Gemstones Resources

Latest Gemological Article

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.

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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.

More Information On The Gemstones Scene

Our Latest Gemological Article

So You Want To Collect Loose Gemstones

By Lee MacRae

Why would anyone collect items like loose gemstones, you ask? Well for one thing they are very beautiful items. And just like natural diamonds they can appreciate in value over time. Many in this hobby love to find, collect and finish the nearly 150 types of gemstones found today. This article will look at the hobby of collecting loose gemstones.

The first thing you need to do is to get yourself some books on gemstones. You want to understand everything there is to know about precious and semiprecious gemstones. The more you learn about each kind of gemstone the wiser will be your purchases. You'll know exactly what to look for in a quality stone.

First on the list to evaluate is gemstone color. Gemstones are the most intensely colored natural material available on earth. Gemstones are so related to color that they've even become associated with particular ones. Without a doubt you will recognize sapphire blue, ruby red, jade green, aquamarine, emerald green or turquoise. Gemstones become higher in value when they are equal in color to the spectral colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. They are valued much less the farther they deviate from the natural color.

Gemstone cut is an important factor to consider when evaluating gemstones. The gemstone must be cut in a way that reflects light back to the viewer. A stone that has a poor cut will never be able to reflect light consistently. The hue, tone and color saturation will be inconsistent.

Next up is the aspect of clarity. Clarity is the term that refers to the external blemishes or the internal conclusions or flaws of the gemstone under consideration. Any large flaws can be seen with the naked eye while others need a 10X magnification.

You will often find that gemstones are often listed according to size because it is more uniform than carat weight. But two different gemstones may be of the same size but have different carat weights that result in different in prices as well. This is due to the difference of relative density or specific gravity and depends on the materials chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure. For example, a one carat round diamond with normal proportions is approximately 6.5 mm around. A ruby that is the same 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. Actually there are many interesting and attractive gems that are simply too big and fragile for use in jewelry. Take each 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 actually go hunting for raw gemstones in the field. In the US in Utah You can find Topaz, Garnet, Petrified Wood, Jasper and Obsidian. And if you travel to Canada you will find nephrite jade in the Frances Lake area in the Yukon Territory or amazonite (microcline) near Eganville, Onttario as well as iolite from Manitouwadge, Ontario. Take up gemstone collecting and you won't regret it.

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More Information On natural pink diamonds

Turquoise is often fracture sealed. This doesen't mean that it has fractures, it
means that it was seal ed with an acrylic resin to enhance it's color, texture,
and hardness. Turquoise is somewhat soft so avoid scratches and sharp blows. To
be certain and coatings are not removed also avoid hot water and household
chemicals.
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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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The Latest natural pink diamonds News

Mark Silverstein Imagines Jewelry - Jewelry Weblog

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:10:56 GMT

Mark Silverstein Imagines Jewelry Jewelry Weblog, CA - Nov 20, 2008 Curving around the pink diamonds are two strips of white round full cut diamonds. From Mark Silverstein's Gossamer Collection. ...

Ring/Square Geo Post Earring/ms (p-ge03-ms)

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:40:04 -0800
Brushed large silver ring with small vermeil square post earrings. sterling silver posts. Please specify post or earwires.


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Gemstones Information

Our Featured Gemstone Writer

Collecting Prescious And Semi-Prescious Stones

By Lee MacRae

Gemology is the art, profession and science of evaluating and identifying rocks known as natural diamonds or loose gemstones. A number of people taken up this profession as a hobby. They become interested in making a collection of items like loose gemstone or natural diamonds. You'll even find some that like to visit different local areas to look for rough gemstones. Some even tumble or learn to cut their own gemstones. If you have an interest in this hobby follow along as we show you the different aspects of this hobby.

At the very beginning you need to learn all you can on the wide variety of stones available. This knowledge will help you to know the properties of each stone and prevent you from wasting your money. A knowledgeable buyer is a wise one.

To start with, an important aspect in gemstone evaluation is color. Without a doubt, gemstones are the most intensely colored naturally occurring materials you can find. Gemstones are so related to color that they've even become associated with particular ones. You've no doubt heard about emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue, jade green, turquoise or aquamarine. Gemstones are valued much higher they closer they are to natural spectral colors of violet, blue, green,, orange and red. They drop in value when they are lighter or darker than the pure spectral color.

Gemstone cut is easily one of the most important aspects when buying a gemstone. The cut has to be done with precision to reflect the light properly. A stone that has a poor cut can't reflect the light consistently over its surface. The hue, tone and color saturation will never be consistent.

The next factor to consider is the stone's clarity. This means the purity of the gemstone with no internal conclusions, internal particles or spots within the crystal structure. Without a doubt, zero flaws are hard to find and make your stones very valuable.

You will note that gemstones are categorized according to size since it is more uniform than carat weight. But two different gemstones may have the same size but differ in carat weights and as a result different pricing structures. This factor comes from the difference of specific gravity or relative density depending upon the materials chemical composition and crystalline structure. Normally a one carat brilliant round diamond of typical proportions will be approximately 6.5 mm in diameter. A comparable round brilliant ruby of the same size and proportions will weigh in at 1.55 carats.

Although gems are frequently used in jewelry, they are a great hobby and pastime as well. Actually there are many interesting and attractive gemstones who 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 mini sculpture or piece of art to be highly 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 actually go hunting for raw gemstones in the field. In the United States in New Mexico you'll find Turquoise, Garnet, Peridot, Rock Crystal and Obsidian And in Canada you can find nephrite jade in the Frances Lake area in the Yukon Territory or labradorite on the adjacent islands and coastal area of Labrador as well as black spinel in Burgess and bathhurst Townships in Ontario. Take up gemstone collecting and you won't regret it.

Buy loose Sapphire gemstones or round brilliant loose diamonds and also a natural fancy color diamond today in our store!

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Tips About loose emerald gemstone

Topaz is full of mystery, in fact there is a famous movie mystery thriller named
after it. The Topaz is well-known as a large quality gem. The worlds. largest
topaz crystal was found in Brazil at the Minas Gerais, the world.s most well-
known producer of topaz. It was purchased in 1938 by Allan Caplan, a New York
dealer in minerals and precious gems. Upon his first inspection of the stone he
thought there might be something wrong with it, and this particular stone along
with two others were sent the American Museum for further study. What the
experts found was the largest topaz known to that date. It is still housed at
the museum.
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A factor in a gemstone�s value is its uniqueness. This means unusual colors or
patterns in the stone or rare and interesting inclusions or impurities. These
things are often appreciated and valued by custom, fine jewelers, but overlooked
by wholesalers. It may be hard to �get a really good deal� just going by the 4
C�s because everyone who buys and sells gemstones and gemstone jewelry
professionally goes by them to assess value. But if you are a careful observer,
you may be able to spot something special in a stone that someone else has
missed.
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All The Latest News From The loose emerald gemstone World

Triple Oval Necklace: Heart/ms (n-ov3h-ms)

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:49:36 -0800
Three brushed sterling silver ovals, double jumpringed together. Brushed vermeil heart accent on middle oval. 16'' 14kt gold-fill chain and toggle clasp. Matching earrings available. Necklace available in a variety of charms: heart, star, X, no charm.

Ireland: Hidden Gems Of The Emerald Isle - AthlonSports.com

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:06:46 GMT

Ireland: Hidden Gems Of The Emerald Isle AthlonSports.com, TN - Nov 18, 2008 This loose-knit golf trail sprawling across the northern tip of the Emerald Isle offers various packages that can include transportation, accommodations and ...

Sterling Organic Disc Pendant (n-od6-m)

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:49:36 -0800
Sterling silver organic disc pendant on multiple 14kt gold-fill chain. Disc measures approximately 7/8" in diameter.