What they are: Real sapphires, mined from the earth, gorgeous, and affordable. What they aren’t: Naturally the color you see. Songea is a place of origin for some pretty, natural sapphires, but has been commandeered by the trade as the name for diffusion-treated sapphires, usually in shades of yellow, orange, and red. Diffusion treating...
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It’s been a busy couple of months here at Distinction Jewelry, and one of the most interesting (and sometimes frustrating) activities I’ve been engaged in is setting up my own little gemology lab. I buy my gems very carefully from trusted, reputable sources. I’ve got a sharp eye with a loupe and I can...
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They’re two different things, right? Or are they? Rubies and sapphires are actually color variations of the same mineral, corundum. Corundum occurrs in a remarkably wide color spectrum including blues, pinks, reds, yellows, greens, blacks, whites, and every shade in between. Traditionally, the red variety has been called ruby while all of the...
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If you love colored gemstones but don’t have a fortune to spend on that cocktail ring in the jeweler’s window, don’t despair. Thanks to some little-explained quirks of the gem trade, you may be able to indulge in the color and sparkle you love without taking out a second mortgage on the house! Ever...
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