Gemstone Engagement Rings and Promise Rings
What is the world without color? Without flowers, without the rainbow, or without beautiful gemstones, the world would be a very
different place. Gemstone engagement rings are becoming an increasingly popular
alternative to diamond engagement rings. Gemstone engagement rings add a brilliant splash of color and allow more individual
expression then ever before. MyJewelrySource offers a beautiful selection of truly unique precious and
semi-precious gemstone engagement rings and birthstone promise rings,
most of which are exclusively sold here. Tips for Choosing a Gemstone Engagement Ring
Tip #7- Hues of Blue: Blue is a soothing color and a symbol of commitment. It is a constant in our
lives, from the color of the sky to the color of the ocean. Sapphires are the
best choice for many reasons (including their superior hardness and range of
colors) for a blue gemstone engagement ring. Other options include tanzanite, which also had
purple tones, and aquamarine, a lighter, softer shade of blue, has been the
focal point of many outstanding engagement rings we have created. If she likes sky blue or turquoise blue,
don't overlook blue topaz engagement rings and blue zircon engagement rings. Did you know that blue zircon is one
of the most sparkly gemstones? With a refractive index similar to that of a
diamond, it is a brilliant beautiful stone. Sapphires too can be very sparkly;
this is particularly true of sapphires with Ceylon origin. At MyJewelrySource,
we primarily offer Ceylon sapphire engagement rings for that very reason. Ceylon sapphires are
found in a wide range of blue shades from periwinkle to cornflower to cobalt and
royal blue. Sapphires from other locations like Africa or Thailand are also
quite beautiful and generally have a richer, darker tone. Tanzanite is found in
only one location in the world, Tanzania, Africa. It is an exceptional bluish
purple gemstone and is often found in large sizes. Lower quality material often
is more of a lavender color, which is actually quite pretty. The lighter colors
are more affordable and often times set in silver rather than precious gold or
platinum. Blue zircon and Swiss blue topaz often look very similar. The
highest quality of blue zircon has a color saturation that blue topaz does not
have. Both are reminiscent of a gorgeous bright blue sky, or of the Caribbean
sea. Blue topaz is the most affordable of the blue gemstones with blue zircon
following as a close second. Fine quality aquamarine, particularly the prized
Santa Maria aquamarine, is very rare and is priced accordingly. Some qualities
and colors of blue sapphire are very affordable especially in sizes of 1 carat
or smaller. Fine, vivid cornflower blue Ceylon sapphires are among the most
expensive, which reflects the rarity and the quality of the gem.
Sapphire: Although
sapphire means
blue in Latin, sapphires can be found in a
rainbow of colors. Kings once
believed these stones offered protection from harm and envy. Sapphires are calm and relaxing. Until the
discovery of extraordinary stones in Kashmir in 1880, Sri Lanka (formerly known as
Ceylon) was the standard
bearer of sapphire. The Kashmir supply was essentially exhausted by 1930, leaving
Sri Lanka as the location of
the world's most beautiful sapphires. Sapphires are also mined in Madagascar, Australia and Thailand. Sapphires
come other colors such as red,
orange, yellow, green,
blue, purple and
pink. Colors other than blue are
referred to as "fancy sapphires".
Sapphire is the traditional gift for the fifth and forty-fifth wedding anniversaries and the
birthstone for September.
Enhancements: Although cutting is the most basic enhancement method necessary to display the beauty of
a gemstone, there are many
fascinating methods by which man has demonstrated his ability to draw maximum color, luster, clarity and
brilliance from nature's earthbound treasures. A basic understanding of these enhancement techniques will add to
your appreciation of the beauty, durability and value of the
gemstone jewelry you already own,
or plan to purchase in the future. Most sapphires are treated with heat after being mined. Heat treatment of
sapphires is a permanent, industry accepted treatment requiring no additional care over that of unheated
sapphires. There are other treatments used to enhance the color of sapphires which are not industry accepted, may
not be permanent, and therefore not sold by our company. Approximately, 99% of sapphires used in jewelry are
heated, leaving 1% which are unheated and considered very rare. You should assume
that the sapphires sold at MyJewelrySource are heated unless stated otherwise.
Buying a Sapphire: All in all,
sapphire can be considered
the ideal colored gemstone. Besides excelling in color selection,
sapphire excels in durability
with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
Sapphires in sizes of 1 carat and over are considered to be important. Some inclusions are accepted although
certainly not as many as with
ruby or emerald. Nearly
all of the sapphires at MyJewelrySource.com are eye clean and most important, all are pleasing to the eye. We
offer a wide range of colors from a traditional Ceylon blue, to rich lustrous
royal blue, to many styles with pink,
orange, and yellow sapphires.
Care of Sapphires: Sapphire can withstand most cleaning methods
since they are tough and durable.
Although steaming and ultrasonic cleaning will not damage the gemstone, these methods are not recommended by MyJewelrySource
since
they may loosen the setting, and subsequently, stones may fall out. Your
sapphire jewelry may be
cleaned with a soft-bristled brush or a cloth with plain or soapy water.
Do not put sapphires in boiling hot
water. Avoid exposure to hairspray, perfume and chlorine, which can dull gemstones.
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