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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Emerald gem”
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Gem in the Spotlight: Alexandrite
Emerald by day, ruby by night, more expensive than diamond and more illustrious than sapphire, emerald, or even ruby, …the Ural Mountains in Russia in the 1830s. When it was first discovered by a Finnish mineralogist, he mistook it for emerald because of how exceptional the green was in daylight. Named after the Russian prince Alexander II, the first stones … world as one of the most sought-after gems for the better part of 200 years. But, what makes this stone so special? Gemology of Alexandrite Alexandrite is the extremely rare, color-change variety of a gem species called Chrysoberyl. It …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Ruby
For much of human history, rubies have been the most prized gemstone. But, what is it about this red gem that has captivated our hearts and minds for so long? Is it ruby’s color? … deeper? Whatever it is, ruby’s impact on humanity is broad and deep, with arguably the richest history of all gemstones. Gemology of Ruby Rubies are in the corundum gem family along with sapphires. Corundum is an extremely durable form … too pink, they are called purple sapphires or pink sapphires, respectively. Since sapphires and rubies are the same gem material, they also share a refractive index of 1.762-1.770 and a specific gravity of 4.00. A unique optical …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Tsavorite Garnet
… in East Africa in the 1960s changed the jewelry world. Here was a gem with the color to rival the most exquisite emeralds and the clarity of the cleanest sapphires, all with the time tested durability of garnet. Tsavorite is a unique form … stones are below two carats. By some estimates, Tsavorite is around 200 times rarer than the much better known Emerald. Gemology Tsavorite’s rarity and beautiful green color reminds one of the other green garnet called Demantoid. Demantoid…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Topaz
… softer than diamond which is a 10 and corundum (sapphire/ruby) which is a 9 on the scale. It is a bit harder than emerald at 7.5-8 and quartz which comes in at 7. Here are some more gemological stats for reference: Refractive index: 1.619 … isn’t found there, but the island used to be a source for peridot which was confused with topaz before modern gemology. In ancient times, topaz was believed to protect its wearer. Topaz was also thought to initiate healing, increase or …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Aquamarine
…passed down for generations but this tiara she special ordered from Garrard in 1957. The Gemology of Aquamarine Like emerald, aquamarine is a member of the beryl family (along with morganite, heliodor, and others). Unlike emerald, it is …, aquamarine was believed to guarantee a happy marriage and inspire mutual fidelity in newlyweds. Notable Aquamarine Gemstones The largest gem-quality aquamarine gemstone ever mined was 19 inches long. The largest cut aquamarine is named…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Peridot
Peridot is a lovely yellow-green gem with a rich history. Legend has it that Peridot was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra. The ancients called it the “…dissolve curses but only when set in gold. Peridot is the birthstone for August. It is also the accepted anniversary gemstone for the 16th year of marriage. Peridot’s unique yellow-green color is very attractive. The name “Peridot” is … by its soft appearance. Color is the most important characteristic when determining the value of a Peridot gem. The deeper green the peridot is, the higher its value. There is a lot of confusion over the pronunciation of peridot. It is …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
… of an action movie, but it could also be the title of this article. For years spinel has been confused with other gems and even today is often used as a substitute for similar looking stones. In recent years, spinel has started to move …own right, and we can see why. Its colors rival even the best rubies, sapphires, tourmalines, and other more popular gems. For only the 3rd time in the last one hundred years, the industry is modifying the official birthstone list. …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl
… are both simple and infinitely complex. Let’s explore the science, history, and lore surrounding this most unique gem. How Are Pearls Formed? Pearls are formed when a foreign object enters the shell of a mollusk and irritates the soft …or some type of composite). History and Notable Pearls Pearl is the traditional birthstone of June and is a favorite gem for weddings. Natural pearls have been discovered and cherished for hundreds of years. Only more recently have …
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What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?
…copied, unreal, or even imitation. But, in this context, what do we mean when we say “synthetic diamond”? In the gemological world, synthetic is a highly technical term. When speaking technically, synthetic gems are man-made crystals … structure and chemical composition as a natural diamond. The same cannot be said of the many imitation or fake gems that are often, incorrectly, described as synthetic diamonds. This misrepresentation has seriously confused what the …
