Mark Sadovsky Jeweler: Custom Jewelry & Appraisals, San Antonio TX

11/05/2025

06/12/2025

Looking for blue-tiful gemstones that are also incredibly durable? 💙🩵 Durability is an important factor for frequently worn jewelry such as engagement rings. If you’re looking for your “something blue,” make sure you save this list!

- Blue diamond tops the list with a Mohs scale rank of 10! Ultra-rare, brilliant and with a formation story linked to the sea, it is also the hardest blue gemstone. Its smoky blue color gives it a mysterious aura, as does its occasional red fluorescence.
- Sapphire is next as a true-blue classic. Its most popular colors are a rich royal or cornflower blue.
- Cobalt spinel is an ultra-rare stunner. If you can get your hands on one, its vivid, neon blue color is hard to beat.
- Blue topaz is known for its vivid azure “Swiss blue.” It is the most widely available and affordable blue gemstone.
- Aquamarine, with its soothing greenish blue to blue hues, is associated with sirens and mermaids and said to protect sailors!
- Paraíba tourmaline can come in neon blue hues that are highly desired. A 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, they can require a bit more care than other gems on this list.

See the full list of must-know gemstones on our website: https://www.gia.edu/gem-encyclopedia?utm_campaign=consumer-education&utm_content=1749735005&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=facebook

06/06/2025

Cushion cut diamonds are elegant classics with both vintage and modern appeal. Save these tips for the next time you’re looking for one:

- Modern or Vintage: Cushion cuts come in styles like old mine, cushion brilliant, and modified cushion. The old mine cut dates to the 1700s and features a squarish shape, high crown, deep pavilion, small table and large culet—distinct from modern cuts. Cushion brilliant cuts have square to rectangular outlines with curved sides and rounded or pointed corners. Modified cushion cuts include extra facets for different light return effects.
- Facet Arrangement and Symmetry: Balanced curves and corners improve visual appeal. Cushion cuts vary in length-to-width ratio from square to elongated. Because of the range in facet arrangements, cushion cuts can sparkle very differently—viewing in person is best to assess brilliance and pattern.
- Girdle: Cushion cut girdles are often thicker at the corners and should be durable enough for setting.

Learn more about cushion cut diamonds on our blog: https://bit.ly/4jfJU0G

04/08/2025

“GIA diamond” is a term you’ll find when engagement ring shopping – short for a diamond graded by GIA, the creator of the 4Cs and the independent, diamond authority. Learn more about ”GIA diamonds” and why savvy shoppers rely on GIA on our blog: https://bit.ly/4iaVBFK

02/21/2025

Associated with St. Valentine and the Greek god of wine, amethyst is the purple variety of quartz. 💜 Here are some quality factors to look out for when purchasing this enchanting gem:

COLOR: The finest amethysts are a strong reddish purple to purple. Color zoning and brown coloring reduce quality.
CLARITY: Visible inclusions lower desirability. Amethysts with eye-visible inclusions are usually polished into cabochons or beads.
CUT STYLE: Amethyst is cut into a variety of standard calibrated sizes. It can also be cut into fantasy cuts or carved into animals and other forms when the gem is large.
CARAT WEIGHT: Amethysts are readily available in large sizes. Price per carat increases steadily (not exponentially), making amethysts affordable even in large sizes.

What do you love about February’s birthstone?

Learn how to pick the best amethyst for you on our website at the link in our bio.

02/20/2025