Showing posts with label gemstone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gemstone. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Chrysoberyl - A Rare And Little Known Gemstone

Some folks really bask owning alone and particular jewellery pieces. Something that brands a piece particular is if the jewellery incorporates a rare and unusual gemstone. One of the most underrated and small known gemstones on the marketplace is chrysoberyl. Although it is rare, this rock is very difficult and lasting and well suited to any jewellery use, including rings. It have a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale of measurement which travels from 1 to 10. The most common colours of chrysoberyl scope from honey yellowness to yellowish green, and the colours are quite intense.

These tin be very beautiful, but as I noted, these gemstones are somewhat rare and not often seen for sale in commercial jewellery stores. The terms for these crystalline gemstones are not especially high because they are small known, and as a result, demand is accordingly low. However, two other word forms of the mineral chrysoberyl supply some of the most absorbing and most valuable of all colored gemstones: Alexandrite and the true cats eye. Alexandrite is one of the very few gemstones that actually alterations colour from a greenish shadiness in daytime to reddish shadiness in incandescent light. Gems that alteration colour in different sorts of visible light are called photochroic.

The Chrysoberyl cat's-eye is by no agency the lone rock that shows a true cats oculus effect, however it have by far the most dramatic oculus because of the dense, mulct fibres that tin happen in Chrysoberyl (it is these inclusions that word form the "eye"). The line or "eye" consequence in this gemstone can be very strong and it looks to drift across the surface of the stone. It is similar to a star sapphire or star ruby, but with those gems, there are 3 lines that intersect, where in a true cats eye, there is only one line. Translucent honey colored true cats oculus gemstones can be very dramatic and are also very valuable. The better the colour and the stronger the oculus effect, the more than valuable the rock will be. The true true cats oculus is probably the most commonly seen word form of chrysoberyl, and high quality rocks bid a high price.

The cats oculus is commonly used in men's ring jewellery as it is a difficult a lasting rock that tin base up to some abuse. Good sized chrysoberyl true cats oculus gemstones of a carat or more than tin bid terms of respective thousand dollars per carat. Because of this, many modern times the word forms of true cats oculus seen in commercial jewellery supplies are not actually chrysoberyl, but less cost simulants and man-made stones. This is of import to cognize when considering a purchase of this beautiful gem. Genuine chrysoberyl true cats eyes come up from respective locations in Asia, as well as Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and from the alluvial crushed rock sedimentations at Tunduru in Tanzania, East Africa.

Alexandrite have a eminent and glamourous past: it was discovered in 1830 in Czarist Russia. Since the old Russian imperial colours are reddish and greenish it was named after Czar Alexanders two on the juncture of his approaching of age. Alexandrite can be establish in gems of the time period as it was well loved by the Russian maestro jewelers. Maestro gemologist Saint George Kunz of Louis Comfort Tiffany was a fan of Alexandrite and the company produced many rings featuring mulct Alexandrite in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, including some set in Pt from the twenties. Some Victorian jewellery from England characteristics sets of little alexandrites. Cats oculus Alexandrites are extremely rare, and good quality colour alteration rocks bid very high prices.

Alexandrite is also sometimes available as an unset rock but it is extremely rare in mulct qualities. The original beginning in Russia's Ural Mountains have long since closed after producing for lone a few decennaries and only a few rocks can be establish on the marketplace today. Material with a certification of Russian beginning is still particularly valued in the jewellery trade. Some Alexandrite is also establish in Sri Lanka, Republic Of Zimbabwe and Federative Republic Of Brazil but only a little per centum shows a dramatic colour change. For many years, good quality Alexandrite was almost impossible to happen because there was so small available. Then in 1987, a new happen of Alexandrite was made in Federative Republic Of Brazil at a vicinity called Hematita. The Hematita Alexandrite demoes a dramatic and attractive colour alteration from raspberry bush redness to blue green. Although Alexandrite stays extremely rare and expensive, the production of a limited amount of new stuff intends that a new coevals of jewelry makers and aggregators have got been exposed to this beautiful gemstone, creating an rush in popularity and demand.

When evaluating Alexandrite, wage the most attending to the colour change: the more than than dramatic and complete the displacement from reddish to green, without the hemorrhage through of brownish from one colour to the next, the more rare and valuable the stone. The other of import value factors are the attraction of the two colours - the more than intense the better - the clarity, and the film editing quality. Because of the rareness of this gemstone, big sizes bid very high premiums. Stones that show only a minor alteration in colour may be called a colour alteration Chrysoberyl, but these are not truly Alexandrite. Alexandrite is an expensive and rare gemstone. Prices of $2000 to $3000 per carat for rocks less than a carat are not uncommon. As celebrated the terms directly reflects the strength of the colour alteration and the desirableness of the colours that are present.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Emerald As A Jewelry Gemstone

Emeralds are a greenish shadiness of Be aluminium Silicate. These rocks are difficult with well defined crystal characteristics that, when polished and cut are known the worldwide for their glare and clarity. From ancient Arab Republic Of Egypt and the reign of Cleopatra to the empires of the Inca and the Aztec, these rocks have got captured the imaginativeness of collectors, jewellery purchasers and anyone who appreciates the natural beauty of gemstones. Cleopatra is said to have got got seized the emerald ours and forced slaves to mine the rocks for her pleasance and to give as impressive gifts and these rocks have even been establish in the graves of ancient Egyptians royals. These beautiful rocks can be establish throughout the world, including countries of the Center East, Africa and Russia. Today emeralds are mined principally in Columbia River where some of the peak gem-quality rocks are said to be found.

Gemstone purchasers must mind of bogus or man-made stones which may be made from matters like three-dimensional zirconium oxide or even apparent glass. Natural rocks have got imperfectnesses where imitation rocks may look to be just a small too perfect.

Birthstone Information

This superb rock is used to stand for the calendar month of May. Spring is the clip twelvemonth when nature come ups back to life after the abrasiveness of wintertime and emerald is said to reflect the greenish of springtime grasses. Astrological marks associated with this rock include Aries, Twin and Taurus.

New Age Beliefs & Powers Through The Ages

For some six thousand years, emerald have represented a powerful military unit capable of protecting the carrier from a countless of dangers to the point where the rock was once thought to leave immortality. As with many other crystal stones, emerald is said to heighten greatly intellectual abilities and better 1s general wellness and wellbeing. The rock is thought to have got the ability to heal a figure of physical maladies, including sightlessness and seizures. Many supporters of emerald believe that this stone can leave great feelings of love and interior peace to the carrier and is thought to do an appropriate gift on occasions such as as days of remembrance or as marks of friendship, love and respect.

General Scientific Information

Like many types of crystal rock, emerald is establish in metamorphic stone constructions and takes a very long clip to grow. Though it is a difficult crystal, its construction do it more than susceptible to cracking or breakage if struck so attention must taken when wearing it as jewelry, having the rock cleaned or when having it re-oiled. As with many gemstones, there are unreal word forms of enhancing the colour and overall visual aspect including the pattern of oiling the rocks to decrease the affect of surface imperfections. It is also thought the pattern of oiling tin heighten the colour of the stones. The colour of these rocks changes between different sunglasses and depths of greenish and can be affected by varying degrees of Fe content.

The chemical name Be3Al2(SiO3)6 otherwise known as Beryllium Aluminum Silicate.

Hardness measurements between 7.5 and 8.0 on the Mohs scale of measurement of measurement of measurement - the Mohs scale measurements the hardness of metals, minerals, gemstones and crystals on a scale of 1 to 10. For illustration the hardness places of most quartz glass crystals autumn around 7 on the scale, as makes steel and titanium. Diamond is the hardest known matter on the Mohs scale of measurement coming in at a difficult 10. To most consumers hardness generally reflects the rocks able to defy abrasions and cracks.

There is no cleavage.

Double Refraction scopes between 0.005 and 0.009.

The index of refraction is 1.560 - 1.565 to 1.587 to 1.593

The specific gravitation is 2.65 to 2.76.

The crystalline system is hexagonal.

The eye mark is negative.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

To Care For Your Opal Jewelry

These somewhat fragile but so lovely gems are unique among the gemstones. I have taken rough material, cut and polished many opals. I cannot count the number of opal stones I have set into jewelry. I do love opals.

Opal advice. Here are the main things to think about when wearing and storing opal jewelry. First of all, opal is not as strong as some other stones but certainly is as durable as most emeralds you see. Opal is not as hard as emeralds but most emeralds will chip easily an due to internal flaws may even be damaged by cleaning! Opal is pretty safe when cleaned properly and is not going to chip or break unless it is give an nasty knock. You do have to be careful not to let the stone run against hard things or knock it around. Then again, who wants to knock around any jewelry!

Opal is a "glass-like" material, very similar to glass with a few particular exceptions: The glass-like structure explains the ability of opal to chip or scratch. Think of opal as glass and you will take good care of it automatically. Then again, although made of the same silica material as glass, opal is quiet different and that difference is what makes this precious stone so wonderful. Imagine taking a bunch of glass marbles and put those into a cereal bowl. Fill the bowl with water just enough to cover the marbles.

This is a simple visual example of how opal is constructed inside the gem. Over time, small spheres (balls) of silica come together and layer together until a complete stone is formed. Between the microscopic beads of silica is some water. Of course, the beads or balls of silica in an opal are much more tightly together than in the "marbles in a bowl" example and the water is much less. Opals may contain up to about 10% water.

The color and fire of an opal comes from the groups of the silica balls. The very size of the balls determines what light is reflected back to the eye. Some groups are close enough to reflect red light while others spaced a bit differently will reflect blue or green light. The balls break up the light and reflect a certain color depending on the size of the silica balls and the spacing of the balls in the gemstone.This is where the color comes from.

The water in an opal is stable, in a stable opal! Some opals are so "water logged" when mined that is a few weeks in dry air the stone will crack from drying out! Gem quality opals do not do this. Opal chosen for cutting into stones have a water content which is contained in the stone and are proven to be stable and safe. These opals should not change from "water loss" over the lifetime of the jewelry. Soaking an opal in water or oil is not needed and comes from old rumors.

General Care. Here is the rest of the care information. First of all, think of the opal as glass, even thought is it not glass but is similar. Keeping this in mind will prevent damage. Cleaning is easily done with a mild dish detergent at room temperature. Use a very soft brush or your fingers to take body oils and soil off the jewelry.Rinse and pat dry. This is an excellent time to check and be sure the stone is secure and tight in the setting. Tap the ring next to your ear to hear a slight "rattle" indicating a loose stone.

Heat and cold may damage an opal. Generally, when very sudden and extreme changes of temperature happen, an opal might be damaged. This is like heating the stone quickly with a flame..zap, like most other stones it will break. Everyday changes in temp will be safe. Do take care in extreme cases like going from a sauna to a dip in a frozen pond! That kind of temperature change could damage the stone. Everyday wear is safe.

I would not jump into a hot shower when coming in from the cold while wearing opals. Simply take the ring off and keep it out of the bath in the first place. This keeps the stone cleaner by avoiding very difficult to clean "soap scum" and the potentially dangerous sudden heat change.

Avoid abrasives. Abrasives are like sandpaper. Things which will scratch glass will scratch an opal. Take the ring off if you are going too wash dishes, working in the yard and when filling a sand box or applying makeup. Yes, makeup is abrasive. Most of the dark smudges folks get from wearing necklaces comes from makeup. The very fine particles in the make up are like microscopic sandpaper, rubbing away gold so fine that the gold looks black. That is the cause of most jewelry smudges, gold rubbed away by the finea "sandpaper" effect of make up.

Opal can be scratched by makeup. The scratches will be so fine you will not notice but will eventually take the shine off of the stone. Please put opals and any and all jewelry on after any make up, hair spray or other things ladies use are finished. Store the jewelry where it will not bounce into or rub against other jewelry. That is about as safe as you can get.