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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Sapphire and diamond-ring”
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Gem in the Spotlight: 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 …What is common and yet rare? What is well known but surprising? What is affordably priced sometimes and sometimes unattainably …The most important reason for this variety is that quartz comes in 3 main forms: macrocrystalline, microcrystalline and cryptocrystalline. Within each of these broad categories, the different colors of the gemstone are given different …
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What are “Blood Diamonds”?
Conflict diamonds are diamonds illegally traded to fund conflict in war-torn areas, particularly in central and western Africa. The United Nations (UN) defines conflict diamonds as “…diamonds that originate from areas …. Dedicated to eradicating the trade in conflict diamonds, it worked closely with the United Nations, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada to create the Kimberley … conflict. Today, 71 governments have enshrined into their national law the Kimberley Process Certification System, and now more than 99% of the world’s diamonds are from conflict free sources. The flow of conflict diamonds has been …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Opal
…used in jewelry. For reference, here are the Mohs hardness values for some other gemstones you may know: Diamond 10, Sapphire 9, Amethyst 7, and Peridot 6. Turquoise is about as hard as opal, but you would need to consider Pearl or Amber (…Opal has been described as containing the wonders of the skies, sparkling rainbows, fireworks, and lightning. Its dazzling play of color is totally unique in the gem world, and the lore that surrounds it is almost … internal structure. This gemstone is composed of tiny silica spheres arranged in a pattern, which diffract light and create the spectacular play of colors known as opalescence . The colors seen in an opal depend on the size and …
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The Magic of Polarized Light
… (DR) and they will split incoming light in multiple directions. Some common examples of doubly refractive gems are sapphire, tourmaline, and moissanite. These are contrasted with singly refractive (SR) gems like diamond that only bend light … when we put on our sunglasses, turn on our TV, or sit down at our computer. But, what is polarized light exactly, and why is my jeweler writing about it? It turns out that polarized light is actually a very useful tool in gemology, and …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
… of chromium and vanadium in the crystal structure. Emerald’s 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 …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 … that are visible to the naked eye. These inclusions are not necessarily considered flaws but rather add character and uniqueness to the stone. At this point in history, almost every emerald has had some level of treatment to make the …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Tanzanite
…, even with its rarity and dynamic look, tanzanite is still less in price than more commonly known gems like rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Gemology of Tanzanite Gemologists refer to this gem as blue zoisite. The vast majority (current … its color. Tanzanite has a Moh’s hardness of 6-7, making it about the same hardness as quartz, softer than ruby, sapphire and emerald and hard than opal. Tanzanite has a refractive index of 1.69-1.70. History and Lore of Tanzanite Tanzanite …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
… 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 …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… 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 it is often found …
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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 pearls are produced when a mollusk …. Therefore special attention should be used when cleaning them. Pearls should be the last thing that you put on and the first thing that you take off. Common personal products like cosmetics and perfume can severely damage pearls. They … the surface of the pearl. Care must be taken to clean well around the drill hole, but do not dip the whole strand into the cleaning solution because water could get into the drill hole and cause the pearl to discolor. Also, if the silk …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Aquamarine
…ravity is 2.72 and it has a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8.0. For comparison, this means that it is softer than Sapphire, harder than Quartz, and similar to Topaz. This makes it a very durable stone that is suitable for regular wear. But, care should… cousins in addition to a rich history of its own. The Mythology of Aquamarine Long associated with tranquility and happiness, aquamarine was also thought to instill courage, cure laziness, and sharpen the intellect. The ancient Greeks …
