Emerald:  Emerald is the most precious of the beryl family of gems. It is closely related to the Aquamarine. Inclusions or striations are common and thought to be a good indication of a genuine stone. Only the very finest quality are clear and demand exceptionally high prices. The most desirable colour are the darker greens. Emeralds are vulnerable to pressure, so must be treated with a measure of care.

Green Sapphire:   Green Sapphire is from the corundum group of minerals. Its colours range from pink, orange, purple, green, yellow, the reds are designated as Rubies

Green Tourmaline:   Tourmaline is another gem found in multi-colours. It’s one of those gems designated according to colour, in this case Verdelite. The emerald greens are the most desirable shade in this colour. Over recent years, demand throughout Europe has been strong.

Peridot:   Peridot, also known as Olivine, because of the olive green to yellow colour that it exclusively occurs in. The gem has been mined for thousands of years. Interestingly, it’s a mineral that also occurs in meteorites. Olivine is a common mineral but gem-quality Peridot is a little less numerous.

Diopside:   Diopside is from the pyroxene group of minerals. The darker bottle greens are more sought after. It also occurs in a very dark near-black colour, often cabochon cut known as black cat’s eye or black star Diopside. It’sometimes confused with other green stones like Emerald and Peridot.

Tsavorite:   Tsavorite is from the Garnet family, which form their own group of six minerals called nesosilicates. Tsavorite is named after the Tsavo National Park, where it was first mined in Kenya in the 70s. The first deposits were discovered and mined for the commercial gem trade, by a Brit, Campbell Bridges. It’s a vivid and intense blue green. A Tsavorite larger than 2cts is rare.

Demantoid:   Demantoid is from the Garnet family (Andradite) and is the most valuable. The name Demantoid means ‘diamond like’ because of its diamond-like lustre. It is very rare. The Russian Demantoid is worth more than the Namibian soured stone. The Russian stone can have a type of inclusion referred to as horse tails; this type of inclusion is acknowledged as an enhancement, to gem collectors. (Sorry no picture yet)