Gem Q&A

A doublet or triplet is a stone that is composed of two or more pieces. Often, a thin slice of a high-quality, expensive, or naturally...

The standard "Round Brilliant Cut" is the most popular style for diamonds and many other gems because it has been mathematically designed to reflect the...

Inclusions are like a gemstone’s "fingerprints." They are tiny bits of other minerals or liquids trapped inside the stone while it was growing underground millions...

"Ethical mining" is a growing movement in the industry. It involves mining practices that are fair to workers (providing safe conditions and fair wages) and...

Yes. While Diamonds are at the top (10), Amber is considered one of the softest, sitting at about 2 to 2.5 on the Mohs scale....

In the professional world of gem grading, "eye-clean" is a term used to describe a colored gemstone that has no visible inclusions (flaws) when viewed...

This is a beautiful optical effect seen in Moonstone. It appears as a billowy, milky-white, or soft blue light that seems to "glide" or float...

Technically, no. Pearls are classified as organic gemstones because they are created by living organisms (mollusks like oysters and mussels). When an irritant (like a...

Opals are unique because they don't have a single solid color. When light hits the internal structure of an opal—which consists of tiny silica spheres—the...

Many people confuse these terms, but they are very different: Hardness: Measures a stone's resistance to scratching (using the Mohs scale). Toughness: Measures a stone's...

Some gemstones, particularly diamonds, have a fascinating property where they emit visible light when exposed to invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays. If you place a diamond...

Similar to a Star Stone, the Cat's Eye effect (scientifically called Chatoyancy) is an optical illusion where a single, sharp band of light sweeps across...

Scientifically, there is no difference! Both Sapphire and Ruby are exact same mineral: Corundum. The only difference is the trace elements present during their formation....

Yes! While stones like quartz and sapphires are found on multiple continents, some are location-specific: Tanzanite: A vibrant blue-violet stone found only in a small...

A gemstone's sparkle is primarily determined by its Refractive Index (RI). This is a measurement of how much light bends when it enters the stone....