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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “smokey quartz”
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Fine Jewelry University
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
… 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? Despite its long history spinel is relatively new to jewelry in …
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Alternative Metals for Men’s Jewelry
…. As a frame of reference, cobalt rings come in around 7-8 on the Mohs hardness scale which is about the same as quartz or topaz but softer than tungsten or sapphire. Like most alternative metals, cobalt chrome bands are hypoallergenic and … for low grade pieces with more nickel Cobalt Looks like white gold or platinum, hypoallergenic Cut in 2 places 7-8, quartz or topaz Scratches more easily than others Carbon Fiber Light weight, modern look Cut NA Can feel “too light” …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
…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 emeralds is that they often contain …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Opal
… the fragile piece of opal to it before cutting and leaving them glued together after the fact to be set into jewelry. In triplets, that thin piece of opal is sandwiched between a piece of onyx and a clear piece of laboratory grown quartz (the same material that is commonly used for watch crystals). This helps show off the opal’s beauty while keeping it safe and strong. Doublets and triplets are much less expensive than other forms of opals because you only need a paper …