50 Shades of Green
When you think of green gemstones, emeralds are probably what comes to mind. But did you know that there are other green gemstones as well? Green sapphire, peridot, tsavourite (garnet), tourmaline, mint quartz, alexandrite, and topaz (among others) are all beautiful and varying shades of green. A lot of these green gemstones carry beliefs from ancient times for being calming, evoking happiness and encouraging romance. The colour green itself represents nature and new life. It is a fresh colour associated with spring and happiness. Who wouldn’t want to wear a green gemstone? Here is a look at just a few of them:
Emerald
There are only four recognized precious gemstones in the world. Emerald is one of them. It sits alongside ruby, sapphire and diamond. It has been one of the most desirable and valuable coloured gemstones for over 4000 years, with the oldest emeralds sitting at around 2.97 billion years old. While diamonds are often portrayed as the rarest and most expensive gemstone, emeralds are actually extremely rare and are often more expensive than diamonds on a per carat basis. They are also thought to have many spiritual benefits. In ancient times it was believed that putting an emerald under your tongue would make it possible to see into the future or that gazing into them would help relieve stress and eye strain. Feeling stressed? Try wearing an emerald!
Alexandrite[alexand-right]
Emerald by day, ruby by night – Alexandrite has a very special characteristic – it displays one of the most remarkable colour changes in the gem world. In sunlight, it appears green, but changes to red in incandescent light. The degree of colour change and the purity of the colours determines value. Alexandrite forms using the same two elements as emerald; beryllium and chromium. These two elements rarely occur together, making both emeralds and alexandrite very rare. So, if you want the best of both worlds (and a little bit of magic) alexandrite might just be the gem for you!
Tsavorite[t-save-or-right]
If you’re looking for a more affordable and more durable green gemstone, tsavorite is a good option. While it looks similar to an emerald it has many less inclusions (or imperfections) that make them stronger and require less protection in a jewellery setting. It is also said to be more brilliant in colour than emerald. A large majority of tsavorite gems mined are under 1 carat in weight, while 1 carat and over are very rare – even rarer than emeralds.
These are just 3 of the many magnificent green gemstones available today. Each has their own unique characteristics, but they all share commonly believed mystical properties surrounding calmness, happiness, romance and wellbeing in general. So, if green’s your colour, or you want to give it a try, come and see us at Showcase Jewellers Te Awamutu – we have a wide range, sure to exceed your expectations.