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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “white sapphire pendants”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl
… and appearance. Mabe pearls are typically used in jewelry designs that require a flat surface, such as earrings, pendants, and rings. Seed Pearls: These are very small pearls, typically less than 2mm in diameter, that are so named because …iridescent rainbow colors that shimmer on or just below a pearl’s surface). Pearls come in a range of colors, from white to black, with many shades in between. The most valuable pearls are those with a pure, even color, such as white, pink…
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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: Morganite
… which make it a great gemstone for jewelry. Its wide range of soft pinkish colors makes it highly desirable as it compliments most skin tones and complexions. It is entirely appropriate for everyday wear, and it can be worn as rings, pendants, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pins, brooches, or whatever else you can think of. Morganite is considered very affordable, especially allowing for its rarity. But, it may be hard to find in local jewelry stores as it is still …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
… and aquamarine) and are valued for their rich green color. The intensity of an emerald’s hue depends on the presence 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 it a moderately refractive gemstone. Its specific gravity ranges from 2.65 to 2.75. One of the distinctive features of …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Topaz
… preference. Topaz itself is a hard gemstone with a Mohs hardness of 8. Mohs hardness is a standardized metric of how difficult it is to scratch something. For reference, topaz is a bit softer than diamond which is a 10 and corundum (sapphire/ruby) which is a 9 on the scale. It is a bit harder than emerald at 7.5-8 and quartz which comes in at 7. Here are some more gemological stats for reference: Refractive index: 1.619 to 1.627 Birefringence: 0.008 to 0.010 Specific …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Amethyst
… found in smaller deposits in other 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 …
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The Magic of Polarized Light
…gemstones, due to their unique chemical structure, actually polarize light themselves. These gems are doubly refractive (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 in one direction. Gemologists use the term birefringence to refer to how doubly refractive a particular gem is. By …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Aquamarine
… in shades of blue-green. Aquamarine has a refractive index of 1.577 to 1.583 and is doubly refractive. Aquamarine’s specific gravity 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 still be taken to ensure that the stone is not damaged. Caring For and Cleaning Aquamarine To maintain the …
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Art Deco vs. Art Nouveau Style Jewelry
…. Precious metals like platinum and white gold alongside rare and valuable gemstones such as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires, were the materials of choice for Art Deco jewelry makers. The most prevalent diamond cut found in Art Deco jewelry… pieces that were not just adornments but works of art. Many Art Nouveau jewelry pieces were made in silver, but white gold and platinum were quite common as well. The diamonds used in Art Nouveau jewelry were typically Old Mine cuts, but …