ONYX

Onyx is a kind of chalcedony with banding, like agate, though the banding may not be as prominent. The base can be black or red-brown (sardonyx), and grey chalcedony can be dyed to create black or blue "onyx" as well.

OPAL AND OPALITE

Opals come in three natural varieties: the opalescent precious opal, the fire opal (yellow to red-orange), and the generally opaque common opal. Flashes of fire are apparent in the precious opal, called interference, distinguish it from the common milky opal. Opalite stones contain opal in addition to other minerals.

OREGON SUNSTONE

Oregon sunstone is an aventurine feldspar known for its flashing red orange color. These flashes are the result of light reflecting off mica within the stone, giving it an unusual beauty.

PERIDOT

Peridot is a member of the olivine group that has been mined for over 3500 years. Egyptians found it near the Red Sea and used it to symbolize the sun god Ra, and today, the gemstone is found in Egypt, Burma, Pakistan and Arizona and we cherish it for its beauty and ability to lift the spirits.

PREHNITE

Prehnite is a member of the rare zeolite family. Zeolites typically form in vesicles of volcanic rocks and are just barely metamorphic rock (they form with small amounts of heat and pressure). Zeolites are often used for healing of mind and spirit. Prehnite in particular is said to encourage healing after illness, and the cool translucent green of prehnite is certainly easy on the eyes.

QUARTZ

There are two basic categories of quartz: macrocrystalline, in which the crystals are visible to the eye, such as found in amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz and rose quartz; and cryptocrystalline, in which crystals are tiny, such as in chalcedony, agate, onyx, sardonyx and jasper.

Jewelry items found under this "quartz" heading contain "quartz" in their material names (i. e. rose quartz, smoky quartz, crystal quartz, green quartz, champagne quartz,etc) and tend to be the macrocrystalline variety.

RHODONITE

Rhodonite is a warm pink stone found in Canada, Sweden, Australia and Oregon. It's part of the silicate group and its name is taken from the Greek word "rhodon", meaning rose. It's sometimes mistaken for rhodochrosite, but rhodonite lacks the white bands found in rhodochrosite.

RUBY ZOISITE

Zoisite, a striking green stone with black inclusions, was first found in 1805 by collector Zois in the Austrian alps. Later, it was found in Tanzania, Australia and the U.S. with ruby inclusions as well. Zoisite is a favored stone among artists.

SILVER

Silver, along with gold and copper, is a native element widely distributed in nature but less commonly found. Much of the world's silver production is a by-product of refining lead, copper and zinc for industrial applications. Like gold and copper, it is malleable and must be strengthened with alloys to withstand daily wear when used in jewelry. Tarnish in the form of silver oxide results with contact with oxygen, and variants of alloyed silver like Argentium™ contain metals to reduce tarnishing to maintain the cool brilliant appearance.

SODALITE

Sodalite is closest to a feldspar, but lacking in silica. The deep blue stone often shows white inclusions. Sodalite gets its name from high sodium content. It's said to have a balancing effect on the emotions, as well as enhancing creativity.

STAINLESS STEEL

Stainless steel is the generic term for steel with at least 10% chromium and may contain nickel, molybdenum, titanium or other trace elements. Stainless steel resists corrosion, and this resistance to deterioration makes it popular choice in jewelry. It is more commonly used in stringing materials; it forms the base for jewelry wires Soft Flex™ and Accu-Flex™, but it also adds cool industrial flair as pendants or components.

TANZANITE

Tanzanite is a form of zoisite found in eastern Tanzania (origin of its name). It is treasured for its radiant warm purple hues and associated with grace and elegance. Natural tanzanite is rare and tends to be expensive.

TIGEREYE AND TIGER IRON

Tigereye might be a commonplace quartz but for the luster, known as chatoyancy, lurking in its depths, giving the dark brown stone its characteristic depth and interest. Tiger iron is a rare stone produced when iron-rich hematite combines with tigereye, often yielding strongly banded stones.

TOURMALINE

Tourmaline is one of the most colorful of the crystalline gemstones; colors vary from gold to dark green to burgundy and black. In Arabia, it is known as the "stone of light", and as the light hits tourmaline, this is easy to believe!

TURQUOISE

Turquoise has been a favorite gemstone throughout time: Egyptians used it to celebrate rebirth, Aztecs included it in burial rites, and North American tribes treated it as a stone imbibed with power. The Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona produces exquisite blue turquoise, though it is found throughout the southwestern U.S. and Iran.

UNAKITE

Unakite is generally a mixture of pink feldspar with avocado green epidote and clear quartz, and it's found in the Blue Ridge mountains of Tennessee and Virginia. Attributed properties include zest for growth, clarity, and change.

WHITE TOPAZ

White topaz, also known as silver topaz, is a clear, untreated stone associated with purification, promoting truth and forgiveness. It is one of the 12 breastplate stones of Exodus, and it's easy to see why: it exudes clear fire.