Gemstones

​     A diamond is truly forever! It takes billions (YES! Billions!) of years for carbon within the earth to be pressurized into Diamonds, mined, cut and then set in the perfect ring. They are the same chemical composition as your everyday graphite pencil, yet the process of the Earth’s pressure applied over billions of years creates this peerless gemstone. We do not source our diamonds directly from the mines, they have been repurposed, reset or recut to become what we offer. By staying away from mined sources we are helping to promote an earth and human friendly jewel. We offer GIA certifications for any of our diamonds over half a carat and could certainly help find the perfect diamond to help fit both your chosen setting and price range. 

     The word ‘diamond’ comes to us from the Greek word ‘adamas’ meaning ‘invincible’. They have the metaphysical property of amplifying emotion, thus they are particularly powerful when given for love. It is the April birthstone and is also used to celebrate 60th anniversaries. Though diamonds are not rare by any means, they are valuable because of the variety of industrial applications from sandpaper to dental tools. As the hardest known substance on earth, diamonds have durability unrivaled by any other stone. They are also one of the easiest gemstones to care for. Gentle Dish soap and a soft toothbrush are our preferred cleaning method, but diamonds do just fine in an ultrasonic as well. Just keep in mind that the stone is more durable than the metal surrounding it, so make sure to keep an eye on the prongs when you clean your ring; and make sure to stay away from harsh chemicals. The durability of Diamonds is the reason they are so sought after for wedding and engagement bands, and with bonus sparkle!

     Sapphires are wonderfully hard stones, second only to Diamonds. The name ‘sapphire’ comes to us from the Persian word for blue, ‘safir’, as the traditional Sapphire is a deep blue color. However, they come in all colors (the red variation you might know better as Ruby)! Sapphires (and Rubies) are made from Corundum a common mineral but only rarely is it found in gem qualities, and it is found in only a few places around the world; all contributing to it’s preciousness. White sapphires were traditional stones for wedding bands before the DeBeers company started to promote diamonds in the mid-19th century. Green Sapphires have a beautiful Peridot-like tone, but a burst of color appears in the facets when brought into the light. Other colors that can be acquired are Yellow, Pink, Violet, Orange and the rare Padparadscha Sapphire, which is a pinkish-orange (Porange?) in color. 

     Sapphire is the September birthstone and there is a long history of famous Sapphires from around the world. The Star of India, weighing in at 536 carats, was found several centuries ago in Sri Lanka and currently can be seen at the American Museum of Natural History. The Smithsonian has its own epic Sapphire; the 423-carat Logan Sapphire is the largest faceted gemstone on display anywhere in the world! Sapphires are the birthstone for the month of September. They are known as the Success stones and it's said, in many cultures, to ward of the evil eye. They can help you succeed by bringing about your dreams and desires. No wonder it is a much-sought-after engagement stone!

     Ruby is one of the four precious stones (the others being sapphire, emerald and, of course, diamond). It is very rare being only one of many color variations of corundum (the other colors being categorized as Sapphire). In fact, the word ‘corundum’ comes to us from the Tamil (a language spoken in Sri Lanka) word ‘kurundam’ meaning ‘ruby sapphire’. It has been valued for millennia throughout the world. In India, the Sanscrit word for Ruby is ‘ratnaraj’ meaning ‘king of precious stones’ and it was believed that giving a Ruby to Krishna would ensure good luck in your next life. Medieval Europe saw the Ruby as a stone to bring good health, wisdom and a prosperous love life. It is the birthstone for July.

     The bright red color comes from chromium within the stone. The most sought after tone of Ruby is called “pigeon’s blood” and is a deep red with magenta highlights. As opposed to a garnet, which has more orange undertones, Rubies tend toward a pinker hue. Rubies will always naturally have visible inclusions in them, making it easy to spot a lab created stone. Of course a lab created Ruby does have the benefit of being less expensive than the natural rare gemstone, yet it is still chemically the same; just grown by scientists instead of by nature. Another cost-effective option is a heat-treated stone, where the natural Ruby undergoes irradiation to bring out a more vibrant red color in otherwise inferior colored stones. This gives everyone the opportunity to have a Ruby set in their favorite ring.

     While one might think of Diamonds in their most popular color white, they actually come in a full rainbow of colors! Yellow and Brown colored diamonds, referred to as Canary and Champagne diamonds respectively, are colored by various impurities found within the stone, which give them the golden hue. Blue Diamonds are colored by inclusions of the element Boron. Other fancy colors include pink, orange, green, black and even red (a VERY rare version of diamonds!). Regardless of the shade, colored Diamonds are still as sparkly in their facets as a pure white diamond; a wonderful way to add color and durability to your dream ring.

     Star Sapphires and Rubies have inclusions that create a rare effect called ‘Asterism’. When a light hits the stone, the reflection created a 6-point star that seems to float atop the face of the stone. This effect is created by small, needle-like inclusions of rutile, mostly composed of titanium dioxide. These ‘silky’ inclusions create this effect in Rubies and Sapphires, as well as the cats-eye effect found in other stones. Star Sapphires and Rubies are the same hardness as their more pure counterparts, but are only found in cabochon cut as that helps to create the asterism effect. Star Sapphires and Rubies are most popular in red, black or blue colors, but might be able to be found in any color of your choice.

     Emerald is the fourth of the precious stone (the others being Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond). It is the most precious stone within the beryl group, which includes stones like Aquamarine and Morganite. The name ‘Emerald’ from Old French ‘esmeralde’ which, in turn, came from the Greek word ‘smaragdos’ meaning ‘green stone’. The green color of Emerald is created by the inclusion of chromium within beryl, the very same element that turns the mineral corundum red in a Ruby! Emeralds always have visible inclusions in them, similar to the Ruby, which can make them less resistant to breakage than other stone of similar hardness. Because of these inclusions, when emeralds are mined, they generally are ‘oiled’ right out of the ground. This application of, typically, cedar oil fills in the cracks on an emerald and brings out the color. Make sure not to use harsh chemicals on your stone as to preserve the oil and protect the gem. 

     The Emerald Cut is a popular cut for many stones, but was created specifically for Emerald. Its rectangular shape has truncated corners with a step cut around the edges. This maximizes the luster and color of the stone, while maintaining mechanical integrity of the gem. Emeralds are the birthstone for the merry month of May as well as for 20th and 35th anniversaries. Many ancient cultures in South America, such as the Inca, regarded the Emerald as a holy stone. The Vedic in ancient India believed emerald to bring good luck and well-being and have been found with many a Maharajas treasure chest. All around the world, cultures have celebrated this magnificent stone.

     The name garnet comes from the Medieval Latin term ‘granatus’ meaning ‘grain’ since the small flecks of red crystals are usually found growing in a host rock. The Pharaohs of Egypt decorated with them and the Romans enjoyed trading them and using them for their own jewelry. In the 16th century a Garnet mine opened in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) making it an important center of the gemstone trade, which is still true to this day. Today Garnet is associated with the birth month of January. 

     The Garnet family of stone is the largest in the world. They come in dozens of varieties but only 6 different types are used for gemstones: Pyrope (which encompasses Rhodolite garnets), Almandite (the typical orangish-red color of Garnet), Spessartite (including the color change Garnet), Grossularite (Hessonite, but also Tzavorite Garnets), Andradite and Uvarovite. Though Almandite garnets, or red garnets, are quite common most are not of gem quality and are used for industrial purposes. A fascinating way some of these are mined is found in Arizona. Ants, in creating their colonies, bring up Garnet crystals to the surface where miner and hiker alike can collect them. Most of these, as usual, are not suitable for cutting, but a rare few are found to be the perfect gemstone. Other variations include color-change and Rhodolite Garnets (a purplish-red color). With so many varieties to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect Garnet for your ring!

     Alexandrite is one of the most rare stones in the world. It is a pleochroic stone, which means it changes color depending on the lighting. In the sunlight, a natural alexandrite looks a bluish-green but in lower lighting it turns red, going through shades of purple along the way. Alexandrite is a type of chrysoberyl but with the rare composition of impurities that give it its ineffable coloration. The inclusion of chromium gives it the green hues you might see in the daylight but it is the iron and titanium traces that make this stone truly spectacular. June babies are lucky to have this stone as their birthstone, along with Pearl and Moonstone. 

     Alexandrite was named after Tzar Nicolas II of Russia, where the first mine was found. The Russian mine in the Ural Mountains was, rather quickly, mined out so the Alexandrites you see today are most likely from the newer mines of Brazil, Tanzania or Sri Lanka. The mining process of the stones does not often yield very large stones, but the Smithsonian (as always) has the largest one, weighing in at 66 carats! Lab-created Alexandrites are typically made from corundum (sapphire/ruby) with particular elements to give the colored effect but they are difficult to make, so their price isn’t as low as other synthetic gemstones. 

     Opals are the most popular among our stones. They are named from the Sanskrit word ‘upala’ meaning   ‘valuable stone’ and are essentially just gem-quality silicone dioxide. The beautiful burst of colors comes from diffracted light being bounced off small spheres of silica gel within the stone, as well as ‘chips’ of silica and oxygen. It is also 3-30% water, which can make it more delicate than more solid stone. Taking care of your opal is key to having it for many years. They are delicate stones so need to make sure to remove your ring when doing any cleaning or activities that could scratch it. You can clean with mild dish soap and a soft toothbrush. If you want to store it for a while, it is recommended to wrap it in plastic with a small, damp cotton ball to keep it hydrated.

     Opal is the official stone of Australia, since 97% of all of the world’s opals come from the continent. An old Australian Aboriginal folktale tells of the Creator coming down to earth to share stories with mankind. When his feet hit the ground, the earth began to sparkle, and that was believed to be the origin of this marvelous stone.

     There are many superstitions surrounding Opals in modern society as well, but don’t let those hold you back. Many of the superstitions pertaining this stone all have origins from the DeBeers marketing for Diamonds. Queen Victoria loved Opals, which came from her new colony of Australia, which means the rest of the Victorian world followed suit. The DeBeers company wanted to push Diamonds from their new African mines, so they started the rumors about Opals. The Victorians were very superstitious and ate up this information and quickly switched their love to Diamonds. Those superstitions are told to this day! So do not despair if you are not born in October, it is not unlucky for you; nor is it unlucky to buy it for yourself. Celebrate yourself with this wonderful stone!

     Opal Triplets are a great way to have the wonderful play of color of an Opal but with some protection. Opal Triplets are three natural stones that have been put together. Black Onyx is on the backside of the opal and a quartz crystal lies on top. Because the Opal is encased in two other harder stones, it is more protected than a normal exposed Opal. Though it does have some more strength make sure to not submerge it in water for too long, because water can get in between the individual layered stones and make it look foggy. The Black Onyx brings out so much color within the opal. Blue and Green become bright, and reds and pinks can also be seen in this variation.

     Amethyst is the most valuable gem belonging to the quartz mineral family. Its bright purple color comes from inclusions of iron and aluminum. It is closely related to Citrine, which is essentially the same minus the amount of iron, which what give Amethyst its color. By heating the Amethyst to high temperatures, the iron content reduces and turns the stone yellow. Ametrine is a stone that shows both colors on either end.   

     The name Amethyst comes from the Greek word ‘amethystos’ which means ‘not drunken’ as they believed the stone could help ward off intoxication. Legend has it the stone was created by Dionysus, the god of wine and merriment. He was made angry by a human and vowed to hurt the next mortal that crossed his path. Amethyst was a beautiful young maiden who was on the way to leave an offering to Artemis and the unlucky soul to next cross his path. Artemis saw what was about to happen and turned her into crystal to protect her. Dionysus saw that he had done and cried tears of wine over her, turning the stone to vivid purple. Purple has been attributed to Royalty across the world, so this stone has ben very popular throughout history. They were worn by ancient Egyptians, coveted by Catherine the Great and even featured on the Crown Jewels of Britain. In the Catholic Church it is considered the stone of the Bishops and is usually featured in a ring worn by the clergy.  It beautiful and vibrant color is still popular around the world today.

     A powerful Kahuna meditation using the Violet Ray of the Amethyst has the devotee holding before oneself cupped hands, visualizing what one wants to transform, and sending the visual into the violet flames to dissipate on high, then returning to the cupped hands to visualize what you’d like this to change into, infusing this new vision with violet light, lifting up ones hands again to let go of this to ones higher self. Saying “So Be it”, or “thy will be done” lets the greater good take it from you and release you from further concern. Repetition of this ritual over time gives it greater strength and efficacy.

     Peridot is the gem quality version of the mineral Olivine. It is unique among gemstones because the bright green color actually comes right from the Olivine mineral and not from impurities, like other colored gemstones; thus Peridot is one of the only gemstone that comes in only one color. It is a very clear gemstone, with little to no impurities observable in most stones. Its purity also makes it wonderful to be cut in many different shapes and facets!

The name ‘peridot’ comes from the Arabic word ‘faridat’, meaning ‘gem’. Peridot is one of the oldest known gemstones, with references to the green stone going back to 1500 BC, a particular favorite of the (in)famous Queen Cleopatra.  It is formed deep within the earths crust and is thrust up through volcanic and tectonic activity, much like Diamonds.  The volcanic island of Zabargad in the Red Sea had been the source for Peridot for millennia and it is again since its rediscovery in 1900. Peridot is the birthstone for August, a warm summery green for a warm summery month! The stone is also out of this world, as it has been found within meteors and meteorites and Olivine (its composite mineral) has been found on Mars!

This is the most rare form of Topaz and has been sought after for millennia. Imperial Topaz is gold, an almost pinkish yellow color. It is the original birthstone for November, with Citrine being the alternative option to this rare stone. It looks particularly stunning set in gold, as you find it difficult to see where the metal stops and the stone begins. The ancient Egyptians praised it for this quality and attributed it the sun god, Ra. A bright and sunny stone to add to your collection.

     Topaz is a relatively hard stone that comes in a wide variety of colors. In its purest form, it is colorless; but impurities create the variety of colors they come in. The ancient Greeks and Egyptians loved it, particularly the yellowish toned stones, but today it has been found that most of the stones that inspired ancient cultures are actually Crysolite.  The blue colors are the most popular today. They do occur naturally, but usually in a lighter color so many have been slightly processed to bring out vibrancy in the color. Glacier Blue (a bright, glowing blue) and London Blue (steel blue in color) are two beautiful examples of this effect. Mystic Topaz is an example of the other kind of treatment done with Topaz; a metallic coating added to a heated stone creates the multicolored effect. While this is quite beautiful, it is not necessarily permanent and has tendency to fade over time. This is a similar situation for Green or vibrant Pink Topaz.

     Blue Topaz is the December birthstone, as well as the stone for commemorating 4th and 23rd anniversaries. The Greeks believed that Topaz could bring strength and courage to the wearer. In India, Topaz is believed to open up the throat chakra, which aids in communication and self-expression.

     Aquamarine is a wonderful shade of light greenish-blue, and a precious form of Beryl. It is closely related to to the chromium-rich form of Beryl, Emerald. It’s lustrous sea blue color, it’s name being Latin for ‘seawater’. Aquamarine gets its delicate color from impurities of iron within the clear beryl crystal.  It differs from other beryls in that it tends to be much more clear of a stone than the heavily included Emerald.

     Aquamarines have always been associated with the sea. They were once believed to have originated in the treasure chests of mermaids. They were also considered a lucky stone among sailors, a particularly superstitious crowd. The Greeks and Romans both believed that because the stone comes from mermaids thus a sailor carrying one would be protected by the magical sea creatures. In modern times it has become the birthstone for March, and those water-loving Pisces.

     Citrine is a wonderful golden quartz stone, closely related to Amethyst. Natural Citrine is becoming increasingly rare, due to its popularity and the intense amount of heat that is needed to create the intense yellow hue. It is actually one of the few gemstones that occur naturally in these golden colors. The name comes from the French word ‘citron’ meaning ‘lemon’, though Citrine is much more golden than lemon yellow in color.

     Citrine is one of the birthstones for the month of November, along with another golden-toned stone, Imperial Topaz. Citrine is believed to radiate positive energy, and with its bright and vibrant color, there can be little doubt about that! It is known as the ‘merchant’s stone’ since it is believed to create prosperity and abundance, particularly in business matters.

     Pearl is one of the only organic gemstones on earth (the others being Ammolite, Coral, Amber, Ivory and Jet), but it is definitely the most popular and has been throughout human history. They are found within a variety of bivalve mollusks, like oysters and mussels. A small impurity gets lodged within the mollusk and over time, it is completely covered by proteins and minerals from the animal, creating the spherical gem. Pearls formed without human intervention, occur rarely and spontaneously in nature (Natural Pearls) so most of the pearls you find a more affordable prices are generally going to be pearls made by a farmed mollusk (cultured pearls). A small piece of mother of pearl is lodged within the shell and the animal then goes about creating this beautiful gemstone. It comes out of the shell perfectly shaped and needs no polishing or cutting to be used. Though Pearls are relatively soft, they are dense and are not easily crushed or broken. Make sure to wipe them clean after wearing them, as sweat can deteriorate its luster and they should be removed when working with chemicals (even vinegar!) and when just cleaning around your house (Sorry, Judy Cleaver!).

     Moonstone is the most famous and popular among the variety of gemstone-quality feldspars. It has an almost magical bluish sheen under most lighting that makes it obvious how this stone is equated with the moon. This optical effect is called ‘adularescence’ and is created by tiny inclusions between the layers of orthoclase within the stone. Moonstone is always cut in a cabochon cut, and tends to have a high dome to allow the most amount of light to enter the stone.  Some variations of related feldspar include Rainbow Moonstone (which gives a rainbow spectrum of color), Sunstone (orange and copper in color) and Labradorite (a dark stone with a blue sheen).

     Moonstones are revered around the world. The Romans as well as Hindus believed it to have been formed from moonbeams. In India, they believed that placing one in your mouth during a full moon would let you see the future. Moonstone was extremely popular during the Art Nouveau movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This makes it a wonderful stone to have set in one of Da’ouds Art Nouveau designs!

     Sunstone is a bright variety of feldspar, related to both Moonstone and Labradorite. This orange stone has a certain sparkle to it from tiny inclusions of hematite or goethite. Sunstones have been used for centuries, particularly in within the Norse cultures. Many Vikings have been buried with this warm-toned stone. The Greeks associated it with the sun god Apollo and thought it would bring good luck to the wearer. Native tribes used Sunstone for barter in Oregon, a place where they are still found today.

     Labradorite is a wonderfully iridescent feldspar gemstone, related to both Moonstone and Sunstone. It may seem like a boring, hazy gray stone; but put it in the light and a wonderful display of color appears, seemingly from the very heart of the stone. They tend more towards the blue and green shades, but yellow, orange and red can be found as well. The stone is named for the Labrador Peninsula where it was originally discovered in 1770. A Canadian Eskimo legend says that a wanderer found the northern lights trapped within a stone. He used his spear to free them, but some light can still be found within this magnificent stone.

     Tanzanite is the world’s most rare stone. It was found by a Massai tailor (and part-time prospector) in Tanzania in 1967. It is still only found and mined in the Manyara Hills, where it had been originally discovered. It is within the Zoisite mineral group and does have some pleochroic tendancies within the crystal. The most desired tone is a light purplish-blue color. In 2002, the American Gem Trade Association named Tanzanite as the new birthstone for December, making the first change to the list since 1912.

    Tanzanite is a very popular stone. Tiffany & Co was actually the first to name the stone after the country in which it originated which prompted its rise in popularity since the 70s. Da’oud likes to use repurposed Tanzanite, like diamonds, and there are some interesting stones out there!

     Tourmaline is a wonderfully varied stone, the gem-quality form of boron silicate minerals. The stone comes in every color of the rainbow and is considered one of the worlds most versatile stones. The name ‘tourmaline’ is believed to come from the Sinhalese (a language spoken in Sri Lanka) word ‘turamali’, meaning ‘stone with various colors’. It is a relative late-comer to the gemstone game. It was first introduced to the jewelry markets in 1875, though it may have been unwittingly used since the 16th century. Ninety-five percent of Tourmaline around the world is of the schorl species but gem quality stones lie in the elbaite family. It has pyro-piezoelectric properties, which means it can produce and hold an electric charge under certain conditions. This fascinating quality is interesting; though it does lend itself to the ever-present static electricity, so make sure to wipe the stone down with a soft, damp cloth every now and again.

     Tourmaline is another birthstone for the month of October, particularly pink tourmaline. It is said that the stone is a powerful detoxifier and invites a positive energy around the wearer. Hindus believe tourmaline balances the energies of the body, mostly due to it being found in every color, each chakra being aligned with a particular color. Some popular variations of this stone are olive green, bright pink (mostly found right here in the USA), watermelon tourmaline (half green/half pink), and parabaiba, which is a almost neon blue-green color and is extremely rare.

Andalusite is another wonderful pleochroic stone, showing a multitude of colors in different lightings. It named for Andalusia, the autonomous region is Spain where it was first discovered. It is a remarkable and rare gemstone, but relatively unknown. Depending on the direction of the light, it exhibits shades of gold, yellow, brown, olive and green, with sometime just a hint of reddish brown, resembling the twinkling colors in Hazel eyes.  Because Andalusite is such a lesser-known gemstone, there is not a lot of historical information about it.

Amber is one of the few organic gemstones, meaning it comes from a living thing. It is the fossilized tree resin of the Pinus succinifera tree and each of them are at least 50 million years old! Amber deposits are found throughout the world, but the most sought after Amber stones are from the Baltic Sea, where they typically wash ashore from ancient forests that are now submerged under the water. Blue Amber from the Dominican Republic is younger than other forms of Amber found around the world and has turned the bluish hue from pyrite impurities within the Amber resin.  Because of its arboreal origins, Amber often has some interesting inclusions such as insects and the like. Amber is such a soft stone, remember to take care not to scratch it and clean it with mild soap and water.

Amber has been popular throughout human history. Amber has been used since the Upper Paleolithic (20kya) and its trade has been going since the Mesolithic era (15kya)! It has been carved, shaped, beaded, sometimes even faceted for millennia. In Lithuania (in the Baltic) they tell the legend of Jūraté, queen of the sea, who fell in love with Kastytis, a fisherman. Her father was so furious that he destroyed her Amber palace and turned her into sea foam. Sounds like another, more familiar, sea story!

CZ, or cubic zirconia, is a wonderful diamond simulant (note: not a synthetic diamond, which are chemically the same as the natural stone just lab grown). Though it appears (rarely) in nature, the crystalline structure of this stone was able to be mass-produced and brought to market in 1976 giving Diamonds a run for their money! It’s hardness, refractive index and clarity make it a wonderful alternative to the more expensive diamond, though some are turned off by its man-made nature. If a natural diamond substitute is what you are looking for, check out White Sapphires!

Iolite is a relatively little-known stone with a great history. It has the tendency to differ in tone, depending on the lighting. From the side, a good Iolite will almost look crystal clear and in low lighting it will take on a deeper blue hue. This is the reason it was once called Midnight Sapphire, as it looked like the precious stone in candlelight. In the daytime, we prefer to call it ‘Poor Man’s Tanzanite’, for its periwinkle hue. It is a wonderful substitute for the rarest of stones, not only for its color, but also for its hardness; Iolite is harder than Tanzanite. However, Iolite itself can be quite rare, especially in larger carat size. It can be difficult to find a clear Iolite stone for larger settings, but not to worry! Da’oud has a wonderful eye and has found some amazing large, faceted Iolite for some of his designs.

The Vikings were said to use this stone for navigation. A thin piece of Iolite was used to concentrate the suns rays on cloudy days, to help them navigate the normally cloudy northern seas. The Vikings, in essence, invented the first polarized lens! This magnificent stone helped the Vikings change the face of Northern Europe, Iceland and even the New World!

Carnelian is a reddish orange colored variation of chalcedony. The name comes from the Latin and Medieval Latin words for the Cornel Cherry, whose translucent red color looks similar to this beautiful stone. It is wonderfully varied in its appearance as it can range from translucent to opaque, and all intensities in between are equally desired. It is a very old gemstone, with some drilled stones found from the 4th century bc. Romans used it frequently for their signet rings; used to press their signature into wax to seal a document.  Even the prophet Mohammed was said to have used a carnelian signet.  It was believed in many ancient and modern cultures to bring good luck to the wearer.

Lapis has been used as a gemstone for thousands of years. It has been mined in the Hindu-Kush Mountains in Afghanistan for six thousand years! The origins of the compound name of the stone show its importance across cultures. ‘Lapis’ comes from the Latin word for ‘stone’ and ‘Lazuli’ is from the Arabic and Persian word ‘Lazaward’ which was the term for this stone. The stone has even influenced other languages in their word for ‘blue’, such as Spanish with ‘azul’, Romanian with ‘azuriu’ and even English with our term ‘azure’!

Because of its complex composition, Lapis is technically a rock, not a mineral like most other gemstones. The most valuable stones are the pure almost glowing blue color without any inclusions. Yet, some of the most interesting specimens showcase gold pyrite flecks across the surface of the stone. Quite beautiful when set into 14k Gold, in particular!