• Sapphires come in all colors of the rainbow?

• that you should never clean Iolites with an ultrasonic cleaner?

• Amethysts and Citrines are the same mineral, only different colors, and excessive heat can change the color from one to the other?

• we have Sapphire mines in the United States - most notably in Montana?

• an Aquamarine and an Emerald are the same mineral?

• you can dig for diamonds in Arkansas at the Diamond Crater National Park?

• violet-blue Iolite has the same polarizing capability as a pair of sunglasses, and the Vikings used to carry Iolite with them and look through it to find the sun on a cloudy day?

• when Sapphires have a pinkish to pinkish-red hue they are called "Pink Sapphire," but when the dominant hue becomes red, they are called "Rubies?"

• ancient Greeks named Amber from the word "electron" because if rubbed Amber gives off static electricity?

• fossilized tree sap must be at least 30 million years old to be considered Amber?

• if you sand Malachite it can give off a poisonous dust?

• that Obsidian is a natural glass formed during volcanic eruptions?

• beautiful blue-violet Tanzanites come out of the ground colorless, and must be heated to attain their beautiful depth of color?

• that Tourmalines and quartz will develop an electrical charge when heated, and tourmaline jewelry will attract dust when displayed under hot lights?

• there is no such thing as "Jade" - green "Jade" is actually either one of two different minerals, Jadeite and Nephrite, and Jadeite is the more valuable of the two?

• the second most valuable color of Jadeite is lavender?

• that there is a new man-made brilliant white stone called Moissanite, which can fool a jewelry store Diamond tester?

• that the big "Ruby" in the royal crown of England is actually a red Spinel?

• if allowed to sit in moist or humid conditions too long, Hematite jewelry has such a high iron content it will actually rust?

• black Jet, made popular for use in jewelry by Queen Victoria in the 19th century, is actually a type of fossilized coal formed 180 million years ago from dead trees?

• it takes one to three years to grow a cultured Pearl?

• Goldstones are not stones at all - they are actually glass containing copper crystals that give it aventurescence (quick bright flashes of light)?

• "black Onyx" is actually orange and brown Sardonyx that has been dyed black, and should be cleaned carefully to avoid removing the dye and dulling this porous Quartz?

• cultured Pearls are made by inserting a small shell bead into an oyster as an irritant, and waiting years for the oyster to cover the bead with its luscious nacre?

• Amethysts and Kunzite can fade if exposed to too much sun?

• historically, before science could tell minerals apart, all yellow stones were called "Topaz"?

• Pearls, by law, must be called "cultured Pearls" unless they are completely natural, and most Pearls sold today are cultured (made with help from man)?

• a "Herkermer Diamond" is actually made of Quartz?

• "smokey Topaz" is not a Topaz at all - its a misnomer for brown Quartz?

• some Diamonds are artificially (and safely) irradiated to achieve a green color - but early on, before the process was refined, some green Diamonds were actually made radioactive and are confiscated by the U.S. Government if found today?

• in ancient times the term "Sapphire" meant all blue stones, but usually meant Lapis Lazuli - which was considered the most expensive stone in the world?
  

Check back regularly as we add more interesting facts about gemstones and jewelry.