Glossary of Terms & Facts

Toe ring

Toe rings in India Wearing of toe rings in India dates back to ancient times. In the Ramayana, there is a mention of Sita throwing her toe ring down so...

Beliefs about Toadstones Fossils associated with jewels set inside the heads of toads Toadstones believed to be antidotes for poison and used in epilepsy treatment Toadstones were adorned in jewelry...

Titanium

Characteristics and Physical Properties Titanium has a high strength-to-weight ratio. It is a ductile and lustrous metal. The melting point of titanium is 1,668°C (3,034°F). It has low electrical and...

Tiger's eye

Types and Composition of Tigers Eye Tiger iron is an altered rock composed chiefly of tigers eye, red jasper, and black hematite. Tigers eye is composed chiefly of silicon dioxide...

Tie pin

History of Tie Pins Tie pins were popularized in the 19th century. Cravats were made of silk, satin, lace, and other fabrics. Stickpins were used to secure expensive fabrics. They...

Tie clip

History of Tie Clips Tie clips gained prominence during the 1920s fashion era They replaced traditional tie pins Tie clips were commonly used with straight ties Ornamentation and Use of...

Tiara

Description and Models of Tiaras Modern tiaras are (semi-)circles made of silver, gold, or platinum. Tiaras can also be made from tortoiseshell, coral, quartz, horn, or aluminum. They are richly...

Tanzanite

General Information about Tanzanite Tanzanite is a variety of the mineral zoisite. It is a sorosilicate with the chemical formula (Ca(SiO)(Si)O(OH)) + (Cr,Sr). Tanzanite belongs to the epidote mineral group....

Synthetic diamond

History of Synthetic Diamond Development Antoine Lavoisier discovered the similarity between a diamond's crystal lattice and carbon's crystal structure, leading to initial attempts to produce diamonds. James Ballantyne Hannay and...

Symmetry

Symmetry in Mathematics Geometric shapes can be symmetric through reflectional, rotational, translational, or helical symmetry. Symmetry in logic refers to the property of a relation being the same in both...

Symbol

Definition and Characteristics of Symbols Symbols are a means of complex communication with multiple levels of meaning. Symbols serve as vehicles of conception for all human knowledge. Symbols facilitate understanding...

Swiss Gemmological Institute

Overview of Swiss Gemmological Institute Located in Basel, Switzerland Founded on August 22, 1972 Part of the Schweizerische Stiftung für Edelstein Forschung (SSEF) George Bosshart was the first director Dr....