Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Table of Contents
Your Guide to Precious Gems and Jewelry
Evaluating Color
Evaluating Gemstones
Buying Wholesale
Hand-crafted Jewelry
Learning the Lingo
Techniques
jewelry store for the first time. To avoid making unwanted and uninformed
purchases, improve your knowledge about jewelry starting with the tips below.
If you speak the same language people in the jewelry industry speak then
you’ll go home with the jewelry piece you want, need, and definitely can afford.
A gemstone may be a rock, mineral, or even a petrified material that’s cut and
polished to be used for making jewelry. It may even be harvested like pearls or
organic material like amber, just as long as it has aesthetic appeal. In the old
days, precious gemstones only referred to the Big Three: emeralds, sapphires,
confusion.
The Ins and Outs of Lapidary
materials are left uncut and unpolished. Cobbed materials are referred to as
fractured. Materials like silicon carbide and diamond, due to their hardness,
like aluminum and chromium oxide are, on the other hand, used for polishing
gemstones.
sanding, grinding, and sawing. Cut gemstones are then polished into several
Sawing The main tool used in sawing is a copper or steel blade with diamond
grit on the edges. Water or oil is used to eliminate cutting debris and prevent
Grinding
grind gemstones and shape them into a pre-form. Liquid substance is also
used to prevent both the stone and tool from overheating.
Sanding
previous cutting technique. For round gemstones, a belt sander may be used
Lapping
A lap, which is a flat disk that’s either vibrating or rotating, is used to create flat
surfaces rather than round ones. The process however is similar to sanding
and grinding.
Drilling
Tumbling
A gemstone that’s placed in a rotating barrel filled with water and abrasives is
tumbled for polishing. These gemstones are usually roughly shaped and the
Sometimes, vibratory machines are used in lieu of rotating barrels. This way,
the barrels vibrate rather than rotate. Tumbling techniques are also used to
Cabochons
machine then twirls and creates a round smooth surface top and a flat or
Faceted Stones
Gemstones that have faceted forms reflect brilliant color and clarity from all
sides and at all light levels. This technique is most suitable for transparent
stones. Today, new techniques like grooves and concave facets are used to
Cut is one of the all-important 4C’s and is used not only to appraise diamonds
but gemstones in general as well. Gemstones are often cut with regard to their
size alone. But beautifully cut gemstones take their color into consideration as
well.
If you are shopping for faceted gemstones, one way of determining the
excellence of its cut is to check if it’s able to reflect light on a consistent level
throughout its surface. Look for symmetrical rather than asymmetrical cuts as
gemstone is one with evenly smooth gloss and with no visible scratches on its
surface.
Bigger is not Always Better: Understanding How Gemstones are Weighed and
Measured
Although bigger seems better and more expensive, it’s not always so in the
world of jewelry. In fact, size isn’t even synonymous with carat weight and you
Diamonds and colored gemstones alike are evaluated and appraised according
to the 4C’s which are made up by cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Carat
weight is much different from size and definitely more important than the
latter. Also, take note that carat is different from karat, which is the
measurement unit used for gold. Carat weight uses the abbreviation ct and ct
weight because of its uniform shape and size. In 1913, however, the jewelry
industry managed to set universal standards for measurement and the carat
One carat is always equivalent to one-fifth or twenty percent of one gram. One
A .25 ct gemstone could be called a quarter carat while a .50 carat gemstone
Gemstones are often listed according to their size because it is more uniform
than carat weight. Two different gemstones may have the same size but
Gemstone Material
A 1 carat ruby is smaller than a 1 carat emerald. This is mainly due to the
greater weight even though it has a smaller size than other gemstones with the
same carat weight. While carat weight is important for traditional and
common gemstones with high supplies like blue topaz, citrine, and amethyst.
Amethyst, in fact, used to be classified as one of the precious stones but its
price went down when loads of shipment arrived from Brazil in the 19th
century.
Gem Shape or Cut
The shape and cut can occasionally affect the carat weight. While most jewelry
designers cut gemstones with size and carat weight in mind, others place more
importance on its aesthetic value and may therefore reduce carat weight and
size in favor of improved looks. The same can be said for shape as well.
Table Diameter
evaluating the brilliance of a given gemstone, but what few people realize is
Similar to gem cut and shape, if the table diameter is shaped in such a way to
sacrificed.
Today, studies show that a lot of gemstones sold on the market are cut to take
in weight of just 10% or lower. Some are even cut to the extent of making
The girdle is the dividing line between a gemstones pavilion and crown or its
bottom and top facets. Ideally speaking, girdles must be extremely thin and
preferably visible only to the naked eye like a light line. Thick girdles not only
reduce brilliance and light yield but negatively affect the gemstones color as
well. Girdles are often referred to as edges and they are graded as any of the
following: very thin, thin, medium, thick, thick, and very thick. Thin girdles
Crown Height
The crown of a gemstone refers to its upper area and position on top of the
girdle. Acceptable crown height for gemstones is between 11.0 to 16.2% of the
girdle diameter. Greater crown height often means greater carat weight.
Pavilion Bulge
The pavilion is the bottom portion of a faceted gemstone. Greater bulge usually
Culet Size
This is the facet at a gemstones tip. Like the girdle, culets are better invisible
Evaluating Color
Gemstones may come in a rainbow of colors, but the jewelry industry uses a
universally defined system to grade it. Color accompanies clarity, cut, and
carat weight to make up the 4C’s and can greatly affect the aesthetic value of
gemstones.
Many people mistakenly believe that darker is always better, but what they
should be looking for is brightness and vividness. Use the following tips to
System
Although there are many and equally effective color grading systems in use
today, the GIA or Munsell System is a good primer to start with. It utilizes a
The GIA or Munsell system is made ideal for judging the color of gemstones
because they are built with 3D plastic pieces that resemble faceted gemstones.
Elements of Color
elements:
Hue
This is the first impression we obtain from viewing colors. It is what makes
rubies red, sapphires blue, emeralds green, and amethysts purple. Hues have
a natural order and they are red, yellow, green, blue, and lastly purple.
Numerous shades can be achieved by mixing together any two of these hues.
Chroma or Saturation
color. Gemstones with low chroma are referred to as weak while those with
high levels of saturation are called vivid or strong. Saturation of colored
Value or Tone
This is what makes you think of red as light or dark red. Gray as well as black
and white are referred to as neutral or achromatic colors because they don’t
possess any hue. Colors with hues are referred to as achromatic colors. GIA
uses a numerical system, with its written definitions, to evaluate neutral and
0 colorless or white
1 extremely light
2 very light
3 light
4 medium light
5 medium
6 medium dark
7 dark
8 very dark
When shopping for colored gemstones, another question you should definitely
ask and one you couldn’t evaluate without a definite honest answer is if the
color is natural or applied. There are several commonly used and accepted
Heat Treatment
This is the most commonly utilized and one of the oldest treatments for
modifying the color of gemstones today. This treatment may use temperature
ranging from 100 degrees Celsius to more than 2000 degrees Celsius and
Irradiation
Low or high electromagnetic waves or energy particles are used to change the
off-color pearls will obtain a darker tint. Brown or light yellow diamonds can
become colored. Light yellow or colorless sapphires may turn yellow to orange,
but the change could only last for days. Colorless quartz may turn into smoky
quartz. Colorless as well as pale pink and dark blue beryl may become yellow.
Time, light, and heat may, however, cause the color for treated beryl jewelry
to fade.
This is the major term used to refer to various techniques utilizing a foreign
combination of techniques, like dyeing and clarity enhancement for beryl, may
Practice makes perfect so browse jewelry shops to familiarize yourself with the
various signs that could alert you to the use of applications and treatments on
gemstones.
Judging Transparency and Clarity
Clarity, together with cut, color, and carat weight, is one of the four important
C's used for evaluating and appraising gemstones. Clarity determines the level
through a gemstone and inclusions, which are a no-no in judging quality, can
also hinder transparency. Use the following tips to help you evaluate the clarity
Clarity assesses and grades the external and internal characteristics of a given
flaws. They originate from within but may extend to the surface. Blemishes
Blemishes are generally quite small and only appear on the surface of
diamonds than other colored gemstones. While they are expected to occur in
certain gemstones like red tourmaline and emerald, inclusions hardly occur in
At times, inclusions and blemishes occur due to the cutting technique utilized.
Also, inclusions, at times, increase the value of a gemstone. This is true in the
Upon assessing the number, color, nature, location, and size of these flaws, an
authorized individual will then grade the clarity of the gemstone on a scale of 0
to 10.
Type 1 These gemstones are free from inclusions most of the time. They
include but aren’t limited to yellow beryl, blue topaz, and amethyst. Their
Type 2 These gemstones generally possess inclusions. They include but aren’t
limited to sapphires, rubies, and alexandrite. Their grades range from VVS to I
as well.
Type 3 These gemstones are rarely without inclusions. They include but aren’t
limited to red tourmaline and emeralds. Their grades range from VVS to I1.
Size
Minute and minor inclusions are small in size and hardly visible. Obvious
inclusions are easily observable. Prominent includes are hard to miss at all.
Contrast
Also known as color or relief, contrast refers to the difference between a gem
and included crystal. Inclusions, based on their contrast levels, may be barely
noticeable or a distraction.
Number
however that the degree of distraction carries more weight than the number of
inclusions present.
Location
Inclusions located at the center of a gemstone or under the table are less
VVS 1 and 2 Eye-Clean and Extra Fine Something more than 10x
visible.
Tiny pin-prick inclusions are visible under careful scrutiny but their presence
Although the inclusions are easier to see, they still don’t detract too much from
When held closer than arms length, the gemstone will show inclusions that are
easily visible.
Inclusions here are either highly visible or worse, they virtually draw attention
to themselves.
Transparent gemstones are those which you can see right through. Their
other hand may appear a bit hazy and blurry. Not all of its internal features
The internal characteristics of translucent gemstones are vague and not that
simply provide even greater challenge for the individual to see through it.
clean it first as dirt and oil can reduce transparency. Use a microscope if
possible. Lastly, loose gemstones are easier to evaluate because settings can
Knowing the Different Cuts for Gemstones: Cutting Loose from Jewelry
Misassumptions
When grading and appraising gemstones, cut may not be as influential as the
other C's like color, clarity, and carat weight, but it is definitely an influencing
the cut of a given gemstone, you must not only study the face-up view or the
surface or top view but study it from all other angles as well. An excellent cut
can reduce loss on carat weight but enhance its looks to breathtaking
Brilliant Cuts
A brilliant-cut gemstone usually has three flat polished surfaces per facet. They
are positioned in such a way to radiate the best light from the gemstone.
Gemstone cutters also make sure that the angles will enhance the brilliance of
the gemstone. Brilliant cuts are mostly used for diamonds and transparent
gemstones.
Some facets will have one or more shapes like stars, hearts, kites, and
marquise, pear-shaped pendeloque, and oval shape. Oval shapes are suitable
for gemstones with lower carat weight because they can make them appear
bigger.
The most popular variation of all is the full-cut round brilliant. It has fifty-eight
facets, presently the greatest count for brilliant cut gemstones. The single
brilliant cut, on the other hand, has seventeen to eighteen facets. For
with triangular dimensions are called trilliants while square brilliant cuts are
Step Cuts
Another popular cut for a gemstone is the step or trap cut. Step cuts are best
used for colored gemstones because they possess four-sided table facets and
girdles as well as parallel quadrilateral facets. The term step cut was used
because this gemstone cut bears similarities with a staircase. Step cuts have
shape but with square corners. Emerald cuts are also quite popular. Its name
was derived from its consistent use with emeralds. Emerald cuts remove the
corners and form an octagonal shape. Clipping off the corners protect delicate
gemstones like emeralds and facilitate setting of gemstones at the same time.
Other popular variations for step cuts are window, table, radiant, and oval.
The best advantage of step cuts is its ability to enhance a gemstones color,
making the color richer and appearing to have originated straight form the
Mixed Cuts
Mixed cuts for gemstones are mostly combinations of brilliant and step cuts.
The crown or top portion of a gemstone will resemble a brilliant cut while the
pavilion or bottom portion of a gemstone will receive a step cut. At times, the
two cuts will appear side by side. Mixed cuts are also characterized by their
rounded outlines. Many transparent gemstones like rubies and sapphires are
often cut this way. Gemstones with mixed cuts are also commonly set in
prongs.
Variations for mixed cuts include but are not limited to cushion, zircut, pear or
Cabochon Cuts
A gemstone with a cabochon cut will appear rounded on top and flat on the
gemstones dome with a cabochon cut varies. The name is derived from the
French term used for bald heads. Cabochon cuts are simplest to make, and
that’s why you’ll often see them used on affordable gemstones and those that
Fancy Cuts
Any other cut besides those mentioned above is usually referred to as fancy. A
checkerboard cut, for instance, will have a combination of a large table facet on
top and a mixed cut. A rose cut will have a round girdle outline, flat base,
dome-shaped crown, and facets of a brilliant cut.
When judging the cut of a gemstone, start by evaluating it face up. See if the
gemstone shows uniform color distribution and radiates light in the best
possible way. Gemstones cut with large windows are unappealing. Lastly,
recheck all other angles and determine if the cut took both carat weight and
Cats eyes and stars appearing in gemstones are still considered inclusions but
value and looks of gemstones, cats eyes and stars have the opposite effect.
These may occur naturally or man-made but ultimately, they enhance the
beauty of gemstones. Use the following tips when shopping for gemstones with
the gemstones surface. Cats eye may either be produced by fibrous cavities or
inclusions, such as the case of cats eye in chrysoberyl, or fibrous structures like
Chrysoberyl This gemstone is arguably the most popular gemstone for its cats
group of stones. In truth, chrysoberyl is not part of the beryl group, but
aquamarines and emeralds are. Chrysoberyl are mostly found in East Africa,
This gemstone registers the third highest rating in the Mohs Scale for naturally
occurring stones. There are three types of chrysoberyl: alexandrite, the more
Lastly, there’s cymophane or the chrysoberyl cats eye. Its name was derived
from its similarities with a cats eye, showing a silk-like spread of light
Beryl
Certain gemstones belonging to the beryl group can also display chatoyant
features. This includes golden and green beryl, aquamarine, and emerald. The
needs special mounting to strengthen the look and feel of its cats eye.
Quartz
This is the most abundant mineral in the Earths crust. Not all of the minerals
belonging to the quartz group are able to display cats eye on their surfaces.
Those that can are rose quartz, citrine, smoky quartz, cats eye quartz, and
amethyst. Some believe that cats eye quartz are able to help improve vision
better judgment.
What You Need to Know about Star Gemstones
effect caused by a certain reflective portion of the gemstone. There are two
Disasters
Stars appear when light is transmitted through the gemstone. It will only be
visible, however, if light illuminates the gemstone from the back. Rose quartz
Epiasterism
This occurs mostly with rubies and sapphires. Light this time is reflected on
Star gemstones come in a wide variety. For sapphires and rubies, there are
yellow, purple, gray, black, blue, silver, white, and 12-ray stars. Burma and Sri
Lanka are the top producers of star sapphires and rubies. Other gemstones
Light
A single light source like a candle, light bulb, or even sunlight is best used
when judging the quality of stars and cats eyes in a given gemstone. This type
of lighting will reduce chances of blurring and make it easier for you to
Distinction
The appearance of the cats eye or star must be clearly distinct from the body
of the gemstone.
Size
How far does the star or cats eye extend? Bigger size is better, but some
Color
More specifically, color for stars in gemstones differ. It is up to you to choose
Lastly, remember that all gemstones with stars and cats eyes are cabochon cut
to maximize their effects. Thus, viewing uncut gemstones won’t yield accurate
results.
When most people think about synthetic gems, the first thing that comes to
real, natural gems that they are patterned after. However, what most people
don't know is that there are many types of man-made or modified natural
gems whose quality and appearance can easily rival those of "natural"
A lot of different terms are used in the gemstone industry today, and you have
to know what the terms mean to keep yourself from getting ripped off. A
natural gemstone is, by definition, exactly that - a natural stone mined from a
quarry, and the only human intervention regarding it's appearance is to cut
and polish it, nothing more. Natural gemstones of high quality and beauty are
the rarest and most expensive types of gemstones. Treated gemstones, on the
other hand, are natural gems which, despite cutting and polishing, would have
normally fallen below the standards of high quality natural gems. These gems
gemstones. These are man made gems created completely inside a factory or
There are two main types of synthetic stones based on how they were created.
created using the same elements as a natural stone, and fused together under
much less time than it would take for one to develop naturally. These can be
churned out at a rapid rate and in very large volumes. The second type is
lab-grown gemstones. These are a half-way compromise between
natural gemstones are again used to create a synthetic one, BUT instead of
approach that of the natural processes which create natural gemstones. While
the process itself is sped up to make a gem in much less time than nature
would, it takes more time to "grow" a gem in a lab than it would under a factory
processor. However, lab grown gems are able to approach the qualities of a
natural one. Again, the most ironic difference is that synthetic stones are TOO
perfect. Created expressly for jewelry purposes, their basic shapes are made
to fit the type of jewelry they're meant to be set in. Even their crystal structure
often have a flaw or two in it's matrice (and if it doesn't, a perfectly unflawed
natural gem's price will be HUGE). The chemical composition of the gem is
likewise pure for synthetic gemstones, whereas natural gemstones may often
have trace elements mixed into it. These small imperfections are how most
jewelers tell the difference between a natural and synthetic stone. Price wise,
synthetic gems can offer a person much more beauty and value for their
money; natural gemstones of high quality are very rare and thus expensive,
whereas the mass produced synthetics are physically the same but cheaper by
anything from half to a quarter of the price. For long term investment,
however, natural gemstones of high quality are a better deal because of their
rarity; their value appreciates over time, whereas the price for a synthetic
remains constant. The price may even drop over time, especially for
factory-made synthetic gemstones; natural stones and lab grown stones have
hurry, are not quite as durable as the real thing. For this reason, lab-grown
synthetic gemstones are becoming more and more popular over quick factory
machine-made synthetics.
Categories of Gemstones
There are many different types of gemstones, and knowing the different
crystalline structure that they fall into their own categories, while others can be
collectively lumped into one. Here are the major types of precious and semi
precious gemstones:
Diamond - diamond is it's own type of gemstone, and is well known for being
primarily high-carbon crystals that were fused under extremes of pressure and
heat. Diamonds themselves aren't especially rare, with thousands being mined
throughout the world every year; however, large diamonds of high quality are
extremely rare, and it is these which are well known for setting the standards
defined as being composed of aluminum oxide and various trace minerals. The
trace minerals create different types of corundum, and perhaps the two most
well known examples of this type of stone are rubies and sapphires. Rough
Chrysoberyl - this is the third hardest gemstone, and while it uses aluminum
yellow shade, though their appearance is best known for having the tendency
to actually change color somewhat under different types of lighting. Cat's eye
and alexandrite are two common chrysoberyls used in jewelry.
Quartz - this is actually one of the most common types of mineral in the world
IS easy to find quartz stones, finding a large, perfect, and unflawed quartz
Beryl - this is a stone well known for it's beauty and has elements in common
with both chrysoberyl and quartz. It's basic chemical composition is similar to
chrysoberyl, with beryllium and aluminum prevalent but mixed in with other
trace elements. It's basic crystalline structure, on the other hand, is closer to
aquamarines. It can come in yellow and red shades as well, and these are
Jade - this is one type of gemstone originally lumped into the same category as
beryl. The main reasons for this are because both can be mined in similar
places and they possess similar textures, opacity, and appearance (just
different colors). Later on, chemical analysis showed that the elements which
made up the different forms of precious jade, namely nephrite and jadeite,
were different from beryl completely, thus earning jade it's own category
among gemstone collectors. Jade based stones are often composed of calcium
very common elements found deep inside the earth's crust. What makes it
valuable as a gemstone is the same factor that makes a diamond much more
valuable than a lump of coal that would normally contain the same elements as
diamond. That is, with sufficient heat and pressure applied, the tectonic
Organic Gemstones - the most famous examples of this are pearls and amber.
Basically, organic gemstones are ones which occur naturally in organic sources
as opposed to mineral sources. Pearls are formed from oysters, while amber is
a yellow stone formed from fossilized tree sap. While not gemstones per se,
organic gemstones are still used heavily in jewelry so are included in this list.
Describing Gemstones
gemstone is a basic crysoberyl type, and is best noted for it's color changing
between greenish to blue, to purple and even crimson hues. It is this very
around.
Amber - formed from fossilized tree sap, amber is best known for it's soft
yellow golden hue, which is distinctly different from other yellow-colored gem
stones because it diffuses light into a much softer shade of gold than other
yellow gemstones, which tend to intensify and sparkle instead. The fact that it
very light shade of purple that captures light inside the gem's facets. The color
which are darker and more opaque. It is this crystalline clarity and beauty
which makes amethysts sought after by certain collectors.
layers. This tends to make the gems multi-colored, and the effect is like
looking at a rainbow if the different layers of quartz are of varied colors and
types. Quartz mines which hold different deposits of quartz types are ideal
places to dig for this, and it is the rarest form of quartz gemstone around.
is the hardest known substance in nature, and it's basic color once polished
and cut is completely transparent. Diamonds are perhaps the most famous and
valuable of the different types of gemstones because of its pure clarity and the
because of these features and they are most sought after for wedding rings as
Emerald - this is the most well known type of green colored gem stone. They
several equally well known gemstones like rubies and sapphires. An emerald's
shade of green is unique and quite a few ancient civilizations regard this as a
holy or mythic stone. More often than not, emerald gemstones are cut into
simple square or circular shapes, with few variations.
Garnet - this is a stone whose basic color is red. The most famous red
gemstone remains the ruby, yet the garnet's distinguishing factor is that it's
shade of red actually approaches crimson. For this reason, some people refer
Jadeite - this is a form of jade that is rarer than the more common form,
nephrite. While both are green colored, jadeite is semi transparent, making it
more closely resemble "regular" gemstones than it's cousin nephrite. The
purity of jadeite is higher than nephrite, and it's crystal density is higher, but it
tends to naturally form in smaller pieces as a result and is much harder to work
Lapis Lazuli - this is a relatively soft type of gemstone which can be carved into
a variety of shapes. What makes this particular gemstone unique is that it's
color is a deep night-sky blue, but the gemstones are always flecked with small
fool's-gold (pyrite) traces which gives the gem the appearance of a night sky
decidedly "feminine" gearing. As gemstones go, it's actual worth isn't very
stones that under moonlight appear exactly the same shade as the moon in the
sky. Naturally, this feature is what gave rise to it's historic popularity.
Nephrite - when people refer to jade, they often mean nephrite. This material
is a bright opaque green, and it's physical quality compared to another form of
jade, jadeite, is softer and more malleable. Large pieces of nephrite are easier
to find than jadeite, and aside from jewelry this gemstone occurs naturally in
pieces large enough to carve into small figurines and statues. Smaller pieces
are carved into entire pieces of jewelry like bracelets and brooches.
Opal - these are completely opaque quartz crystals which, like chalcedony,
between the two is that chalcedony's color patterns are often set parallel to
each other, and chalcedony stones themselves are semi transparent. Opals are
completely opaque, and the splash of colors are random and haphazard
Pearl - these are organic gems which naturally occur in oysters. They are often
rendered in an opaque whitish sheen that refracts light, making small rainbows
play across the surface of a well-cut and polished pearl. Tons of myths
surround pearls, and being reaped from the sea they figure prominently in
almost every sea-faring culture's stories. Especially pirates. I don't know why,
Peridot - this gemstone is perhaps best known for only one thing: simplicity.
Unlike other gemstones, which can come in quite a variety of colors, peridots
and traces of iron in the gems give it a gold hue. There are NO variations of
opacity, color traces, or shade variations in peridots no matter what part of the
Ruby - along with the emerald and sapphire, this red stone is one of the oldest
and most famous types of gemstone for collectors. It's shade of red is actually
rather bright and the stone itself is semi transparent instead of opaque. It is a
Sapphire - like the ruby, this is a corundum type of gem, making it much
harder and more enduring than other types of gems. Traditionally, sapphires
are best known for being a vivid crystalline blue in color, though what few
people know is that sapphires can come in a variety of colors including green,
yellow, and orange. The real definition behind this is that corundums will
almost always be RUBIES if they're red, and sapphires if they're any other
color. Strange logic there, but that's how it's defined by a lot of gem collectors.
Turquoise - this stone can easily be likened to nephrite for two things: one, it's
considerably softer than other gemstones, making it easier to work with, and
two, it is opaque. Turquoise come in shades of sky blue with just a hint of
green, and while it technically is a stone the colors actually come from metals
in the mineral - namely copper and iron traces. These metallic traces are the
a rich yellow gold in color. The stone is semi transparent and is one of the
harder and more enduring gemstones around. If the ruby "defines" red, the
sapphire "defines" blue, and the emerald "defines" green for other gemstones,
the topaz is the gemstone that sets the standards followed by other yellow
colored gemstones.
diamonds. For an average person, a gem looks like just any other gem. But to
the experienced eye, he knows the differences between a rare stone to one
that is not-so-rare.
what is authentic to what is fraud. They should also be on their toes when it
comes to the fraudulent practices involving jewelry. They should know the
fearful when buying jewelry. They just have to be aware of the fraud
Stone switching often occurs and this is very disturbing for the buyer because
the jewelry loses its value. It is also hard to make accusations because the
jeweler can deny easily deny the allegations if the buyer doesn’t have proof.
There are jewelers who take advantage of naive customers who don’t pay close
attention to the gems they are buying. The normal customer purchases the
highest quality regardless of the need for it to be repaired or appraised.
two procedures. Therefore its value degenerates but the buyer doesn’t notice
Mounting is important because this can make or break the deal. An unethical
jeweler merely switches the stones and replaces them with something similar
for the untrained eye. This is usually a stone with lesser quality. This tactic
generates the jeweler thousands of dollars and its tax free. Just imagine the
gold earrings and the watch batteries they must sell in order to come up with
In order for you to prevent this from happening, take note of these
suggestions:
1. You have to know your gems. Note their colors, girdles and clarity (if they
have chips or scratches, their natural appearance, etc.) You have to remember
the locations of the following as if they were their birth marks. You can observe
these by using loupes. You can also document these for future reference.
2. It is best to write these down. Record the characteristics of the stone on the
receipt the jeweler gives you in the store. Do this before you leave.
Sometimes, stores don’t have enough time to give the accurate clarity and
color grades but they should still note the visible characteristics. This
3. If the buyer has a diagram or the photograph of the gemstone, he must ask
the jeweler if this can serve as a good enough representation of the product.
4. Clean the gem before it is repaired or appraised. By examining the stone and
remembering the condition that it is in, you will be able to recognize it after it
5. Be very wary of jewelers whose repair services are of low prices. If its too
good to be true, it probably is. Maybe this jeweler has no experience. Then
again, give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he is just honest.
If you are lucky to get gem stones that have laser inscription, then this can be
a feature which will help you be aware whether the stone has been switched.
Whenever you take the stone to any repair shop or store, tell the person there
that the gem has a laser inscription. You can also ask them to examine it under
Therefore, when the stone is returned to you, you can examine the stone and
check whether the inscription is still there. In that case, you will know that the
stone is yours. You have to do these things right away to ensure that you aren’t
cheated.
You have to remove your jewelry whenever you are doing activities that are
risky. These activities may cause an impact or expose the jewelry to chemicals.
Don’t wear your jewelry when you’re playing sports or doing house hold
chores.
If you have rings that can’t be removed and you have to use strong cleaning
products, particularly those with an Ammonia base, you can protect it (as well
as your skin) by wearing gloves made of rubber. Rings and bracelets are
jewelry that are often worn, earrings and necklaces are also prone to damages
from chemicals, especially whenever they are worn while putting on make-up,
A jeweler can also restring your pearl necklaces every two years. This should
be done if it is your favorite jewelry. You can also clean your jewelry yourself
by using mild and warm water with a soapy solution. Use a soft brush in
Be mindful of loose clasps and gems before you wear your jewelry. You
wouldn’t want the stones dropping out. Neither would you want to lose the
Don’t pull the stones. Some women who wear jewelry pull on the stones
whenever they are bored; just so their fingers have something to do. Well, this
practice results in the gemstones being more prone to oil, dirt and sweat. You
may even risk losing these because you loosen the setting on the metal.
It is also not advisable to store your jewelry in one big pile. This will cause the
metal and the gems to scratch one another. Store your jewelry in separate
sections. Wrap them in paper, silk or velvet. Put them in a jewelry box.
2. Aquamarine
3. Diamond
Chemical and mechanical cleaners are said to be safe, but they should be
avoided when cleaning diamonds because the stone could be fractured. Rinse
4. Emerald
Don’t use mechanical and chemical cleaners. It will only dissolve oils during the
cleaning process. Emeralds must be cleaned using soapy water. Have a jeweler
5. Garnet
Soapy water is the best, safest and easiest solution. You can also resort to
7. Opal
Wipe the stone after every use with a slightly damp or dry cloth. Do not wash
or scrub hard.
8. Peridot
9. Ruby
Use soapy water or the cleaning solvents that are commercially available.
Mechanical cleaners are also safe but these should be avoided because it may
10. Sapphire
Use soapy water and cleaning solvents. Mechanical cleaners are also safe but
when these are used, they may affect the sapphires clarity.
11. Spinel
Use soapy water and the commercial cleaning solvents. Mechanical cleaners
are to be avoided because these affect the clarity of the spinel.
12. Tanzanite
13. Topaz
Same with tanzanite, don’t use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Soapy water
is fine.
Pearls are quite durable. Proper care keeps them lustrous and even more
beautiful as they age. Here are some general tips in doing so.
1. Wipe the pearls using a damp warm cloth. This removes dirt and body oils
which harm the original color of the pearl. Do this before you put them away.
2. Pearls must be stored away from other jewelry and objects. Keeping them
close to such could scratch the surface. Wrap them in soft cloth or linen and put
them in pouches. Don’t store your pearls in packages that are air tight because
3. Wash them using mild soap and wipe them dry with a soft cloth. You can use
also use acetone polish remover.
You may be wondering exactly how your jewelry came to be. Well, that’s a
normal question any jewelry enthusiast would ask. You do question how these
gems are placed into metal and you also question exactly where these gems
came from.
There are gem stone mines everywhere around the world. The most popular
are in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Uruguay and Africa. There are also mines in
Europe and the United States, depending on what kind of gem stone you are
looking for.
Amethyst
the world. For this very reason, it is one of the most affordable. The quality of
are found in the United States are larger compared to those found in Africa.
However, the latter has higher saturation when it comes to their colors.
Amethysts with the highest saturation are those found in Australia. There are
also amethyst found in Brazil that are usually large and have different hues
and cuts.
Emerald
Emeralds are mostly found in Mexico. Two main sources are the mines in
Guerrero and Vera Cruz. Emeralds found there have a tendency toward lighter
shades and are clearer than those found in other countries. The stones have
lighter hues and the crystals are phantomed with a transparent interior and a
saturated exterior.
Emeralds that are found in Guerrero are saturated dark green. They have a
Sapphire
The most notable source of Sapphires are those found in Brazil from Minas
Gerais, Bahia, Maraba and Rio Grande do Sul. Among those containing the best
sapphires are the large pockets that are formed by volcanic material.
The sapphires that are produced here vary in their color saturation ranging
from pale up to medium blue. Those that are navy blue are the sapphires that
Diamond
recently released blood diamond. There are diamond deposits in Zambia and
Namibia. The diamonds found in Africa can be as large as an egg and are
outstandingly clear.
Jade
The United States has various gems. In Maine, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,
Montana and Colorado, the most popular stone is the Jade. The color is from
it was obtained.
Jade from Maine and North Carolina are usually dark while those found in
sapphires, amethysts, and jade are only a handful of precious gemstones out
there. Some of them are very valuable because of their rare appearance.
How are these gemstones formed? Well, they are formed underneath the
Earth. The process involved varies in each gem stone. The stones react with
the minerals, specifically water. This is how they are dissolved. When the
The water then mixes with the silica-rich rocks like sandstone. This produces
the gemstones like amethyst, opals, agates, sapphires, jade and topaz to
name a few. When the copper-rich rocks mix with the water, it bears the
Emeralds and tourmalines are formed from rain water or the water from
cooling bodies like magma that is mixed with the minerals and crystallized in
cavities or open cracks. These spaces are filled with minerals which create the
There are also gemstones that are formed directly from the mantle. They
upper layer of the Earths mantle has a volume of the olivine which is quite
Whenever you hear the word metamorphic it means the change of form of
sapphire, onyx and zircon. They are formed over a long period of time because
they wait for the rocks to be altered with such pressure and intense heat in
Buying Wholesale
Thanks to today’s technology, you can easily buy diamond bracelets and
wristwatches online. Even those that are priced $50,000 to $200,000. This is
If you think about it, this way of purchasing jewelry is actually a good bargain.
You will get a nice deal on that opal ring or the pearl necklace you have been
eyeing. There are tons of Web sites out there that specialize in jewelry, which
makes shopping very fast and easy for you. You don’t have to worry about
pushy and rude salespeople. To add icing on the cake, you can buy wholesale
through online shopping. The price is so affordable and you can quickly have
But there’s a catch. When you’re buying your jewelry over the web, you can’t
touch or see first-hand what you are purchasing. This is very important
because a picture you see on the site isn’t enough to determine the value of the
jewelry. You have to see it right in front of you in order to see if there are
When buying jewelry in person, you can do the checking by using loupes or a
magnifying glass. Online shopping for jewelry may be easy and you can do it
wholesale but the disadvantage is that you aren’t really sure whether the item
quality. Some unethical jewelers say that the item is of better quality than they
really are. The buyer must also concern themselves with slightly inflated
weights (those small differences in weight that can slightly change the stones
value) and fraudulent repairs and appraisals. The buyer must also check the
To respond to this problem, eBay has come up with guidelines when it comes
to selling jewelry online. However, consumers should still have common sense
1. Customers must be informed of exactly what they are buying. There are
various sites that do not provide the buyers the complete and accurate
information they need when buying jewelry wholesale. Also, most jewelers
identifying and rating the condition and quality of gemstones) so they may not
2. The customer must try shopping at retail jewelers and visit gemologist
to know the authentic from the fake purchases. It also helps to check out the
3. When shopping on eBay, the customer must read the terms and conditions.
He should also check the fine print. The sellers that are of power Seller status
4. Before bidding on an online item, the customer must find out as much as he
or she can about the item that they are bidding for. Also, the Federal Trade
In order to avoid online fraud, the customer must see whether the seller is
willing to take the necessary steps of appraisal before actually receiving the
money as payment for the purchased jewelry. Therefore, the payment can be
held in tow through a third party for a minimal fee which the jeweler is paid as
It also helps to have a gemologist around, better yet a gemologist who is also
an appraiser because they will be able to confirm the quality, condition and
identity of the stones that are being bought, plus the true value.
Buying jewelry wholesale and online may sound pleasing but it takes as much
Hand-Crafted Jewelry
If you have tinkered with hand crafted jewelry projects in the past and you
think you have the passion and talent for it, you might be ready to go to the
next level. Selling your hand crafted jewelry to other people is a decision not to
inevitable outcome.
Tip #1
Practice with DIY hand crafted jewelry kits. These give you all the supplies you
embellishments reflecting your style to the end product. This will let you
further explore your style and determine just what works best for you.
Tip #2
Mix and match. Try making jewelry pieces using different materials.
Experiment with beads, gems, crystals, various wires and knots, and other
objects. This will increase your experience for working with different items; a
necessity in your kind of business since jewelry pieces are dependent on the
Tip #3
Increase your knowledge about jewelry in general. Learn all the types of
jewelry pieces today. Learn which of them are considered birthstones. Know
the history, myth, and legend associated with each and every stone. Know the
physical properties of the materials you’ll be using and how these would affect
Know which cords work better with which kind of items. A silk bead cord, for
instance, works well with freshwater pearls because they can be easily inserted
through smaller holes. Tiger tails are good if you don’t wish to use a needle for
SC will mean silver color metal. Know that 14K gold would be referred to as
.585 in Europe. For wire gauges, you should understand that a smaller wire
diameter translates to a larger figure.
Tip #4
Participate in all the jewelry-related events in your area. These will include but
aren’t limited to bazaars, art exhibits, and trade shows. You’ll get to meet a
wide variety of individuals there, and many of them will have the means of
Tip #5
Find a supplier. It’s not that easy to break into the jewelry industry if you’re
going to purchase all your supplies from the mall. You need to find a direct way
to contact a jewelry supplier and do business with them. It will help you reduce
production costs and give you the opportunity to purchase hard-to-find items
Tip #6
Hand crafted jewelry does not mean that you won’t be using tools and
equipment. You will still have to invest a small amount of money to purchase
crimping and handling tools to make your job easier.
Tip #7
Visit jewelry shops online or not, read jewelry magazines, and watch jewelry
shows to feed your mind with ideas for your next design. Doing so also keeps
Tip #8
Build a website. Whether you’re going to sell online or not, a website will
provide your customers a shop open 24/7, ready at any time to display your
latest works.
Tip #9
Be prepared to repair jewelry pieces. It’s unavoidable for any jewelry shop to
receive repair requests and in some cases, the costs are yours to shoulder
completely. You need to set up a system to ensure efficient and fair service for
repair concerns.
Tip #10
If you’re going to sell your jewelry pieces to other jewelry shops, dress
A hand crafted jewelry business is just like any other business in the sense that
you need to perform some basic bookkeeping activities. This will let you know
http://www.CHRISTIANCHRISTIANITYLIFEMARRIAGE.COM