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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “what does ci on a ring mean”
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Gem in the Spotlight: Sapphire
Few gems capture the imagination as does sapphire. Sapphire’s beauty inspired people to wonder. Ancient cultures had many lore and beliefs about the sapphire… sacred and was worn by priests to show their connection to the sky and heaven. Sapphires were set in the Bishop’s ring as a symbol of unity between the priest, the sky and heaven. Sapphire has been associated with divine favor. The … Anglo-Saxons from 1042-1066, met a beggar one day. King Edward had nothing of value on him except for his sapphire ring, which he generously gave to the beggar. The beggar was really a messenger from God, who later returned the ring to …
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Types of Jewelry Clasps
…production of jewelry, and the demand for simpler, more affordable clasps grew. This led to the development of the spring ring clasp, which is still widely used today. The spring ring clasp features a small, spring-loaded mechanism that …. Other types of jewelry clasps that emerged in the 20th century include the lobster clasp, which features a spring-loaded mechanism that opens and closes by pressing a small lever, and the toggle clasp, which consists of a bar that …
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Diamond Buying Guide: The 4 C’s
…, you can adjust the quality of the diamond to fit. Unless you work in the jewelry trade, it can be hard to know what size you want. The photo above shows some common diamond carat weights and how they look in comparison to each other. … looking for the absence of color or transparency (except fancy color). The color grading scale starts with D meaning totally colorless and moves down the alphabet subtly increasing in body color. As you can see from the picture, the …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Iolite
… and deeper than many tanzanites. Iolite’s name comes from its violet color. It is from the Greek word “ios” meaning violet. Unlike many other popular gems, iolite cannot be heat treated to enhance its color. The color you see is the … different colors when observed at different angles, especially with polarized light. Pleochroism is caused by differing absorption of light rays in doubly refractive crystals. Thus, no singly refractive gemstone can exhibit pleochroism. …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Tanzanite
…a gemstone. Tanzanite has them both. In fact, it is estimated that Tanzanite is 1,000 times rarer than diamond. But, what makes Tanzanite so popular is its color. Tanzanite’s gorgeous color is a captivating mix of blue and purple. The …this gem as blue zoisite. The vast majority (current estimates are around 95%) of tanzanite is heat treated to help bring out the vibrant blues. The stones that haven’t been heated by humans were heated through natural effects while they …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl
… changed hands many times, and was owned by several famous figures, including Napoleon III and Elizabeth Taylor. During Taylor’s ownership, the pearl was set into a necklace designed by Cartier, which also included diamonds and rubies. … once part of a larger piece of jewelry that also included the Hope Diamond, and that the two gems were separated during the French Revolution. Today, the Hope Pearl is owned by a private collector and is occasionally displayed at museums…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Opal
… shall see the living fire of the ruby, the glorious purple of the amethyst, the sea green of the emerald, all glittering together in an incredible mixture of light.” During the Middle Ages, opal gained an interesting reputation for … of illness, particularly the plague. In Arabian cultures, opal was considered a celestial gift that rained down during lightning storms and carried with it the magic of the heavens. Arguably the most famous opal of all time is “Aurora …
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Art Deco vs. Art Nouveau Style Jewelry
… influence everywhere. They are also important guide posts that can aid in dating vintage and antique jewelry. So, what are these two movements all about, and where did they come from? Origins and Historical Context Originating in the … 19th century (1890 – 1910), Art Nouveau emerged as a rebellion against the academic art of the time. It sought to bring the natural world into artistic design, emphasizing flowing lines, asymmetrical forms, and motifs inspired by plants…
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Synthetic Gems: The Whole Story
…rare in their stunning beauty. These four gems have been coveted by rulers and the rich for thousands of years. But, what if anyone could own them? At gem shows and museums, I have seen jaw dropping rubies, sapphires and emeralds. These … price. Just a one carat gem could cost $3,000 and more. Most of the time people don’t wear them as an engagement ring where people can spend over $10,000 routinely. The answer was to find a less expensive way to have these gems. It took …
