December Birthstone Spotlight: Blue Topaz

blue topaz

The days have been flying by and December is already upon us! It’s time to turn our spotlight on the beloved blue topaz, the perfect gemstone for this time of year. It’s the official state gem of Texas and Utah, as well as the anniversary gem for 4th, 19th, or 23rd year of marriage. Although the topaz comes in a rainbow of colors, the sparkling blue topaz is the only color for December.
Most of the topaz mined each year is white and has led it to being confused with diamonds. The Braganza “diamond” was found in 1740 in Ouro Preto, Brazil and at 1,640 carats it was believed to be the largest diamond found at the time. It was later decided that the stone is actually a colorless topaz. Blue is the second most common color for topazes.

marabella topaz

The largest blue topaz to date is the Marbella Topaz, named after the town of Marbella, Spain. This topaz weighs a hefty 8,225 carats. The gem also has excellent color and clarity in a beautiful oval-cut.

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In 1255 St. Hildegard of Bingen, known for her works concerning the health benefits of gems, said that steep a topaz in wine for three days and then rubbing the solution over the eyes would help stop eyesight from failing. Africans used to use the topaz as part of healing ritual and a means of communication with the spirits. The topaz is also an important part of Hindu mythology, and Hindus believe that the topaz has the ability to sharpen intelligence, prolong life, and relieve thirst. Topaz was also used at one point to determine if food or drink had been poisoned and was said to have changed colors. With this list of attributes, who wouldn’t want to have topaz around?
These long oval blue topaz and diamond pave earrings from King Jewelers are glamorous enough that you’d want to take them everywhere anyway. There is a total of 13.11 carats of blue topaz in these knock-out earrings.
king jewelers blue topaz and diamond earrings
Established in 1912, the King family has owned and operated King Jewelers for five generations while building an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value, and first-class service. Today, King Jewelers has brick-and-mortar stores located in Aventura, FL and Nashville, TN, both of which have won numerous regional and national awards of distinction. Offering a magnificent selection of fine jewelry collections including the hottest Italian designs, estate jewelry, colored gemstones and fancy-colored diamonds, as well as luxury European timepieces, King Jewelers prides itself in being one step ahead of the trend. In addition, King Jewelers offers on-site jewelry and watch repairs, custom design services, appraisals, estate buying, and corporate gift programs. For more information, visit www.kings1912.com.

October Birthstone Spotlight: Opal

opals
Opals, the Birthstone for October

Have trouble deciding on which colors to wear? October’s birthstone has it all for you. This milky gemstone is a virtual rainbow of red, green , blue, yellow, and orange flecks caused by reflections of light within the gemstone. Even the name opal is derived from the Greek word “Opallios,” which means “to see a change of color.” This “Queen of gems,” as it was called by Shakespeare, hails mostly from Australia, where the country is responsible for 97% of the world’s supply of opals.
As beautiful as this stone is, the opal has gotten the reputation of being both a lucky and unlucky stone throughout history. The Romans thought of the opal as having the combined beauty of all other gemstones. Nonius, a Roman Senator, opted for exile rather than give up his opal ring to Marc Anthony, who wanted it for Cleopatra.
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In the 18th and 19th centuries the opal started to be associated with famine and disease. It was rumored that if the wearer of an opal was sick, the color of the opal would become more intense with color leading up to that person’s death and then fade after the person died.
Anne of Geierstein
The European opal market declined dramatically after the release of a novel called Anne of Geierstein in 1829 by Sir Walter Scott. The story tells of Lady Hermione, who was accused of being a demon. After a drop of Holy Water falls on the enchanted opal in her hair, the color was destroyed and Lady Hermione was found as a pile of ashes the next day. For nearly twenty years following the release of that novel, people associated the opal with death and bad luck. The popularity of opals was revived when a black opal was discovered in Australia in 1877.
Olympic Australis opal
The world’s largest and most valuable opal is known as the Olympic Australis, named in honor of the Melbourne Olympic games. It is estimated that over 7,000 carats of opals could be cut from the stone, but it has been left intact due to its uniqueness. The most valuable black opal is the Aurora Australis, a 180 carat oval stone with brilliant blue and red reflections.
Aurora Australis opal
180 Caret Aurora Australis Opal

Established in 1912, the King family has owned and operated King Jewelers for five generations while building an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value, and first-class service. Today, King Jewelers has brick-and-mortar stores located in Aventura, FL and Nashville, TN, both of which have won numerous regional and national awards of distinction. Offering a magnificent selection of fine jewelry collections including the hottest Italian designs, estate jewelry, colored gemstones and fancy-colored diamonds, as well as luxury European timepieces, King Jewelers prides itself in being one step ahead of the trend. In addition, King Jewelers offers on-site jewelry and watch repairs, custom design services, appraisals, estate buying, and corporate gift programs. For more information, visit www.kings1912.com.

September Birthstone Spotlight: Sapphire

blue sapphire image
The Sapphire is the Birthstone for September

Although sapphires come in a range of colors, the one the sapphire is best known for is that striking royal blue. Sapphire, derivative of the Greek word for “blue,” is a variety of the mineral Corundum. This gem is prominent among the British Crown Jewels, and is considered to be symbolic of wisdom and purity. Sapphires are second only to diamonds in hardness, and because of their lustrous blue color they have enjoyed a certain level of import throughout history.
As early as 800 B.C. Persians believed that the world rested on a blue sapphire and its reflection gave the sky its color. In 12th century Abbess Hildegard of Bingen stated that sapphires had the capability of improving one’s intellect and in India sapphires are thought to bring misfortune.
Abbess Hildegard of Bingen
Blue sapphires are commonly associated with fidelity, sincerity, and truth. These attributes were initially promoted in the 18th century because of the story ” Le Saphir Merveilleux ” by Madame de Genlis . The story describes a sapphire that is blue by day and purple by night, which made it a popular stone choice for engagement rings in the 18th and 19th centuries until the sapphire was usurped by the diamond.
star of india sri lanka blue sapphire
Stunning Star of India Blue Sapphire

The largest blue sapphire to date is the Star of India at 563.33 carats, discovered nearly 300 years ago in Sri Lanka. It is unusual in that it has a star shape on either side of the milky gemstone and it was donated to the American Museum of Natural History by financier J.P. Morgan in 1900.
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The largest cut sapphire is the Queen Marie of Romania Sapphire. This sapphire, one of the prize pieces in Cartier’s collections, is a cushion shaped gem weighing 478 carats. The sapphire was purchased by King Ferdinand of Romania in 1921.
Queen Mary of Romania sapphire
Although not the biggest, the most famous sapphires belong to royalty such as the Stuart Sapphire in the Imperial State Crown of England and the sapphire engagement ring that belonged to Princess Diana and Kate Middleton.
As the season gets cooler, these beautiful ombre sapphire and South Sea pearl earrings from Mikimoto are the perfect fall touch to any wardrobe. These earrings have a total of 1.49 carats of graduated sapphires, ranging from that vivid sapphire blue to white.
mikimoto sapphire and south sea pearl earrings
Haven’t had a fill of your sapphire fix? Be sure to check out our September Sapphire board on Pinterest!
king-jewelers-sapphire-pinterest-board
View More Amazing Sapphires on Pinterest

Established in 1912, the King family has owned and operated King Jewelers for five generations while building an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value, and first-class service. Today, King Jewelers has brick-and-mortar stores located in Aventura, FL and Nashville, TN, both of which have won numerous regional and national awards of distinction. Offering a magnificent selection of fine jewelry collections including the hottest Italian designs, estate jewelry, colored gemstones and fancy-colored diamonds, as well as luxury European timepieces, King Jewelers prides itself in being one step ahead of the trend. In addition, King Jewelers offers on-site jewelry and watch repairs, custom design services, appraisals, estate buying, and corporate gift programs. For more information, visit www.kings1912.com.

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