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Gem in the Spotlight: Quartz

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Amethyst, Citrine, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Onyx, Prasiolite, Quartz

…well known but 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 … 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 quartz material is a dollar per pound while others are $1,000+ per carat. …

Styles of Earring Backs

FJU Category: General Info | Tags: Comparison, Earring Backs, Stud Earrings

Earrings come in many different styles. Here we will explore the more common types of earring backs, highlighting some of the… the proper name for it. Maybe you are looking for the perfect gift. Maybe you are having trouble with your current earrings and are looking for alternatives. Or maybe you are simply interested in expanding your general jewelry knowledge. … backs,” and sometimes “push backs.” These are undoubtedly the most common style of earring back. They work on earrings with posts, using friction to secure the earring in place–hence the name. Often times the post has a notch so that the …

Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Amethyst, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Jewelry History

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 surprising that amethyst has … which means that it can withstand daily wear and tear. Amethyst has the same refractive index as other varieties of quartz at 1.54-1.55 and is doubly refractive. It has a vitreous polish luster and its specific gravity is 2.66. Its …tribute to the goddess Diana. In order to protect Amethyst, Diana turned her into a statue made of pure, crystalline quartz. Dionysus, upon seeing the stunning statue, wept tears of wine in remorse for his actions. These tears stained the …

The History of Diamond Cuts

FJU Category: Diamonds | Tags: Diamond Information, Gemology, Jewelry History, Old European Diamond

… the brilliance within the diamond, and variations of it are still used today. Another early diamond cut is the rose cut or rosette cut. The rose cut looks like half a diamond to modern eyes. It has anywhere from 3 to 24 facets coming to …a pavilion. Interesting fact #2: Some diamond cuts do not have a standard number of facets. As we have just seen the rose cut has many variations. A 3 facet rose cut looks a lot different than a 24 facet rose cut. Some cuts can vary by …

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Birthstones, Folklore, Gemology

…. Learn more about Garnet and Tasvorite Garnet February’s Birthstone: Amethyst Amethyst, transparent purple quartz, is the most important quartz variety used in jewelry. Purple has long been considered a royal color so it is not surprising …. According to legend, this golden stone possesses the power to cure many diseases. Citrine, a transparent yellow quartz gem many of the best of which come from Brazil, is a current day birthstone for this month. Learn more about Topaz and …

Gem in the Spotlight: Tanzanite

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Tanzanite, Zoisite

…, which is a tendency to break when struck) means that care should be taken to avoid sharp impacts. Setting it in earrings or a pendant will help protect it if the intended use is daily wear. Rings and bracelets set with tanzanite should only… effects while they were still underground. Without heating, most tanzanite would be a brown color, similar to smoky quartz. The very small percentage of tanzanite that isn’t heated and is still pretty enough for jewelry displays trichroism…