchased gemstones or jewellery at the Sri Lanka GemCorporation and freight goods via a high value courier company such asMalca-Amith or BrinksExport procedure for foreigners:(a) Commercial invoice should be prepared and handed over by the shipper tothe agent along with 10 copies manually signed.(b) Customer should obtain a temporary Tax Identification Number (TINnumber) and G.S.T. number and register the same at the Customs department.(c) Goods...
More About: Export

Shopping Advise - Buying gems and jewelry
2007-11-03 19:11:00
Buying jewellery can be an enjoyable but daunting task. Identifying, letalone valuing precious material, is no easy task even for the expert - andthe best way for you to be happy with your purchase is to be informed beforeyou buy.Read on to learn some useful tips before making your jewellery purchase -Useful Info On Selecting Gems & JewelleryBuy from a trusted jeweller or one who has been recommended:Ask around and get recommendations, ask friends for an introduction to ajeweller that they are satisfied with. If this is not possible, check on thejeweller through a government certifying body or some other authorising bodywho has certified the jeweller.A good jeweller will be clear and transparent in his explanation of thepiece and will guarantee that the product is what he/she says it is. Also,the right jeweller will be there when the piece needs to be cleaned,restrung or remounted.Find out if the jeweller provides other services (such as assaying andhallmarking) and check how th...
More About: Shopping , Buying , Jewelry

Skills of Sri Lankan Jewellers
2007-11-01 06:02:00
Sri Lanka has a long tradition in handmade jewellery - the skills of itsjewellers are generally confined to a particular caste and the skills passeddown from generation to generation.Examples of Sri Lanka's traditional jewellery include the beautifullyhandcrafted silver jewellery from the Kandy area.Today, as jewellery exports increase, a greater number of jewellers arecreating cast jewellery - which is mass produced jewellery - aimed at theexport market.Retailers: Gold manufacturers and retailers addressing the local market canbe separated into two distinct consumer focus groups; domestic customers(mainly gold jewellery or pieces set with precious gemstones) and tourists(jewellery with precious and semi-precious gemstones).The Domestic Market - demands mainly gold jewellery in traditional designswhich are sold for weddings and special occasions. This segment is estimatedat US$50 million in annual sales.The Tourist Market - prefer gem-set jewellery in contemporary designs.If you...
More About: Skills , Sri Lankan , Well , Weller

Rare gemstones of Sri Lanka
2007-10-27 07:13:00
The most world famous rare gemstones are from Sri Lanka .Among the Several world famous rare gems, Sri Lanka's blue sapphire Weighing466 carats. the largest known sapphire in the world. Other famous rare gemsinclude the Blue giant of the Orient, Weighing nearly 500 carats and thebluebell of Asia, which weighs in at 400 carats. The renowned Sri LankanStar sapphire is on permanent display at the Museum of Natural History inNew York, but due to an oversight, the stone has been called the star ofIndia. The Great Aqua of Sri Lanka, with a weight of 1,890 carats in therough is the largest gem found in the island. This aquamarine yielded asparkling rare gem of 946 carats, which became part of a royal collectionwhen acquired by a Saudi prince.Throughout history Sri Lanka's gems and jewellery have adorned the crownjewels of many royal families. A very very rare gem- a 105 carat cat's eye-discovered in a paddy field in Sri Lanka, gained fame among the royalty ofBritain and was Succ...
More About: Rare , Tone , Gemstones

Rare gemstones of Sri Lanka
2007-10-27 05:07:00
The most world famous rare gemstones are from Sri Lanka .Among the Several world famous rare gems, Sri Lanka's blue sapphire Weighing466 carats. the largest known sapphire in the world. Other famous rare gemsinclude the Blue giant of the Orient, Weighing nearly 500 carats and thebluebell of Asia, which weighs in at 400 carats. The renowned Sri LankanStar sapphire is on permanent display at the Museum of Natural History inNew York, but due to an oversight, the stone has been called the star ofIndia. The Great Aqua of Sri Lanka, with a weight of 1,890 carats in therough is the largest gem found in the island. This aquamarine yielded asparkling rare gem of 946 carats, which became part of a royal collectionwhen acquired by a Saudi prince.Throughout history Sri Lanka's gems and jewellery have adorned the crownjewels of many royal families. A very very rare gem- a 105 carat cat's eye-discovered in a paddy field in Sri Lanka, gained fame among the royalty ofBritain and was Succ...
More About: Rare , Tone , Gemstones

Unique gems of Sri Lanka
2007-10-26 05:46:00
The most world famous gemstones are from Sri Lanka .Blue Giant of the Orient - 466 caratsMined in Kuruwita in 1907, this giant blue sapphire is one of the world'smost valuable gemstones. In rough, it was said to have been over 600 caratsand was fashioned into a jewel of 466 carats. It is the largest bluesapphire in the world. This gem is in the collection of an American gem andart collector.Logan Blue Sapphire - 423 caratsConsidered to be the second largest blue sapphire in the world on record. Aflawless specimen with a rich deep blue, the stone was gifted to TheSmithsonian Institute in Washington DC by John Logan.Blue Belle of Asia - 400 caratsDiscovered in the paddy fields of Pelmadulla, Sri Lanka in 1926, the BlueBelle is held in high esteem because of its peacock blue colour andexcellent clarity. Today, it is part of the collection of a British geminvestor.Star of India - 563 caratsThe second largest star sapphire in the world was discovered in Sri Lanka.It is almost flawless...
More About: Unique , Gems

Sri Lanka vs. Madagascar
2007-10-25 04:12:00
No other country has yielded such an abundance of gems in terms of qualityand variety than Sri Lanka . In the past decade however, competition hastaken place and the new king ascending the throne of the new millennium maybe Madagascar .The list of gem varieties from this new island source reads like agemological textbook. From A to Z, you can find an abundance of Amethyst,Apatite, Alexandrite, Aquamarine, Beryl, Chrysoberyl (& Chrysoberyl Cat'sEye), Diamond, Emerald, Flurite, Garnet (Green, Orange, Purple, Red, Greenand never heard of before 'blue'), Helidor, Iolite, Jadeite, Kunzite,Liddicoatite, Morganite, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Spinel, Topaz, Uvarovite,Vesuvianite and Zircon. This is only a fraction of the list.That is the upper end of the list, and there is also a huge selection oftranslucent and opaque gems such as Rose Quartz, Labradorite, PetrifiedWoods, Fossilized Shells, Common Opal, Jasoper and Agate, which are used forbeads, cabochons and carvings. We are r...

Gemstones of Sri Lanka
2007-10-24 05:34:00
For centuries and perhaps the last thousand years, Sri Lanka has reined asthe king of the world's gem producing nations. Sri Lanka has been theworld's centre for coloured gemstones and from time immemorial has given theworld many diverse facets of romantic overtones. Among them is that PrinceCharles mesmerised Lady Diana with an engagement ring, set with a pricelessBlue Sapphire. The Blue Sapphire is Sri Lanka's gem supreme and can beconsidered the highest prized of all gems, while being second only to thediamond in hardness. The largest known Sapphire in the world weighing 42pounds, was found in the gem gravels of Sri Lanka.A well-known legend says that in Biblical times, King Solomon in his wisdomused precious stones from the paradise isle to woo the Queen of Sheba.Factually, Solomon sent emissaries to the City of Gems in the Orient(Ratnapura in Sri Lanka) to procure the precious stones that won him thehand, and then the heart of Queen Sheba. Since, and even before, Sr...
More About: Tone , Gemstones , Stones

Chrysoberyl
2007-10-22 22:09:00
The species name chrysoberyl is given to a transparent, faceted gemstonethat does not show a color change between daylight and artificial light (thechrysoberyl which shows a colour change is called alexandrite). The idealcolors of chrysoberyl are green and yellowish-green. In addition, due tostrong dichroism, one may see an attractive bi-coloured chrysoberyloccasionally. Hardness is 8.5 on the Moh's scale. The high refractive indexof the stone makes it very lively when properly cut and polished.The mineral or gemstone chrysoberyl, not to be confused with beryl, is analuminate of beryllium. Chrysoberyl is transparent to translucent andsometimes chatoyant. An interesting feature of uncut crystals of chrysoberylare the cyclic twins called trillings. These twinned crystals have ahexagonal appearance, but are the result of a triplet of twins with each"twin" taking up 120 degrees of the cyclic trilling. The word chrysoberyl isderived from the Greek chrysos, "golden,&quo...
More About: Sobe

Tourmaline
2007-10-22 21:47:00
Tourmalines are precious stones displaying a unique splendour of colours.According to an ancient Egyptian legend this is the result of the fact thaton the long way from the Earth's heart up towards the sun, Tourmalinetravelled along a rainbow. And on its way it collected all the colors of therainbow. This is why nowadays it is called the "Rainbow gemstone".Tourmaline is a group of minerals comprised of a complex boron-aluminumsilicate with one or more of the following: magnesium, sodium, lithium,iron, potassium or other metals. It appears in light from dark red to purpleas well as brownish variations of these hues - light to dark green,yellowish-green, greenish-yellow, brownish-orange. It also growsbi-coloured.Varieties - Bi-colored, watermelon, cat's eye, alexandrite-like (rare).Sources - Sri Lanka, Brazil, USA (California, Maine), Madagascar, Tanzania,Kenya, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan (prime new source).History - Dutch children played with tourmaline because o...
More About: Tourmaline

Peridot
2007-10-22 21:44:00
Peridot is a beautiful olive green stone. It is much less expensive thangreen tourmaline. It is worn in necklaces, earrings, pendants and bracelets.Like other gems, peridot was believed to offer special powers.Peridot is the best known gem variety of olivine, a species name for aseries of magnesium-iron rich silicate minerals. This bright yellow-green togreen gemstone has caught the fancy of humans for thousands of years. Somehistorians even suspect that at least some of the "emeralds" worn byCleopatra were actually peridot. Much of its recent popularity can beexplained by its currently being recognized as the birthstone for the monthof August, people wear the stone because it is supposed to bring the wearersuccess, peace, and good luck.Peridot is the birthstone of August.Varieties - Peridot top grades: medium to dark, slightly yellowish-green.Chrysolite - greenish-yellow, light to dark yellowish-green tobrownish-green to almost brown.Sources - Sri Lanka, Island of Zeberge...
More About: Peridot

Monnstones
2007-10-22 21:35:00
Moonstones are usually colourless to white, semi-transparent to translucent,and characterised by a glowing light effect known as adularescence, thevisibility of which is confined to a restricted angle of view. The mostvaluable of the feldspar gems.Moonstone shows an almost magical play of light as its characteristicfeature. It owes its name to this mysterious gleaming which appearsdifferent whenever the stone changes its position in movement. Experts callthis the "adularescence", and in earlier times the phases of waxing andwaning moon were though to be discerned in this phenomenon.Moonstones are Nature's treasures with a sensuous and seductive charm. Thedo not only ask to be looked at and admired, the require to be worn andmoved a lot. Because only then the soft veil of light which makes thisgemstone so attractive will be able to display its beauty to the besteffect.Varieties - Some may exhibit cat's eye effect.Sources - Sri LankaHistory - Considered a love charm,...
More About: Tone , Stones

Garnet
2007-10-22 21:31:00
Garnet is the name which can be applied to six similar mineral species,namely almandine, pyrope, spessartine, grossular, andradite and uvarovite.To further complicate matters, many garnets are actually a combination ofthese minerals. Rhodolite garnet for instance, is a combination of almandineand pyrope, and is sometimes referred to as pyrope-almandine garnet. Thereare also many trade names and other commonly used names which only adds tothe confusion, such as Rhodolite, Tsavorite, Hessonite, Malaya, Mozambique,Mandarin, Ant-hill, Leuco, Hydrogrossular, Demantoid, Melanite, Topazolite,Thai. Other names such as "cape ruby" are simply misleading and deceptive.Some garnets also exhibit color change and stars.Garnet displays the greatest variety of color of any mineral, occurring inevery color except blue. For example, grossularite can be colorless, white,gray, yellow, yellowish green, various shades of green, brown, pink,reddish, or black. Andradite garnet can be yellow-green...
More About: Garnet

Zircon
2007-10-22 21:26:00
The name "zircon" is believed to have derived from the Arabic words, "zar",meaning gold, and "gun", meaning color. For many centuries, the brillianceof zircon has captured the hearts of those who gazed upon this magnificentgemstone. Zircon's popularity began to grow in the sixth century whenItalian artisans featured the stone in jewelry designs. During the MiddleAges, zircon was believed to contain curative powers, protecting the wearerfrom diseases and banishing insomnia.Zircon is a minor gem, but a valuable source of zirconium metal and a majormineral for today's geologists. Zircon always occurs in crystals. Althoughthe middle may be stretched into long prisms. Most often brown, zircon alsocan be blue, green, red, or colorless. Gem zircons are usually turned blueby heating brown or clear stones.Zircon has a very high melting point, is fairly hard (Mohs hardness6.5-7.5), and is resistant to weathering. As a result, zircon grains canremain uncha...

Quartz Crystals
2007-10-21 05:02:00
Quartz is the most common mineral on the face of the Earth. Gem varietiesinclude amethyst (purple), citrine (yellow), milky quartz (cloudy, whitevariety), rock crystal (clear variety), rose quartz (pink to reddish-pinkvariety), and smokey quartz (brown to grey variety).The word amethyst comes from the Greek amethustos meaning "not drunk".Therefore, it has been considered a charm against intoxication. A legendaccounts for the origin of the stone. Supposedly, Bacchus, the god of wineand conviviality, grew angry at a slight and swore revenge. He decreed thatthe first mortal to come across his path was to be eaten by tigers.Amethyst, a beautiful maiden on her way to worship at the shrine of Diana,happened to be the victim. Diana, the huntress, changed Amethyst intocolorless quartz to protect her from the tigers. When Bacchus witnessed themiracle, he repented and poured wine over the stone, staining it purple. Thewine failed to cover the entire stone evenly, and the feet and pa...
More About: Quartz

Aquamarine Gemstones
2007-10-21 05:02:00
Aquamarine is the blue, or perhaps more correctly, blue-green or aquavariety of the mineral beryl. Other gemstone color varieties that belong toberyl include emerald, morganite, and heliodor. Other colors of beryl aresimply referred to by their colour, such as red beryl. Most gem aquamarineshave been heat treated to produce the popular blue-green varieties from lessdesirable yellow or pale stones.Its light blue arouses feelings of sympathy, trust, harmony and friendship.Good feelings. Feelings which are based on mutuality and which prove theirworth in lasting relationships. The blue of aquamarine is a divine, eternalcolor, because it is the color of the sky. However, aquamarine blue is alsothe colour of water with its life-giving force. And aquamarine really doesseem to have captured the lucid blue of the oceans. No wonder, when youconsider that according to the saga it originated in the treasure chest offabulous mermaids, and has, since ancient times, been regarded as thesailors...
More About: Aquamarine , Tone , Gemstones , Stones , Amar

Spinel
2007-10-21 05:02:00
Spinel is a very attractive and historically important gemstone mineral. Itstypical red color, although pinker, rivals the color of ruby. In fact, manyrubies, of notable fame belonging to crown jewel collections, were found toactually be spinels. Perhaps the greatest mistake is the Black Prince's Rubyset in the British Imperial State Crown. Whether these mistakes wereaccidents or clever substitutions of precious rubies for the less valuablespinels by risk taking jewelers, history is unclear. The misidentificationis meaningless in terms of the value of these gems for even spinel carries aconsiderable amount of worth and these stones are priceless based on theirhistory, let alone their carat weight and pedigree.Today, expensive rubies are still substituted for by spinel in much the sameway a diamond is substituted by cubic zirconia. Not to commit a fraud ortheft but to prevent one. Spinel may take the place of a ruby that wouldhave been displayed in public by an owner who is insec...

Alexandrite
2007-10-21 05:02:00
Hidden for millennium deep within the earth's crust, Alexandrite first cameto light in the XIX century. Discovered by an unnamed farmer in the outpostsof the Urals, a single glowing green crystal was found under the roots of astunted tree. This crystal was thought to be an emerald queen of theempire's jewels. Other glowing crystals were discovered in the same regionand hidden in the Empress Ekaterina's jewel vaults. Unknown to her, a lowlycaretaker of the royal vaults sold these glowing crystals at a high price toa visiting German Prince who had them cut and set into magnificent settingsfor his wife, the Princess. The Princess bejeweled herself with herAlexandrite ring, Alexandrite earrings, natural Alexandrite white gold,yellow gold, platinum; many an Alexandrite gemstone in glorious settings.The alexandrite variety displays a color change (alexandrite effect)dependent upon light, along with strong pleochroism. Alexandrite resultsfrom small scale replacement of aluminiu...

Topaz
2007-10-21 04:55:00
Topaz comes in many colors such as blue, yellow, pink, brown, green andclear. Orange-red "Imperial" topaz is rare. Blue Topaz is much lessexpensive than aquamarine and as such very popular. It looks beautiful inrings, bracelets, necklaces, and pendants. Topaz looks magnificent withalmost any outfit.Topaz is a common gemstone that has been used for centuries in jewelry. Itsgolden brown to yellow color is classic but is confused with the lessvaluable citrine, which is sold under the name topaz. The blue topaz that isoften confused with aquamarine is rarely natural and is produced byirradiating and then heating clear crystals. Topaz is the NovemberBirthstone. Topaz crystals can reach incredible size of several houndredpounds. Topaz can make very attractive mineral specimens due to their highluster, nice colors and well formed and multifaceted crystals.Topaz is a fluosilicate of aluminum, occurring in transparent yellow,yellow-brown, orange-brown, light to almost medium red, v...
More About: Topaz

Cat's Eye Gemstones
2007-10-20 04:58:00
A cat's eye like effect, known as 'chatoyancy', appears to move on thisstone's surface. Cat's eye is a gem variety of chrysoberyl.There are generally two varieties of cat's eye - the alexandrite cat's-eyeand the chrysoberyl cat's-eye, which is very popular in the Far East,particularly in Japan. The ideal colors of the chrysoberyl cat's-eye areyellowish-brown, which is called the honey colour, and the yellow-green,which is called the apple green colour. A very good cat's eye, apart frombeing of ideal color, should have a high degree of transparency and awell-defined unbroken ray. It should be free from any distracting inclusionsvisible to the unaided eye. The chrysoberyl cat's-eye is one of the mostbeautiful gemstones because of the "chatoyancy" or the eye effect.Varieties - Chrysoberyl and Alexandrite, Color change green to red,Chatoyant, Various shades of green, yellow, brownish, and reddish.History - Cat's eye has been rega...
More About: Tone , Gemstones , Stones

Star Gem Stones of Sri Lanka
2007-10-20 04:52:00
Star stones of the corundum family are either star sapphires or rubies. Whenlight falls on these stones, a star effect is visible (known as asterism).Sri Lanka is the best known source for star sapphires and star rubies. Starsapphires range in colour from grey to bluish-grey and from medium blue tomedium dark blue. The very slightly purplish medium dark blue is the bestcolour grade for star sapphires. Star rubies range from light pink-red topurple-red through deep purple-red. The intense red star rubies areextremely rare. A good quality star stone should have a high degree oftransparency and a well defined star with no weak or missing rays. It shouldbe reasonably clean and in the face-up position, no distracting inclusionsor cracks should be seen. There should be no excess weight at the bottom ofthe stone.Star sapphires and rubies are hard stones (9 on the Moh's scale), which cantake a high degree of polish and retain the shinefor a long time. Thespecial optical phenomenon of a ...
More About: Star , Tone , Stones

Ceylon Ruby
2007-10-20 04:45:00
Ruby is a red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide)in which the color is caused mainly by chromium. Its name originates fromruber or rubrum, Latin for red. Natural rubies are exceptionally rare,though artificial ones (sometimes called created ruby) can be manufacturedby the Verneuil process relatively inexpensively. Other varieties ofgem-quality corundum are called sapphires.Rubies are mined in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Greenland. They are mostoften found in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Madagascar and Thailand, thoughthey have also been found in the U.S. states of Montana, North Carolina andSouth Carolina. The Mogok Valley in Myanmar has produced some of the finestrubies. However in recent years very few good rubies have been found there.In central Myanmar the area of Mong Hsu also produces rubies. In 2002 rubieswere found in the Waseges River area of Kenya. Rubies are being mined atAudilamena in northeastern Madagascar. Sometimes spinels are found alongwith...
More About: Ruby

Ceylon Sapphires
2007-10-19 06:15:00
Sapphire is an aluminum oxide. Its colour varies from very light to dark blue to violetish-blue, bluish-green, yellow, slightly reddish-orange, brown, nearly opaque black, colorless, pink, violet and the pinkish-orange padparadscha (lotus flower).Ceylon sapphires are part of the Corundum gem family and are second only to diamonds in hardness. This strength makes them an excellent choice of jewelry because of their durability. The sapphires mined in Sri Lanka are known for the unique color they produce. Because Ceylon sapphires occur naturally, the color of the stone varies.Often, sapphires used in jewelry are heat-treated or given chemical diffusion to enhance their color, these enhancements are permanent.Sapphire is the birthstone of SeptemberTreatments - Sapphires can be x-rayed to intensify their colour. Natural sapphires undergo heat and diffusion treatments in Thailand. With the first method, sapphires with latent chemical components for good color are "ripened" to a desirable ...
More About: Blue Sapphire , Sapp

HK fair feels impact of Indian diamond market's liberalisation
2007-10-04 10:09:00
Diamond suppliers from all over the world are starting to reap the benefits of a liberalised Indian diamond market. According to exhibitors at the September Hong Kong Jewellery and Watch fair, which concluded on Saturday, the waiving of the import duty on diamonds entering India in May has brought in a big number of diamond buyers from India.
More About: Fair , Diamond , Libera , Eels

China's diamond jewellery market growing faster than anticipated
2007-10-04 10:08:00
As Christina Hudson, DTC marketing director for the Greater China, crunches the numbers, it is plain to see that mainland China's diamond jewellery market is still a world apart in terms of size and sophistication when compared with Hong Kong's. Despite the wide disparity between the two markets, Ms Hudson, as well as DTC director of international markets, David Rudlin, are convinced that mainland China is well on its way to become an equally strong market sooner than many may have thought.
More About: Market , Jewellery , Growing , Diamond , Well