birth stones Archives - Knox Jewelers

Where is Diamond Found?

Diamond-Map-1024x700 Unique Engagement Rings — GIA Diamond Map

Diamond has been recognized as the gemstone coupled to the month of April on many dated and modern birthstone lists. But the allure of diamond was treasured and collected long before it was crowned the birthstone of April. Diamond is found in many fascinating and differing locations from Siberia to remote parts of Africa.

Before the twentieth century there was little scientific knowledge known about diamond, though its beauty and oneness had been prized for centuries. Diamond knowledge has grown since then with research in chemistry, physical gemology, mineralogy and oceanography. Scientists have discovered that diamonds form under conditions that are only possible 100 miles underneath the earth’s surface. Once they are transported closer to the surface, tons of soil and hours of labor are still required to discover a few diamond crystals. The conditions for diamond growth are only found in certain parts of the world and listed below are the most important diamond deposits.

Canada – Locating the diamonds that lay under the frozen soil in Canada took many decades. But after finally finding deposits in the 1980s, diamonds are being mined from several important sites. Canadian diamonds are known for their high quality.
Venezuela
Guyana – Guyana’s diamond production is mostly small scale operations through alluvial sources.
Brazil – Large, fine quality, sometimes fancy colored diamonds are mined in Brazil, though their operations are mostly small scale. Brazil was a leading supplier of diamonds before larger deposits were found in South Africa.
Sierra Leone
Guinea
Ghana
Congo – Diamonds mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo come from both alluvial and underground deposits. Most diamond unearthing is done in small operations with shovels.
Tanzania – The Williamson mine in Tanzania is currently the most sophisticated and largest mining operation in the region.
Angola
Namibia – Diamonds are currently being mined in Namibia through a joint operation with De Beers.
Botswana – Botswana is a leading source of gem-quality diamonds in the world. Not only are diamonds mined in Botswana, but the country has created a diamond headquarters, Debswana, that also sorts and values gemstones mined there. This collaboration with De Beers benefits the people by creating many jobs for the middle class.
South Africa – The diamond rush of 1869 was kick-started with the discovery of sources in South Africa. The country has become the birthplace of modern diamond manufacturing and is the world’s leading producer of the gemstone. The world’s largest rough diamond to date was unearthed in South Africa in 1903. The Cullinan weighed 3,106 carats rough and was cut into 9 larger finished pieces and 96 smaller brilliant cut diamonds.
India – Until 1730 the only known source of diamonds was the Golconda region in south India. These mines are long since depleted and India’s current sources of diamonds are small deposits.
China
Australia – The Argyle mine in Australia has been the world’s largest producer of diamond to date by volume. The mine is also known of its fancy colored pink, red and brown diamonds.
Russia – A significant source of Russian diamonds comes from the Yakutia region of Siberia. Russia is a leading supplier of diamonds though most of their gemstones are smaller in sizes than their African counterparts.

If you are lucky enough to hold diamond as your April birthstone, let Knox Jewelers help you custom create a one-of-a-kind piece to showcase this queen of gemstones. The possibility are endless with such a versatile mineral. Diamond can be found in a wide range of colors, carat sizes and cuts. A Knox Jewelers custom created piece, featuring a beautiful diamond or diamonds is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion falling within the month. Contact us today and let’s get started. We have the perfect diamond just waiting to be transformed!

Emerald – May’s Echo of Nature

Emerald has captivated countless generations and deeply ingratiated itself in popular culture as well as within the jewelry industry. It is the quintessential birthstone for those lucky individuals who happen to have a May birthday, and its enduring beauty has remained a focal point of the jewelry market for hundreds of years. At Knox Jewelers, we’ve designed many hand-crafted works of art that incorporated an emerald center stone, and we think you’ll agree with us when we say that it’s a great choice for those individuals who are considering using it in a ring or pendant. Let’s take a closer look now at the history and background of this magnificent gemstone, and how we can help you to design a unique engagement ring that truly embodies your loved one’s May birthday.

The Illustrious History of Emerald

Emerald’s name comes to us from antiquity – specifically, classical Greek. Its original name was “smaragdos,” but it traveled through numerous cultures, including the Roman Empire, before being translated into modern English from the Middle English word “Emeraude.” The ancients knew just as well as we do today the cathartic healing effect that gazing at a beautiful emerald can achieve, and its popularity has endured through millenniums. Today, as it always has, emerald symbolizes the beauty and power of nature in the form of lush green landscapes and growth, thus making it an ideal gemstone to symbolize the month of May.

What You Need to Know about Emerald

Emerald is a form of beryl with a trademark green color that ranges from pure green to a blue-green mix. Although expert opinions differ as to what differentiates an emerald from a standard green beryl stone, professionals tend to identify an emerald by its rich color which is not too light as to be considered a mere green beryl. Generally, the darker the stone and the more saturated it is, the more likely it is to be considered a true emerald.

The Earth has been brewing emeralds for billions of years – 2.97 billion, to be precise. Today, it is often mined in the countries of Brazil, Colombia, Zambia, and Madagascar, among many others. Extracting this precious gemstone from the ground and preparing it for use in jewelry is an expensive and time-consuming process that involves the labor of many skilled artisans.

Selecting the best emerald stone possible involves taking into account four important criteria: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Each of these factors plays a vital role in determining whether or not a given emerald stone is up to par. Here’s what you should look for when choosing an emerald stone:

Color: Pure green stones tend to command the highest prices, and saturation is very important as well.

Clarity: Valuable emeralds typically have inclusions known as “jardins,” which are essentially “gardens” of visual inclusions.

Cut: The most common cut is a rectangular step cut, also known as an emerald cut.

Carat weight: Emeralds have lower densities than diamonds, so a one carat emerald will on average appear larger in size than a comparable diamond sample.

Your Very Own Emerald Ring

Designing a unique engagement ring for your loved one has never been more enjoyable or simple than at Knox Jewelers. From the very beginning of this special journey, we will work together with you to craft a ring that will stand the test of time while embodying your love. Our expert artisans have worked with numerous types of metals, stones, and techniques, and we know you will be eternally impressed with the emerald engagement ring that we design together with you. We’re truly looking forward to getting started on this journey with you, so be sure to get in contact with us soon.

Let’s Get Started Today!

At Knox Jewelers, we can’t wait to get started on helping you to design a stunning, unique engagement ring that is bound to stand the test of time for countless generations. Our jewelry design process is holistic and unique, and it is entirely centered around your desires and input. If you wish to create an heirloom that will last years, then get in touch with us today to get started on the journey of a lifetime. We look forward to meeting with you soon!

Tanzanite: December’s Newest Breathtaking Birthstone

It’s that time of year again. The time when the snow begins to fall, when the world’s major holidays occur, and when one has a valid excuse for curling up inside with a book and a cup of hot tea on a cold and windy day. But, December is also the month of the tanzanite gem – the youngest of all known gems. Though the rare crystal has long been known and used by the native Maasai people of Tanzania, it was only recently discovered in 1967 by Manuel de Souza, a professor and prospector who was searching for rubies in the region. Upon initial discovery, he and other gemstone experts had assumed the gemstone was some form of sapphire with especially vibrant properties. It wasn’t until Henry B. Platt of Tiffany & Co came across it that tanzanite earned its name. So, you might be wondering what is so special about tanzanite. After all, if it was difficult for the people who discovered and named it to differentiate from sapphire, what makes it so unique? The truth is that tanzanite is in an unique class all of its own, a truth reflected by its inclusion in the birthstone list in 2002 due to its growing popularity and widespread understanding of its uniqueness.

There are many aspects of tanzanite that make this gemstone so unique and aesthetically intriguing, as well as making it the perfect December birthstone. The first aspect you will notice about a tanzanite gemstone is its alluring and very beautiful violet blue color. However, it is rare for a tanzanite freshly mined from the earth to have this intense blue color. It is a common process to heat treat tanzanite to give it the luminous color portrayed in pictures of the gemstone. This brings us to another important topic: The problems with color coating. You see, while heat treatments are a permanent change and do not have any negative impact on the stone, it has been discovered that some tanzanite gems have been coated in a thin layer of material to give them the blue and violet appearance many strive to achieve. However, these methods have come under intense scrutiny due to their unreliability. In fact, industry professionals do not recommend coating as the material applied during the process wears off very easily. That’s why you should always ensure that the tanzanite jewelry you purchase is HEAT treated, not coated. Here in the United States it is required that any coatings be disclosed at the point of sale.

One of the most important steps in preparing a tanzanite gem for market is the cutting process. Tanzanite possesses a very peculiar quality that makes the cutting process more complex than usual. The gemstone is pleochroic which means if you try to view tanzanite from different angles, you will see different colors. In the case of tanzanite you will see a burgundy-brown from one angle, violet from another, and blue from the third. When the gems are heat treated it removes the burgundy-brown, creating a dichroic stone and leaving only the blue-violet colors that are so prized for this gem. Because of this dichroic property, the direction of the cutting will play a pivotal role in determining the general face-up color of the tanzanite piece, a variable which must also correspond with the financial considerations involved in cutting any gemstone. In general, cutting tanzanite so that it shows an intense blue color in its face-up position is likely to result in more weight loss than cutting it to emphasize its violet-blue color.

There are a few more considerations to take into account for customers looking to purchase one of our hand-crafted tanzanite jewelry pieces. Firstly, tanzanite is rated around 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it fair to below average in durability. That’s why we recommend using tanzanite in non-ring pieces such as pendants, earrings, and necklaces, as this will reduce the risk of damage occurring to the gemstone during normal, daily wear. For someone who is aware of the risks and takes care of their piece however, it makes for a stunning center stone in an engagement ring! As for carats, tanzanite is more often found in larger carat sizes which makes it a great option for the focal point of any piece. Smaller tanzanite stones tend to be less vibrant in color (while, of course, being less expensive). Finally, tanzanite can be cleaned gently with warm, soapy water and a soft tooth brush or other implement.

Make this December one to remember with a beautiful, elegant tanzanite piece. At Knox Jewelers, we are experts in crafting beautiful engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, pendants, necklaces, and more. Choosing tanzanite for your custom jewelry is certainly a unique experience, and we would love to help you through the process and choose a beautiful tanzanite gemstone for your next idea. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions at all about these beautiful gemstones, and happy holidays from everyone at Knox Jewelers!