10 Need to Know Facts About Opal

Learn what you need to know about Opals and Opal Jewelry.

10 Reasons to Choose a Sapphire Over Diamonds for Engagement Rings and Beyond

Learn what you need to know about Sapphire engagement rings.

10 Need To Know Facts About Pearls

Did you know pearl graders will spend hundreds of hours sorting thousands of pearls to find matches worthy of the retail market? Every piece of pearl jewelry holds a pearl that has gone through some of the most rigorous sorting processes known to human kind. Now that’s pretty remarkable!

Birststones, GemstonesChristine LopezJune 4, 2023Pearls, Pearls as Junes Birthstone, Birthstones of June, Where do pearls come from?, Pearl Value Factors, Learn about pearls 2023, What to know when shopping for pearls, What makes pearls expensive?, Men wearing pearl jewelry 2023, Pealiculture

Raining Peridot From Hawaiian Volcanos

So is Hawaiian Peridot real and did it actually rain gemstones during the 2018 volcanic eruption on the Big Island? This story has become the stuff of urban legend so let’s talk about it.

Geology, Volcanos, BirststonesChristine LopezMay 31, 2023Hawaiian Peridot, Hawaiian Olivine Crystals, Hot Lava Gemstones, Gemstones Found In Lava, Peridot

We're a Manifest Grant Winner!

Gem Surprise Box has been selected as one of 50 small businesses awarded a $10,000 grant and $5,000 in logistics support through the 2022 Alibaba Manifest Grants Program!

GSB NewsChristine LopezJanuary 11, 20232022 Manifest Grant, Alibaba Manifest Grant Winner, Alibaba Grant Recipient, Hello Alice Grant Winner, UCLA Alumni, Bruin Business 100, 2022 Bruin Business 100, Daymond John Alibaba Manifest Grant, San Diego Small Business, UCLA Alumni Business, GIA Graduate Gemologist Business Owner, Christine Lopez, Steven Ibbotson, Manifest Grant Winners, Trending businesses 2023, Gemological Institute of America Alumni Business, 2022 Manifest Grant Winner, Alibaba Grant Winner, 2022 Manifest grant Program, 2022 Manifest Grant Recipient, Who won Manifest Grant, Gem Surprise Box, Best Surprise Box 2023, UCLA Alu, UCLA Alumni Owned Businesses, College of the Canyons Alumni Owned Businesses, College of the Canyons Rising Star, WJA San Diego Shining Star, GIA Alumni Owned Businesses, Gemological Institute of America Alumni Owned Businesses, Alibaba Manifest Grants Program, Manifest Grant Daymond John

Alibaba.com Announces Recipients of 2022 Manifest Grants Program

NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba.com, one of the world's largest B2B e-commerce marketplaces and a business unit of Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA), announced today the 50 recipients of its second annual Manifest Grants Program. The winners, representing a broad range of industries, regions and cultures across the United States, will each receive US $10,000 along with a host of resources from Alibaba.com and Manifest Grants Program partners to help them continue to innovate and build their businesses in this competitive market.

GSB NewsChristine LopezJanuary 11, 2023Alibaba Manifest Grant

Gem Surprise Box 2022 Highlights

Hello Everyone! This is Christine, your GSB Co-Founder, and I am here to share our top 5 Gem Surprise Box highlights for 2022.

10 things you need to know about the 2022 Mauna Loa Eruption

Take a moment to learn 10 things about the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption in Hawaii.

Volcanos, GeologyChristine LopezDecember 6, 2022Mauna Loa 2022 eruption, what to know about Mauna loa

Mauna Loa Eruption Resources & Updates

Find the latest updates, flow maps, and community warnings for the ongoing eruption of Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

Geology, VolcanosChristine LopezDecember 6, 2022Mauna Loa eruption resources and updates 2022

What do Snowflakes and Amethyst have in common?

Are snowflakes minerals just like Amethyst, the purple variety of the mineral Quartz and February’s birthstone? Let's see wh..

Gemstones, BirststonesChristine LopezDecember 6, 2022Ice is a mineral, Snowflakes are minerals, snowflakes and amethyst, February birthstone, Amethyst, What do snowflakes and minerals have in common, Are snowflakes minerals

Was the Koh-i-Noor Diamond stolen?

After the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II many people across the globe have began openly (and loudly) questioning the British Crown’s claim to the Koh-i-Noor Diamond and feel that now is the right time to return what many see as stolen property. Let’s dig in and check some facts.

History, GemstonesChristine LopezSeptember 24, 2022koh-i-noor diamond, famous diamonds, british crown jewels, history

10 things you need to know about Sapphires

Dive on in and explore 10 things you should know about September’s beautiful Birthstone—Sapphire!

Gemstones, BirststonesChristine LopezSeptember 22, 2022Emerald, May, Birthstones

Peridot: Always Green, Always Gorgeous!

Peridot is the name given to gem quality specimens of the mineral Olivine. This coveted gem has..

Gemstones, BirststonesChristine LopezAugust 11, 2022Peridot, Birthstones, Gemology

UCLA Alumni Bruin Business 100

Steven and I are proud to reveal that Gem Surprise Box has been selected as a UCLA Bruin 100 Business!

GSB NewsChristine LopezJune 8, 2022UCLA Alumni Bruin 100, UCLA, 2022 Bruin Business 100, 2022 Bruin Business Winners, UCLA Alumni Owned Business, UCLA Gem Surprise BOx, UCLA EPSS Alumni Businesses, UCLA EPSS Graduate, UCLA Business Awards, Award Winning UCLA Business, UCLA Art Department Alumni, UCLA Love Story, UCLA Alumni Class of 2015, 2022 UCLA Bruin Business Winners

10 things you need to know about Emeralds

Dive on in and explore 10 things you should know about May’s beautiful Birthstone—Emerald!

Gemstones, BirststonesChristine LopezMay 4, 2022Emerald, May, Birthstones

10 things you need to know about Diamonds

Let’s dive on in and talk about ten of the most common questions we get asked about Diamonds!

Gemstones, BirststonesChristine LopezApril 6, 2022Diamonds, Diamond Origin, Raw Diamonds, Birthstones, April, minerals

Aquamarine: Beautiful Blue Beryl

The name Aquamarine is sourced from the greek word for “sea water” and popular with those….

Gemstones, BirststonesChristine LopezMarch 3, 2022Beryl, Aquamarine, Gemology, Geology, Birthstones, March, Heat Treatments, Gemstones

Vanadinite: Our Source for Stronger Steel Alloys

Vanadinite is a key source of the elemental metal Vanadium and is most commonly used to make extra strong Vanadium-Steel alloys…

Geology, MiningChristine LopezJanuary 29, 2022Vanadinite, Vanadium, minerals, orange minerals

The Gemstone of the Caribbean: Larimar

This gemmy material is loved for its Caribbean blue hues and usually fashioned into rounded cabochons to wear in jewelry…

GemstonesChristine LopezJanuary 29, 2022Larimar, Caribbean Gemstones, Blue Gemstones

Happy Holidays from Team GSB

Sit back and enjoy the holiday season because Gem Surprise Box is here to add joy to your holiday gifting experience!

Articles & GSB Blog

Expand your knowledge and learn more about geology, gemology, and mineralogy with our free educational articles. All articles are written by GIA Graduate Gemologists. We love sharing our passion and expertise so check back soon for new uploads.

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