Despite the name, Herkimer diamonds are not diamonds. They are actually double terminated (pointed at both ends) quartz crystals. They’ve been named “diamonds” because they naturally have 18 facets creating that brilliant sparkling effect we see in diamonds. They are also unique because crystals rarely form with a double terminate.   History At over 500 million years old, these gems were found originally in Herkimer County, New York. Found in...

Gemstones have such unique and interesting histories individually that it’s no surprise birthstones also have an interesting backstory. So where does the idea come from? Birthstones are believed to have a religious origin tracing back to Moses who directed 12 gems to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. They began to gain popularity in the 5th century though when Christians wore ornaments containing the 12 gemstones. The idea of wearing single...

  Amethyst is the birthstone for February, meaning it's the perfect time to delve deeper into this gemstone.  Amethyst jewelry today is quite popular but amethyst hasn't always been so abundant.  The rich purple hues of amethyst are entirely unique and while there are other purple-hued gemstones, amethysts stand out because of their affordability.  Purple sapphires can look similar to amethyst but they are much more rare, costly, and their...