Faceted Stones P-Z

Faceted Stone Index by Name Birthstone Charts
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Padparadscha- Mohs 9.0

Padparadscha is a pinkish orange corundum – a variety of sapphire.

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

Peridot- Mohs 6.5 - August Birth Stone

Peridots are gem quality olivine. Peridot can range from a pale apple green to a dark bottle green. They are associated with volcanic regions. It has been said that they bring peace and good luck, protect against evil spirits, and banish nightmares.

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

Prasiolite - Mohs 7.0

Prasiolite is green quartz ranging in color from light green to deep green. Other quartz gems you may be more familiar with are amethyst (purple quartz) and citrine (yellow quartz). Prasiolite can be found with amethyst, especially in Brazil.

Other names you will see for prasiolite include praziolite, vermarine, amagreen, lime citrine, and green amethyst.

A lot of green quartz on the market is actually heat treated amethyst. While much amethyst turns yellow, orange, or brown (citrine) when heated, some contains iron compounds that turn green. This heat treated amethyst is often marketed as green amethyst.

Rock Crystal (Clear Quartz) - Mohs 7.0

Rock crystal is a colorless, transparent quartz. This is what crystal balls are made from.

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

Ruby- Mohs 9.0 - July Birth Stone

Ruby is red corundum. It can range from pink to bright red, to a purple red or red brown. A symbol of love and passion, rubies have also been thought to ward off misfortune and ill health.Genuine rubies can be quite expensive. Lab-created rubies offer a great alternative for people wanting a clear, red ruby at an affordable price.

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

Sapphire - Mohs 9.0 - September Birth Stone

Sapphire is any corundum that is not red, but most people think of blue!! Blue sapphire is popular, especially in a clear medium to dark blue. Sapphire comes in just about every color though, including "white" (colorless), padparadscha (pinkish orange), green, pink, purple, yellow, and orange. Sapphire does occur in red – but red sapphire is called ruby. All corundum may be heated to improve its color.

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

Spinel- Mohs 8.0

Spinel is a genuine, normally transparent stone found in a wide range of colors, including reds, oranges, yellows, browns, blues, purples, and greens. Red spinels were mistakenly thought to be rubies for many, many years.

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

Tanzanite - Mohs 6.5

Tanzanite is a blue to purple-blue variety of zoisite colored by vanadium. Tanzanite exhibits some color changing, shifting between purple, violet, blue, and gray.

There is also a green variety of zoisite (green zoisite, green tanzanite, chrome tanzanite).

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

Topaz- Mohs 8.0 - November Birth Stone

Topaz comes in a wide range of colors, including "white" (colorless) , yellow, golden yellow (sherry), pink, green, and blue. Topaz is said to dispel bad omens, guard against envy, and calm anger.

Topaz is often heat treated to produce a more desirable color. Natural pink topaz is rare, but can be created by heating yellow topaz. Colorless topaz is irradiated and heated to create blue topaz.

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

Tourmaline- Mohs 7.5

Tourmaline is given different names, depending on its color. Tourmaline is said to calm nerves and help one sleep.

Achroite – rare colorless tourmaline. May be produced by heating pink tourmaline.
Dravite – golden brown to orange brown tourmaline. May be heat treated to lighten the stone.
Blue – clear, radiant blue similar to aquamarine or sapphire but not too dark.
Green – emerald green tourmaline is rare, valuable, and can be confused with emerald.
Indicolite – dark blue tourmaline. May be more of a green blue. May be heat treated to lighten the stone.
Paraiba – bright blue tourmaline first found in Paraiba, Brazil.
Rubellite – pink to red tourmaline.
Schorl – black tourmaline. Used for mourning jewelry in the Victorian age.
Siberite – lilac to violet blue to red blue tourmaline first found in Russia.
Yellow – Yellow tourmaline is more of a yellow-green shade and is the most common natural color.
Watermelon – a combination of pink and green tourmaline.

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

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Zircon- Mohs 7.5

Zircon comes in a wide range of colors, including "white" (colorless), yellow, golden yellow, golden brown, orange, red, pink, green, blue, and brown. Zircon has been said to imdue wisdom, honor, and riches. A stone that loses its luster has been said to warn of danger. In fact, some zircon contains radioactive thorium and uranium which break down the crystal over time. These decayed stones are called "low" zircon.

Zircon can be heat treated to change the color. Brown is changed to colorless or blue stones. Blue can be changed to golden yellow.

For pictures & more information, visit the International Colored Gemstone Assoc.

Faceted Stone Index by Name Birthstone Charts
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