Gemstone Guides
Every Journal story filed under gemstone guides — guides, comparisons and care notes from the people who make the rings.
Emerald Meaning: Symbolism, History, and the Gemology Behind the Green
The green of growing things. What emerald has symbolized for six thousand years —...
Opal Meaning: Symbolism, History and What Each Color Stands For
Opal has stood for hope, purity and truth for two thousand years. This guide...
Alexandrite Meaning: Symbolism, History & the Color-Change Effect
Alexandrite means transformation, and the symbolism is literal — green by day, red by lamplight. Its 1830 Russian discovery, why the color...
Aquamarine Meaning: Symbolism, History & Properties
What aquamarine means and where the symbolism came from — the Latin name, the documented medieval lore, why it is the same...
Amethyst Meaning: Symbolism, History & Spiritual Properties
What amethyst really means — the Greek root, the Bacchus myth that was actually invented in 1576, bishops' rings and the Apostles...
Sapphire Stone: The Complete Guide to Colors, Quality, Origins, Value and Care
What sapphire is, how trace elements create every color, how blue is graded, Kashmir to Montana origins, heat treatment and lab-grown, what...
Emerald Stone: The Complete Guide to Color, Clarity, Value, Origins and Care
What emerald is, why its green is rare, the jardin and clarity treatments, Colombian vs Zambian origins, how much emerald is worth...
Aquamarine Stone: The Complete Guide to Color, Quality, Value and Care
What aquamarine is, the Santa Maria blue, heat treatment, quality factors, price per carat, world sources, the Dom Pedro, durability, natural vs...
Alexandrite Stone: The Complete Guide to the Color-Changing Gemstone
What alexandrite is, why it changes from green to red, how it is graded and priced per carat, natural vs lab-grown vs...
Pearl Meaning: Symbolism, History & What Each Color Signifies
What pearls mean and where the symbolism came from — four thousand years of history from 2206 BC to the cultured pearl,...
Pink Gemstones: A Complete Guide to Every Pink Gem
Every pink gemstone worth knowing — from pink sapphire and morganite to spinel, tourmaline, kunzite and rhodochrosite — with verified hardness, honest...
Topaz vs Citrine: How to Tell Them Apart
Topaz vs citrine: how the two golden November birthstones differ in mineral, hardness, color, price, and meaning, plus five practical ways to...
