Autumnal Beauties of November: Citrine & Topaz

November may be a chilly month, but its two birthstones heat things up. November babies are lucky to have not one, but two gemstones with which to celebrate their birthdays… citrine and topaz. Below are some interesting and little known facts about these beautifully autumnal gemstones…

1. While the Ayurvedic birthstone list only includes topaz, the Jewelers of America list considers both citrine and yellow topaz as official November birthstones.
2. Citrines are quartz crystals commonly found in igneous metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
3. The common colors of citrines are yellow and orange. 
4. The word citrine is derived from the French word, citrin, which means lemon.
5. Citrine is the gemstone for the Zodiac sign of Scorpio, and the 13th and 17th wedding anniversaries.
6. In ancient times, citrine was worn as protection against bad skin, evil thoughts, snakebites, and even the plague.
7. A gift of citrine symbolizes strength and hope. 

8. Some believe citrine began as amethyst, the purple quartz, but the heat from molten rock changed it to yellow quartz.  

9. The presence of fluorine usually indicates that topaz is likely to be found.
10. When topaz has red or pink overtones, it is known as Imperial topaz, and can be very rare and expensive.
11. It is widely believed that the word topaz is derived from the Sanskrit word, topas, which means fire.
12. Topaz jewelry is given for the 4th, 19th and 23rd wedding anniversaries.
13. Topaz is known as the “stone of strength.”
14. A gift of yellow topaz symbolizes friendship, strength, wisdom, and courage.

15. Topaz was once believed to ease bad tempers, cure insanity, and help insomnia.
16. The ancient Egyptians believed yellow topaz’s color came from the glow cast by the sun god, Ra.

17. The ancient Greeks believed topaz could make its wearer invisible.

If you’re born in November or just love these beautiful gemstones of the fall, Adina by Empire Jewelers has an extensive collection of beautiful citrine and topaz jewelry, at true wholesale prices, as well as a wide variety of precious and semi-precious gemstone jewelry. Shop online today, and remember, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

October Birthstone: The Opal

Opals, the birthstone for the month of October, have a mystery and history as interesting as their iridescence. Whether you were born in October or not, improve your knowledge of opals with these fun facts from Adina Jewelers from Empire:

1. The opal is an ancient mineral known as petrified silica gel that is found near the earth's surface where geothermal hot springs once existed.
2. Many opals contain a rainbow-like iridescence known as "opalescence,” which changes the colors that appear in the stone depending on the angle it is viewed.
3. Opalescence is caused by a hydrous silicon dioxide material that causes the gemstone to flash iridescent colors when the opal is viewed from different angles.
4. The subcategory of opals known as precious opals are the most in demand because of their "opalescence” or “play of color.”
5. The word opal is derived from the Latin word "opalus," meaning precious jewel, as well as “upala,” the Sanskrit name for precious stone.
6. Opals are given to celebrate a 14th wedding anniversary, and are a symbol of faithfulness and confidence.
7. The ancient Romans called the opal “Cupid Paederos,” which translates to “a child beautiful as love.”
8. In ancient Rome, opals were ground up and consumed because they were believed to have healing properties and the power to ward off bad dreams.
9. The Great Bard, Shakespeare, loved opals so much, he nicknamed them the “queen of the gems.”
10. The opal is Australia’s national gemstone, and its indigenous people call opals “the fire in the desert.”
11. Coober Pedy, Australia, is known as “The Opal Capital of the World” because 51 percent of the world’s supply of opals are mined there.
12. In 2008, NASA discovered opal deposits on Mars! Since opal is made up of mostly water, Mars may have contained water for billions of years.

If you’re born in October, or just looking to buy beautiful opal gemstones, Adina by Empire Jewelers has a magnificent collection of estate and vintage opal jewelry, available at true wholesale prices, as well as a wide variety of precious and semi-precious gemstone jewelry. Shop online today, and remember, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

All About September’s Birthstone: The Blue Sapphire

September’s official birthstone, the blue sapphire, is one of the most beautiful and regal of all gemstones. Improve your knowledge of sapphires with this issue’s Adina by Empire’s newsletter, then check out our online eBay store and find yourself the perfect piece of sapphire jewelry!

1. Blue sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum, the same mineral that rubies come from.
2. The sapphire is derived from the Greek word sapphirus, which means blue.
3. On the Mohs hardness scale, sapphires are second only to diamonds in hardness.
4. Although sapphires come in many colors, the most valuable and sought after are deep blue sapphires.
5. In addition to the birthstone for September, sapphires are also the gemstone for 45th wedding anniversaries.
6. The ancient Greeks believed sapphires were a symbol of wisdom and purity.
7. The ancient Persians believed the Earth was supported by a giant sapphire and its reflection made the sky blue.
8. According to Jewish midrash, Moses was given tablets of sapphire that were carved from God’s throne, making them the most precious gemstone.
9. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, famously chose a blue sapphire and diamond ring for her engagement to Prince Charles. After enheriting it upon her death, Prince William gave his mother’s ring to Kate Middleton when he proposed to her, and she now wears it.
10. During both royal weddings, reproductions of Princess Diana’s ring became so popular with the public that it became known as “the commoner’s ring.”

If you’re looking to buy beautiful sapphire jewelry, either for yourself or a loved one born in September, Adina by Empire Jewelers has a magnificent collection of estate and vintage sapphire jewelry, available at true wholesale prices. Shop online today, and remember, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Double the Fun with August’s Two Birthstones

Amethyst Peridot Ring

Those people born in August are have double the luck, as they have not one, but two official birthstones. Learn more about the twin gemstones of August…

• Peridot is the gem variety of the mineral olivine, and range in color from from yellow-green to lime-green.
• Peridot is formed in magma deep in the earth’s mantle, and is brought to the surface by volcanic or tectonic activity.
• The word 'peridot' is derived from the Greek word 'peridona,' which means 'to give richness.'
• Peridot is also known as 'chrysolite,' derived from the Greek 'gold stone,' and 'olivine.'
• Peridot is the stone given to celebrate a 16th wedding anniversary.
• Peridot is an ancient gem, and can be found in Egyptian jewelry from the early 2nd millennium BC.
• The ancient Romans called peridot “the evening emerald” because of its deep green color when reflected by lamplight.
• Peridot is the national gem of Egypt, where it is referred to as the “gem of the sun.”
• Sardonyx is a variation of onyx, a semiprecious stone of the silica mineral, agate.
• Sardonyx only appears in hues of orange and red.
• The word sardonyx is derived from Sard, meaning reddish-brown, and onyx, meaning veined gem.
• During the Renaissance, sardonyx was often worn by public speakers to make them more visible to the audience.
• On sardonyx gems, the layers of white, grey or black interspersed with red or reddish brown are created by layers of reddish-brown mud and layers of lava.

If you’re looking to buy as a birthday gift for a loved one born in August, or some gemstone jewelry for yourself, Adina by Empire Jewelers has a beautiful collection of estate and vintage jewelry, available at true wholesale prices. Shop online today and enjoy our vast selection of fine estate and vintage jewelry, plus watches, diamonds, gold, sterling silver, coins and more. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

July's Romantic Rubies: Fun Facts and Lore

July's Romantic Rubies: Fun Facts and Lore

This month we pay tribute to the wildly romantic and luxurious Ruby, the birthstone of July. You’re all familiar with one of the most iconic movie costume pieces of all time — the Ruby slippers. Here we present some fun facts for those lucky enough to have the Ruby as their birthstone, and for those that just love rubies:

1. Ruby is the birthstone for July, as well as the astrological sign of Capricorn.
2. Ruby is the red gem form of the mineral corundum, which has an absolute hardness of 400 (compared to diamonds which have an absolute hardness of 1600).
3. Trace amounts of the element chromium is what gives rubies their red appearance.
4. Blue corundum gems are called sapphires.
5. Rubies in shades of pink are simply referred to as pink rubies.
6. The finest rubies in the world were once found in Burma in South and Southeast Asia. Today, Burma is known as Myanmar.
7. The color of the pure red rubies from the mines of Mogok were sometimes referred to as "pigeon’s blood.”
8. The most expensive ruby ever sold was an 8.62 carat pigeon's blood cushion-cut ruby set in an 18-karat gold rectangular mount. It sold at auction at Christie’s in 2006 for a reported $3.6 million.
9. In ancient times, rubies were thought to give its wearer good health, wisdom, wealth, and success in love.
10. Flawless top quality rubies are more valuable and rare than top quality colorless diamonds.
11. The word red is derived from the Latin word, ruber.
12. Almost all natural rubies are treated to improve their color and strength; this is standard practice and accepted by the American Gem Trade Association and Israel-Diamonds.
13. At the end of The Wizard of Oz, Glinda the Good Witch of the North tells Dorothy she can return home to Kansas by clicking the heels of her ruby slippers together three times and repeating the phrase, “There’s no place like home.”

If you’re looking to buy rubies, either as a birthday gift for a loved one born in July, or just because you love the lovely red gemstone of the month, Adina by Empire Jewelers has a beautiful collection of estate and vintage jewelry, available at true wholesale prices. Shop online today and enjoy our vast selection of fine ruby estate and vintage jewelry, plus watches, diamonds, gold, sterling silver, coins and more. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

June Birthstones: Pearl, Alexandrite, Moonstone

June has not one, but three birthstones: Pearl, Alexandrite, and Moonstone. In this issue of Adina’s Newsletter, find out some interesting information about the fascinating and unusual birthstones of June:

1. There is only one other month of the year that boasts three birthstones. December’s birthstones are turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite.
2. The pearl is also the birthstone for the Sun Signs Gemini and Cancer.
3. Pearls are organic gemstones created when a tiny irritant such as sand enters a mollusk’s shell. The mollusk secretes nacre to coat the object, and the layers become pearls.
4. You can tell if a pearl is real by sliding it across your teeth. If it’s gritty, it’s probably real.
5. Around 90 percent of pearls are cultured, meaning they are made by mollusks under controlled conditions,and are difficult to differentiate from naturally occurring pearls.
6. Shortly after her death in 2011, Elizabeth Taylor’s La Peregrina pearl necklace was purchased at her "The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor" Christie's auction for $11.8 million — the highest amount any pearl has ever sold for at auction.
7. The largest natural pearl was discovered in Patterson, NJ.
8. Alexandrite is a rare gemstone made of the mineral chrysoberyl that changes from green to red in incandescent light.
9. The Alexandrite was named after the Russian tsar, Alexander II, and was the national stone of old Imperial Russia.
10. Moonstone was given its name by the Roman natural historian Pliny, who wrote that moonstone's appearance was altered with the phases of the moon — that belief held until some time after the 16^th century.
11. The blue seen in moonstones is not mineral color, but a form of iridescence from multi-layer interference of light known as adularescence.

If you’re looking to buy birthstone, Adina by Empire Jewelers has a beautiful collection of estate and vintage jewelry, available at true wholesale prices. Shop online today and enjoy our vast selection of fine pearl jewelry, watches, diamonds, gold, sterling silver, estate and vintage jewelry, coins and more. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Emerald, the May Birthstone

Emerald, the May Birthstone

Here are some fun facts to help improve your knowledge and lore of the stunning and ever-popular Emerald:

Emerald, the May Birthstone

1. Emeralds are a variety of the mineral beryl.
2. Emerald green is the most sought after and valuable shade of emerald.
3. Emeralds get their green color from trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium.
4. Ireland is known as “the Emerald Isle” for its lush green fields.
5. The emerald is the gemstone for the Zodiac star sign, Taurus.
6. Emeralds are traditionally given as gifts for 20th, 35th and 55th anniversaries.
7. An emerald with the right color and characteristics can be rarer and more expensive than a diamond of similar size.
8. Emeralds are symbolic of springtime and rebirth, and so are believed to help with  fertility, ensure a healthy pregnancy, and ease childbirth.
9. The word emerald is derived from the Greek word, smaragdos, which means means green stone.
10. On a scale of 10, emeralds are a 7.8 – 8 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
11. Today, most emeralds are found in Colombia, and the most famous emerald deposit is called the Muzo mine, located northwest of Bogota.
12. Up until around 200 years ago, peridots were commonly mistaken to be emeralds.
13. Green Swarovski crystals are used to make replica emeralds because they can be more precisely faceted.