Is That a Real Diamond? Discussing Simulants & Synthetics

The hardest naturally occurring mineral on Earth, diamonds have been coveted by humans for thousands of years. Their hardness makes them durable stones that can easily withstand daily wear (hardness is different to toughness and diamonds can be broken, contrary to popular belief), and the way they deal with light means they sparkle beautifully. Man has cut and polished rough diamond crystals into many beautiful shapes over the years, and diamond remains the most sought after gemstone in jewellery today.

Continue reading

Gemstone Spotlight: Amethyst

We thought we’d start our gem spotlight series with one of the most beautiful and accessible gemstones of them all: amethyst. Amethyst is the lovely purple, violet or mauve gemstone you see adorning all different types of jewellery, from pendants to earrings to rings. Amethyst is a type of crystalline quartz, a mineral that can be found around the world in rocks and boulders, filling cracks and fissures, or in pebbles, sand and gravel.

Continue reading