Thirty-Eighth Anniversary Gift: Beryl or Tourmaline

As a thirty-eighth anniversary gift the beryl and tourmaline families of gemstones offer the gift giver many choices. If you know that the person you are buying a gift for appreciates fine gems and jewelry this is an opportunity for you to present them with a really knockout wow gift.

BERYL

The beryl family of stones begins with Goshenite which is the colorless form of beryl also sometimes called white beryl. Goshenite is not often used in its clear form in jewelry sometimes being irradiated to produce color shades similar to other types of beryl or occasionally used to simulate diamond or other stones by the use of a foil backing. It is available in larger sizes and is relatively inexpensive.

Other colors of beryl are due to small amounts of elements such as iron, manganese, magnesium, vanadium, chrome and others. Various proportions of these in a stone will give the differing shades of color found in each type of gemstone. This range of colors and low expense of most beryl stones would allow a mix of stones in a colorful, custom made piece for a thirty-eighth anniversary gift.

EMERALD

Emerald is perhaps the most well known and priciest gem of the beryl family and would certainly make an impressive thirty-eighth anniversary gift. The difference between an emerald and a beryl stone that is simply a shade of green is not clearly defined. Generally, emeralds are a deeper, characteristic, grassy green and this is the preferred, sought after color. Stones that are a light green, green-blue or blue are called aquamarines and yellow-green stones are classed as heliodor. Stones other than green or blue are placed in a general group and referred to as precious beryl.

As far as clarity most emeralds will have inclusions and these help to verify that the stone is a real emerald. You should also keep in mind that because emeralds have flaws, cracks and inclusions many emeralds are given oil treatments which help to minimize the effect of inclusions. Stones that are cloudy due to inclusions are of lesser value and if too clouded or opaque are sometimes turned into cabochons or beads. Only the finest emeralds are "eye clean" or transparent and if they are also larger and have good color will be the most desired and expensive stones. Fine stones greater than two carats can cost more than comparably sized diamonds and incorporated into a piece of jewelry would serve as an outstanding thirty-eighth anniversary gift.

Emeralds are rather fragile and are often given a step cut in a rectangular shape to protect their edges and corners from chipping. This cut is now typically referred to as an "emerald cut." Emeralds are also sometimes given a mixed cut which combines the faceting style of a round brilliant cut and an oval shape.

Found with many of the most desirable characteristics described above, many of the finest stones come from Colombia. Emeralds are now mined in Brazil and in many other parts of the world as well.

Synthetic emerald has been made and if you wish to find a green stone for a thirty-eighth anniversary gift with greater clarity and excellent color there are other gemstones available. They won't be emeralds but they are available without the astronomical price tag that goes with large, high quality emeralds. In any case make sure that whatever stone you purchase comes with a full documented description of authenticity and full details of any treatments done to the stone.

AQUAMARINE

Aquamarines are prized for their deep blue color. However, deep color saturation in beryl stones is rare and consequently most have been treated with heat or radiation to enhance the color. A deep blue variety is called maxixe which readily loses its color in sunlight or from exposure to heat. The color can be restored by irradiation.

After emerald, aquamarine is the most popular beryl stone. They are available in blue-green and light ice blues to dark blue. It is abundant and thus fairly inexpensive and the fact that it is available in large clear stones with few inclusions adds to its appeal and popularity. Some synthetic aquamarines are on the market and these are actually synthetic spinel.

HELIODOR

There is a bit of confusion over the designation of heliodor and golden beryl. Golden is usually reserved for those stones that have a golden or deep yellow color and heliodor for those stones that exhibit a yellow-green color. However, heliodor stones, in an all inclusive sense of the word, can range from a deeper golden to orange-yellow to yellow-green to green yellow shades. All of these get their color from traces of iron in the stone.

One of the most attractive features of these stones and golden beryl in particular is the intense yellow color and the fact that unlike emerald, golden beryl stones have fewer inclusions. This gives what every lover of gemstones wants good sized, clean and clear stones with deep, intense color.

Like other beryls these stones can be oiled, heat-treated and irradiated-just be certain that these are disclosed and you can be certain of giving a knockout thirty-eighth anniversary gift.

MORGANITE

Morganite is a rare form of beryl whose pink color is derived from magnesium traces in the stone. In the beryl family only emerald and aquamarine gemstones are more costly. Shades of morganite range from a lighter to a rose pink shade, salmon pink and near lilac to red-purple in color.

Morganite has few inclusions and good sized stones are available. Color banding is sometimes seen in these gems. Stones are also heat treated or irradiated to improve color.

RED BERYL

Red beryl, sometimes called bixbite, owes its deep red color to traces of manganese ions in the stone. These gems are rare and are found in only a few places in Utah and New Mexico. Gem quality stones are usually small and rare-so rare that this gem is not always mentioned in texts and is more expensive than emerald. Small size and the difficulty in finding large stones with good clarity make finding good stones difficult in this category and very costly to purchase. This stone would certainly be at the top of the list if the color is right for you and uniqueness is the largest factor in giving a thirty-eighth anniversary gift.

Whatever type of beryl or combinations of beryl stones you may choose to purchase for incorporation into a piece of jewelry you certainly have many options. Always remember to ask for full documentation of authenticity and treatments and if you are spending a considerable amount on this thirty-eighth anniversary gift be sure to ask for an independent appraisal by a certified gemologist. Happy hunting!

TOURMALINE

The thirty-eighth anniversary gift also has a choice of tourmaline gemstones. Like the beryl family of stones the tourmaline group has a choice of many differently colored stones. In fact the tourmaline family has more different colors than any other gemstone family. The different colors have their own names and there will usually be a range of color for each type.

Tourmaline is sometimes found in the rough form with more than one color in a crystal. This can make for some really interesting gemstones that contain more than one color. One side of a stone may be a light pink and the other a light green-these are referred to as watermelon tourmalines. There are also stones where the inside of the stone is a different color than the outside. Listed here are the better known varieties of tourmaline.

ACHROITE

This is the colorless form of tourmaline. Even though rare it is of little value and not often used in jewelry.

RUBELLITE

Rubellite and indicolite are perhaps the most popular tourmalines known for their intense red and blue colors respectively. Rubellite stones will have a pink to red color with the deeper ruby red color preferred. Whether pink or red choose stones that have more intense color over pale stones. These stones will often have inclusions.

INDICOLITE

This is a blue stone often with a darker almost black appearance. A lighter color of blue is preferred. Do not buy blue-green stones being represented as indicolite-these should be much less expensive. Indicolite is available in clear, clean stones.

SIBERITE

This is a type of indicolite-its color is more violet-blue.

VERDELITE

Verdelite stones are available in shades of green-again stay with lighter shades.

DRAVITE

These are yellow-brown to dark brown stones.

SCHORL

This is a black gemstone-not much used today-in the past it was used in mourning jewelry.

With many colors to choose from and a price range to fit any budget, tourmaline certainly offers many opportunities to give a wow thirty-eighth anniversary gift. Do your research, check out pictures in books, shop around and you will give a gift that will be cherished by any lover of beautiful gemstones.

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