WEC: Thoughts about Jewelry — Birthstone Jewelry

Amethyst is a type of quartz that presents as violet or purple. The color comes from iron and aluminum in the quartz. It's a semiprecious stone and is the traditional birthstone for February. Deposits of amethyst in Brazil, Mexico and Russia, are extensive. As a result of availability, stones can be very reasonably priced. Costume and fine jewelry with amethyst is fairly easy to find on the secondary market and comes in all price ranges. Historically, the stone was said to protect its wearer from drunkenness. Today, believers of the healing power of stones, attribute amethyst to help with both physical and...

Garnet refers to a group of minerals in various colors. Garnet is the January birthstone. The most commonly available garnet is dark red in color. Other names are given to other colors. Almandine garnets are darkest red leaning toward brown. Spessartine and Mandarin garnets are uncommon and orange in color. Demantoids and Tsavorite garnets are green in color. Crystal Structure Model of Garnet from Wikipedia Garnets are used as found. Enhancements just as heat treatments used with other gemstones have proven ineffective with this mineral. Rough Garnets       Garnets in jewelry have been used for over 5,000 years or more. Garnet...