Throughout history coloured gemstones have held a fascination, sometimes even a legendary power, for people of all cultures. In the earliest days, coloured gems were coveted as charms or amulets, to ward off evil. Later, their rarity and beauty established them as a status symbol, worn by the very powerful and the very rich.

Today coloured gemstones are gathered from all corners of the world and new discoveries and modern mining techniques have made them more affordable. New varieties have also been discovered such as mandarin garnet and tanzanite, to add to the traditional selection of ruby, emerald and sapphire. However, of the more than 3000 minerals found on earth, only a small percentage qualify as gemstones due to their beauty, colour, durability and rarity.

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