Journal · 177 notes
Stones & grading
Written for buyers rather than for search engines: what a specification actually means, where an order usually goes wrong, and what to ask before you pay a deposit.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Painite: The Story Behind the World's Rarest Gemstone
Painite was once listed in Guinness as the rarest mineral on Earth. Its history, color, sources, and what it means for collectors and jewelers today.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Thulite: The Rosy Pink Zoisite From Scandinavia
Thulite is the pink, manganese-rich variety of zoisite, best known from Norway. Learn how it is cut, worn, and cared for in jewelry.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Alexandrite: The Color-Change Gemstone, Explained
Alexandrite shifts from green to red depending on the light. We explain the science, pricing tiers, and why lab-grown versions sit beside natural stones.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Tanzanite Gemstone: The Rare Blue-Violet Stone from Tanzania
What tanzanite is, why it is only found in one place, how heat turns it blue, its Mohs hardness, and whether it works in a daily-wear ring.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Chrysoprase: The Apple-Green Chalcedony Worth Knowing
Chrysoprase is nickel-colored green chalcedony, once Catherine the Great's favorite. Here is how to judge it, set it, and care for it.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Spinel Gemstone Guide: The Crown Jewel Impostor
Some of history's most famous rubies were actually spinel. Why the impostor gem finally gets its own spotlight, and how its value compares.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Seraphinite: Green Stone with Silver Feathers
Seraphinite is a Russian chlorite with silver feathery inclusions. Learn where it comes from, how it is cut, and why it is best kept away from daily wear.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Grandidierite: The Blue-Green Collector Gem From Madagascar
Grandidierite is a rare blue-green trichroic mineral from Madagascar. Its properties, sources, and why faceted stones are so scarce.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Choosing a Gemstone for a Daily-Wear Ring: Hardness Is Only Half the Answer
Mohs hardness is the first filter, but toughness, cleavage, and sensitivity to heat and chemicals decide which stones survive an everyday ring.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Gemstone Durability Beyond the Mohs Scale: Hardness Is Not Toughness
Mohs hardness alone does not predict ring-wear survival. Toughness, heat and chemical stability decide whether a gem lasts on a hand.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Wholesale Moissanite Jewelry Production: GRA-Certified Bulk
Wholesale moissanite jewelry production: GRA certificates, stone grading, setting tolerances, bulk pricing tiers and what boutiques actually sell through.
Stones & grading · Aug 2026
Rose, Yellow, White: How Gold Alloy Colors Are Actually Made
Pure gold is too soft to use. Copper, silver, zinc, palladium, and nickel are blended in to make rose, yellow, and white gold — here is how.