The Meaning of Gemstone

A gemstone may be a rock, mineral, or even a petrified material that’s cut and polished to be used for making jewelry pieces. It may be even harvested like pearls or organic like amber, just as long as it has aesthetic appeal. In the old days, precious gemstones only referred to the Big Three: emeralds, sapphires, and rubies. Everything else was labeled as semi-precious gemstones.

Categories today, however, have been thankfully changed and widened to avoid further confusion.

The Ins and Outs of Lapidary

Lapidary refers to the process of cutting and polishing gemstones. Rough materials are left uncut and unpolished. Cobbed materials are referred to as fractured. Materials like silicon carbide and diamond, due to their hardness, are used for cutting gemstones in a progressive abrasion process. Compounds like aluminum and chromium oxide are, on the other hand, used for polishing gemstones.

Common cutting techniques include tumbling, drilling, polishing, lapping, sanding, grinding, and sawing. Cut gemstones are then polished into several forms such as sculptures, intaglios, cameos, mosaics, intarsias, inlays, spheres, beads, cabochons, and faceted stones.

Sawing The main tool used in sawing is a copper or steel blade with diamond grit on the edges. Water or oil is used to eliminate cutting debris and prevent the blade and stone from overheating.

Grinding Diamond-impregnated grinding wheels made of silicon carbide are used to grind gemstones and shape them into a pre-form. Liquid substance is also used to prevent both the stone and tool from overheating.

Sanding This process is similar to grinding but utilizes finer abrasives instead. It is often performed as a follow-up after grinding for removing scratches caused by the previous cutting technique. For round gemstones, a belt sander may be used in accompaniment to ensure smoother and rounder curves.

Lapping A lap, which is a flat disk that’s either vibrating or rotating, is used to create flat surfaces rather than round ones. The process however is similar to sanding and grinding.

Drilling This technique is used if the lapidarist wishes to create a hole through or in a gemstone. Drilling tools may be rotating or ultrasonic.

Tumbling A gemstone that’s placed in a rotating barrel filled with water and abrasives is tumbled for polishing. These gemstones are usually roughly shaped and the polishing process is gradual and performed with interval washings. Sometimes, vibratory machines are used in lieu of rotating barrels. This time, the barrels vibrate rather than rotate. Tumbling techniques are also used to polish metal jewelry pieces.

Cabochons Cabbing or cabochon cutting is achieved by gluing or dopping the gemstone into a metal or wooden dopstick or simply holding it in place. The cabbing machine then twirls and creates a round smooth surface top and a flat or slightly rounded bottom for the gemstone. This is usually an alternative to faceting for gemstones that possess too many inclusions.

Faceted Stones Gemstones that have faceted forms reflect brilliant color and clarity from all sides and at all light levels. This technique is most suitable for transparent stones. Today, new techniques like grooves and concave facets are used to create new looks for faceted gemstones.

The Importance of Cut and Polish in Gemstones

Cut is one of the all-important 4C’s and which is used not only to appraise diamonds but gemstones in general as well. Gemstones are often cut with regard to their size alone. But beautifully cut gemstones take their color into consideration as well.

If you are shopping for faceted gemstones, one way of determining the excellence of its cut is to check if its able to reflect light on a consistent level throughout its surface. Look for symmetrical rather than asymmetrical cuts as well. Lastly, be reminded that cut is different from shape.

Polish is simply like adding the final touches to a gemstone. A well-polished gemstone is one with evenly smooth gloss and with no visible scratches on its surface.

The aforementioned gemstones are popular due to their striking colors such as blue, red and green. While sapphires among the three other gemstones have other variety in terms of its color, which includes yellow, green and pink.

Nonetheless, all gemstones have their own respective appealing color which adds to its daintiness. As an example, we may take the pearls which have several colors like pink, red and white while aquamarine is known for being bluish green. The amethyst for that matter is known for being stained with the shades of purple, while garnets are known to be green, purple and red. Gems also have other color variations like red, green and blue.

Your desire matters

An exceptional advantage that is offered by gemstones to its clients is that they have all the freedom to select the color which they prefer. In line to that, most of the gems that are intense and richest in terms of its color merit higher market value as compared to others. This is the very reason why other gemstones even though it is of the same kind has different price depending on its color.

For instance the emerald is known for its various shades of green, however the most famous color is the bluish green which also happens to be the most expensive kind.

Finding treasure

If you think that those adorable gemstones are beautiful from the very start then you are wrong, because when they are located inside the mines they might probably end up on long list of your most precious objects. The beauty of the gem only is discovered after it is polished and cut out by the stores which are to sell these gems to the public.

The richer the color of the stone the more precious it is. But of course once it undergoes the proper polishing measures, its sparkle also contributes to its potential market value. However, you ought to be reminded that the stones of the richest colors are very rare, which results to the lessening of the client’s standards and leads them to settle for gems with lighter colors.

]]> http://knowingjewelry.com/rarity-is-determined-by-the-gems-color.html/feed 8 http://knowingjewelry.com/briolette-old-fashioned-cut-becomes-a-classic.html http://knowingjewelry.com/briolette-old-fashioned-cut-becomes-a-classic.html#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:56:30 +0000 MS Prasaja http://knowingjewelry.com/?p=11 There are a lot of gemstones that are cut in a certain way to create briolette jewelry. Briolette refers to the shape of stones that are cut into a pear shape. A briolette looks like an oval stone at the bottom that gradually narrows to taper sharply at the top, giving it the shape of a tear drop.

Briolette stones

Briolette jewelry can be made from a variety of stones, whether they are precious or semi-precious stones like diamond, amethyst, citrine, garnet, tourmaline, sapphire, ruby, emerald, you name it. Jewelers who use the briolette cut often inspect the gem carefully to make sure that it is the best cut for that particular stone.

Why briolette?

The briolette cut often brings out the brilliance of a stone and makes it sparkle but in a more refined way. Briolette jewelry emerged around the 17th century when jewelers wanted their gemstones to attract an admirer and not blind him.

Jewelers were also able to maximize the original size of the rough stone, keeping as much of the stone as possible. This is why you can often find briolettes that are elongated or even globular. The early days sure did allow cutters to do as they wished with the rough stone they had in their hands.

Although briolette jewelry lost its charm when round brilliant cuts emerged, they are currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. These days, briolette cut stones can be found on earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, even tiaras.

Buying briolette jewelry

Regardless of whether you’re buying a diamond or a peridot, there are certain things you should look for in briolette jewelry. Look for a rounder shape at the bottom of the ‘pear’. This is the mark of quality. It’s nearly impossible to count the facets, so you’ll have to look for more precise faceting.

As for the setting, check the positions of the drill holes, especially in pendants and earrings. The hole should be in the center and the wall holding the stone in place should be stable. An off-center hole might loosen the stone over time.

And of course, consider the color class and the carat. Most briolette jewelry are priced depending on these two factors.

Who wears briolette jewelry?

The soft triangular shape of briolette jewelry makes it a favorite among women with small, pointed chins or those with oval or inverted triangle faces. Briolette earrings and pendants can sometimes emphasize a squarer jaw, so some women with this face shape opt for other cuts or at least prefer to wear smaller-cut briolettes. It’s a very trendy yet elegant shape and as long as the size and design are carefully chosen, almost anyone can wear it.

The name emerald is from the Greek word smaragdos, the name been given among the number of unique stones. In the Zodiac signs, this is the birthstone that has been assigned to Taurus. It is even used as the anniversary gemstone for marriage, because it symbolizes kindness, faith and purity.

Emeralds are known to have a healing ability. Although it isn’t directly a replacement for the traditional medical treatment, emerald was used for emotional and physical healing. The refreshing green color quality of emerald can cure eye problems; it is even a good amulet for eye troubles.

Moreover, when emeralds are worn around the neck and fingers of children it can prevent them from having convulsions. Emeralds help patients with ailments of the spine, and it helps fight neurological and mental disorders. It can even be an antidote for most poisons and eases wounds associated with poisons.

Emeralds are believed to have some mystical powers. Some people say that it can drive away evil spirits. Having an emerald with you can make you a man of wisdom, for it is said to bring wisdom to those who have or wear it. The ancients believed that it was a good amulet for those who wanted to have good fortune.

Lastly, emeralds are popularly known to be a symbol of faith and love. It can even discover false friends, because it actually changes color in their presence. As for love, when the emerald fades, that means that love weakens so better check the color.

To achieve a lasting beautiful emerald gemstone, care and treatment is needed. To clean the stone, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe it. Use oil when treating it, never use ultrasonic cleaner, because it can remove the oil that is being used during treatments. Lastly, never soak it in hot water, the color of the stone easily changes when it is strongly heated.

When buying your precious emerald, consult a professional retail jeweler to make sure that you will get the real one. A professional knows about details of the emerald, it is very confusing sometimes to compare a true emerald from a synthetic one.

]]> http://knowingjewelry.com/emeralds-a-charming-beauty.html/feed 10 http://knowingjewelry.com/how-to-determine-the-price-value-of-color-in-gemstones.html http://knowingjewelry.com/how-to-determine-the-price-value-of-color-in-gemstones.html#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:31:05 +0000 MS Prasaja http://knowingjewelry.com/?p=155 Gemstones may come in a rainbow of colors, but the jewelry industry uses a universally defined system to grade it. Color accompanies clarity, cut, and carat weight to make up the 4C’s and can greatly affect the aesthetic value of gemstones. Many people mistakenly believe that darker is always better, but what they should truly be looking for is brightness and vividness. Use the following tips to accurately evaluate the color of gemstones by yourself.

Evaluating Color of Gemstones by Using the GIA or Munsell Color Grading System

Although there are many and equally effective color grading systems in use today, the GIA or Munsell system is a good primer to start with. It utilizes a plastic set made up of 324 color pieces to serve as standard references. If a certain color is found missing from the system, interpolation can be performed to come up with more than 760 additional shades.

The GIA or Munsell system is made ideal for judging the color of gemstones because they are built with 3D plastic pieces that resemble faceted gemstones.

Elements of Color

The color of gemstones should be judged according to the three main elements:

Hue – This is the first impression we obtain from viewing colors. It is what makes rubies red, sapphires blue, emeralds green, and amethysts purple. Hues have a natural order and they are red, yellow, green, blue, and lastly purple. Numerous shades can be achieved by mixing together any two of these hues.

Chroma or Saturation – This element refers to the vividness, purity, strength, or intensity of a given color. Gemstones with low chroma are referred to as weak while those with high levels of saturation are called vivid or strong. Saturation of colored gemstones may be classified as the following in ascending order: grayish or brownish, slightly brownish or grayish, very slightly grayish or brownish, moderately strong, strong, and lastly vivid.

Value or Tone – This is what makes you think of red as light or dark red. Gray as well as black and white are referred to as neutral or achromatic colors because they don’t possess any hue. Colors with hues are referred to as achromatic colors. GIA uses a numerical system, with its written definitions, to evaluate neutral and achromatic colors alike. For transparent colored gemstones, however, only grades or tones two to eight are considered.

0 colorless or white

1 extremely light

2 very light

3 light

4 medium light

5 medium

6 medium dark

7 dark

8 very dark

Treatments Used for Changing Colors of Gemstones

When shopping for colored gemstones, another question you should definitely ask and one you couldn’t evaluate without a definite honest answer is if the color is natural or applied. There are several commonly used and accepted color treatments that are applied to gemstones in order to change their appearance like heat treatment, irradiation, dyeing, and straining.

Heat Treatment This is the most commonly utilized and one of the oldest treatments for modifying the color of gemstones today. This treatment may use temperature ranging from 100 degrees Celsius to more than 2000 degrees Celsius and improves color distribution as well as reducing visibility of flaws.

Irradiation Low or high electromagnetic waves or energy particles are used to change the color of a given gemstone. Like heat treatment, there is little remaining evidence that could clue a buyer to its use.

With irradiation, certain gemstones have their colors enhanced. Bleached, off-color pearls will obtain a darker tint. Brown or light yellow diamonds can become colored. Light yellow or colorless sapphires may turn yellow to orange, but the change could only last for days. Colorless quartz may turn into smoky quartz. Colorless as well as pale pink and dark blue beryl may become yellow or maxixe-type respectively. Time, light, and heat may, however, cause the color for treated beryl jewelry to fade.

Dyeing and Straining This is the major term used to refer to various techniques utilizing a foreign and differently colored substance to modify the color of a given gemstone. A combination of techniques, like dyeing and clarity enhancement for beryl, may be used to improve overall effects. In coating, the application of a second substance is only done on the surface.

Practice makes perfect so browse jewelry shops to familiarize yourself with the various signs that could alert you to the use of applications and treatments on gemstones.

]]> http://knowingjewelry.com/how-to-determine-the-price-value-of-color-in-gemstones.html/feed 21 http://knowingjewelry.com/tips-for-buying-artisan-jewelry.html http://knowingjewelry.com/tips-for-buying-artisan-jewelry.html#comments Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:30:08 +0000 MS Prasaja http://knowingjewelry.com/?p=153 The value of jewelry is so much more than just the value of the gemstones and the gold, platinum or silver that make up the setting. Often, it is the craftsmanship that makes the jewelry so much more than just a combination of stone and metal. This is why artisan jewelry is one of the most sought-after pieces of jewelry around. If you’re buying, here are some tips you can use:

Artisan jewelry is not always one-of-a-kind.

The best type of artisan jewelry is the handcrafted kind. Although some of these may be produced using a single design, it is unlikely that they will be exactly the same. In fact, artisan jewelry can be custom-made to fit a person’s preferred design.

However, some companies prefer to mass produce their artisan jewelry, with some pieces becoming part of a limited edition. This helps ensure that their quality is superior. Limited edition jewelry is easier to inspect for defects.

Check artisan jewelry for quality and craftsmanship.

Every piece of jewelry is made up of several components. The value and quality of any artisan jewelry is determined by how good these pieces are on their own and how well they are put together. No material is truly perfect but you should go for artisan jewelry that has high quality materials.

Check the stones or beads used, along with the design and how good and stable the setting is. Remember that the more flaws you find, the lower the quality of the jewelry.

Buy it in person.

When buying artisan jewelry, it’s always a good idea to see the pieces for yourself. Magazines and computer monitors don’t always bring out the true colors of the gems and metals. Plus, you can also inspect the jewelry up close.

If you’re buying online, make sure you check out the retailer’s background first. You should also confirm their return policy in case you’re unsatisfied.

Check the designer or source of the artisan jewelry.

Artisan jewelry can be quite expensive, particularly if it is created by a known artist. You might also want to watch out for artisan jewelry created by budding talents.

Some areas and groups of people may also produce their own artisan jewelry. Certain groups of American Indians create unique and stunningly beautiful artisan jewelry. The Navajos, for example, are known artisans of jewelry made with turquoise. The Saraguros of Ecuador also make intricate beaded jewelry, with designs that are characteristic to the region.

Don’t limit your choices to what is currently available. Keep your options open for other pieces. If you’re buying artisan jewelry, it should be the kind that will reflect your personality and taste.

Dynomighty.com of New York is just one of the sites which offer unique magnetic jewelry. A magnetic olive ring has three individual arches lock; each with four color spacers. The magnets and adjustable lock allow to adjust the size of the ring. The necklace has no strings or individual links but magnets; this can be rearranged and redesigned as pleased. Bracelets can also be worn easily. It is bound with a magnet which creates a durable yet smooth band.

Magnetic golf bracelets and certain hematite magnetic jewelry are common nowadays. Most women are looking to acquire one of these. Its very elegant yet affordable and many of these jewelry serve many purposes. A magnetic bracelet wrap can be worn not only as a bracelet but as a simple necklace as well.

The magnetic jewelry are quite glamorous when accentuated to the body but the most beneficial use is for health purposes. Not only common people certify the health benefits of magnetic jewelries, even Sharon Stone, Paris Hilton, Ethan Hawke and Cathy Shulman stresses that magnetic jewelry can bring a difference to ones life! Magnetic jewelry are good alternatives to complex medications if you like to gain more energy or if you want relief from migraine, arthritis, insomnia, back pain, mild depression or mild pain.

It has also been said that when you wear magnetic insoles or necklaces, you also improve your body’s bio-magnetic systems; which lets your body function more efficiently. Our body has a natural healing capability and this can be enhanced when magnetic jewelry is used. As an example, when a woman wears a bracelet on her left wrist, this will energize her whole body since it increases the ability of human blood to carry more endorphins, nutrients and oxygen.

The good thing about using magnetic jewelry for health reasons is that it has no side effects. United States Food and Drug Administration has actually recommended the use of electromagnetic devices since 1978 for pain relief and other illnesses. You can use your earrings, necklaces or bracelets hand in hand with your medicines to better ease your condition.

Buying magnetic jewelry is just buying high fashioned or costumed made jewelry; only with a bonus! You are not only wearing chic jewelries but you are also healing yourself. Quite a good investment nowadays that people turn to be too practical when purchases are being done. So buy your magnetic jewelry and liven up your lives!

]]> http://knowingjewelry.com/the-awesome-benefits-of-magnetic-jewelries.html/feed 13 http://knowingjewelry.com/how-to-spot-an-authentic-jewelry-store.html http://knowingjewelry.com/how-to-spot-an-authentic-jewelry-store.html#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:02:56 +0000 MS Prasaja http://knowingjewelry.com/?p=139

There are so many jewelry stores and almost every store has the same pieces of jewelry. It’s almost impossible for an amateur buyer to determine if the store sells authentic jewelry or not. Some stores trick their buyers into buying fake jewelry, so here are some helpful tips in spotting an authentic jewelry store.

Watch for the papers

Authentic jewelry comes with a price for a reason. They are genuine and some are even rare. So if you were to buy a real diamond ring, don’t buy it without the essential papers. These authentic pieces of jewelry come with a product registration card and signed certificate of authenticity. Carefully read the papers given to you and look for signs that they are the real thing. Things to watch out for are the signature, stamp, and the quality of the papers given to you.

If the store fails to give you these papers, they might be selling fake or imitation jewelry.

Beware of online stores or eBay

Don’t be fooled by the sweet words given to you by online stores or eBay sellers. What they say may be what you might not get. Sure, there really are honest sellers on the Internet, but its tough to take on the risk by buying something you’re not sure of. Talking to someone who has bought off the Internet would be a good gauge to finding out if the seller or online store is honest.

Be observant

The appearance of a jewelry store tells a lot about what it has inside. Observation is the key. Look for a security guard in front of the store if it’s not inside a mall. The personnel should be well-trained and know what they’re talking about. Then look at the pieces of jewelry with a critical eye.

Also determine if the shop is associated with any well-respected organization in the area.

Price relative to the make

Not all pieces of jewelry fetch a high price. Of course, it depends on what its make is or how many carats the diamond has. So if a store is selling a 1-carat diamond for a low price, be suspicious.

Finding authentic jewelry stores may be a big challenge for an amateur, so asking around or consulting a professional jewelry maker will help a lot. There are a lot of shady tactics and strategies in selling someone fake jewelry, so watch out. Don’t be lured by words or sweet-nothings, but certainly watch out for these tips in finding an authentic jewelry store.

Pros and Cons of Online Wholesale Jewelry Purchasing

If you think about it, this way of purchasing jewelry is actually a good bargain. You will get a nice deal on that opal ring or the pearl necklace you have been eyeing. There are tons of Web sites out there that specialize in jewelry, which make shopping very fast and easy for you. You don’t have to worry about those pushy and rude salespeople. To add icing on the cake, you can buy wholesale through online shopping. The price is so affordable and you can have that jewelry in your fingertips.

But there’s a catch. When you’re buying your jewelry over the web, you can’t touch nor see first-hand what you are purchasing. This is very important because a picture you see on the site isn’t enough to determine the value of the jewelry. You have to see it right in front of you in order to see if there are cracks, chips or scratches.

When buying jewelry in person, you can do the checking by using loupes or a magnifying glass. Online shopping for jewelry may be easy and you can do it wholesale but the disadvantage is that you aren’t really sure whether the item you’re buying is scratch, crack and chip free.

That’s just not the problem

Jewelry experts also claim that other problems include misrepresentation of quality. Some unethical jewelers say that the item is of better quality than they really are. The buyer must also concern themselves with slightly inflated weights (those small differences in weight that can slightly change the stones value) and fraudulent repairs and appraisals. The buyer must also check the documentation from the Gemological Institute of America or GIA reports before actually buying the jewelry.

To respond to this problem, eBay has come up with guidelines when it comes to selling jewelry online. However, consumers should still have common sense on how they can protect themselves from these fraudulent practices.

How do you buy jewelry online and at wholesale prices safely?

1. Customers must be informed of what exactly they are buying? There are various sites that don’t provide the buyers the complete and accurate information they need when buying jewelry wholesale. Also, most jewelers aren’t experts or gemologists (those who specialize or have been trained in identifying and rating the condition and quality of gemstones) so they may not be able to properly describe the stones.

2. The customer must try shopping at retail jewelers and visit gemologist organization sites in order to be well-informed about jewelry, stones and how to know the authentic from the fake purchases. It also helps to check out the FTC guidelines which can be found on this site: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/jewel-gd.pdf.

3. When shopping on eBay, the customer must read the terms and conditions. He should also check the fine print. The sellers that are of power Seller status should still be criticized like the rest of the sellers.

4. Before bidding on an online item, the customer must find out as much as he or she can about the item that they are bidding for. Also, the Federal Trade Commission suggests that the procedures regarding complaints should be practiced; even when the transaction is done online.

Sure-fire way for the customer to avoid fraud

In order to avoid online fraud, the customer must see whether the seller is willing to take the necessary steps of appraisal before actually receiving the money as payment for the purchased jewelry. Therefore, the payment can be held in tow through a third party for a minimal fee which the jeweler is paid as long as these conditions are met.

It also helps to have a gemologist around, better yet a gemologist who is also an appraiser because they will be able to confirm the quality, condition and identity of the stones that are being bought, plus the true value.

Buying jewelry as a wholesale and online may sound pleasing but it takes as much work as buying it first-hand from a store.

]]> http://knowingjewelry.com/buying-wholesale-jewelry.html/feed 1 http://knowingjewelry.com/tips-when-aiming-to-buy-rough-diamonds.html http://knowingjewelry.com/tips-when-aiming-to-buy-rough-diamonds.html#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:16:57 +0000 MS Prasaja http://knowingjewelry.com/?p=135 Diamonds are women’s best friends. The most important jewelry and accessories almost always have diamonds as gemstones. Diamonds are known as the hardest substance on the planet. They can’t always be cut and broken down easily. Diamonds are used to cut other diamonds.

Aside from that property, diamonds are considered as among the most important elegant substances on earth. The substance isn’t an element because it isn’t pure, but it is known to be a product of the pressure applied to carbon. Diamonds aren’t easily found in mines and it is very rare that explorers and miners are fortunate enough to find diamond mines.

Rough diamonds are diamonds in their unaltered state. Rough diamonds are literally rough because they aren’t yet cut and smoothed for jewelry purposes. Jewelers and designers strive to secure and acquire diamonds in their rough state. That is because they will cut the substance according to their design plan. They then shape the rough diamond according to the design and fit the stone to the jewelry they choose.

Jewelers aren’t the only people who regular buy rough diamonds. You could also strive to attempt to acquire such items. If you are aiming to customize your diamond jewelry according to your designs and preferred shapes, then, it is high time you buy rough diamonds. Here are some practical tips that will help you when buying rough diamonds on the market.

- Make sure to do transactions with accredited and popular sellers. Rough diamonds are still expensive even if they aren’t yet cut and shaped. Thus, expect to shoulder a significant investment on the purchase transaction. You should stay away from suspicious and unreliable sources because you might end up buying fake diamonds.

- Secure experts’ advice. If you can take an expert with you while doing the transaction, the better. Experts can easily tell whether the product is genuine or whether the price tag is practical and appropriate.

- Make the legal and necessary actions to ensure that your rough diamond won’t be replaced or altered when you bring it to a jeweler for customization.

Rough diamonds aren’t yet shaped and smoothed but they have the potential to be pricey. Rough diamonds are good buys because they are cheaper and are more practical. You can do whatever you like with these diamonds.