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.
PEACH MORGANITETM
Morganite, the sister stone of emerald and aquamarine, was first discovered in California and is named for J.P. Morgan, one of the greatest financiers in history and one of the most important gem collectors in the early 1900s. Originally known as pink beryl, this peachy pink gem which is rarer than aquamarine, receives its blush hue through traces of manganese. Stronger colors are possible, although the finest colors are mainly achieved through larger stones. Morganite crystals can be quite large, with stones in Brazil weighing over 22 pounds. The largest Morganite weighing in at 50 pounds was uncovered in the U.S. in 1989 and named "The Rose of Maine." The largest faceted Morganite is a 598.70-carat cushion-shape from Madagascar in the collection of the British Museum. Symbolically, Morganite is thought to induce peace, joy and inner strength.
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®
CHOCOLATE DIAMONDS®
Natural fancy brown diamonds are available in shades from champagne to cognac to Chocolate Diamonds®, Le Vian®’s original brand of natural fancy color brown diamonds. Chocolate Diamonds® are naturally flavored, the depth of their color determined by the tremendous amount of pressure the diamond receives from deep within the earth.
Famous brown diamonds include the 545 carat dark rich champagne hued "Golden Jubilee," the world's largest cut natural diamond.
VANILLA DIAMONDS®
The journey of a diamond in the rough to the sparkling diamond design you love is a fascinating story, one that began billions of years ago, deep within the earth where a diamond has formed under extreme heat and pressure. Its ascent from its natural home is forced by nature or man where it is then cleaved, cut and polished revealing its natural beauty. Diamonds are the hardest material on earth and the only gem that is composed of only one element, carbon.
Vanilla Diamonds® are specially selected to adorn Le Vian® designs – from breathtaking one-of-a-kind red carpet favored designs in Vanilla Gold® to the trendsetting combination of Strawberry ‘N Vanilla® featuring the blushing hue of Strawberry Gold® topped with Vanilla Diamonds®.