Corbo Jewelers

The gemstone Aquamarine is the March birthstone, it is also the suggested gem to give on the 16th and 19th wedding anniversaries. Aquamarine is a member of the  beryl  family and ranges in color from an almost colorless pale blue to blue-green or teal. The most prized color is a deep-blue aqua color. It is 7.5-8 on the  Mohs scale  of hardness and gets its name from Latin words meaning water and sea. The most valuable aquamarines come from Brazil, but it is also mined in Kenya and Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. . Aquamarines on the market today are usually faceted, but when cut as a cabochon, they may display a cat's eye effect known as  asterism . Aquamarine has been believed to endow the wearer with foresight, courage, and happiness. It is said to increase intelligence and make one youthful. As a healing stone, it is said to be effective as a treatment for anxiety and in the Middle Ages it was ...

Sapphire and ruby are the same material, the mineral corundum.  They are the second hardest gemstone after diamond.  Red corundum is known as ruby.  All other colors are known as sapphire. Blue is the most famous of the sapphire colors. Sri Lankan and Madagascar sapphires are the most common today, with a wide range of colors from light sky blue to dark blue. Other producers of blue sapphire are Australia, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, and the USA (Montana). Large sapphires are rare and attract fame. The largest star sapphire is the Star of India at 536 carats. Discovered about three hundred years ago in Sri Lanka, the Star of India was donated to the American Museum of Natural History by J.P. Morgan. Later burglar Jack Murphy stole the stone. Its recovery two months later only added to its fame. The 423 carat Logan Sapphire is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It is the largest faceted sapphire on public display and may be the largest blue sapphi...

Peridot is the modern August birthstone and the gem designated for the 16th wedding anniversary.  Peridot (pronounced pair-a-dot) is a transparent yellowish-green Magnesium/Iron Silicate. It is a gem variety of the mineral Chrysolite or Olivine and its chemical formula is given by: (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. Peridot ranges in color from light yellow-green to the intense bright green of new spring grass to olive. Because of the way peridot splits and bends the rays of light passing through it, it has a velvety appearance, a rich glow, and a slightly greasy luster. The purer green a peridot is the higher the value. Any tinges of brown or visible flaws greatly diminish the price. The best-colored peridot has an iron percentage of less than 15% and includes nickel and chromium as trace elements. It is not clear whether the word peridot comes from the Arabic word faridat, which means gem or if it is derived from the French word peritot which means unclear. The French were the first to call this...

Opal Trivia Base color is either white or black, with a range of fiery opalescence. The more opalescence, the better the quality. Almost always seen as a cabachon. According to the ancient Greeks and Romans, it symbolized hope, innocence, and purity It is the suggested gemstone gift for the 14th wedding anniversary It is believed to aid inner beauty, faithfulness, and eyesight May help the wearer recall past lives The ancient Romans called the opal "cupid paederos" or "child as beautiful as love" and believed the wearer was safe from disease The ancient Arabs believed that opals fell from the heavens in flashes of lightening It is also rumored that Cleopatra wore opals to gain the attention of Mark Anthony