BERYL - A FAMILY COMPRISING OF MASTERPIECES
Beryls are Beryllium-Aluminium-Silicates if we talk in chemical terms and therefore, carry no colour. But if you say that you have seen colourful beryls then you are also talking sense because the aluminium atom is such that it can easily be replaced with other elements having similar structure. Therefore, you have iron beryl that are green in colour and are called aquamarine and then you have chrome beryls too that are now a new, distinct gemstone altogether and known as Emerald. One can also find iron and vanadium as impurities that actually can make the beryls look greenish yellow.
Beryl exhibiting red colour is the most rare of all types of beryls. It is because this colour can be achieved only through heat treatment otherwise. So, if a beryl appears red in colour naturally, then this is surely a thing of curiosity among the collectors.
A non-gemstone variety which is colourless is known as goshenite. It is named after the place it is sourced from and do have gemmological importance from the discovery point of view. Not a large varieties of beryls are considered as gemstones and so those who can make it to the list attribute it mostly to the colour that they exhibit. Talking further about the colourful world of beryls, a golden colour variety is also important and is known as heliodor. Heliodor, is sort of, unused names of golden beryl.
Beryl did have its colourful share in history of gemstones when in 1913 it got the attention of very renowned jewellery maker Lucas Von Cranach. He was asked to create a masterpiece in jewellery to gift to the residing German Emperor of that time Kaiser Wilhem II. It is because of such royal connection in the past that golden beryl variety rose to the stature of gemstones.
Smithsonian institute in Washington has in its gems collection the largest beryl to the date. It measures 2054 carats in weight and is pretty golden in colour. This piece of astonishment is sourced from Namibian mines and is known for exhibiting pleochroism.
Portuguese cut, briolette cut, flower cut and checkerboard cuts are some of the styles in which this stone is accentuated by lapidaries. This gemstone in such cuts is used for making figurines, gift items etc. Beryl, especially the golden beryl, is not enhanced using treatments and is sold naturally. Aquamarine, at the most, is heat-treated and emerald is simply bathed in oil. So, if you are looking for very charming, natural and very easy to maintain gemstone, beryl can end your search.
