May25

May Blog

  May’s birthstone is Emerald, that fabulous beryl gemstone, named from the Greek for ‘green’.  It is  one of the original ‘precious gemstones’, famed for its rich green colour, first mined in Egypt from 330BC, but nowadays there are two main sources – Columbia and Zambia. The availability of fine quality emeralds is limited and treatments such as glass filling are widespread, in order to produce enough commercially viable stones. Legend has it that emeralds have the power to make the wearer more intelligent and quick-witted.  It was once also believed to cure diseases such as malaria and cholera.  Its...
  February Blog Amethyst is the birthstone this month, famed for its rich purple tones, this semi precious gemstone has a long history. It was named by the Greeks, from the word for ‘intoxication’, as they believed the colour to be like wine or grapes. The Crown jewels are glittering with deep purple African amethysts, but thanks to various heat treatments, amethysts are also now available in a beautiful pale sage green and pink too, which opens up a wide colour range of natural gemstones at an affordable price.   Purple amethyst looks great worn with grey and pinks, whilst...