| Diamonds might be considered a girl's best friend, | | | | Make Them Green With Envy |
| but they have nothing on other precious | | | | Although somewhat softer than sapphires, rubies |
| gemstones when it comes to depth of color, | | | | and diamonds on the Mohs hardness scale, |
| beauty and rarity. Sapphires, emeralds and rubies, | | | | emeralds make up for their lack of hardness with |
| in fact, are just the thing to make ordinary | | | | their eye-catching beauty. These precious |
| jewelry settings extraordinary. Lending a veritable | | | | gemstones are found naturally in such countries |
| rainbow of color to any design, these stones are | | | | as Colombia and Zambia. Noted for their wide |
| just a special as diamonds and equally as stunning | | | | range of green colors, emeralds are most popular |
| in the eyes of many beholders. | | | | in olive or grass green tones. |
| The purchase of precious gemstones isn't | | | | This type of stone can be cut into many different |
| necessarily something people do every day. If | | | | styles, but the emerald cut is considered |
| you're not sure what makes a ruby a ruby or | | | | traditional because it is designed especially to bring |
| why sapphires and emeralds are so highly sought | | | | out this stone's natural beauty and color. |
| after, read on. When each type of stone is | | | | Like sapphires and other precious gemstones, |
| examined more carefully their special properties | | | | emeralds can range greatly in pricing and value. |
| will speak for themselves. | | | | The range runs between about $70 a stone to |
| To better understand why other precious | | | | well over $28,000. Again, the size, color, quality |
| gemstones are prized, it does help to know a few | | | | and cut of the stone can play a very big role in |
| things about each type of stone. | | | | the value. Emeralds are also quite readily used in |
| Sapphires Make Feeling Blue Stylish | | | | jewelry on their own and in conjunction with other |
| Second only to diamonds on the Mohs hardness | | | | precious gemstones. |
| scale for minerals, sapphires are from the | | | | Seeing Red |
| corundum family. The most visually stunning | | | | As a sister to the sapphire in the corundum |
| sapphires are mined in Sri Lanka and are known | | | | family, rubies are prized for their rich, deep colors. |
| as Ceylon sapphires. Although the blue variety is | | | | The highest quality rubies come from Burma, but |
| the most widely known, sapphires do come in | | | | these stones are also found in deposits in such |
| other colors. Finding this stone in pink, yellow, black | | | | areas as Thailand, Cambodia and Afghanistan. |
| or white is not out of the question. | | | | Although the most common color of ruby is a |
| Unlike diamonds that are mined and then cut to | | | | pigeon-blood red, these precious gemstones can |
| bring out their colors, natural sapphires must | | | | also be found in colors that range from pink to |
| typically undergo a heat or oil treatment to have | | | | purple. Rubies will generally range in price from |
| their bold, underlying beauty shine through. The | | | | about $70 a stone to well over $20,000. The size, |
| same can be said for most natural emeralds and | | | | color, cut and quality of the stone play roles in the |
| rubies, too. | | | | pricing. Rubies are perfect in settings all on their |
| Sapphires can run in pricing from about $40 all the | | | | own, or can prove quite spectacular when offset |
| way up to well beyond $20,000 depending on the | | | | with diamonds or other stones. |
| cut, quality, size and color of the stone. These | | | | While diamonds add sparkle to just about any |
| precious gemstones are ideal for any type of | | | | piece of jewelry, rubies, sapphires and emeralds |
| jewelry and are often worn on their own or in | | | | lend a splash of color that is hard to forget. When |
| conjunction with other stones in settings. Sapphire | | | | something different and equally as stunning is |
| and diamond engagement rings, for example, are | | | | desired in a setting, these precious gemstones will |
| quite popular. | | | | not fail to deliver on beauty. |