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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “opal”

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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)

  1. Gem in the Spotlight: Opal

    Opal has been described as containing the wonders of the skies, sparkling rainbows, fireworks, and lightning. Its …of color is totally unique in the gem world, and the lore that surrounds it is almost as colorful as the gem itself. Opal is the traditional birthstone for those lucky enough to born in October, and it is found in a huge variety of colors… 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 arrangement of these spheres as well as the background …

  2. The Birthstones

    … during sunset. Sapphire symbolized truth, sincerity and tradition. Learn more about Sapphire October’s Birthstone: Opal (Tourmaline) The opal has been described as containing the wonders of the sky’s sparkling rainbows, fireworks, … fire of the ruby, the rich purple of the amethyst, the sea-green of the emerald. Opal‘s lore is as colorful as the opal itself. The ancient Greeks felt that the opal gave foresight and the gift of prophecy to the wearer. The Romans …

  3. Tourmaline jewelry and loose gems

    Gem in the Spotlight: Tourmaline

    … to 1.644 and a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5 which makes it softer than topaz or sapphire and harder than tanzanite or opal. Tourmaline is found in a huge variety of colors (sometimes even within the same gem), and some of these colors have … the tourmaline deposits of Maine and California and praised the quality of the stones they produced. Along with opal, tourmaline is October’s birthstone. Care and Cleaning of Tourmaline Tourmaline makes a great gem in a ring for …

  4. Retipping is an important jewelry repair technique

    Jewelry Repair FAQ

    …a gemstone fell out; who wouldn’t? That’s why we have literally 100s of carats of loose diamonds, sapphires, rubies, opals, pearls, and more in all shapes and sizes to choose from when selecting a replacement stone for repairs. Matching …gemological training, and years of experience. Of course, some gems are more difficult to match than others. Pearls, opals, and other gems with patterns in them (Blood Stone, Pietersite, etc.) are notoriously difficult to match. With …

  5. Beautiful iolite jewelry and loose gemstones

    Gem in the Spotlight: Iolite

    … color you see is the natural color of the stone when it was first discovered. Coming in at 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, iolite is a somewhat soft gem. It is comparable to quartz (Amethyst, Citrine, etc), a little harder than Opal, and softer than Emerald or Topaz. Because of this, some extra care should be taken with your iolite jewelry. Try to avoid wearing it in situations where it might be hit against hard objects to keep it free from cracks and small chips…

  6. Group of loose amethyst gems emerald cut trillion and oval

    Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst

    … countries such as Russia, the United States, and Canada. Amethyst is known for its 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 chipping. It is also resistant to heat and chemicals which means that it can withstand daily wear and tear. Amethyst has the same refractive index as …

  7. Collection of loose and mounted quartz gems of various types

    Gem in the Spotlight: Quartz

    … red to brown but can be various colors Bloodstone Green jasper dotted with bright red spots Carnelian Reddish orange chalcedony Gemology of Quartz 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 and chemicals, which means that it can withstand daily wear and tear very well. …