Birthstones :
- January - Garnet
- February - Amethyst
- March - Aquamarine
- April - Diamond
- May - Emerald
- June - Alexandrite
- July - Ruby
- August - Peridot
- September - Sapphire
- October - Opal
- November - Topaz
- December - Blue Zircon
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     Alexandrite
This rare gemstone is named after the Russian tsar Alexander II (1818-1881), the very first crystals having been discovered in April 1834 in the emerald mines near the Tokovaya River in the Urals. The discovery was made on the day the future tsar came of age. Although alexandrite is a relatively young gemstone, it certainly has a noble history. Since it shows both red and green, the principal colors of old Imperial Russia, it inevitably became the national stone of tsarist Russia.
Beautiful alexandrite in top quality, however, is very rare indeed and hardly ever used in modern jewelry. In antique Russian jewelry you may come across it with a little luck, since Russian master jewelers loved this stone. Tiffany’s master gemologist George Frederick Kunz (1856-1932) was also fascinated by alexandrite, and the jewelers’s firm produced some beautiful series of rings and platinum ensembles at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Smaller alexandrites were occasionally also used in Victorian jewelry from England.
The magic of changing colors
The most sensational feature about this stone, however, is its surprising ability to change its color. Green or bluish-green in daylight, alexandrite turns a soft shade of red, purplish-red or raspberry red in incandescent light. This unique optical characteristic makes it one of the most valuable gemstones of all, especially in fine qualities.
Alexandrite is very scarce: this is due to its chemical composition. It is basically a chrysoberyl, a mineral consisting of colorless or yellow transparent chrysoberyl, chrysoberyl cat’s eye and color-changing alexandrite (also in cat’s eye varieties). It differs from other chrysoberyls in that it not only contains iron and titanium, but also chromium as a major impurity. And it is this very element which accounts for the spectacular color change. Rarely, vanadium may also play a part. According to CIBJO nomenclature, only chrysoberyls displaying a distinct change of color may be termed alexandrite.
Like many other gemstones, alexandrite emerged millions of years ago in a metamorphic environment. But unlike many others, its formation required specific geological conditions. The chemical elements beryllium (a major constituent in chrysoberyl) and chromium (the coloring agent in alexandrite) have contrasting chemical characteristics and do not as a rule occur together, usually being found in contrasting rock types. Not only has Nature brought these contrasting rock types into contact with each other, but a lack of the chemical element silica (the second most common element in the Earth's crust) is also required to prevent the growth of emerald. This geological scenario has occurred only rarely in the Earth's history and, as a result, alexandrite crystals are very scarce indeed.
Nowadays not only from Russia
Russia has remained the primary source of alexandrite since gems from the mines of the Urals became available on the market. When the Russian deposits were thought to have been exhausted, interest in the unique color miracle decreased - especially since alexandrites from other mines hardly ever displayed the coveted color change - . But the situation changed dramatically in 1987, when alexandrites were discovered in a place called Hematita in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Brazilian alexandrites showed both a distinctive color change and good clarity and color. Thus the somewhat dulled image of the miraculous stone received another boost. The color of the Brazilian stones is admittedly not as strong a green as that of Russian alexandrite, but the color change is clearly discernible. Today Hematita is one of the most important deposits of alexandrite in economic terms. Occasionally alexandrite with chatoyancy is discovered there, an effect which has not yet been observed in Russian alexandrite. Alexandrites are also recovered from sources in Sri Lanka, but the hue of these stones compares less than favorably with that of the Uralian alexandrites. They appear green in daylight and a brownish red in artificial light. The Tunduru area in southern Tanzania has also produced some outstanding specimens since the mid-1990’s. Alexandrites are also found in India, Burma, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. Although this stone is still considered a rarity, specialized gemstone dealers do stock it, especially since improved trade relationships between Russia and the rest of the world have ensured a better supply of Russian alexandrites to the market.
A gemstone for experts and gemstone lovers
With its good hardness of 81/2, alexandrite is an uncomplicated stone to wear. The more distinct the change of color, the more valuable the stone. A fine alexandrite should show a vivid bluish-green in daylight and a purplish-red in artificial light, without any trace of undesirable brown or gray. If the origin of the stone is known beyond dispute to be Russia, we are talking about a real rarity of enormous value. Finely faceted alexandrites above one carat are thus among the most expensive gemstones in the world, rarer than fine ruby, sapphire or emerald. Alexandrite is a stone for experts, enthusiasts and connoisseurs, a true understatement stone. Its uniqueness and high value are not evident at first sight. The mysterious color change will only occur on exposure to different light sources. But if you really get involved in alexandrite, you will be utterly fascinated by this gem. Maybe you will also feel some of the mysterious magic and lore ascribed to it. It is considered a stone of very good omen. In critical situations it is supposed to strengthen the wearer’s intuition, and thus help him or her find new ways forward in situations where logic will not provide an answer. Alexandrite is also reputed to aid creativity and inspire imagination. |
The skirts will be short this spring, and to balance that look, designers and fashion mavens are suggesting long, textured neckchains. Celebrities spotted wearing the layered look include Nicole Richie, Sienna Miller and Nicole Kidman. It's a look appealing for its personal statement; no two women will ever wear the same combination. Just be certain to vary the length of your neckchains for an interesting, yet non-bulky look. While beads of color can be a part of the mix, the emphasis for today's look is the link itself. The trendiest styles are textured link, with a hammered, oxidized or twisted coil design. Mix and match your yellow and white gold or platinum and silver for an eclectic effect. Wear your chains with skirts or capris for a fashionable style this season. For more information , stop by Newton's Jewelers at 525 Fourth St. in Graham or call (940)549-2282. |
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How To Buy A Diamond :It all starts with the 4 C's... |
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Special Gemstones and Jewelry Care TipsGeneral InformationCaring for jewelry is a necessary part of owning fine jewelry. With proper care, your jewelry will bring you continued satisfaction of ownership over many years. We are bringing you this information to help you in caring for your jewelry and gemstones to get the desired longevity of your investment. Some tips to remember when caring for your jewelry include:
- Avoid wearing fine jewelry when you're performing manual labor tasks, such as housework. Especially if you are submersing your hands in liquids.
- Clean your jewelry periodically. This will help ensure the fine appearance and will help it last. See the cleaning techniques below for the specific type of jewelry you own.
- Use a soft brush to help remove dirt on the prongs of larger gem jewelry. A good brush to use is an old clean toothbrush.
- Use plain alcohol or vodka to help reduce greasy film on diamond jewelry prior to performing other cleaning.
Gold InformationGold is a rare, soft, and very valuable metal. It is valued on a karat system where 24K gold is pure gold, and 10K gold is 10 parts gold with 14 parts alloy. Karat values in between correspond to a parts karat + parts alloy = 24 value. Some tips to remember when caring for gold jewelry include:
- Be wary of makeup, moisture, and chemicals that may affect your gold jewelry's appearance.
- Keep gold jewelry out of swimming pools with chlorine; chlorine can damage it over a period of time.
- Check your gold jewelry for scratches or other damage, and bring it to your jeweler if there is any; he or she may be able to repair it.
Silver InformationSilver, one of the world's most useful metals, is also one of the world's most valuable metals. It can achieve a great polish and does not tarnish in its pure form. Most silver jewelry is silver combined with other metals (alloys). This makes it more suitable for general jewelry use.
Some tips to remember when caring for silver jewelry include:
- Silver is scratch-resistant but not scratch-proof.
- In addition to the general jewelry care steps, silver jewelry care can benefit from special silver jewelry cleaning solutions. Check with your jeweler about these.
- Prevent your silver from being exposed to direct air and light contact.
- Avoid placing silver in chlorine-containing materials.
- Be selective in what you use to clean your silver, i.e. pads, cloths, etc. Felt works well, as do special cleansing cloths designed for silver cleaning. Other materials, including tissue, should be avoided. Ask your jeweler for more information.
Platinum InformationThe purity of platinum is often higher than that of gold. Platinum jewelry is usually in the neighborhood of 90%+ pure. It also more "solid" than gold in terms of how resistant it is to tarnishing by chlorine, etc. It is very strong; plus, it is a very popular choice in jewelry making. Some tips to remember when caring for platinum jewelry include:
- Fortunately, platinum is very durable and does not lose its polish very easily. Cleaning patterns are the same as other metals.
- For jewelry that combines platinum with other fine jewelry components (like gold), clean those substances and care for them as you would if they were not paired with platinum. Also, keep in mind the necessary steps for caring for these other components.
Cultured Pearl InformationCultured pearls have a living organism origin. They are highly susceptible to damage and are very delicate; cultured pearl jewelry owners should be careful with their cultured pearls. Some tips to remember when caring for cultured pearls include
- Be careful where you store your cultured pearl jewelry. Metal and other materials can damage the surface of the cultured pearl.
- Cleaning cultured pearls need only involve soap and water. Other cleaning agents may damage your cultured pearls.
- Remove traces of cosmetics and other such materials from your cultured pearl jewelry before placing it in its storage place.
- Wrap your cultured pearl jewelry in a tissue or other suitable holding device before placing it in its storage place.
- You should take your cultured pearl jewelry back to your jeweler for restringing once a year.
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Yesterday, Today, Forever.....
Chose from over 150 styles of three stone Diamond rings, earrings, and pendants.
Contemporary, Modern Vintage, Romantic or Floral, come by Newton's for the latest in Righthand Rings for the special lady in your life.
The elegance of Pearls is always in style. We have the latest in South Sea Cultured Pearls available for special order.
