The story so far

Even though my father was a market trader and I grew up surrounded by market life, it really wasn’t for me and most the time, I absolutely hated it! I’m sure he was very disappointed that I had no interest in taking over his empire!!  So many years later when I found myself starting up my own jewellery business and realising after a few months of selling on ebay, that the only way forward was to start doing the markets, I couldn’t quite believe that I was going to end up following in his footsteps after all.  At least the market in which he had a shop was under cover, the markets where I started off were on the street!

A freezing cold winter's day

Leather lane is a small week day only market buried deep in the city of London running parallel to Hatton Garden.  It serves mainly office workers from the surrounding area who come out during their lunch break and was a pretty good market.  Even though nothing at all really happened before 12.30, you had to be there early because of parking restrictions and getting your vehicle into the street to unload.  From 12.30 to 2.15 it was absolutely packed with people shopping, eating and mooching around, it had a superb atmosphere and by 2.30 it was all over and we’d start packing up!

Apparently in the 13th century the street was called Le Vrunelane, in the 14th it was called Loverone Lane and then it changed again to Liver Lane and eventually ended up as Leather Lane!  All that said and done, it was a really tough market to work, the ‘trolleys’ were in a terrible state and had probably been there since the 13th century!  Soon after arriving the first thing you had to do was find one to use for the day and that in itself was a task and a half, having done that, it had to be manoeuvred on to the place you had been allocated.  They weighed a ton literally and I’m sure the wheels were actually square.  Then slowly we would set up shop and get prepared according to the weather.

By the time we started doing the markets, the quality of our jewellery was already pretty impressive even though most of it was bought ready made.  We had already decided not to do plain silver jewellery anymore and to concentrate solely on gemstones as this was far more stimulating.  We were already offering around thirty different gemstone varieties and our collection included some really dramatic and impressive pieces.  Our niche was pendants, rings and a few earrings and we did pretty well considering our display!  That was most definitely something we hadn’t yet mastered, presentation!!  None the less, people who love markets aren’t that interested in presentation and thank goodness for that!!!!

Our boards were absolutely jam packed with pendants, there wasn’t an inch to spare and looking back now, I have no idea how anyone was ever able to choose one, but they did, they chose plenty.

Presentation wasn't our strongest feature

Pendant anyone?

Before the lunch time rush

That stall had delicious dried fruit, nuts and salads!!

When the weather was dry and mild, Leather Lane was a charismatic and fun market.  Even though we did pretty well there, we gave it up after ten months or so as it was just too tough.  Some traders had been there well over twenty years!!

We were at that time also trading in Camden lock market and had been there for a couple of years and that was also a lot of fun.  It too was full of character and had an amazing atmosphere but it had too many tourists who couldn’t afford to spend much money so we started looking else where.  Our next stop was St Albans in Hertfordshire, an affluent area with a very old and well established market which was notoriously difficult to get into and even once in, there was no guarantee that you would be able to hold on to your place.  Thankfully however, we were able to do both and traded there on Wednesdays and Saturdays for a good couple of years.  Even though our display still had a long way to go, we rapidly became well known amongst traders and regular customers because of the outstanding quality our gemstones.  We were continually told that we should have our own shop and not be selling such exclusive pieces in a market!  Even though our quality was not yet up to the standard that it is today, we were still way ahead of our competitors in so many ways.

Our stall in St Albans market

Still FAR too over crowded!!

During our time at St Albans, business was flourishing and we decided to start looking once again at the possibility of buying even finer quality jewellery.  It was on our next trip overseas that we made a contact which would ultimately change the entire way in which we did business.  We told our supplier that we wanted to look at some fine quality precious stones such as Rubies, Emeralds, Sapphires etc and hence he took us to an exclusive gemstone dealer who dealt solely in loose stones.  During our visit there, the boss explained that he wasn’t a jewellery manufacturer or wholesaler but simply a gemstone  dealer and that he dealt in every kind of stone imaginable from Soapstone to Diamonds and that he bought directly from the mines and other dealers from all around the world.  He also did the vast majority of cutting and polishing himself and his business was entirely family run.  The subsequent tour of his premises was like being in Aladdins cave!  This huge warehouse was jam packed from wall to wall and floor to ceiling with containers full of gemstones in every size, shape and colour imaginable.  There were literally thousands of different varieties and each one was available in a range of different grades from the lowest right up to the finest.  As he opened containers of cabochons, there was a very distinctive smell which was immediately apparent, all the stones were covered in a fine oil to stop them from becoming scratched and this smell is one which always makes me think about buying gemstones.  Just when we thought we had seen everything, we were ushered into another room where all the faceted stones were kept and here the whole process started over again.  He produced boxes filled with smaller packets all of which contained the most beautiful stones we had ever seen, Citrine, Topaz, Beryl, Tourmaline, Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires the list was endless, it was really quite overwhelming!  We laughed at the position that we found ourselves in, two fresh faced guys from the UK who did a couple of markets selling jewellery, were now being introduced to a company who dealt with some of the largest and most influential jewellers around the world.  How could we ever go back to our original supplier and continue buying ready made jewellery ever again!!!

From that point, we never did!  We started buying all our gemstones from this company and have never looked back since.  We now spend days at a time going through hundreds of different loose gemstone varieties, choosing the exact pieces that we want and even having many cut exclusively for us directly from the original rocks.  As well as featuring varieties which are more familiar, we also have many that are less well known and it’s always exciting to find something that’s rare or exceptionally unusual.  Every time I’m in that magical warehouse, I feel like a kid in a candy store, it’s the most magical and exciting experience.

Our next step was to find someone who could turn these magnificent gemstones into breathtaking pieces of jewellery and we soon had the introduction that we needed and before long were having all our jewellery made exclusively for us.

Since the quality of our jewellery was now even less suitable for sale in market than it was before, we decided it was once again time to move on and our next step was to look at the possibility of doing some small shows or exhibtions.  It was like starting all over again as we had no idea what to expect or how we would be received.  Our first ever show was a home design and shopping expo and finally for this, we changed our display.  Though a vast improvement, we still had some way to go before getting it just right!!

First day, first show

The response that we had on that first day was quite overwhelming and we knew straight away that we had done the right thing.  Best of all, there was no more worrying about weather, it no longer mattered!

As we took on more and more shows, we gradually left market life behind us which in a way was quite sad.  We had met so many great people, had so many experiences, seen so many crazy things and most importantly would be losing many loyal customers.  Market life really is quite unique and extraordinary and even though tough, especially when you’re out on the street, I have a much better understanding of it now than I ever did all those years ago when I was working with my father.

The shows were fun and also very hard work with setting up and packing down every few days and driving the length and bredth of the country, but it was quite different to trading in markets in many ways.

First Christmas show

Victorian fancy dress Christmas show with the REAL mayor of Bury St Edmunds!

Royal Highland Show - Edinburgh

The quality of our display was finally improving as we did more shows and the number of different gemstone varieties that we offered gradually increased.  We became well known on the show circuit for our large and chunky pendants and rings which by the way, were now organizing in size order which was much more sensible and resulted in sales dramatically increasing.  Funny enough ring sizes which were most popular would vary dramatically from show to show depending on which part of the UK we were in!

Ideal Home Show Earls Court 2007

Ideal Home Show Earls Court 2008

2008 saw a dramatic slow down and the first we had ever experienced.  Initially there were whispers about the credit crunch which made everyone slightly nervous and then slowly that turned into talk of a recession.  Our business like so many others I’m sure, has suffered, but we are coping well because we were in a very strong position when the slow down started to hit and also because we have a large and very loyal customer following.  We have of course scaled down to cut costs and are currently just doing shows with one superb company called Rock n Gem.  If you’ve never been to one of their shows and you love rocks, gems and minerals then you have no idea what you’re missing!  Check out our events diary for full details.

So this is where we are at the moment and how we arrived here.  We currently have as part of our collection as many as one hundred and fifty different gemstone varieties and every single stone in every piece of our jewellery, has been hand picked by one of our team prior to it being mounted.  We are well aware that quality is so much more important than quantity and our priority has always been to offer the very finest quality gemstones at the most competitive prices possible and we firmly believe that is exactly what we’re doing today.

Unakite

Unakite was first discovered in the USA in the Unaka mountains of North Carolina hence its name.   Unakite is the state gemstone of Virginia where it can be found in the river valleys after having been washed down from the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Unakite can also be found as pebbles in the beach rock on the shores of Lake Superior and is also found in South Africa, Brazil and China.

Unakite is a type of granite composed of pink orthoclase feldspar, green epidote and generally clear Quartz.  It is known for its unusual mix of salmon pink and green colour and is relatively new to the gemstone market but is fast growing in popularity.

Unakite is considered by healers to be a balancing stone and one that can help to unify the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of ones self, making it an excellent gemstone for those seeking a well rounded existence.  It is also believed to help us to live in the present instead of dwelling on the past.  Unakite helps to release mental or emotional blocks that can often stop us from moving forward.

Unakite is a good for people who are givers but not takers and enhances self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.  It also enables you to accept love and caring from others.  It is said to help to encourage you to be more forthright about your needs and desires and to enable you to move ahead more confidently.

Unakite is graded 6 to 7 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness

Wikipedia offers just a paragraph of reading on the gemstone Unakite

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unakite

 

Turquoise

In the thirteenth century Turquoise was named after the French words ‘pierre turquoise’ meaning Turkish stone.  This is thought to have arisen from a misconception that Turquoise originated in Turkey when in fact it originated in Persia and only entered Europe through Turkey.

Turquoise is one of the oldest known gemstones and was being mined by the Egyptians in the Sinai as early as 5,500 BC.

The blue colour of Turquoise was believed to have powerful metaphysical properties by many ancient cultures.  In ancient Mexico it was reserved for the Gods and could not be worn by mere mortals.  In Asia, it was considered an effective protection against the evil eye and in Tibet today, it is by far the most popular of all gemstones used for personal adornment and still plays an important part in religious ceremonies.  In the South West of the United States the Apache Indians believed Turquoise would help warriors and hunters hit their targets more accurately if their spears or arrows were tipped with Turquoise.  The Zuni tribe believed it protected them from demons and it was also believed by some that it had the power to protect the wearer from injury should they fall, especially from a horse and it also made the horse more sure footed.

Turquoise was worn around the necks of Egyptian Pharaohs and adorned the ceremonial dress of early native American Indians.  It has been attributed with unlimited healing powers as well as promoting the wearer’s status and wealth.  Turquoise remains a sacred stone to many of the American Indian tribes.

Turquoise was so highly valued that all 79 Emeralds in the crown that Napoleon I gave to his consort Empress Marie Louise were replaced with Persian Turquoise cabochons.

As a healing stone, Turquoise it is among the crystal healing master gemstones.  It is said that its powers can benefit the entire body, with special strengths in healing ailments of the immune, respiratory, waste and skeletal systems.  Healers recommend it for detoxification of alcohol, poison, pollution or radiation, for treatment of high blood pressure, asthma, infections and dental problems.

In relation to the mind, Turquoise is supposed to be a stone of communication and is used for those who have a fear of public speaking.  It is also believed to improve the mental state overall by increasing serenity, creativity, empathy, positive thinking, sensitivity, intuition, happiness and wisdom.

Turquoise is one of the birthstones for December and the anniversary gemstone for the 11th year of marriage.

The ancient mines of Mashad (Iran) are considered to be the best source of the finest Turquoise.  The most important producers are Iran, South West United States, Tibet, China, Afghanistan and Australia.

Turquoise is graded 5 to 6 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness

The following websites offer further interesting reading on the gemstone Turquoise

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turquoise
http://www.gemologyonline.com/turquoise.html
http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/turquoise.html
http://www.gemstoneeducation.com/Turquoise.htm 

 

Tourmaline

Tourmaline occurs in many colours and also in combinations of two or three different colours.  The colours can be at different ends of the crystal or together in the heart of it.  Tourmaline with a pink centre and a green border is known as Watermelon Tourmaline.

Another interesting fact is that an electrical charge can be induced in some Tourmaline crystals and this effect has found many uses in pressure measuring equipment and other scientific applications.  Tourmaline was subsequently used in the production of pressure sensitive gauges for submarine instrumentation and other wartime equipment.  The pressure gauges that measured the power of the first atomic bomb blasts were made with slices of Tourmaline.

Tourmaline can be easily confused with many other gemstones and this has in the past caused much confusion.  Many gemstones in the Russian Crown jewels from the 17th Century once thought to be Rubies are in fact Tourmalines.

In South America Green Tourmaline is still referred to as the ‘Brazilian Emerald’.  The exact quantity of green stones which were mined in the early days of the Portuguese colonization and sent to Portugal as Emeralds will probably never really be known.

Tourmaline was a prized gemstone throughout history.  In particular the Dowager Empress of China who was the last Empress of China loved it so much that she bought enormous quantities when a new mine opened in California. It was used for carving purposes and for fashioning toggles or buttons on the jackets worn by the royal court and by other wealthy individuals.

Tourmaline is said by healers to enhance one’s understanding, increase self-confidence and amplify one’s psychic energies and aid concentration and communication.  It is also believed to neutralize negative energies and dispel fear and grief.  Tourmaline can also aid relaxation of both mind and body as well as being able to help with the treatment of many different conditions and diseases including anxiety, blood poisoning, arthritis and heart disease.

Tourmaline has been found throughout history in Africa, the Ural Mountains of Russia and other European locations.  Some of the most exciting finds have been in North and South America.  Beautiful gemstones were discovered early in the 19th century in the United States and in 1972 a mine in Maine established itself as one of the largest finds on record ever.  For a brief period it became a world source for superior quality red and green Tourmaline.

The first Pink Tourmaline was found in the 1860’s in San Diego.  Today the largest mines are in the Minas Gerais state of Brazil.  It is also mined in Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Mozambique, Myanmar, Russia, Namibia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Tourmaline and Opal are the birthstones for October.  Tourmaline is also the anniversary gemstone for the 8th year of marriage.  It is graded 7 to 7.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness

The following websites offer further interesting reading on the gemstone Tourmaline

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourmaline
http://www.gemologyonline.com/tourmaline.html
http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/tourmaline.html
http://www.gemstoneeducation.com/Tourmaline.htm

 

Tourmalinated Quartz

Tourmalinated Quartz is created when black Tourmaline is trapped within the Quartz.  This gemstone is frequently called Black Rutile which is incorrect as the mineral is Tourmaline and not Rutile.

The difference in hardness between the two materials and also because of the Tourmaline pushing from the inside as it grows, means the surface of the Quartz is often pitted.

 

Topaz

There is some uncertainty over where the name Topaz originated from.  Some say it comes from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘fire’ while others link it to the Red Sea Island of Topazios (Zabargad or St. John’s Island) where Peridot has been found.

Basically Topaz means ’a yellow gem’ and you can be certain that plenty of Citrine and Smoky Quartz  has been incorrectly sold as Golden Topaz and Smoky Topaz!  The terms Imperial and Precious Topaz are now often used to distinguish between real Topaz and the Quartz look a likes.

Topaz comes in a variety of different colours but the vast majority is heat treated to obtain the colour of choice.  The most popular colour is blue and the lightest blue colour known as Sky Blue is quite readily available.  The deeper coloured Swiss Blue variety is a little rarer with London Blue being the rarest.  The fine golden yellow coloured variety which is known as Imperial Topaz is relatively scarce and the most valuable is pink Topaz.

The method of heat treatment used to create Blue Topaz is called irradiation.  This involves exposing the gemstone to pre determined levels of controlled radiation to change the colour to various shades of blue.  Strict guidelines are followed to ensure the gemstones are safe following this treatment.  They must then be safely stored away for differing lengths of time to allow them to sufficiently ‘cool’ before they can be handled.  The lengthy amount of time that London Blue Topaz has to stand is one of the factors that makes it so rare and more expensive than the lighter coloured Sky and Swiss Blue varieties.    

Topaz is a very hard gemstone but like the Diamond, it can be split with a single blow.

The largest Topaz crystal named El Dorado was found in Brazil in 1984.  It weighs 6.2 kg and belongs to the British Royal Collection.  The most famous Topaz is the giant Braganza diamond in the Portuguese crown which was as its name suggests, first thought to be a diamond.  There is also a beautiful Topaz set in the Green Vault in Dresden, one of the world’s most important gemstone collections.

Topaz has been used for centuries in jewellery and is the birthstone for the month of November along with Citrine.  Blue Topaz is considered one of the birthstones for the month of December.  It is also the anniversary gemstone for the 4th year of marriage.

The Minas Gerais area of Brazil is the most important supplier of Topaz but it can also be found in many other locations worldwide.

Topaz is graded 8 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness

The following websites offer further interesting reading on the gemstone Topaz

http://www.gemologyonline.com/topaz.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaz
http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/topaz.html
http://www.gemstoneeducation.com/Topaz.htm

 

Tigers Eye

Tigers Eye is the original chatoyant gemstone. This means it has a changeable shimmering silky lustre which is caused as light is reflected from the inside of the stone. This word comes from the French meaning ‘cat’s eye’

Tigers Eye was named because its traditional brown, orange and black colouring closely resembled that of a tiger’s eye.  Few people have ever seen the other varieties of Tigers Eye which include red, black and blue.  Blue Tigers Eye is more correctly known as Hawk’s Eye for obvious reasons!

Like all stones which resemble eyes when cut or polished, Tigers Eye is a powerful protective amulet.  Roman soldiers wore it because they believed it was an all seeing eye hence it offered good protection as a gemstone.  Even today it is used for psychic protection

Tigers Eye helps to release anxiety, fear and obsessiveness and makes emotions more logical. It is frequently recommended by healers as a good gemstone for business and achieving clarity. Tigers Eye symbolizes willpower, confidence and assurance and is also said to clear visual disturbances and provide protection during travel

Tigers Eye has the ability to calm the emotions relieving obstinate and stubborn behaviour hence providing flexibility. It strengthens energy and provides courage and is also said to aid its wearer in reducing stress and allows the mind to clearly define relationships with others

It is one of the most desirable gemstones found in Western Australia and occurs in the rugged Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara region. This is an area that is extremely rich in iron ore with many huge mines currently in operation

The main mining area however for Tigers Eye is in South Africa and the best gemstones come from Griqualand West

Tigers Eye is the gemstone for the ninth wedding anniversary and is graded 7 on Mohs scale of mineral hardenss

The following websites offer further interesting reading on the gemstone Tigers Eye

http://www.gemologyonline.com/tigereye.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigers_eye
http://www.gemstoneeducation.com/TigersEye.htm

 

Tiger Iron

Tiger Iron has layers of Tiger’s Eye sandwiched between layers of Red Jasper and Hematite and is frequently mistaken for Tiger’s Eye. 

Tiger Iron was formed over two billion years ago when deposits of Red Jasper, Tiger’s Eye and Hematite were slowly smashed together when tectonic plates shifted to create the Australian continent.  The intricate designs in Tiger Iron are the result of tremendous pressure on the original crystals whose presence is still very noticeable in the layers of gold, silver, brown and red which create the unique horizontal and vertical pattern in the Tiger Iron stone.

Crystal Healers say that Tiger Iron is beneficial for treating blood disorders, spinal alignment and that it helps with the healing of broken and fractured bones.   Tiger Iron provides strength, stamina and endurance and can help fight tiredness and exhaustion.  It is a good gemstone for strengthening the muscle and immune system and also helps with disorders of the reproductive and digestive systems and helps with general non-specific aches and pains.

Tiger Iron is a grounding gemstone that helps to promote inner strength and also balances emotional energies therefore helping to achieve peace, calmness and tranquillity in life.  It encourages concentration, optimism and creativity, and is also believed to encourage an admiration for the pure and beautiful, especially if you are of an artistic nature.

Tiger Iron can help to clarify thoughts and increase confidence. It is a soothing gemstone which allows us to be uninhibited and to transform negativity into love.

Tiger Iron is graded 7 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness

 

 

 

 

Tiffany Stone

Beautiful and extremely rare, the Tiffany gemstone  is known by a number of different names, Bertrandite, which is a misnomer because that is a mineral in its own right, Opalized Fluorite, which is the most accurate as it is primarily an Opalized Fluorite and among others, Ice Cream Opal.

The Tiffany gemstone (Opalized Fluorite) is mined solely in one location in the world, the Brush-Wellman beryllium mine in the western deserts of Utah in the USA.  This in itself is one reason for it being rare, however the fact that the vast majority of stones which are mined are crushed up as part of the beryllium extraction process meaning that very few are spared to be used for anything else, make it a great deal rarer and subsequently it is also pretty expensive!

The Tiffany gemstone (Opalized Fluorite) is believed by healers to be a highly energetic but subtle gemstone which helps with communication and interpretation of psychically received information of all kinds, including telepathic and clairvoyance.  It helps emotionally by assisting with transitions during all sorts of changes and can also give the wearer emotional strength and help with releasing hidden or secret feelings. It is also believed to be beneficial for business and business success.  Physically the Tiffany gemstone (Opalized Fluorite) is said to boost sex drive and enhance sexual experience.  It is considered to be an all round healing gemstone.

The name Tiffany was given to this gemstone commercially as some stones can be very similar to the patterns in tiffany glass.  There are no other other direct connections with the company known as Tiffany & Co, except that it was the founder’s son, Louis Comfort Tiffany who was the decorative glass and lamp designer famous for his stained glass windows and lamps! 

The Tiffany gemstone (Opalized Fluorite) is most commonly patterned with purples, lilacs, blacks and whites however occasionally pieces can also be found with a range of completely different colours as well

The Tiffany gemstone (Opalized Fluorite) is one of our rarer and more expensive cabochon gemstone varieties

It is graded 4 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness 

The following website was one of the very few that we found offering information on the Tiffany gemstone

http://www.utahlavender.com/index.htm

 

Sunstone (Aventurine Feldspar)

Sunstone is a feldspar which exhibits an amazing spangled appearance known as aventurescence.  This effect is due to the presence of tiny platelets of included minerals such as Goethite or Hematite.  Sunstone is also known as Aventurine Feldspar.

It was said that Pope Clement VII (1478-1534) had in his possession a Sunstone with a golden spot that moved across the surface with the apparent motion of the sun from sunrise to sunset.

Goldstone is a common imitation of Sunstone due to the spangled effect that it shares, however unlike Sunstone, Goldstone is manmade.

Crystal healers believe Sunstone to be a strong protection gemstone that is also supposed to increase the power of your personal attraction.

Sunstone comes mainly from India, Canada, Norway, China, United States and Russia.  Good quality Sunstone can be extremely difficult to find and can also be very expensive.

Sunstone is graded 6 to 6.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness

The following website offers further interesting reading on the gemstone Sunstone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunstone

 

Sugilite

Sugilite is a fairly recent find in the gemstone world.  The first known appearance of Sugilite took place on the Iwagi Islet in Southwest Japan in 1944 and was discovered by Professor Kenichi Sugi after whom it was later named.

The colour of this first variety of Sugilite was a light brownish yellow and was in the form of minute grains.  The second known occurrence of Sugilite came in 1955 when a single dark red ore specimen was found that had pink crystals across its surface.  It was found in manganese ore samples in the Madhya Pradesh area of central India but was not identified as Sugilite until many years later.  Neither of these discoveries produced sufficient quantities or a desirable colour to be of any use to gem makers.

In 1975 the third and most important occurrence took place in the Southern Kalahari Desert near Hotazel, South Africa.  This came in the form of a thin bright magenta band running through a core sample obtained at the Wessels Manganese mine.  The part of the mine where the sample of Sugilite was obtained contained only low grade ore, so excavation of the area did not commence until 1979.  At 3,200 feet below the surface, an inclined shaft’s roof fell in and exposed the first major deposit of gem grade Sugilite.  This chance find produced about ten thousand pounds of gemstone quality Sugilite.  Most of this original material has now been mined, but occasionally small quantities are still found.

Healers say Sugilite strengthens the heart, aids physical healing and reduces stress.  Sugilite is a balancer of mind, body and spirit and encourages peace of mind, a general feeling of well being and spiritual love.  It is also suggested that it protects against and dissipates anger and other negative energies.

Sugilite is graded 7 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness

The following websites offer further interesting reading on the gemstone Sugilite

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugilite

http://www.bwsmigel.info/GEOL.115.ESSAYS/Gemology.Sugilite.html

http://www.gemstoneeducation.com/Sugilite.htm