They are the charming asset of many jewels and are closely linked to the history of jewelry. Gemstoneshave dreamy names: diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire. Discover their origins, particularities and singularities.
They are the crowning charm of many jewels and are closely tied to the history of fine jewelry. Precious stones bear names that inspire dreams: diamond, ruby, emerald, and sapphire. Discover their origins, characteristics, and unique qualities.
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald: The Guide
Precious stones come from translucent minerals found in the rock from which they are extracted. The purest is the diamond, which we already discussed in this article. Colored precious stones owe their pigmentation to the metals and other impurities they contain. Thus, the ruby gets its color from the presence of chromium oxide in its composition, the sapphire from aluminum oxide, and the emerald from chromium, vanadium, and sometimes iron.
The ruby, a red gem, is the most precious stone after the diamond. Its hardness is 9 on the Mohs scale, and its name comes from the Latin "ruber," meaning red—the color of blood and life. It also symbolizes courage, passionate love, and glory, and was the stone of princes, sultans, and maharajas. All rubies contain inclusions, which means the purer the ruby, the greater its value.
The sapphire, a blue gem, takes its name from several origins: from the Greek sappheiros, meaning "blue-colored stone," or perhaps from the Hebrew sappir, meaning "the most beautiful thing." The sapphire is associated with fidelity, unconditional love, and purity. One of this gem's distinctive features is that it can also be pink, purple, green, or yellow, depending on the metal content in its composition. Like the ruby, it has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. A symbol of wisdom and serenity, the sapphire is the most worn precious stone after the diamond.
The emerald, a green gem, is believed to take its name from the Latin smaragdus, a corruption of the Persian word zamarat, meaning "heart of stone." This precious stone was revered by the most powerful, including Queen Cleopatra. In the Christian religion, it is the symbol of hope. It also embodies renewal and the promise of spring, as well as clairvoyance. It was the stone of the Shahs of Iran, the Magi, and the Tsarinas, and remains to this day a highly sought-after gem. Its hardness is 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale.
Precious Stones: Timeless and Unchanging
In 1913, George Frederick Kunz wrote: "The brilliance and color of fine stones are identical to what they were thousands of years ago and to what they will be thousands of years from now. In a world of perpetual transformation, this constancy possesses an undeniable charm, appreciated since the beginning of time." In 2018, this quote remains just as relevant. In a world that moves at great speed, we cherish the immutability of our stones, and we love to keep them throughout our lives, so that we may pass them on to the next generation.
AUBERI carefully selects its stones and creates collections that stand the test of time. The photos are those of the Maison's jewelry, and combine precious and semi-precious stones. Come and discover them in our Cap 3000 boutique!
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