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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Peridot gemstone”
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Gem in the Spotlight: Topaz
…, to violet, to green. These coatings can allow topaz to be any color of your preference. Topaz itself is a hard gemstone with a Mohs hardness of 8. Mohs hardness is a standardized metric of how difficult it is to scratch something. For … Foul Bay, Egypt (now called Zabargad). Of course, topaz isn’t found there, but the island used to be a source for peridot which was confused with topaz before modern gemology. In ancient times, topaz was believed to protect its wearer. …
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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 any … then other colored gems? Zircon has a high refractive index (1.92-2.01). The refractive index (abbreviated RI) of a gemstone is its optical property that refers to the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light through a …. Brown zircons can be transformed into colorless or blue zircons through heat treatments. Zircon is a durable gemstone with good hardness on the Mohs scale (6 to 7.5). However, Zircon has what is known as indistinct cleavage which creates a…
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The Magic of Polarized Light
… Polarizing filters are critical to many fields of study. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to easily identify gemstones, TVs and monitors wouldn’t work in the same way, and the latest blockbuster movie wouldn’t pop off the screen the way it … allow them to function efficiently as they do without negative side effects. Using Polarized Light in Gemology Some gemstones, due to their unique chemical structure, actually polarize light themselves. These gems are doubly refractive (DR) …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Aquamarine
…, aquamarine was believed to guarantee a happy marriage and inspire mutual fidelity in newlyweds. Notable Aquamarine Gemstones The largest gem-quality aquamarine gemstone ever mined was 19 inches long. The largest cut aquamarine is named the … that the stone is not damaged. Caring For and Cleaning Aquamarine To maintain the brilliance of this beautiful gemstone, it should be immersed in jewelry cleaner or in lukewarm soapy water and cleaned with a small bristle brush. Don’t use …
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Anatomy of a Ring
… any bands or other rings you plan to wear next to the main ring? Head The head is the piece that holds the gemstone. Pronged heads are most common. The prongs are the little claws of metal that secure the stone. Most prong heads in rings …time and may need to be built up by a jeweler. When you are shopping, pay close attention to how the main diamond or gemstone is set. What style of head is used? What trade-offs are being made between security, design, and how much of the …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Morganite
Morganite is a beautiful, soft pink gemstone and a graceful expression of elegance. It is not a very well-known gem, but it definitely should be. It is pastel or…salmon. It is the subtle, understated nature of Morganite’s color that sets it apart from many of the more popular gemstones. Morganite has an impressive family tree. It is a beryl gem which puts it in the same family as emerald and … pink variety of beryl “Morganite”. It has good hardness, durability, luster, and brilliance which make it a great gemstone for jewelry. For the gem nerds out there, here are a few of the gemological properties of Morganite. Its durability is…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
Springtime exudes life, full of bright colors and renewed energy. Emerald, May’s gemstone, captures this enthusiasm for life in rich elegance. This precious gemstone has been revered for over 4,000 years … other quartz varieties. The refractive index of emerald ranges from 1.57 to 1.58, making it a moderately refractive gemstone. Its specific gravity ranges from 2.65 to 2.75. One of the distinctive features of emeralds is that they often … to green than to any other color thereby making it easier on the eyes. Pliny said that emeralds were the only gemstones that delighted the eye without fatiguing it. In fact, Emperor Nero was said to wear a kind of emerald glasses to watch …
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What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?
… from the rest of the gas and deposited on a wafer of diamond crystal which establishes the crystal structure as the gemstone grows layer by layer. You can learn more about how lab grown diamonds are made from our main article on the … 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 …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Tourmaline
…. Care and Cleaning of Tourmaline Tourmaline makes a great gem in a ring for occasional wear or a pendant/earrings for daily wear. Because it isn’t exceptionally hard (Mohs hardness of 7-7.5), it should be stored away from other gemstones that could potentially damage it. Tourmaline should not be put into an ultrasonic cleaner or steam cleaned, and should only be cleaned with warm, soapy water. With proper care, a piece of tourmaline jewelry can last generations and even …
