The Splendor of Precious Stones at Megan Diamonds & Co.

Megan Diamonds & Co. takes immense pride in its selection of precious stones, each chosen for its unique beauty, rarity, and exceptional quality. Our expertise in the gemstone industry spans the sourcing, grinding, and crafting of these exquisite stones into stunning pieces of jewelry. This comprehensive guide explores the fascinating world of our precious stones, categorized by their hardness and the spectrum of colors they exhibit.

Categorizing Precious Stones by Hardness

Mohs Scale of Hardness: The Mohs scale is used to determine the hardness of minerals. This scale ranks minerals from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest), based on their ability to scratch or be scratched by other substances.

1. Diamond (10):

   • Diamonds are the hardest known natural material, making them incredibly durable and resistant to scratching. Their unparalleled hardness makes them perfect for everyday wear, especially in engagement rings and other high-contact jewelry.

2. Corundum Group - Sapphire and Ruby (9):

   • Sapphire: Renowned for their stunning blue hues, sapphires also come in a variety of colors known as “fancy sapphires.” These include pink, yellow, green, purple, and more.

   • Ruby: Famous for their vibrant red color, rubies belong to the same corundum family as sapphires and are prized for their rich hues and excellent durability.

3. Topaz (8):

   • Topaz is a versatile and popular gemstone available in a wide range of colors, including blue, yellow, pink, and green. Its hardness makes it suitable for a variety of jewelry applications.

4. Spinel (8):

   • Spinel is available in a wide range of vibrant colors, including red, blue, pink, and purple. Its durability and brilliance have made it a favorite among gem enthusiasts.

5. Alexandrite (8.5):

   • Alexandrite is famed for its remarkable color-changing properties, shifting from green in daylight to red under incandescent light. Its hardness makes it suitable for various types of jewelry.

6. Tanzanite (6.5 - 7):

   • Tanzanite, with its captivating blue-violet color, is a relatively softer gemstone. It requires careful handling and is best suited for pieces that are worn with care.

7. Zircon (7.5):

   • Zircon can be found in a variety of colors, including blue, yellow, brown, and red. Despite its relative softness, zircon is prized for its brilliance and fire.

8. Tourmaline (7 - 7.5):

   • Tourmaline is celebrated for its wide spectrum of colors, including shades of pink, green, blue, and multicolored varieties. Its hardness allows for versatile use in jewelry.

9. Diopside (5.5 - 6.5):

   • Diopside is most commonly seen in green hues, although it can also appear in other colors. Its moderate hardness requires it to be set and worn with care.

10. Citrine (7):

    • Citrine, a variety of quartz, is known for its warm yellow to golden brown colors. Its hardness makes it a durable option for various types of jewelry.

11. Amethyst (7):

    • Amethyst, another variety of quartz, is famous for its striking purple color. Its hardness makes it suitable for many jewelry applications.

12. Peridot (6.5 - 7):

    • Peridot is characterized by its vibrant green color and is reasonably durable, though it should be worn and stored with some caution to avoid scratches.

13. Moonstone (6 - 6.5):

    • Moonstone exhibits a unique adularescence, or glow, often in shades of blue and white. Its moderate hardness makes it ideal for earrings, pendants, and brooches.

14. Rubellite (7 - 7.5):

    • Rubellite, a red to pink variety of tourmaline, is loved for its vibrant color and good hardness, making it a desirable choice for various jewelry pieces.

The Spectrum of Colors in Precious Stones

1. Diamond:

   • Colors: Diamonds are most commonly colorless, but they can also be found in a range of colors including yellow, brown, pink, blue, green, and red. These colored diamonds, often referred to as fancy diamonds, are highly prized for their rarity and beauty.

2. Sapphire:

   • Colors: While blue is the most recognized color, sapphires also come in pink, yellow, green, purple, orange, and colorless varieties. The rare padparadscha sapphire is an exceptional pinkish-orange hue.

3. Ruby:

   • Colors: Rubies are known for their rich red color, which can range from purplish-red to orangey-red. The most valuable rubies display a vibrant, pure red hue known as “pigeon blood.”

4. Topaz:

   • Colors: Topaz can be found in a plethora of colors, including blue (often treated), yellow, pink, green, and the rare and valuable imperial topaz, which is a rich orange-red color.

5. Spinel:

   • Colors: Spinel is available in a stunning array of colors including red, blue, pink, purple, orange, and black. Red spinel, in particular, is highly sought after for its intense color.

6. Alexandrite:

   • Colors: Alexandrite is famous for its color change phenomenon, appearing green in daylight and red under incandescent light. This unique property makes it one of the most intriguing and valuable gemstones.

7. Tanzanite:

   • Colors: Tanzanite is prized for its exquisite blue-violet color, which can appear more blue or more violet depending on the lighting and the angle of view.

8. Zircon:

   • Colors: Zircon is available in a wide range of colors, including blue, yellow, brown, orange, red, and green. Blue zircon is particularly popular for its bright and vivid color.

9. Tourmaline:

   • Colors: Tourmaline is known for its incredible color variety, which includes pink, green, blue, yellow, orange, red, and even multicolored stones that display several hues in one gem.

10. Diopside:

    • Colors: Diopside is most commonly green, but it can also be found in other colors such as black, yellow, and brown. The chrome diopside variety is a bright, rich green.

11. Citrine:

    • Colors: Citrine ranges from pale yellow to deep golden brown. The most valued citrines exhibit a warm, vibrant yellow to reddish-orange hue.

12. Amethyst:

    • Colors: Amethyst is renowned for its purple color, which can range from light lavender to deep, intense violet. The highest quality amethysts have a rich, saturated purple hue.

13. Peridot:

    • Colors: Peridot is exclusively found in shades of green, ranging from yellow-green to olive-green. The finest peridots have an intense, vibrant green color with a slight yellowish tint.

14. Moonstone:

    • Colors: Moonstone is typically colorless with a blue or white adularescence, but it can also be found in shades of peach, gray, yellow, and brown.

15. Rubellite:

    • Colors: Rubellite, a variety of tourmaline, ranges from pink to red. The most prized rubellites are those with a deep, vivid red or hot pink color.

The Art of Gemstone Grinding at Megan Diamonds & Co.

Grinding and cutting gemstones is an art that requires immense skill, precision, and an eye for detail. At Megan Diamonds & Co., we take great pride in our expertise in gemstone grinding, ensuring that each stone is cut to maximize its natural beauty and brilliance.

Crafting with Precision: Our team of skilled gem cutters, or lapidaries, uses advanced tools and techniques to grind and polish each gemstone. The process begins with the careful selection of rough stones, followed by the meticulous grinding and faceting to bring out the gem’s optimal color, clarity, and brilliance.

Enhancing the Natural Beauty: Each type of gemstone requires a specific cutting technique to enhance its unique properties. For instance, diamonds are often cut in the classic round brilliant style to maximize their sparkle, while sapphires and rubies may be cut in cushion or oval shapes to showcase their color and clarity. Our lapidaries are trained to understand the nuances of each gemstone, ensuring that every cut highlights the stone’s best features.

Grinding and Polishing: The grinding process involves shaping the rough gemstone into a preform, followed by faceting to create the individual flat surfaces. The final step is polishing, which gives the gemstone its mirror-like finish and enhances its luster. This multi-step process requires both artistic talent and technical expertise, as even the slightest error can impact the gem’s final appearance.

Conclusion

At Megan Diamonds & Co., our dedication to the art and science of gemstones is evident in every piece of jewelry we create. Our extensive collection includes a dazzling array of precious stones, each carefully selected, expertly cut, and beautifully crafted to ensure the highest quality and utmost beauty. Whether it's the unrivaled hardness of a diamond, the rich color of a ruby, or the captivating color change of alexandrite, each gemstone tells a unique story and adds a touch of magic to our jewelry.

We invite you to explore the exquisite world of Megan Diamonds & Co. and discover the timeless beauty of our precious stones. From the initial