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Originally, rhinestones were rock crystals gathered from the river Rhine, hence the name, although some were also found in areas like the Alps. The availability was greatly increased in the 18th century when the Alsatian jeweller Georg Friedrich Strass had the idea to imitate diamonds by coating the lower side of glass with metal powder. Hence, rhinestones are called strass in many European languages.

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The first archaeological evidence known of usage of the obsidian were made from within Kariandusi and other sites of the Acheulian age (beginning 1.5 million years previously) dated 700,000 BC

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Being a phosphate mineral, turquoise is inherently fragile and sensitive to solvents; perfume and other cosmetics will attack the finish and may alter the colour of turquoise gems, as will skin oils, as will most commercial jewellery cleaning fluids. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may also discolour or dehydrate turquoise. Care should therefore be taken when wearing turquoise jewellery. Cosmetics, including sunscreen and hair spray, should be applied before putting on a turquoise piece of jewellery. Also, you should not wear it to a beach or other sun-bathed environment. After use, turquoise should be gently cleaned with a soft cloth to avoid a buildup of residue, and should be stored in its own container to avoid scratching by harder gems. Turquoise can also be adversely affected if stored in an airtight container.

Silver ring with turquoise and sugilite

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Benitoite is an unusual mineral found only in the southern part of the  Mount Diablo range near the San Benito-Fresno border in California.  Because of its similarity in color, it was initially thought to be  sapphire. Benitoite is unique in that it crystallizes in a class of the  hexagonal system which has a trigonal axis of symmetry.  Large stones  are unheard of and this stone is not only rare, but also quite attractive. Prices for 1ct. stones could easily exceed prices for almost  any diamonds in a similar weight range.

Benitoite 

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Bixbite is the red variety of Beryl, and is classified in the same  family as Emerald. This very rare gemstone was mined only at the Wah  Wah Mountains deposit in Utah and this deposit is finished for now. The  last operators had to totally restore the site when they passed on their  option. Anyone wishing to go back and re-open the mine will spend  millions just removing the overburden. There may still be red beryl in  the ground but it hasn't proven to be economical to pull it out. The  largest stones in the world are less than 3cts. in weight and there is  zero new production. A fine top color bixbite, even a slightly included  one could fetch prices exceeding even the best 1ct. sized diamonds.

Bixbite

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The most common species of tourmaline is schorl, (brownish or black in colour). It may account for 95% or more of all tourmaline in nature.

Black tourmaline

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In 1593, Friar De Nica travelled in New Mexico and noted that “the people have emeralds and other jewels, although they esteem none so much as turquoises, wherewith they adorn the wall of the porches of their houses and apparel and vessels, and they use them instead of money through all the country.”

Blue turquoise cocktail ring, sterling silver

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Obsidian may contain patterns of gas bubbles remaining from the lava flow, aligned along layers created as the molten rock was flowing before being cooled. These bubbles can produce interesting effects such as a golden sheen (sheen obsidian).

Golden sheen obsidian

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Jade has been known to Man for some 7000 years. In prehistoric times, however, it was esteemed rather more for its toughness, which made it an ideal material for weapons and tools.

Jade rock from Alaska

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The most common imitation of turquoise encountered today is dyed howlite and magnesite, both white in their natural states, and the former also having natural (and convincing) black veining similar to that of turquoise. Dyed chalcedony, jasper, and marble is less common, and much less convincing.

Dragonfly necklace (copper, sterling silver, natural turquoise, blue topaz)

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Tanzanite forms as a brownish crystal and is trichroic - which means it shows three colors - brown, blue and violet concurrently. Heating - either occurring underground naturally by metamorphic occurrences or above ground by man in a furnace removes the brown or burgundy color component to produce a stronger purplish-blue color and makes the stone "dichroic" which means it only reflects blue and violet. (source) Some stones found close to the surface in the early days of the discovery (in an area now called D block) were gem-quality blue without the need for heat treatment - probably the result of a wild fire in the area which heated the stones underground.

Tanzanite

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Amber is fossilized tree resin (not sap), which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times.

Vilnius’ Amber Museum

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Legend has it that if you touch doors and windows of your home with a piece of coral, there will be good luck for all who live there.

Coral

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Tanzanite gets its name from its origin of Tanzania. In 1967, Manuel d'Souza discovered this extraordinary variety of the mineral zoisite while searching for sapphires. The Tanzania mines are located at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

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Obsidian is hard and brittle; it therefore fractures with very sharp edges, which were used in the past in cutting and piercing tools, and it has been used experimentally as surgical scalpel blades.

Obsidian

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'Jade', or yu, as it is called in China, is strictly speaking a generic term for two different gems, nephrite and jadeite. It was not until the beginning of the 19th century that mineralogists and gemmologists started to differentiate between them. The name "jade" is derived from the Spanish 'piedra de ijada', loin-stone, jade having been recognised by the Amerindians as a remedy for kidney ailments. Because of its beneficial effect on the kidneys, the stone was also known as 'lapis nephriticus'. That, indeed, is where the term 'nephrite' came from. Jadeite is rarer than nephrite and is therefore regarded as more precious. (source)

Nephrite jade silver earrings

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Tourmaline crystals may be green at one end and pink at the other, or green on the outside and pink inside; this type is called watermelon tourmaline.

Watermelon tourmaline pendant (sold)

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 In the ancient Persian Empire, the sky-blue gemstones were earlier worn round the neck or wrist as protection against unnatural death. If they changed colour, the wearer was thought to have reason to fear the approach of doom. Meanwhile, it has been discovered that the turquoise certainly can change colour, but that this is not necessarily a sign of impending danger. The change can be caused by the light, or by a chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the acidity of the skin.

Vintage persian turquoise tiara

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Widely seen as a geological phenomenon, tanzanite formed in the earth's surface over 585 million years ago.

Tanzanite rough stone and cut stone

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What is widely known as onyx is actually black chalcedony, a variety of quartz.