Red Gems are Hot for Valentine's Day According to GIA.Business Editors CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2002 Think red for Valentine's Day -- as in red gemstones. The world of red gemstones is fascinating. They're hot, sexy, confident, passionate... and never boring! Each red gem has its own personality -- and it radiates from every facet. If you are shopping for a red gemstone gemstone Any of various minerals prized for beauty, durability, and rarity. A few noncrystalline materials of organic origin (e.g., pearl, red coral, and amber) also are classified as gemstones. for Valentine's Day, there are several intriguing choices available -- and one is bound to be right for you. Colored stone experts at the Gemological Institute of America The Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, is a non-profit institute dedicated to research and education in the field of gemology. The GIA is also well known for its gem identification and grading services, and developed the famous "four Cs" (Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat (GIA Noun 1. GIA - a terrorist organization of Islamic extremists whose violent activities began in 1992; aims to overthrow the secular Algerian regime and replace it with an Islamic state; "the GIA has embarked on a terrorist campaign of civilian massacres" ), the world's foremost authority in gemology gem·ol·o·gy or gem·mol·o·gy n. The study of gems. gem  o·log , provide the following insightful glimpses into four of the most popular red gemstone choices: Ruby: King of Red Gemstones Mined in exotic locales around the world -- including Myanmar, Madagascar, East Africa and Sri Lanka -- the ruby is the undisputed king of red gems. Ruby offers a distinctive range of red hues that vary from light (pinkish) to dark, velvety reds, and hits a brighter red in between. And, ruby is very hard -- second only to diamond in hardness (resistance to scratching). What's the best ruby shade? It's the one that speaks to you, as the potential wearer of this appealing gem. View the spectrum of red hues, and see which one best fits you. Keep in mind that vivid rubies are considered the highest quality, but they are rare and will thus be more expensive. Spinel spinel, magnesium aluminum oxide, MgAl2O4, a mineral crystallizing in the isometric system, usually as octahedrons. It occurs as an accessory mineral in basic igneous rocks, in aluminum-rich metamorphic rocks, and in contact-metamorphosed : The Great Pretender GIA's colored stone experts point out that quite a few famous "rubies" in royal jewels throughout the world are actually spinels -- some even reside in the British Crown Jewels. Spinel has been mistaken for ruby for centuries. Now that it has come into its own, spinel fans love its brilliance and hardness. They are also captivated by its rich reds, although the gem appears in a spectrum of other colors. Spinel is a durable gem that is affordable but also uncommon. It's mined in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tajikistan (part of the former Soviet Union) and Vietnam. Garnet: The Popular Gem Although garnets appear in many colors, red is the most admired. It's also plentiful and affordable. Garnet is very durable, so it's ideal for daily wear. The three species of red garnet are almandine al·man·dine also al·man·dite n. A deep violet-red garnet, FeAl2Si3O12, found in metamorphic rocks and used as a gemstone. , rhodolite rho·do·lite n. A rose-red or pink variety of garnet, a silicate mineral used as a gem. Noun 1. rhodolite - a red or pink variety of garnet used as a gemstone , and pyrope py·rope n. A deep red garnet, Mg3Al2Si3O12, used as a gem. [Middle English pirope, from Old French, from Latin . Almandine garnet is a medium-red color. Rhodolite is found in red with purple or raspberry overtones. Pyrope, from the Greek word pyropus meaning "fiery-eyed," is the darkest red garnet. The finest specimens have a glowing red color. Garnets are mined in East Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Tourmaline tourmaline (t  r`məlĭn, –lēn), complex borosilicate mineral with varying amounts of aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, potassium, and sometimes other elements, : A Colorful Character This colorful gemstone occurs in more colors and color combinations than any other gemstone variety, according to GIA. In the tourmaline family, a red gemstone is referred to as a rubellite ru·bel·lite n. The red variety of tourmaline, used as a gemstone. [Latin rubellus, red; see rubella + -ite1.] . Widely available, rubellites also come in larger sizes, making them a favorite choice for contemporary jewelry. Important sources of rubellite are Brazil and Nigeria. When shopping for gemstones, it's advisable to go to a jeweler who has credentials from GIA, such as a Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) or Accredited accredited recognition by an appropriate authority that the performance of a particular institution has satisfied a prestated set of criteria. accredited herds cattle herds which have achieved a low level of reactors to, e.g. Jewelry Professional (A.J.P.). GIA also offers identification reports on gemstones, including those discussed here, to verify their authenticity. For more information, visit www.gia.edu, or call 800/421-7250. About GIA An independent nonprofit organization, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is recognized as the world's foremost authority in the grading and identification of diamonds, gemstones and pearls. Established in 1931, GIA has translated its expert knowledge into the most respected gemological education available. In 1953, the Institute created the International Diamond Grading System(TM) which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world. Through research, education, and gemological laboratory services, the Institute is dedicated to protecting the interests of both the public and the jewelry industry alike. GIA has 13 locations worldwide in 10 countries, with its headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion