May’s birthstone is the emerald! Just as April showers precede May flowers, the shimmery, raindrop-esque diamonds of the April birthstone... Read More
Coveted for their beauty and lore, gemstones have been integral to the decorative arts since ancient times. We’re digging into... Read More
If there’s anything we’ve learned from this blog series, it’s that blood proved a fickle bond in Byzantine royalty; Empress... Read More
From amethyst to zircon, there’s a colorful world of gemstones out there waiting to be explored. We’re looking at the... Read More
Miss our blog series chronicling Byzantium’s most famous (and infamous!) women? We’re bringing it back with all-new stories of ancient... Read More
Every month, we introduce another one of the twelve birthstones (and their alternates) in our blog. You can learn all... Read More
For centuries, peacocks have been focal symbol of legend and art, standing for immortality, renewal, and protection “…[W]e find paintings... Read More
January’s birthstone is the garnet! A symbol of health, prosperity, and peace and believed to bring good health, garnets are... Read More
A cross design compromised of five smaller crosses, the Jerusalem Cross (also known as the “Crusaders Cross”) was first used... Read More
Earlier this week, we celebrated the feast of St. Nicholas, perhaps one of Christianity’s best-known saints. While many commonly refer... Read More