If you were born in the chilly month of November, you are lucky enough to have two birthstones - Citrine & Topaz. They can look similar and have in fact been mistaken for one another throughout history. They are however, unrelated minerals and this post is going to help you to get to know the beautiful Topaz!

Topaz is found in several locations across the world, including Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia. It measures at 8 on the Mohs scale, meaning it is a relatively durable & wearable gemstone.

Amethyst is part of the quartz family and is known for its striking purple colour. The colour can range from light lilac to a deep royal purple. It also often shows colour zoning, which consists of angular zones of dark to light colour. The most desirable grade is deep purple, with no colour zoning.
 
Due to it’s colour the ancient Greeks associated amethyst with Bacchus, the god of wine. It was thought to keep the wearer clear-headed and prevent intoxication. It is also known to represent health and luck. Amethyst is the birthstone for February and is also a traditional gift to celebrate the 6th wedding anniversary.

You can safely clean your amethyst jewellery with warm mild soapy water and a soft cloth or soft brush. As with most jewellery it is advisable to avoid using harsh detergents when wearing amethysts. It should also be stored away from high temperatures and intense light.

Pop in store to see our beautiful amethyst pieces, a member of our team will be more than happy to help.

October babies are lucky enough to have two birthstones to chose from - Opal and Tourmaline! Both of these gemstones come in almost every colour of the rainbow. Below we explain a bit more about the beautiful gemstone Opal.







The opal’s flashing play of kaleidoscopic colours is unlike any other gemstone. This stunning play of colour is caused by the diffraction of light by silica spheres. Due to this dazzling display of colours, the Romans perceived it as the most precious and powerful gem of all.

The main source of precious opals is Australia. They are often cut into irregular shapes that keep as much play-of-colour as possible. Colour, pattern and clarity are all taken into consideration when planning a finished opal. The best opals rival the most expensive diamonds, rubies and emeralds in price.

It's worth noting that opals are softer than most other gemstones and have a hardness of about 5.5 - 6 on the Mohs scale (diamond being 10). Therefore opals are best suited to pieces where wear is minimised e.g. a setting that protects the stone. These photos show a few of our lovely opal rings. Feel free to come in and browse our opal jewellery!