"As featured in D Magazine's Wedding Book 2004 and 2005, D Magazine, and Southern Vanity"

Gemstones

Jewelry without gemstones would be like cake without the icing, BORING!

Gemstones add character and personality.  Gemstones can be divided into, in descending order of value, two major categories:

1. The Big Four- Rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds. These four precious gemstones are the most popular and valuable in both historical means and contemporary ideals.

2. Semiprecious Gemstones, also known as the “Other” ones.

Semiprecious gemstones by far make up the largest percentage of all gemstones. They range greatly in value, color, quantity, and popularity.

Ruby Jewelry

Rubies share a common family with the other great stone, sapphires. The only difference between them is one is red, and the other one is not. Rubies are popular in all different shapes and styles. For ones that are valued for their rich red color, you will find them highly polished into a cabochon. Those with high clarity and reflectivity, they will be cut and prong set to showcase the flare. As a hard jewel who's durability is surpassed only by diamonds, the ruby is quite a tough stone suitable for everyday wear. A perfect ruby of top notch quality is more valuable and rare than even the best of colorless diamonds.

Emerald Jewelry

Being a premier jewel for thousands of years, emeralds have had their share of fame in history, such as being Cleopatra's most treasured stone. The Emerald is a soft and comes in different shades of green and are valued for color rather than flare, hence, the emerald cut. When choosing an emerald, color is the single most important factor. Generally speaking, the more vivid the green, the more valuable the gem. More inclusions are accepted for stones that are of an unbeatable saturated green color. Dark green can also be valued for their richness, which makes up for the loss in brightness.

Sapphire Jewelry

 Sapphires are not just blue! They actually come in a whole bunch of colors, all but red, because a red sapphire would be a ruby. Sapphire jewelry is most popular in blue since people already have other favorite gems in non-blue color categories. Places where good sapphires are found include Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Australia, and Montana. It's the birthstone for September, and recommended for the 5th, 23rd, and 45th wedding anniversaries. The most favorable color for a sapphire is the vivid, intense, medium blue that should hold it's hue under all different types of light.

Birth Stones