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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Letter B”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
Spinel, the Great Imposter” sounds like the title 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 … used as a substitute for similar looking stones. In recent years, spinel has started to move out of the shadows and be appreciated in its own right, and we can see why. Its colors rival even the best rubies, sapphires, tourmalines, …other more popular gems. For only the 3rd time in the last one hundred years, the industry is modifying the official birthstone list. Spinel will be joining peridot as the August birthstone! This change was officially made in 2016, but…
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Anatomy of a Ring
Knowing the different parts of a ring can help you make a better decision when choosing a new ring and it can help you know when your ring may need maintenance. It’s also a fun… friends with your vast knowledge of jewelry terms. Shank Every ring has a shank. This is the technical term for the band of metal that encircles the finger. There would be no ring without the shank. If the ring has a distinct design … is generally said to start at the point that the design stops. A jeweler will usually add or remove metal from the bottom of the shank when sizing a ring. This can sometimes be done so well that you would never know it was sized …
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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 … long? Is it ruby’s color? It’s rarity, and thereby its high cost? Or, is it something 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… with sapphires. Corundum is an extremely durable form of aluminum oxide with a Moh’s hardness of 9. This makes ruby one of the hardest gems commonly used in jewelry second only to diamond (which has a Moh’s hardness of 10) and …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Iolite
Iolite is maybe not the first gemstone people think of for their blue-violet jewelry, but it should be near the top of the list. …, and violet competes for public attention with sapphire, tanzanite, and amethyst. They may have name recognition, but iolite has a rich, unique color and great gem value on its side. It is more subtlety nuanced than amethyst and … its violet color. It is from the Greek word “ios” meaning violet. Unlike many other popular gems, iolite cannot be heat treated to enhance its color. The color you see is the natural color of the stone when it was first discovered. …
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How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
The dream of making a beautiful and valuable diamond from simple carbon has long captivated the imagination of scientists and visionaries … of old who sought to turn lead into gold, many have tried to achieve this impressive feat. We have only recently been able to produce gem quality, lab grown diamonds that are large enough to be used in jewelry. But, how is it done? …have successfully synthesized diamonds. However, it was not until relatively recently that a documented and reproducible process was demonstrated. Henri Moissan was one of the early pioneers in the field. In 1893, he claimed to have …
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What to Do When Your Ring Irritates Your Skin
Nothing is more frustrating than being unable to wear your engagement ring or other jewelry because it irritates your skin. Don’t worry. There are many…The first step is to try to determine what the cause of the irritation is. There are actually several different possible causes and it’s easy to waste a lot of time and money trying different solutions if you don’t know what the true … rubbing against the skin, and 2) allergic reactions to jewelry. These types of irritation can look very similar, but their root causes and solutions are very different. Physical Irritation This can be caused by the design of the ring…
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Star White Gold
How white is your white gold? Style, fashion, and beauty are all reasons to choose white gold. White gold compliments diamonds. White gold is bright. White gold has a …. Grade 3 is off white, grade 2 is standard, and grade 1 is premium. This means that when white gold is made, it can be yellowish to light yellow. When white gold rings are new they are coated with a white metal called rhodium. Rhodium…. The rhodium plating is used to make the white gold look whiter. The natural color of the white gold could actually be a light yellow color. The rhodium is very white and very hard, but it does wear away eventually. Regular, Plus, or …
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Types of Jewelry Clasps
… variety of clasps, each with its own purpose and unique design. Whether you are searching for a replacement for a broken clasp or just looking to learn more about them, this article is for you. History of Jewelry Clasps Jewelry clasps… of the jewelry and provide a secure way to wear and display precious pieces. The history of jewelry clasps dates back centuries, and we can watch as clasps have evolved over time to meet the changing needs and preferences of different…
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How to Clean Pearl Jewelry
Pearls are considered by many to be symbols of purity and chastity. But even symbols of purity get dirty from time to time. As you know … produced when a mollusk secretes nacre to form a covering around a foreign body in its shell. Pearls are not as durable as gemstones produced by the heaving pressure beneath the earth’s surface. Therefore special attention should be …thing that you take off. Common personal products like cosmetics and perfume can severely damage pearls. They should be cleaned in warm soapy water periodically, gently scrubbing individually with a soft brush. A soft brush must be …
