Warning: You appear to be using an obsolete browser, and soon you may not be able to access our website. We strongly recommend that you upgrade your browser as soon as possible.

Search Results

Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “loose gemstone”

Showing only FJU Article results. Click here to show all results.

Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)

  1. Retipping is an important jewelry repair technique

    Jewelry Repair FAQ

    … related questions. If you have a question that you don’t see answered here, please contact us and let us know. A gemstone fell out of my ring. Will the new stone match the old one? We get this question all the time. People want their jewelry… 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 …

  2. Peridot is a bright yellow-green gemstone

    Gem in the Spotlight: Peridot

    Peridot is a lovely yellow-green gem with a rich history. Legend has it that Peridot was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra. The ancients called it the “gem of the sun”. It was believed that peridot could chase away evil …dissolve curses but only when set in gold. Peridot is the birthstone for August. It is also the accepted anniversary gemstone for the 16th year of marriage. Peridot’s unique yellow-green color is very attractive. The name “Peridot” is simply …

  3. Tourmaline jewelry and loose gems

    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 …

  4. Early attempts at making lab grown diamonds

    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 …

  5. A collection of jade jewelry and loose gems

    Gem in the Spotlight: Jade

    Jade has one of the richest heritages of all gemstones. People have been using jade from as early as 6,000 BC, and it has been an incredibly important part of Asian, Central American, and North American history ever since. But, what is jade, and what has given it such a prominent place …

  6. The different parts of an engagement ring

    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 …

  7. Three loose rubies in a row triangle oval and pear shaped

    Gem in the Spotlight: Ruby

    For much of human history, rubies have been the most prized gemstone. But, what is it about this red gem that has captivated our hearts and minds for so long? Is it ruby’s color? It’s … deeper? Whatever it is, ruby’s impact on humanity is broad and deep, with arguably the richest history of all gemstones. Gemology of Ruby Rubies are in the corundum gem family along with sapphires. Corundum is an extremely durable form of … properties have been known well for over 2,000 years. For much of human history, rubies have been the most prized gemstone. The ruby has always been a symbol of love, charity, and victory. The earliest cultures worshiped rubies, calling them…

  8. Beautiful iolite jewelry and loose gemstones

    Gem in the Spotlight: Iolite

    Iolite is maybe not the first gemstone people think of for their blue-violet jewelry, but it should be near the top of the list. Iolite’s color range of … color of the stone when it was first discovered. This adds value to many gem buyers who don’t want a treated gemstone. Color Me Impressed Iolite is strongly pleochroic and will exhibit a different color when viewed at different angles.  … is caused by differing absorption of light rays in doubly refractive crystals. Thus, no singly refractive gemstone can exhibit pleochroism. The process works because of the ability of a gem to absorb different wavelengths of transmitted …

  9. Tsavorite garnet is a rare and beautiful green gem

    Gem in the Spotlight: Tsavorite Garnet

    …and lively with a high refractive index giving it excellent sparkle and scintillation. Tsavorite is also a very rare gemstone. It is uncommon to find Tsavorite in sizes larger than five carats, and most faceted stones are below two carats. By… grossularite doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. So, a proper name was definitely in order. The nomenclature of gemstones follows certain rules, and according to modern mineralogical methods, gemstones are given a name which ends in “-ite…