Friday, August 15, 2008

The Gemstones Scene Review

Featured Gemological Article

So You Want To Collect Gemstones


By Lee MacRae


Why collect loose gemstones you ask? For many people it's because gemstones are extremely beautiful. And like their more familiar cousin, natural diamonds, they can become extremely valuable over the years. Many people love to collect and work with the wide variety of gemstones available today. Read long as we examine the loose gemstones hobby.


The first thing you need to do is to get some books from the library or bookstore. You want to learn as much as possible about your new hobby. The more you understand about gemstones the better off you'll be. You'll know exactly what to look for in a quality stone.


First on the list to evaluate is gemstone color. Without a doubt, gemstones are the most intensely colored naturally occurring materials you can find. Gemstones are so related to color that they have even lent their names to specific colors. You've no doubt heard about emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue, jade green, turquoise or aquamarine. Gemstones are valued much higher they closer they are to natural spectral colors of yellow, blue, violet, green, orange and red. They become less valuable when they are lighter or darker than the natural color.



Cut is one of the all-important 4Cs and is used not only to appraise diamonds but gemstones in general as well. A precision cut will highlight the pure color of the stone, lessen any inclusions and exhibits good overall symmetry and proportion. One way of determining the excellence in the cut is to consider how consistently it reflects the light over the stones complete surface. If the gemstone is cut to shallow most of this light were refracted away rather than reflecting inside. Gem color appears washed out.


The next factor to consider is the clarity of the stone. This is talking about the purity of the gemstone with no internal conclusions, internal particles or spots within the crystal structure. Obviously, stones with a lack of flaws are hard to find and make your stones very valuable.


Gemstones are often categorized according to their size criteria because it is more uniform than carat weight. But two different gemstones may have the same size but have different carat weights that result in different prices as well. This is due to the nature of gemstone difference regarding specific gravity and depends on the materials chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure. A one carat round brilliant diamond, for example of typical proportions will be approximately 6.5 mm in diameter. A comparable round brilliant ruby of the same size and proportions will weigh in at 1.55 carats.


Although gems are frequently used in jewelry, loose gemstones are great for collecting. Actually there are many interesting and attractive gemstones who that are just too big or fragile to be used for jewelry. Here's a suggestion -- don't think of a gem as a component of jewelry; Think of it as a mini sculpture or piece of art to be highly treasured for its unique nature and vibrant colors. And unlike some hobbies that require you to pay for your specimens you can actually go hunting for raw gemstones in the field. In the US in New York you can find Beryl, Brown Tourmaline, Rose Quartz as well as Fresh Water Pearl. And if you travel to Canada you will find nephrite jade in the Frances Lake area in the Yukon Territory or labradorite on the adjacent islands and coastal area of Labrador along with the unique deep blue beryl in Canada's Yukon Territory. Take up a hobby of loose gemstone collecting and enjoy yourself.


Buy purple Sapphire loose gemstones or cushion cut loose diamonds and also natural uncut diamonds today in our store!

Gemstones For Sale



Hints On natural yellow diamonds

The Archduke Joseph...this 76.45-carat diamond gets its name from from Archduke
Joseph August (1872-1962), a previous owner of the gem and a prince of the
Hungarian line of the Hapsburg dynasty. The Archduke Joseph is a colorless
diamond; it possesses the most notable characteristic of the best Golconda
diamonds, namely a high internal clarity. Thus its D-color certification. It is
cut in a rectangular cushion shape, perhaps a style of cutting that is not
entirely unfitting with its Indian origin. The diamond originally weighed 78.54
carats but was slightly recut in the late-1990's by Molina Fine Jewelers down to
its present 76.45-carat weight. The diamond has been graded as being Internally
Flawless.
Buy pear natural diamonds today!

The Clarity of a diamond is based on the number, location, size, and type of
inclusions found in the stone. An inclusion is an imperfection or trace mineral
in the stone that is visible under the magnification of a jeweler's loupe. The
fewer inclusions the diamond has; the clearer, more brilliant and more expensive
the diamond will be. A "Flawless" diamond is one that has no inclusions and is
extremely rare and valuable.
You will find affordable loose diamonds

The Latest natural yellow diamonds News

Sterling Double Hammered Marquise Earrings

Hand hammered sterling marquise earrings. All sterling silver components and findings. Earrings hang about 2" from base of earwires. Also available in 23kt gold vermeil.

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Dainty hand hammered sterling silver discs with pink tourmaline accents. All sterling silver earwires and components. Earrings measure 3/8" (about 9.5mm). Also available in larger sizes and 23kt gold vermeil.

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