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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “London blue topaz”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
…like with all precious stones, it should be treated and stored with care. Its Mohs hardness of 8 puts it on par with Topaz. It’s softer than diamond or sapphire but harder than quartz, tourmaline, and peridot. With proper care there’s no … of all time. Spinel was first made in a lab over 100 years ago when scientists who were trying to synthesize blue sapphire wound up creating spinel by mistake. Since then many processes have been used and perfected to create spinel in …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
… deposits in other countries such as Russia, the United States, and Canada. Amethyst is known for its durability with a Mohs hardness rating of 7. For reference, amethyst is roughly as hard as tourmaline, softer than sapphire and topaz, and harder than opal and tanzanite. This makes it a durable gemstone that is resistant to scratching and chipping. It is also resistant to heat and chemicals which means that it can withstand daily wear and tear. Amethyst has the same …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Morganite
… gemstone for jewelry. For the gem nerds out there, here are a few of the gemological properties of Morganite. Its durability is rated as excellent. Its hardness is 7.5 – 8.0 on the Mohs hardness scale which is comparable to emerald, topaz, and spinel. Its refractive index is 1.560 – 1.600, and its specific gravity is 2.67 – 2.90. These characteristics help identify Morganite as beryl and distinguish it from other pink gemstones. Morganite is commonly heat treated to …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Peridot
…it was believed that they intensified the effects of the drug. Gemologically speaking, Peridot is the gem variety of Olivine. It has a Moh’s hardness of 6.5 to 7 which makes it a little harder than Moonstone and a little softer than Topaz. Care should be taken to protect peridot from scratches, sharp blows, household chemicals and extreme temperature changes. Do not use a home ultrasonic machine for cleaning. Instead, use warm soapy water and a tooth brush for at-home …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Quartz
… colors Bloodstone Green jasper dotted with bright red spots Carnelian Reddish orange chalcedony Gemology of Quartz Quartz is known for its durability with a Mohs hardness rating of 7 (harder than opal and peridot but softer than topaz or sapphire). This makes it a fairly hard gemstone that is resistant to scratching and chipping. It is also resistant to heat and chemicals, which means that it can withstand daily wear and tear very well. All quartz has the same …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Alexandrite
… most wavelengths of light very well, only transmitting green and red light. This means that depending on the light source the stone will reflect more of the accent colors of light. Since fluorescent light has a stronger greenish-blue component, the stone appears greener. Under candlelight, which has a much stronger red/orange component, the stone will appear redder. Alexandrite has a refractive index of 1.746-1.755 with an average birefringence of .010. It has a …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl
… Pearls: Also known as black pearls, Tahitian pearls are a type of saltwater pearl that are grown primarily in French Polynesia. They are known for their dark, rich colors, which range from dark green and gray to deep shades of blue and black. Tahitian pearls are generally large with an average size of 9mm to 18mm, and they commonly have baroque or irregular shapes. South Sea Pearls: Only a small percentage of oysters are able to produce these large, high-quality pearls…
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The Magic of Polarized Light
…, darken skies, and cuts out glare to help improve photo quality. Some filters can even be rotated on the lens to selectively see through the surface of water or only capture the reflection. Modern 3D movies: Unlike old school red and blue 3D movies, modern 3D uses two images along with a pair of glasses that have polarizing filters for lenses. This tricks your brain into thinking you are seeing a three-dimensional object using our perception of depth. Liquid crystal …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Opal
…, you will get different colors. Opals can display just about every color of the rainbow, but hues of green and blue are the most common. Typically the higher end opals have a darker body color, and a wide range of colors. Red carries … orange body color, many of these stones have little to no play of color. The best stones have strong greens and blues that flash through the orange body color. Boulder Opal: Boulder opals are gem opal material that still incorporates …
