As passions ignite this month, a jewelry gift featuring a red gemstone is a token of love that can be enjoyed every day. While seen mostly in fashion jewelry, red gemstones are showing up as an option for the primary stone in engagement rings. Celebrities like Jessica Simpson, who sports a 5-carat ruby engagement ring, have been influential in bringing gemstones to the forefront of bridal trends. In addition to rubies, garnets and red diamonds, which we discussed yesterday, the following gemstones are more options for those looking to celebrate this Valentine’s Day with a gift of a spectacular red gem.

Tourmaline
Tourmaline comes in more colors than any other gemstone, but Rubellite is the trade name for tourmaline in the pink to red color range. Rubellites are widely available and come in larger sizes making them a favorite choice for contemporary jewelry. Tourmaline has a hardness of 7 to 7.5, so they are durable enough for daily wear.

Red Spinel
Often confused for rubies, red spinel is a brilliant gemstone sought after for its hardness and intensity of color. Spinel is an uncommon gemstone that is surprisingly affordable. Many famous “rubies” in royal jewel collections around the world are actually spinels. With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, spinel is a durable choice for daily wear.

Opal
Opals are usually known for their iridescent “play-of-color” but occasionally you’ll find the unique shifting of color in a fire opal. The top color for fire opal is usually red-orange to bright red, . Opals are a softer gemstone with a hardness of 5 to 6.5, so special care should be taken.

Based on the selection of gemstones above, which red gemstone would you most like to gift this February?

The post Red Gemstone Buying Guide – Part 2 appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Tourmaline, the October birthstone, comes in almost every color of the rainbow. The most popular varieties range from rich reds, pinks and peach colors, to emerald greens and yellows, to blues and violets. Tourmaline gems grow in elongated crystals, so most are cut into long rectangular shapes known as “emerald cuts.” “Bi-color” and “Parti-colored” exhibit two or more colors in a single gem, such as watermelon (green on the outside and pink inside) and liddicoatite.

Tourmaline gems grow in elongated crystals, so are most often cut into long rectangular shapes known as “emerald cuts.”

Paraíba tourmaline, named after the place where it was first found in Brazil, is a vividly saturated green to blue or violet copper-bearing elbaite tourmaline. Rubellite refers to vivid pink to red elbaite tourmaline. Indicolite refers to the blue variety. Chrome tourmaline refers to vibrant green tourmaline.

5.31-carat rubellite tourmaline ring with diamonds set in platinum. Courtesy of Richard Krementz Gemstones.

Not surprisingly, this gemstone’s name is derived from the Sinhalese word “turmali,” which means “mixed colors.” Perhaps this is why ancient mystics believed tourmaline could encourage artistic intuition; it has the palette to express every mood. Wearing October’s birthstone is believed to bring strength.

Tourmaline’s name comes from the Sinhalese word turmali, which means “mixed,”. Tourmaline comes in more combinations of colors than any other gemstone variety found in nature.

Check out tourmaline in the GIA Celebrates Birthstones exhibit at the GIA Carlsbad campus. Schedule a free tour 24 hours in advance by contacting guestservices@gia.edu; calling 800-421-7250, ext. 4116 or 760-603-4116; or visiting www.gia.edu.

The post GIA Celebrates Birthstones –Tourmaline, the Chameleon of Gemstones appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

October babies have the pleasure of enjoying two birthstones to commemorate their birthdays –tourmalines and opals. This post is all about the October birthstone, tourmalines.

The word tourmaline comes from Sinhalese word turmali, which means “mixed.” Tourmalines exist in more colors and color combinations than any other gemstone in the world. Perhaps this is why ancient mystics believed tourmaline could inspire artistic expression – it has a color palette for every mood. What color tourmaline best fits your mood?

Pink and green tourmalines are widely available and affordable. More expensive and rare tourmalines are blue indicolite, red rubellite, Paraiba (neon blues to greens) and an intense green tourmaline found in Kenya and Tanzania called the chrome tourmaline. Tourmalines are most commonly found in Brazil, but also through Africa, the Middle East, and even in California and Maine in the United States.

Tourmalines grow in long, pencil-like crystals so are more commonly cut into an emerald shape stone. Tourmaline ranks 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, which is relatively hard and suitable to everyday wear. How do you clean a tourmaline? Easy! Clean with mild dish soap and a toothbrush, gently scrubbing where dust might collect. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner with Rubellite and Paraiba tourmalines.

Do you own a tourmaline or want to buy one for a October birthday gift or special moment? Find the GIA gemstone buying guide here: Gemstone Buying Guide.

The post October Birthstone: All About the Tourmaline appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.