The Gemstones Scene Review

Our Featured Gemstone Article

Collecting Prescious And Semi-Prescious Gemstones

By Lee MacRae

The term gemology refers to the science, art and profession of identifying and evaluating rocks known as natural diamonds or loose gemstones. A number of people taken up this profession as a passionate hobby. They become very interested in starting to collect loose diamonds or loose gemstones. Some people even begin to visit different areas nearby to look for rough gemstones. Some of them will even tumble or finish off the gemstones themselves. If you have an interest in this hobby then read along as we discuss the things you should know to start this hobby.

To start off right you need to learn all you can on the various gemstones available. You'll find it very helpful to know the properties of each stone and prevent you from making mistakes. A knowledgeable buyer is a wise one.

The chief thing you need to look at will be gemstone color. You want the stone to be as close as possible to the pure colors of the spectrum. This means blue, green, yellow, orange, red and violet. The prices for very pale or very dark stones are lower in value.

Gemstone cut is an important factor to consider in determining gemstone value. The gemstone must be cut correctly to reflect light properly. A gemstone with the poor cut will never be able to reflect light consistently. Color tone, saturation, and hue will be inconsistent.

Gemstone clarity is our next factor. Gemstone clarity relates to the amount of inclusions (trace elements or large particles of other elements or minerals) that a gem has. The gemstone without flaws is more valuable. To examine flaws not seen with the naked eye requires a 10X gemstone clarity magnifier or gem microscope. Many hobbyists will get an inexpensive 10X gemstone or jewelers loup for viewing stamps, coins, beads as well as gems.

Next comes size and weight. All gemstones [except for pearls and corals] are valued by the unit called the carat. A carat is equal to 0.2 grams. You should know however that size and weight and gemstones are not the same. Density or specific gravity can very. Take a diamond that is 1.00 carats in weight and you will find that a similar sized sapphire or ruby would weigh 1.20 carats.

Although gemstones are normally used for jewelry, loose gemstones are great for collecting. In fact, there are many attractive and interesting gems that are just too big or fragile to be used for jewelry. Look at each loose gemstone and think of it as a piece of art, a miniature sculpture to be treasured for its unusual nature and for the craftsmanship of the artisan who shaped it. And in this hobby you don't have to always lay out cash because you can use vacation time to actually hunt for raw gemstones in stead of buying. In the US in Wyoming you can find Agate (including Moss Agate), Jade, Ruby, Jasper, Bloodstone as well as Star Sapphire. And if you travel to Canada you will find opal in the Okanagan, British Columbia or sodalite and rose quartz near Bancroft, Ontario and even hessonite garnet in Asbestos, Quebec. Take up a hobby of loose gemstone collecting and enjoy yourself.

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Gemstones For Sale

More Info On natural pink diamonds

Good Grade diamonds: This grade will be generally be a bit darker or lacking in
scintillation. The stone above is dark around its girdle. A stone can also be
downgraded by its pattern, or its weight ratio. I.E. if it weighs more than an
average gem of this diameter, it will be downgraded one step.
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In the 13th century, the renowned explorer Marco Polo wrote that Kublai Kahn,
the Mongol Emperor of China, once offered an entire city for a Ruby the size of
a man's finger.
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Citrine is one of the most affordable gemstones due to its availability and durability. It ranks 7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. It was named from the French word for lemon, �citron�, since many citrines have a bright sunny yellow color. It also comes in hues of gold to orange brown shades. In ancient times, citrine was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. Natural citrine deposits are mined mostly in Brazil, but also in Malagasy Republic, the U.S., Spain, Russia, France and Scotland. Citrine should be kept away from prolonged exposure to strong light or heat which can damage or fade the stone. Citrine is considered an alternative to topaz as the birthstone for November.
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Your Latest natural pink diamonds News

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The Gemstones Review

Our Featured Gemstone Writer

The Hobby Of Gemstone Collecting

By Lee MacRae

Why would anyone collect items like loose gemstones, you ask? Well for one thing they are very beautiful items. And like their higher counterpart, natural diamonds they can become extremely valuable over the years. Many hobbyists love to collect and show case the wide variety of gemstones available today. Read long as we examine the loose gemstones hobby.

The first thing you need to do is to get yourself some reading material. You want to learn as much as possible about the subject of gemstones. The more you know about each kind of gemstone the less likely you are to make a mistake. You'll know exactly what to buy.

The first item to look at is the color of the stone. You want the stone to be as close in color as possible to the pure colors of the spectrum. This means orange, red, violet, green, yellow, and blue. The prices of very dark are very pale semiprecious and precious gemstones are less per carat.

Gemstone cut is one of the most important traits in evaluating gemstones. The gemstone must be cut with precision to reflect the light properly. A stone that has a poor cut can't reflect the light consistently over its surface. Color saturation, hue and tone will never be consistent.

Next to look at is the clarity of the gemstone. The aspect of clarity refers to the external blemishes or the internal conclusions or flaws of a stone. Any large flaws can easily be seen with the unaided eye with others requiring a 10X magnification.

You will often find that gemstones are often listed according to their size aspect because of being more uniform than carat weight. But two different gemstones may be of the same size but different carat weights and consequently, different prices as well. This is due to the nature of gemstone difference of specific gravity or relative density depending upon the materials chemical composition and crystal structure type A one carat round brilliant diamond, for example with normal proportions is approximately 6.5 mm around. A comparable a brilliant ruby of the same proportions in size will weigh approximately 1.55 carats.

Though you may find gemstones used a lot in jewelry, they are perfectly good collectibles in their own right. In fact, there are many attractive and interesting gems that are too fragile or too large to be used in jewelry. Here's a suggestion -- don't think of a gem as a component of jewelry; think of it as a piece of art, a miniature sculpture to be treasured for its unusual nature and for the craftsmanship of the artisan who shaped it. And unlike many hobbies where you have to buy everthing you can find your raw materials through field trips In the United States in California you can find Agate, Benitoite, Californite, Diamond, Citrine, Tourmaline, Abalone Pearl, Kunzite, Chrysopras And in Canada you can find nephrite jade in the Frances Lake area in the Yukon Territory or amazonite (microcline) near Eganville, Onttario and even amethyst from Nova Scotia. Take up gemstone collecting and you won't regret it.

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More Information On natural blue diamonds

Most blue gemstones come in a pastel blue, but some exceptional gems have a
bright blue color. Zircon is also available in green, dark red, violet, yellow,
brown, and orange. Due to its high refractive index and strong dispersion,
zircon has great brilliance and intensive fire. The luster is vitreous to a
brilliant sheen. Although relatively hard (rating 6.5-7.5 on Mohs scale) zircon
is brittle and therefore sensitive to knocks and pressure. The gem has the
tendency to wear along facet edges. Its use in rings should therefore be limited
to protective settings or occasional wear jewelry. Zircon jewelry should be
stored carefully.
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Lapis Lazuli is often dyed to improve its color. Pierre Gilson Lapis is one of
the better imitations. Lapis has been imitated by dyed Jasper and by paste with
inclusions of copper. Lapis Lazuli can easily be scratched or chipped. Water
will dissolve it's protective coatings. Lapis Lazuli is found in Afganistan,
Argentina, Canada, Chile, and the US.
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The Latest natural blue diamonds News

Studded Round Pearl Necklace: Navy/ss (n-p115-navy-ss)

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:28:49 -0700
Navy round pearl, studded with sterling silver accents. 16'' sterling silver chain and toggle clasp. Also available in gold. Matching earrings available. Please select pearl color: green, navy, white, brown, purple.

Fashion jewelry shopping in Kyiv - KPNews.com

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:55:00 GMT
to its glass showcases. Fashion jewelry, first made popular by iconic designer Coco Chanel and then by fashion jewelry designer Kenneth Jay Lane, is no longer considered a cheap ...