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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Clear Quartz”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Jade
… had already been a tradition for thousands of years. At that time, gem carvers worked primarily with nephrite, quartz, lapis lazuli, and wood. With the introduction of jadeite, the carvers switched focus from the previous materials to this…and Synthetics Jade Jade has been replicated and imitated over the years. The most common imitations by far are dyed quartz, glass, and plastic. These imitations can be identified quickly by a trained gemologist. Other stones that have been…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Opal
…. In triplets, that thin piece of opal is sandwiched between a piece of onyx and a clear piece of laboratory grown quartz (the same material that is commonly used for watch crystals). This helps show off the opal’s beauty while keeping it …
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The Birthstones
…. Learn more about Garnet and Tasvorite Garnet February’s Birthstone: Amethyst Amethyst, transparent purple quartz, is the most important quartz variety used in jewelry. Purple has long been considered a royal color so it is not surprising …. According to legend, this golden stone possesses the power to cure many diseases. Citrine, a transparent yellow quartz gem many of the best of which come from Brazil, is a current day birthstone for this month. Learn more about Topaz and …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Iolite
… discovered. Coming in at 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, iolite is a somewhat soft gem. It is comparable to quartz (Amethyst, Citrine, etc), a little harder than Opal, and softer than Emerald or Topaz. Because of this, some extra care… called “The Viking Stone” as a polarizing filter to help them find the sun on cloudy days. They may have used a clearer, more transparent variety of the gemstone for this purpose. On a cloudy day, without being able to see the sun, iolite…
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What to Do When Your Ring Irritates Your Skin
… coatings that can be added to jewelry to help alleviate reactions. They have mixed reviews, and, like plating, the coatings wear off over time. But, they can be enough to make jewelry wearable for some when plating alone fails. Clear nail polish is also very similar to these coatings, and you can definitely give that a try first if you have it on hand. Build up a few layers to insulate your skin from the metal. Sometimes, the only solution is to change to a ring made of…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Aquamarine
…. Aquamarine has a refractive index of 1.577 to 1.583 and is doubly refractive. Aquamarine’s specific gravity is 2.72 and it has a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8.0. For comparison, this means that it is softer than Sapphire, harder than Quartz, and similar to Topaz. This makes it a very durable stone that is suitable for regular wear. But, care should still be taken to ensure that the stone is not damaged. Caring For and Cleaning Aquamarine To maintain the brilliance of this …
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How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
… this environment, the pure carbon melts and begins to form into a diamond around the starter seed. On December 16, 1954, a belt press was used to create the first reproducible lab grown diamond. The diamond was tiny and nowhere near clear enough to be used in jewelry, but it was a start. As a side note here, we should mention that even today most of the man-made diamonds that are produced are not of gem quality. They are made for industrial applications where the …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
… like us. Spinel can be stored with other jewelry but like with all precious stones, it should be treated and stored with care. Its Mohs hardness of 8 puts it on par with Topaz. It’s softer than diamond or sapphire but harder than quartz, tourmaline, and peridot. With proper care there’s no reason why a piece of spinel jewelry can’t last for generations even becoming a treasured family heirloom. Why Spinel? Despite its long history spinel is relatively new to jewelry in …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Ruby
…, dry cloth often to remove dust and residue that will mar its sparkle. For more intense cleaning, use warm water and mild dishwashing detergent in solution. Soak the piece for 15 minutes, and then clean with a soft brush. Rinse with clear water and examine under good light for any remaining residue. If there is any, repeat the process. You can use an ultrasonic cleaning machine with rubies, but use caution as these machines can cause loose gems to come out of their …
