Perfect Cut For Your Gemstone

Cutting and Polishing gemstones

The shine given to the surface of a stone -either by rubbing it with grit or powder, or against another stone – is its polish. It can also be said that polishing is the systematically progressive reduction in the size of scratches until they are invisible to the naked eye. Polishing of a gemstone is done by the use of very finely powdered abrasives such as corundum powder, tripoli, pumice, putty powder, etc. Each gem material requires special treatment to obtain the best results. It is here that most of the trade secrets apply. In general, the polishing powder should not be quite as hard as the material to be polished, else it may grind rather than polish. The material should be used with water or oil to give it a creamy consistency. Dark- colored gemstones and those that are translucent or opaque, for instance opal and turquoise, are often polished rather than faceted, as they are organic gems. Opal, being a softer rock require treatment more like that accorded cut glass, and soft abrasive powders, such as pumice, suffice to polish them.

They may be polished as beads or as flat pieces to be used in inlay work, or cut en cabochon with a smooth, rounded surface and usually a highly polished domed top and flat base. Gems which are transparent are normally faceted, a method which shows the optical properties of the stone’s interior to its best advantage by maximizing reflected light which is perceived by the viewer as sparkle. There are many commonly used shapes for faceted stones. For example, a rough diamond crystal is fashioned into a brilliant-cut. This is the most popular cut for this stone because it maximizes the gem’s naturally strong light dispersion. The craftsman, or lapidary, who cuts the stone aims to show its best features, taking into account its colour, clarity, and weight. The facets must be cut at the proper angles, which varies depending on the optical properties of the gem. If the angles are too steep or too shallow, the light will pass through and not be reflected back toward the viewer. There are several stages in the cutting of a gemstone, each of which may be carried out by a different expert.

Cut Types

Cabochon Cut

Cabochons is the earliest form of gem cutting forms. Cobochon cut gemstone usually have a flat base and a round, curved, convex dome like top which can be oval, coushion or round in shape. The stones that are cut in cobochon cut are Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Coral, Star Sapphire, Moonstone and Opal. The cabochon cut does not give much brilliance as compared to other cuts.

Brilliant Cut

The brilliant-cut is the most popular for diamonds, and for many other stones, particularly colourless ones. The brilliant cut gives the most complete return of light out through the front ensuring brilliance and fire. Round cut is the most common shape in brilliant cut. Other shapes include oval brilliant cut (43 to 57 facets), pear shaped pendeloque (58 facet) and the boat shaped marquise or navette (58 facet).

Step cuts

A step cut is obtainedby cutting a stone with several series of rectangular facets one above the other parallel to the edges in the manner of a pyramid with its top chopped off. The base and table are square with triangular facets. Fine step cut stones can be very brilliant. Emerald, Quartz Tourmalite and Amethysts are a few gems that are commonly cut in Step cuts. The Emerald cut (50 facets) is an example of Step cut and has rows of facets that resemble a staircase and usually are four-sided.

Mixed cuts

Mixed cuts consists of a brilliant cut top and a step cut back. Sapphires, Rubies and other transparent colored stones are frequently cut in this style.

Buff Top cut is an example of Mixed cuts which mixes a Faceted cut with a Non-Faceted cut. tops of colored stones are polished with a smooth unfaceted, slightly convex surface, the back being facetted in either the brilliant or the step arrangement. This results in a gem with the typical domed top of a Cabochon and a faceted pavilion. This cut shows good brilliance. Rhodite, Cubic Zirconia, Quartz and Amethyst are some of the stones that are cut in buff style.

Princess cut

Princess cut (76 facets), maximizes a gem’s luster. Princess cut is a square version of the Round Brilliant cut with numerous sparkling facets. The crown of the stone in a princess cut is usually very thin and due to the heavy depth and extra facets, they more brilliant and sparkly and make excellent diamonds for engagement rings. Diamonds and other transparent light colored stones are cut in this style.

Briolette Cut

A briolette cut stone is a drop shaped stone covered with numerous facets that corners to a pointed end. The more facets the stone has, the more brilliance it has. Briolette cut is an ancient cut style and can be found in many antique Victorian jewels and also in the Royal crown jewels. Many transparent colored stones are cut in this manner including diamonds, rubies, emeralds, garnets, aquamarines and sapphires.

Fancy cuts

Fancy shapes like triangles, ovals, pear shaped, kite-shaped, heart shaped, lozenge-shaped, pentagonal, hexagonal, rhomboids, parallelograms, rhomboids, octagons etc. require a lot of work. It requires a lot of expertise on part of the cutter of obtaining such shapes. Recent advances in cutting technology have produced a breathtaking range of innovative new shapes like flowers, clover leaves, stars etc.

Importance of Cut and Polish in Gemstones

Cut is one of the all-important 4Cs and 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 it is 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 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.

What about carats? Bigger is not always better. Understanding how gemstones are weighed and measured if a very important factor when purchasing an antique engagement ring or even a vintage engagement ring.

Although bigger seems better and more expensive, it is not always so in the world of jewelry. In fact, size is not even synonymous with carat weight and you need to keep that in mind when shopping for gemstones and antique jewelry.

Carat Weight versus Size

Diamonds and colored gemstones alike are evaluated and appraised according to the 4Cs which are made up by cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Carat weight is much different from size and definitely more important than the latter. Also, take note that carat is different from karat, which is the measurement unit used for gold. Carat weight uses the abbreviation ct and ct TW for carat total weight.

In the past, carob seeds were traditionally used to measure a gemstones weight because of its uniform shape and size. In 1913, however, the jewelry industry managed to set universal standards for measurement and the carat weight system was born.

One carat is always equivalent to one-fifth or twenty percent of one gram. One carat is made up of one hundred points. As a gemstones weight goes up, so does its value or price per carat.

The way carat weight is discussed is occasionally a cause for confusion. Remember that a gemstone with .005 ct may be called a half point gemstone. A .25 ct gemstone could be called a quarter carat while a .50 carat gemstone may be referred to as a half carat or fifty points.

Gemstones are often listed according to their size because it is more uniform than carat weight. Two different gemstones may have the same size but different carat weights and consequently, different prices as well.

Understanding the principles and values of a gemstone can only ensure a perfect sale and the knowledge that you really do know what you are purchasing when it comes to gemstones.

Peridot – Gemstone Found On Earth and Mars

What makes a Peridot unique? Peridot is found in a number of places on Earth. It can also be found on Mars. Peridot, or evening emerald as sometimes it is called, is the softest gemstone. This is probably why it is less popular than the other gemstones. It is vibrant green in color and is best seen at dusk. It is very refreshing to look at and it has a soothing and calming effect.

Peridot in History

Peridot is the gemstone for August. It is also the 16th anniversary gemstone. Ancients believed it to have the power to reduce a person’s anxiety, helps create a successful marriage, change dreams into reality, keeps away nightmares and evil spirits, and gives power to enable a person to communicate well. Peridot, when transparent, would come in variety of colors, ranging from light yellowish green to deep olive color. Like emeralds, the greener the color, the higher the value of a peridot stone.

Judging Peridot Quality

Peridot tends to be clearer than emerald and it comes in various shapes, sizes and hues. The quality is good and its value is higher if the texture and surface is clear and the color is deep green. It has a rather oily and greasy appearance. Like an emerald, a peridot could have bubbles, flaws and inclusions, so clarity is very important in looking for a good quality stone.

Care must be taken when using peridot as jewelry. It is a sensitive gemstone and can be damaged by improper use and care. Avoid excesses of temperature and be aware that acids and over use can damage the stone. However, Peridot is an exciting and fashionable gemstone that will enhance any person.

Gemstone Therapy Work

Each gemstone has a certain vibration, energy or frequency. All matter is energy in physical form.  Even our thoughts are energy.  True  or False?

Our thoughts are a form of energy and is the reason affirmations provides us with renewed energy and negative thoughts, (including fear)  drains or depletes us of our energy.

Need more energy? Think “more” positive thoughts.

Gemstones are formed within the earth for thousands and thousand of years.  Therefore it is safe to say that gemstones are in perfect alignment with the universe.

Today we use gemstones in modern day technology, such as gemstones in lasers to perform certain types of surgeries and in computers, to send information around the world.

Quartz crystals are also used to energize watches. These factors alone, are proof of certain gemstone values (properties)

Quartz  crystals, vary greatly in color, sizes and energy levels. Because quartz is used in computers chips to relay information,  it only takes a small step,  (not a leap)  just a tiny step of faith,  to embrace the thought, that this same family of gemstones can be used to relay information to your subconscious mind and bring about desired results in ones’ personal  life! (Including health, wealth, love and personal growth)

Many people strongly suggest wearing gemstones in the form of jewelry, to receive  the benefits of gemstones. Others strongly suggest that you sleep with the gemstones on your night stand for best results.

When I wear gemstone jewelry, I am sometimes, ‘put off’ when someone recognizes my subconscious prayer because of the type of gemstone I am wearing.  And for that reason, I personally, prefer the  “gemstone on the night stand approach.”

That’s not to say that an expensive, gemstone necklace, worn to a social function wouldn’t sever me well, because it would.

Using gemstones for therapy,  is a personal thing.   It’s like a symbol, for a personal prayer that you can trust, because, it was produced by mother earth.   A gemstone’s vibration is perfect for its intent.   Now what is a gemstone’s  real intent?   On this,  I had to trust the scientists.   And since the quartz crystal within my computer works just find, I see no reason to question the scientist’s  results concerning crystals.

And as long as the universe is in balance, meaning, large asteroids aren’t falling out of the sky, on a regular bases,  I have to believe, we can trust the gifts that earth has provided to us.

Jade – The Ancient Gemstone

Jade is by far, one of the oldest and sought after gemstones on the planet. It is found on nearly every continent and has played an integral role in the shaping of ancient cultures. Today, it is as precious and valuable as it was one thousand years ago.

The gemstone is formed in subduction zones around the globe. Subduction happens when two tectonic plates smash together and overlap. The plate that is forced down takes its minerals into the depths of the Earth, where the temperature and the pressure are right for creating jade. The mineral is then mined. The dangerous task of excavating the gemstone takes place the world over, China, India, New Zealand, Canada, Siberia, North and Central America at one time or another had mines solely for jade.

There are two types of jade: nephrite, from the Greek word nephros, which means “kidney,” and jadeite, which is the green type of jade most people are familiar with. Nephrite jade, when pure, is white. Our English word for jade is derived from the Spanish, “piedra de ijada” or loin stone. This correlates to many ancient cultures belief that jade stones helped alleviate the ailments of the loins and kidneys. But it wasn’t simply used for crystal therapy. Jade was crafted for weapons, such as spears and axes, but more so as jewelry and ornamentation.

The stone is classified into several categories. Polar Jade is from the Polar mines in northern Canada, Chrome Jade is specked with brilliant traces of green, Chatoyat has a tiger eye like effect in it, Bortyoidal or Bubble Jade, is shaped like clumps of grapes, and Vulcan Jade is covered with a golden brown skin, found exclusively in California.

The art of jade polishing has been practiced for thousands of years. The mineral is harder than steel and cannot be sculpted; rather, it is ground and then polished to create the beautiful beads and designs we have come to appreciate.   The initial grounding of jade is done wet. The stone must be submerged when ground; it gives off a harmful dust that is comparable to asbestoses. A diamond or silicone carbide is used to do the grounding. When the grinding has reached the artists ideal “grit,” it is polished using techniques and compounds that are guarded closely by the artist. This technique has been passed down through the generations and has helped create some of the most appeasing designs known to human eyes.

It might not be plausible and affordable for you to own jade jewelry. But there are alternatives. Faux jade is an acceptable substitute to the outrageously priced gemstone. If purchased from a wholesaler, jade beads and pendants can be used to create precious jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets. Craftwork is a soothing process and is a hobby that can be readily displayed. With faux jade there’s no reason to hesitate on experimentation, creating whatever you can imagine.

Jade is still used today to create art that is ubiquitously loved and praised for its elegance and wonder. Most recently it was used to help design the 2008 Summer Olympic medals; the first non-metallic to ever be used.   Jade is one of the few gemstones to be held with the same loft that it was thousands of years ago. Its beauty is renowned and desired across the globe.

Pink Sapphire

Even though it is pink, this gemstone is a member of the corundum family of sapphires. In fact, there are a multitude of colors available besides blue and they are referred to as “fancies”.

Chemical composition
The chemical composition of this lovely hued gemstone is aluminum oxide with a little chrome for the shades of pink. These gemstones were formed thousands of years ago as they were exposed to the earth’s heat and pressure. It is possible that some pink sapphire earrings and other pieces have been heat-treated to create a deeper shade of pink.

Origins
Today, the stones from a pink sapphire necklace probably came from either Madagascar or Brazil. These locations yielded up huge deposits when discovered in the 90s. Prior to that, the pink gemstone was quite rare as limited numbers came out of parts of Asia like Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Burma.

Special occasions
Like many gemstones, the sapphire is assigned as a birthstone. September babies can call this precious gem all their own. To be different, surprise a birthday girl with pink sapphire earrings instead of the expected blue. She will blush with pleasure at the unique gift.

This lovely pink gemstone can also be used to celebrate a 45th wedding anniversary. A pink sapphire necklace is a great way to let her know she’s still as lovely as that blushing young bride from 45 years ago. Speaking of love and romance, it is makes a great gift for Valentine’s Day. Yes, the ruby owns that holiday, but a pink heart-shaped pendant says the same thing.

A bit of trivia
Ancient cultures often attached special powers to gemstones that they came into contact with. They were influenced by the fiery colors, crystal transparency or the way they resembled the moon, the sun and the ocean. Sapphire has its own lore and legend attached to it.

To show how storied its history is, this gemstone was referenced in the Bible as well as in Greek mythology. According to the myth, Prometheus was the first being to wear the gem as jewelry after he stole it from the gods. But, maybe the most important characteristic is that, according to Indian culture, wearing it wards off evil spirits. Whether it works or not, could it really hurt to wear a pink sapphire necklace as a protective talisman.

Care and cleaning tips
Corundum is one of the hardest minerals on the planet. It is second only to the diamond which has a rank of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Corundum has a rank of 9. This means that cleaning pink sapphire jewelry is easy. At home, pieces can be soaked in warm soapy water and scrubbed with a toothbrush. Ultrasonic cleaners and steamers are also safe to use. Because of their hardness, it is safe to wear this gemstone everyday.

Pink is a lot of things, but mostly it is feminine and sweet. Any girl would blush with delight to open a box containing a pink sapphire necklace.

About Buying Fine Gemstone Jewelry

Something that is fun to own and is also an investment is fine gemstone jewelry. Almost everyone has a piece of jewelry with diamonds in it, it’s true, and they go with anything. However, fine gemstones can say a lot about who you are with elegance and classical taste.

You can find jewelry with precious and semiprecious stones that correlate to your birth month. If you’re not particularly enamored with your assigned birthstone, you may have to reconsider the type of gem you wear. February, for example, has amethyst as its birthstone, but perhaps purple is not your favorite color or it doesn’t suit your personality. There is green amethyst, however, which is sometimes referred to a prasiolite, and it is a lovely, pale green. Garnets and sapphires can be found in an array of different colors, so that you can wear your birthstone proudly in a color you love.

Fine gemstone jewelry can be made with investment grade gems. Some gemstones are relatively rare and more difficult to find. The names of some of them may be unfamiliar to you, as they never reach the general market because of their limited quantities. Some investigation will be necessary to discover which gems are the most rare and sought after, and where they can be acquired. You can select from so many more fine gemstones than sapphires, rubies, and emeralds.

Take your time in putting together a collection of fine gemstone jewelry. Running up your credit card balances will take a lot of the enjoyment out of owning gemstones. Put money aside, instead, so that you can purchase jewelry when a coveted piece goes on sale at a reduced price, or your birthday arrives and you want to treat yourself. People definitely notice fine gemstone jewelry, so you will want your pieces to reflect your individual taste. Classical pieces are always wise choices if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on jewelry. Versatile jewels like diamonds and pearls can tolerate daily wear. Fashion jewelry that reflects the current trends will look out of style in a relatively short period of time, and you may grow tired of it.

It is best to spend more money on fewer pieces of fine gemstone jewelry, as it will always be in fashion. Gemstones in every color imaginable will beautifully accessorize your clothing, and you might even begin your own collection of fine gems.

Gemstone Identification

People sometimes email us photos of gemstones and ask us for help in identifying their stones. We try to be helpful, but even the best gemologist in the world can’t definitively identify a gemstone from a photograph. Even visual inspection of the actual gemstone is rarely sufficient.

The systematic study of gemstones has come a long way since the days when any attractive red stone was called a ruby. Today gemologists have to be able to identify hundreds of varieties, as well as detect an ever-growing list of gem treatments and synthetics. What once was an art has become a science and gemstone identification without careful measurement is just guesswork.

Every type of gemstone has a unique set of physical and optical properties. These include not only color and luster, but also hardness, specific gravity or density, and refractive index. Though several type of gemstones may have approximately the same specific gravity or the same specific refractive index, each gem type has a unique profile when results of all the basic tests are considered. Just don’t try to identify a gem by refractive index alone! You could very easily be wrong.

Every gemstone has a unique set of properties because minerals form in different environments in the earth. They are known to geologists as igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

The basic gemological tools are not difficult to learn to use. They include the simple 10x loupe (a powerful tool in the hands of an expert), the refractometer (for measuring refractive index), the polariscope (for identifying singly and doubly refractive gems), and a scale accurate to the 1/100th of a carat (for measuring specific gravity). You can learn to use these tools by attending a gemological course or even through self-study and experimentation.

Common Gemstone Categories

Gemstones come in a variety of categories, and understanding them is an essential start to increasing your consumer knowledge about stones. Because stones are so unique depending on how they’re formed, their chemical composition and their basic structure, they’re divided into broad categories. In this article, we’ll cover each one with a brief, but informative, overview.

Beryl: Beryl stones were historically used by warriors to protect them against foes in battle. These beautiful and clear gemstones are known for their brilliance and clarity (except in the emerald variety). The beryl is similar to chrysoberyl and quartz, but is an essentially transparent stone imbued with distinctive hues and tones.

Chrysoberyl: The chrysoberyl family of gemstones is interesting because its three variants (alexandrite, chrysoberyl and cat’s eye) are all chemically alike but have distinctly different optical characteristics and actually look nothing alike. Chrysoberyl stones typically come from Russia and Sri Lanka, though cat’s eye can also be found in China and Brazil.

Corundum: Corundum gemstones are typically composed of aluminum oxide and other trace minerals. As the second hardest category of gemstone, corundum stones are known for their versatility and durability. Rubies and sapphires, two of the world’s most popular gemstones, are both corundum.

Diamonds: Because of their unique characteristics, diamonds are their own category of gemstone. They are known as the hardest naturally occurring substance and are prized for their brilliance, translucency, and fiery color. At a base level, diamonds are created from carbon crystals that have been fused together under intense heat and pressure.

Feldspar: With a base material that’s tectonic, feldspar is remarkably unique. Typically found in areas with a high occurrence of earthquakes, feldspar is created by the heat and pressure present in these regions.

Jade: Though similar to beryl, jade is a unique category of gemstone known for its soft pliability and silky texture. Jade stones are typically composed of magnesium and calcium elements.

Organic Gemstones: Organic types of gemstones include amber and pearls. These are gems created not from mineral sources, but rather natural ones. For example, amber comes from the sap of trees while pearls are created from oysters in the sea. Organic gemstones are typically replicated using high-quality plastic rather than synthesized crystals.

Quartz: As the most common type of mineral in the world, quartz is typically used for scientific purposes, as a base gem or in costume jewelry. However, there are valuable quartz stones, including citrines, amethysts, onyx and carnelians. Colored quartz or flawless quartz can often command a high price on the jewelry market.

About Choosing Your Gemstone

Gemstone jewelry has always been a favorite accessory of women. Diamonds have always been women’s best friend, but gemstones are becoming popular because of their radiance, which radiates to the women wearing them. The appeal of gemstones is that they make the women wearing them feel as beautiful as they are.

Gemstone jewelry come in so many variety that sometimes the task of choosing the gemstone is more daunting than the actual task of buying the jewelry. Whether you would be buying gemstone jewelry for yourself or for somebody else, you have to take the time to have a basic knowledge of gemstones and be able to evaluate gems and metals to be able to make a wise purchase or wise investment. You also have to learn to recognize a real gemstone from a synthetic or an imitation. There are gemstones that are very rare, and these rare gemstones are more valuable and an asset than other stones. The appearance of a gemstone is its primary attribute, which determines the price it would sell in the market.

Kinds of Gemstones

There are many kinds of gemstones, the five most popular are the diamonds, pearls, emerald, ruby, and sapphire. Before going out and purchasing gemstone jewelry, you must be able to determine if one is fake or real. Know the difference between a glass or a diamond, and faux pearls from real ones. Know what color is a ruby, an emerald or a sapphire.

Diamonds are valued according to their color, clarity, cutting, and carat. If a diamond is more colorless, with lesser or no marks, is beautifully cut, and is larger in size, chances are, it is of best quality and probably would be very expensive.

Pearls, on the other hand, are so varied that seemingly no two are ever the same. Pearls could either be natural or cultured but always be alert that you do not purchase an imitation pearl.

You would always know an emerald from a ruby as an emerald has a green velvety glassy color and texture while a ruby has always been famous as the red gemstone. Emeralds are fragile as they can break easily and is in need of most care than other gemstones.

Sapphires vary in color to yellow, blue, green, orange, pink, and purple.

Choosing Your Gemstone

There are still a lot of other kinds of gemstones. Prices could range from very expensive ones to prices which you can generally afford without putting too much dent on your wallet or your credit card. Choose, therefore, according to the size of your wallet or your bank account. Whatever you intend to choose and purchase, the important thing to remember is that the gemstone must be lasting and enduring.

Caring for the Gemstone of Your Choice

If the gemstone needs special care, accordingly, the same care should be given. Exposure to chemicals or sunlight could harm these stones and reduce the value which you highly paid for. Gemstones would always make you feel as beautiful as they are, and that is what you would be paying for.