Gemstone Journal

Gemstone knowledge from the source: sourcing insights, care guides, and buying advice to help you choose jewelry and stones with confidence.

Morganite gemstones from the Sapphire Row morganite collection
Gem Guides
Sapphire Row

Morganite Gemstone: A Buyer's Guide to Color and Care

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April Birthstone: diamond, white sapphire and white topaz Birthstones
Sapphire Row

April Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Diamond and Its Colorless Alternatives

Diamond is the April birthstone. How white sapphire, zircon, white topaz and other clear gems compare for sparkle and everyday wear.

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February Birthstone: oval purple amethyst, pear purple amethyst, marquise purple amethyst and antique cushion purple amethyst Birthstones
Sapphire Row

February Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Amethyst

Amethyst, the February birthstone: what gives it its purple, how to judge color and clarity, and how to choose a stone that lasts.

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June Birthstone: color-change alexandrite, white cultured Akoya pearl, color-change alexandrite and black cultured Akoya pearl Birthstones
Sapphire Row

June Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Alexandrite, Pearl and Moonstone

June has three birthstones: alexandrite, pearl and moonstone. What makes each special and which suits the way you wear jewelry.

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July Birthstone: oval red ruby, cushion red ruby, pear red ruby and emerald red ruby Birthstones
Sapphire Row

July Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Ruby

Ruby, the July birthstone: how to judge its color, what treatment is normal, why origin matters, and how to choose one to wear.

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May Birthstone: oval green emerald, cushion green emerald, pear green emerald and emerald green emerald Birthstones
Sapphire Row

May Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Emerald

Emerald, the May birthstone: fine green color, why inclusions are expected, how it is treated, and how to wear and care for it.

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March Birthstone: oval blue aquamarine, cushion blue aquamarine, pear blue aquamarine and emerald blue aquamarine Birthstones
Sapphire Row

March Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Aquamarine and Bloodstone

March's two birthstones, aquamarine and bloodstone: how to judge aquamarine color, clarity and cut, and where bloodstone fits.

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January Birthstone: purple rhodolite garnet, green tsavorite garnet, orange spessartite garnet and demantoid garnet Birthstones
Sapphire Row

January Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Garnet

Garnet, the January birthstone, is a whole family: rhodolite, spessartite, tsavorite, demantoid and more, and how to choose one.

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December Birthstone: blue tanzanite, blue zircon, blue tanzanite and blue zircon Birthstones
Sapphire Row

December Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise

December has three birthstones: tanzanite, zircon and turquoise. What each really is, how it is treated and how it wears.

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November Birthstone: orange topaz, orange citrine, Swiss blue topaz and orange citrine Birthstones
Sapphire Row

November Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Topaz and Citrine

November's two birthstones, topaz and citrine: how to tell them apart, what imperial and blue topaz mean, and how to choose.

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October Birthstone: red opal, pink tourmaline, green tourmaline and rubellite tourmaline Birthstones
Sapphire Row

October Birthstone: A Buyer's Guide to Opal and Tourmaline

October's two birthstones, opal and tourmaline, could hardly be less alike. How each gets its color and how to choose.

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September Birthstone: cornflower blue sapphire, pink sapphire, yellow sapphire and Padparadscha sapphire Birthstones
Sapphire Row

September Birthstone: A Buyer’s Guide to Sapphire

Sapphire, the September birthstone, comes in every color but red. How to choose one by color, origin, treatment and wear.

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August Birthstone Guide: green peridot, red spinel, green peridot and vivid pink spinel Birthstones
Sapphire Row

August Birthstone Guide: Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx

August has three birthstones: peridot, spinel and sardonyx. How each looks, wears and is judged, and which one suits you.

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