was the key to their success. Why?.
Garnet
Garnet is a far more exciting and versatile stone than people may think. Although the word garnet usually conjures up
Amber
It is easy to see why amber, once called the gold of the north, was so highly prized. Remove the crusty, weathered
Demantoid
A green variant of Garnet, or more accurately, the rarest, most valuable, most brilliant of green garnets. Exceedingly
Jade
Jade is a gemstone with two incarnations - one abundant, the other a rare precious gem. Yet both jadeite and nephrite
Kyanite
Nearly all gemstones have a single hardness value, no matter where it is measured on the crystal.
Cabochons
Attitudes toward cabochon-cut gemstones vary from country to country. The United States and Britain view faceted stones
Lapis lazuli
Lapis lazuli translates from the Arabic as "heaven (or sky) stone" - it was clearly held in high regard in ancient