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Some interesting facts about Garnets - the January birthstone

Amethyst, the birthstone for February, is often thought of as a rich purple color that has long been associated with royalty and nobility.  In reality, this stone is a variety of the mineral Quartz and can range from a light pinkish violet to a deep purple that can read more blue or red, depending on the light.  Amethyst gemstones are often associated with qualities of peace, courage, strength and stability.  The color in an amethyst stone comes from natural irradiation, iron impurities and the potential presence of other trace elements. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale,...

One of the most often asked concerns about silver jewelry is - Will it tarnish?  The simple answer is yes.  Tarnish is a discoloration of the metal and is natural reaction when silver and oxygen (air) interact.  However, how long it takes for the silver to discolor will depend on a number of variables.  Humidity, water, chlorine, hairspray, perfume, air pollution - just to name a few - can all discolor your jewelry.  Oxidization (tarnish) can also be caused by the acids in your skin, perspiration, or with lotions or cosmetics that you use on your skin.  There is no...