A Gemstone Tasting Experience

In Colorado, the sun shines a little brighter and everything seems that much more vivid, from the golden Great Sand Dunes to glowing Garden of the Gods. At our store, precious gems sparkle intensely, showing off all their beautiful luster and shimmer. 

We’re all familiar with sapphires, rubies and emeralds. These stones need no introduction. But here at Williams, we also sell other exquisite loose colored gems which are just as striking. Alexandrite, amethyst, tourmaline, spinel and garnet are decorated with rich histories and fascinating properties of their own. Let’s dive into a “tasting” of these delightful gems, experiencing each one’s unique flavor. 

Imperial Alexandrite

An exceptionally rare stone, Alexandrite dazzles with vivid hues and dramatic color changes. By daylight, this gem shines with brilliant forest tones like an emerald. But, when nightfall arrives, the striking fiery reds of the ruby emerge. Discovered in the 1830’s in the Ural Mountains, this shifting stone was named after Alexander II, the heir apparent to the imperial Russian throne. Over its relatively short history, Alexandrite has acquired its own particular lore. It’s considered a gem of luck, prosperity and intellect. Alexandrite represents balance between the physical and the spiritual, bringing harmony to the wearer.

Ancient Amethyst 

Amethyst is widely known for its purple color, ranging from indigo to raspberry. Because of its predominantly wine-like hue, the ancient Greeks associated this gem with Dionysos, the god of wine. More precisely, they believed that the stone could ward off intoxication and overindulgence. The Greeks even carved drinking vessels from it. In other legends, amethyst kept its wearer clear-headed and quick-witted for battle and business.  

Amethyst is a variety of quartz, a stone which people have worn since ancient times. 9,000 year old quartz beads have been found in the area once known as Mesopotamia, now modern-day Iraq. Once equal in value to rubies, emeralds and sapphire, this gem was often featured in religious jewelry and royal crown jewels. 

Multicolored Tourmaline 

When it comes to variety, Tourmaline is one of the most electrifying choices available. It has one of the widest color ranges of any gem, naturally occurring in virtually every hue. It's likely tourmaline has been cherished for centuries, but mistaken for other stones until the blossoming of modern mineralogy.

Interestingly, the gem is pyroelectric, meaning it generates electricity when heated. This may be why it was prized by alchemists, who thought tourmaline was related to the philosopher’s stone. In Africa, tourmaline was believed to awaken people from “the dream of illusion”. Additionally, people in India use the gemstone to distinguish between good and evil. During the 18th century in Europe, Tourmaline was treasured by artists, authors and actors to inspire creativity. 

Sly Spinel

Spinel is a mischievous little stone, most commonly coming in red and blue. Easily mistaken for a ruby or sapphire, this impish gemstone even snuck into the British Crown Jewels twice, through the Black Prince’s Ruby and the Timur Ruby. Handed down through generations of royalty, both of these “rubies” turned out to be sneaky spinels. Aside from being a bit roguish, spinel is thought to be revitalizing and energizing. Like many red stones, it encourages passion and devotion in relationships. 

Eternal Garnet

The pomegranate is an alluring fruit, a symbol of everlasting life, brimming with small, bright red seeds. These seeds bear a striking resemblance to the gorgeous garnet. Hence why the name “garnet” comes from Latin “garantus”, meaning “seedlike”. 

The garnet has been a popular gem throughout history. Garnet beads were found in a necklace which dated back to 3000 BCE. Pharaohs wore the stone and the ancient Romans had signet rings with carved garnets. Throughout the ages, many legends have sprung up around the garnet. The Greeks said it guarded children from drowning. In medieval Europe, the stones were thought to cure depression, protect against bad dreams, and relieve liver disease and hemorrhages. The garnet was also a favored gem of clergy and nobility at this time.

Exclusive Roger Dery Gemstone Tasting Event