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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “pure platinum”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Blue Zircon
… is known for its variety of colors. Blue zircon is the most popular color. But, zircon can be almost any color you can imagine including red, yellow, orange, brown, green, champagne, golden, saffron, and colorless. Zircon colors are pure and have that distinctive fire that sets it apart from other gems. The Gemology of Zircon Why does zircon have so much more fire then other colored gems? Zircon has a high refractive index (1.92-2.01). The refractive index (abbreviated…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
…, and he created fierce tigers to carry out his wish. This person happened to be Amethyst, a beautiful young woman on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. In order to protect Amethyst, Diana turned her into a statue made of pure, crystalline quartz. Dionysus, upon seeing the stunning statue, wept tears of wine in remorse for his actions. These tears stained the quartz purple, resulting in the creation of the gemstone known as amethyst. Amethyst has a long …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Aquamarine
… and is an astounding 10,363 carats. It measures 14 inches long and is currently on display in the Smithsonian. Another famous aquamarine is the incredible stone housed in Queen Elizabeth’s tiara. Her tiara is an exquisite piece of platinum jewelry that has evolved several times over the years. Having larger stones swapped in and exchanging her pendant for the center stone in the tiara. The tiara is one of only a few items of jewelry that the late queen commissioned herself…
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Frequently Asked Question about Jewelry
…fills. The new fills are getting harder to detect. Key: ask when buying a diamond if it is natural and untreated. What is redesigned jewelry or redesigned? Simply put, a redesign is a custom design using your existing gems and gold or platinum. This does not mean you are limited by the gems you have, but what you have is incorporated into the new design. You can add gems or use less of the gems you already have. Many clients have used the main diamond of the old ring to be …
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Anatomy of a Ring
… remove metal from the bottom of the shank when sizing a ring. This can sometimes be done so well that you would never know it was sized looking at the shank with your naked eye. Over time, the shank can wear thin—yes, even gold and platinum can wear away. In such cases a jeweler can “re-shank” the ring by replacing the metal at the bottom of the shank, going as far up the sides as the design and the extent of the wear require. If you are careful with your rings (removing …
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How to Value Inherited Jewelry
… of the gem 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 …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
… Chalk Emerald is a famous 37.8 carat emerald known for its clarity and rich green color. It was donated to the Smithsonian by Mr. and Mrs. O. Roy Chalk in 1972 and can be seen on display at the National Museum of Natural History in a platinum and gold ring surrounded by 60 pear-shaped diamonds. According to workers at the Muzo mine in Columbia, it is one of the finest green emeralds ever discovered Care and Cleaning of Emerald Like all precious gemstones, emeralds require …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl
… the bodycolor), and orient (iridescent 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 …