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 Diamonds
Diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to mankind. That, along with their brilliance and fire, has made diamonds the quintessential symbol of timeless, enduring love. The simplest of all the gemstones, diamond consists of 99.95% pure crystallized carbon. A diamond begins to crystallize far beneath the earth's surface among a mixture of liquids, gases, and crystals. Diamonds can, in fact, be from 1 to 3 billion years old--more than two-thirds the age of the earth itself. In 1477 AD, Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy as a sign of their engagement. He put it on the third finger of her left hand, the finger believed by ancient Egyptians to have a vein that led directly to the heart. She accepted his proposal and the diamond engagement ring was born.
Emeralds
Emeralds have been treasured for at least 4,000 years and the ancients prized it as the gemstone symbolizing love and rebirth. It is said to quicken the intelligence as well as the heart. Legend gives its owner the gift of eloquence. The ancient emerald mines of Cleopatra, long a mystery, were discovered again a hundred years ago near the Red Sea, but the mines were exhausted thousands of years ago. Egyptian mummies were often buried with an emerald on their necks carved with the symbol for verdure, flourishing greenness, to symbolize eternal youth. Emerald is the birthstone for May and the anniversary gemstone for the twentieth year of marriage, the perfect emblem of an enduring love.
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Rubies
Rubies were said to be the most precious of the twelve stones God created when he created all things and this "lord of gems" was placed on Aaron's neck by God's command. In fact, rubies are today still more valuable and rare than even the top quality colorless diamonds. A 27.37-carat Burmese ruby ring sold for $4 million at Sotheby's in Geneva in May 1995. The most important factor in the value of a ruby is color. The top qualities are a saturated pure spectral hue without any brown or blue. The word red is derived from the Latin for ruby; ruber. After color, the other factors that influence the value of a ruby are clarity, cut, and size.
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Sapphires
Sapphire, the celestial gemstone, has been treasured for thousands of years. The ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflection colored the sky. Sapphire is found in all the colors of the heavens, but the most famous and valuable sapphires are a rich intense blue, a truly royal hue. Sapphire has long symbolized truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. Tradition holds that Moses was given the Ten Commandments on tablets of sapphire, making it the most sacred gemstone. Because sapphires represent divine favor, they were the gemstone of choice for kings and high priests. The British Crown Jewels are full of large blue sapphires, the symbol of pure and wise rulers.
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