March Birthstone: Aquamarine!

Anna Rasche March 10, 2015

The name "aquamarine" comes from the Latin term for sea water, an obvious reference to the stone’s striking blue color. Aquamarines belong to the beryl family of minerals, and huge crystals with excellent clarity can often be found.

Rectangular step-cut aquamarine, weighing approx 25 carats.

Aquamarines, like all gemstones known in ancient times, are believed to possess fun magical powers:

Sailors would carry aquamarines to ensure safe journeys across the sea.
Roman soldiers believed an aquamarine carved as a frog could make your enemy your friend.
In the ancient Near East, the gem was a symbol of everlasting youth.
Medieval nobility used aquamarine as an antidote against poison. As poisoning your rivals was a common leisure activity for Medieval royalty, aquamarine was a much sought after material.
Also thought to cure yawning and burping, because why not.

Happy March!

January Birthstone: Garnets!

Anna Rasche January 2, 2015

Garnets are a quite versatile gemstone. They occur in almost every color of the rainbow - from electric green to golden orange - though of course the varieties most are familiar with are a rich, purplish red in hue.

Victorian gold and garnet festoon necklace. Available at Gray & Davis.

Besides their alluring appearance, garnets have traditionally been ascribed with a number of apotropaic powers. Garnets help to ward off nightmares, wounds and diseases of the skin. If danger is present, a garnet will lose its luster. One who wears a garnet will be the recipient of love and loyalty, which is a warming thought for a cold winter month.

November Birthdays: Charming citrine and tempting topaz

Laura Hayner November 3, 2014

November birthdays are celebrated with topaz and citrine. The warm yellow-orange color palate is perfectly seasonal, and we find it well-compliments yellow gold settings.

Topaz has a tricky history. The range of color found in nature – from clear, to pale blues and pinks, to bright orange – meant that it was sometimes confused for other similarly colored gemstones. In fact, we now know that the gemstone mined on the Greek island of Topazius, for which Topaz is named, was actually chrysolite.

Georgian yellow topaz and 14k gold link bracelet, at Gray & Davis.

Citrine and topaz were also confused for each other hundreds of years ago. Now, with modern gemology tools, it’s easy for us to determine which is which in our antique pieces.

Victorian 14k gold and citrine ring with a carved intaglio, available in our online shop.

Victorian 15k gold and mixed cut citrine ring, at Gray & Davis.

Help us warmly celebrate our friends with November birthdays with this warm-hued gemstone!

October Opals

Laura Hayner October 16, 2014

Of all of the birthstones, the October Opal has the broadest range of color in a single gemstone. From the blazing orange of a fire opal, the dusky blue-green flash of a black opal, this silica mineraloid does not disappoint. We usually find them cut en cabochon, but finding a faceted opal is not unheard of.

The opal’s reputation has oscillated wildly across the ages. In Medieval times, the opal was believed to have protective qualities, that it possessed the powers of every gemstone whose color was visible in the opal. However, a Victorian novel depicted the stone as a villain’s talisman; public opinion and opal sales soured for decades after.

Now back in our good graces and in our jewelry, opals are an eye-catching way to add a play of color to your collection, and simple opal jewelry usually doesn’t break the bank. Today, most opals are mined in Australia, making it an ethical gemstone option, as well.