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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Gem in the Spotlight”
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Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl
Pearls have captured the imagination and adoration of people from diverse backgrounds throughout history. They are both simple and infinitely…, 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 mantle tissue within. In response to the irritant, the mollusk secretes a … called nacre to coat the object and protect itself. Over time, layer upon layer of nacre is deposited around the irritant, eventually forming a pearl. This process can occur naturally or via human intervention. Natural pearls grow in …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Tsavorite Garnet
The discovery of Tsavorite in East Africa in the 1960s changed the jewelry world. Here was a gem with the color to rival…and lively with a high refractive index giving it excellent sparkle and scintillation. Tsavorite is also a very rare gemstone. It is uncommon to find Tsavorite in sizes larger than five carats, and most faceted stones are below two …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, however, is a completely different variety of garnet found primarily…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Topaz
The old baseball joke, “Who’s on First?” “Yes, Who’s on First…” always comes to mind when I hear people discussing Topaz…love Topaz; it reminds me of a blue sky.” Then her friend says back, “Topaz may be like a golden sunset, but not the sky.” A third friend will chime in, “You’re both crazy, it’s like a beautiful peach.” Then, a passerby contributes, “You…course, all of them are right. History and Lore Topaz in its pure form is naturally colorless, clear like a diamond. The famous “Braganza Diamond” was thought to be the largest diamond ever found (prior to the Cullinan Diamond) at 1,680 …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Quartz
… surprising? What is affordably priced sometimes and sometimes unattainably expensive? If you answered quartz to all these questions you would be right (but naturally you looked at the title and knew). Quartz is one of the most common …Many quartz varieties are cut into gemstones, but some varieties are very rare. Some are ordinary like rock quartz, others are exotic like Drusy Quartz. Some quartz material is a dollar per pound while others are $1,000+ per carat. …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
Amethyst is known for its beautiful purple color, and it is the most important quartz variety used in jewelry. Purple has long been considered a royal color, so it is not … amethyst has been in so much demand throughout history. Gemology Amethyst is a variety of quartz that is colored by the presence iron and aluminum. The violet color of amethyst can range from a pale lavender to a deep, dark purple, and …. Amethyst is typically found in Brazil, Uruguay, and Madagascar, but it can also be found in smaller deposits in other countries such as Russia, the United States, and Canada. Amethyst is known for its durability with a Mohs hardness …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
Springtime exudes life, full of bright colors and renewed energy. Emerald, May’s gemstone, captures this enthusiasm for life in rich elegance. This precious gemstone has been revered for over 4,000 … Emerald Emeralds are a member of the beryl mineral family (along with morganite and aquamarine) and are valued for their rich green color. The intensity of an emerald’s hue depends on the presence of chromium and vanadium in the crystal… 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…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Garnet
Garnet’s rich history and varieties demonstrate garnets are more than the little red gem. Garnets allow for great personal diversity and style. The wide world of garnets invites all to … babies born in the midst of cold, white (valley fog) and at times stark surroundings are rewarded with one of the most varying birth gemstones…Garnet. Garnet’s pizzazz energizes the gloomiest day. Garnet varieties brighten the world …shades of red. Garnets are given as symbols of consistency, perseverance and good health. Garnet is also regarded as the gem of faith, constancy and truth and possesses many curative powers. Garnets are given as symbols of consistency, …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Aquamarine
Aquamarine derives its name from the Latin which literally means “seawater,” a tribute to its beautiful blue color. As a member of the beryl family, … with tranquility and happiness, aquamarine was also thought to instill courage, cure laziness, and sharpen the intellect. The ancient Greeks used aquamarine often in jewelry believing it captured the true spirit of the sea. aquamarine … known for its beautiful blue color, aquamarine was used to bring happiness, eternal youth, and control passion. In the body, aquamarine was thought to reduce swelling, prevent convulsions, heal liver ailments, calm nerves, and …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Sapphire
Few gems capture the imagination as does sapphire. Sapphire’s beauty inspired people to wonder. Ancient cultures had many …beliefs about the sapphire. The ancient Persians believed the earth rested on a giant sapphire whose reflection gave the sky its color. Ancient priests and sorcerers honored sapphire above all gems, for this stone enabled them to … and foretell the future. Symbolizing truth, sincerity and tradition, it has been said that when Moses received the Ten Commandments they rested on tablets of sapphires. Marriage partners put great faith in the stone. If its luster …
