Sapphire
This gem is a variety of the mineral corundum, which is the hardest mineral after diamond.  The blue colour and the depth of this colour is caused by the presence and the amount of iron and titanium oxides in the mineral.

Emerald
The earliest known gem market in Babylon was trading emeralds as early as 4000BC.  This gem is a variety of the mineral Beryl and occurs within dark shales and limestones in Colombia’s Muzor and Chivor regions.

Ruby
The rich red of ruby is produced by the presence of chromium in the mineral corundum.  The best ruby colour is described as ‘pigeon’s blood’ and is found in the Mogok area of Burma.

Opal
Ancient Romans believed opal to be a symbol of hope because it contained the colour of the rainbow.  Arabs thought the fiery colour was created while falling from the sky in flashes of lightening.

Fire Opal
These stones tend to have one body of colour, the most common of which is reddish-orange, but they can range from pale yellow to dark orange.

Moonstone
This translucent stone is the best known variety of feldspar with an iridescent sheen called ‘adularescence’.  The moonstone is still a sacred stone in India where tradition holds the stone as a symbol of the Third eye.

Citrine
The golden lemon colour of this member of the quartz family has long been a symbol of light heartedness and joy.

Pink Tourmaline
The name tourmaline is said to have originated from the Sinhalese term, ‘turmali’ meaning ‘mixed’.  Its unusually bright shade of pink is said to bring compassion, trust and self-love.  Referred to as the ‘muses’ stone, many believe that its imaginative colours contain inspirational powers.

Peridot
The attraction of this stone lies in its rich ‘oily’ green colour, which ranges from pale green to brownish green.  First found on St. John’s Island in the Red Sea as early as 1300BC but now mined in Arizona, Burma and Norway.

Topaz
A symbol of love and affection, this clear, bright gemstone is believed to inherit its name from the Sankrit meaning, ‘fire’.  Topaz can be found in a variety of colours including blue, yellow, green, orange, pinkish-red and brown.

Amethyst
Is the best known form of quartz, colour ranging from deep to light purple.  Ancient belief held that anyone wearing an amethyst could not become intoxicated.

Pearl
The cultured pearl has been produced in China for several centuries but the modern industry was founded in Japan in the late 19^th century.

Garnet
Its blood red colour has been likened to the flesh of a ripe pomegranate and the name garnet is derived from the latin word granatum.

Onyx
Primarily sourced in the U.S, Germany and Mexico, Onyx occurs naturally in black but can also be found in brown, grey and white.  The stone is believed to help change bad habits, and it also thought to be useful in deflecting and absorbing the negativity of others.

Cornelian
Also known as Sadoine or Mecca stone, the name cornelian is derived from Carne, the latin for ‘flesh’, due to the stones colouring.  A deeply religious stone that is thought to balance creativity and mental processes, protecting against envy and fear.

Turquoise
One of the first gemstones ever used for jewellery, this mineral was highly valued by the Egyptians as early as 6000BC.  In Persian, Turquoise is known as Ferozah, meaning victorious and is the national gemstone of Iran to this day.

Pink Sapphire
Pink sapphires occur in Sri Lanka, Burma and East Africa.  The colour varies from a very pale & delicate pink to a near red.  It is believed that if the stone is worn directly on the skin it will ward off ill health & misfortune.

Tanzanite
An indigo blue variety of the mineral zoisite, it was found for the first time in 1967 and named by Tiffany & Co in New York after it’s originating country.  Supremely rare, tanzanite comes from only one place in the world, the Merelani Hills of Tanzania.  Helps to foster achievement and assists in exploring aspects of the self.

Rhodolite
Rhodolite, sometimes known as raspberry rhodolite garnet is a combination of almandine and pyrope.  The name is derived from the greek words rhodon and lithos, meaning rose-stone.  It is believed to balance emotion and foster greater awareness.

Source: Cookson