I cut and set every stone in our Tbilisi studio, so everything here is written from my own bench and not from a catalog. Pick a section below, or keep scrolling for the latest guides.
Browse by Subject
Real or Fake
Checks you can make at home, with no tools and no laboratory.
Stone Meanings
Where the color actually comes from, and what people have read into it.
Stone vs Stone
Two stones that look alike, held side by side.
Sterling Silver
What 925 silver promises, and what it means for sensitive skin.
Birthstones and Gifts
Which stone belongs to her month, and how to choose a gift.
Wear and Care
Which stones can get wet, and how to keep each one at its best.
The Akra Gemstone Journal
Black Tourmaline, Obsidian, Onyx: Why Only One Shows Color
Obsidian is volcanic glass, most black onyx is dyed quartz, and black tourmaline is a crystal. Three checks you can make by eye, and why only one of the three shows color.
