Grape Amethyst™
Amethyst is one of the most popular and mystical gemstones: worn by the ancient Romans as a talisman; written about by Leonardo da Vinci who said the gem had the power to protect against evil thoughts and sharpen intelligence; and to this day, amethysts are featured in the Tibetan rosary as the Buddhists believe the gem enhances the peace and tranquility of meditation.
Amethysts come in a variety of shades and colors, from pink to the deepest royal purple which is the sweet flavor of Le Vian®'s Candy Colors® Amethyst. Brazil and Zambia are the major producers of gem quality amethyst.
Very large sizes of rich, deep color amethyst are very rare. An amethyst which weighs more than 1,000 carats can be seen The Smithsonian Institution, whose gem gallery is home to some of the most famous Amethyst gems in the world dating back to the early 1900's. Other famous amethysts housed at The Smithsonian include: the 96-carat heart-shaped Morris Amethyst brooch; a 56-carat square, cushion-cut amethyst necklace that displays a deep purple color with flashes of red.
DEEP SEA BLUE TOPAZTM
Legend has it that topaz dispels all enchantment and helps improve eyesight. In ancient times, it was believed that topaz had the power to increase strength and make the wearer invisible. Today, the gem is favored for its exquisite blue hue which can range from cool icy blues as featured in Le Vian®'s Ocean Blue TopazTM to the deep, Mediterranean blues in Deep Sea Blue TopazTM.
An interesting characteristic of topaz is its ability to build up a distinct electrical charge from heat or friction that it will retain for several hours. Blue is the most popular topaz color which is obtained through a diffusion treatment that is permanent.
Pomegranate GarnetTM
Garnet Family | Mohs Scale: 7.5-8 | January Birthstone | 2nd Anniversary Gemstone
"Pomegranate Garnet offers January babies a garnet with warmer chocolate undertones that are perfectly complemented by Chocolate Diamonds®."
The history of garnets can be traced back to 3100 B.C., the original red garnet gem adorning the necklaces of Egypt’s pharaohs and the signet rings of ancient Rome. Garnets were named by the ancient Greeks for its color which resembled pomegranate seed - granatum. In legend, the garnet was believed to light up the night, thus protecting the wearer from nightmares. Garnets are all natural, brilliant and durable making them a favorite for jewelry and favored in rings.
Le Vian® selected a unique hue for its Pomegranate Garnet™, those gems with a rich red tone with a slight umber undertone.
RASPBERRY RHODOLITE®
The history of garnets can be traced back to 3100 B.C., the original red garnet gem adorning the necklaces of Egypt's pharaohs and the signet rings of ancient Rome. Garnets were named by the ancient Greeks for its color which resembled pomegranate seed - granaturn. In legend, the garnet was believed to light up the night, thus protecting the wearer from nightmares. Garnets are all natural, brilliant and durable making them a favorite for jewelry and favored in rings.
Le Vian® chose the most pleasing flavor, the garnet gem known as rhodolite for its Raspberry Rhodolite®. The Fiery RedsTM gem with a deep burgundy hue is a stunning starring gem in designs flavored with Strawberry Gold® accented with Chocolate Diamonds®
BLUEBERRY SAPPHIRETM
Throughout history, sapphires have always been associated with the color blue, perhaps most likely due to their name, which comes from the Greek word sappheiros (blue stone). Traditionally, sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. In history, clergy members wore the gem to symbolize Heaven. In ancient Greece and Rome, the royals believed sapphires protected them from envy and harm. Sapphires have also been closely associated with romance and the royals, most recently in modern times. In 1981, Prince Charles gave Lady Diana Spencer a blue sapphire engagement ring. The same ring was later given to Kate Middleton by Prince William
But all sapphires are not blue and, in fact, come in a rainbow of colors including varying shades of blue as well as “fancy sapphires” in pink, yellow, orange, lavender, purple. Blues can be pure blue but may have a range from greenish blue to violet blue. The blue in a sapphire is the result of trace elements of iron and titanium; the more iron in the sapphire, the darker the blue.
CHOCOLATE QUARTZ®
In its purest form, quartz is colorless but is also found in many spectacular colors. Le Vian® offers many different flavors of quartz in its collections including its 2014 Color of the Year Chocolate Quartz, one of the flavors in the Chocolate CravingsTM trend. This delicious quartz brings the flavor of Le Vian Chocolatier® to a new level with its high clarity and luster plus big and bold Chocolate flavor exquisitely revealed through Le Vian®'s proprietary gem cuts. The warm neutrality of Chocolate Quartz® offers the perfect complement to the fashions of today and tomorrow.