Education
- Care Of Fine Jewelry
- Birthstones
- About Gemstones and Fine Metals
CARE OF FINE JEWELRY
Unfortunately, most people overlook the proper care of their jewelry, resulting in
unnecessary devaluation.
For safe protection, always remove your jewelry when engaging in activities that
risk impact or exposure to chemicals (e.g. sports or housework). While rings and
bracelets are most affected by daily wear, earrings, necklaces and even pendants are
subject to chemical damage, especially if worn while make-up, fragrances and hair
products are applied.
If you own pearl or bead necklaces strung on silk cord, you should have a jeweler
restring them every two years (or annually if you wear them frequently).
Try not to remove your jewelry by pulling on the gem. Apart from exposing them to
sweat, oil and dirt, you also risk loosening their settings.
To avoid undue wear and scratching, never store your jewelry in piles. Store them in
separate sections of a jewelry box or wrap them separately in velvet, paper or silk.
All KIMMERON purchases arrive in a special jewelry pouch that should always be used for
storing your jewelry.
The safest method of cleaning most jewelry is to use a mild warm soapy water
solution and a soft brush, patting dry with a soft cloth.
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BIRTHSTONES
January - Garnet
The history of Garnet dates back to the Bronze Age (more than 5,000 years ago), when
it was a very popular gemstone. According to Christian and Jewish mythologies, during
the Great Flood a radiant red Garnet guided the way for Noah, ultimately leading his
ark to salvation. Garnets are available in a wide range of "warm" tones such as reds,
oranges, yellows and burgundies, as well as greens and some rare color-change
varieties.
February - Amethyst
Amethyst's intense purple color and relative availability have ensured its
popularity throughout the millennia. A popular gem since Pre-Roman times, the
wine-loving Greeks believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication while medieval
European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle.
March - Aquamarine
For centuries, many believed that oceanic energy was captured within the delicate
semblance of aquamarines. When amulets made of this precious gem were worn, sailors
believed that unmatched bravery would be instilled in their souls. Made of beryl,
aquamarine is a hard gem variety, making it a good choice for frequently worn jewelry,
especially in earrings and pendants where its delicate color and clarity can be
predominately displayed.
April - Diamond
"Diamonds are Forever," sang Shirley Bassey, while Marilyn Monroe insisted they were
"A Girl's Best Friend". Celebrated in song, diamonds have long reigned as the ultimate
statement of ardor and affection. The hardest, rarest and densest natural substance
known to man, diamonds have been a source of fascination since around 800 BC when they
were first presented to royalty in India.
May - Emerald
Emeralds were first mined more than 3,000 years ago, during the time of the Ancient
Egyptian Empire. Emeralds are said to have a powerful effect on the conscious and
unconscious mind, strengthening memory and increasing psychic awareness. Emeralds are
actually a green form of beryl and range in color from light lime green to deep forest
green.
June - Pearl or Alexandrite
Aphrodite's tears of joy, dew drops filled with moonlight, Krishna's wedding gift to
his daughter and Cleopatra's love potion, the legends abound but one fact is
undeniable, pearls are the oldest known gem and for centuries were considered the most
valuable. So valuable that the Roman General Vitellius allegedly financed an entire
military campaign with just one of his mother's pearl earrings. Believed to symbolize
the moon, the oldest known pearl jewelry is a necklace found in the sarcophagus of a
Persian princess who died in 520 BC.
Discovered in 1830 on the birthday of Czar Alexander, Alexandrite is the most
valuable form of the mineral chrysoberyl. When viewed under sunlight, Alexandrite
appears medium to bluish green, while under candlelight or incandescent light, it
appears violet red. The discovery of Alexandrite on the Czar's birthday was considered
fortuitous, as the colors mirrored those of Imperial Russia.
July -Ruby or Cornelian
Rubies were first mined more than 2,500 years ago in Sri Lanka. Historically, many
believed that mystical powers lie within this intensely colored red gemstone. The
ancient Burmese believed that when inserted beneath the skin, rubies generate a
mystical force that protects the wearer from accidents and attack. Rubies were also
once believed to contain prophetic powers, enabling wearers to predict the future based
on changes in their ruby’s color intensity.
August - Peridot
Common in early Greek and Roman jewelry, Peridot has been popular since about 1500
BC when the Egyptians started mining it on Zebirget (St. John's Island), a Red Sea
island about 50 miles off the Egyptian coast. Known by the ancient Egyptians as the
"gem of the sun", Peridot was believed to possess the power to break evil spells.
During the Middle Ages, people wore Peridot to gain foresight and divine inspiration.
September - Sapphire
Prized since ancient times, sapphire has been called the "gem of the heavens".
Ancient people believed that the power of wisdom is contained within this precious
gemstone, enabling the wearer to find the correct solution to challenging obstacles.
Sapphires come in all spectrums of color, except for red. Often when people simply
refer to sapphires, they mean blue sapphires. Other color sapphires are correctly
referred to as fancy sapphires.
October - Tourmaline or Opal
As it is found in all spectrums of color, tourmaline is often described as the
"chameleon gemstone". It is not surprising to find a fine tourmaline that mirrors the
exact semblance of other gemstones, such as emerald, ruby and sapphire. Some tourmaline
crystals may even appear as crystallized rainbows with several bands of color, ranging
from the most brilliant red to the deepest blue. Many refer to tourmaline as the
"muses' stone", for they believe that its imaginative colors contain inspirational
powers.
With "the fire of the carbuncle, the brilliant purple of the amethyst and the sea
green color of the emerald, all shining together in incredible union" opal clearly
impressed Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD), Roman historian and author of the world's first
encyclopedia. The Romans had been wearing opals for centuries and considered them a
symbol of hope or purity, while for the early Greeks they embodied the powers of
foresight or prophecy. The more fancifully minded Arabs thought that opals must have
fallen from heaven in flashes of lightning thus achieving their unique play of color or
"opalescence".
November - Citrine or Topaz
Citrine is a golden yellow form of quartz which takes its name from "citron", the
French word for lemon. In former times citrine was used as a protective talisman
against the plague, bad skin, evil thoughts and as a charm against snakebites. It is
also believed to symbolize happiness, aid digestion, remove toxins from the body, and
be useful in the treatment of depression and diabetes.
While first used during the Ancient Egyptian Empire, topaz's popularity grew
tremendously during the Middle Ages, when people believed it to have the power to
strengthen the mind. Traditionally, topaz was regarded as a yellow to orange and
brownish gemstone, today it is most abundantly found as blue topaz.
December - Turquoise, Tanzanite or Zircon
Popular for 6,000 years, turquoise has inspired people of many different cultures
and nations over the entire course of mankind’s written history. The Egyptians began
mining turquoise in the Sinai Peninsula around 5500 BC. When the tomb of Queen Zer was
unearthed in 1900, a turquoise and gold bracelet was found on her wrist, one of the
oldest pieces of jewelry ever discovered! Today, Turquoise is more popular than ever as
modern designers incorporate Egyptian, Persian and Native American motifs with modern
production techniques.
According to popular myth, a lightning strike near the Merelani hills set
surrounding grasslands on fire. When the Masai herders returned to the area with their
livestock, magical blue stones appeared on the ground. A Portuguese geologist, named
DeSouza, traveled to this area in Tanzania in the 1960’s and noticed this magnificent
blue stone. He brought it to the attention of Tiffany & Co., who introduced this
exciting discovery to the world.
The name "zircon" is believed to have derived from the Arabic words, "zar", meaning
gold, and "gun", meaning color. For many centuries, the brilliance of zircon has
captured the hearts of those who gazed upon this magnificent gemstone. Zircon's
popularity began to grow in the sixth century when Italian artisans featured the stone
in jewelry designs. During the Middle Ages, zircon was believed to contain curative
powers, protecting the wearer from diseases and banishing insomnia.
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ABOUT GEMSTONES AND FINE METALS
Gems, jewels and precious stones are terms that spark off tantalizing dreams and
evoke scintillating images elegance and luxury. The beauty, rarity and historical
mystique of gemstones are timeless.
Gemstone Categories
The various categories used at KIMMERON (Precious, Semi Precious and Rare) are
standard classifications based on value and rarity. For example, Precious Gems include
those varieties (Emerald, Ruby etc.) with high market values, while Rare Gems include
pieces suitable for collections. We use Rare Gems only in one-of-a-kind pieces. Semi
Precious Gems generally include everything else that is mainstream.
| Precious Gems
|
Alexandrite
Diamond
Emerald
Pearl
Ruby |
Sapphire
Spinel
Tanzanite
Tsavorite
|
| Semi Precious Gems used at Kimmeron |
Amethyst
Apatite
Aquamarine
Adventurine
Chalcedony
Chrysoberyl
Citrine
Cornelian
Garnet
Hematite
Iolite (water sapphire)
Jade |
Jasper
Moonstone
Onyx
Opal
Peridot
Quartz
Rubellite
Topaz
Tourmaline
Turquoise
Zircon |
Color
Color is the single most important factor when evaluating colored gems. Basically, the
more attractive the color seen, the higher the value. Bright, rich and intense colors
are valued over those that are too dark or too light. Colors that are dulled by tones
of black, gray or brown are regarded as less desirable. The colors seen should ideally
remain attractive regardless of prevailing light conditions. Whether viewed indoors,
outdoors, by day or by night, a gem should always remain beautiful.
The mixing of color hues into combinations, such as purple-blue in Tanzanite and bright
blue-green in Apatite is attractive and value enhancing. Although specific colors hues
can affect the prices of gems, personal preferences are also very important.
Carat Weight
Gemstone weight is measured in Carats. This unit of measurement originates from the
traditional use of carob seeds to weigh gems. Carob seed were used because of their
consistent size and shape. One Carat is the equivalent of 0.20 Grams. Further divided
into 100 smaller units known as Points, the term carats is often confused with
“Karats”. “Karat” is a measurement of gold purity and has no relationship to the term
Carats.
As the weight of a gem increases, so does its price per Carat. Large gems are always
rarer than smaller ones, so per Carat prices rise exponentially. A 3 Carat Ruby is
always worth far more than three 1 Carat Rubies of the same quality.
Gemstone prices also increase rapidly when in excess of certain key weights. For
example, a 2.01 Carat Ruby has a higher price tag than a 1.99 Carat Ruby, despite a
negligible difference in actual size. Pricing is said to suffer a “Non Linear Scale of
Increments”.
Pairs & Suites
Pairs or suites of gems matched for color, clarity and cut are valued more highly per
Carat or per gem than single gems of the same quality. Given the rarity of many gems, a
matching set is disproportionately hard to find and will command a higher per Carat
price than if each of the gems from the suite were sold separately.
That is why you will see certain KIMMERON earrings priced much higher than others. For
example, a matching pair of briolette-cut stones is much harder for us to find than
many other cuts.
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