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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Precious stone”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Aquamarine
…aquamarine to give them courage and tame the ocean waves. One myth says, “to dream of aquamarine signifies the making of new friends.” Another saying is, “to wear aquamarine earrings brings love and affection.” Aquamarine as a precious stone has always been popular. In ancient times, the aquamarine was believed to instill courage in those who wore them. Ancient Indians wore aquamarine in amulets, and the Egyptians carved it into talismans. In the Middle Ages, aquamarine was …
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How to Sell Your Jewelry
… 90% pure and 10% alloy. Silver jewelry is usually sterling, which is .925 pure. The three units of weight used with precious metals are troy ounces, pennyweights, and grams. The troy ounce is equal to 20 pennyweights (DWT) or 31.15 grams (…
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The Magic of Polarized Light
… Polarizing filters are critical to many fields of study. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to easily identify gemstones, TVs and monitors wouldn’t work in the same way, and the latest blockbuster movie wouldn’t pop off the screen the way … them to function efficiently as they do without negative side effects. Using Polarized Light in Gemology Some gemstones, due to their unique chemical structure, actually polarize light themselves. These gems are doubly refractive (DR) and…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
… pose threats. The safest bet is to use warm soapy water and a soft-bristled brush. Or, you can always have your spinel jewelry professionally clean by a local jeweler like us. Spinel can be stored with other jewelry but 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 reason why a piece of …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Quartz
… at the title and knew). Quartz is one of the most common minerals on earth. 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 …, microcrystalline and cryptocrystalline. Within each of these broad categories, the different colors of the gemstone are given different names. Below is a quick list to help you get a better handle on the vast diversity of quartz. Before …
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The History of Diamond Cuts
One of the earliest recorded statements about diamonds is: “the substance that possesses the greatest value, not only among the precious stones, but of all human possessions.” said by Pliny, the Roman historian. The story of the diamond cut is the story of humankind’s love of diamonds and our quest to unlock their true brilliance. Before Diamond Cutting The Romans loved …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Alexandrite
… known around the 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 … 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 …
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Caring for and Cleaning Your Jewelry
…. This will take away the shine. Ammonia-based cleaners clean diamonds and gold well but they may hurt other gemstones. It is also not a good idea to soak jewelry for very long in ammonia-based cleaners. Some anti-bacteria cleaners can … especially). It is safe to use an ultrasonic cleaner with diamond jewelry. Ultrasonic’s can damage other gemstones, know for certain it is safe to use. Ethyl alcohol is good for rinsing diamonds because it evaporates so quickly. Do not …
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Jewelry Repair FAQ
… related questions. If you have a question that you don’t see answered here, please contact us and let us know. A gemstone fell out of my ring. Will the new stone match the old one? We get this question all the time. People want their …, sapphires, rubies, opals, pearls, and more in all shapes and sizes to choose from when selecting a replacement stone for repairs. Matching stones takes a discerning eye, attention to detail, extensive gemological training, and years of …
