If you haven’t encountered the magnificent gemstone Spinel then you are truly missing out. Not only are they durable, measuring 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, but they are also incredibly beautiful. Occurring in a dazzling spectrum of colours from strong reds pinks oranges and purples to delicate soft nuances of greys lavenders or... Continue Reading →

Smoky Quartz is the brown variety of the wide and varied gemstone species called Quartz. Quartz is one of the most popular gemstones in jewellery from past to present times, combining the attractive whilst having a hardness of 7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness – making it perfect for everyday wear!... Continue Reading →

The colour red is typically associated with the most intense of emotions, such as love and passion, so it comes as no surprise that the precious gemstone Ruby has been one of the most historically significant gemstones throughout the ages. Rubies are mentioned as early as in the Bible, in association with attributes such as... Continue Reading →

If you are looking for a gemstone that combines soft soothing pink shades and durability then Rose Quartz is the gem for you! With its delicate and tender soft pinks it comes as no surprise that Rose Quartz is the most desirable of the Quartz family. This feminine pink colour is caused by the presence... Continue Reading →

Centuries ago Greek rock climbers spotted large transparent crystals glimmering from the rock face and mistook them for being un-melted ice. They were in fact Rock Crystals. Rock Crystal is a clear transparent variety of Quartz. When Quartz takes on a body colour, such as Purple, it is then called Amethyst. Similarly if the Quartz... Continue Reading →

These stunning stones typically have no defining body colour. However, they do have delicate ethereal qualities with soft lunar pastels, similar to the moon. The Romans believed that Rainbow Moonstones were formed by drops falling from the moon and crystallising. Rene Lalique, like many artists in the Art Noveau period, favoured this stone, using it... Continue Reading →

Peridots popularity spans centuries. Its earliest known use was in the Egyptian times, 2000BC. Legend says that Peridot, along with pearls, were one of the favorite gemstones of Cleopatra, and that some of the “Emeralds” worn by her were actually Peridot! Peridot is one of the few gemstones to occur in a single colour, with... Continue Reading →

The first thing to note about opals is that they are all incredibly unique and individual. Most show flashes of colour called ‘play of colour’. However, if no flash is seen it is called ‘common opal’ and shows ‘opalescence’. There are so many varieties in opals depending on… Body colour i.e. black/white Flash colour and... Continue Reading →

Here at Coleman Douglas Pearls we would like to Wish you a Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year! We open again on the 5th January. See you soon!

Labradorite was first found in 1770 on the Labrador Peninsula in Canada, an area from which it received its name. However, it is also found in Finland, Madagascar, Australia, Mexico, Norway, Russia and the USA. Once discovered, it was taken back to Europe, where it was valued for its beauty. This stone shows a stunning... Continue Reading →