Gem Journal
Learn the stone before you buy it
Straight answers on identifying, pricing, choosing and caring for natural gemstones — written for buyers in Pakistan, with the Urdu names you already know.
Stone-by-stone advice for everyday wear How to Clean, Store and Care for Your Gemstones
Short answer: for hard, untreated stones such as sapphire, ruby, topaz, aquamarine, garnet and amethyst, a soak in lukewarm water with a few…
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Rashi stones, the nine planetary gems and how they are worn Gemstones by Rashi: Which Stone Belongs to Your Zodiac Sign?
Short answer: in Vedic tradition each rashi (moon sign) is linked to the gemstone of its ruling planet. Mesh and Vrishchik: red coral (Mars)…
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Saturn's stone in Vedic tradition, explained Neelam (Blue Sapphire): Traditional Benefits and How It Is Worn
Short answer: in Vedic astrology neelam (blue sapphire) is the stone of Shani, Saturn, and is traditionally believed to bring discipline, fo…
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A practical guide to January's deep red stone Garnet for January: How to Choose a Good Yaqoot-e-Rumani
January babies get garnet, sold in Pakistan as Yaqoot-e-Rumani - the "pomegranate ruby", a name that fits the seed-red colour of the classic…
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Choosing purple quartz that keeps its colour February's Amethyst (Jamunia): Colour, Value and Care
The February birthstone is amethyst, the purple form of quartz that Urdu speakers call Jamunia, after the dark jamun fruit. It is the births…
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Sea-blue beryl and the older green-and-red alternative Aquamarine (Beruj) and Bloodstone: Buying March's Stones
People born in March can choose between two stones. The modern pick is aquamarine, known in Urdu as Beruj, a clear sea-blue gem. The older t…
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We don't sell diamonds - here is what we suggest instead April's Birthstone Is Diamond: Advice and Natural Alternatives
April's birthstone is the diamond (heera in Urdu). Let's be clear from the start: GemStore does not sell diamonds. We deal in natural colour…
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Inclusions, oil and the Swat connection Emerald (Zamurd) for May: What to Know Before You Buy
May's stone is the emerald - Zamurd in Urdu and Panna across much of the subcontinent. It is the most delicate of the "big three" coloured s…
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Two gentle, glowing stones and how to look after them June's Two Birthstones: Choosing Pearl (Moti) or Moonstone
June is lucky enough to have two birthstones: pearl, called Moti in Urdu, and moonstone, known in the subcontinent trade as Chandrakant. One…
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Judging red, understanding heat and avoiding glass-filled ruby Ruby (Yaqoot), July's Birthstone: A Buyer's Checklist
July is the month of the ruby - Yaqoot in Urdu and Manik in Vedic tradition. Of all the birthstones, ruby has the widest gap between a fine…
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Why buying peridot in Pakistan makes sense Peridot (Zabarjad): August's Birthstone From Pakistan's Mountains
Peridot, or Zabarjad in Urdu, is the August birthstone - and it is the birthstone with the strongest Pakistani connection. Some of the fines…
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Choosing a blue that stays blue - and what Neelam means Sapphire (Neelam) for September: Origin, Colour and Care
September's birthstone is the sapphire, known throughout Pakistan as Neelam. More buyers ask us about sapphire than about any other stone, a…
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One flashes every colour, the other comes in every colour October Birthstones: Buying Opal and Tourmaline Wisely
October has two birthstones that could hardly be less alike. Opal, the traditional choice, is a soft, water-bearing form of silica that flas…
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