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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “pros and cons”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Jewelry Repair FAQ
…of your jewelry repair related questions. If you have a question that you don’t see answered here, please contact us and let us know. A gemstone fell out of my ring. Will the new stone match the old one? We get this question all the time… 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 stones takes a …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
… an action movie, but it could also be the title of this article. For years spinel has been confused with other gems and even today is often used as a substitute for similar looking stones. In recent years, spinel has started to move out… be appreciated in its own right, and we can see why. Its colors rival even the best rubies, sapphires, tourmalines, and other more popular gems. For only the 3rd time in the last one hundred years, the industry is modifying the official…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Tourmaline
… never heard of. Less popular than the likes of ruby or sapphire, tourmaline flies under the radar in the gem world and remains the best kept secret of gem collectors and connoisseurs who appreciate its unique properties and stunning … to be ruby, sapphire, or emerald. Gemology of Tourmaline Gemologically speaking, tourmaline is its own mineral and not a species or member of a different family (unlike emerald and aquamarine, for example, which are members of the beryl…
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Platinum
Everything you ever wanted to know (and more) about Platinum and its use in jewelry. Platinum is one of the rarest and most durable precious metals. … forever, unlike other white metals which can, in time, turn yellow or tarnish. Platinum belongs to the noble and precious metals family. It is resistant to tarnishing and discoloration due to chlorine and other chemicals. These factors…, have made platinum an increasingly popular choice for jewelry, either on its own or as the setting for diamonds and other precious gemstones. Platinum jewelry does not fade or tarnish and keeps its looks for a lifetime. Platinum’s …
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What Are Lab Grown Diamonds?
… gems, again, are attempting to mimic another gem, and if they are not clearly disclosed as simulants they are considered fakes. A white sapphire is not, by nature, a fake (in fact it is a beautiful and highly valuable gem). But if it is …. The complexity arises from the fact that lots of different terms have been used to describe lab grown diamonds and their cousins, and not everyone uses these terms in the same way. So, let’s begin with some vocabulary. Synthetic. …
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The Magic of Polarized 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 …ll show you why. What Is Polarized Light? Light from almost any light source travels in many different directions, and the vibrations around each ray of light are random. This is called unpolarized light. In the gemological world, this w…
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Synthetic Gems: The Whole Story
Ruby, sapphire, emerald and alexandrite are very beautiful gems and very rare in their stunning beauty. These four gems have been coveted by … of years. But, what if anyone could own them? At gem shows and museums, I have seen jaw dropping rubies, sapphires and emeralds. These gems in high quality have put ownership beyond most people to justify the price. Just a one carat gem…over $10,000 routinely. The answer was to find a less expensive way to have these gems. It took over a hundred years and millions of dollars of research to create what nature can produce. Man made gems come in many forms. Every thing …
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Fake Diamonds: The Great Diamond Attack
A popular game show would have three people all say that they were someone and the contestant would try to find out who was the real person. Technology has created many new diamonds and diamond … these days. And the problem of separating a fully natural diamond from all the modern possibilities is quite demanding. So what is a real diamond? Let’s start with the older diamond look a likes, (CZ, GGG, YAG, Synthetic corundum and … tester and understanding gem properties make choosing the diamond an easy task with these older lookalikes. Apathy and sloppy observation can let one of the older lookalikes get by, but generally the profession is dealing with these …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Aquamarine
… 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 … a happy marriage Best known for its beautiful blue color, aquamarine was used to bring happiness, eternal youth, and control passion. In the body, aquamarine was thought to reduce swelling, prevent convulsions, heal liver ailments, calm…
