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.

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.

About Gemstone

There are many gemstones out there, both precious and semiprecious. From the diamond to the tourmaline, each has its own unique characteristics. Find out why, whether in the form of jewelry or the original stone itself, the Tiger’s Eye is the gemstone for friends.

It is not uncommon to see gemstones used for accessories in jewelry such as necklaces, rings and bracelets or other decorative items. Marilyn Monroe’s famous saying, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” has been adopted far and wide to personify one of the most expensive gemstones. Unfortunately these ‘best friends’ are so popular that they have resulted in wars and endless poverty. As magnificent as the diamond is, I can only think of one gemstone that is truly worthy of being called the ‘gemstone for friends’ or The Friendship Stone and that is the Tiger’s Eye.

The Tiger’s Eye is a semiprecious gemstone which historically was worn for protection. It was said to be a stone which kept a constant “eye” on the holder. Skipping a few centuries later however, the Tiger’s Eye was discovered in large quantities in Western South African soil in the 1880’s. It displays an effect of a thin band of light, called Chatoyancy, that changes position as the stone is turned back and forth. The Tiger’s Eye gemstone is made up of crystal deposits of quartz and a fibrous blue mineral called crocidolite. While in the earth, these crystals condense simultaneously from hot-mineral rich fluids coursing through tiny cracks in the rock that grow and fill it. The combination of the two crystals as well as the crocidolite fibers help form the Chatoyancy effect the Tiger’s Eye is well-known for. Metaphysically, the Tiger’s Eye is said to enable the owner to think clearly and to transform negative thoughts into positive energy. This promotes the attainment of dreams and helps one to judge situations and determine each obstacle in the best way possible.

Emeralds are the Most Expensive Gemstone

One thing that most people know is that emeralds are a major gemstone and that they are expensive. That’s largely because emeralds are a type of the mineral beryl and they are rare. They come in varying shades of green.

It is chromium, vanadium or iron elements in the stone which make that lovely green colour. On the Moh’s scale of hardness where the hardest is diamond at 10, emerald comes in around 7.5. So it is reasonably hard but rubies and sapphires come in harder around 9.

Where are they found?

Emeralds are found in India, South Africa, Russia, Pakistan and some small deposits in the USA. The most important emeralds come from Columbia.

Just how expensive is emerald?

Well, if you get any other gemstone of the same weight as an emerald, chances are most likely that the emerald will be the most expensive. So in that sense it is the most expensive gemstone in the world.

What should I know about emeralds?

One thing you should know is that emeralds often have lots of inclusions or imperfections inside them and the outer surface is often not perfect like a diamond. In order to make enhance the stone most emeralds are oiled after they have been cut. Sometimes emeralds have cracks in them which are filled with resin. These treatments have been used for longer than you have been alive and they are accepted as standard practice in the jewellery industry. Generally, you will be told by the seller of the stones treatments. Certainly you should ask if this is the case.

Are there Synthetic Emeralds?

Yes most definitely. In fact most of the emeralds you will see in the lower end to moderate end of jewellery in shops will be created emerald. It is cheap and beautiful and the only reason you shouldn’t buy it is if you love emeralds and you want and can afford real natural emerald gems.

How do I know which is a good emerald?

Think about all gemstones that you purchase in the same way:
Weight, colour, clarity and brilliance. When these qualities increase then the stone gets more expensive and its price will increase. So in simple terms a small, dull emerald with not much life to it is going to be cheap and not worth much. On the other hand, a large, vibrant, clear looking but beautiful green emerald that make you gasp is going to cost a lot and be worth it perhaps!

My advice is that if you a re looking to buy a natural emerald for that special piece of jewellery and are gong to pay well for it then buy from someone that you feel you can trust. Talk to the gemologist or jewellery and several would be better than one. Do some research by books and the internet about the stone. This will not only help you chose the right one for you but it will add some valuable interest to your purchase. Emerald is the birthstone for May.

Gemstone and Jewelry Legends

Gemstones have mesmerized and enticed people for centuries. Legends have developed throughout the world and followed these gemstones until today. These legends and stories have only served to intensify the interest with which these gemstones have been followed. Think about the image that is brought to mind when the Hope Diamond is mentioned. Many more stones have stories and legends to equal that of the Hope.

Diamond Legends

Perhaps the Hope Diamond is the most legendary gemstone of all. It has the reputation of bringing disaster to its owner. It shows red under a uvlight and is a fancy gray blue under natural light. The stone is said to be recut from a larger stone to its current shape. The Smithsonian Institute owns it. The Hope Diamond is not the Heart of the Ocean mentioned in the movie Titanic as some have said. The Hope Diamond was not on the Titanic.

Many of us have of the Taylor-Burton Diamond at 69 carats was Richard Burton’s 40th birthday gift to Elizabeth Taylor. She sold the stone in 1978 to pay for a hospital in Botswana. She still wears another gift, the Krupp Diamond, which is 33.19 carats.

Pearl Legends

Probably the most famous story about pearls was about Cleopatra. She is said to have bet Mark Anthony that she could host the most expensive party. To do so, she dissolved a large pearl earring in vinegar and drank it.

Early Romans thought that pearls were created as a drop of rain penetrated between the layers of the oysters. The Persians had a legend that the pearl was created at the point of meeting between the rainbow and the earth.

Opal Legends

The Aborigines (native people of Australia) believe that ancestors to mark their presence left behind the opal. Some groups feel that Opals brought them fire. One local legend suggests that Muda, in the form of a pelican created Cooper’s creek. He died where the opals are found and the fish in his pouch turned into opals.

Emerald Legends

Emeralds were considered to be healing in the distant past. Legend has it that in the 3rd century, emeralds were used to rest the eyes and to make snakes go blind. In Arabia, it was thought that emeralds would melt the dissolve a snake’s eyes. Other uses of emeralds were to cure dysentery, stomach troubles and even diabetes.

It was thought that the Holy Grail was carved from an emerald that fell from Satan’s crown. The Incas and Aztecs thought the emerald was a holy stone. It has even been suggested that emeralds would provide royal ancestry to commoners.

Emeralds are a form of corundum and legends abound about their powers and history, but Rubies are also corundum, and few if any legends follow Rubies.

Sapphire Legends

Early people thought that the earth was set into a sapphire. Early Persians believed that the earth rested on a Sapphire and the sky is blue because it is reflected from the Sapphire. One old legend even suggests that a snake put in a vessel with a Sapphire would die. It was believed that the Ten Commandments were written on Sapphire tablets.

Gemstones have mesmerized and enticed people for centuries. Legends have developed throughout the world and followed these gemstones until today. These legends and stories have only served to intensify the interest with which these gemstones have been followed. Think about the image that is brought to mind when the Hope Diamond is mentioned. Many more stones have stories and legends to equal that of the Hope.
Diamond Legends
Perhaps the Hope Diamond is the most legendary gemstone of all. It has the reputation of bringing disaster to its owner. It shows red under a uvlight and is a fancy gray blue under natural light. The stone is said to be recut from a larger stone to its current shape. The Smithsonian Institute owns it. The Hope Diamond is not the Heart of the Ocean mentioned in the movie Titanic as some have said. The Hope Diamond was not on the Titanic.
Many of us have of the Taylor-Burton Diamond at 69 carats was Richard Burton’s 40th birthday gift to Elizabeth Taylor. She sold the stone in 1978 to pay for a hospital in Botswana. She still wears another gift, the Krupp Diamond, which is 33.19 carats.
Pearl Legends
Probably the most famous story about pearls was about Cleopatra. She is said to have bet Mark Anthony that she could host the most expensive party. To do so, she dissolved a large pearl earring in vinegar and drank it.
Early Romans thought that pearls were created as a drop of rain penetrated between the layers of the oysters. The Persians had a legend that the pearl was created at the point of meeting between the rainbow and the earth.
Opal Legends
The Aborigines (native people of Australia) believe that ancestors to mark their presence left behind the opal. Some groups feel that Opals brought them fire. One local legend suggests that Muda, in the form of a pelican created Cooper’s creek. He died where the opals are found and the fish in his pouch turned into opals.
Emerald Legends
Emeralds were considered to be healing in the distant past. Legend has it that in the 3rd century, emeralds were used to rest the eyes and to make snakes go blind. In Arabia, it was thought that emeralds would melt the dissolve a snake’s eyes. Other uses of emeralds were to cure dysentery, stomach troubles and even diabetes.
It was thought that the Holy Grail was carved from an emerald that fell from Satan’s crown. The Incas and Aztecs thought the emerald was a holy stone. It has even been suggested that emeralds would provide royal ancestry to commoners.
Emeralds are a form of corundum and legends abound about their powers and history, but Rubies are also corundum, and few if any legends follow Rubies.

Sapphire Legends
Early people thought that the earth was set into a sapphire. Early Persians believed that the earth rested on a Sapphire and the sky is blue because it is reflected from the Sapphire. One old legend even suggests that a snake put in a vessel with a Sapphire would die. It was believed that the Ten Commandments were written on Sapphire tablets.