February Birthstone: The Amethyst

Amethyst Geode

Happy Birthday, February babies!

February’s birthstone is the amethyst. This beautiful stone is a brilliant, unique purple color found in all sorts of jewelry and art. Here are some little-known facts about the amethyst from Gold Unlimited to help you celebrate your birthday.


Amethyst Gemstone Close-Up
Leonardo Da Vinci believed amethyst had the ability to control evil thoughts and make men more shrewd in business matters.

Greek legend has it that the Amethyst gets its dark purple hue from the god Bacchus, god of wine. After he senselessly attacked a young maiden, the goddess Diana spared her life by turning her into a clear stone Regaining his senses and feeling instant remorse for his actions, Bacchus poured wine over the stone as a libation.

Amethyst Pendant

Designers celebrate amethyst for its regal color, affordability and wide tonal range.

Wallis Simpson, the infamous Duchess of Windsor whose relationship with Edward VI led to his abdication of the English crown, treasured her amethyst jewelry. Her Cartier bracelet and necklace are two of the most well-known amethyst pieces in the world. They were sold at auction in 2013.

Amethyst Stone

Whether it’s your birthday, Valentine’s day, or you just feel like treating yourself or a loved one to vintage and estate jewelry – visit Gold Unlimited today.

 

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November Birthstone – Yellow Topaz

Topaz Decorations

Happy Birthday, November babies! Celebrate yourself or a loved one with the official birthstone of November: yellow topaz! Here are five facts about this beautiful golden stone to help you celebrate another year of life:

1. It’s Recognized Across Cultures  

Many different cultures have recognized the power of Topaz to bring people strength and protect them from harm. The Greeks thought it increased strength and could make the wearer invisible, while the Egyptians wore it as an amulet to protect themselves from injury.

2. It’s Widespread

Most Topaz is mined in the country of Brazil, but Russia and Pakistan are other common places. To date, Topaz has been found in the United States, Germany,  Sri Lanka, Italy and Mexico.

Topaz

3. No One is Sure How it Got Its Name

Because it is found in so many different places and cultures, it is unclear where the name “topaz” originates. Some say it comes from the Sanskrit word “tapas,” which means fire. Others believe the Romans named the stone after an island in the Red Sea called “topazos,” where the stone was once supposedly found.

Topaz Ring

4.  More Than Just Mellow Yellow

Although yellow topaz is the official stone of November, topaz can be found in a variety of different colors. The rarest of these is a dark red color known as “Imperial Topaz.” Blue is another popular color, and represents December birthdays.

Topaz Decorations

5. It’s Durable

Topaz is ideal for daily wear because of its hardness on the mohs scale. It ranks at an 8, making it resistant to potential damages.

Looking for the perfect birthstone gift for your loved one? Stop by our store and explore our vintage jewelry options.

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September Birthstone: The Sapphire

Beautiful sapphire jewelry

Happy birthday, September babies! This month’s birthstone is the sapphire. Although it’s one of the most popular gemstones out there, there’s a lot that might surprise you about the sapphire. Read on and find out!

Blue not your color?

Although renowned for its brilliant blue color, the sapphire can actually come in a variety of hues, including pink, yellow and green. Sapphire gems can be found in almost every color, except red.

Colorful sapphires

Second Place.

Sapphires are the second hardest substance on the Mohs scale, used for scanners and spacecraft.

Spaceship control board.

 Trust me.

In the Middle Ages, the sapphire represented loyalty, and was meant to keep the wearer and the wearer’s loved ones safe from harm.

 

Beautiful sapphire jewelry

 Royal Approved.

A sapphire sits at the center of the most famous royal engagement ring- Princess Diana’s, that Kate Middleton now wears.

 

kate-middleton-enagement-ring
Photo courtesy of katemiddletonstyle.org

 What color is it?

A rare variety of color-shifting sapphire exists. This special gem is blue in natural light, but appears violet under artificial lighting.

For birthdays and all your special occasions, Gold Unlimited has the vintage and estate jewelry that you need.

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Sources:

http://www.bernardine.com/gemstones/sapphire.htm

http://www.gia.edu/sapphire#.V9LHYT4rJhE

http://www.wixonjewelers.com/education/gemstones/birthstones/

Learn More About July and August Birthstones

peridot stone august birthstone

Born in July or August? — HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

If you are, or if  your loved one is, celebrating a birthday in July or August, you have the privilege of calling ruby and peridot your birthstone, respectively. As July winds to a close and August moves closer, we at Gold Unlimited wanted to take some time to celebrate these precious stones. Here is a bit more about the history, origin, formation and current uses of ruby and peridot.

July Birthstone – Ruby

Rubies are said to represent everything from love to health and wisdom, passion, courage and emotion.

ruby earrings

Ruby Facts

  • Ruby is regarded as one of the most valuable gemstones. It increases in value based on color and quality.
  • The stone is commonly refered to as the” King of all gems.”
  • Its colors range from red hues with purplish and bluish red to orange-red tones.
  • The most valuable version is a full red colored stone with slight blue hue.
  • Rubies are thought to have healing powers – specifically to energize and balance the heard.
  • Ruby represents passion and love, and is often an engagement ring for couples.
  • Most rubies are under three carats.

 

 

August Birthstone – Peridot

One of the only birthstones that exist in a singular color – lime green – peridot is a beautifully unique stone with ancient records documenting its mining from as early as 1500 B.C.

peridot ring

Peridot Facts

  • Peridot has been said to bring magical powers and healing properties to its owner. It also protects against nightmares when given as a gift.
  • The stone is used as a 16th year anniversary gift.
  • Peridot is the national gem of Egypt.
  • The stone brings happiness and good cheer, attracts lovers and is said to aid in friendships.
  • The deeper the green shade, the less iron in the stone.
  • Peridot forms deep in the ground and comes to surface through from volcanic eruptions.
    • Hawaiian beaches have millions of tiny peridot. These are either too small for use or locked away in a rock that is too hard to mine.

 

Now that you’ve learned a bit about July and August’s birthstones, be sure to visit Gold Unlimited to select a birthday piece that’s right for you or your loved one. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Don’t worry. We will work with you to custom design a signature piece that’s just right.

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Sources

http://www.wixonjewelers.com/education/gemstones/birthstones/

http://www.jewelsforme.com/peridot-meaning

http://www.jewelsforme.com/ruby-meaning

https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/august-birthstones

https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/july-birthstones

http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/history-peridot.php

Learn About June Birthstones: Pearl And Alexandrite

string of pearls

Happy birthday to you!

If you are celebrating your birthday this month, you have the privilege of calling pearl and alexandrite your birthstones. Moonstone is also sometimes referred to as the birthstone of June, but it isn’t as widely accepted.

Here is a bit more about the history, origin, formation and current uses of pearl and alexandrite.

 

PEARL

pearls in oyster

Pearls are unique as they are the only gems from living sea creatures and require no faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty. In the early 1900s, the first successful commercial culturing of round saltwater pearls began.

Since the 1920s, cultured pearls have almost completely replaced natural pearls in the market. This process requires that shell beads are placed inside an oyster and the oyster is returned to the water. When the pearls are later harvested, the oyster has covered the bead with layers of nacre. Most cultured pearls are produced in Japan. Freshwater pearls are cultured in mussels, mostly in China.

The quality of pearls is judged by the orient, which is the soft iridescence caused by the refraction of light by the layers of nacre, and lustre, the reflectivity and shine of the surface.

pearl jewelry ring earrings

ALEXANDRITE

alexandrite stones

A relatively modern gem, Alexandrite, was first discovered in the emerald mines of Russia in the 1830s during the reign of its namesake, Czar Alexander II, and is extremely rare with chameleon-like qualities. Its color is a lovely green in both daylight and fluorescent light; it changes color to a purplish red in incandescent light. This unique optical characteristic makes it one of the most valuable gemstones of all.

Alexandrite is very scarce because of its chemical composition. It is basically a chrysoberyl, a mineral consisting of colourless or yellow transparent chrysoberyl, chrysoberyl cat’s eye and colour-changing alexandrite. It differs from other chrysoberyls in that it not only contains iron and titanium, but also chromium as a major impurity. It is this very element which accounts for the spectacular color change. Rarely, vanadium may also play a part.

alexandrite ring

 

Now that you’ve learned a bit about June’s birthstones, be sure to visit Gold Unlimited to select a birthday piece that’s right for you or your loved one. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Don’t worry. We will work with you to custom design a signature piece that’s just right.

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Sources

https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/june-birthstones

http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14

http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=127:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14

Seeing Green: May’s Birthstone Emerald

emerald stone

Green is the color of life and springtime, but the magnificent green of the emerald has also historically stood for harmony, vigor and love. The precious green gems have been regarded for their healing properties and lucky qualities as well. Fresh and vivid, the emerald was treasured by the Incas and Aztecs of South America, where the best emeralds are still found today.

If you or a loved one is fortunate enough to have been birthed in the month of May, emerald is the birthstone. Read a bit about the gorgeous stone, including its history, mining locations and current uses in modern jewelry settings.

 

Where Emeralds Are Found

emerald stone mining

Colombia continues to be at the top of the list in terms of the countries in which fine emeralds are found. Columbia has about 150 known deposits – the best known names are Muzo and Chivor, where emeralds were mined by the Incas in pre-Columbian times. Approximately three quarters of Colombia’s emerald production now comes from the Coscuez Mine.

Emeralds are also found in other countries such as Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Russia.

The History of Emeralds

The first emerald mines were in Egypt, dating from 330 BC into the 1700s. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald, and used it in her royal adornments. When the Spanish explorers invaded the new world, the Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spanish traded emeralds for precious metals, which opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to the emerald’s majesty.

Legend states that an emerald was one of the four precious stones given to by God to King Solomon, one of the stones said to have endowed the king with power over all creation.

The gemstone is now the birthstone for the month of may as well as the stone for twentieth and thirty-fifth wedding anniversaries.

 

Modern Emeralds

emerald ring gold unlimited
Emerald ring available at Gold Unlimited

Emeralds are used widely in a variety of jewelry settings including earrings, rings, bracelets and pendants. The durability, rarity and color of emeralds make them one of the most famous and valuable gemstones.

 

Now that you’ve learned a bit about May’s birthstone, emerald, be sure to visit Gold Unlimited to select a piece that’s right for you or your loved one. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Don’t worry. We will work with you to custom design a signature piece that’s just right.

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Sources

http://gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14

http://www.multicolour.com/emerald/how-are-emeralds-formed.html

http://www.gia.edu/emerald-history-lore

Garnets Galore: A Look at January’s Birthstone

garnet gemstone

The New Year is already here and with it brings celebrations in the form of glitter, confetti and garnet – the birthstone of January. Every Capricorn and Aquarius knows that their signature deep red gemstone is one of the most dramatic and eye-catching jewels in history.

Let’s start the New Year off right by diving into what makes these vivid stones so sought after so you can gift one to the January darling in your life.

 

ABOUT

Garnet gemstones are found most often in a warm red shade but can come in a variety of colors including green, yellow and fiery orange. Garnets are not tampered with chemically or otherwise to enhance their color or appearance which makes their rich pigment that much more beautiful.

The world of garnets is also rich in rarities like star garnets and stones whose color changes depending on the lighting. The stones have a good hardness and are generally insensitive and uncomplicated to work with. The high refractive index causes great brilliance in the stones, which are found all over the world.

garnet raw stones

HISTORY

These stones are common in antique jewelry for good reason. They have much history and have been used in jewelry for centuries, including in pieces found from early Egypt, Greek and Roman times. Long thought of as a travellers’ stone, garnet has also been associated with feelings of security, stability, compassion and self-confidence. Garnet is even linked to the root chakra in the traditional Hindu belief systems. It is said that Noah used a garnet lantern to help him steer his ark through the dark night.

 

HOW TO WEAR

Garnets are fabulous when featured in necklaces, pendants, brooches and bracelets. Vintage pieces offer beautifully unique settings in everything from hairpins to sizeable rings. Traditional garnet jewelry from the mines of Central Europe typically feature small, closely set stones that appear similar to pomegranate seeds.

More modern designs such as drilled garnet stacked earrings, square cut garnets or garnets set into smooth, sleek silver have been explored in more recent years. Garnets work well as the central focus in a piece or can be mixed with other gemstones of contrasting color to create an innovative look.

garnet diamond necklace

 

Now that you’ve learned a bit about January’s birthstone, garnet, be sure to visit Gold Unlimited to select a piece that’s right for you or your loved one. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Don’t worry. We will work with you to custom design a signature piece that’s just right.

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Sources

http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14

http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/garnet/garnet-info.php

Birthstone Spotlight: Zircon, Turquoise and Tanzanite of December

turquoise stones

December birthdays have claim to three gemstones: zircon, tanzanite and turquoise. Each of these gemstones carries a unique blue tone making them perfect winter birthstones. Zircon is the only of the three gems that can be found in a variety of colors, but blue and colorless are the overwhelming favorites.

Read a bit about each stone and pick up a breathtaking piece for the Sagittarius or Capricorn in your life.

ZIRCON

The most common color of zircon is dark brown, but it can also be found in black, gray, brown-red, orange, pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, white and colorless. The blue and white forms are usually enhanced by heat treatment.

Zircon is sometimes looked upon as an economical diamond substitute because it comes closer to resembling a diamond than any other natural gemstone, but it is actually quite a valuable gem on its own. Zircon has a strong luster and intense fire that gives it a genuinely eye-catching sparkle. One drawback of the gem is that their color darkens and their luster dulls upon prolonged exposure to sunlight.

zircon stones

TURQUOISE

Turquoise is a highly ornamental stone, regarded for its striking color. The stone is of a blue-green tone normally, but can range from sky blue to apple green.

It is an ancient gemstone that has been highly regarded in many of the world’s civilizations. The Persian and Native American peoples, for example, used turquoise as an ornamental gemstone. It is seen today in a great deal of the southwestern style jewelry of the U.S.

turquoise stones

TANZANITE

Named after the African state of Tanzania, the only place in the world where this gemstone is found, tanzanite was discovered in the late 1960s. The stone exhibits a rich blue color, surrounded by a fine hint of purple – stones that are medium dark in tone and slightly violet blue command premium prices.

Tanzanite was previously less expensive than sapphire and therefore purchased as an alternative to the stone. It has recently increased in popularity and is now valued more for its own beauty and brilliance.

TANZANITE stones

Look over our selection of precious gemstones and select a gift for a December-born loved one or pick up a unique and individual piece just in time for the holidays.

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