Beauty-of-Jewellery

Buying antique jewelry? If you don't mind the usually high price, you should get yours from antique jewelry stores. Antique jewelry stores follow strict standards when it comes to selling this type of jewelry and they also keep the quality high by ensuring that the jewelry has been inspected and repaired properly.

Antique is old is vintage
When it comes to checking out pieces in an antique jewelry store, it can be a bit confusing for inexperienced buyers, especially when they encounter certain terms. Is it an antique or is it vintage? And what's antique style jewelry anyway?

Time is relative, so antique jewelry today may have been considered vintage about 50 years ago. Truly antique jewelry, by the way, belong to a museum. If you truly want antique jewelry and have money to burn, ask your antique jewelry store to show you pieces worn in the Georgian or Victorian years.

Victorian-age antique jewelry are often favored because of the sophistication and technical perfection they have achieved. The Victorian years were also the time when diamond mines in Africa began to produce gems of excellent quality.

Art Deco and Art Nouveau-style antique jewelry are also bestsellers in antique jewelry stores, primarily because of their distinctive look and design. This was the time when the Industrial Revolution shaped the sentiments of many jewelry wearers, particularly women.

As for antique style jewelry, many antique jewelry stores also carry these along with authentically old pieces. These are jewelry that are not necessarily old; they just look old. They are crafted to imitate the old or antique design that was prevalent during a certain era. It is quite easy to buy some baroque-style jewelry that was made just a few years before and not hundreds of years ago.

Buying from antique jewelry stores
Always check out the background and record of an antique jewelry store before buying. You want a reputable antique jeweler retailer to deal with, somebody who will not sell you a cleverly designed imitation. Don't be afraid to ask questions and if possible, read on the jewelry styles of the era you're aiming for.

It's better to visit the antique jewelry store in person so you can view, inspect, touch and try on the pieces yourself. Ask the salesperson about the history of the jewelry, whether it has undergone any repairs or if it is the original setting or design. If the setting is intact, you can also ask if the stones used in the current piece are originals or replacements.

You can also check out some antique jewelry stores online. Try www.antique-jewelry.com by Edith Weber, www.foreverjewelers.com, www.faycullen.com and www.hillarysantiques.com.

Labels: Sell

Posted by Nabil at 8:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

Ever wondered what your birthstone means? Since the beginning of early times, many people had assumed that different gemstones have their own meanings and properties of healing. Whether what they said is accurate or not, it was believed that every gemstone held its own energy and through the chakra system is able to motivate the human body.

Gemstone meanings

Gems have always been the storehouses of power, and can only be imparted in your body through physical contact. Royal families especially the crowned kings and queens wore several pieces of gemstones to obtain their influences on the people. They had believed that as rulers, they can be guided by cosmic energies by connecting them with special forces.

Priests too had the same concept with the monarchs. They wore rings with gemstones as they had conceptualized on the idea that the power exhibited by the gemstones could be beneficial for them.

The power of the gemstones
Vijaya Kumar, a professor of computer and electrical engineering, wrote an overview on the power of gems:

1. All gemstones generate magnetic powers and many are considered beneficial to man.

2. A man's whole being is strongly influenced by the gemstones frequencies and vibration.

3. These stones are used for transforming and healing the mind, body and soul.

4. They trigger our abilities, soothe, and comfort us though the chastity of their rays.

5. Most precious stones have their own way of treating unbalanced emotions.

6. Gemstones which are always in contact with a person transmit their healing properties to him or her.

Birthstone meanings and origins

Years ago, some people had believed that certain gemstones generate more vibration power at a certain time of the year. That is why the month the stones power is stronger determines our birthstones. Also, other people have said that the original link between the gemstones and the twelve months of the year developed from the twelve stones which are pointed out in the Bible while others believe that they symbolize the twelve stones. For this reason, several gemstones are associated with each month.

In our time, the powers of gemstones are appreciated in the industrial uses of crystals in lasers, watches and computers. In addition, these gemstones have been used to promote physical healing in the human body by helping a person to balance his human emotions. With all their contributions to man, no wonder these precious stones have been considered one of the most valuable possessions since the beginning.

Labels: Stories

Posted by Nabil at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments

Purple gemstones are among the most popular gemstones. There are many other colors of gemstones like gray, green, orange, pink, red, blue, aqua, black, white, yellow and brown but purple gemstones are still among the most preferred worldwide. The elegance of purple-colored gemstones can be one of the reasons why such items are valuable.

Good shapes and materials used for gemstones are further accentuated by the purple color. Thus, it not only looks elegant but expensive. It also looks bright, vibrant and very much interesting. No wonder, purple gemstones on the market are premium priced.
Aside from its elegant look, purple gemstones are symbolic. For one, such colored items are symbolic of power. High-profile people and government authorities appropriately wear purple gemstones at any occasion to make their authority and power seen and observed.

Purple is also symbolic of the spiritual goals of a person. Thus, religious people almost always prefer to buy and wear purple gemstones. Such colors are also indicative and symbolic of respect, passion, leadership and most importantly, wealth.

Aesthetically, purple gemstones are pacifying in nature. The color when exhibited in gemstones can be truly calming and refreshing. In the past, purple gemstones were dominantly worn by military commanders and emperors. The gemstones have also been symbolic of success, independence, psychic abilities and wisdom. In ancient continental Europe, purple gemstones used to symbolize royalty.

There are also popular beliefs and superstitions that make buying and acquiring purple gemstones rampant and popular. Societies all over the world have regarded gemstones as items that help boost and strengthen the wearer's generosity while at the same time helping bolster inner strength and creativity. The gemstones are also said to be effective talismans in boosting and accelerating wisdom and creative talents.

Across the market, purple gemstones are almost always expensive. Gemstones are generally premium priced, but purple ones are priced even higher. The strong demand for them may be among the reasons why prices of the products always remain high, aside of course from the basic general characteristics and overall value of the gemstones.

If you are wanting to buy purple gemstones, the time is now. Be prepared to allocate a significant amount of investment so that the purchase would be completed and done right away. Gemstones generally are breath-taking. Purple ones are truly fascinating and alluring.

Labels: Stories

Posted by Nabil at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments

While it is a more common practice for women to wear jewelry and gemstones, there are certain jewelry designs that are suitable for men and have been worn by men over the years. Most of the more common men's gemstone jewelry that you find are rings and cuff links but there are a few other kinds that seem to be becoming more popular with the younger generation of males these days.

The Diamond

The most common gemstone that you can find in men's gemstone jewelry is the diamond. Due to its versatility and classy appearance, diamonds have always been seen on rings for men and for women as well. This kind of a gem, one of the most expensive gems that can be used in jewelry, can be found in men's rings and cuff links and are usually cut in the classic round shape. Of course, as versatile as the diamond is, it can also be found combined with other gemstones in certain designs that are somewhat masculine or manly to the eyes.

Precious and Semi-Precious

Other gemstones that can be found in these kinds of jewelry are other precious and semi-precious stones that have been cut in either a square, oval or round shape to give the gemstone a more manly appeal. The gemstones used in men's gemstone jewelry is also in chunkier and bigger sizes than those usually seen on women's jewelry to help exude that same masculine air.

This kind of a logic in jewelry cuts and designs has long been in use in jewelry and you can see those big precious and semi precious stones on the fingers and cuffs of a lot of men. Among the precious and semi precious gems that are often seen on men's gemstone jewelry pieces, you can easily find the red ruby, amethysts, opals, quartz and emeralds.

Big Jewelry for Men

Most men's gemstone jewelry designs are chunky bracelets, necklaces and stick pins as well. This kind of a trend in men's jewelry design has been around for quite a while and there are men's gemstone jewelry that do have thinner components on certain designs, the overall assembly still ends up being a bit on the bigger side as compared to women's jewelry.

Men can easily find gemstone jewelry at a lot of jewelry stores and online shops everywhere. Finding the right kind of composition and design for their choices will solely depend on the individual taste of each man who buys them.

Labels: Stories

Posted by Nabil at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments

Jewelry is big business and the real value of any jewelry is dependent on the gemstone that is part of it. With this in mind, how do buyers know or make sure that they are paying for the real thing? What are the qualities or characteristics to check or watch for to be sure that the gemstone is genuine?

It takes training and the right equipment to determine if a gemstone is genuine. The term "genuine " means that the gemstone doesn't only look as expected, it should also meet the physical and chemical characteristics unique to that gemstone. It takes training and the right equipment to determine if a gemstone is genuine or not and there are testing laboratories to do this job.

Before going any further, are treated gemstones still genuine? A treated gemstone, as long as its molecular structure isn't altered, can still be the real thing but it is no longer natural. Some gemstones are treated to enhance their appearance and decorative value.

What to Check

Yes, there are professionals to perform the tests that determine if a gemstone is genuine or not but it is a valuable asset to any gemstone buyer to know the attributes to be tested.
The following are the characteristics to check:

1.0 Chemical composition and atomic structure
The atomic structure is what differentiates diamond from other carbon based matter like graphite. The stone's hardness, and light reflection is dependent on the atomic structure. Gemstones usually have crystalline structures.

2.0 Hardness and durability
Hardness is reported in a scale of 1 to 10, a method developed by Friedrich Mohs, a German mineralogist. The hardest are diamonds at (10) and the softest is talc at (1). A gemstone should have a hardness of no less than 7.

3.0 Other physical properties like the refractive index, dispersion and specific gravity.

Testing Laboratories

The following organizations provide certifications on the results of testing conducted. They also provide training and research services to their members.

Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
American Gemological Society (AGS)
American Gem Trade Laboratory of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA). AGTA the largest trade organization of gemstone traders
American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)
European Gemological Laboratory

The true value of any gemstone shouldn't be determined by just the physical appearance. Advancements in science have produced synthetic "gemstones" which cost just a fraction of the genuine gemstones. Knowledge is the best protection against paying for the price of the genuine item and getting a "fake".

Labels: Stories

Posted by Nabil at 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments

If there is one appealing aspect of gemstones that up to this moment continuously lures women to be inclined toward it, that would be its bedazzling sparkle and exquisite colors. Among all gemstones the precious stones are the most dazzling of them all which includes sapphires, emeralds and rubies.

The aforementioned gemstones are popular due to their striking colors such as blue, red and green. While sapphires among the three other gemstones have other variety in terms of its color, which includes yellow, green and pink.

Nonetheless, all gemstones have their own respective appealing color which adds to its daintiness. As an example, we may take the pearls which have several colors like pink, red and white while aquamarine is known for being bluish green. The amethyst for that matter is known for being stained with the shades of purple, while garnets are known to be green, purple and red. Gems also have other color variations like red, green and blue.

Your desire matters

An exceptional advantage that is offered by gemstones to its clients is that they have all the freedom to select the color which they prefer. In line to that, most of the gems that are intense and richest in terms of its color merit higher market value as compared to others. This is the very reason why other gemstones even though it is of the same kind has different price depending on its color.

For instance the emerald is known for its various shades of green, however the most famous color is the bluish green which also happens to be the most expensive kind.

Finding treasure

If you think that those adorable gemstones are beautiful from the very start then you are wrong, because when they are located inside the mines they might probably end up on long list of your most precious objects. The beauty of the gem only is discovered after it is polished and cut out by the stores which are to sell these gems to the public.

The richer the color of the stone the more precious it is. But of course once it undergoes the proper polishing measures, its sparkle also contributes to its potential market value. However, you ought to be reminded that the stones of the richest colors are very rare, which results to the lessening of the client's standards and leads them to settle for gems with lighter colors.

Labels: Stories

Posted by Nabil at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments

Fine gemstone jewelry always is a wonderful possession, just to look at it sparkle or dazzle on your skin. The beauty of designs can be so breathtaking; you could just stare at it for hours. However, are you sure that what you're buying is a real fine gemstone jewelry, even if it sparkles and shines? Did you really make a smart buy on your jewelry?

An amateur buyer wouldn't notice the quality of the gemstone jewelry he/she bought. Oftentimes, we are dazzled by the appearance rather than the details of its make or design. Our money should ultimately go to the finest gemstone jewelry for it to will dazzle and sparkle after decades. Here are some tips on digging for fine gemstone jewelry.

Don't buy just anywhere, buy from the BEST

As I've said, we shouldn't be taken in just by appearance. We should rather look into the intricacy of its make. To be able to spot this, you should buy from a recommended dealer or a reputable store. Asking around of friends and colleagues will help you buy fine gemstone jewelry.

The sign of a good jeweler is someone who can guide you into picking the best gemstone. The jeweler should be a trained professional knowledgeable about the quality of what they are selling. Also ask if the jeweler provides other services that will be necessary for the future.

Big no-no to discounts

Its been proven that people shop in stores where there are discounts, but never be lured by jewelry stores posing discounts. A 50% discount or more on valuable gemstone jewelry is just so unbelievable it couldn't be true. Stores use the discount strategy to get buyers to flock into their store. This means that most of them just put up the discount sign without anything actually being discounted. A good way to avoid being trapped in these discount stores is to canvass for prices in other stores to compare and contrast the price range.

Look for the papers and the marks

When buying, ask for the signed certificate of authenticity or the quality mark or the karat mark. These quality marks show on gold and sterling silver jewelry. If the quality mark is there, it means that the federal law requires a U.S. trademark on it. When the jeweler can't provide you the quality mark or the signed certificate of authenticity, don't buy anything there.

Fine gemstone jewelry can be fully enjoyed if it's genuine and in top-notch quality. The sparkles will surely last for a long time and could be further enjoyed by the next generation.

Labels: Tips

Posted by Nabil at 10:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

When grading and appraising gemstones, cut may not be as influential as the other C's like color, clarity, and carat weight, but it is definitely an influencing factor when it comes to the gemstones overall beauty. To properly evaluate the cut of a given gemstone, you must not only study its face-up view or the surface or top view but study it from all other angles as well. An excellent cut can reduce loss on carat weight but enhance its looks to breathtaking proportions at the same time.

Common Cuts Used on Gemstones

Brilliant Cuts A brilliant-cut gemstone usually has three flat polished surfaces per facet. They are positioned in such a way to radiate the best light from the gemstone. Gemstone cutters also make sure that the angles will enhance the brilliance of the gemstone. Brilliant cuts are mostly used for diamonds and transparent gemstones.

Some facets will have one or more shapes like stars, hearts, kites, and lozenges. Variations of the brilliant cut include the naivet‚ or boat-shaped marquise, per-shaped pendeloque, and oval shape. Oval shapes are suitable for gemstones with lower carat weight because they can make them appear bigger.

The most popular variation of all is the full-cut round brilliant. It has fifty-eight facets, presently the greatest count for brilliant cut gemstones. The single brilliant cut, on the other hand, has seventeen to eighteen facets. For gemstones used in earrings and pendants, the briolette variation is mostly used to provide it with circular cross-section teardrop shapes. Brilliant cuts with triangular dimensions are called trilliants while square brilliant cuts are also known as princess cuts.

Step Cuts Another popular cut for a gemstone is the step or trap cut. Step cuts are best used for colored gemstones because they possess four-sided table facets and girdles as well as parallel quadrilateral facets. The term step cut was used because this gemstone cut bears similarities with a staircase. Step cuts have fewer facets than brilliant cuts.

One well-known variation of a step cut is the baguette. It is rectangular in shape but with square corners. Emerald cuts are also quite popular. Its name was derived from its consistent use with emeralds. Emerald cuts remove the corners and form an octagonal shape. Clipping off the corners protect delicate gemstones like emeralds and facilitate setting of gemstones at the same time. Other popular variations for step cuts are window, table, radiant, and oval.

The best advantage of step cuts is its ability to enhance a gemstones color, making the color richer and appearing to have originated straight form the belly of the gemstone.

Mixed Cuts Mixed cuts for gemstones are mostly combinations of brilliant and step cuts. The crown or top portion of a gemstone will resemble a brilliant cut while the pavilion or bottom portion of a gemstone will receive a step cut. At times, the two cuts will appear side by side. Mixed cuts are also characterized by their rounded outlines. Many transparent gemstones like rubies and sapphires are often cut this way. Gemstones with mixed cuts are also commonly set in prongs.

Variations for mixed cuts include but are not limited to cushion, zircut, pear or teardrop, and oval.

Cabochon Cuts A gemstone with a cabochon cut will appear rounded on top and flat on the bottom. At times, gemstones will only appear in this cut. Height of a gemstones dome with a cabochon cut varies. The name is derived from the French term used for bald heads. Cabochon cuts are simplest to make, and that's why you'll often see them used on affordable gemstones and those that will not benefit from faceting.

Fancy Cuts Any other cut besides those mentioned above is usually referred to as fancy. A checkerboard cut, for instance, will have a combination of a large table facet on top and a mixed cut. A rose cut will have a round girdle outline, flat base, dome-shaped crown, and facets of a brilliant cut.

When judging the cut of a gemstone, start by evaluating it face up. See if the gemstone shows uniform color distribution and radiates light in the best possible way. Gemstones cut with large windows are unappealing. Lastly, recheck all other angles and determine if the cut took both carat weight and looks into consideration.

Labels: Tips

Posted by Nabil at 9:58 PM | Permalink | Comments

It is easy to feel intimidated and out-of-place when you're visiting a high-class jewelry shop for the first time. To avoid making unwanted and uniformed purchases, improve your knowledge about jewelry starting with the tips below. If you speak the same language people in the jewelry industry speak then you'll surely go home with the jewelry piece you want, need, and definitely can afford.

The Meaning of Gemstone

A gemstone may be a rock, mineral, or even a petrified material that's cut and polished to be used for making jewelry pieces. It may be even harvested like pearls or organic like amber, just as long as it has aesthetic appeal. In the old days, precious gemstones only referred to the Big Three: emeralds, sapphires, and rubies. Everything else was labeled as semi-precious gemstones.

Categories today, however, have been thankfully changed and widened to avoid further confusion.

The Ins and Outs of Lapidary

Lapidary refers to the process of cutting and polishing gemstones. Rough materials are left uncut and unpolished. Cobbed materials are referred to as fractured. Materials like silicon carbide and diamond, due to their hardness, are used for cutting gemstones in a progressive abrasion process. Compounds like aluminum and chromium oxide are, on the other hand, used for polishing gemstones.

Common cutting techniques include tumbling, drilling, polishing, lapping, sanding, grinding, and sawing. Cut gemstones are then polished into several forms such as sculptures, intaglios, cameos, mosaics, intarsias, inlays, spheres, beads, cabochons, and faceted stones.

Sawing The main tool used in sawing is a copper or steel blade with diamond grit on the edges. Water or oil is used to eliminate cutting debris and prevent the blade and stone from overheating.

Grinding Diamond-impregnated grinding wheels made of silicon carbide are used to grind gemstones and shape them into a pre-form. Liquid substance is also used to prevent both the stone and tool from overheating.

Sanding This process is similar to grinding but utilizes finer abrasives instead. It is often performed as a follow-up after grinding for removing scratches caused by the previous cutting technique. For round gemstones, a belt sander may be used in accompaniment to ensure smoother and rounder curves.

Lapping A lap, which is a flat disk that's either vibrating or rotating, is used to create flat surfaces rather than round ones. The process however is similar to sanding and grinding.

Drilling This technique is used if the lapidarist wishes to create a hole through or in a gemstone. Drilling tools may be rotating or ultrasonic.

Tumbling A gemstone that's placed in a rotating barrel filled with water and abrasives is tumbled for polishing. These gemstones are usually roughly shaped and the polishing process is gradual and performed with interval washings. Sometimes, vibratory machines are used in lieu of rotating barrels. This time, the barrels vibrate rather than rotate. Tumbling techniques are also used to polish metal jewelry pieces.

Cabochons Cabbing or cabochon cutting is achieved by gluing or dopping the gemstone into a metal or wooden dopstick or simply holding it in place. The cabbing machine then twirls and creates a round smooth surface top and a flat or slightly rounded bottom for the gemstone. This is usually an alternative to faceting for gemstones that possess too many inclusions.

Faceted Stones Gemstones that have faceted forms reflect brilliant color and clarity from all sides and at all light levels. This technique is most suitable for transparent stones. Today, new techniques like grooves and concave facets are used to create new looks for faceted gemstones.

The Importance of Cut and Polish in Gemstones

Cut is one of the all-important 4C's and which is used not only to appraise diamonds but gemstones in general as well. Gemstones are often cut with regard to their size alone. But beautifully cut gemstones take their color into consideration as well.

If you are shopping for faceted gemstones, one way of determining the excellence of its cut is to check if its able to reflect light on a consistent level throughout its surface. Look for symmetrical rather than asymmetrical cuts as well. Lastly, be reminded that cut is different from shape.

Polish is simply like adding the final touches to a gemstone. A well-polished gemstone is one with evenly smooth gloss and with no visible scratches on its surface.

Labels: Stories

Posted by Nabil at 9:57 PM | Permalink | Comments

There are so many jewelry stores and almost every store has the same pieces of jewelry. It's almost impossible for an amateur buyer to determine if the store sells authentic jewelry or not. Some stores trick their buyers into buying fake jewelry, so here are some helpful tips in spotting an authentic jewelry store.

Watch for the papers

Authentic jewelry comes with a price for a reason. They are genuine and some are even rare. So if you were to buy a real diamond ring, don't buy it without the essential papers. These authentic pieces of jewelry come with a product registration card and signed certificate of authenticity. Carefully read the papers given to you and look for signs that they are the real thing. Things to watch out for are the signature, stamp, and the quality of the papers given to you.

If the store fails to give you these papers, they might be selling fake or imitation jewelry.

Beware of online stores or eBay

Don't be fooled by the sweet words given to you by online stores or eBay sellers. What they say may be what you might not get. Sure, there really are honest sellers on the Internet, but its tough to take on the risk by buying something you're not sure of. Talking to someone who has bought off the Internet would be a good gauge to finding out if the seller or online store is honest.

Be observant

The appearance of a jewelry store tells a lot about what it has inside. Observation is the key. Look for a security guard in front of the store if it's not inside a mall. The personnel should be well-trained and know what they're talking about. Then look at the pieces of jewelry with a critical eye.

Also determine if the shop is associated with any well-respected organization in the area.

Price relative to the make

Not all pieces of jewelry fetch a high price. Of course, it depends on what its make is or how many carats the diamond has. So if a store is selling a 1-carat diamond for a low price, be suspicious.

Finding authentic jewelry stores may be a big challenge for an amateur, so asking around or consulting a professional jewelry maker will help a lot. There are a lot of shady tactics and strategies in selling someone fake jewelry, so watch out. Don't be lured by words or sweet-nothings, but certainly watch out for these tips in finding an authentic jewelry store.

Labels: Tips

Posted by Nabil at 9:39 PM | Permalink | Comments

Gemstones may come in a rainbow of colors, but the jewelry industry uses a universally defined system to grade it. Color accompanies clarity, cut, and carat weight to make up the 4C's and can greatly affect the aesthetic value of gemstones. Many people mistakenly believe that darker is always better, but what they should truly be looking for is brightness and vividness. Use the following tips to accurately evaluate the color of gemstones by yourself.

Evaluating Color of Gemstones by Using the GIA or Munsell Color Grading System
Although there are many and equally effective color grading systems in use today, the GIA or Munsell system is a good primer to start with. It utilizes a plastic set made up of 324 color pieces to serve as standard references. If a certain color is found missing from the system, interpolation can be performed to come up with more than 760 additional shades.

The GIA or Munsell system is made ideal for judging the color of gemstones because they are built with 3D plastic pieces that resemble faceted gemstones.

Elements of Color
The color of gemstones should be judged according to the three main elements:

Hue This is the first impression we obtain from viewing colors. It is what makes rubies red, sapphires blue, emeralds green, and amethysts purple. Hues have a natural order and they are red, yellow, green, blue, and lastly purple. Numerous shades can be achieved by mixing together any two of these hues.

Chroma or Saturation This element refers to the vividness, purity, strength, or intensity of a given color. Gemstones with low chroma are referred to as weak while those with high levels of saturation are called vivid or strong. Saturation of colored gemstones may be classified as the following in ascending order: grayish or brownish, slightly brownish or grayish, very slightly grayish or brownish, moderately strong, strong, and lastly vivid.

Value or Tone This is what makes you think of red as light or dark red. Gray as well as black and white are referred to as neutral or achromatic colors because they don't possess any hue. Colors with hues are referred to as achromatic colors. GIA uses a numerical system, with its written definitions, to evaluate neutral and achromatic colors alike. For transparent colored gemstones, however, only grades or tones two to eight are considered.

0 colorless or white
1 extremely light
2 very light
3 light
4 medium light
5 medium
6 medium dark
7 dark
8 very dark

Treatments Used for Changing Colors of Gemstones
When shopping for colored gemstones, another question you should definitely ask and one you couldn't evaluate without a definite honest answer is if the color is natural or applied. There are several commonly used and accepted color treatments that are applied to gemstones in order to change their appearance like heat treatment, irradiation, dyeing, and straining.

Heat Treatment This is the most commonly utilized and one of the oldest treatments for modifying the color of gemstones today. This treatment may use temperature ranging from 100 degrees Celsius to more than 2000 degrees Celsius and improves color distribution as well as reducing visibility of flaws.

Irradiation Low or high electromagnetic waves or energy particles are used to change the color of a given gemstone. Like heat treatment, there is little remaining evidence that could clue a buyer to its use.

With irradiation, certain gemstones have their colors enhanced. Bleached, off-color pearls will obtain a darker tint. Brown or light yellow diamonds can become colored. Light yellow or colorless sapphires may turn yellow to orange, but the change could only last for days. Colorless quartz may turn into smoky quartz. Colorless as well as pale pink and dark blue beryl may become yellow or maxixe-type respectively. Time, light, and heat may, however, cause the color for treated beryl jewelry to fade.

Dyeing and Straining This is the major term used to refer to various techniques utilizing a foreign and differently colored substance to modify the color of a given gemstone. A combination of techniques, like dyeing and clarity enhancement for beryl, may be used to improve overall effects. In coating, the application of a second substance is only done on the surface.

Practice makes perfect so browse jewelry shops to familiarize yourself with the various signs that could alert you to the use of applications and treatments on gemstones.

Labels: Tips

Posted by Nabil at 9:35 PM | Permalink | Comments

You have to remove your jewelry whenever you are doing activities that are risky. These activities may cause an impact or expose the jewelry to chemicals. Don't wear your jewelry when you're playing sports or doing house hold chores.

If you have rings that can't be removed and you have to use strong cleaning products, particularly those with an Ammonia base, you can protect it (as well as your skin) by wearing gloves made of rubber. Rings and bracelets are jewelry that are often worn, earrings and necklaces are also prone to damages from chemicals, especially whenever they are worn while putting make-up, spraying fragrances and spritzing hair products.

A jeweler can also restring your pearl necklaces every two years. This should be done if it is your favorite jewelry. You can also clean your jewelry yourself by using mild and warm water with a soapy solution. Use a soft brush in cleaning the edges. Dry them using a soft cloth.

Be mindful of the loose clasps and gems before you wear your jewelry. You wouldn't want the stones dropping off. Neither would you want to lose the entire thing when you're walking down the street.

Don't pull the stones. Some women who wear jewelry pull on the stones whenever they are bored; just so their fingers have something to do. Well, this practice results to the gemstones being more prone to oil, dirt and sweat. You may even risk these because you loosen the setting on the metal.

It is also not advisable to store your jewelry in one big pile. This will cause the metal and the gems to scratch one another. Store your jewelry in separate sections. Wrap them in paper, silk or velvet. Put them in a jewelry box.

Here is a quick run-through on how to clean common gems:

1. Alexandrite
Clean using soapy water or commercially available products. The best is alcohol. You can also resort to mechanical cleaners.

2. Aquamarine
Steer clear of chemical cleaners and heat. These shouldn't be cleaned frequently as well. Use a soapy solution.

3. Diamond
Chemical and mechanical cleaners are said to be safe, but they should be avoided when cleaning diamonds because the stone could be fractured. Rinse the diamond dry and well after using a soapy solution.

4. Emerald
Don't use mechanical and chemical cleaners. It will only dissolve oils during the cleaning process. Emeralds must be cleaned using soapy water. Have a jeweler re-oil the gem once every year.

5. Garnet
Just use soapy water.

6. Jade
Soapy water is the best, safest and easiest solution. You can also resort to mechanical cleaners, just steer clear of the chemical ones.

7. Opal
Wipe the stone after every use with a slightly damp pr dry cloth. Do not wash or scrub hard.

8. Peridot
Don't use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Just use soapy water.

9. Ruby
Use soapy water or the cleaning solvents that are commercially available. Mechanical cleaners are also safe but these should be avoided because it may affect the clarity of the ruby.

10. Sapphire
Use soapy water and cleaning solvents. Mechanical cleaners are also safe but when these are used, they may affect the sapphires clarity.

11. Spinel
Use soapy water and the commercial cleaning solvents. Mechanical cleaners are to be avoided because these affect the clarity of the spinel.

12. Tanzanite
Don't use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Just use soapy water.

13. Topaz
Same with tanzanite, don't use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Soapy water is fine.

Caring for Your Pearls
Pearls are quite durable. Proper care keeps them lustrous and even more beautiful. Here are some general tips in doing so.

1. Wipe the pearls using a damp warm cloth. This removes dirt and body oils which harm the original color of the pearl. Do this before you put them away.

2. Pearls must be stored away from other jewelry and objects. Keeping them close to such could scratch the surface. Wrap them in soft cloth or linen and put them in pouches. Don't store your pearls in packages that are air tight because they might lose their moisture.

3. Wash them using mild soap and wipe them dry with soft cloth. You can use also use acetone polish remover.

Labels: Tips

Posted by Nabil at 9:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

There are many different types of gemstones, and knowing the different categories can help a collector or enthusiast expand his repertoire greatly. Some precious gemstones are so unique in chemical composition and crystalline structure that they fall into their own categories, while others can be collectively lumped into one. Here are the major types of precious and semi precious gemstones:

Diamond - diamond is it's own type of gemstone, and is well known for being the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man. Diamonds are primarily high-carbon crystals that were fused under extremes of pressure and heat.

Diamonds themselves aren't especially rare, with thousands being mined throughout the world every year; however, large diamonds of high quality are extremely rare, and it is these which are well known for setting the standards of diamond gemstones as the world's most precious stone.

Corundum - this is the second hardest type of gemstone, and is primarily defined as being composed of aluminum oxide and various trace minerals. The trace minerals create different types of corundum, and perhaps the two most well known examples of this type of stone are rubies and sapphires. Rough corundum isn't used as a gemstone, but is used as an industrial strength abrasive element due to it's tough nature.

Chrysoberyl - this is the third hardest gemstone, and while it uses aluminum oxide as a base element like corundums, it has high quantities of beryllium mixed in with it. Appearance wise, chrysoberyls often come in a green to yellow shade, though their appearance is best known for having the tendency to actually change color somewhat under different types of lighting. Cat's eye and alexandrite are two common chrysoberyls used in jewelry.

Quartz - this is actually one of the most common types of mineral in the world and comes in a wide variety of colors. It's main tendency is to form in hexagonal shapes and it makes an excellent prism if unflawed.

The main reason quartz can still be categorized as a valuable gemstone is that, while it IS easy to find quartz stones, finding a large, perfect, and unflawed quartz crystal of jewelry quality is extremely rare. Some examples of quartz gems commonly used in jewelry are onyx, amethysts, citrines, and carnelians.

Beryl - this is a stone well known for it's beauty and has elements in common with both chrysoberyl and quartz. It's basic chemical composition is similar to chrysoberyl, with beryllium and aluminum prevalent but mixed in with other trace elements. It's basic crystalline structure, on the other hand, is closer to quartz, being hexagonal in nature.

At it's simplest, beryl is actually transparent, while it's other colored variants include emeralds and aquamarines. It can come in yellow and red shades as well, and these are referred to as "red" or "yellow" emeralds.

Jade - this is one type of gemstone originally lumped into the same category as beryl. The main reasons for this are because both can be mined in similar places and they possess similar textures, opacity, and appearance (just different colors).

Later on, chemical analysis showed that the elements which made up the different forms of precious jade, namely nephrite and jadeite, were different from beryl completely, thus earning jade it's own category among gemstone collectors. Jade based stones are often composed of calcium and magnesium elements.

Feldspar - this is a unique type of gemstone whose base material is tectonic in nature. It is often found in areas of high geographic instability like earthquake faults and volcanic chains. Feldspar's basic chemical composition is made up of very common elements found deep inside the earth's crust.

What makes it valuable as a gemstone is the same factor that makes a diamond much more valuable than a lump of coal that would normally contain the same elements as diamond. That is, with sufficient heat and pressure applied, the tectonic elements fuse together to make a rare red gemstone known as feldspar.

Organic Gemstones - the most famous examples of this are pearls and amber. Basically, organic gemstones are ones which occur naturally in organic sources as opposed to mineral sources. Pearls are formed from oysters, while amber is a yellow stone formed from fossilized tree sap. While not gemstones per se, organic gemstones are still used heavily in jewelry so are included in this list.

Labels: Stories

Posted by Nabil at 9:27 PM | Permalink | Comments

Among the many beautiful stones, emeralds are but one of the most attractive gemstones. It possesses the most intense green color you will ever see. For centuries only the wealthy had this priceless gift. The rare pure green emerald is more valuable than most of the diamonds. But there are some varieties of emerald which can have yellowish or bluish colors.

The name emerald is from the Greek word smaragdos, the name been given among the number of unique stones. In the Zodiac signs, this is the birthstone that has been assigned to Taurus. It is even used as the anniversary gemstone for marriage, because it symbolizes kindness, faith and purity.

Emeralds are known to have a healing ability. Although it isn't directly a replacement for the traditional medical treatment, emerald was used for emotional and physical healing. The refreshing green color quality of emerald can cure eye problems; it is even a good amulet for eye troubles.

Moreover, when emeralds are worn around the neck and fingers of children it can prevent them from having convulsions. Emeralds help patients with ailments of the spine, and it helps fight neurological and mental disorders. It can even be an antidote for most poisons and eases wounds associated with poisons.

Emeralds are believed to have some mystical powers. Some people say that it can drive away evil spirits. Having an emerald with you can make you a man of wisdom, for it is said to bring wisdom to those who have or wear it. The ancients believed that it was a good amulet for those who wanted to have good fortune.

Lastly, emeralds are popularly known to be a symbol of faith and love. It can even discover false friends, because it actually changes color in their presence. As for love, when the emerald fades, that means that love weakens so better check the color.

To achieve a lasting beautiful emerald gemstone, care and treatment is needed. To clean the stone, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe it. Use oil when treating it, never use ultrasonic cleaner, because it can remove the oil that is being used during treatments. Lastly, never soak it in hot water, the color of the stone easily changes when it is strongly heated.

When buying your precious emerald, consult a professional retail jeweler to make sure that you will get the real one. A professional knows about details of the emerald, it is very confusing sometimes to compare a true emerald from a synthetic one.

Labels: Stories

Posted by Nabil at 9:11 PM | Permalink | Comments