Page 24 - LIN-Nov 2023-web-version

life in the facet lane

e usually devote this space to drool-
W
worthy jewelry that inspires even the
most jaded collector. But this time,
let’s have a little gemstone tutorial, shall we?
Simply digging into the story behind the stone is a
satisfying experience. The more we know about the
world of colorful gems, the deeper our appreciation
grows.
by Diana Jarrett GG RMV You may find yourself waffling from time to
Ametrine,
time over what color gemstone to collect next. That’s a legitimate concern.
Credit; RGGems
Most of us simply cannot collect an entire world full of gemstones and
jewelry. What to do?
When in Doubt, Collect Both
You may be relieved to learn that you don’t always have to choose between,
say, green and pink—or yellow and violet. The secret lies in the gemstones
themselves.
Did you know that many of your favorite precious gemstones actually are
produced in clear, besides the colors we’ve grown to love? Take corundum for
instance. This precious gem is colorless. But when it comes in contact with
trace elements of other minerals, it will turn blue—and you’ve got sapphire.
Or, other trace elements in corundum will produce ruby!
If that’s not thought provoking enough, on certain occasions, a mix of trace
Parti-Color Sapphire
elements will occur on the same stone---and what do you know? The stone
Credit; John Dyer
has more than one color.
Look Around
Maybe you’ve heard of watermelon tourmaline? This charming stone
grows with an outer layer of green tourmaline enrobing a bright raspberry
pink tourmaline center, giving it a true watermelon appearance when it’s cut
as a slice.
But ametrine—the captivating amethyst-citrine variety only grows in
Bolivia! The backstory of gems we love (or learn to love) is endless. Take
some time to investigate lesser known stones that often display more than one
hue on the same crystal. You’ll discover that you can be indecisive and still
end up with the jewel of your dreams. Happy hunting!

We may discover new delights in life if we only take
Jedora
an extra moment to look a bit deeper, a bit longer. Watermelon Tourmaline,
Credit; Jedora Gems

Contact Diana Jarrett Diana@DianaJarrett.com Read www.color-n-ice.com www.DianaJarrett.com

24 Life in Naples | November 2023 Life in Naples | November 2023 25