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Amber is fossilised tree sap formed millions of years ago and discovered along the Baltic Sea by Stone Age people. Because it is an organic gem, formed from living organisms,  amber can contain suspended fragments of animals or plants, making it a true time capsule. Most of us think of a lustrous reddish gold hue when we think of amber, but it comes in shades ranging from whites and yellows to reds and browns. 

Amethyst is a variety of quartz, is an abundant gem that comes in a range of shades from pale lilac to deep purple  -- the colour of royalty.

Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family. Aquamarine crystals usually have excellent clarity, can grow to very large sizes and range in colour from greenish blue to light blue-green. Most aquamarine is heat-treated to remove traces of yellow and intensify its rich blue colour.

The Blue Topaz* is a magnificent gem to include in any collection. Before the 1950s, topaz was more commonly associated with a yellow or golden gemstone, but with improved treatment processes, the blue topaz has become one of the most popular and widely used of all gemstones. The lightest blue topaz gems are often referred to as Sky blue topaz, the more pastel gemstones may be called Swiss blue topaz while the most intense, darkest gems are commonly named London blue topaz.

Chalcedony is an opaque bluish-white gemstone that is actually a member of the largest family of minerals on earth -- the quartz family. There are hundreds of different chalcedony varieties that come in an amazing range of colours and patterns. In the gem trade, the name chalcedony describes only white or lightly coloured gemstones with a waxy lustre. Collectors and gem dealers call all other varieties of chalcedony by their particular name. Some of the more popular varieties include agate, bloodstone (or heliotrope), carnelian, chrysoprase, jasper, moss agate, onyx, plasma, sard and sardonyx. 

This is the most famous member of the beryl family, is prized for its lush green colour Known as one of the "Big Three" along with sapphire and ruby, emerald's name derives from smaragdus, the ancient Greek word for "green." Most emeralds have natural birthmarks (fissures or inclusions); because of this, they are routinely treated  to improve an emerald's clarity and colour. 

Garnet is actually the group name of a gemstone and come in a wide range of colours, except blue. 

Onyx is a variety of chalcedony, is characterised by straight, parallel bands which are usually black and white. 

Opal is described as a "phenomenal" gem -- one whose colour defies simple description because of its many hues and special effects. Opals are divided into three main categories: white, which have white or light grey backgrounds; black, with black or dark backgrounds; and fire, which have red, orange, yellow or brown bodycolors and often don't show the "play-of-color" typical of other opals. 

Peridot is a stone prized for its cheerful green shades, a popular gem, its beautiful colour makes it an exciting contrast when used with other vibrant stones like citrine and pink tourmaline. 

Ruby along with sapphire and emerald, one of the "Big Three" -- is a variety of corundum, the same species as sapphire. Available in a wide range of reds, rubies are especially prized in the vivid red "pigeon's blood" colour. Large, extremely fine rubies are rare and prohibitively costly. 

Sapphire along with ruby and emerald, one of the "Big Three" -- is a variety of corundum, the same species as ruby. In fact, if a corundum doesn't qualify as ruby, it's considered sapphire. Although most people think of sapphire as blue, it can actually come in colours from violets and greens to oranges and yellows to pinks and purples. These "fancy" sapphires include amethystine or plum (purple), golden, white or colourless, and the vivid padparadscha, which is pinkish orange to orange-pink. Sapphires actually occur in virtually every color of the rainbow.