Why I Like Gemstones

Gemstone Scene Article

Starting To Collect Gemstones

By Lee MacRae

Gemology is a term referring to the profession, science, and even art of evaluating and identifying gemstones from natural diamonds to loose gemstones. A number of people taken up gemology as a hobby. They become very interested in starting to collect items like loose gemstone or natural diamonds. A number of these hobbyists start to travel to various locations nearby or even different countries to hunt for raw or rough gemstones. Some of them will even tumble or finish off the gemstones themselves. If this sounds like a hobby you would like to get involved in read along as we reveal the various aspects of gemstone collecting.

To begin with you'll need the knowledge on the various gemstones available. This will help you to know what you're buying and prevent you from wasting your money. This will help you make informed decisions.

Color is a very important part in evaluating a gemstone. The closer a color is to its purer spectral value the more valuable it is. Traditionally, these specter colors include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Colors that tend to be paler or darker than the pure color tend to be less valued.

Gemstone cut is very important and factors into appraisal of diamonds but you're gemstones as well. A precision cut gemstone highlights the natural color of the gemstone, diminish any inclusions, and highlight the proportions and symmetry of the stone. One excellent method to determine the precision of its cut is to check if it is able to reflect light on a consistent level over its entire surface. If the stone is cut on the shallow side much of the light will refract out of the gem rather than reflecting inside. Gem color appears washed out.

Gemstone clarity is an important consideration. Gemstone clarity relates to the absence of flaws or blemishes inside the stone. A perfect gemstone is obviously worth more. To see flaws beyond with the eye can see requires a gemstone loupe or gemstone microscope. Most hobbyists will get a 10X jewelers were gemstone loup for viewing stamps, coins, beads as well as gems.

Next comes size and weight. Other than the corals and pearls gemstones are valued by the unit called the carat. One carat equals a 0.2 grams. Be aware however, that size and weight and gemstones are not the same. Density or specific gravity can vary in gemstones. If you have a diamond that weighs 1.00 carats, you will find a Sapphire or ruby of the same size would weigh 1.20 carats.

Though you may find gemstones used a lot in jewelry, they are a great hobby and pastime as well. In fact, there are many attractive and interesting gemstones that are simply too big and fragile for use in jewelry. Take each loose gemstone and consider it as a piece of art and value it for its beautiful colors and the finish you apply to it. And unlike some hobbies that require you to pay for your specimens you can find your raw materials through field trips In the US in Montana you'll find Agate, Sapphire, Beryl, Amethyst, Smoky Quartz, Obsidian, Tourmaline and Garnet. And if you travel to Canada you will find opal in the Okanagan, British Columbia or labradorite on the adjacent islands and coastal area of Labrador along with the unique deep blue beryl in Canada's Yukon Territory. Think of collecting gemstones as a great hobby and pastime.

Buy Cabochon Tourmaline loose gemstones along with jewelry loose diamonds as well as natural fancy diamonds today in our store!

Gemstones For Sale

Hints About loose diamonds online

Zircon is a natural stone often used to imitate diamonds. It is often confused
with cubic zirconia which is a synthetic stone. Sometimes zircon is used instead
of diamonds in a wedding or engagement ring. Zircon is a natural stone - not to
be confused with Cubic Zirconia which is manmade. It is known as a colorless
stone used to imitate diamonds but also comes in: blue, yellow, orange, red,
brown and green . It has a hardness of 7.5.
Buy lemon yellow quartz loose gemstones today!

This form of Cryptocrystaline Quartz contains inclusions of small crystals that
reflect light and give a range of colors - depending on the nature of the
inclusion. Hence aventurine may be green, greenish-brown, blueish-white, bluish
green and orange. Aventurine has a hardness rating of 7.
Buy blue Emerald loose gemstones today!

Malachite is a beautiful green earth stone with black bands. It is beautiful in
earrings, necklaces, and pendants. Malachite is green with irregular black
banding. It has a hardness of 4. Malachite is especially fragile. Protect
malachite from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes (
such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car). Do not clean malachite in
a home ultrasonic cleaner. Washing malachite in water will remove its finish.
Buy loose Aquamarine gemstones today!

More loose diamonds online Information

Mixed Sterling and Vermeil Disc Necklace

Handlinked brushed sterling and 23kt gold vermeil discs in various sizes. Necklace is 18" long with toggle clasp.

... but your query looks similar
to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware
application. To protect our users, we can't process your request
right now.

natural blue diamond | natural fancy colored diamonds | natural yellow diamond