Search Results
Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “blue sapphire”
Showing only FJU Article results. Click here to show all results.
Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
-
Gem in the Spotlight: Opal
…used in jewelry. For reference, here are the Mohs hardness values for some other gemstones you may know: Diamond 10, Sapphire 9, Amethyst 7, and Peridot 6. Turquoise is about as hard as opal, but you would need to consider Pearl or Amber (…, you will get different colors. Opals can display just about every color of the rainbow, but hues of green and blue are the most common. Typically the higher end opals have a darker body color, and a wide range of colors. Red carries …
-
Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
… found in smaller 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 …
-
Gem in the Spotlight: Jade
…polish. Nephrite is commonly found in a darker olive green color but can also be very light green, orangey-red, black, and yellowish green. Jadeite can come in many different colors including pink, purple (often called lavender jade), blue, black, white, and the most valuable/desirable color: a vibrant green. The finest of all green jadeite colors is a saturated emerald green that is almost transparent, and it is called “Imperial Jade.” Jade is one of the top selling …
-
How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
… 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 … gems. This is because even the smallest presence of nitrogen or boron during the process can result in a yellow or blue color respectively. Both HPHT and CVD diamonds tend to exhibit strong and unusual fluorescence characteristics when …
-
Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
… and aquamarine) and are valued for their rich green color. The intensity of an emerald’s hue depends on the presence of chromium and vanadium in the crystal structure. Emerald’s Mohs hardness rating is 7.5-8 making it softer than sapphire and harder than amethyst and 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 …
-
Gem in the Spotlight: Quartz
… 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 refractive index at…
-
Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl
… Pearls: Also known as black pearls, Tahitian pearls are a type of saltwater pearl that are grown primarily in French Polynesia. They are known for their dark, rich colors, which range from dark green and gray to deep shades of blue and black. Tahitian pearls are generally large with an average size of 9mm to 18mm, and they commonly have baroque or irregular shapes. South Sea Pearls: Only a small percentage of oysters are able to produce these large, high-quality pearls…