It is believed that, when the creator (God) arrived on earth on a rainbow to spread the message of peace and love; the stones beneath, where he landed absorbed the colors of rainbow. It is believed that Opals are those same stones as they display a charismatic play of colors.
 Opal exists in numerous colors -as dark or black, fiery orange, to sultry white or light etc.  At times a single stone may display numerous hues like grey, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate and olive. The more the transparency and color the more valuable is the stone. This is particularly true for Fire Opal. Milk opal, resin opal, wood opal, menilite opal are some of the more commonly found stones.
Australia is the number one opal exporting country, along with USA, Hungary, Turkey and Indonesia. Sometimes Opals are synthesized in the labs to meet the huge demand in the market among those who are born in the month of October.
Opal is the Birthstone of October; its healing powers reduce stress, helps find love, changes emotions and moods to the wearer.  It is recommended to wear an opal if one wants to change ones equation his/her near and dear ones.

Pearls had been the rarest and the most valued possessions in the history; that were only in the reach of the royals. However the culturing of pearls has made pearls very accessible. Almost all Pearls available in the market are cultured. Naturally Pearls are created by living shelled mollusk that excretes layers of nacre to protect itself from sand or any foreign body. There is no other difference between the cultured and natural pearls apart from the later being the outcome of the deliberate human intervention. Here are a few facts and tips that will help you make a smart purchase-

• Pearls are available in different shapes button, semi-round, oval, drop, round, circled, baroque; however the perfectly round and smooth is the most valuable because of their rarity.
• The Pearl’s luster is its most important factor; it gets the luster from the layers of nacre- the more and thinner the layer the better will be the luster.
• All authentic Pearls have uneven surface or some other flaw. In fact this is the distinguishing factor between the real and imitated pearls.  The imitation Pearls are made of glass so have very smooth look where as the cultured and natural pearls feel coarse because of the numerous successive layers.
• Cultured Pearls can only be distinguished from Cultured Pearls with the help of the microscope. Gemological Labs like GIA and EGL do the grading of the Pearls.
• Pearls are graded – AAA, AA, A, B, C, and D based of the, luster, color, size, shape- roundness etc. AAA is the best grade.
• All Pearls undergo some kind treatment-dyeing, polishing, bleaching, irradiation. Bleaching the routine treatment of all Pearls.

Hope the information is useful; we will update more facts in the coming week.

Sunny Yellow Citrine, the birthstone of those born in November, has derived its name from the French word Citron for lemon. Also known as the 'Happy Stone’, it makes life beset with bliss and liveliness. Citrine is a stone of protection as it removes or deflects negative energies. A perfect gift for your beloved as it considered to have a number of magical properties. Writers and public speakers are recommended to wear Citrine Jewelry to improve eloquence. Citrine is available in a range of colors from radiant yellowish to brownish red; suiting every mood and its different shades just elicits your beauty by adding a special glow. Apart from its countless healing properties, Citrine is also the trendiest and most talked about stone in jewelry business. Don a sparkling Citrine Journey pendant or a pair of Citrine Earrings to have all the Oohs and Ahhs coming your way.

Be it regular clothes or cocktail dress Citrine Jewelry goes well with just about anything and everything. It adds a shimmer to your outfit making it look vibrant and eye- catching. The next best yellow stone after Topaz, Citrine is often forged as it too. This stone is a treat for gemstone lovers. Everything the hearts desire in terms of adornment and decoration is what Citrine Jewelry is at an affordable rate. A pair of Citrine earrings will surely bestow a hint of sunshine to those dull November days.

Sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral and the September birthstone. Dedicated to the 5th, 23rd and 45th wedding anniversaries, star sapphire is gifted on the 65th wedding anniversary. Often we know Sapphire's to be blue, but the gem exists in almost all colors including black and colorless. Since this precious stone does not require much maintenance Sapphire jewelry makes a good choice. However with an increase in demand for the lovely gemstone fakes are readily available. Here are a few points to remember while buying Sapphire jewelry:

Sapphires are valued on the basis of their size and color. The bigger the size the more expensive it will be. Rare colors are more expensive, especially the stones with high clarity.

Blue Sapphires with little or no inclusions are the most expensive sapphires. In most circumstances Blue Sapphires cost more than other colored sapphires.

Shapes do matter while buying a sapphire; oval sapphires are generally more expensive than round cut sapphire.

While shopping for Sapphire remember that like diamonds the gemstone is graded on cut, clarity, color and carat of the stone. Check these criteria before making the purchase.

Most commercially available Sapphires are color enhanced, but make sure you do not get cheated with a colored glass. A reputed jeweler will always give you a proof of authenticity or lab certificate.

Avoid purchasing stones with deep inclusions even if you get them at low rate as the stones may split open on hard impact.

While purchasing a star sapphire make sure that the stone has sharp, smooth and intact six rays.
Sapphire rings are gaining popularity as engagement rings. Enjoy good fortune with a dainty sapphire pendant for extra style.

Peridot, the August birthstone has been coveted by all since the days of the Pharaoh. They were the ancient Egyptians who first used the brilliant green colored stone as a
gemstone. They believed it to be the gem of the sun that could ward off anxiety; wearing a Peridot ring enhances speech, articulation, and a Peridot pendant strengthens relationships.

The Peridot gets its name from the Greek 'Peridona'. In the beginning the mesmerizing green gemstone was known as Topazion, however in the 18th century, the British re-christened it Peridot. It comes in a vibrant range of green from yellowish green to olive to brownish green. Measuring 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, Peridot jewelry is very popular.

Peridot was mined as early as 4,000 years ago on Saint Johns Island off the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea. Now called Zabargad, the Island still has some beautiful Peridots hidden in its bosom and delivered the worlds largest faceted Peridot. The precious gemstone measured 3118 Carats. The gem variety of forsterite of the olivine group, Peridot is also mined in Pakistan, Myanmar, China, the USA, Africa and Australia in the present day.

Ruby, the July Birthstone, has mesmerized people since ages with its spectacular color. Belonging to the corundum family, this precious stone is the modern gift stone for the 15th
and 40th marriage anniversary. Even though ruby is second only to a diamond in terms of hardness, it needs care and maintenance. Follow these simple guidelines to keep your Ruby jewelry gleaming forever.

Care for Ruby at Home

1. Ruby rings or Ruby earrings for that matter any other jewelry tends to collect dust and soap behind the gem; use warm soapy water to clean it.

2. Commercial Solvents can also be used to get rid of those stubborn deposits. Remember to always swish -off with a soft bristled brush.

3. Remember to always wipe dry your Ruby jewelry with a soft cloth to remove sweat, oils or moisture before storing it.

4. Ultrasonic cleaning is approved from time to time to keep the Ruby blushing red.

Always Remember

1. Ruby is hard but it is not advised to wear Ruby bracelets or Ruby rings while doing any rough work.

2. Rinse the jewelry in a bowl instead of a sink so that even if there is a loose gem, it does not drain away.

3. Never clean jewelry with toothpaste; it won't harm the ruby but the granules in the paste might scratch the metal.

4. Sometimes rubies are oiled to enhance their beauty in such circumstances steer clear of chemicals and steam cleaning.

5. Wear jewelry after completing the make up.

A little care and caution can go a long way in preserving the luster and beauty of ruby jewelry.

Pearls are the gem for a summer wedding. Stylist's suggest to wear diamonds, precious gems, pure gold or pearls for weddings. Pearl Jewelry are apt for summers wedding for their cool soothing appeal that under-tones the gaudy look. Pearls actually go with the wedding mood, sacred and precious. The white silky color compliments every outfit a with a sophisticated style. For a formal church wedding, pick a multi-strand necklace. Pearl Earrings and pendant set give a very in-style youthful glow, perfect for a green garden wedding. If the couple plans, a lively beach party avoid wearing a necklace rather go for a bracelet.
Pearl Bracelets give a very feminine look and are absolutely in vogue. Add some color with gems or black diamonds, and look sun-kissed like never before. The hypnotizing verve of black diamond coupled with white magic of pearls adds to undeniable combination. There is nothing more vivacious than the white and black teamed together. Outwit the guests and the sun with the dandy pearl bracelet kissing your wrist.