History of Gemstones
Number of Articles: 144
(What's the Story) Mourning Jewelry
Jewelry has long been associated with the dead and black gemstone mourning jewelry such as pendants and rings made popular in Victorian England, honored the dead
A Few Famous Fine Rubies - Rosser Reeves, S...
The Sunrise Ruby is one of the finest and most expensive rubies in the world, along with the Rosser Reeves Ruby, the DeLong Star ruby and more. Learn about famous...
A Few Famous Pearl Necklaces
Pearl gemstones are treasured and pearl necklaces have a timeless appeal. Read about pearl necklaces that have been worn by royalty, celebrities and jewelry lovers
Achaemenid Gold Jewelry
The Achaemenid Empire was one of the greatest ancient civilizations and artifacts show that the Achaemenids used jewelry
Afghanistan, Ancient Eurasian Gemstone Source
Afghanistan is a source for gems, particularly lapis lazuli from Badakhshan, emerald from the Panjshir Valley and ruby from Jegdalek
All Choked Up: Royal Colored Gemstone Chokers
Precious gemstone chokers are dramatic and beautiful jewelry items that have been worn by elegant members of royalty from Princess Diana to the Maharani of Patiala
Amazing Aztec Artistry
The Aztecs are known for using gold to produce beautiful artifacts and they also created exquisite jewelry and art with colored gems, such as jade, turquoise and ...
Amazonian Women and Their Adornments
Strong female figures who used gems and jewelry as decorations have existed for centuries, some of these women were called Amazons and adorned themselves with jewels
America's Jewelry Heist of the Century
3 Americans stole gems from the American Museum of Natural History's Morgan-Tiffany jewel collection in the 1964 'Jewel Heist of the Century'. 14 gems are still m...
Ancient Armlets, Armrings and Armbands
Gold, silver and gemstone armlets have been worn for thousands of years by people all over the world, such as the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Asians and the Celts
Ancient Egyptian Gemstone Jewelry
What jewelry did the ancient Egyptians wear? What did it look like? What gem stones did they use and why? Find out here
Ancient Greek Gemstone Jewelry
What jewelry did the ancient Greeks wear and what did it look like? What gem stones did they use and why? Find out here
Ancient Roman Gemstone Jewelry
Read all about Ancient Roman Gem Stone Jewelry; where it was found and how it was used throughout history. Archeological finds of gemstones and jewelry
Turquoise has been an important gemstone in many cultures for thousands of years. What makes turquoise so special?
Art Deco Jewelry; Modernity in Metal: Gemst...
Art Deco gemstone jewelry followed Art Nouveau and reached its peak during the Jazz Age. Art Deco is characterized by vertical lines, symmetry and contrasting colors
Art Nouveau Jewelry; Nature Against the Mac...
Art Nouveau is one of the most exciting movements with regard to gemstone jewelry and saw the creation of some of the greatest jewelry, including the work of Lalique
Avant-Garde Gemstone Jewelry
Avant-garde jewelry designs are unique, innovative or daring, such as gemstone jewelry which is unconventional or artistic
Biggest Star Sapphire?
The case of the alleged largest star sapphire in the world was not quite as it seemed.
Have you ever wondered where birthstones come from? Read this article to learn more about birthstone origins.
Bismarck Sapphire Necklace
The Bismarck Sapphire Necklace is one of the most famous pieces of jewelry, owned by Countess Mona von Bismarck and designed by Cartier, it contains Ceylon sapphires
Bohemian Jewelry History: About Bohemian Ga...
Bohemia was a kingdom in Central Europe and an important source of fine pyrope garnet. Bohemian garnet jewelry has been made for centuries in the Czech Republic -...
Bonfire Night: 5th of November
The Gun Powder Plot of 1605. Guy Fawkes, James the 1st and the Stuart Sapphire
Breastplates and Bib Necklaces
Breastplates have been worn since ancient times, but have recently come back into fashion in the form of breastplate necklaces. These can be delicate and dainty o...
Bridal Jewelry Around the World
Bridal jewelry differs across cultures and regions, some brides wear weddings bands and tiaras, others are crowned, and some wear large amounts of silver or gold.
Buy December Birthstones and Zodiac Gems Sa...
Read about Gems associated with December including the Zodiac signs Sagittarius and Capricorn: Blue Zircon, Blue Topaz, Tanzanite, Turquoise, Topaz, Amethyst...
Buy November Birthstones - Zodiac - Planeta...
Read about the Gemstones associated with November: Topaz, Citrine, Emerald, Morganite, Aquamarine, Obsidian, Ruby, Garnet, Amethyst, Sapphire, and Turquoise.
Campbell Bridges Tragedy
Campbell Bridges discovered tsavorite in 1967. After decades of mining in Kenya, he was brutally murdered over his mining rights
The Celts loved jewelry, as evidenced by archeological discoveries, and the Celtic style lives on in modern gemstone jewelry, such as Celtic crosses, torcs and rings
Charm bracelets are jewelry items that have gemstones or other trinkets attached, and tell the story of the wearer's life. Read about charm bracelet history and s...
Claddagh rings are traditional Irish rings with two hands clasping a heart over a crown. These rings come from Claddagh in Galway, but have spread around the world
Crown Jewels of Iran
The Imperial Crown Jewels of Iran are a Persian collection of historical gemstones and jewelry which include jewel-encrusted thrones, crowns, tiaras, swords and s...
Dr. Eduard Gubelin
Dr. Eduard Gubelin can fairly be called the father of modern gemology. His pioneering study of gemstone inclusions has made it possible to determine gemstone origin.
Engagement Ring Superstitions
There are a lot of superstitions and beliefs attached to engagement rings, the gemstones used, when they are bought, who they are worn by and whether they have be...
Estate, Antique and Vintage Jewelry
Estate jewelry, antique jewelry and vintage jewelry are all pre-owned jewelry, but what is the difference between them?
Exquisite Emerald Tiaras
Tiaras owned by queens and princesses are among the most exquisite gemstone jewelry in the world, read about three famous emerald and diamond tiaras owned by royalty
Famous Crown Jewels: The Sancy Diamond
The Sancy Diamond, or Stone is a pale, natural yellow diamond of 55.23 carats which has an interesting cut and history, read the story of the Sancy's various adve...
Famous Jewels: Phenomenal Gemstone Stars
Famous star sapphires and rubies are highly prized due to their asterism. Famous star gems include the Black Star of Queensland, the largest gem quality star sapp...
Famous Mothers and Jewels
For Mother's Day 2017, 3 famous moms and their jewels, Beyonce and her $12 million necklace, Princess Diana and her blue sapphire and Jackie O and her 40-carat di...
Before the development of techniques to facet gemstones, the most valuable gems were sapphires, rubies and emeralds, not diamonds.
Fertility Gems, Jewelry and Charms
Since ancient times, gemstones have been used in fertility charms and jewelry all over the world. Beneficial properties thought to help fertility are held by some...
Friedrich Mohs invented the Mohs scale of gemstone hardness when he was hired to catalog a large mineral collection.
Gem Names and Gem Origin
The controversy over the use of the term Paraiba Tourmaline shows that variety names and gem origin are not the same
Anklets have been worn for centuries in various countries around the world, and are made from gold, silver, fabric and can be plain or embellished with colored gems
Gemstone Jewelry: About Gold Alloys for Jew...
Gold for gemstone jewelry ranges in purity, which is shown as karats. Gold alloys can found in yellow gold, rose gold, black gold and white gold, learn more about...
Gemstone Traditions and Colors: Gemstone In...
Gemstone colors have traditional associations with character traits and emotions.
Gemstones of the Rich and Famous
What gem stones do the rich and famous wear? The amazing history and fabulous prices of the world?s most famous gems!
Goldrushes have shaped the world as we know it, causing excitement, great human migrations and founding cities and empires
Golden Treasure of Nimrud
The ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in the Tigris Valley of Northern Iraq contained a treasure trove of golden artifacts that form part of the Bagdad Museum colle...
Goth Jewelry - Dark Crystals
Goth style and jewelry has developed from the Goth rock subgenre of music, and typical gothic jewelry includes choker necklaces, black metal and gems and filigree...
Hand Jewelry; Pretty Palm Bracelets
Hand or palm bracelets are bracelets worn on the hands and are various styles. Palm bracelets may be silver, gold and embellished with beautiful colored gemstones
Hans Stern - Famous Brazilian Jeweler
Hans Stern, founder of H. Stern, learned the gemstone business literally from the ground up.
Harry Winston - Well Known American Jewelers
Harry Winston became one of the most famous jewelers in America through a combination of shrewd business and good taste.
History and Guide to Buying Tennis Bracelets
Tennis bracelets are white diamond or colored gemstone in-line eternity bracelets that are lightweight, flexible and durable, their sporty name comes from Chris E...
History of Briolettes
The briolette, a pear-shaped gemstone with geometric facets, is one of the oldest styles of cut gems.
History of Gemstones
The earliest gemstones include amber, turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli and malachite. These materials were easy to find and easy to work.
History of Spinel
Once known as Balas Ruby, the most famous spinel came from Badakshan in Afghanistan.
History of the Cushion Cut
In the 19th century, the cushion cut was the dominant gemstone style. Now it's undergoing a revival.
How Tourmaline Led the Colored Gemstone Market
G.F. Kunz introduced Tiffanys to tourmaline and created the modern market for colored gemstones
Idar-Oberstein; German Gemstone History
Idar-Obserstein has a history of mining and gem-cutting dating back hundreds of years
Islamic and Hindu Jyotish Gemstones: Aqiq, ...
Five important Islamic Gemstones: Aqiq, Yaqut, Feruz, Hadid Theen Dur-e-Najaf, or Jyotish carnelian, ruby, turquoise, hematite and quartz. Buy Islamic and Jyotish...
J.P. Morgan - History
J.P. Morgan, a famous American financier, assembled some of the greatest gemstone collections in the world.
Jackie O's Jewelry
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was admired for her style, and owned some beautiful jewels, including pearl necklaces, an emerald engagement ring and a gem cabochon ne...
Jacob the Jeweler
As jeweler to the new generation of celebrities, Jacob the Jeweler didn't ask where the money came from.
Japan and Jewelry
The history of Japanese gemstone jewelry tells the story of both beautiful and practical adornments, and includes items like ornate swords, kanzashi, inro and ojimi
Tavernier was one of the great travellers of the 17th century, and brought many famous gems from India to Europe.
Jewelry Tassels: Fringe Benefits
The trend for tassels in jewelry was popular in the 1920s and recently. Read about tasseled jewelry and how tassels embellish neklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings
Jewels of the Iron Lady
The late Baroness Margaret Thatcher was the first British female Prime Minister. Let's looks at her life and jewelry
Jewels of the Maharajah of Patiala
The Patiala Necklace and the Patiala Choker are just two of the fabulous jewels that were made for the Maharajah of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh, who ruled the Sikh k...
Queen Rania of Jordan said there is more to girls than just 'bows and tiaras' and her mother, Queen Noor, promoted projects such as the Wadi Musa Silver Jewelry P...
King Tutankhamun's Tomb of Treasures
The tomb of boy king, Tutankhamun, discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, contained priceless treasures, including gemstones, jewelry and gold, such as a ...
Lapis Lazuli: Stone of the Ancients
Lapis, the original blue gemstone of antiquity, has a long and romantic history. It has been mined continuously in Afghanistan for over 6,000 years.
Laurence Graff: Famous Iconic Jewelers
Graff buys the finest diamonds and colored gems at the highest prices, and still he manages to make big money. Read about this famous jeweler who has earned his f...
Lesedi La Rona; Light of Botswana
The 1,109-ct Lesedi la Rona is the largest gem-quality rough diamond in existence and second-largest gem-quality diamond ever found. It was unearthed in Botswana
Maori Jade Jewelry
The Maori people of New Zealand have long revered pounamu, or greenstone, which is nephrite jade and serpentine. Read about traditional Maori greenstone jewelry
May and Ancient Greek Jewelry
May is thought to be named after the Greek goddess Maia, so for Mother's Day, we take a look at some beautiful ancient Greek jewelry, such as wreaths, rings and a...
Met Gala 2015 Gems
Red Carpet jewelry always amazes, and the 2015 Met Gala was a feast for the eyes, with elaborate headdresses decorated with gemstones, gem-embellished gowns and more
Mikimoto Kokichi - Legendary Jeweler and In...
Mikimoto Kokichi, founder of the Mikimoto Pearl Company was the first person to create cultured pearls, read about the famous pearl jewelry brand, Mikimoto
Moonstone Lore & Legend
Moonstone gemstones are believed to possess healing properties and beliefs, which have caused it to accumulate lore and romance.
Moussaieff Jewelers Information: Gemstone J...
Among the world's great jewelers, Moussaieff of London has one of the longest family traditions; well-known for fine jewelry, precious gems and stunning custom je...
Native American Navajo Tribal Jewelry
The Navajo tribe of Southwestern America have perfected the art of native American silver jewelry making over centuries, using turquoise, coral and other gemstones
Nine Gems Jewelry: Navaratna
The nine sacred navarata gems linked to planetary activity are auspicious when worn in jewelry
Origin of Gemstone Names
How do new gemstones get their names? Sometimes there is contention when it comes time to name a new mineral.
Precious & Semi-Precious Gemstone History, ...
The well known distinction between precious and semi-precious gems is often misunderstood. We sort out the myth from the reality in precious stone vs semi-precious
Precious Masks: Gemstone Masks and Ancient ...
Gemstone masks have been made for thousands of years by ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Mesoamericans and Eastern cultures, from materials such as turquoise, jade and ...
Prehistoric Jewelry: Stone Age Ornaments
Before the Bronze Age and development of metal jewelry, other materials were used by prehistoric humans for decorative purposes. Learn about prehistoric jewelry f...
Prince's Purple Reign of Style
Prince had a unique sound and style; he was fond of bling and was never afraid to experiment with accessories. We take a look back at his purple reign
Protective Eye Amulets
Eye amulets or amulets that ward off the evil eye are popular in some cultures, these can look like a hand or an eye. They can be made from metal, gems or glass
Pukhraj Yellow Sapphire
Pukhraj is the Hindi name for yellow sapphire, which has a special place in Vedic astrology
Punk Style and Jewelry (Is Not Dead)
Punk style and jewelry emerged in the 1970s, beginning with Vivienne Westwood and the Sex Pistols, and to this day, fashion designers incorporate punk into their ...
Queen Elizabeth I, Queen of Pearls
Queen Elizabeth I was one of the greatest British monarchs, who was known for wearing elaborate costumes including a lot of gemstone jewelry embellished with pearls
Rocks for Rappers; Cool as Ice
Bling is the ice cool jewels worn by rappers, including grills, chains, pinky rings and oversized pendants, some of which are huge and worth incredible amounts of...
Rocks for Rockers Part II
During the journey of rock and roll, glam rock and the subgenre of heavy metal emerged, which adopted jewelry motifs such as crosses, chains, skulls, guns and roses
Royal Colored Gemstone Engagement Rings: Ge...
Colored gemstone engagement rings with emerald, ruby, orange diamond and sapphire have been made popular by trend setters such as members of royalty all over the ...
Shipley and the GIA
Robert M. Shipley was a jeweler who realized his knowledge of diamonds was incomplete. He went on to found the Gemological Institute of America.
Spanish Inquisition Necklace
The Spanish Inquisition Necklace is one of the most famous pieces of jewelry, read the story of the famous necklace Harry Winston added to the Court of Jewels Col...
Sri Lanka's Gem and Jewelry History
Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is one of the most important places in the world with regard to gems and jewelry, Ceylon is a rich source for gemstones with a long hi...
Star Diopside the Phenomenal Black Star of ...
Star diopside is known in the gem trade as the Black Star of India. Not as well known as chrome diopside, but special and unique with asterism chatoyancy - GemSelect
Story of the Agra Diamond
The provenance of the Agra Diamond is shrouded in mystery. One of the most famous jewels of India, it somehow found its way to London in the late 1900's.
Story of the Timur Ruby
The Timur Ruby, over 350 carats, was believed to be the largest ruby in the world. It is actually a red spinel.
The Bahia Emerald
The Bahia Emerald is a 341 kg piece of rough emerald which was mined from Bahia, Brazil, and traveled from the source to the USA
The Black Prince's Ruby
The Black Prince's Ruby is one of the most famous gemstones in the world and belongs to the British Crown Jewels, despite its name, it is actually a fine red spin...
The Carmen Lucia Ruby
The Carmen Lucia Ruby is a rare Mogok 23.1 carat ruby from Burma. It is one of the largest faceted rubies in the world and was donated to the Smithsonian by Peter...
The Colored Jewels of Grace Kelly - Princes...
Grace Kelly, or Princess Grace of Monaco was a fashion icon who wore some enviable gemstone jewelry items. Read about some of the jewels of H.S.H Grace of Monaco
The Curse of the Black Orlov Diamond
The Curse of the Black Orlov, Its journey from India to the Oscars and Desperate Housewives
The Dom Pedro Aquamarine, Making Waves
The Dom Pedro Aquamarine is the largest faceted aquamarine in the world and took 10 months to sculpt into a gemstone masterpiece by fantasy lapidarist, Bernd Muns...
The Egyptian Jewels of King Farouk; Farouki...
King Farouk, the last reigning adult king of Egypt had a fabulous collection of gems and jewelry. King Farouk enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and had a fondness for food
The Gems and Jewelry of Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Taylor owned one of the most fabulous collections of gemstone jewelry, which included La Peregrina Pearl
The Hatton Garden Jewelry Heist: Stolen Gem...
The contents of many safety deposit boxes, including valuable gemstones and jewelry were stolen from a vault in London in the Hatton Garden Jewelry Heist. Learn m...
The Heart of the Ocean Sapphire Necklace Wi...
The Heart of the Ocean Blue Gemstone Necklace was made famous by the movie 'Titanic', but was there really such a necklace onboard the Titanic and if so where is ...
The Hesse Crown Jewelry Heist
The Hesse crown jewelry heist in which the German Crown Jewels were stolen by American soldiers, occurred during the Second World War when priceless gems were taken
The History of Birthstones
Gemstones have been assigned to signs of the zodiac for centuries. But the idea of wearing your birthstone is a recent one.
The History of Cocktail Rings
Cocktail rings were statement rings worn during the US prohibition era of the 1920s when ladies would wear glamorous Art Deco cocktail rings to illegal drinking p...
The History of Thai Silver Jewelry
The silver jewelry of Northern Thailand is finely crafted and prized for its high purity. Read about the history of Northern Thai silver craft and handcrafted silver
The Hope Gemstone
Many have heard of the Hope Diamond, and maybe the Hope Pearl, but not so many know of the Hope Spinel owned by the same collector
The Indian Jewels of the Nizams of Hyderabad
The Nizams ruled Hyderabad, India, from the early 18th century until the mid 20th century and owned an astounding collection of jewels, including the Jacob Diamond
The Jewels of Lily Safra
Lily Safra, one of the wealthiest people in the world, acquired some of the most beautiful gems and jewelry over the years
The Jewels of Sita Devi of Baroda; Indian W...
Sita Devi of Baroda was the daughter of the Maharaja of Pithapuram and was known as the Indian Wallis Simpson because of her priceless collection of gemstone jewelry
The Jewels of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Wi...
Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, was an American socialite with a great jewel collection. She married King Edward VIII, who renounced the throne for his fiance
The Joy of Jade Jewelry
Jade gemstone jewelry is available in various forms and colors, it has been prized by people all over the world, such as the ancient Chinese and Maoris for centuries
The King of Bling
The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, had a large collection of gemstone jewelry with colored stones such as tiger's eye, opal, turquoise, citrine and sapphire
The King of Pop's Rocks
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, lived a lavish lifestyle, gifted jewels to Elizabeth Taylor, and was known for wearing elaborate jewel-encrusted stage costumes
The Legend of the Koh-I-Noor
The Legend of the Koh-I-Noor, read all facts and stories about this famous diamond
The Life and Jewels of Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos is known for her shoes, but she also owned amazing jewelry, much of which was seized and stored in a bank vault
The Oldest Jewelry in the World
The oldest jewelry in the world is thought to be Nassarius shell beads found in Skhul Cave in Israel, read more about these ancient artifacts and other, similar ones
The Peacock Throne
The Peacock Throne was made in celebration of Shah Jahan's rule. It was constructed in Delhi and glittered with precious jewels, including the huge Koh-I-Noor Dia...
The Pearls of America
The Great Pearl Farms of Tennessee and the American history of cultured Pearls
The Queen of Pop's Rocks
The Queen of Pop knows how to wear her rocks. Learn about Madonna's jewelry and how her style has transformed over the years, throughout her successful pop career
The Ring of the Fisherman
The Ring of the Fisherman is an ecclesiastic ring worn by the Pope. It is usually engraved with an image of St Peter, the Fisher of Men and each pope has a new on...
The Story of La Peregrina
The fascinating story of the Peregrina Pearl. Its famous owners from Henry VIII?s daughter to Elizabeth Taylor
The Story of the Sacred Emerald Buddha
A remarkably large emerald carving made from natural rough emerald crystal, the Sacred Emerald Buddha is one of the largest emerald carvings in the world
The Taj Mahal Jewels
The Mughal rulers of India collected some of the world's most beautiful gemstones, including the Koh-I-Noor Diamond, the Taj Mahal Emerald and the Taj Mahal Diamond
The Tsars and Their Jewels
The Russian Tsars ruled for hundreds of years until the Russian Revolution, and the opulent lifestyle of the Romanov family is reflected in their gems and jewels
Tibetan Gemstone Jewelry
Tibetan jewelry is so cool, unique and very stylish. It is very hip at the moment and everyone wants some! See for yourself why everyone loves this stylish jewelry
Tiffany and Company
Iconic American jewelry retailer, Tiffany & Co. was founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and is known all over the world. Tiffany & Co. is known for the Tiffany Diamond
Toe Rings - Jewelry for the Feet
Toe rings are jewelry items worn on the feet everywhere. Toe rings are made from various metals and gemstones, and are traditional symbols of marriage for Hindu l...
Treasure of the Tombs of Ur
The Royal Tombs At Ur, from the ancient Mesopotamian civilization of Sumer, which existed in what is now Southern Iraq, over 5000 years ago, contained golden trea...
Tremendous Topaz - Largest Faceted Gemstone...
The largest faceted gemstone in the world is a golden topaz gem. Learn more about other tremendous topaz gemstones which form in enormous crystals in Minas Gerais
Uniqueness of Gold
Gold has been treasured for centuries not only for its color and rarity, but also for its unique chemical properties
Why are Some Gems Cut as Cabochons?
What are gemstone cabochons, and why are some gemstones cut as cabochons and others as faceted gems?
Why Buy Mother of Pearl Jewelry
Mother-of-pearl has been used in inlay and for buttons for many years and this iridescent, nacreous material makes beautiful jewelry, especially brooches and cameos
William Earl Hidden
Hidden was a leading American mineralogist in the 19th century, and the gemstone hiddenite was named in his honor.
World's Largest Diamond
The Golden Jubilee, a 545 carat yellow brown diamond, is the largest faceted diamond in the world.
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