Table of Contents:

Definitions

Traditional Birthstones List

Anniversary Gemstones List

Other Gemstones

Guide for taking care of your gemstones

The GIA tutorial: How to buy a gemstone

Natural Gemstones

We have the abundant world of natural gems. As the name implies, these are gemstones that continues to have the same chemical and physical properties as we found them in nature. Natural Gemstones are fashioned by man to bring out its natural beauty.

We can further divide this group in two:

Untreated	Untreated are natural gems that are just the same color and look as they were made by God. Gems in this category have not been enhanced by heat, chemicals, radiation, fillers, coating or any other process applied by man. They are the way nature intended for them to be.
Enhanced	Some natural gem materials have a color that just don't look right. There are procedures to enhance the look of such gems to make them more desirable for the intended market. Most enhancement procedure are normal and acceptable in gemology.
	Most color gems as we found them in jewelry stores have received some type of enhancement. The American Gem Trade Association - AGTA- and the Federal Trace Commission - FTC requires jewelers and gem dealers to disclose all treatments. This is important to the consumer because it provides the accurate information needed to evaluate and price the gemstone correctly.

Buying a gemstone is often a very different experience than when buying a diamond. Gemstones are primarily selected based on their color, brilliancy, transparency, and the quality of the cut or proportions.

While gemstones are graded using the 4C's, just as diamonds are, each stone is evaluated according to its unique chemistry and properties. For example, an important point of quality for a diamond maybe be the lack of color present. However, the intensity and dispersion of color within a colored gemstone is very important.

Choose your favorite gemstones based on your personal preferences and expert advise. Hannon Jewelers is committed to assisting our customers in selecting the perfect gemstone that will be cherished for many years to come.

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YEAR	TRADITIONAL STONE LIST	The American Gem Trade Association List AGTA	COLORS
1st	Peridot	Gold Jewelry
2nd	Red Garnet	Garnet
3rd	Jade, Pearls	Cultured Pears
4th	Blue Zircon, Topaz, Amethyst	Blue Topaz
5th	Pink Tourmaline, Sapphire	Sapphire
6th	Turquoise, Amethyst	Amethyst
7th	Yellow Sapphire	Onyx
8th	Tanzanite, Tourmaline	Tourmaline
9th	Amethyst, Lapis, Tiger’s Eye	Lapis Lazuli
10th	Blue Sapphire	Diamond Jewelry
11th	Citrine, Turquoise	Turquoise
12th	Opal, Jade	Jade
13th	Moonstone, Citrine	Citrine
14th	Agate, Opal	Opal
15th	Rhodolite Garnet, Ruby	Ruby
16th	Red Spinel, Peridot, Aquamarine	Peridot
17th	Carnelian	Watches
18th	Aquamarine, Opal	Cat's Eye
19th	Garnet, Topaz, Aquamarine	Aquamarine
20th	Yellow Diamond, Emerald	Emerald
21th		Iolite
22th		Spinel
23th		Imperial Topaz
24th		Tanzanite
25th	Tsavorite Garnet	Silver Jubilee
30th	Pearl	Pearl Jubilee
35th	Emerald, Coral	Emerald
40th	Ruby	Ruby
45th	Cat’s Eye, Alexandrite, Sapphire	Sapphire
50th	Imperial Topaz	Golden Jubilee
55th	Alexandrite, Emerald	Alexandrite
60th	Star Ruby	Diamonds
65th	Blue Spinel
70th	Smoky Quartz
75th	Diamond

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