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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “What does ci mark mean”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Opal
… proper care opals can last for generations. Opals have very high water content, typically hovering around the 5-10% mark. As opals dry out over time they can sometimes crack at the surface, which is called crazing. As of this writing … (see above). Other names for this kind of opal include: jelly opal and water opal. Australian Opal: This is a somewhat vague term that can be used to describe any opal that comes from Australia. In everyday conversation, some people use …
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Art Deco vs. Art Nouveau Style Jewelry
… influence everywhere. They are also important guide posts that can aid in dating vintage and antique jewelry. So, what are these two movements all about, and where did they come from? Origins and Historical Context Originating in the …and the human form. Art Nouveau, also referred to as Jugendstil and Stile Liberty among many other monikers, simply means “New Art” and it impacted almost every artistic medium. Jewelry makers embraced materials such as enamel, horn, and …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Jade
…and it has been an incredibly important part of Asian, Central American, and North American history ever since. But, what is jade, and what has given it such a prominent place in human history? The term “jade” actually refers to two …, but its beauty and cultural importance have landed it a spot as one of the most important items in the global gem market. In fact, jadeite is often sold by the individual piece instead of by weight like most gems. This is because even …
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Brands and Designer Jewelry
…others cannot. When a designer brand cannot keep up with the times, they simply fade away and become less relevant. What makes a top jewelry designer is staying in style from year to year and decade to decade. Quality Luxury brand jewelry… designers foster a loyalty that goes beyond image. It becomes the identity of the person. Personas’ are formed by what we wear, and top jewelry brands provide value that goes beyond jewelry for many people. Is Designer Jewelry for Me? …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
… every emerald has had some level of treatment to make the fractures less visible. It is so common that if the stone doesn’t have a report from a reputable lab (like GIA) saying otherwise, it is assumed that it has been treated with some …traditional grinding wheels used for milling sugarcane in Colombia, where these unique gems are predominantly found. What sets trapiche emeralds apart from other emeralds is their unique growth habit, featuring six black spokes radiating …
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The Magic of Polarized Light
… polarized light on a daily basis 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 …of the molecules are aligned with each other so only a certain vibrational direction of light can pass through. This means that all of the light that passes through a polarizing filter is “polarized.” Common Uses for Polarizing Filters …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Blue Zircon
…Zircon colors are pure and have that distinctive fire that sets it apart from other gems. The Gemology of Zircon Why does zircon have so much more fire then other colored gems? Zircon has a high refractive index (1.92-2.01). The …heat treatments. Zircon is a durable gemstone with good hardness on the Mohs scale (6 to 7.5). However, Zircon has what is known as indistinct cleavage which creates a somewhat brittle tendency that can lead to chips, especially along …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Sapphire
Few gems capture the imagination as does sapphire. Sapphire’s beauty inspired people to wonder. Ancient cultures had many lore and beliefs about the sapphire… were set in the Bishop’s ring as a symbol of unity between the priest, the sky and heaven. Sapphire has been associated with divine favor. The Buddhists believed that the sapphire favored devotion and spiritual enlightenment. It is the…. Sapphire, a variety of corundum, comes in all colors except red (the red variety being known as ruby), but is especially popular in deep blue. Fancy colored sapphires including pink, green, orange, and golden yellow are magnificent in…
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Understanding the Diamond Buying Game
… with the same standard. GIA and AGS use the most technical standards. EGL uses a looser grading standard, I call market grading. In addition, EGL has a franchise like business model and different EGL labs grade wildly different. Some … what the customer, the diamond owner wants the report to say. So the first problem you have to contend with is what lab graded the diamond and how they grade. Next, understanding a diamond report is not just seeing the four C’s grade to …
