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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Emerald gem”
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
…, help hunters, guard against contagious diseases, and control evil thoughts. Amethyst was once as valuable as emeralds and rubies until very large deposits were found in multiple places around the world. Heavily increased supply dropped … been considered a royal color, so it is not surprising that amethyst has been in so much demand throughout history. Gemology Amethyst is a variety of quartz that is colored by the presence iron and aluminum. The violet color of amethyst…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
… of an action movie, but it could also be the title of this article. For years spinel has been confused with other gems and even today is often used as a substitute for similar looking stones. In recent years, spinel has started to move …own right, and we can see why. Its colors rival even the best rubies, sapphires, tourmalines, and other more popular gems. For only the 3rd time in the last one hundred years, the industry is modifying the official birthstone list. …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Blue Zircon
Zircon may be last in the alphabet of gemstones, but it is first in sparkle. The crystal structure of zircon creates one of the liveliest displays found in …golden, saffron, and colorless. Zircon colors are pure and have that distinctive fire that sets it apart from other gems. The Gemology of Zircon Why does zircon have so much more fire then other colored gems? Zircon has a high refractive… property that refers to the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light through a transparent gem. Light is bent as it moves from air to the gem material. This process breaks light into its spectral hues like a rainbow…
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How to Tell If a Diamond Is Natural or Lab Grown
…best indicators of whether a diamond is lab grown is whether or not it is a Type IIa diamond. Type IIa is actually a gemological variant of the diamond that relates to how pure the carbon is that makes up the diamond. In nature, less … Type IIa. So, if a diamond is Type IIa, that’s a pretty good indication that it is lab grown. However, like any gemological test, the Type IIa test is only an indicator for the gemologist to use. There are lab grown diamonds that are …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Sapphire
Few gems capture the imagination as does sapphire. Sapphire’s beauty inspired people to wonder. Ancient cultures had many … a giant sapphire whose reflection gave the sky its color. Ancient priests and sorcerers honored sapphire above all gems, for this stone enabled them to interpret oracles and foretell the future. Symbolizing truth, sincerity and … her spouse had been unfaithful. Sapphire refused to shine when worn by the wicked or impure. Known as the celestial gemstone, the sapphire has been treasured for thousands of years. Known as the celestial gemstone, the sapphire has been…
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What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?
…copied, unreal, or even imitation. But, in this context, what do we mean when we say “synthetic diamond”? In the gemological world, synthetic is a highly technical term. When speaking technically, synthetic gems are man-made crystals … structure and chemical composition as a natural diamond. The same cannot be said of the many imitation or fake gems that are often, incorrectly, described as synthetic diamonds. This misrepresentation has seriously confused what the …
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Frequently Asked Question about Jewelry
… in general. If you have a question you’d like answered, please contact us and we would be happy to help. What is a Gemologist? A gemologist is one who studies gems and jewelry scientifically, who knows and identifies them, can judge the… their beauty and value, and can apply this knowledge. This training and experience combine to make a gemologist. A gemologist like other professionals must keep up with current advancements in the field. The pace of change in the gem …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Ruby
For much of human history, rubies have been the most prized gemstone. But, what is it about this red gem that has captivated our hearts and minds for so long? Is it ruby’s color? … deeper? Whatever it is, ruby’s impact on humanity is broad and deep, with arguably the richest history of all gemstones. Gemology of Ruby Rubies are in the corundum gem family along with sapphires. Corundum is an extremely durable form … too pink, they are called purple sapphires or pink sapphires, respectively. Since sapphires and rubies are the same gem material, they also share a refractive index of 1.762-1.770 and a specific gravity of 4.00. A unique optical …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Morganite
… popular gemstones. Morganite has an impressive family tree. It is a beryl gem which puts it in the same family as emerald and aquamarine. Because of its association with emerald it is sometimes called “Pink Emerald”. Other names for …. Its durability is rated as excellent. Its hardness is 7.5 – 8.0 on the Mohs hardness scale which is comparable to emerald, topaz, and spinel. Its refractive index is 1.560 – 1.600, and its specific gravity is 2.67 – 2.90. These …
