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Gem in the Spotlight: Tourmaline

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Jewelry History, Tourmaline

Tourmaline is one of the most beautiful gems that you’ve probably never heard of. Less popular than the likes of ruby or … of gem collectors and connoisseurs who appreciate its unique properties and stunning array of colors. In fact, tourmaline is found in almost any color you can imagine, and people have most likely used and appreciated it for hundreds of years. …, before the advent of modern gemology, most tourmaline was believed to be ruby, sapphire, or emerald. Gemology of Tourmaline Gemologically speaking, tourmaline is its own mineral and not a species or member of a different family (unlike …

Styles of Earring Backs

FJU Category: General Info | Tags: Comparison, Earring Backs, Stud Earrings

Earrings come in many different styles. Here we will explore the more common types of earring backs, highlighting some of the… the proper name for it. Maybe you are looking for the perfect gift. Maybe you are having trouble with your current earrings and are looking for alternatives. Or maybe you are simply interested in expanding your general jewelry knowledge. … backs,” and sometimes “push backs.” These are undoubtedly the most common style of earring back. They work on earrings with posts, using friction to secure the earring in place–hence the name. Often times the post has a notch so that the …

Gem in the Spotlight: Morganite

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Morganite

… skin tones and complexions. It is entirely appropriate for everyday wear, and it can be worn as rings, pendants, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pins, brooches, or whatever else you can think of. Morganite is considered very affordable, …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 … or pale in color by nature and known for its transparent peach-pink hue though it also occurs as soft pink, violet-pink, or pale salmon. It is the subtle, understated nature of Morganite’s color that sets it apart from many of the more …

Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Pearl, Pearl Jewelry

… shape and appearance. Mabe pearls are typically used in jewelry designs that require a flat surface, such as earrings, pendants, and rings. Seed Pearls: These are very small pearls, typically less than 2mm in diameter, that are so named … though that pearl rings in particular are not intended for everyday wear. Rings take more abuse than necklaces or earrings, so wear your pearls rings for special occasions to help them last. Restring Often: Even following all of these rules …

Gem in the Spotlight: Ruby

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Ruby

… of Sanskrit. Rubies get their name from the Latin word “ruber,” which means red. This is also where rubellite tourmaline (the red variety of tourmaline) gets its name. Pliny the Elder mentioned rubies in his work Natural History, including … in the color red which comes from trace amounts of chromium in the crystal structure. If they are too purple or too pink, they are called purple sapphires or pink sapphires, respectively. Since sapphires and rubies are the same gem …

Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Jewelry History, Spinel, Synthetic Gemstones

… shadows and be appreciated in its 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 … easily it can be created in a lab, synthetic spinel has been used to imitate many other gemstones (ruby, sapphire, tourmaline, zircon, etc.). In fact, the ubiquity of synthetic spinel may be part of the reason why most people have been slow to…