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.

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.

Online Gemstone Dealers

There are hundred of online dealers offering gemstones for sale. The attraction of buying gemstones online is similar to that of any other product — the buyer is looking for the best possible selection at the best possible prices.

However, buying gemstones online is a bit riskier than buying books or cameras. The product is not standardized, for one thing. For another, gems are very small objects and their colors and details are extraordinarily important. Buying a fine gemstone on the basis of photographs and descriptions can be challenging.

But the risks in online gemstone buying are balanced by the rewards. Prices for gemstones online can be as much as 50% less than retail shops or even wholesale distributors who are far down the supply chain for gemstones. There are meaningful savings to be found online, especially for buyers who themselves are in the gemstone or jewelry business.

Selecting a reputable dealer can look like a daunting task. But like any other specialized product, you want to find a dealer who is an expert in his or her field, and for who gemstones are a vocation, not just a business.

Here are some useful hints for finding a gem dealer who is as passionate about gemstones as you are:

* Look for a dealer who carries a large stock. The world of gems is vast, and there are more than 100 different varieties of natural gems. A professional dealer will stock the rare and exotic gems as well as the standard types. Also look for a substantial stock in each gem type. That means the dealer buys in quantity and you’ll have a wider choice of cuts, sizes and colors.

* Look for a dealer who frequently adds new gems to his stock. The supply of gems from the mines is constantly changing, and serious dealers are opportunistic buyers who always take advantage of new material as it comes on the market. Fine gems that may be plentiful this month may be impossible to find the following year. A dealer who is always buying is a dealer who is closely following the market.

* Look for a dealer who provides lots of information about gemstones. Experts have expert knowledge and usually love to share it. Look for information about the history and characteristics of the different types of gemstones, as well as information about gem mining, cutting and polishing, gemstone pricing and developments in the gemstone business.

Gemstones Natural vs Synthetic

What is a synthetic gemstone? A synthetic gem is created in a laboratory under controlled conditions. The gem is grown from a natural gemstone “seed”. By controlling the environment in which the gem is grown, impurities and inclusions can be avoided which occur in natural gemstones. The created stones have perfect color and clarity which is so highly desired. Most natural gemstones have imperfections due to uncontrolled growing conditions in nature. Synthetic stones will have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties of their natural counterparts without the imperfections.

A good analogy for synthetic gemstone creation is growing roses. Roses grown in a hot house where their growing environment is controlled will be closer to perfection than roses that are grown in your backyard. They’re both roses, but the backyard rose will most likely be flawed or imperfect due to disease, insects, and other environmental impacts. Not so with the hot house rose because of the controlled conditions.

Don’t confuse simulant gemstones with synthetic gemstones. Simulants can be made up of any substance, like glass. They are made to simulate a particular gemstone, but they do not have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties of the natural gemstone like the synthetic gemstone. Some examples of simulants are cubic zirconia, moissanite, and yttrium aluminum garnet which are diamond simulants.

The most popular gemstones that synthetics have been created for are emeralds, sapphires, rubies and alexandrites. I’m sure you have seen jewelry with synthetic stones, also known as “created” gemstones in your local retail jewelry store. They are easier to obtain and less costly than natural gemstones. Synthetics have made it more affordable for people to own nice jewelry and many prefer the flawless created stones compared to the natural stones. You can usually spot a “created” stone because it’s just too perfect in color and clarity. A natural stone, especially in rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, which is perfect in color and clarity, is scarce and the cost is beyond most people’s means.

Should you buy a synthetic gemstone or jewelry with created stones over the natural gemstone choices? I would recommend going with your own personal preference. If you want a piece of jewelry with a flawless, perfect gem, then go with the synthetic gemstone. Also, if cost is a deciding factor. As a collector/investor my preference would be for the natural gemstone. It’s value and appreciation factor will be much greater, flawed or not.

It’s interesting that there are some gemstones man has not been able to synthesize in a laboratory. One example is the garnet family of gems. They have not been able to unlock garnet’s secrets to create it in a lab.

How do I know if the gemstone is natural, synthetic (created), or a stimulant? If you can’t tell by your own examination…ask! A reputable dealer or jeweler will be honest about the origins of the stone. If they don’t know or won’t say, then don’t buy!

Another interesting fact about gemstones that is not common knowledge to the public is that the majority of gems on the market have been treated to create or enhance their color and clarity. There are many different treatments used today. Heat treatment is the most common and widely used. I have written another article specifically regarding gemstone treatments. You can go to Gemstone Treatments to read more on the subject.

As a gemstone collector/investor, as stated before, my preference is for natural gemstones, but as an adornment in jewelry a synthetic gemstone makes for a gorgeous ring, earrings or pendant at an affordable price.

Gemstone Beads

A gemstone is a precious or semi-precious stone used for jewelry. Scientifically, it is a mineral, rock or petrified material. Some beautiful gemstones are too soft or too fragile to be used in jewelry, for example, single-crystal rhodochrosite, but are exhibited in museums and are sought by collectors of mineral or crystal specimens.

There are natural and manmade gemstones. Natural gemstones are one of the nature’s finest creations. A genuine real gemstone is available in one piece only, meaning no two gemstones are alike. Sometimes these gemstones are further finished, dyed and stained.

History tells us that semi-precious beads have been used as both ornament and as currency. Coral, lapis and amber were used in the past, but today we there are many more options.

One can find many semi-precious and precious beads. These gemstones are available in different shapes, like round, oval, rondelle, tubes and stars. Some of the most popular are oval- and bean-shaped gemstone, cube- and brick-shaped gemstone, nugget shaped, faceted cuts and button and roundel-shaped gemstones. Genuine gemstone beads include amazonite, amber, aquamarine and topaz, and are available at different prices. The prices of these beads vary in terms of the color, weight and clarity.

Gemstones have been used to make beads for ages, and every culture uses them not only as adornment but to express social circumstances, political occurrences, and religious beliefs. There are gemstones which represent planets and are believed to carry spiritual importance. They are often used to cure the alleged effects of planetary movements. One can choose a gemstone of their ruling planet, or their birthstone. These gemstones can be combined with metal and worn as a piece of jewelry as well.