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Variance Blog

Our blog on gemstone jewelry through the ages.

Peridot Meaning & History - The Gem of the Sun

Peridot Meaning & History - The Gem of the Sun

Peridot Meaning & History - The Gem of the Sun

Peridot Meaning & History - The Gem of the Sun

Peridot, also known as chrysolite, is a magnesium-rich variety of olivine. Peridot is one of two gems that is formed from molten rock in the upper mantle of the Earth, the other being Diamond. Gem-...

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Jade's Rich History From Ancient China To The Aztecs

Jade's Rich History From Ancient China To The Aztecs

Jade is perhaps one of the most well-known and loved gemstones out there. With a history spanning thousands of years, it almost seems as though humanity has always had a special affinity for this ...

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Carnelian History & Uses - The Sunset Stone

Carnelian History & Uses - The Sunset Stone

Carnelian is the name given to a variety of the silica mineral Chalcedony that is colored with the impurities of iron oxide. Carnelian has been used as a precious gemstone in jewelry for thousands...

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Rutilated Quartz Meaning, History & Properties - Angel's Hair

Rutilated Quartz Meaning, History & Properties - Angel's Hair

Rutilated quartz is a variety of quartz which despite not being as ‘pure’ as more well-known quartz varieties, such as amethyst, are valued for their ‘inclusions’. These inclusions are needle-like ...

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Goshenite History & Meaning - Mother of All Crystals

Goshenite History & Meaning - Mother of All Crystals

Goshenite is the name given to the elegant transparent gemstone belonging to the Beryl classification of precious stones. It was named by American mineralogist Charles Upham Shepard during the 180...

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Amazonite Mythology - The Stone Of Courage And Truth

Amazonite Mythology - The Stone Of Courage And Truth

Amazonite is a variety of the potassium feldspar called microcline, noted for its gorgeous green color. Although we tend to associate ‘Amazon’ with a very famous retailer today, it was in 1847 tha...

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Chrysoprase History & Mythology - The Choice of Great Rulers

Chrysoprase History & Mythology - The Choice of Great Rulers

Chrysoprase is a rare variety of chalcedony, known for its gorgeous apple-green color. Chrysoprase derives its name from the Greek words ‘chrysos’ (gold) and ‘prasinon’ (green). Deposits of chryso...

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Rainbow Moonstone History & Meaning - The Lunar Gemstone

Rainbow Moonstone History & Meaning - The Lunar Gemstone

Rainbow moonstone is also known as white labradorite. While not a ‘true’ moonstone, rainbow moonstone is a Feldspar mineral. The name ‘labradorite’ referring to Labrador, Canada, where labradorite ...

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Herkimer Diamonds - "Light Of The Goddess And The Heavenly God"

Herkimer Diamonds - "Light Of The Goddess And The Heavenly God"

Herkimer diamonds are very unique quartz crystals with two naturally occurring ‘faces’ on both ends, known as double-terminated. This structure means that the crystals have 18 faces in total, with...

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Aquamarine History & Mythology: Mermaid's Treasure Loved By Sailors

Aquamarine History & Mythology: Mermaid's Treasure Loved By Sailors

Aquamarine is a beautiful gemstone named for its blue-green color, evoking imagery of nautical paradise or a clear, tranquil sea. Aquamarine is a type of beryl gemstone, with deposits located in v...

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