The modern day word Sapphire is derived from the ancient Latin word ‘Sapphirus ‘. The island of Sri Lanka (previously known as Serendib) holds the earliest records for the mining of sapphires. Sapphires are seen in all spectrums of color, except for red. But when people refer to Sapphires, they generally mean blue colored sapphires, whereas the other color Sapphires are referred to as fancy Sapphires.

Believed to contain the power of wisdom, ancient people believed in the power this stone had on the wearer when faced with challenges so as to enable them find the correct solution. Sri Lanka provides a large portion of the world’s supply of blue Sapphires. And the stones from this island are called ‘Ceylon’ sapphires, after the name of the island. Besides Australia and Africa, which are the world’s largest supplier of blue sapphires, they are also found in Pailin, Cambodia and Burma.

With a hardness that is just below that of diamonds, Sapphires is one of the toughest stones available in the market. With no cleavage and breakage occurring, sapphires ensure enduring popularity. They also come in many different shapes and sizes, thus providing a great variety to gem lovers.

Intense dark blue colored sapphires are the most popular in the market; however very fine sapphires are extremely rare. Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Burma produce fine pure blue colored sapphires, though the Cambodian stones are slightly darker. And the Australian sapphires tend to have a green overtone and concentric hexagonal bands. Though midnight blue sapphires have been looked down upon traditionally, today it is gaining popularity especially for setting into sapphire earrings.

Purity, uniformity and intensity of color are the most important factors to be considered when buying a blue sapphire. The finer stones should not contain any secondary colors, as the beauty of this precious gemstone will lessen. The overall beauty also depends on the cut, so this characteristic too should be taken into consideration. While fine blue sapphires maintain their color in any light setting, the dark blue variety appear as black under low light settings.

Blue colored Sapphire jewellery is one of the most sought after jewellery especially in rings, earrings, pendants and necklaces, which add to the beauty of any collection.

Padparadsha Sapphire
Padparadsha Sapphire
With its name derived from the Latin word ' Sapphirus ', the earliest mention of Sapphires are recorded in the island of Serendib (now known as Sri Lanka). Believed to contain the power of wisdom, ancient people believed in the power this stone had on the wearer when faced with challenges so as to enable them find the correct solution. Available in all spectrum of colors except for red, when people generally refer to sapphires it is understood that they mean blue sapphires, while the remaining colored sapphires are known as Fancy Sapphires. With a hardness that is just below that of diamonds, Sapphires is one of the toughest stones available in the market. With no cleavage and breakage occurring, sapphires ensure enduring popularity. They also come in many different shapes and sizes, thus providing a great variety to gem lovers and also making it ideal for all kinds of jewellery settings. Famous for mining Fancy Sapphires Sri Lanka is also known for their 'Padparadsha Sapphires'. These pink-orange to red-orange colored gemstone, has its name derived from the native phrase meaning 'lotus blossom'. The most expensive of all fancy sapphires, the Padparadsha gemstone has become extremely popular in recent times especially in its usage in jewellery. Color intensity is one of the most important characteristics involved in determining the value of these gemstones. An expensive stone, the Padparadsha Sapphire should display purity, intensity and uniformity of color. The cut is also an important factor to be considered while evaluating this gemstone.

Sillimanite
Sillimanite

Named after the American chemist and minerologist, Professor Benjamin Silliman (1779 – 1824), Sillimanite occurs in brown, dark brown, pale green and white colors. Formed from Aluminum Silicate (Al2SiO5) in mostly silky, fibrous masses, it is also called Fibrolite at times.

Though found in several locations worldwide such as: Brazil, Central Europe, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Italy, India, Germany and Idaho (USA); pure specimens of Sillimanite are not common. Typically found scattered in layers of metamorphic rocks put under great pressure and high temperature, Sillimanite is commonly found in volcanic or hot spring areas. As it is scattered within rocks, Sillimanite can only be detected with some effort and a good microscope. The best indicators of Sillimanite in the field are its color, brittleness, crystal habit and hardness (if it is not fibrous).

With a hardness of 7.5 on the Moh’s Scale and a Specific Gravity of 3.2, the fibrous crystal form is an interesting mineral form and is collected as a mineral specimen. The glassy crystal is used as a gemstone and in ornamental carvings.

Sillimanite crystals also display a cat’s eye effect, which is caused due to the inclusions of fine, slender parallel fibers, which reflect light in a single slice along the center of the crystals. These stones also exhibit a special characteristic that resembles the eye of a cat when polished as cabochons.

Sodalite
Sodalite

Sodalite was discovered in 1891 at a deposit near Bancroft, Ontario by Frank Adams, while he was studying the geology of the Haliburton-Hastings area for the ‘Geological Survey of Canada’. A mineral possessing a beautiful blue color, Sodalite is used in carvings and some jewellery pieces and is quite popular in the semi-precious stone market.

Sodalite is the most common mineral of the Sodalite mineral group, which has minerals with related chemistry and similar isometric structures. A sub-group within a group, the members of the Sodalite group are a part of a larger group called the Feldspathoids. The Feldspathoids are low silica igneous minerals. Besides Sodalite, the remaining members of the Sodalite Group include Hauyne, Nosean, Lazurite and Hackmanite.

Composed of Sodium Aluminum Silicate Chloride (Na4Al3(SiO4)3Cl), Sodalite has a hardness of 5.5 - 6.0 on the Moh’s Scale and a Specific Gravity of 2.1 - 2.3. Named after the sodium content found in the mineral, Sodalite occurs in colors ranging from royal blue to light blue as well as white. Sodalite crystals are vitreous and transparent to translucent and commonly occur in a massive form. However these specimens can appear opaque.

Relatively rare, there are only three large deposits of Sodalite known worldwide: Bancroft (Ontario), Ice River area (British Columbia) and Litchfield, Maine (USA). Small amounts of Sodalite are also found in Italy and Brazil.

Besides having a beautiful blue color Sodalite is believed to aid in cooling and drawing infections, burns, sinus inflammations and opening the throat chakra. It is also believed to help spiritually by aiding courage and endurance and helps release the subconscious of fears and guilt.

Spinel
Noble Red Spinel			Fancy Color Spinel

The red brilliance of Spinel has led to great confusion throughout history, causing many to mistake this gemstone for ruby. In fact, many world famous ‘rubies’ have actually been found to be Spinels. For example the 170 carat Black Prince’s Ruby on the British Imperial State Crown and the 352 carat Timur Ruby have been recognised as Spinels by leading gemologists.

The confusion between Spinel and Ruby stems not only from their similar colors, but also due to the close proximity of their deposits. Burma identified this variety in 1587 and was the first to distinguish Spinels as a distinctive gemstone type. However other countries around this time still referred to Spinels as ‘Balas Ruby’. Though exceptional stones are found in Sri Lanka and Russia, the finest Spinels are currently mined in Burma.

Spinels occur in various different colors and the red, orange and vibrant pink color varieties are the most expensive. Cobalt Spinels with its exceptional blue color resembling fine sapphires have also been discovered in Sri Lanka and are very highly priced. Large Spinels with sizes greater than 5 carats are found occasionally, however the stones seen in today’s market are less than 5 carats in weight.

With a hardness of 8 on the Moh’s Scale, high refractive index and no cleavage Spinels are excellent stones to set into jewellery, such as rings, necklaces, earrings and other forms, which will add value to any collection.

The color intensity of the stone is very important while evaluating the value of Spinel. The stones should be intensely colored without any brown tones. Clarity too is an important factor with clean Spinels fetching higher value. The cut of the stone too is important while evaluating these stones, as well-cut stones are quite spectacular.

Star Garnet
Star Garnet

History has it that the Garnet dates back to the Bronze Age (more than 5,000 years ago), when it was a very popular gemstone. According to Christian and Jewish mythologies, when God's wrath clouded the earth with thunderous storms and endless rain during the Great Flood, a radiant red Garnet guided the way for Noah, ultimately leading his ark to salvation.

Garnets are believed to contain both protective and destructive elements. The Crusaders set Garnets into their body armor, believing the protective power of the stones would lead them to safety. Conversely, some Asian cultures added Garnets to bullets, believing its destructive power would greatly amplify the enormity of a wound.

The nomenclature "Garnet" is believed to have derived from "pomegranate" with its red, "Garnet colored" seeds. While the name Garnet has long been associated with a rich red color, the gemstone actually comes in a much wider array of color variations including: reds, oranges, greens and color change.

The Almandine Garnets (also known as “Almandite”) are the most common variety of Garnets, and those displaying the star are not at all common. Available in deep reds, Almandine Star Garnets are found in Africa.

The various types of Garnets are comprised of different chemical components but all share a Refractive Index of 1.72 1.94, Specific Gravity of 3.40 4.30 and Hardness of 6.5 7.5 on the Moh’s Scale. Garnets are found in a variety of locations around the world including: Kenya, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brazil, India & Arizona (USA). They are available in a wide range of “warm” tones such as reds, oranges, yellows and Burgundies, as well as greens and some rare color-change varieties.

Color is the most important characteristic when evaluating Garnets. And as Garnets display a wide variety of different colors it is important to choose a stone that matches the wearer’s personality. The color must be intense and uniform with a tone that is not too light or too dark. Fine Garnets should be eye clean with minimal inclusions under magnification. Size also forms an important element in determining the cost of the Garnet.

Color change Sapphire
Color change Sapphire

Sri Lanka previously known as ‘the island of Serendib’ holds one of the earliest records for the mining of Sapphires. The modern word Sapphire is derived from the ancient Latin term "Sapphirus". Ancient people believed that the power of wisdom is contained within this precious gemstone. They believed that when the wearer of a Sapphire faces challenging obstacles, the stone's power enables them to find the correct solution.

Sapphires are found in all colors, except for red. Often when people refer to Sapphires, they mean Blue Sapphires. Other color Sapphires are referred to as Fancy Sapphires. Similar to Rubies, Sapphires come in many different shapes and sizes, providing great variety to gemstone lovers and ensuring the enduring popularity of Sapphire jewellery. With hardness just below that of diamonds, Sapphires are one of the toughest gemstones.

For Color Change Sapphires, the wearer's preference is the most important determinant, since these gemstones come in many different shapes, colors and sizes. Intensity, uniformity, purity of color and degree of color change are the most important factors. Cutting of Color Change Sapphires will also be another important evaluation factor.

The very intense orange-pinks known as Padparadsha is found in Srilanka. They are the most sought after color of fancy Sapphires. A variety of Yellow and Gold Sapphires are also available in the world market, with Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania major sources of supply. Green Sapphires are found in Australia and Thailand. The shade of green tends to be close to the color of an army uniform, but exceptional stones do exist. Violet Sapphires tend to have color change as a common characteristic, especially when viewed under daylight.

Scheelite
Scheelite

Scheelite, a transparent mineral with adamantine luster, occurs in white, yellow, orange or greenish gray to brown. Scheelite was named in 1821 after Karl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786), the Swedish chemist, who proved the existence of tungsten in the mineral in 1781.

It is composed of Calcium Tungstate (CaWO4), Scheelite is known as an important ore of tungsten. Although most of the world wide production of tungsten comes from the mineral Wolframite, Scheelite is especially abundant in the United States and provides the country with most of its supply.
Scheelite is popular among collectors. As well as having an interesting crystal structure, it fluoresces an intense blue color in ultraviolet light. It can sometimes be confused with Fluorite, however Scheelite is actually higher in luster. Notable occurrences of Scheelite include: Ontario, Canada; Saxony, Germany; Tong Wha, Korea; Sichuan, China; Sonora, Mexico; Cornwall, England; New South Wales and Queensland, Australia; and Brazil. In the USA it has been found in California, Arizona, Utah and Colorado.
Scheelite with a hardness of 4.5 to 5 on the Moh’s Scale, is a rather soft stone. Traditionally, it was considered a collector's gem and unsuitable for use in jewellery. However, facet grade Scheelite does occur in several world locations, especially the recently discovered deposit at Pingwu, Sichuan Province in China.

Sinhalite
Sinhalite

Sinhalite

Sinhalite was first discovered in Sri Lanka and was misidentified as a brownish variety of the normally green Peridot. Not until 1952 when an unusually dark specimen of Sinhalite was studied and identified as a new mineral. Sinhalite gets its name from Sinhala, the Sanskrit name for the island of Ceylon. It is formed from magnesium aluminum borate-MgAlBO4. It ranks 6.5 on the Moh’s Scale of hardness with a Specific Gravity of 3.5 and a Refractive Index of 1.66 to1.71. Sinhalite crystals are vitreous and transparent to translucent. Its crystal habit is limited to alluvial grains found in gem gravels.

Only collectors of rare and unusual gemstones usually seek after Sinhalite. Because of its rarity and the not too overwhelming demand for brownish-green gemstones, Sinhalite has not enjoyed much popularity in the international gemstone market. But for mineral collectors Sinhalite is an important addition to a complete mineral collection.

An interesting characteristic of Sinhalite is that it appears to have different colors from different viewing angles. Some Sinhalite specimens change color from green to light brown or dark brown. It’s normally found as gravel mineral of other gemstones such as Ruby, Sapphire, Peridot and Garnets. Sinhalite is found in Balangoda, Sabaragamuwa province, Sri Lanka and Mogok, Sagaing, Myanmar.

Spectrolite
Spectrolite

Spectrolite is mostly found as a dull gray-black stone that attains its only charm from a superficial play of colors known as labradorescence, Spectrolite also comes in a spectacular golden yellow transparent form that makes for some stunning gem-quality stones. It is composed of Calcium Sodium Aluminum Silicate [Ca(50-70%) Na(50-30%) (Al, Si)AlSi2 O8] with a Refractive Index of 1.55 - 1.75 and Specific Gravity of 2.70 - 2.74. With a hardness of 6 6.5 on the Moh’s scale, Spectrolite is a versatile stone and a wearer’s delight. It’s available in brilliant pastels and deep gold colors; and makes for a truly outstanding gem perfect for summer wardrobes.

Spectrolite that are transparent should be fine, clear and relatively free from inclusions. Shades vary from an almost lime-yellow color to bright canary yellows and golden tones. When looking at gray-black Spectrolite, look for an intensity of schiller on the surface when viewed from different angles. This could be due to different colors being visible from different angles.

As Spectrolite is a very personal stone, individual preference is an important factor when considering the value of any individual gem. Spectrolite was discovered in Canada, and is also found in China and the Scandinavian Peninsula. As Spectrolite is relatively a rare gem type prices vary widely according to availability and quality.

Sugilite
Sugilite

The Japanese geologist discovered Sugilite 1944. It is an unusual deep purple stone from Southern Africa. It’s laced with Manganese, it often displays a variety of black, brown and blue lines and patches creating a unique mottled effect. Although Sugilite is not related to turquoise in any way it does share some of that stone's characteristics.

The best quality Sugilite displays a distinctive opaque purple color, but it also comes in brown to yellow, pale pink and even black. Often matched with turquoise, malachite and coral, polished Sugilite stones are mostly opaque with an almost waxy luster and a deep reddish purple color. Sugilite is becoming more and more popular amongst jewellery designers as it is both a colorful and distinctive stone and as it is available in large sizes it makes for some impressive pieces.

Sugilite is chemically composed of Potassium Sodium Lithium Iron Manganese Aluminum Silicate (KNa2Li3(Fe, Mn, Al)2Si12O30) with a Specific Gravity of 2.75 - 2.80, and a hardness of 6 - 6.5 on the Moh's Scale. Metaphysically, Sugilite is said to emanate a protective energy, especially for gentle people and children who don't easily screen out the negativity of others. It is especially helpful to those who feel themselves to be gentle spirits who are shocked by the harshness of human interaction here on earth.