Semi-Precious Gemstones S - Z

In this glossary you will find a world of information on most of the materials we use in our handcrafted beaded jewelry designs at Bonnico Jewelry Designs. Featuring semiprecious gemstones from A to Z, different types of glass and lampwork beads, shells, differences in the types of the silver and gold we use and even birthstone colors and common jewelry sizes to help you decide if the size is right for you.

Sapphire

Colors are a variety of blues, clear, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, and black. These stones can be found in primary deposits in Australia, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Sapphire is the non-red variety of corundum (an aluminum oxide mineral), with ruby being the other variety. The ruby is really a red sapphire, since ruby and sapphire are identical in all properties except color. Corundum comes in many colors, and any color other than red is referred to as "sapphire. If the sapphire is any color but blue, it is given a preceding color designation such as the padparadscha sapphire and white sapphire. Sapphire is the most precious of blue gemstones, and is a most desirable gem due to its color, hardness, durability and luster. Large sapphires are rare. The largest cut star sapphire is the “Star of India” (536 carats). Sapphires can be confused with blue spinel, tanzanite, or zircon.

Serpentine

Colors are green, yellow, and brown. These stones can be found in Afghanistan, China, New Zealand, and the United States.

Serpentine comes from the Latin serpentines, which means “resembling a snake”, perhaps for its occasional spotty appearance. Serpentine is a translucent, waxy silicate of magnesium. Because it is usually some shade of green, it is often and referred to as “New Jade” or “Green Jade” However, serpentine is softer and less dense than most real jade. Its name comes from the word "serpent," or snake, and the suffix "-ine," or like. This could be because the mottled colors and patterns on some types resemble snakeskin, or because it historically was thought to protect the wearer from snake bites. Most of the rest of its history is that of jade, as the two were so often confused.

Sodalite

Color are dark intense blue color with white and sometimes yellow streaks. These stones can be found in Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, Namibia, Russia and the United States.

This sodium aluminum chlorine silicate is almost identical in composition to lapis lazuli and is often confused with Lapis, except lapis contains sulfur instead of chlorine. Sodalite is a member of the feldspar group.

Never clean this stone in an ultrasonic machine, best to just use warm, soapy water. Also, avoid rough handling. The gemstone fuses to a colorless glass in heat and can be attacked by hydrochloric acid.

Sunstone

Colors are orange, red-brown. These stones can be found in Canada, India, Madagascar, Norway, Russia and the United States.

This bright, sparkling stone also known as aventurine feldspar is a crystal formed in molten lava, then discharged onto the surface of the earth by a volcano. As the lava weathers away, the crystals are released. Sunstone glitters from the reflection of light from tiny platelets of hematite or goethite within the stones. This gemstone varies from golden to orange to red-brown, and can be transparent or translucent.

Tiger’s Eye

Colors are gold, yellow, and brown. These stones can be found in the most important deposits in South Africa. Also found in Australia, India, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, and the United States (California).

Tiger eye is quartz with rich yellow and brown stripes, and a fine golden luster. When viewed from the opposite direction, the colors are reversed. This stone features golden stripes that catch light. The effect resembles a cat’s eye.

It contains oriented fibers of crocidolite (a mineral of the amphibole group) that have been replaced by silica. The fibers are twisted or crumpled instead of straight, reminiscent of sand and sunlight.

Topaz

Colors are clear, yellow, orange, red, brown, blue, green and purple. These stones can be found in Afghanistan, China, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, the United States and Zimbabwe.

Topaz is the hardest of the silicate minerals, due to strong chemical bonds within the stone. It is thought to form from fluorine-bearing gases released during later stages of solidification in acidic igneous rocks, and typically is found within Rhyolite and granite cavities. Yellow is the most familiar color, red the rarest. The stone is also found in brown, clear and blue, though nearly all blue topaz on the market today is enhanced.

Tourmaline

Colors are pink, red, green, yellow, blue, green, and clear. These stones can be found in the most important deposits in Brazil. Also found in Afghanistan, Australia, India, Italy, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, the United States (California and Maine), Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Tourmaline is a complex crystalline silicate containing aluminum, boron and other elements. Each color of tourmaline is given its own name in the gem world, making tourmaline more a group of minerals than a single type.

It's true tourmaline appears in blue, yellow, pink, red, black, green and clear, but most Tourmaline beads are sold in strands of colors that range from pink, white and green. This is line of tourmaline is commonly referred to as “watermelon tourmaline”.

Turquoise

Colors are light blue, blue green, and apple green. These stones can be found in Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, China, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Tanzania, and the United States.

Most likely one of the most recognized semiprecious gemstones in existence, turquoise has been popular since prehistoric times. This stone is a hydrated aluminum copper phosphate that often contains iron. It is a great deal softer than quartz therefore is usually treated in some way for stability. Rare and highly valued turquoise stones are usually sky-blue in color without gray and black inclusions. However, stones with distinctive dark matrix are also valued in southwestern jewelry. Many qualities and types of “turquoise” are available on the market today.

Unakite

Colors are a mix of red/pink, green, and white/gray and have a granite look. These stones can be found mainly in the Unaka Mountains in the Southeastern United States, but also found Brazil China and South Africa.

Unakite is relatively new to the bead market but is growing in popularity. Ultrasonic cleaners, steaming and soapy water are all generally safe for cleaning this hard-wearing stone, as always rough handling should be avoided.