Our Featured Gemological Article
So You Want To Collect Gemstones
By Lee MacRae
For many people collecting semi-precious and precious gemstones like loose diamonds or loose gemstones is a passionate hobby. Many people have a great love of the various gemstones you can find just about everywhere in the world. Read long as we look at a number of factors you should understand in starting in this hobby.
The first thing you need to do is to visit the library and get some books. You want to learn as much as possible about your new hobby. The more you understand about each kind of gemstone the wiser will be your purchases. You need to be as informed as possible.
To start with, an important aspect in gemstone evaluation is color. Without a doubt, gemstones are the most intensely colored natural material available on earth. 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 when they are equal in color to the spectral colors of yellow, blue, violet, green, orange and red. They are valued much less the farther they deviate from the natural color.
The cut of a gemstonestone is the second most important factor to look at before a purchase. The precision of cut is the factor that determines the amount of light is reflected by the gemstone. It will ultimately determine the brilliance of the stone and how much someone will pay for it.
The next factor to consider is the clarity. This means the gemstones purity or the lack of internal inclusions, internal particles or spots within the crystal. Without a doubt, zero flaws will make a gemstone very valuable.
You will note that gemstones are categorized according to their size criteria because it is more uniform than carat weight. But two different gemstones may have the same size but different carat weights and consequently, different in prices as well. This is due to the nature of gemstone difference of relative density or specific gravity depending upon the chemical composition and crystalline structure. For example, a one carat round diamond with standard 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 instead.
Taking up the hobby of gemstones can give you an enjoyable pastime and also rewarding in the long run. It doesn't have to be very expensive and yet you can buy some very beautiful items. Many people loved to spend weekends to go hunting gemstones. Just in the United States in Maryland you can search for Beryl and Clam Pearl. Or ou can take a longer vacation and find opal in Opalton, Yowah, Queensland, Austalia, topaz in Torrington, New South Wales, Australia or hunt in the garnet fields in Fullarton River in Queensland, Australia.
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Malachite is a beautiful green earth stone with black bands. It is beautiful in
earrings, necklaces, and pendants. Malachite is green with irregular black
banding. It has a hardness of 4. Malachite is especially fragile. Protect
malachite from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes (
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a home ultrasonic cleaner. Washing malachite in water will remove its finish.
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Opal is October's birthstone and is an elegant sparkling gemstone. Opal is a
soft gemstone so wearing it in pendants, necklaces and earrings is ideal. The
fabulous fire of an opal has made this stone a favorite of many.
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Peruvian Pink Opal is amorphous silica containing water (hydrated Silicon Dioxide). Pink Opal should not be exposed to long periods of intense sunshine or heat, as the stone might dry out. Mystical Properties: Most often mentioned as a gemstone of love. It ranks 5.0 to 6.0 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness.
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Featured Gemstone Article
Collecting Gemstones
By Lee MacRae
Gemology is a term referring to the profession, science, and even art of evaluating and identifying gemstones from loose gemstones to natural diamonds. A number of people taken up this profession as a hobby. They become interested in collecting and evaluating loose gemstones or loose diamonds. You'll even find some that like to travel to different areas close by or to other countries to hunt for raw or rough gemstones. Some hobbyists will learn to cut or tumble the gemstones they find. If this hobby interest you then follow along as this article discusses the various aspects of gemstone collecting.
The very first step in beginning this hobby the proper way is by getting adequate knowledge about them. By taking a quick trip to the library or local bookstore you can find books on the subject that will make you an informed buyer.
First on the list to evaluate is gemstone color. Gemstones are the most intensely colored natural material available on earth. Gemstones are so related to color that they've even had their names combined with associated colors. Everyone knows ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue, aquamarine, turquoise, and jade green Gemstones become higher in value when they equal the colors in the spectrum of violet, blue, green,, orange and red. They drop in value the farther they deviate from the natural color.
Cut is one of the all-important 4Cs and factors highly into the appraisal of not only diamonds but gemstones as well. A precision cut gemstone showcases the pure color of the stone, diminishes its inclusions, and show off its symmetry and proportions. One way to determine the precision regarding the cut is how consistent and well, it reflects the light over the stones complete surface. If the gemstone is cut to shallow most of the light will refract out instead of reflecting inside the gemstone. Gem color appears washed out.
The clarity of a gemstone is an important consideration. When we talk of clarity it relates to the amount of inclusions (trace elements or large particles of other elements or minerals) that a gem has. A gemstones that is normally found to be clean is more valuable. To determine the flaws not seen with the unaided eye you need a gemstone loupe (gemstone clarity magnifier) or gem microscope. Serious hobbyists will use an inexpensive 10X gemstone or jewelers loup for viewing their coins, beads, stamps or in our case gemstones.
Next on the agenda is the duo of size and weight. Due to the fact gemstones can vary in density or specific gravity. Weight and size are not necessarily equal across the board. Take the example of a diamond that weighs 1.00 carats and an equal sized Sapphire would weigh more than 1.20 carats. An emerald stone would be about 0.95 carats and an Alexandrite gem stone would came in at 1.23 carats.
Though you may find gemstones used a lot in jewelry, they are perfectly good collectibles in their own right. In fact, there are many attractive and interesting gems that are just too big or fragile to be used for jewelry. Take each loose gemstone and Think of it as a mini sculpture or piece of art to be highly treasured for its unusual nature and for the craftsmanship of the artisan who shaped it. And in this hobby you don't have to always lay out cash because you can use vacation time to actually hunt for raw gemstones in stead of buying. In the US in Missouri you can hunt for Pearl, Fluorite, Pyrite and Calcite. And if you travel to Canada you will find opal in the Okanagan, British Columbia or amazonite (microcline) near Lac St-Jean, Quebec and even iolite from Manitouwadge, Ontario. Take up gemstone collecting and you won't regret it.
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Healing stones need to be natural gemstones as free as possible from dyes, bleach, coating, or other enhancements. Such enhancements can interfere or block the effectiveness of the gemstones. Synthetic stones can not be used for healing as they do not contain the earth's energy.
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Amethyst is the most highly valued gemstone in the quartz family of minerals. Colors range from pale lilac to deep purple. Amethysts are routinely enhanced, meaning they are heat treated to improve their appearance or durability. They are often considered the color of royalty because amethysts have long been treasured by ancient kings and emperors. They were once prized even more than diamonds. The amethyst is often referred to as the Bishop�s Stone, as it is worn by bishops to symbolize their triumph over worldly vices.
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During the Middle Ages people believed that the use of topaz strengthened the
mind and prevented sudden death. Some physicians of those times prescribed it as
a remedy for weak vision. It was also used as a method of preventing mental
disorders or curing these disorders altogether.
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Charcas, San Luis Potosi - is world reknown for it's Danburite the large clear
crystals are easily found on the mineral markets. Topaz is also found here and
can be quite nice. A variety of grossular known as "Raspberry Garnet" is found
in Coahuila and another garnet gem found in Mexico is andradite which forms
iridescent green gemstones. Another green gem is olivine and it is mined in the
Chavira peridot-olivine mines in Chihuahua.
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Gemstones have properties that attract, heal, protect, and/or enhance. Gemstones can influence every aspect of your life when properly selected, cleaned, cared for, and used correctly. Since gemstones have the power to bring harmony and health by affecting the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical body, they can be selected based on their attributes. When selecting gemstones to treat the symptoms of illness, you need to know and treat the cause as well.
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Zircon is brittle and therefore sensitive to knocks and pressure. The gem has
the tendency to wear along facet edges. Its use in rings should therefore be
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Lapis is known as the December Traditional Birthstone. Lapis Lazuli is the
anniversary gemstone for the 7th and 9th year of marriage. It is said that Lapis
helps one understand the mind. It helps to expand your viewpoint. It is good for
connecting the heart and the mind when worn over the heart.
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Obsidian is natural glass formed by volcanic lava that cooled too quickly. It is
generally black. Other obsidian colors include: brown, gray, red, blue and green
. If there are bubbles or crystal inclusions, it has white or gray marks and is
often named snowflake obsidian. Some obsidian has iridescence: flashes of color.
Obsidian has a hardness rating of 5.
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Featured Gemstone Article
How To Start Gemstone Collecting
By Lee MacRae
Why would anyone collect items like loose gemstones, you ask? For many people it's because they are very beautiful items. And like their higher counterpart, natural diamonds their value increases over time. Many hobbyists love to collect and show case each and every one of the 150 varieties available. Read long as we look at the hobby of collecting loose gemstones.
The very first step in beginning this hobby the wise way is by acquiring knowledge about them. By taking a quick trip to the library or local bookstore you can find books on the subject that will let you make wise purchases from the beginning.
Of paramount importance Is gemstone color. Top grade gemstones have pure colors there as close as possible in pureness to the spectral colors of orange, green, yellow, Violet or blue. Gemstone colors that are muted or on the dark side can lower the value.
How a stone has been cut is the second most important factor to consider before buying. The precision of the cut determines the amount of light the stone will reflect. The cut will determine the brilliance of the stone and how much someone will pay for it.
The next factor to consider is the gemstone's clarity. This refers to the stones purity or the lack of internal inclusions, particles or spots within the crystal structure. Needless to say, stones with no flaws will make a gemstone very valuable.
Next up are weight and size. Other than the corals and pearls gemstones are priced by the carat. One carat equals a 0.2 grams. Be aware however, that weight and size are not the same in gemstones. The density and specific gravity can differ in stones. Take a diamond that is 1.00 carats in weight and you will find that a similar sized sapphire or ruby would weigh 1.20 carats.
Though you may find gemstones used a lot in jewelry, loose gemstones are great for collecting. In fact, there are many attractive and interesting gemstones that are too fragile or too large to be used in jewelry. Look at each stone and consider it as a piece of art and value it for its unusual nature and for the craftsmanship of the artisan who shaped it. And in this hobby you don't have to always lay out cash because you can find your raw materials through field trips In the US in Maine you can find Tourmaline, Beryl, Rose Quartz, Pearl, Topaz, Amazonite, Clear & Smoky Quartz and Aquamarine. And in Canada you can find nephrite jade in Cry Lake, British Columbia or amazonite (microcline) near Lac St-Jean, Quebec as well as black spinel in Burgess and bathhurst Townships in Ontario. Take up gemstone collecting and you won't regret it.
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More Information On loose diamonds to buy
The moonstone is a variety of feldspar that exhibits a type of shimmer or �adularescence�. This is the floating, billowy effect you see when the stone is rotated. It ranks 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. The moonstone is the shared birthstone with the pearl and alexandrite for the month of June. It comes from Sri Lanka, Australia, Africa, Brazil and India.
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emstones are also found in jewelry in the form of beads. Beads come in all
shapes and sizes and have a hole in the middle that allows them to be strung.
Gemstone beads are similar to cabochons in that they use stones that are not
clear enough to be faceted, and generally are less valuable. There are always
exceptions however: one of them is pearls. Pearls are as valuable as beads as
they are simply set.
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Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds, rubies and
sapphires will be fine but many other gems may not be: when in doubt, leave it
out. Diamonds, rubies and sapphires, and other single-crystal gems can be
cleaned with a touch of ammonia in water to remove all films and add extra
sparkle. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner or ammonia for cleaning such opaque
gemstones like lapis, turquoise, malachite or onyx. They should be wiped clean
gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb
chemicals, even soap, which may build up inside the stone and discolor it. The
reason why these materials need more care than transparent gemstones is that
these materials are essentially rocks, not crystals of a single mineral. Think
about it: when you put a rock in water, it absorbs the water and is moist all
the way through. A single crystal gem like sapphire will not absorb water: all
the molecules are lined up so tightly in the crystal that there is no room for
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