Guide to Gems: Illustrated Guide to the Identification, Properties and Use of Gemstones (Firefly Pocket)

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Ruby, known for its bright red colour, is a variety of the corundum mineral. All other varieties of the mineral are sapphires. Like sapphires, rubies are second only to diamonds in their hardness and brilliance, but they are rarer than both diamonds and blue sapphires. Sheila's Celtic Knotwork Ring in 18ct yellow gold is hand-set with a ruby in our Orkney workshop. Green Emerald Because polished gems with high lusters usually have high refractive indices, and polished gems with low lusters typically, but not always, have lower refractive indices, luster can be a useful observational feature to identify. Pearls are created within molluscs and are renowned for their lustre and the way light reacts with their surface. We use freshwater pearls from freshwater mussels in Sheila's designs. Take a look at Sheila’s lovely Lunar Pearl collection which incorporate pearls in silver and gold.

I think it's safe to say that no matter how many times we look at a diamond or other precious stones, we're still amazed by their beauty. But why are they so special? The answer lies in a combination of physics and chemistry. In this article, we will discover the fascinating science behind the beautiful sparkle of gemstones and what causes them to shine. Gemstones have been desirable since ancient times, and are as appealing to us today as they were to our ancestors generations ago.

This is the number one sought-after gem cut because its triangular facets give it the most sparkle, hence the name’s reference to brilliance. Easy to remember. A round brilliant gem is considered the most brilliant. This soft pink jewel is the epitome of feminine grace, a perfect balance of light pastel tones and deeper pink flashes. It’s phosphorescent too. A detailed introduction to everything a beginner gemologist needs to know including how gemstones form, the different properties, crystal shapes, faceting, and the history of gems The purity mark is simply the purity of the metal in question. For example, sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, so the stamp is ‘925’. It’s the same with gold – 9 karat gold is 37.5% pure gold, so the mark is ‘375’, and 18 karat gold is 75% pure with a mark of ‘750’. On the topic of the word karat, the word relates to gold purity when spelt with a ‘K’ and the weight of the gemstone itself when spelt with a ‘C’. So a ring would be described as a 1 carat Diamond ring in 18 karat gold. Care & Cleaning

At All Diamond, we sell high-quality fine diamond jewellery and jewellery with other precious stones to make your life more beautiful. Our designers and artisans work hard to get the best from each precious stone on which they work. The results of their efforts will be with you every day that you wear one of our inspired pieces of fine jewellery. Please take a moment to browse our jewellery collections and see how we capture the fire and brilliance of diamonds for you! Scintillation is the effect of flashing lights seen within a gemstone as the stone, the light source or the viewer's eyes are moved. There are only four stones in the world classified as precious gemstones and we are proud to say we use them all in our jewellery and rings. The “Big Four” are: Diamond Each facet contributes to how light scatters and flashes across your gem, adding to its overall beauty. Here’s how to define the facets. An introduction explains geology, chemistry and gemstone properties in clear and accessible terms. Key aspects of gemstones are explained such as crystal structures and optical and physical properties.

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Facets are all the flat parts of a gemstone. Think of facets like faces. They make up the gem’s geometry, and the arrangement of facets affect the gem’s pattern and shine. The top facets create the crown, and the bottom facets are referred to as the gem’s pavilion (or pointy bottom). Faceted Gemstones vs. Non-Faceted Gemstones Only discovered in 1967, supplies of this intense indigo stone are running out fast, and it has been predicted to run out within our generation. Fossilized tree sap from ancient rainforests. Amber is often found along the beaches of the southeast of England where it washes up after a very long journey. Any gem other than a translucent diamond. If you want dazzling jewelry with a refreshing color, see our Sapphire Buying Guide. What is the best gem cut?

Faceting a gemstone improves its fire, luster and brilliance. Fire is the splitting of white light into its constituent rainbow of colors and is famous in Diamonds, and also present in many other stones, including Sphene and Zircon. Luster is the surface reflection of the exterior of the gem, the light that is bouncing off the stone without entering it. Brilliance is the return of light to the eye from within the gem. These three types of light interaction are what we might informally refer to as ‘sparkle’. A lapidarist does the faceting work on a cutting wheel. It takes many years to learn this art to a proficient level, and these skills are often passed down family lines. The technology that drives these cutting wheels may have improved, but the incredible skills are ancient. Jewelry DesignIt has been said that nothing green is greener than Emerald, and its ‘jardin’ inclusions help to make each piece unique, like a fingerprint from Mother Nature.

Resinous luster is comparable to the appearance of resin or smooth plastic. Amber is one of the most well-known gems with a resinous luster, which makes sense given that it is classified as a plant resin. Others include sphalerite, sphene and vesuvianite. Citrine varies in colour from yellow and gold through to orange-brown shades. They are the yellow variety of crystalline quartz and are the second most popular quartz after amethyst. Like amethyst, citrine is an affordable gemstone and is also available in larger sizes. This gemstone looks striking set in both silver and gold. Take a look at Sheila's Ogham cufflinks and Tidal pendant. Tourmaline The luster quality can be further broken down into sub-categories that specify the different types of luster that a gem may display. There are no clear distinctions between these different types of luster. Learn how gemstones are formed and how to recognise them by their unique qualities and colours. A wonderful book for beginners, students, and gemstone-enthusiasts that includes the latest scientific research and gemstone classification.

As the name suggests, gems with a waxy luster appear to have a layer of wax on their surface. Jade, chalcedony, and Turquoise have a waxy luster. Some Opals are also considered to have a waxy luster, though this can sometimes be polished to a resinous finish. Adamantine Silky. Greasy? Gemologists use various evocative terms to describe gemstone luster. This refers to the appearance of a gem’s surface when it reflects light. There are generally three ways that gemstones are mined, although of course the size and scale of the mining operation varies significantly from mine to mine. There are substantial commercial mines with modern equipment and a large workforce right down to small artisanal miners, sometimes with as little as a single miner digging through their small claim with hand tools. Mines are found all over the world in many different countries, and certain countries are renowned for the quality of the stones they produce. Examples of this include Colombian Emerald, Sri Lankan Sapphire and Australian Opal. Tunnel Mining For centuries, this regal purple stone was the reserve of kings, popes and the very wealthiest of society. A gorgeous gem with a fascinating history. A fascinating profile of each gem is accompanied with color photographs of the raw crystal, common cuts, and finally polished for use in jewelry. At-a-glance charts provide technical details such as refractive index, crystal group, luster, hardness and cleavage for each gem.