Today, we know it as an occasion to commemorate Mom with flowers, gifts, and time spent with family on a spring Sunday. Historically, Mother’s Day dates back to the ancient Greeks, who celebrated a springtime festival in the name of Rhea, the mother of the gods. Early Christians in England honored Mary, the mother of Jesus, on the fourth Sunday of Lent – the period leading up to Easter. This day was later changed to pay tribute to all mothers; churchgoers were encouraged to return to the “mother church,” where families would gather to celebrate what they dubbed “Mothering Sunday.”
The American colonists chose not to celebrate Mothering Sunday. Instead, a mother’s day dedicated to peace was organized in 1872 by an American woman named Julia Ward Howe. In 1907, a teacher in Philadelphia by the name of Anna M. Jarvis began campaigning for a national mother’s day. Her efforts were ultimately successful, and in 1914 the second Sunday in May was declared an official holiday: Mother’s Day.
On Mother’s Day, we celebrate the women who brought us into the world. The occasion offers a nationally recognized opportunity to thank Mom for all the work she put into creating, teaching, and raising you by showering her with love, gratitude, and—in most cases—a thoughtful gift.
Flowers are often the most obvious Mother’s Day gift, reflected by the huge spike in business for florists. But unlike flowers, which bloom and then fade, a thoughtfully chosen necklace, a pair of diamond earrings or a stunning gemstone ring commemorates Mom with a token that will last a lifetime and will elicit a treasured memory every time she wears it. According to a national survey by Momentum Research, mothers identified jewelry as one of the gifts they most like to receive on Mother’s Day, a preference that increases for older mothers.
Some of the most popular jewelry pieces for Mother’s Day include gold, silver, and platinum rings. Gemstone rings and pendants add a splash of color to her jewelry collection. For added significance, you can choose a stone that represents her birth month. And nothing beats the exquisite elegance of diamonds—a tasteful diamond tennis bracelet or diamond ring is a classic choice that’s sure to delight Mom. If your wife or mother is especially fashion-savvy, you may want to explore larger and more unusual styles in rings, bracelets, anklets, or necklaces. Bracelets and rings that bear engraved messages are a personal way to say “thank you” on Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day is about more than just gifts, but a carefully chosen token can help convey just how much Mom is loved and appreciated. You can’t ever repay a mother for the years of hard work she’s put in raising her children, but the perfect fine jewelry accessory can help you make her day.
Categories: Gems, Jewelry
Widely known as “a girl’s best friend,” the diamond is among the most valuable and classically elegant gemstones on the fine jewelry market. The birthstone for those born in the month of April, the diamond’s unique sparkle can be found gracing everything from engagement rings to fashion jewelry to timeless tennis bracelets. One of the hardest and most durable materials found in nature, the diamond’s permanence makes it a fitting symbol of lifelong loyalty and devotion.
The diamond is deeply rooted in gemstone history, with a long reputation as the ultimate token of love and affection. The first diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy by Archduke of Austria, Maximiliam I, in 1477, sparking a tradition that is upheld by most couples to this day. Diamonds are also a favorite for anniversary presents; the gemstone is the traditional symbol of the 10th, 60th, and 75th wedding anniversaries.
Diamonds were first found around 800 B.C. in India, where the gems were used to decorate devotional statues and other religious items. The gems were prized in ancient Greece and were said to embody the fire of constant love. The ability of some diamonds to glow in the dark was considered proof of their magical powers.
Ancient cultures believed that diamonds could heal the mentally ill, ward off evil, bring good luck, and inspire such virtues as courage and generosity in the wearer. Until the 15th century, only kings and rulers wore diamonds as a symbol of strength and bravery in battle. Later stories claimed that Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds, and the gemstone’s link with love and romance was born. Throughout history, diamonds have served a symbol of power, love, and excellence: the French Emperor Napoleon presented his wife with a diamond necklace after the birth of their son.
The quality of a diamond is determined by grading the “four Cs” – clarity, color, cut and carat:
Clarity: The most valuable diamonds are those with perfect clarity, devoid of inclusions and blemishes.
Color: Even the slightest variations in color can account for a significant difference in the quality and value of diamonds.
Cut: Every gemstone’s appearance and brilliance can be improved or impaired based on the virtues of its cut.
Carat: The market value of diamonds is measured in carats based on their weight. One carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams.
In addition to the prized colorless variety, diamonds are also found in a wide spectrum of vibrant colors. Known as “fancy colored diamonds,” these are popular among those who value the strength and durability of a diamond but prefer a more unconventional look.
Diamonds have been mined in India, Brazil, and in South Africa since the end of the 19th century. In the 1950s, a new source of diamonds was found buried in the permafrost of Siberia, and yet another lode has been discovered in Western Canada.
At Brilliance, we offer some of the most premier gem-quality diamonds in the world. Each of our diamonds is carefully appraised and certified by master gemologists to ensure the value and longevity of your investment.
Categories: Brilliance, Diamonds, Education, Gems
“In like a lion, out like a lamb.” In addition to describing the fluctuating month of March, this is just as true of the Pisces and Aries who claim aquamarine as their birthstone. Aquamarine literally means “water of the sea,” a fitting name for the transparent, blue-green variety of the mineral beryl – the same mineral that makes an emerald.
Ancient legend has it that the original aquamarine was a treasure hidden in a mermaid’s chest until it spilled out and was discovered by humankind. It was traditionally considered a good luck gem for sailors, signifying the sea’s blessing on extended voyages. Said to bring happiness to a new marriage and joy and wealth to any woman who wears it (similar to diamonds), aquamarine is rumored to gain potency by being immersed in sunlit water.
Aquamarines have been worn by kings and queens as far back as the Ancient Egyptians, who fashioned the stones into animal-shaped amulets that would protect their energy and personal strength. The Romans believed the gem would expose evil and cure anything from simple laziness to eye trouble, irregular breathing, and hiccups. In fact, the Roman emperor, Nero, is said to have used aquamarines as primitive eyeglasses to help him see, long before glass lenses existed. In the 19th century, Chinese artists carved bottles and sculptures from large, polished aquamarines.
The popularity of the aquamarine in North America may have begun with a heart-shaped stone given to Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, as a wedding gift in 1906. Shortly after she was crowned Monarch of England in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was presented with a matched set of aquamarine jewelry.
The sea blue gemstone was originally mined in Madagascar, but today most of the finest aquamarines come from Brazil and Mozambique. The stones that are deepest in color, and thus most valuable, are named after the mines in which they were found, such as the Santa Maria aquamarine that was mined at Santa Maria de Itabira in Brazil.
Aquamarine occurs in a range of shades, from the palest sky blue to the cobalt blue of deep sea water. Its color is clear and even, with few marks or inclusions, and is flattering to almost every skin tone. The stone’s versatility has made it nearly as popular as rubies, sapphires, and emeralds for use in fashion and engagement jewelry. In general, the darker and bluer a stone is, the more valuable, so aquamarines of paler color or with a greenish tinge are less desirable.
In addition to serving as the birthstone for March, aquamarine is considered the official gemstone for the 19th wedding anniversary. It is said to strengthen the mind and bring out courage, and is also reputed to help couples overcome their differences and work toward a lasting, loving relationship.
Categories: Education, Gems
Just before Christmas, detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department pried open a crate outside a warehouse to find something they had been chasing for months: an 840-pound Brazilian emerald that had been reported stolen.
Now, if they could just figure out who owns it. So far, at least five people have come forward to say it’s theirs.
“It seems like the more we talk to people, the more people claim to have ownership over this thing,” said Lt. Thomas Grubb, who heads the sheriff’s investigative team on the case. “We haven’t determined who’s not a suspect, really.”
Unable to determine who the real owner is, Lt. Grubb decided to keep the emerald locked up while the investigation proceeds. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles civil court is scheduled to hear from different claimants in the case on Tuesday.
Lt. Grubb, who had spent the bulk of his 26-year career conducting narcotics investigations, first got onto the case last September. A distraught man named Larry Biegler had called the sheriff’s office to say that his giant emerald had been stolen from a Los Angeles-area warehouse where he had been keeping it. It was worth nearly $400 million, he said.
Lt. Grubb’s detectives began investigating.
The emerald, they determined, was in the possession of two businessmen named Todd Armstrong and Kit Morrison, whom detectives tracked to a small town called Eagle, in western Idaho. When the detectives arrived in Eagle, Mr. Armstrong was in the process of trying to sell the emerald to a buyer. “We’ve run into a small snag,” Mr. Armstrong says he told his buyer.
The Idaho men said the emerald belonged to them. They said in an interview they paid Mr. Biegler $1 million for diamonds he never delivered. Mr. Biegler had put the emerald up as collateral, they say, for the stones. When the diamonds didn’t materialize, they picked up the emerald from the warehouse in Los Angeles. They showed investigators a stack of documents they said prove their claim. See full article at wsj.com…
Categories: Gems, News
Valentine’s Day marks an ideal occasion for giving a gorgeous amethyst stone in fine jewelry or an engagement ring to the Pisces in your life. Celebrated as “extravagance in violet,” amethyst has long been considered one of nature’s most precious gemstones (alongside diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds). Coveted and sought after for centuries by wealthy royals and church leaders, the stone is considerably more attainable today. In addition to serving as the official birthstone of February, the gem is a suggested gift for 4th, 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.
Used as adornments since the ancient Egyptian era, amethyst stones have been found in Aztec graves. The Greeks subscribed to the notion that the striking gems prevented intoxication, which explains why so many ancient wine goblets were carved from the stone. In medieval times, soldiers believed amethyst had protective qualities, and would adorn their armor with the stones before they went into battle. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence. Because purple dye was scarce centuries ago, amethyst stones were reserved for the robes and jewelry of kings and queens. A large amethyst is still considered one of the most precious gemstones among the British Crown Jewels.
A number of miraculous powers are linked to amethyst. It has been rumored to protect crops, improve the accuracy of hunters, protect wearers from snake bites, and ward off evil spirits. Some believe that wearing this gem with pearls and 14-karat gold can help to resolve money issues. In addition to commemorating friendship, amethyst is believed to put the wearer in a virtuous, chaste state, resulting in its popularity among clergy members throughout history.
A variety of quartz, the amethyst is considered a purple stone, although it can take on a range of shades, from light pinkish violet to lavender to dark purple. The rarest and most valuable amethyst stones are a deep medium purple with rose-colored flashes. The ideal grade, called “Deep Siberian”, will exhibit a primary purple hue of around 75-80 percent.
The stone is produced in abundance from mines throughout the world: Russia, India, South America, Korea, Austria, Africa, Canada, and even across the United States. Some of the most valuable of these stones are produced in Mexico, where deep purple prismatic crystals radiate outward from a common attachment point. Due to a major amethyst deposit discovered in Brazil during the nineteenth century, the stone has become more easily obtainable in recent decades.
Brilliance offers a beautiful selection of loose diamonds and fine gemstone jewelry, including diamond rings and diamond bracelets accented with amethysts.
Categories: Brilliance, Gems, Jewelry
For those whose birthdays coincide with the dawning of a new year, the garnet has a special significance. The official birthstone of January, this stunning stone serves as a welcome source of warmth during the coldest part of the year. It’s also used to commemorate the second and sixth wedding anniversaries. The garnet has become synonymous with loyalty, friendship, and overall well-being. When traveling, the stone is reputed to provide security and good fortune to the wearer.
Found in metamorphosed and igneous rock formations, garnets are formed by extreme excesses in temperature and pressure applied to the rock. Most commonly associated with a deep red coloring reminiscent of rubies, a traditional garnet makes a festive accompaniment to holiday attire. In addition to standard red, this vivid gemstone is found in a multitude of shades ranging from orange to dark burgundy. The varying shades will also differ in density and light refraction properties. The stone’s appeal can be attributed to its intense colorations, hardness, durability, and transparency, although its abundance makes it less valuable than other, rarer stones.
Garnets have adorned jewelry as far back as the Bronze Age in 3000 BC, when they were often buried to guard over the spirits of the deceased. The luminous stone was also popular during the early Egyptian and Roman times, when explorers carried it along on their journeys to illuminate their paths and protect them from harm. During the Middle Ages, the garnet was thought to have the power to stem bleeding and cure blood disorders.
Below are some of the most common variations of the garnet, along with their defining characteristics:
Almandine: Ranging from deep red to orange red, this stone is mined in Brazil, India, Madagascar, and the U.S.
Demantoid: Found in Italy, Russia, and Zaire, this garnet variation ranges from medium green to yellowish green.
Hessonite: This Sri Lankan stone ranges from bright yellow to yellowish brown. It’s also found in Kenya and Tanzania.
Pyrope: Ranging from deep red to purplish red, this intense garnet is mined primarily in Australia, Czechoslovakia, and South Africa.
Rhodolite: Mined in Sri Lanka and Tanzania, this softer-hued garnet boasts shades of pink or lavender.
Spessartite: Ranging from medium to reddish orange, this garnet variation is found primarily in Brazil, Namibia, Pakistan, and the U.S.
Tsavorite: Found in Kenya near the Tsavo National Park, this rare green garnet was also imported from Tanzania by Tiffany and Company.
Uvarovite: This crystallized green garnet was first found in Russia.
Proof that a rich, warm gemstone can also be affordable, garnets offer a budget-friendly way to add drama and depth to your fine jewelry collection. At Brilliance, we offer a dazzling assortment of genuine gemstone jewelry and engagement rings.
Categories: Brilliance, Education, Gems
The winter holidays are by far the most popular time of year for jewelry gift-giving. For your December-born loved ones, a gift of diamond jewelry adorned with their birthstone offers a personal sentiment and a wish of luck and prosperity. December is one of several months that have multiple recognized birthstones, allowing you more freedom in the selection process. While blue topaz and turquoise were once the most popular December birthstone options, a newer, more precious stone has become today’s premier choice: tanzanite.
Found only in Tanzania, tanzanite was added to the birthstone list of the American Gem Trade Association in 2002. This was momentous, as it was the first new stone added to the register in nearly a century. Some would attest that tanzanite was discovered at just the right time; as the publicity surrounding conflict diamonds or blood diamonds climaxed, gemstone procurers queried more about the origins of all precious jewels, preferring to purchase only legitimate certified gems. Due to its rarity, tanzanite can be easily traced back to its source.
The stone was discovered relatively recently in 1967, when nomads witnessed a gleaming blue radiance on the surface of an isolated rock mound at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. The somewhat soft crystals were collected and sent for assessment to a German lapidary. There, the stones were identified as blue zoisite, which formed inside undisturbed deposits within the elevation. As the German pronunciation of “zoisite” is phonetically similar to the English word “suicide”, it was thought best to give the matchless gem the more amiable name of tanzanite, representative of its country of origin.
Today, tanzanite has taken on a strong position in the gemstone market, with mining efforts continuing at the sole geological site. In its unprocessed state, tanzanite has an earthy, lackluster brown tint, so it’s believed that a strike of lightning was responsible for the transformation of the superficial crystals that were first to be discovered, making them conspicuous to the wandering shepherds. Now, collected tanzanite gems are heat-treated to permanently convert each stone to its majestic, mesmerizing color, which can range from periwinkle, lilac, and lavender to the deeper pigments of blue, indigo, and purple that are colloquially symbolic of royalty. Typically, a smaller-sized stone will be more pallid in color, and therefore more reasonably priced. Conversely, a larger stone tends to be more intense in color and consequently of higher value. Irrespective of its worth, the stone’s broad color continuum has earned tanzanite a reputation as the “one size fits all” jewel, appealing to a wide variety of individual tastes.
For some, a gift of a ruby or emerald may seem too seasonal to wear throughout the year. Tanzanite, with its amethyst hue, proves itself a more versatile jewel that can be donned anytime and can be placed as accents in an engagement ring or anniversary ring. Even for those who weren’t born in December, a gift of tanzanite can be presented to commemorate the birth of a new baby, symbolizing a wish of health, happiness, and good fortune to mother and child. At Brilliance, we offer a beautiful assortment of gemstone gifts for every occasion.
Categories: Education, Gems, Jewelry
For those celebrating birthdays in November, the only month with more than one birthstone, the versatile beauty of topaz and the earth-toned hues of citrine hold a special significance. Both gems are designated as official birthstones of November. There’s no denying their exquisite appearance, but there’s more to these striking gems than meets the eye. Deeply rooted in history and legend, these stones continue to serve as meaningful symbols today, and are widely popular jewelry enhancements.
Citrine
Deriving its name from the French word for lemon, citrine is the most valuable type of quartz gemstone, ranging in color from pure yellow (the most desirable and valuable) to a brownish shade. When found in nature, citrine is usually an amber color. A majority of naturally occurring citrine is found in Brazil, Russia, Madagascar, and the United States, although most commercially sold citrine is manufactured from hybrids of other stones.
In ancient times, citrine was believed to shield the wearer from evil, often worn as a talisman during times of war. Legend also held that the stone made the wearer immune to a snake’s venom. Today, many regard citrine as a source of serenity and mental clarity.
Topaz
Found in a wide array of colors, topaz is one of the most versatile gemstones, making it ideal for use in fine jewelry. In its purest form, topaz is clear, but it most often contains variations of yellow, green, blue, pink, and grey. The rarest shades are red and pink, which command the highest market value. Most commercially sold topaz has been treated with heat to bring out the natural hues of the stone.
In the Middle Ages, all yellow gemstones were referred to as topaz, but today the name is exclusive to the silicate mineral formed from aluminum and fluorine. Natural topaz is mined primarily in Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Sri Lanka, and the United States. The stone can be found in large, crystallized deposits weighing up to several hundred pounds.
Many believe that topaz gemstones help reduce levels of stress and anxiety, promote relaxation and tranquility, and improve overall health and well-being. In addition to serving as one of November’s birthstones, topaz is also the commemorative stone for the 4th wedding anniversary.
Exceptional Fall Gifts
Need a unique gift idea for a November birthday? At Brilliance, we’re proud to offer an exquisite collection of citrine and topaz jewelry.
Categories: Education, Gems
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