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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Loose gemstones”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Opal
… opal”. Opal has a refractive index of 1.37 – 1.47 and a Mohs hardness of 5.5-6. This makes it one of the softest gemstones commonly used in jewelry. For reference, here are the Mohs hardness values for some other gemstones you may know: …, it is important to care for this delicate gemstone to maintain its brilliance. Opal is not as hard as some other gemstones, making it susceptible to scratches and damage from sharp impacts. Household chemicals and extreme temperature …
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The Birthstones
… midst of cold, white (valley fog) and at times stark surroundings are rewarded with one of the most varying birth gemstones, Garnet. Garnet’s pizzazz energizes the gloomiest day. Garnet varieties brighten the world in colors of yellow to gold…Pearls form directly from the hand of nature, ready to be admired and worn to display all their beauty. Alternative gemstones for June include moonstone, alexandrite, and rhodolite garnet. Learn more about Pearl and Alexandrite July’s …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Sapphire
…, green, orange, and golden yellow are magnificent in any jewelry. See More on Etsy › With the exception of the diamond, which measures 10 on the Mohs scale, sapphire and ruby (9 on the Mohs scale) are the toughest and most durable gemstones. This toughness makes the sapphire a long lasting piece of jewelry as well as a useful industrial tool. One last legend, the star sapphire has been called “the stone of destiny”; its three crossed lines represented faith, hope, and …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Quartz
… at the title and knew). Quartz is one of the most common minerals on earth. Many quartz varieties are cut into gemstones, but some varieties are very rare. Some are ordinary like rock quartz, others are exotic like Drusy Quartz. Some quartz … create a dim light which is often called cold fire, as it creates enough light to see, but no heat. Famous Quartz Gemstones Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the earth’s crust, but there are still many noteworthy examples that …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
…as these can damage the gemstone. Prolonged UV/sun exposure can cause the color in amethyst to fade so keep that in mind when storing your amethyst jewelry. If you have an amethyst ring or other piece of jewelry with diamonds or other gemstones, you should be careful when cleaning it. You should use a soft brush to gently scrub the amethyst and avoid using ultrasonic cleaners, as these can damage the gemstone. Why Buy Amethyst There are many reasons why someone might want to…
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What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?
…is not, by nature, a fake (in fact it is a beautiful and highly valuable gem). But if it is being sold as a diamond, it becomes a fake. Most gem simulants are trying to imitate diamonds, but there are also simulants for other valuable gemstones (sapphires, rubies, etc.). Here are some of the more popular diamond simulants. Synthetic Rutile was introduced in the late 1940s and used as an early diamond simulant. Next on the man-made diamond simulant play is Strontium Titanate…
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How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
…, but none could ever be scientifically verified. The quest continued. Diamonds are a crystalline form of carbon, and so making artificial carbon crystal was the problem of lab grown diamonds. For decades, manufacturers of synthetic gemstones tried growing diamonds like they grew rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. It failed. Then they had the idea to grow diamonds in the lab like they grew in nature. High Pressure High Temperature Diamonds How does nature form diamond crystals…
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Is a Lab Grown Diamond Right for Me?
Picking a diamond for your engagement ring is a big decision. For most of us, buying a diamond is a significant financial undertaking, and we want to get it right. Unfortunately, understanding diamonds takes a lot of specialized knowledge that most people don’t have (anyone remember their refractive indexes from high school physics?). Even more unfortunately, the diamond industry suffers from a lot of misinformation and paranoia both from inside the trade and from outside observers. I have heard people say that natural diamonds come with a 400% mark up,
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Jewelry Repair FAQ
… to again. What is retipping, and why do I need it? In a large number of jewelry pieces, the valuable diamonds and gemstones are held in place with prongs. With wear, the tops of these prongs can become worn down. If the prongs wear down too …metal (usually gold or platinum) to the top of worn down prongs to keep the gemstone secure. In the past, almost all gemstones had to first be removed from their mountings for retipping, and then reset after it was done due to the high heat …
