All about stones

The emerald owes its name to the Greek smaragdos, itself derived from a Semitic word meaning “to shine”. The emerald belongs to the beryl family and is characterized by a green color that may include slightly bluish or yellowish shades. An emerald contains natural inclusions called “feathers”, which when considered together are referred to as a “jardin”.

To improve their transparency, these stones are oiled. In keeping with traditional practice, Maison Fred uses a natural and colorless oil for this treatment, thus preserving the unique color of its emeralds.

The name of the ruby comes from the Latin rubeus, meaning “red”. The ruby belongs to the corundum family and is characterized by a bright red color that may display many different shades.

Our gemstones may have undergone enhancement practices. Heating is a traditional practice used to intensify the color of gemstones. Our rubies over 2 carats are not heated.

The name of the sapphire comes from the Greek sappheiros, meaning “blue stone”. The sapphire belongs to the corundum family and is characterized by a wide range of colors: pink, yellow, orange, etc. The most common color is blue, but the rarest and most sought-after is a pinkish-purple or orange-pink hue, known as the “Padparadscha” sapphire.

The name spinel derives from the Latin spina, which means "thorn", in allusion to its sharp crystals. The Spinel is a translucent fine stone characterized by many shades: red, pink, black, etc. Black spinel has a deeper and more intense colour than a black diamond.

The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhala thuramali which means "stones with mixed colors". The Tourmaline is a stone that is characterized by a wide choice of colors: pink, yellow, green, rainbow, etc. One of the most sought-after and rare colors of tourmalines is red tourmaline, more commonly known as rubellite. Its name comes from the Latin word rubellus which means "red".

The name topaz is derived from the island Topazios in the Red Sea and more certainly from the Sanskrit word tapas which means fire. The Topaz is characterized by a wide choice of colours: pink, yellow, green, rainbow, etc. In order to obtain a homogeneous colour and a beautiful shine, the blue topazes used on the House's creations have been embellished. This treatment by irradiation, common for blue topazes used in jewellery, does not produce any risk for the person wearing them. Thanks to this process, it is possible to obtain many highly sought-after shades: among others, the "Blue London" shade of a deep dark blue or the "Swiss Blue" shade of a bright turquoise blue.

The origin of the term opal comes from the Sanskrit word upala meaning "precious stone". It is also called the "Stone of Hope". The Opal offers a wide range of colours. Pink opals can be of an intense and deep pink as well as a light and translucent pink. The Opal is a fragile stone that requires special care and delicate handling. It is bly recommended to limit the stone's exposure to the sun, high temperatures and thermal shocks. It is also advisable to avoid any contact with chemicals or corrosive products, such as cleaning products or cosmetics and perfumes.

Pearl and/or mother-of-pearl are mineral materials produced inside shellfish such as oysters or abalones to protect against external intrusion. The most famous mother-of-pearl is white with iridescent shades, but it can take on honey, pink, violet or grey shades. The shape of each pearl is unique. Cultured pearls are living organisms that regenerate naturally on contact with the air. Traditionally, pearls are whitened to enhance their brilliance.

Pearls and mother-of-pearl are fragile materials that require delicate handling. It is bly recommended to limit the exposure of the pearl and/or mother-of-pearl to the sun, high temperatures as well as thermal shocks and friction because it scratches easily. It is also advisable to avoid any contact with chemicals or corrosive products, such as cleaning products or cosmetics and perfumes. It is recommended to clean the pearl frequently with a soft cloth, delicate movements and to store it in its individual case.

The name of this ornamental stone comes from the Latin lapis, which means stone, and lazuli, which means azure. Indeed, lapis lazuli is an opaque blue stone that can range from azure blue to a more intense blue. The stones used on our creations are more or less scattered with golden shards of pyrite, slight inclusions that give character to the stone.

Its name would come from "Turkish stone", since it was more particularly known in Europe during the Crusades. She gave her name to the turquoise color, a shade of blue. The exploitation of turquoise has become very complicated because almost all the deposits are now exhausted. In order to obtain a homogeneous color and a beautiful shine that does not change over time, the turquoise used for FRED creations have been embellished. This stabilization treatment, common for turquoise jewelry, does not pose any risk to the wearer.