Star Wars has been a part of popular culture since "A New Hope" hit theaters in 1977 and in all of that time, the lightsaber would arguably be the most iconic physical item of the franchise. Notably, the blade of a lightsaber is not something that comes from some store, every force user must undergo … [Read more...]

Colors and the Psyche: Friend or Foe? The riveting world of color psychology has been explored, dissected, and expertly analyzed. It’s for this reason why we can confidently say that colors undoubtedly impact our minds, moods, and spirit. Color is a potent communication tool, and we’d all benefit … [Read more...]

Color-coded chopping boards are being increasingly used in professional kitchens where different varieties of foods are handled on a large scale. Chopping boards made with wood or high-quality, food-grade plastic, are often manufactured in different colors, each having special meanings or symbolism. … [Read more...]

Discovered in Africa Many people know that turquoise is December's birthstone, but there are actually three of them. Another one is tanzanite, and unlike most other gems, tanzanite isn’t an ancient stone. It was discovered in 1967, so it doesn’t have much history. Manuel D’Souza, a prospector … [Read more...]

The Growing Popularity of Citrine Contrary to common belief, topaz is not the only stone for this month. Citrine is another of November’s birthstones, and since its discovery, it’s been beloved by thousands. At first, many were fond of citrine because it was so rare. As more citrine was … [Read more...]

Opal’s Meaning Opal, one of October’s birthstones, derives from the Greek word opallios, which means to see a change of color. For decades, people have associated opal with evil and misfortune. Sir Walter Scott, an author from the 19th century, is credited with sullying this stone’s reputation. … [Read more...]

Sapphire: September's Birthstone Deriving from both a Latin and a Greek word, sapphire is a combination of the terms saphirus and saphieros. Both words mean blue in their native tongues. While this is the most widely accepted belief, some believe that sapphire gets its name from Saturn. In some … [Read more...]

The Story of Peridot Peridot derives from peritot, which is French for gold. In certain lights, peridot radiates a gold hue, making peritot the perfect namesake. Discovered in 1500 B.C., peridot was welcomed to the jewel realm after miners unearthed it in Zabargad Island. When the existence of … [Read more...]

Discovered in India Hallmarked for their sparkling red hue and captivating sheen, rubies are a treasured gem. Discovered in India 2,000 years ago, this beloved stone has stood the test of time. The name ruby derives from the Latin word ruber. Ruber translates to red, which is wholly fitting for … [Read more...]

A Month of Multiple Birthstones Alexandrite and pearl are the gems associated with the month of June. Some would argue that the former is more widely recognized today as the sixth month’s birthstone, but June babies can still claim pearl as their birthstone. The discovery of alexandrite is quite … [Read more...]