Jewel Lines Vodka - Satisfaction for all Your Senses!

Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee 2004 – Is high quality dry red wine with excellent fruitful texture and nice oak finish. The traditional fermentation into oak barrels enriches the wine with noble character and grace making it enjoyable for festive occasions.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2004 - It exhibits ruby red colour with hue of violet. Flavours of wild berries, vanilla and nuts dominate the aroma. The wine has harmonious and balanced taste and pleasant, mild and fruity finish.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve 1998 – Is high quality dry red wine with excellent fruitful texture and nice oak finish. The traditional fermentation into oak barrels enriches the wine with noble character and grace making it enjoyable for festive occasions.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

Cabernet Sauvignon DGR 1997 - Ruby red colour. Fruity aroma and taste dominated by wild berries and vanilla. It has superb finish and aftertaste.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

Merlot Reserve 2003 – Ruby red colour with hints of garnet. Flavours of cinnamon vanilla and nuts act as accents and bring together the rich aroma. It has round and balanced taste with pleasant mild, fruity finish.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

Merlot DGR 1997 – Ruby red colour. Fruity aroma and taste dominated by plum. It has superb aftertaste.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

All above red wines where awarded “Golden Rhyton” and are available in limited quantity of 200 000 per selection.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 - Classic dry red wine of Cabernet Sauvignon variety, perfectly ripened, with exceptional aromas of forest fruit and delicate blackcurrant. The richness of the fruity taste combines exquisitely with soft grape tannins. The feeling of softness, sweetness and fullness is lasting in a balanced aftertaste.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

Merlot 2008 – Classic dry red wine of Merlot variety, perfectly ripened, with exceptional aromas, taste of cherry and red wild berries. The rich fruity taste and soft grape tannins are lasting and strongly impressive. The feeling of succulence, sweetness and fullness model the elegant aftertaste.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

More about Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc 2008 – Wild berries with dominating blueberry Fruity, full of delicate pepper tone, toasted bread, lasting mild aftertaste.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.

750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

*Stones Selection:

Ruby’s - Topazes – Emerald’s - Peridots - Sapphire’s

Share/Bookmark

Jewel Lines® Rose Wines

chef — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:10:08 +0000

Rose Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2005 - Excellent brilliant colour. It has wild berries, cinnamon and cardamom aroma. The taste is mild and fruity. Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*
750ml. 12% ALC./VOL.

Eselsmilch Rose – This is semi-dry wine. It is characterized by its one of the kind fruity aroma and harmonious taste. Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*
750ml. 10.5% ALC./VOL.

More about Eselmilch

*Stones Selection:

Ruby’s - Topazes - Emerald’s – Peridots - Sapphire’s

Share/Bookmark

Jewel Lines® Vodka

chef — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:28:25 +0000

Precious Vodka

is exclusive Ultra-Premium, produced on the basis of 6-times distilled spirit and spring water subjected to a double process of osmosis. Obtained vodka, which is due to 6-fold rectification and 3 times the filtration is very mild aroma and taste. Despite adequate power, alcohol does not cause unpleasant sensations after consumption.

Price includes beautiful crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL. (80 PROOF)

More about Vodka

* Stones Selection:

Ruby’s - Topazes - Emerald’s- Peridots - Sapphire’s

Share/Bookmark

Jewel Lines® Brandy’s

chef — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:27:08 +0000

Classic Brandy’s

Grape Brandy - Produced from selected white grapes. It is characterized by purity, delicate grape aroma and smooth taste. Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL.

Grape Brandy Aged - It has golden colour and is produced by distillation of Dimyat wine materials. Aged in small oak barrels. Full-bodied with delicate aroma.

Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL.

Grape Brandy Old - The grape’s distillates mature in contact with oak timber. This brandy possesses golden color, complex aroma and mild taste.

Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL.

Muscat Brandy – Characterized Charactercterized by distinctive aroma and smooth harmonious taste.

Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL.

Muscat Brandy Aged - It has golden color. Vanilla and delicate Muscat aromas are mixed in excellent harmony. The taste is mild and fruity. Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL.

Plum Brandy Omurtag - It has distinctive golden colour and refined aroma combined with oak tones. The taste is mild and fruity. Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 38% ALC./VOL.

Apricot Brandy Classic- It is manufactured in Targovishte region from ripe apricots, which are instantly processed. The apricot distillate is qualified with mild water and is coloured pale yellow with caramel. Then it ages in oak barrels for at least a year. Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 38% ALC./VOL.

Brandy’s Special Collection

Muscat Brandy aged 3 years - It has golden colour, refined and gentle aroma round mild taste and excellent aftertaste. It has aged in small oak barrel for 3 years.

Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL.

Muscat Brandy aged 5 years - It has golden colour. This brandy is characterized by delicate aroma and smooth taste. It has aged for 5 years in small oak barrels.

Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL. (only 200 000 bottles available)

Brandy Very Special aged 3 years - The colour is dark amber, golden. It has strong aroma of dried fruits, vanilla and caramel. There are vanilla and chocolate nuances in the taste.

Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL.

Brandy Very Special aged 5 years - The colour is dark amber, golden. It has strong aroma of dried fruits, vanilla and caramel. There are vanilla and chocolate nuances in the taste. Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL.

More about Brandy

* Stones Selection:

Ruby’s - Topazes – Emerald’s - Peridots - Sapphire’s

Look Value of Gemstones

Share/Bookmark

Ruby

chef — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:04:07 +0000

Ruby is red corundum, all other color varieties of corundum being referred to as sapphire. Corundum is the second hardest substance on the Mohs scale, with a rating of 9. Diamond tops the scale with a rating of 10. Excellent hardness combined with the rich color and silky shine make fine rubies so valuable and secures them a position as one of the so-called “precious” gemstones.

Ruby is named after the Latin word “ruber” for red. Rubies range in color from pinkish to orangey and purplish and brownish red, depending on the chromium and iron content of the stone. The most desirable color is the so-called “pigeon’s blood”, a pure red with a hint of blue, only found in the mines of Myanmar (Burma), the most important ruby deposits known.

Ruby is one of the most expensive gems, large rubies being rarer than comparable diamonds. Many rubies are an essential part of royal insignia and other famous jewelry.
Ruby is the birthstone for those who are born in July. Ruby is also used to celebrate a couple’s 15th and 40th anniversary.

Ruby colors
Rubies range in color from pinkish to orangey and purplish and brownish red, depending on the chromium and iron content of the stone. The most desirable color is the so-called “pigeon’s blood”, a pure red with a hint of blue. The distribution of color is often uneven, in strips or spots.

Buying Ruby
Color is the most important consideration, with clarity a distant second. Large rubies are rare.

Color
The most desirable color is the so-called “pigeon’s blood”, a pure red with a hint of blue. Color saturation makes all the difference.
Lighting
Ruby shows pleochroism which means that the color varies with the direction of viewing. Stones displaying the cat’s eye or star effect are best viewed in daylight.

Many rubies will fluoresce in long or short wave UV and this property can often be used to help identify a stone’s geographic origin. Burmese rubies often fluoresce so strongly that the effect is noticeable even in sunlight; such stones seem literally to glow. Thai rubies generally lack this property.
Clarity
Inclusions are common in ruby and not always an indication of lower quality. Included rutile needles cause the “silky shine”. If such a stone is cut en cabochon it exposes the rare cat’s eye effect. Oriented rutile crystal inclusions cause a six-rayed-star light effect (called asterism) to form the popular star ruby.
Cut
Transparent rubies are cut in step and brilliant cut. Less transparent rubies are cut en cabochon.

Ruby location and deposits
Myanmar: For centuries the most important deposits are in upper Myanmar (Burma) near Mogok. Only one percent of the production is of gem quality. Some of the rubies are of pigeon’s blood color and considered to be the most valuable rubies of all. In the early 1990′s large new deposits were discovered at Mong Hsu.

Thailand: Rubies found in Thailand (Chanthaburi district) often have a brown or violet tint. The Thai ruby production is declining, and Chanthaburi is now mainly a center for processing and trading gems.
Sri Lanka: The deposits are located in the southwest of the island in the Ratnapura district. Rubies from that deposits are usually light red to raspberry red.
Tanzania: On the upper Umba River in northwest Tanzania are deposits for gemstone quality rubies that are violet to brown-red. A few opaque rubies are mined as well.

Other deposits of some importance are found in: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Kenya, Madagascar and Vietnam. Less significant deposits are in: Australia, Brazil, India, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan, United States and Zimbabwe.

Common Ruby treatments
The most common treatment for ruby is heat treatment. Stones, generally before they are cut, are heated to between 1700 to 1800 degrees Celsius (3100-3300 degrees F) for several hours. Heating often improves both color and clarity. A reputable dealer will always disclose gem treatments.

Lower grade rubies with surface-reaching fissures are often fracture-filled with lead glass. This treatment produces good looking stones that can be sold at a very reasonable price.

World-famous Ruby
Famous stones of outstanding beauty and color are the “Edwardes Ruby”,weight 167 ct, displayed at the British Museum of Natural History in London, the “Rosser Reeves Star Ruby”, of 138.7 ct, to be seen at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, the “De Long Star Ruby”, weight 100 ct, shown in the American Museum of Natural History in New York and the “Peace Ruby”, 43 ct, which was found in 1919.

Many rubies are an essential part of royal insignia and other famous jewelry. The Bohemian St. Wenzel’s Crown holds an unfaceted ruby of about 250 ct.
Some famous large rubies, such as the “Black Prince’s Ruby” and the “Timur Ruby” in the British Crown Jewels are actually spinels, because until the beginning of the 19th century spinels were thought to be rubies.

Rubies are one of the favorite gems of the rich and famous. Elizabeth Taylor owns a spectacular ruby necklace and earring set. During an auction of the estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis by Sotheby’s on April 24, 1996, a 17.68-carat ruby ring sold for $290,000; some cabochon ruby earrings sold for $360,000; and a cabochon ruby necklace was a bargain at $247,500. Marlene Dietrich owned a ruby bracelet that sold at Sotheby’s for $990,000.

Rubies have also a famous place in science – the first lasers were made from artificial ruby crystals.

Ruby gemology Species: Corundum
Color: Varying red
Chemical composition: Al2O3 aluminum oxide
Crystal system: (Trigonal) hexagonal prisms or tables, rhombohedrons
Hardness:9 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 3.97 – 4.05
Refractive index: 1.762 -1.778
Birefringence: -0.008
Color of streak: White,
Absorption spectrum: 694, 693, 668, 659, 610-500, 476, 475, 468
Fluorescence: Strong carmine red

The Ruby zodiac, myth and legend
For a long time India was considered as the classical source of rubies. In the Sanskrit language ruby is called “ratnaraj”, which translates as “King of Gemstones”.
In ancient times one of the chief attractions of ruby has been its protection from misfortune and bad health.
Ruby is the birthstone for those who are born in July. On the Zodiac chart, ruby is the stone for Capricorn.

Ruby is also used to celebrate a couple’s 15th and 40th anniversary.

In Antiquity, as well as in the Middle Ages people believed that the cosmos is reflected in gemstones. The ruby is assigned to the planets Mars and Pluto. The esoteric movement revived the ancient belief and the gem industry made it another marketing tool to promote certain gems.

The healing powers of gems remain a controversial issue, but are mentioned for centuries by healers, shamans and medicine men. Whether it’s a fact or a placebo effect doesn’t matter, if it helps. The safest approach is to wear the gemstone in skin contact to the troubled part of the body. Ruby is said to be a general health protection and a help for backache and toenail problems.

We do not want to go this way at present time.

Share/Bookmark

Sapphire

chef — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:51:20 +0000

Sapphire The blue sister of ruby. Ruby and sapphire are the same material, the mineral corundum, and the second hardest gemstone after diamond. Red corundum is known as ruby, while all other colors are referred to as sapphire. While blue is the classic sapphire color, sapphire is actually found in a wide range of colors, including yellow, pink and green.

Sapphire colors
Blue is the most famous of the sapphire colors. The prized Kashmir and Burmese sapphires have a deep blue that is intense and velvety. These sapphires are not often seen on the market today. Sri Lankan and Madagascar sapphires are the most common today, with a wide range of colors from light sky blue to dark blue. Other producers of blue sapphire are Australia, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, and Montana.

Colorless corundum is rare as faint shades of color are nearly always present. Many small white sapphires used in jewelry are synthetic.

Purple sapphire is rare, but found in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Iron and titanium impurities together may cause the purple hue of the stone.

Much yellow sapphire is on the lighter side. Heat treatment can produce a more intense yellow golden color, and beryllium-treated sapphire may be a brilliant yellow. These stones are found in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Tanzania and Madagascar. The yellow color is caused by traces of iron in the stone.

Padparadscha is the Sinhalese word for a Sri Lankan lotus flower. This very rare sapphire color should have a pink and orange color simultaneously. Color, brilliance, size and clarity will determine the value of these stones. A true padparadscha will always have a hint of pink.

Many sapphires that appear green consist of fine alternating bands of blue and yellow sapphire, which may be visible under the microscope. Green sapphire are found in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Madagascar.

Buying Sapphire

Color
With blue sapphire, the most popular color, the intensity of blue as the most important factor. For example, you may have a huge stone of many carats, but if the color is a washed-out, weak blue, then the value of the stone will be lower. Look for a stone that has an intense, rich blue without being dark or inky. Overall, sapphires that are too dark and inky or too light in color are valued less. However, light blue sapphires often have a brilliance that is rarely found in the darker stones.

Lighting
Sapphires look best viewed with fluorescent light or daylight. Incandescent light is more red, and sapphires look less attractive in this lighting.

Clarity
Sapphire tends to be cleaner than ruby . Look for stones that are eye clean. This means no inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. Actually, extremely fine silk throughout the stone can enhance the value of some sapphires. The famous sapphires from Kashmir have a velvety blue color which is caused by this fine silk. This silk is needed for the star effect in star sapphire, however, too much silk weakens the color, making it appear undesirably grayish.

Cut
Various shapes and cutting styles are common with sapphires. Ovals, cushions, and rounds are seen, as are other shapes, such as the heart or emerald cut. Round stones can command a small premium. Cabochon-cut sapphires are also common. Used for star stones, the best cabochons are somewhat transparent, with smooth domes of good symmetry.

Sapphire location and deposits
Sapphires come from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Tanzania and Australia. The United States, Cambodia, Nigeria, Kenya and China also produce some sapphires. Perhaps the most famous sources for sapphires are the Kashmir region of India, and Burma. Discovered over 100 years ago, the Kashmir sapphire has a lovely, velvety blue color prized by gem lovers. Burmese sapphires can also be fine, but like the Kashmir region, these two areas today produce very little material.

Today Sri Lanka and Madagascar produces most of the fine sapphires on the market. You can find a wide range of beautiful blues, from soft sky blue colors to deeply saturated hues. In addition, the Kanchanaburi region in Thailand and the Pailin region in Cambodia are renowned for deep blue sapphires. Tanzania, an old producer of sapphires in other colors, is now starting to produce blue sapphire from new deposits in the south.

Common Sapphire treatments
The most common treatment for sapphire is heat treatment. Stones are heated (generally before they are cut) to between 1700 to 1800 degrees Celsius (3100-3300 degrees F) for several hours. Most sapphires today are heated, and the stones of rich blue that are not heated can command enormous prices in today’s market. Some blue sapphire may also be diffusion treated, though this treatment is more common for star sapphires. Beryllium treatment is now being used to produce stunning orange and red colors that were once rarely seen. All sapphire treatments should be fully disclosed by any reputable dealer.

World-famous Sapphire
Large sapphires are rare and often attract fame and myth. The largest star sapphire is the Star of India at an amazing 536 carats. Discovered about three hundred years ago in Sri Lanka, the Star of India was donated to the American Museum of Natural History by the financier J.P. Morgan. Later the infamous burglar Jack Murphy, Murph the Surf, stole the stone. Its recovery two months later only added to its fame.

The 423 carat Logan Sapphire is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It is the largest faceted sapphire on public display and perhaps the largest blue sapphire known. This egg-sized, cushion cut stone from Sri Lanka is set in a brooch surrounded by 16 carats of diamonds. It was donated by Mrs. John A. Logan to the Smithsonian Institute in 1960.

Other famous sapphires include the Midnight Star, a 116 carat black star sapphire. The intensely blue 330ct. Star of Asia can be found in American Museum of Natural History. Also, the English Crown Jewels contain two famous sapphires: the St. Edward’s and the Stuart Sapphire (104 carats).

Sapphire gemology Species: Corundum
Color: Blue, colorless, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black
Chemical composition: Al2O3, Aluminum Oxide
Crystal system: (Trigonal), doubly pointy, barrel-shaped, hexagonal pyramids, tabloid shaped
Hardness: 9 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 3.95 – 4.03
Refractive index: 1.762 – 1.788 +0.08 -0.04
Birefringence: 0.008
Optical character: Uniaxial
Color of streak: White
Absorption spectrum: Blue, Sri Lanka: 471, 460, 455, 450, 379; Yellow: 471, 460, 450; Brown: 471, 460-450
Fluorescence: Blue: none; Colorless: orange-yellow, violet

The coloring agents in blue sapphire are iron and titanium and in violet stones, vanadium. Small amounts of iron impurity will result in yellowish and greenish stones. Chromium will produce pinks and iron and vanadium will produce orange tones. Rutile needle inclusions will result in a silky shine to the stone. If these needles are aligned in the same direction, then this causes the six-rayed star sapphire affect. These clumps of needles reflect the light in sixty-degree angles.

The Sapphire zodiac, myth and legend
Sapphire is the birthstone for those who are born in September. As for the Zodiac, it is regarded as the stone for the Taurus. If a Taurus wears a sapphire, it will protect one from and cure one’s mental disorders.

Through history, sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity, and faithfulness in relationships, and to bring peace, joy and wisdom to the wearer and owner. In the past, the sapphire was also believed to be a talisman that would protect you against evil spirits and other unsavory creatures of the night. The ancients regarded star sapphires as a powerful talisman protecting travelers and seekers. They were so powerful, they would continue protecting the wearer even after being passed on to another person.

Abbes Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) chronicled the healing powers of gemstones in her book Physica. According to her view, gemstone are formed through the powerful combination of water and fire, therefore they hold powers corresponding to these phenomena. She also believed that each stone had a certain, divine blessing from God. She said this about sapphire: Who is dull and would like to be clever, should, in a sober state, frequently lick with the tongue on a sapphire, because the gemstone’s warmth and power, combined with the saliva’s moisture, will expel the harmful juices that affect the intellect. Thus, the man will attain a good intellect.

We do not want to go this way at present time.

Share/Bookmark

Jewel Lines® Ouzo

chef — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:42:07 +0000

Ouzo

Mastika -It is made by traditional technology using high quality spirit of wine and anethol.

Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 47% ALC./VOL.

More about Ouzo

Stones Selection*:

Ruby’s - Topazes - Emerald’s – Peridots - Sapphire’s

Share/Bookmark

Emerald

chef — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:47:55 +0000

Emeralds is the most precious stone in the beryl group. The name emerald comes from the Greek “smaragdos” via the Old French “esmeralde”, and really just means ‘green gemstone.’ The wonderful green color of emerald is unparalleled in the gem world. It is not surprising then that emerald is classified as one of the traditional four precious stones. Emerald is the for May birthstone and for commemorating the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

Emerald colors
Emerald’s precious green color is caused by trace amounts of chromium and vnadium.

Buying Emeralds
Almost all natural emeralds contain characteristic inclusions. For that reason they are generally more fragile than other stones and must be handled more gently. Almost all emeralds are treated with oil or resins to fill tiny cracks. With emerald, even more than other colored gems, it is color which is the chief determinant of value.

Color
Emerald, by definition, is a medium or darker green to blue green beryl, in which the green color is derived from impurities of chromium, vanadium, or a combination of both. The most popular and valuable color is a slightly bluish green in a medium dark tone with strong to vivid saturation. The term “Colombian” emerald is often been used to describe vivid, slightly bluish green stones of medium, to medium dark color, no matter what their actual geographic origin. Emeralds of lighter color are sometimes called “Brazilian” emeralds, even if they were mined in Africa.
Lighting
Emerald looks best in daylight. Artificial light will expose inclusions and fractures that prove the stone to be a natural emerald.
Clarity
Clarity is important, but inclusions are tolerated more in emerald than virtually any other gem. Unlike other berylgems, emeralds often contain inclusions and other flaws. These flaws are not looked on as negative aspects for emerald like they would be for other gemstones. Indeed, these flaws are considered part of the character of the stone and are used to assure the purchaser of a natural stone.
Cut
Cutters love this unique gem. Indeed, they have developed a special cut just for this gem: the emerald cut. The clear design of this rectangular or square cut with its oblique corners brings out the beauty of this valuable gemstone to the full, at the same time protecting it from mechanical strain.
Emeralds are also cut in many other, mainly classical shapes, but if the raw material contains a large number of inclusions, it may often be cut into a gently rounded cabochon, or into one of the emerald beads, which are so popular in India. Clear, transparent specimens come sometimes as brilliant cuts.

Emerald location and deposits
Emerald mining is nearly exclusively from host rocks, where the emerald has grown into small veins or on walls of cavities.
Colombia is the world center of mining emerald. The Muzo mine, northwest of Bogotá, produces fine-quality stones of a deep green color. The Chivor mine, northeast of Bogotá, is another important deposit, other locations promise additional successful mining results.
Brazil has various deposits in Bahia, Goias and Minas Gerais. The stones are lighter than the Colombian ones, mostly yellow-green and are often free of inclusions. Brazil also supplies rare emerald cat’s eyes and extremely rare emeralds with a six-ray star.
South Africa deposits concentrate in the northern Transvaal. But only five percent of the stones found in the Cobra and Somerset Mines are of good quality. Most stones are light or muddy and only suitable for cabochon cuts.
Zimbabwe has several deposits of emerald; the most important is the Sandawana mine in the south. The crystals are small, but of very good quality.
Russia has deposits in the Ural north of Sverdlovsk. Good qualities are rare; most stones are light or muddy and only suitable for cabochons.
Further deposits are in Afghanistan, Australia (New South Wales, Western Australia), Ghana, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, Zambia and the United States (North Carolina).
Common Emerald treatments
Oiling is a common treatment of emerald. This term refers to the practice of immersing emeralds in a colorless oil or resin. Often this is done using a vacuum chamber to assist penetration. Non-standard treatments go beyond this to using green colored oils and hardened, epoxy-like resins.
These treatments dramatically improve the appearance of the gems, but necessitate special care in cleaning and setting. Steam cleaners, solvents and ultrasonic can remove the oils, making inclusions that had barely been visible stand out in sharp relief. That damage is temporary only, since emeralds can be re-oiled.

World-famous Emerald
One of the world’s largest is the so-called ‘Mogul Emerald’. It dates from 1695, weighs 217.80 carats, and is some 10cm tall. One side of it is inscribed with prayer texts, and engraved on the other there are magnificent floral ornaments. This legendary emerald was auctioned by Christie’s of London to an unidentified buyer for 2.2 million dollars on September 28th 2001.
Emeralds have been held in high esteem since ancient times. For that reason, some of the most famous emeralds are to be seen in museums and collections.

The New York Museum of Natural History, for example, has an exhibit in which a cup made of pure emerald, which belonged to the Emperor Jehangir, is shown next to the ‘Patricia’, one of the largest Colombian emerald crystals, which weighs 632 carats.

The collection of the Bank of Bogotá includes five valuable emerald crystals with weights of between 220 and 1796 carats.

Splendid emeralds form part of the Iranian National Treasury, adorning, for example, the diadem of the former Empress Farah.

The Turkish sultans also loved emeralds. In Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace there are exhibits with items of jewelry, writing-implements and daggers, each lavishly adorned with emeralds and other gems.

The Viennese treasury contents a vase, 4.5 inches (12 cm) high, with a weight of 2205ct, which is cut from a single emerald crystal.

Her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, has so much jewelry that she has a special room to keep it in, said to be about the size of an ice rink, and situated 40 feet beneath Buckingham Palace. That does not even include the British Crown Jewels, which are kept in the Tower of London. The Queen’s personal jewelry is conservatively valued at $57 million and most of it was received as gifts. The fabulous gems in her collection include the “Cambridge and Delhi Dunbar Parure”, a fantastic suite of emeralds jewelry which includes an emerald diadem.

Elizabeth Taylor has a well-known jewelry collection. As an engagement present, Richard Burton gave her the emerald and diamond brooch, which she wears with an emerald necklace he gave her as a wedding present. Earrings, a bracelet, and a ring followed.

Emerald gemology Species: Beryl
Color: Emerald green, green, slightly yellowish green
Chemical composition: Al2Be3Si6O18, aluminum beryllium silicate
Crystal system: (Hexagonal), hexagonal prisms
Hardness: 7.5- 8 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 2.67 – 2.78
Refractive index: 1.565 – 1.602
Birefringence: -0.006
Color of streak: White
Absorption spectrum: 683, 681, 662, 646, 637, 606, 594, 630-580, 477, 472
Fluorescence: Usually none

The Emerald zodiac, myth and legend
Innumerable fantastic stories have grown up around this magnificent gem. The Incas and Aztecs of South America, where the best emeralds are still found today, regarded the emerald as a holy gemstone. However, probably the oldest known finds were once made near the Red Sea in Egypt. These gemstone mines, already exploited by Egyptian pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 B.C. and later referred to as ‘Cleopatra’s Mines’, had already been exhausted by the time they were rediscovered in the early 19th century. Written many centuries ago, the Vedas, the holy scriptures of the Indians, say of the precious green gems and their healing properties: ‘ Emeralds promise good luck…’ and ‘The emerald enhances the well-being…’. So it is no wonder that the treasure chests of Indian maharajas and maharanis contained wonderful emeralds.

Emerald is the birthstone for those who are born in May. Emerald is the gemstone for commemorating the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

Share/Bookmark

Jewel Lines® Gin

chef — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:44:29 +0000

Gin

Dry Gin - It is produced by original technology from high quality alcohol and natural herbal ingredients. The added aromatic distillers guarantee fresh and lasting aftertaste.

Price includes beautiful luxury crystal carafe and 1 of stones from our selection.*

700ml. & 750ml. 40% ALC./VOL.

More about Gin

*Stones Selection:

Ruby’s – Topazes – Emerald’s – Peridots - Sapphire’s