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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Clear Quartz”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Alternative Metals for Men’s Jewelry
…. As a frame of reference, cobalt rings come in around 7-8 on the Mohs hardness scale which is about the same as quartz or topaz but softer than tungsten or sapphire. Like most alternative metals, cobalt chrome bands are hypoallergenic and … for low grade pieces with more nickel Cobalt Looks like white gold or platinum, hypoallergenic Cut in 2 places 7-8, quartz or topaz Scratches more easily than others Carbon Fiber Light weight, modern look Cut NA Can feel “too light” …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Tanzanite
… effects while they were still underground. Without heating, most tanzanite would be a brown color, similar to smoky quartz. The very small percentage of tanzanite that isn’t heated and is still pretty enough for jewelry displays trichroism… of tanzanite comes from its color. Tanzanite has a Moh’s hardness of 6-7, making it about the same hardness as quartz, softer than ruby, sapphire and emerald and hard than opal. Tanzanite has a refractive index of 1.69-1.70. History and …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Jade
… had already been a tradition for thousands of years. At that time, gem carvers worked primarily with nephrite, quartz, lapis lazuli, and wood. With the introduction of jadeite, the carvers switched focus from the previous materials to this…and Synthetics Jade Jade has been replicated and imitated over the years. The most common imitations by far are dyed quartz, glass, and plastic. These imitations can be identified quickly by a trained gemologist. Other stones that have been…
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How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
… this environment, the pure carbon melts and begins to form into a diamond around the starter seed. On December 16, 1954, a belt press was used to create the first reproducible lab grown diamond. The diamond was tiny and nowhere near clear enough to be used in jewelry, but it was a start. As a side note here, we should mention that even today most of the man-made diamonds that are produced are not of gem quality. They are made for industrial applications where the …
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What are “Blood Diamonds”?
… to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.” These diamonds are sometimes referred to as “blood diamonds.” In July 2000, the global diamond industry made clear to the international community its zero tolerance policy towards conflict diamonds. Dedicated to eradicating the trade in conflict diamonds, it worked closely with the United Nations, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Ruby
…, dry cloth often to remove dust and residue that will mar its sparkle. For more intense cleaning, use warm water and mild dishwashing detergent in solution. Soak the piece for 15 minutes, and then clean with a soft brush. Rinse with clear water and examine under good light for any remaining residue. If there is any, repeat the process. You can use an ultrasonic cleaning machine with rubies, but use caution as these machines can cause loose gems to come out of their …
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What to Do When Your Ring Irritates Your Skin
… coatings that can be added to jewelry to help alleviate reactions. They have mixed reviews, and, like plating, the coatings wear off over time. But, they can be enough to make jewelry wearable for some when plating alone fails. Clear nail polish is also very similar to these coatings, and you can definitely give that a try first if you have it on hand. Build up a few layers to insulate your skin from the metal. Sometimes, the only solution is to change to a ring made of…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Iolite
… discovered. Coming in at 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, iolite is a somewhat soft gem. It is comparable to quartz (Amethyst, Citrine, etc), a little harder than Opal, and softer than Emerald or Topaz. Because of this, some extra care… called “The Viking Stone” as a polarizing filter to help them find the sun on cloudy days. They may have used a clearer, more transparent variety of the gemstone for this purpose. On a cloudy day, without being able to see the sun, iolite…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
…rich green color. The intensity of an emerald’s hue depends on the presence of chromium and vanadium in the crystal structure. Emerald’s Mohs hardness rating is 7.5-8 making it softer than sapphire and harder than amethyst and other quartz varieties. The refractive index of emerald ranges from 1.57 to 1.58, making it a moderately refractive gemstone. Its specific gravity ranges from 2.65 to 2.75. One of the distinctive features of emeralds is that they often contain …
