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So You Want To Collect Gemstones

By Lee MacRae

Why collect loose gemstones you ask? Well to begin with they've been sought for their beauty for many centuries. And just like natural diamonds they can become extremely valuable over the years. Many hobbyists love to find, collect and finish each and every one of the 150 varieties available. Follow along as we examine the loose gemstones hobby.

The first thing you need to do in beginning this hobby the smart way is by acquiring knowledge about them. By taking a quick trip to the library or local bookstore you can locate all you need to know about the subject that will make you an informed buyer.

First on the list to evaluate is gemstone color. It is a fact that gemstones are the most intensely colored naturally occurring materials you can find. Gems have become so synonomous with color, they've even had their names combined with associated colors. You've no doubt heard about emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue, jade green, turquoise or aquamarine. Gemstones will have a higher value when they are equal in color to the spectral colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. They become less valuable the more they deviate from the spectral color.

Cut is one of the all-important 4Cs and factors highly into the appraisal of not only diamonds but along with your gemstones. An excellent cut will showcase the gemstone's color, diminish any inclusions, and highlight the proportions and symmetry of the stone. One excellent way to determine the excellence of its cut is to check how evenly it reflects light throughout the surface of the stone. But if a gem is cut too shallow, much of the light will refract out of the gem rather than reflecting inside. Gemstone color will be washed out.

Next to look at is the aspect of clarity. Clarity refers to the the internal conclusions or flaws of a stone. Larger flaws are visible to the naked eye while others need a 10X magnification.

Next thing to look at is the duo of size and weight. Due to their nature gemstones can vary in density or specific gravity. Weight and size are not necessarily equal across the board. If a diamond of a certain size weighs 1.00 carats then a sapphire of equal size would weigh 1.20 carats. An equal sized Emerald would be 0.95 carats while an Alexandrite gem stone would came in at 1.23 carats.

Collecting gemstones as a hobby can become an enjoyable pastime and also rewarding in the long run. You can start small and don't have to spend a lot of money and yet you can buy some very beautiful items. Many people love to take vacations to go looking for gemstones. For example in Hawaii you can find Peridot and Coral. Or ou can take a longer vacation and find opal in Coober Pedy, Andamooka or Mintabie in South Australia, topaz in Mt Surprise or O'Briens Creek in Queensland, Australia or check out the Moonstone regions in Moonstone Hill, Queensland, Australia.

Buy oval Tourmaline loose gemstones as well as synthetic loose diamonds and natural pink diamonds today in our store!

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More Information On loose aquamarine gemstones

Agate is mined in Brazil, Eygpt, Germany, India, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico and
the United States. Moss Agate is thought to help one become in touch with nature
. Tree Agate is said to enable introspection. It encourages one to view themself
with more clarity and see the world through a larger viewpoint.
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Zircon is known since the Middle Ages. The oldest known zircons are from Western
Australia, with an age of 4.4 billion years. The name probably comes from the
Persian word "zargun" which means "gold-colored," although zircon comes in a
wide range of different colors. The most popular zircon-color is blue.
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More loose aquamarine gemstones Information

Garnet Clover and Vermeil Hammered Ring Earrings (e-hr01-gc-g)

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:48:41 -0800
Hand hammered 23kt gold vermeil ring. Clover shaped faceted garnet. Earrings are about 1/2" in diameter. 14kt gold fill earwires. Also available in sterling silver. Assorted stones available: moonstone leaves or cushion cut kyanite.

Riveted Tiny Square Earring: Star/mg (n-ts1s-mg)

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:48:41 -0800
Vermeil brushed square, with riveted silver star accent. Pendant measures approximately 1/2'', threaded on 16'' 14kt gold-fill chain and toggle clasp. Available in assorted riveted charms: heart, star, X, tiny square.