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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Silver topaz”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
…have your spinel jewelry professionally clean by a local jeweler 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? …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Tanzanite
… driving its desirability. Tanzanite is currently one of the rarest gemstones, and it is only found in one place on earth. In 2002 tanzanite was added as one of the birthstones for December alongside blue zircon, turquoise, and blue topaz. Tanzanite is believed to symbolize transformation and spiritual awakening. It is often associated with the idea of personal growth and enlightenment, helping individuals connect with their higher selves. It is also believed to signify …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
… deposits in other countries such as Russia, the United States, and Canada. Amethyst is known for its durability with a Mohs hardness rating of 7. For reference, amethyst is roughly as hard as tourmaline, softer than sapphire and topaz, and harder than opal and tanzanite. This makes it a durable gemstone that is resistant to scratching and chipping. It is also resistant to heat and chemicals which means that it can withstand daily wear and tear. Amethyst has the same …
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Caring for and Cleaning Your Jewelry
… and anything lower. Hardness is related to the Mohs hardness scale. Diamond is the hardest at 10. Talc is listed as 1 the softest. Pure gold (24 karat) is Mohs 2.5, 14 and 18 karat list at Mohs 3. Platinum list at Mohs 4.33. Sterling silver list at Mohs 2.5. This shows why jewelry metals get scratched by things like hard toothbrushes and dirt (most dirt ranges 4-8 on the Mohs scale). Several different types of settings hold diamonds in the jewelry. From time to time …
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How to Sell Your Jewelry
…. Damaged beyond repair jewelry is bought at its intrinsic worth. The intrinsic value is the metal (gold, platinum, silver) price plus any gems. The refining process used to recover the metal utilizes strong chemicals and has strict …be in ounces, pennyweights or grams) . The purity is the karat of gold or percentage of noble metal (gold, platinum, silver). 24 karat is pure. 10 karat is 10/24 or .410 gold and the balance of weight is the alloys. 14 karat is 14/24 or ….
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Types of Jewelry Clasps
… – The tongue (insert) can become loose over time and will need to be adjusted. If the tongue is made out of silver this can happen quite quickly. Serviceability – If a box clasp does break, it can be difficult to find replacement parts … and need to be adjusted. Also, like box clasps, this loosening happens much faster with softer metals like sterling silver. Adjustability – The bracelet needs to match your wrist size closely. Sometimes a second bar can be added to allow …
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How to Value Inherited Jewelry
… minus any cost for re-cutting or re-polishing the gem if it is worn or cut in an obsolete style. Intrinsic diamond and gem prices are not readily available like precious metal prices are to the general public. The gold, platinum, and silver prices are well publicized. The diamond and gem wholesale trade keeps their prices confidential, so there can be a large difference in these prices depending on the dealer you talk to. Using this standard can lead to a value that is …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Quartz
… colors Bloodstone Green jasper dotted with bright red spots Carnelian Reddish orange chalcedony Gemology of Quartz Quartz is known for its durability with a Mohs hardness rating of 7 (harder than opal and peridot but softer than topaz or sapphire). This makes it a fairly hard gemstone that is resistant to scratching and chipping. It is also resistant to heat and chemicals, which means that it can withstand daily wear and tear very well. All quartz has the same …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl
…rainbow colors that shimmer on or just below a pearl’s surface). Pearls come in a range of colors, from white to black, with many shades in between. The most valuable pearls are those with a pure, even color, such as white, pink, or silver. Luster: Luster is the intensity of light reflected from a pearl’s surface. Pearls with excellent luster have sharp bright reflections on the surface. Pearls with high luster are more valuable than those with a dull or cloudy surface. …