GEMSTONES
WHAT ARE GEMSTONES
Gemstones are beautiful precious stones that add stylish luxury to any piece of jewellery.
Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies, Tanzanite and Sapphires are all types of gemstones. Formed spontaneously in nature, gemstones are created without any human interference.
These precious stones come in a spectrum of colours, from rich ruby reds to tantalizing greens and sparkling sea blues.
As with diamonds, we can evaluate the cut, colour, clarity and carat weight of your gemstone to advise you of its true worth. Our specialist jewellers can advise you of the best setting to display the precious stone, and the right colour and mounting to enhance its natural beauty.
The history, mystery and romance of these natural minerals date back as long as the human experience. In ancient times they were worn as amulets to ward off evil spirits and were considered to embody mystical powers. As society became more sophisticated, they became the ultimate symbols of wealth and status.
Victorians used gemstones as a way to spell out names and proclamations of love. One beautiful and unique way to wear a gemstone is to use two different stones which represent yours and your partner’s initials.
At Mason Carter, we can advise on the most beautiful stone to suit your budget. Explore our world of gemstones below and then come and speak to us about your dream jewellery design.
SAPPHIRES
The most rare and valuable Sapphire stones boast an intense royal blue colour, these gemstones are often cut in an oval or cushion shape, and are mined in Burma.
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However, there are more common smaller stones from Australia, formed from the mineral Corundum, these stones come in a stunning array of colours from a midnight blue to fiery orange.
EMERALDS
The colour of an Emerald is the most influential factor, the more vivid the green, then the more precious the stone.
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These gemstones can be light or dark green, bright green or leaf green. The most famous of these stones are the ones from Sandawana in Zimbabwe, known for their strong colour, sometimes with a bluish green tinge.
The most common cut for an Emerald is the step or trap cut (also known as the emerald cut). Antique stones are found with hexagon, step cuts, cabochon cuts or pear shapes with holes in them, which are often used as pendants.
RUBIES
Rubies, often referred to as the stone of desire, are mesmerising gemstones which vary in colour from intense reds to opaque oranges.
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Mainly sourced from Thailand, rubies are a pleochrioc stone, which means that different colours can be seen when viewing the stone from different angles.
The price for a ruby can vary greatly, some of the highest quality, best coloured and most transparent rubies can be just as valuable as diamonds, whereas the price falls considerably for stones of less than a carat, which are darker in colour.
TANZANITE
Tanzanite, named after its country of origin, Tanzania, is usually cut in a round or oval shape.
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The rarity and attractive colour of this precious gemstone makes it a valuable and sought after stone.
Tanzanite is the blue variety of zoizite, however when viewing this gem from different angles, the stone can portray a variety of colours, from its characteristic rich blue to displaying flashes of red, green, yellow or orange.
Deep blue stones are the most valuable, whereas lighter lavender stones are lower in price.
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