Indian Jewellery

What Quality Make A Gemstone Desirable?

tarun — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 01:01:01 +0000

Gems can be classified with the following characterstics.

Beauty

Colour
Sparkle

Reflection
Refraction
Dispersion
Facetting

Size
Shape

Durability

Hardness
Abrasion Resistance

Rarity

Natural
Synthetic

Fashion

Beauty - Optical Attraction
Most importantly things that a gemstone must be optically attractive , that can achieve in various style . It can be beautiful color ,can be sparkle through reflecting , refracting or dispersing light .So you can also classify the Optical attraction of the gem as .
1.Shape
2.Sparkle
3.Size

Colour
Color is the most important single gem characteristic .Ruby , Amethyst, Sapphire and Emerald having attractive color and are usually predictable to be translucent, Some for gemstone are also not be transparent. Such that Coral, lapis lazuli, cornelian and opal are beautiful and usually opaque.Colorless gems are less attractive. Though sapphire, spinel and quartz and other gemstones can occur in colorless varieties, they are usually quite uninteresting and looking awkward. Diamond is colorless but it can be rewarded as the precious stone.

The reason is that diamond is suitable as a gemstone because of the refraction and dispersion - .On the technical point of the view colors for a moment rather than colored gemstones.
High-preference colors, that will have high attention value.Such that Yellow have highest attention value .The test of the perception shows that any body can see easily yellow color rather than other like brown or the green.Blue is most likely the premier liking color, with red, purple and green following. Whatever the reason but most people likely wear a gems stone

Sparkle
Actually it’s necessary to consider why some stones sparkle more than others:-
• Reflection
• Refraction
• Dispersion
• Facetting
Let’s take these four concepts in turn, although as you will see there is some interaction between them. Reflection
Every stone has a specialty of reflecting the stone whenever the light thrown upon it .Every stone will reflect light from their surface. The reflective amount of the light depend on the surface reflectivity of the stone.The reflectivity is most comparable refractivity, factors such stone hardness affect its reflectivity, on the other hand partially though the ability of hard stones to accept a high polish.
Luster is the reflectivity of a stone at its surface .Refraction
Every Material reflects a light ( alter its angle) .So the amount at which light is refract can be determined as the special property of the gemstone that can be measure of the refractivity known as its refractive Index or R.I. On the other hand when the light passes through the various medium ,you can say its diffraction.
Dispersion
It is a difference between amount of the refraction of the different colors of the light. White light is also composed of the different color . A material which is highly dispersive split the light into the components and give its prism effect as like a fire.Faceting
If a gemstone has a many faces than the gems like more attractive and give more sparkles whenever a light passes through it.Size
It’s true that a big gemstone can be more beautiful as well as more desirable. A tiny or micro gems is less useful in making the jewelry so the gemologist

, either you can say that the big gems stone are most useful in making the jewelry.

Shape
The most fabulous gems stone size in the shape of the heart so its must be more desirable than the other shape. Some gems are usually in the certain shape and that type of the shape is must be desirable for making a jewelry .Some gems are also in the typical shape so they must be cut into oblong as well as octagonal shape. Like a Emeralds that must be cut to form an octagon also known as emerald cut.

Durability Instead of the beautifulness of the gems ,Its must be customary that a gem must be durable ,Like a gem Dianmond is very indestructible on the other hand some gems are very delicate. Its is a contradiction that a gemstone that is small must be delicate looking as well as strong Durability doesn’t means to say that durability is equal to hardness. So while choosing a gem always check whether or whether not gem is durable.

Rarity
According to the authors and jewellers rarity is obligatory or enviable for a gemstone. So gems must be beautiful and attractive as well as rare. According to Supply and demand frequently speak that rare objects grasp high prices. For example amethysts are often underrated in spite of their beautiful color, because they are slightly inexpensive.

The status value of the gems is increased by their rarity , Not even depend only on the

Visual value, even though there are stone collectors who understand the value of possessing rare and strange specimen whether beautiful or not. Every gemstone are not cheap as well as some gemstone can be keep as the undervalued. For example Diamonds must be million times than common than alexandrite. Natural, Synthetic or Simulant

Many person like only natural look of the gems stone. On the other hand

You can easily look forward for comparing such that the cost of the 1 caret diamond usually be   £100 so we can reach on the conclusion that the there must be still demands for the natural products also.
                             You can easily imagine difference between natural., synthetic as well as simulated .First up you must clear your mind the not all simulated are synthetic or not even synthetics are simulates . Simulant is a a stone which appear as like , different stone, so that cubic Zirconia and ordinary colourless Sapphire can both be used to emulate or suggest diamond. A unnaturally produced diamond is a real diamond, you can not say as a stimulant for diamond. Artificial sapphire can be used to replicate alexandrite but can never replicate sapphire because it is sapphire.
    Ancient Egyptians used to make a turquoise colored ceramic called faience in imitation of turquoise that has been invent near about 7000years .

Synthetic gemstones are comparatively latest. Synthetic ruby has been produced since before 1905, spinel from 1908, sapphire from 1911, and diamond from about 1950.

Fashion
The decision of the gems must be accordance with the fashion , means the gems that you are going for purchasing must be accordance with the style. Like Moonrock which looks very awkward and very rare to find but it can be considered as the fashionable as well as special gems stone , So most of the Hollywood actor like that gems. On the other hand Ivory is now out of dated .

Yellow and brown tinted diamonds can be rewarded as not much of the color to wear, but they are now rewarded as the full of the colors. It might be possible that the colored diamonds may be next jeweler fashion . Color diamond are now come in the various part of the world like in the England.
also you can find the most person are willing to purchase only De Beers because it is colorful Gem.

Art Nouveau: 1890-1915

tarun — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:52:31 +0000

The period that crossed over the reigns of Victoria and her son Edward VII, marked the begining of the era of Art Nouveau (1890). In keeping with the Arts and Crafts movement in interior design, Art Nouveau jewelry was based on craftsmanship and design outweighed the material.

The motives of Art Nouveau jewellery were curves sinuous organic lines of romantic and imaginary dreaminess, with long limbed ethereal beauties sometimes turning into winged bird and flower forms.

Jewelry made at the turn of the century in art nouveau translates literally as “new art”, the period was influenced by older styles jewellery . It was characterized by a return to craftsmanship and an emphasis on design over material value. he motifs are a nymph with flowers in her long hair, peacocks, dragonflies, snakes, butterflies, moths, orchids, waterlilies. Enameling techniques were widely used. New materials appeared in jewelry design: ivory, copper, tortoise shell. The styles derive from Gothic and rococo with Asian influences. Celtic manuscripts, Persian pottery and ancient Roman glass provide other sources of inspiration.

Semi-precious stones such as moonstone, opal, citrine, peridot and freshwater pearls were popular. The Frenchman René Lalique was the master goldsmith of the era of Art Nouveau producing exquisite one off pieces. As an art movement today, the style is still admired and still copied. The movement began in Paris and its influence went throughout the Western world. Non-traditional materials also emerged with horn, bone, copper, shell and carved glass among the most prevalent

Some Art Nouveau pieces fell into the antique jewellery category.

During This Era

Designs reflected inner feelings.
The motifs are intertwined hands, serpents, flowers, trees, birds, fans, dragons. These latter two are Japanese. Inscriptions were often engraved on the inside of the rings.
The techniques are filigree, piercing, cannetille, repoussé.
Styles: Etruscan, Egyptian, Classical and Renaissance styles are revived. There are Japanese and Indian influences

Magnificent floral and botanical forms often worked in enamel were inexpensive and became so popular once mass-produced, that the Art Nouveau style declined.

Victorian Jewellery 1837-1901

tarun — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:25:35 +0000

Victorian Jewellery 1837-1901 is associated with Queen Victoria adn the time when she came and sat to the throne in 1837 jewellery was romantic and religious and used for glamour purpose. Until mid century most western jewellery came from Europe, Victorian was well remembered for her love for gardening, which reflected in floral, hearts and animal including the insect motive of their jewellery. In addition serpents became very poular being a favorite of victoria it symbolized wisdon, eternity and EBEN Luck.

semi-precious stones like : garnet, amethyst, seed pearl, coral were popular in victorian period and opal (one of Victoria’s particular favorites.), With the discovery of new gold sources, new techniques such as engraving and filigree emerged and it became less expensive to work with gold.

In earlier victorian period 18 carat gold was most frequently used, post 1854 jewelry started appearing in step of 9, 12 and 15K also.

The unexpected death of Albert; queen Victoria’s husband, brought the whole nation into mourning. because of which stone like onyx and techniques like enameling brough black jewelry with get,into fashion.

Estate pieces from this period are rare and highly collectible. With the death of queen Victoria in 1901 england was ready for a new resurgence in fashion and jewellery.futther revolution in manufacturing. Including the staem engine made manufacturing even the larger quantity of jewellery possible, though with the result of lower quality.but the decade of extremes consvertism had ended now, resulting in sudden and profound break from tradition leading to the art noveau period of the early 20th century.

Although jewellery had been made by multiple methods of production for centuries, mid Victorian mass production in Birmingham (England), Germany and Providence, Rhode Island meant that standards were lowered. Victorian women rebelled when they saw some of the machine made jewellery on offer, although much of what has survived is of good quality. Many wore no jewellery at all, or bought from the artist craftsman jewellers who emerged at much the same time.

Georgian jewellery

tarun — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:02:07 +0000

Georgian jewellery belongs to time of the four King Georges ruled Great Britain. The early 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century belong to Georgian jewellery. During the early Georgian period (George I, 1714-1727), the French Rococo style dominated the arts. Like in the Victorian period, there wasn’t a specific individual British style of jewellery during this period,. The jewellery of this period consisted largely of nature pieces, including designs with birds, flowers, leaves, insects, and feathers. They were delicate and light, and many were set on a spring so that they trembled. Those pieces set with precious gemstones were very unique-they were entirely handmade. Most pieces were encrusted with gemstones, and the type of metal used to create pieces was of secondary importance. The most popular motifs of this time for diamonds were baskets of flowers, spurts of foliage, and feather plumes. less precious gemstone, using coral, garnets, turquoise, and even paste, were produced in large quantities, during the Georgian period, jewellery.

Jewelry made during the reigns of George I to George IV. They have these characteristic features:

All jewelry was totally hand made.
The motifs are cameos, intaglios, mosaics, acorns, Greek keys, urns, doves, wheat, plumage. Bows, floral sprays, hearts, ribbon, birds and stars, featuring garnet , and pearls and diamonds
Styles range from Rococo to Gothic and Neoclassical.
Large jewelry in the form of bracelets, index finger rings, girandole earrings, memorabilia jewelry, crosses, hair combs, buckles, aigrettes, and tiaras were favored in Georgian times. Dog collars or chokers as we call them today were popular in the period 1770 to 1790Georgian – 1714 – 1836

Period Jewellery

tarun — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 22:54:38 +0000

From times immemorial Jewellery has always been defined in many different forms, and styles, reflected throughout the centuries by craftsmen and jewellers around the world. For easier understanding for people, we have compiled the following chronologically show in chart.

History and the Era

Jewellery has been used and worn by civilizations for earliest periods in history; In fact it dates back to the Stone Age civilizations where the jewellery was even made of bone. The bodies that were found frozen or entombed, were covered will all types of jewellery - amulets, bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

Estate Jewellery does not necessarily mean that a piece of jewellery is old, only that it is pre-owned. Collectable Jewellery usually means a costume piece that is no longer in production and Period Jewellery is a term that broadly covers jewellery from a specific chronological era.

GEORGIAN PERIOD   1714-1830
EARLY VICTORIAN PERIOD  1837-1860
MID-VICTORIAN PERIOD  1860-1880
LATE VICTORIAN PERIOD  1880-1901
ART NOUVEAU PERIOD  1880-1914
ARTS AND CRAFTS PERIOD  1890-1914
EDWARDIAN PERIOD  1901-1910
ART DECO PERIOD   1920-1935
RETRO PERIOD (WAR YEARS) 1935-1945
MODERN PERIOD   1945-TODAY

Glossary Of Gem Stones

tarun — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 22:20:57 +0000

ARTIFICIAL STONE - A gem material that is either a manmade imitation or a synthetic. (See synthetic).

ASTERISM - The optical phenomenon of seeing a rayed figure in the form of a star. This is caused by the reflection of light from minute oriented and aligned needle-like inclusions.

BAGUETTE - Rectangular style of step cut used for small gem materials.

BAROQUE - Irregular in shape, such as baroque pearls, tumble-polished stones, or freeform shaped gem materials.

BLEMISH - Any surface imperfection on the surface of a gemstone. For example, on a diamond, one would be referring to a nick, knot, scratch, abrasion, minor crack or fissure (cavity), or a poor polish.

“BLUE-WHITE” - According to the Federal Trade Commission, only diamonds with a distinct blue body color may be traded as “blue-white.” For many years the term referred to a diamond without a distinctive body color, however misuses of this term have rendered it almost meaningless.

BRILLIANCE - Total amount of white light returned to the eye from a diamond or colored stone as the result of internal and external reflections. The major factors that affect the amount of brilliancy in a gem are refractive index, proportions, polish and transparency.

BRILLIANT CUT - The most common style of diamond cutting, also used for many other gemstones, which consists of a combination of triangular and kite shaped facets. The round brilliant cut features 57 or 58 facets.

CABOCHON - An unfaceted cut stone of domed form (having a convex surface). Often called a “cab.”

CANARY - A term referring to diamonds with an intense yellow hue. The term “fancy yellow” is often used if the yellow makes the stone very distinctive.

CARAT - A unit of metric measurement used for gems. One carat (ct.) equals 100 points, 200 milligrams, or 1/5 of a gram.

CARBON SPOTS - Any black-appearing inclusions in a diamond caused by the addition of the minerals graphite or hornblende.

CHANGE OF COLOR (COLOR CHANGE) - A phenomenon of some colored stones in which the gem material appears a different color in different types of light. This is caused by selective absorption and/or transmission of the specific type of light to which the gemstone is exposed.

CLARITY ENHANCED - A gemstone that has been treated to improve its appearance by filling fissures or fractures with a transparent substance. Also called “fracture filled.”

CLARITY GRADE - One of the four value factors of a diamond. Diamonds are ranked on a scale from flawless (no inclusions visible under 10x magnification) to included (eye visible inclusions).

CLEAVAGE - The tendency of a crystalline mineral to break in certain definite directions called cleavage planes. The breakage is done by cleaving, a process where a stone is studied so that the plane may be defined and divided with a swift blow. This swift blow splits the stone into proportions quickly as opposed to sawing.

COLORED STONE - All natural gemstones except for diamonds or colored diamonds.

COLOR GRADE - One of the four value factors of a diamond. Diamonds are ranked on a scale from “D” (colorless) to “Z” (noticeable tint of color, typically yellow or brown). Diamonds with saturation greater than “Z” color are considered Fancy Colored Diamonds and are graded on a separate scale.

COLOR ORIGIN - A determination of the cause of color in fancy colored diamonds. Diamonds that are naturally colored are very rare and expensive. Two common ways of enhancing the color of diamonds are irradiation and the high pressure high temperature (HPHT) process.

CROWN - The part of any faceted gemstone above the girdle.

CULET - The small facet polished across what would otherwise be the sharp point or tip of the pavilion of a faceted stone, especially a round brilliant cut. It is cut and placed with the full intention of avoiding breakage of this tip.

CULTURED PEARL- A pearl produced by implanting a shell bead or mantle tissue into the body of a pearl bearing mollusk. Japan, China, Tahiti, Australia, the U.S., and the Persian Gulf are pearl producing regions.

DIAMOND - A mineral that crystallizes in the cubic system and is composed of carbon with a hardness of 10, a refractive index of 2.417, and a specific gravity of 3.52.

DISPERSION - The separation of white light into its component spectral colors (see fire).

DURABILITY - A combination of hardness, toughness and stability that describes a specific gemstone’s ability to resist wear.

EMERALD CUT - A style of cutting a gemstone in which the outline is a rectangular shape with cut corners and the shape of the facets are rectangular and trapezoid.

ENAMEL - A vitreous glaze. In jewelry, it is usually fused glass that is heated to a base–most commonly to the surface of metal, glass or pottery.

FACET - One of the small, flat surfaces that is polished on a gemstone to increase brilliancy and beauty. A round brilliant cut gemstone has a total of 57 or 58 facets.

FACETED GIRDLE - A girdle of a stone that is lapped and polished for maximum surface reflection and has many flat planes around the circumference of the stone.

FEATHER - A fracture or break in a gemstone that is typically white and feathery in appearance.

FINISH - The term referring to the quality of fashioning a gemstone including the polish and symmetry.

FIRE - Flashes of spectral colors seen in gemstones as a result of dispersion.

FLUORESCENCE - The process of a material emitting visible light when it is subject to ultraviolet light. For example, diamonds under ultraviolet light will often emit a visible light of a blue hue.

FOUR C’S - A phrase used to describe a diamond’s value characteristics, all starting with the letter “C”: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

FRACTURE - A break within a gemstone.

FRESHWATER PEARL - A pearl that forms in a freshwater living mollusk.

FULL CUT DIAMOND - A description of a brilliant cut, round stone with 57-58 facets.

GIRDLE - The narrow band around the widest part of a polished or faceted gemstone. It divides the crown and pavilion facets.

HARDNESS - A gem’s ability to resist scratching.

HUE - The primary impression of color such as red, green or blue.

INCLUSION - Internal characteristics present in gemstones. Common diamond inclusions include feathers, crystals, fractures, graining, pinpoints, and cavities.

IRIDESCENCE - Prismatic colors inside or on the surface of a material caused by light interference from thin layers of differing refractive indices. These layers may be thin films of liquid, gas or solid. Pearls are best known for exhibiting iridescence.

LUSTER - The quality of reflected and refracted light from the surface of a gemstone or pearl.

MAKE - Trade term referring to the proportions, symmetry, and polish of a gemstone.

MARQUISE - A fashioning style for gemstones with the girdle outline in an elliptical shape with pointed ends.

MELEE - A term used primarily to describe small, round faceted diamonds or colored stones of approximately .18 carat or less.

MOHS SCALE - A loose scale of hardness, used for field collecting, which allows for identification of specimens. Devised by Friedrich Mohs, a German mineralogist, in the 19th century. The comparative scale of hardness is as follows:
1) talc
2) gypsum
3) calcite
4) fluorite
5) apatite
6) moonstone
7) quartz
8) topaz and beryl
9) corundum
10) diamond

MOUNTING - Trade term for that portion of a piece of jewelry in which a gem or other object is set.

NACRE - The iridescent substance secreted by a mollusk during the formation of a pearl that consists of layers of aragonite and calcite crystals.

NATURAL - A trade term for a portion of the original surface of a rough diamond left by the cutter when polishing and faceting a diamond. Naturals are usually found near the girdle of a diamond and are represented in green on a plotting diagram.

NATURAL PEARL - A pearl that originates naturally in a mollusk, as distinguished from cultured or imitation pearls.

NICK - A minor chip on the surface of a diamond, usually found near or on the girdle of the stone.

OPAQUE - A term referring to the transparency of a gemstone; opaque materials do not transmit light.

ORIENT - The soft iridescent glow on or just below the surface of a pearl or cultured pearl. It is caused by the interference and diffraction of light from the minute crystals comprising the pearl’s nacre.

OVAL CUT - A fashioning style for gemstones with the girdle outline in an elliptical or oval shape.

PAVE - A style of setting small stones as close together as possible in two or more rows.

PAVILION - That portion of a faceted diamond or other gem material that lies below the girdle.

PEAR SHAPED CUT - A fashioning style for gemstones with the girdle outline in the shape of a tear drop or pear.

PERFECT - The Federal Trade Commission considers it an unfair trade practice to use the word “perfect” or any other word, expression or representation of similar derivative, as a description of any diamond with inclusions that are visible to the naked eye or up to 10X power magnification. This term has been so flagrantly misused in the sale of diamonds that many jewelers avoid its use entirely.

PLOTTING DIAGRAM - A schematic diagram included on the EGL USA Diamond Certificate that illustrates the facets (printed in black) of a diamond and the approximate location and type of internal and external characteristics (printed in red and green).

POINT - A measurement in the weight of a diamond equal to 1/100 of a carat. Thus, 0.50 carats is equal to 50 points.

POLISH - The smoothness of the surface of a fashioned gem in which optical reflection is maximized and shows no visible wheel or burn marks.

POLISHED GIRDLE - A girdle that has been lapped or polished to yield a uniform, highly reflective surface.

REFLECTION - The return of light that strikes the surface of stone.

REFRACTION - The change in direction of a ray of light as it enters a gemstone.

ROUGH - Any uncut or unpolished gem material.

SCINTILLATION - Mirror-like reflections from the facets of a gemstone as it turns in the light.

SIMULATED STONES - Any substance fashioned to imitate the appearance of a gemstone.

SINGLE CUT - A brilliant cut (round) with 17 or 18 facets: 8 bezel, 8 pavilions, a table and a culet facet.

SOLITAIRE - A term referring to a ring containing a single diamond or other gem.

STAR FACETS - The eight triangular facets that surround the table facet of a round, brilliant-cut diamond.

SYMMETRY - A term referring to the quality of the fashioning of a gemstone. The balance of the outline shape and the precision of the facet arrangement are considered in the symmetry grade.

SYNTHETIC - A manmade gem material that has essentially the same physical, optical and chemical properties as that of its natural counterpart.

TABLE - The horizontal, top flat facet on the crown of a faceted gemstone. The table percentage is a comparison of the size of the table facet to the width of the stone at the girdle.

TONE - An attribute of color that determines its lightness or darkness of shading.

TOUGHNESS - The ability of a mineral or gemstone to resist breakage (fracturing). Toughness is not the same as the hardness of a stone.

TRANSPARENCY - The ability of a substance to transmit light.

TREATED GEMS - A general term used to described gemstones that have been artificially modified to improve their color or clarity. Techniques include laser drilling, fracture filling (clarity enhancement), high pressure high temperature (HPHT) annealing, irradiation, and surface coloration. Gemological laboratories have the equipment and experience to detect the more difficult treatments.
TRILLION - A triangular shaped and faceted gemstone. More specifically, it is a gemstone that has an arched shaped triangle cut with 25 facets on the crown and 19 facets on the pavilion.

TWIN CRYSTALS - Two or more mineral crystals that have grown together in a symmetrical nature, usually nonparallel. Sometimes called twinned crystals.

TROY OUNCE - A weight unit for precious metals predominately used in England and the U.S. Twenty pennyweights (dwt) equals one troy ounce, and twelve troy ounces equals one troy pound.

ULTRASONIC CLEANER - A machine commonly used by jewelers to clean jewelry effectively. The ultrasonic vibrations free most types of dirt, grime, and oils from the items. Some ultrasonic cleaners come with a heating unit. When using this type of cleaner, extreme care is recommended because certain gems cannot withstand the heat and vibration. Consult your professional jeweler.

ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT - Light that is invisible to the naked eye because it consists of wavelengths shorter than those of visible light.

VERMEIL - Silver overlaid with gold (gold-plated silver).

WHITE GOLD - An alloy of yellow gold that has silver, zinc, or platinum as a whitening agent.

YELLOW GOLD - The natural color of pure gold as well as the color of karat gold when alloyed with certain metals.

Gems stones: Introductions

tarun — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 22:04:51 +0000

The science of those minerals and other material which posseses sufficient beauty and durability to make them desirable as gemstone. It is concerned with the identification, grading, evealuation, fashioning, and other aspects of gemstone.

For many years the little systematic attention given the subject was divided between jewelers and mineralogists.. mineralogy itself gained the status ofa n exact science only in the 19yh century. Gemology was given impetus by the accelerating developments in synthetics, imitations, various means of colour alteration practiced to defraud, and a growing need for developing methods of detection these products.

Natural gems:
A mineral is defined as an organic substance with a characteristic chemical composition and usually a characteristic crystal structure. Each distinct mineral is called a species by the gemologist… two stones that have the same essential composition and crystal structure but that differ in colour are considered varities of the same species. Thus ruby and sapphire are distinct varities of mineral specied corundum, and emerald and aquamarine are varieties of beryl. 2 or more minerals that have the same structure and are chemically related are called groups. The garnet mineral form a agroup. Most gemstone are crystalline ( that is they have definite atomic structure) and have characteristic properties , most of which are related directly to either beauty or durability.

Astrology Gems Stones

A mineral or other mineral that has sufficient beauty for use as personal adornment and has the durability to make this feasible. With the exception of a few material of organic origin, such as pearl, amber , coral, and inorganic substances of variable composition ,such as natural glass, gems are lovely varities of minerals.

January : Garnet
February: Amethyst
March: Aquamarine
April: Diamond
May: Emerald
June: Pearl
July: Ruby
August: peridot
September: Sapphire
October: opal
November: Topaz
December: Turquoise

Red Stones: Protection, courage, and energy. Help with blood, stop bleeding, heals rashes and wounds.

Pink Stones: Calm, soothes, stops distress, helps with love. They smooth difficulties in relationships and assists with self-love.

Orange Stones: For personal power, self esteem. They are connected to the Sun, attract luck and success, aid in positive outcomes.

Yellow Stones: Communication, inspiration, protection, visualization, travel, Aids in problems with digestion, the nervous system, skin problems and breathing disorders.

Green Stones: These are for healing. Eyes, kidneys, stomach, migraines. Help with money, luck, prosperity, grounding and balance.

Blue Stones: Calm emotions, assists with sleeping and healing of ulcers and inflammation. Use them in the bath for purification.

Purple Stones: Mysticism, purification, meditation, psychic work, subconscious, health, obedience, headaches, mental illness, hair problems and sleep.

White Stones: These are ruled by the Moon. Sleep, promote lactation, protection after dark, gets rid of headaches

Black Stones: Self control, grounding, resilience, quiet power, grounding, peace, anxiety.

Peridot Gem Stone

tarun — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 21:41:34 +0000

Peridot is a beautiful gemstone in its own right and is widely popular. Peridot is perhaps derived from the French word peritot which means unclear, probably due to the inclusions and cloudy nature of large stones. It could also be named from the Arabic word faridat which means gem.The best colored peridot has an iron percentage of less than 15% and includes nickel and chromium as trace elements that may also contribute to the best peridot color. although peridot is distinctly a different shade of green, many jewelers refer to peridot as “evening emerald“.

Quality Peridot is found from the ancient source of Zagbargad (Zebirget) Island in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt; Mogok, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma); Kohistan, Pakistan; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Eifel, Germany; Chihuahua, Mexico; Ethiopia; Australia; Peridot Mesa, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Gila County, Arizona and Salt Lake Crater, Oahu, Hawaii, USA.

The best quality peridot has historically come either from Myanmar or Egypt, in which pakistan being a new source inperidot production. An estimated 80 - 95% of all world production of peridot comes from Arizona. The Myanmar, Pakistani and Egyptian gems are rarer and of better quality and thus quite valuable approaching the per carat values of top gemstones.

Peridot (pronounced pair-a-doe) is the gem variety of olivine. Olivine, which is actually not an official mineral, is composed of two minerals: fayalite and forsterite. Peridot is usually closer to forsterite than fayalite in composition although iron is the coloring agent for peridot. The best colored peridot has an iron percentage of less than 15% and includes nickel and chromium as trace elements that may also contribute to the best peridot color

Other green gemstones confused with peridot include apatite (which is much softer); green garnets (have no double refraction), green tourmaline and green sinhalite (both of which are strongly pleochroic), moldavites (no double refraction) and green zircon (significantly heavier).

Peridot as a legend was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra. Peridot can be fun to collect for years to come.

VARIETY INFORMATION:

VARIETY OF: Olivine , (Mg, Fe)2SiO4.
USES: gemstone.
BIRTHSTONE FOR: August
COLOR: shades of green usually from yellow-green to greenish yellow.
INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.630 - 1.695
BIREFRINGENCE: 0.037
HARDNESS: 6.5 - 7
CLEAVAGE: usually not discernible
CRYSTAL SYSTEM: orthorhombic
For natural peridot mineral specimens see our For Sale or Sold lists

TURQUOISE Gem Stone

tarun — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 21:26:38 +0000

Turquoise is possibly one of the most valuable, non-transparent mineral in the jewelry industry. It was mined by the early egytians for eons since 6000 BC. The name comes from a french word which means stone of Turkey, from where Persian material passed on its way to Europe. Native amercians and persians created beautiful ornamental with the stone. Most specimens are cryptocrystalline, meaning that the crystals could only be seen by a microscope.

The finest turquoise comes from Iran but is challenged by some southwestern United States specimens. Although crystals of any size are rare, some small crystals have been found in Virginia. Turquoise is often imitated by “fakes”, such as the mineral chrysocolla, and poorer turquoise specimens are often dyed or color stabilized with coatings of various resins.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is of course, turquoise, but this color actually varies from greenish blue to sky blue shades.
Luster is dull to waxy, vitreous in macro-crystals.
Transparency specimens are opaque.
Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1
Crystal Habits include crystals rarely large enough to see, usually massive, cryptocrystalline forms as nodules and veinlets.
Cleavage is perfect in two direction, but is not often seen.
Fracture is conchoidal and smooth.
Hardness is 5 - 6
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.6 - 2.8 (average)
Streak is white with a greenish tint.
Associated Minerals are pyrite. limonite. quartz and clays.
Other Characteristics: color can change with exposure to skin oils.
Notable Occurances include Arizona and New Mexico, USA; Australia; Iran; Afghanistan and other locallities in the Middle East.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, hardness, luster, color and associations

MINERAL DIAMOND

tarun — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 20:56:54 +0000

One of the hardest substance know to mankind found in nature is diamond. , Diamond is four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum (sapphire and ruby), having few weaknesses and many strengths. But even as hard as it is, it is not impermeable. Diamond has four directions of cleavage, which means that if it receives a sharp blow in one of these directions it will cleave, or split. A skilled diamond setter and/or jeweler will prevent any of these directions from being in a position to be struck while mounted in a jewelry piece.

As a gemstone, Diamond’s single flaw (perfect cleavage) is far outdistanced by the sum of its positive qualities. It has a broad color range, high refraction, high dispersion or fire, very low reactivity to chemicals, rarity, and of course, extreme hardness and durability. Diamond is the April Birthstone.

In terms of its physical properties, diamond is the ultimate mineral in several ways:

Hardness: Diamond is a perfect “10″, defining the top of the hardness scale.
Clarity: Diamond is transparent over a larger range of wavelengths (from the ultraviolet into the far infrared) than is any other solid or liquid substance - nothing else even comes close.
Thermal Conductivity: Diamond conducts heat better than anything - five times better than the second best element, Silver!
Melting Point: Diamond has the highest melting point (3820 degrees Kelvin)!
Lattice Density: The atoms of Diamond are packed closer together than are the atoms of any other substance!

Comparison B/w Diamond and Graphite

Diamond is a polymorph of the element carbon. Graphite is another polymorph.
Diamond is hard, Graphite is soft (the “lead” of a pencil).
Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator; Graphite is a good conductor of electricity.
Diamond is the ultimate abrasive, Graphite is a very good lubricant.
Diamond is transparent, Graphite is opaque.
Diamond crystallizes in the Isometric system and graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is variable and tends toward pale yellows, browns, grays, and also white, blue, black, reddish, greenish and colorless.
Luster is adamantine to waxy.
Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent in rough crystals.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habits include isometric forms such as cubes and octahedrons, twinning is also seen.
Hardness is 10
Specific Gravity is 3.5 (above average)
Cleavage is perfect in 4 directions forming octahedrons.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are limited to those found in kimberlite rock, an ultramafic igneous rock composed mostly of olivine.
Other Characteristics: refractive index is 2.4 ( very high), dispersion is 0.044, fluorescent.
Notable Occurrences include South Africa and other localities throughout Africa, India, Brazil, Russia, Australia, and Arkansas.
Best Field Indicator is extreme hardness.