Colombia’s Treasure: Emeralds

Deep in the heart of the mountainous semitropical region of Colombia you’ll find the mines that produce what are considered to be some of the world’s finest emeralds, highly valued for their color, clarity and qual

The Legendary Beauty of Burma Rubies

Nestled deep in the mountainous region of the Mogok Valley in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, you’ll find the legendary mines that produced some of the world’s finest rub

Phenomenal Gemstones: A Precious Light Show

Looking at a gemstone and its inner life is always intriguing, but some gems have distinctive optical effects that are particularly fascinating such as stars or color changes.

Peridot: The Other Green Stone

What gemstone is buried deep in the earth’s mantle, falls to earth from meteorites and flows from lava in volcanoes? The answer is peridot, the luscious bright green gem that has a history dating back to the ancient Egyptians and was a favored gemstone for jewelry during the Victorian and Edwardian era

Tempting Topaz

Topaz, in its myriad colors, has been in and out of fashion since the days of the ancient Egyptians, who believed that it got its yellow color from the sun God Ra.

Himalayan Magic: Kashmir Sapphires

Deep within the Himalayan mountains of Kashmir, in a valley in the Zanskar range was a hidden treasure that was only discovered after a landslide revealed an area of pegmatitic rock dotted with blue crystals.