Did you know that diamonds come in an array of rainbow colors? Each color is caused by a different factor, such as element impurities, radiation and crystal lattice distortion. Red, green, purple and orange are among the rarest diamond colors, while pink, blue and yellow are some of the most sought-after. This ring contains diamonds in many of these hues. Want to learn more about colored diamonds? | Courtesy: Brian Berger @velvetboxsociety | An opal unlike any other. This opal found on the island of Java in Indonesia contains an insect that is estimated to be 4-7 million years old. Insects are frequently seen in amber, but seeing one preserved in opal, which forms slowly when silica solutions concentrate underground over thousands to millions of years, is virtually unheard of. The owner was disbelieving when he first saw the specimen and sent it to GIA for examination. GIA scientists confirmed that this stone is untreated opal. Want to discover how GIA scientists believe this insect got here? | Photo: Robert Weldon/GIA. Courtesy: Dudley Blauwet Gems | A Towering Sapphire Producer | The town of Rakwana in southern Sri Lanka has been known as a premier producer of royal blue sapphire for decades. In August 2019, a small pocket of unusually large, high-quality sapphire crystals was discovered in the Sinharaja Forest nearby. This 49.99 carat (ct) sapphire crystal (5.8 cm in length) was one of about 60 recovered and the largest complete crystal. These crystals, when cut, result in stunning royal blue gems such as the 33.16 ct sapphire seen in this image. Want to explore more? | We hope our gem knowledge inspires you to rock on. #knowledgerocks | |
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