Black Spinel Beads: The Workhorse of the Design Bench
Which black spinel cut does which job, why we reach for it over black onyx, and the four strands to keep on the bench.
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Larimar 101: One Mountain, Every Shade of Caribbean Blue
Where larimar comes from, how it really got its name, and how to read its color when you design with it.Read now -
Ruby 101: Six Origins, Two Cutting Traditions, One Stone Everyone Recognizes
Six origins, two cutting traditions, three words on the label, and the black-light test that reads them.Read now -
Amazonite: Meaning, Colors and the Five Kinds Cut as Beads
The hope stone: what amazonite has meant, the five kinds cut as beads, and what it goes with.Read now -
Lapis Lazuli Color and Grades: Get to Know Lapis, from Royal Blue to Denim
Read nowWhat lapis lazuli is Lapis lazuli is a rock, not a single mineral. The blue comes from lazurite, which makes up roughly a quarter to 40 percent of the stone; a rock needs about a quarter lazurite to be called...
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Garnet Colors: Get to Know Garnet, from Deep Red to Green
Read nowWhat garnet is Garnet is red. It is also orange, green, purple and a pale champagne, and the red alone runs from a bright cherry to a wine so dark it reads as black. That range exists because garnet is...
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A Guide to Ruby Gemstones
Read nowRubies stand out as one of the world's most sought-after gemstones, perhaps even the most popular, along with Sapphire and Emerald. Because of this popularity, it has gained not only the eyes of collectors but also the trust of jewelry designers.
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The Importance of Stone Classification
Read nowWe often discuss what makes each stone special in our meetings at Dakota Stones. It usually comes down to the type of material, where it is mined, if it has a unique cut or if it's better in a more...
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Lucky Green Gemstones
Read nowGreen gemstones are most commonly associated with nature, growth, renewal, and prosperity. In many spiritual traditions, they are linked to the Heart Chakra, representing emotional balance, compassion, and the healing of the heart. The color green is the symbol of...
