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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “blue-topaz”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
Spinel may be one of the most underappreciated gemstones in all of history. For centuries it has been confused with more popular gems like ruby and sapphire, and only recently have people begun to appreciate spinel for its own natural beauty. Commonly made in a lab spinel has been used a lower cost substitute for other gems, but natural spinel is actually a stunning gem in its own right. This in-depth article covers the gemology, history, and lore of this amazing and often overlooked gem.
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Gem in the Spotlight: Morganite
Morganite is a beautiful, soft pink gemstone and a graceful expression of elegance. It is not a very well-known gem, but it definitely should be. It is pastel or pale in color by nature and known for its transparent peach-pink hue though it also occurs as soft pink, violet-pink, or pale salmon. It is the subtle, understated nature of Morganite’s color that sets it apart from many of the more popular gemstones. Morganite has an impressive family tree. It is a beryl gem which puts it in the same family
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Gem in the Spotlight: Alexandrite
Emerald by day, ruby by night, more expensive than diamond and more illustrious than sapphire, emerald, or even ruby, alexandrite has been 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 Chrysoberyl. It appears bluish-green in daylight, fluorescent light, and some LED light. Under incandescent light, candle, and firelight, alexandrite appears purplish-red. This is because of how the trace
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
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 been 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 in shades of pale to medium purple. Amethyst is typically found
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Alternative Metals for Men’s Jewelry
Men now have an incredible array of material options for their wedding band. This in-depth article covers many of the more popular alternative metals (and non-metals) like titanium, tungsten carbide, ceramic, cobalt, carbon fiber, and more. You will learn the pros and cons for each of these new and exciting materials and hopefully get the information you need to find the perfect wedding band for you.
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The Magic of Polarized Light
In this article we do a deep-dive on polarized light and how it is used in gemology. You'll learn what polarized light is and how it's used in our daily lives. You'll also see lots of great, visual examples of polarized light in action as it is used to help identify gemstones in our lab.
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Gem in the Spotlight: Jade
Jade has one of the richest heritages of all gemstones. People have been using jade from as early as 6,000 BC, 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 completely different gems: nephrite and jadeite. These are actually two unique mineral species, but since they have been confused for so many years, and are similar in many
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How Are Lab Grown Diamonds Made?
The dream of making a beautiful and valuable diamond from simple carbon has long captivated the imagination of scientists and visionaries alike. Just like the alchemists of old who sought to turn lead into gold, many have tried to achieve this impressive feat. We have only recently been able to produce gem quality, lab grown diamonds that are large enough to be used in jewelry. But, how is it done? Early Efforts Throughout history, many people have claimed to have successfully synthesized diamonds. However, it was not until relatively recently
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Gem in the Spotlight: Quartz
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on earth, and yet it can also be one of the most valuable. Many quartz gems are common and affordable, while some varieties are very rare. Some are Plain Jane like rock quartz, others are exotic like Drusy Quartz. Some quartz material is a dollar per pound others are $1,000 per carat. Quartz is a gemstone with surprising variety.
