Frequently Asked Questions

List of Giftseal Faqs:

Sterling Silver

Turquoise

Coral

Amber

Amethyst

Citrine

Carnelian

Jade

Peridot

Topaz

Tiger Eye

Lapis Lazuli

Malachite

Garnet

Opal

Agate

Quartz

Marcasite

Cubic Zirconia

Rhodium Plating

Jasper

Rhodochrosite

Tourmalines

Ammonite Fossil

Mabe Pearls

Pearls

Ruby

Emerald

Sapphire

Question:
What is Sterling Silver?

Answer:
The Sterling Silver is becoming one of the most popular metals in the jewelry industry. Most people that have allergic reactions to some metals are able to wear sterling silver. Sterling silver is easy to clean and care for. It will tarnish with time, but a little rubbing with a polishing cloth, and it will look good as new.

Pure 100% silver looks bright white and is extremely soft. To enhance its beauty and durability, the vast majority of fine silver jewelry is made of sterling silver, which is composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper alloy. It is a white and highly reflective precious metal. Sterling refers to silver that is 92.5 percent pure, which should be stamped on the metal, sometimes accompanied by the initials of the designer or country of origin as a hallmark. Although less durable than stainless steel and other precious metals, sterling silver is often employed in watches that coordinate or look like sterling jewelry. A protective coating may be added to prevent tarnish.

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Question:
What is Turquoise?

Answer:
Beautiful Turquoise is a phosphate mineral popular all over the world. Mined since 5000 BC, it is one of the first gemstones known to be used by humans. Color variation from sky-blue to light greens is affected by differing amounts of copper and iron, more copper giving a bluer color and more iron a greener one. Beautiful light blue turquoise is mined in Northern Iran and other varieties occur in Mexico, the United States and elsewhere.

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Question:
What is Coral?

Answer:
The organic gem coral is the skeleton of coral polyps which live in the sea. Dull when harvested, it can be polished to a high shine. Red and pink varieties are generally found in warm Asian and Mediterranean waters. Coral has been carved in China for 2,000 years and was used medicinally and as an amulet in other ancient cultures.

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Question:
What is Amber?

Answer:
Real amber is technically not a gemstone or mineral, but instead is fossilized sap from prehistoric trees that grew as far back as almost fifty million years ago, primarily in Scandinavia and elsewhere around the Baltic Sea. It is generally accepted that the amber from the Baltic region is the world’s finest. This fossilized resin of conifer trees, commonly available in honey yellow and various shades of red, but can also be off-white and green colors. The real amber produces static electricity when rubbed.

Amber jewelry has been made since before the time of Christ; and at the height of the Roman Empire Amber was called "Gold of the North". For centuries Amber jewelry was worn only by nobility and not affordable to the masses. Because Amber was ascribed many healing properties it came to be used medicinally in many cultures. As centuries passed, more and more of the masses could afford to own treasured amber jewelry. Even today it is thought that wearing amber jewelry will instill confidence in the wearer, balance a person's mood, and lessen depression and anxiety.

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Question:
What is Amethyst?

Answer:
The violet , purple to almost pink variety of quartz is called Amethyst , and an ancient name derived from the Greek "amethystos", meaning "not drunken". In the early Christian church belieived amethyst was guard against intoxication. Amethyst is an extremely sought-after gem and it is the most hightly prized variety among quartz, which has been valued by many civilizations since antiquity. Amethyst often forms dramatic prismatic crystals which are often formed into jewelry with or without being cut. Brazil and Uruguay are common sources of very finest quality Amethyst.

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Question:
What is Citrine?

Answer:
Citrine is quartz generally occurring in a golden color. Citrine occurs naturally in Scotland and in the Ural Mountains of Russia. Much citrine available today is actually smoky quartz or amethyst that has been heat-treated to turn it the characteristic citrine color.

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Question:
What is Carnelian?

Answer:
Carnelian is a translucent red or orange variety of chalcedony, sometimes banded red and orange like an agate. Once believed to benefit the wearer's health and love life. Most carnelian comes from Brazil, India, Siberia, and Germany.

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Question:
What is Jade?

Answer:
The name "Jade" is coming from two different silicate minerals, jadeite and nephrite and it is also called Jadeite Jade. It has been used since ancient times for practical and decorative purposes and it is prized for its hardness and its colors. In China, it was once considered more valuable than gold and silver and was used for axe heads and other weapons. Jade also prized as a beautiful and symbolic gemstone by the Ancient natives of Central America, New Zealand, and Egypt.

Besides the very mythical nature of the stone, Jade, has been all along considered by Asians as symbol of good luck, good health, and power to resist evil spirit. Jade, with its pearly luster and tough and resistant nature, continues to be treasured by the value-conscious and the status conscious people all over the world. Despite the fact that the chinese people have had a affair with Jade for the last several thousand years, the most important Jadeite deposits are not in China, but in upper Burma, which exports raw jade to china, and Hong Kong in particular, for further processing to make ornaments, jewelries etc;. Jades availble in different colors: green, also white, brown, blackish, violet, reddish, yellow, often spotted. The most popular ones ofcourse a green.

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Question:
What is Peridot?

Answer:
Spring green peridot is the gem variety of ovaline, a silicate mineral thought to be common in the upper mantle of Earth's crust. Peridot-grade ovaline is most abundant in Pakistan and other dry areas. Used as early as 1580 BC in Egypt, peridot is held as a symbol of the Sun.

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Question:
What is Topaz?

Answer:
Derived from tapaz, the Sanskrit word for "fire," topaz is one of the most brilliant cut gemstones in existence. Topaz comes in a variety of colors from yellow to blue, and deeper blues and pinks are often created by heat-treating stones. Brazil is the world's top exporter of topaz.

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Question:
What is Tiger Eye?

Answer:
Tiger eye is a quartz variety named for its iridescence in rich brown and golden colors. Formed when asbestos fibers are converted to iron oxide and then silica, tiger eye is found mainly in South Africa.

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Question:
What is Lapis Lazuli?

Answer:
Lapis Lazuli is also called 'LAZURITE", the name of the gem is derived through the Medieval Latin "lapis lazulus", from the Arabic word "lazward" from the word which the "azure" comes.is the opaque character semiprecious stone gem with royal blue in color. This deepest blue stone comes from the silicate mineral, is called lazurite. When polished, Lapis Lazuli has the beautiful veins of white calcite and gold like microcrystals of pyrite in most cases.

This royal stone used by ancient civilizations from China to Sumeria, and lapis lazuli ornamented the mask of ancient Egypt's King Tutankhamun in his time and yielded up many astonishing treasures. It represented and symbolised the Terrestrial (earth) and Celestial (heaven) Nile in the ancient Egypt. This gem has the longest tradition of more than 6000 years old. This rare stone Lapis lazuli is mined in Afghanistan also mined in chile, the USA.

It is one of the most valuable semiopaque ornamental materials, worth about the same as good quality turquoise and the better jades (excluding imperial jade). It uses for spiritual purificationa and turning the mind away from earthly concerns and it will get a higher guidance and opens the inner awareness.

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Question:
What is Malachite?

Answer:
Malachite is a shining copper ore with swirling islands of rich green color. Used since ancient Egyptian times as pigment for cosmetics, dyes and paints, malachite's primary use today is still ornamental. Popularized in modern times in 19th century Europe, it was worn as protection against the "evil eye." Much of today's fine malachite is mined in the Congo.

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Question:
What is Garnet?

Answer:
Deep red garnet is derived from a number of minerals, including pyrope and almandine. Popularized in Bohemia in the Czech Republic, garnet has been used in decoration and jewelry across Europe for many years. Its color is generally a dark burgundy, sometimes with a hint of orange, pink, or purple.

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Question:
What is Opal?

Answer:
The name Opal is apparently derived through the Greek "opallios", from the Sanskrit "upala" meaning "Precious Stone". formed millions of years ago as a solution that settled in between the cracks and in the layers of sedimentary rocks. This is not a cystal and it contains 6 to 10 percent water. Ancient Opal came from mines in Eastern Europe. Australia is the main producer for the past 100 years. Mexico and the state of Oregon is the producer of Fire Opals. Opals were adored by the ancient Romans. In the middle ages, Opal used as an eye tonic. Celebrated by Shakespeare. Queen Victoria's favourite gemstone. This stone has the healing abiltiy to enhance the psychic awareness as well as energizing all levels and areas of the body.

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Question:
What is Agate?

Answer:
Agate is a striped chalcedony quartz that forms in concentric layers in a wide variety of colors and textures. An individual agate forms by filling a cavity in a "host" rock. As a result, agate often is found as a round nodule, with concentric bands. In ancient times it was said to quench thirst and guard against fever, and agate bowls were very popular in historical Europe.

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Question:
What is Quartz?

Answer:
Used since ancient times for a variety of purposes, beautiful quartz is a versatile crystalline gem coming in a multitude of colors. Titanium quartz has been treated with a thin layer of titanium to give it a beautiful color and iridescent sheen.

The relatively abundant mineral smoky quartz ranges in color from almost black to nearly colorless. Gem quality specimens are mined from the Swiss Alps and from Pike's Peak in Colorado. Dark smoky quartz is sometimes heat-treated to give it a lighter color which appears more brilliant when cut.

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Question:
What is Marcasite?

Answer:
Sterling Silver jewelry with marcasite is the best choice if someone wants to buy a antique looking jewelry. Marcasite is a mineral sometimes called white iron pyrite. It is most often confused with a gemstone called pyrite. Both are crystalized in a different way and form a rocks. It is not a gemstone. It is formed in rocks formation in places such as Dover, Kent, and England. Its color first pale yellow to almost white with a metallic luster until it tarnishes and turns brownish. There is no way to prevent the tarnishing of marcasite, and it’s natural and gives the jewelry an antique look!

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Question:
What is Cubic Zirconia?

Answer:
Cubic Zirconia is the most successful simulated diamond. This is also known as C.Z., Properties such as refraction, hardness, and specific gravity are remarkably similar to diamonds. Cubic zirconia are very hard to distinguish from diamonds; sometimes a jewelers loop will be needed to see the difference.

It is a rare mineral that has the appearance of diamonds. Jewelry made from C.Z. is being produce regularly because of its low cost, durability, and beauty. It is found in most sterling silver jewelry and can come in many different cuts and colors. Some famous cuts are the round cut, princess cut, and oval cut. Its color is produced by the addition of certain metal oxides. The addition of cerium produces the red, orange, and yellow colors. Adding chromium makes it green, and adding neodymium makes it purple. C.Z. is pink when erbium is added and golden brown when titanium oxide is added. Cubic Zirconias remain popular in jewelry because it is the closest substitue for diamonds.

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Question:
What is Rhodium Plating?

Answer:
A metal that is part of the platinum family but is liquid in its raw natural state not solid like platinum. Rhodium can be applied to base metals, gold, sterling silver, or some other alloy, to give it a shiny white surface like platinum.

Please visit our site to look for our exclusive rhodium plated jewelries. Our silver jewelries made of 925 sterling silver, then plated with rhodium to give each piece an expensive look that is nearly identical to platinum jewelries, but you are getting them in a fraction of the cost. Additionally, the rhodium plating is very effective in preventing the effects of oxidation, or tarnishing, and it does not need to be cleaned often like ordinary silver jewelry. We have a colloections of rings, earrings, pendants and much more to see.

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Question:
What is Jasper?

Answer:
Jasper is opaque chalcedony quartz that comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, depending on the trace minerals present in the stone. Landscape jasper, which seems to show miniature earth scenes, and ocean jasper with its characteristic green swirls are both popular. Jasper was used for decorative and medicinal in many ancient cultures and the Babylonians believed it was beneficial to women's health.

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Question:
What is Rhodochrosite?

Answer:
Rhodochrosite has pink or red mineral in nature. This gem is used as an ornamental material because of its pleasing color. Necklaces of transparent pieces are worth more. In nodular form it shows distinctive pink and white banding. Main source is San Luis in Argentina. Other sources include Romania and USA. Rose or rose-brown colored rhodochrosite often displays wonderful wavy bands of white. A carbonate mineral, gem quality rhodochrosite comes from Colorado and South Africa.

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Question:
What is Tourmalines?

Answer:
Tourmalines are one of the precious gemstones displaying a unique blend of colors. Ancient legendary Egyptians beleive that on the long way from the Earth's heart up towards the sun, Tourmaline traveled along a rainbow, while it is on its way it collected all the colors of the rainbow. That's why it has the name called by "Rainbow gemstone." Tourmaline has various splendid color such as, black, bluish-black, brown, blue, green, red or pink; and transparent varieties can be various shades of rose or pink, greens, blues and brown. Bi-colored crystal properties are common and they shown green at one end and pink at the other, or green on the outside and pink within, which is very attractive in case of transparent tourmaline gemstones.

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Question:
What is Ammonite Fossil

Answer:
Ammonite is the fossilized shell of ancient sea amminoids and nautiloids, ancestors of today's pearly nautilus. A fossil formed when the animal's shell absorbed minerals from silt. The compression of centuries of successive sediment layers turned the skeleton to rock.

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Question:
What is Mabe Pearls?

Answer:
Mabe pearls are hemispherical cultured pearls grown against the inside shell of an oyster rather than in the mollusk's body. Mabe pearls are typically used in settings such as earrings or rings that conceal their flat backs. Mabe pearls are grown in Japan, Indonesia, French Polynesia and Australia. Mabe or half pearls range from light pink to rose to bluish in color.

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Question:
What is Pearls?

Answer:
Pearls are undoubtedly the most costly and important of "organic" gems. Pearls form inside living mullusks in subtropical and tropical waters. They most commonly grow in oysters but do also occur in conches, ands some freshwater clams and mussels. Pearls range in color from white to silver -white, cream, yellow, pink, greenish, bluish, and black. Their size may vary from less than 1/24 inch to 2 inches (1mm to 5 cm).

Cultured Pearls are produced by placing a small bead, ground from mother -of-pearl shell and wrapped in a piece of mantle, into the body of the three year old oyster.

The largest known Pearl is the "Pearl of Laotze" (Pearl of Allah) weighing 14 lb 1 oz (6.37 kg), In 1984, the San Francisco Gem Laboratory valued the Pearl at between US $ 40-42 Million.

They have been known since time immemorial in the Orient and were known to the Greeks and Romans, evidently the following the conquests of Alexander the great.

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Question:
What is Ruby?

Answer:
Ruby is a red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum in which the color is caused mainly by chromium. Its name originates from ruber, Latin for red. Natural rubies are exceptionally rare, though artificial ones (sometimes called created ruby) can be manufactured which are comparatively inexpensive.

Rare but mangificent star rubies are found in Burma and most of them also coming from Sri Lanka. One of the four precious gemstones along with Diamonds, Emeralds and Sapphires. It is a member of the corundum family whose color comes from chromium oxide in the stone. Although corundum can come in many colors, rubies are, by definition, is red. Rubies have been synthesized since at least 1890 and can only be distinguished from natural rubies by trained gemologists. Rubies are extremely hard, a 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamonds. ...

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Question:
What is Emerald?

Answer:
The name Emerald is of ancient origin and one of the most valued of all precious stones. The Latin 'smaragdus' appears, in fact to have referred to the stone we call Emerald, it is considered as a distinct species. The beautiful color of distinctive hue known as Emerald Green. This type of beryl with a signature color ranging from pale green to the dark velvety green. Chromium elements in the crystal produce the color, and inclusions in the stone create what is called the garden of the emerald and these stones of the fine colors, weighing more than 2 carats, are among the most hightly valued gemstones and their price may equal or exceed that of diamonds. The popular emerald cut is essentially a rectangular shape with cut sides and corners.

This gemstone of translucent, emerald green carries re-generative powers to aid in healing. Emeralds have a near miraculous ability to ease childbirth for both the Mother and the baby. The biggest and most beautiful Emeralds come from the famous Chivor and Muzo mines of Colombia.

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Question:
What is Sapphire or Blue Sapphire?

Answer:
This miraculous gem Sapphire is one of the four precious gemstone derived from a transparent corundum formation, with range of colors from pale cornflower, blue to deep blue, or preferable Kashmir Blue. Generally other color Sapphires other than blue are called as fancy sapphires, that include white, yellow, green, pink, purple, brown and black. This gem's hardness and with a vitreous luster make it very popular among precious gemstones.

Ancient people from India and other part of the world knew how to utilize themselves of the magical virtues of precious stones of all kinds. The sapphire was especially valued because supposed to enshrine some of the influences of Venus as transmitted through other attributes to Luna or the higher aspect of the Moon, and so to be able to induce equanimity and banish evil thoughts. ...

One of the four precious gemstones. The other three are diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Sapphire is a member of the corundum family which come in a variety of colors from white to orange to green to pink. If a corundum gemstone is red, it is a ruby, but any other color are properly referred to as sapphires. Sapphires have been synthesized since the 1920's. Ancient Persians believed the blueness of the sky was caused by the reflection from an enormous blue sapphire that the Earth rested on. ...
a precious transparent stone of rich blue corundum valued as a gemstone
a transparent piece of sapphire that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
azure: a light shade of blue
of something having the color of a blue sapphire; "sapphire eyes"