gemstone

June 9, 2010

Knowing the Different Cuts for Gems: Cutting Loose from Jewelry

From emerald cut engagement rings. When grading and appraising Diamonds, cut may not be as influential as the other C’s like color, clarity, and carat weight, but it is definitely an influencing factor when it comes to the Gemstones overall beauty. To properly evaluate the cut of a given Gemstone, you must not only study its face-up view or the surface or top view but study it from all other angles as well. An excellent cut can reduce loss on carat weight but enhance its looks to breathtaking proportions at the same time.

Common Cuts Used on Gemstones

Brilliant Cuts   A brilliant-cut Gem usually has three flat polished surfaces per facet. They are positioned in such a way to radiate the best light from the Gemstone. Diamond cutters also make sure that the angles will enhance the brilliance of the Gemstone. Brilliant cuts are mostly used for Diamonds and transparent Diamonds.

Some facets will have one or more shapes like stars, hearts, kites, and lozenges. Variations of the brilliant cut include the naivet or boat-shaped marquise, per-shaped pendeloque, and oval shape. Oval shapes are suitable for Gemstones with lower carat weight because they can make them appear bigger. 

The most popular variation of all is the full-cut round brilliant. It has fifty-eight facets, presently the greatest count for brilliant cut Gemstones. The single brilliant cut, on the other hand, has seventeen to eighteen facets. For Diamonds used in earrings and pendants, the briolette variation is mostly used to provide it with circular cross-section teardrop shapes. Brilliant cuts with triangular dimensions are called trilliants while square brilliant cuts are also known as princess cuts.

Step Cuts   Another popular cut for a Gemstone is the step or trap cut. Step cuts are best used for colored Gems because they possess four-sided table facets and girdles as well as parallel quadrilateral facets. The term step cut was used because this Gemstone cut bears similarities with a staircase. Step cuts have fewer facets than brilliant cuts. 

One well-known variation of a step cut is the baguette. It is rectangular in shape but with square corners. Emerald cuts are also quite popular. Its name was derived from its consistent use with emeralds. Emerald cuts remove the corners and form an octagonal shape. Clipping off the corners protect delicate Diamonds like emeralds and facilitate setting of Diamonds at the same time. Other popular variations for step cuts are window, table, radiant, and oval.

The best advantage of step cuts is its ability to enhance a Diamonds color, making the color richer and appearing to have originated straight form the belly of the Gemstone.

Mixed Cuts   Mixed cuts for Diamonds are mostly combinations of brilliant and step cuts. The crown or top portion of a Gemstone will resemble a brilliant cut while the pavilion or bottom portion of a Gemstone will receive a step cut. At times, the two cuts will appear side by side. Mixed cuts are also characterized by their rounded outlines. Many transparent Diamonds like rubies and sapphires are often cut this way. Gemstones with mixed cuts are also commonly set in prongs. 

Variations for mixed cuts include but are not limited to cushion, zircut, pear or teardrop, and oval.

Cabochon Cuts   A Diamond with a cabochon cut will appear rounded on top and flat on the bottom. At times, Gems will only appear in this cut. Height of a Gemstones dome with a cabochon cut varies. The name is derived from the French term used for bald heads. Cabochon cuts are simplest to make, and that’s why you’ll often see them used on affordable Diamonds and those that will not benefit from faceting.

Fancy Cuts   Any other cut besides those mentioned above is usually referred to as fancy. A checkerboard cut, for instance, will have a combination of a large table facet on top and a mixed cut. A rose cut will have a round girdle outline, flat base, dome-shaped crown, and facets of a brilliant cut.

When judging the cut of a Gem, start by evaluating it face up. See if the Diamond shows uniform color distribution and radiates light in the best possible way. Gemstones cut with large windows are unappealing. Lastly, recheck all other angles and determine if the cut took both carat weight and looks into consideration.

For more see asscher cut solitaire engagement rings and unique princess cut diamond rings.

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June 1, 2010

Spot Fraudulent Practices in Jewelry

From princess cut diamond solitaire engagement rings. External factors affect the value and the quality of Jewellery, especially Gemstones. For an average person, a gem looks like just any other gem. But to the experienced eye, he knows the differences between a rare stone to one that is not-so-rare.

Therefore, we strongly recommend Jewellery enthusiasts to have a keen eye on what is authentic to what is fraud. They should also be on their toes when it comes to the fraudulent practices involving Jewelry. They should know the facts of the stones and verify it with the experts. 

Jewelry enthusiasts don’t have to be gemologists. Neither do they have to be fearful when buying Jewellery. They just have to be aware of the fraud exchanges and gem misrepresentation in Jewelry markets. 

Switching the Stones
Stone switching often occurs and this is very disturbing for the buyer because the Jewellery loses its value. It is also hard to make accusations because the jeweler can deny easily deny the allegations if the buyer doesn’t have proof. 

There are jewelers who take advantage of naive customers who don’t pay close attention to the gems they are buying. The normal customer purchases the highest quality regardless of the need for it to be repaired or appraised. Sometimes, it may be the highest-valued gem there but it is in need of these two procedures. Therefore its value degenerates but the buyer doesn’t notice this because she is enamored by its sparkle. 

Mounting is important because this can make or break the deal. An unethical jeweler merely switches the stones and replaces them with something similar for the untrained eye. This is usually a stone with lesser quality. This tactic generates the jeweler thousands of dollars and its tax free. Just imagine the gold earrings and the watch batteries they must sell in order to come up with the same price. No wonder they do it with Jewelry. 

In order for you to prevent this from happening, take note of these suggestions:
1. You have to know your gems. Note their colors, girdles and clarity (if they have chips or scratches, their natural appearance, etc.) You have to remember the locations of the following as if they were their birth marks. You can observe these by using loupes. You can also document these for future reference. 

2. It is best to write these down. Record the characteristics of the stone on the receipt the jeweler gives you in the store. Do this before you leave. Sometimes, stores don’t have enough time to give the accurate clarity and color grades but they should still note the visible characteristics. This documentation serves as evidence, just in case switching takes place. It also prevents it from happening. 

3. If the buyer has a diagram or the photograph of the Diamond, he must ask the jeweler is this can serve as a good enough representation of the product. 

4. Clean the gem before it is repaired or appraised. By examining the stone and remembering the condition that it is in, you will be able to recognize it after it is given back to you. 

5. Be very wary of jewelers whose repair services are of low prices. If its too good to be true, it probably is. Maybe this jeweler has no experience. Then again, give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he is just honest. 

6. If possible, establish an ethical relationship with your jeweler so that he will be more trustworthy. This can also lessen the chances of switching. 

A Gem with Laser Inscriptions
If you are lucky to get gem stones that have laser inscription, then this can be a feature which will help you be aware whether the stone has been switched. Whenever you take the stone to any repair shop or store, tell the person there that the gem has a laser inscription. You can also ask them to examine it under the microscope so that you and the person both agree. 

Therefore, when the stone is returned to you, you can examine the stone and check whether the inscription is still there. In that case, you will now that the stone is yours. You have to do these things right away to ensure that you aren’t cheated.

For more see unique emerald cut diamond engagement ring and affordable engagement rings cushion cut.

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April 19, 2010

Ruby Charms to your options

1 from the rarest gemstones in the world may be the brilliantly reddish ruby. This birthstone for the month of July is hard to discover in nature, and most of the world’s rubies today are lab produced. The fiery red color of the ruby is difficult to match, and while other gemstones are also crimson coloured (like garnet) none approach the beauty of rubies. Prized by royalty and fought over in wars, this gemstone still retains its mystique and allure.

Rubies are a variety from the mineral corundum (the blue variety of this mineral is known as sapphire), and they are colored using the element chromium, which offers them this red coloration. One of the most prized version of the ruby is obtained in Myanmar, also it is recognized since the Burmese ruby. This ruby is stated to become the color of “pigeon’s blood”, so it can also be alternately known as a pigeon’s blood ruby, or in the charms trade, a Mogok ruby. While rubies may also be found in many other components from the world, such as North Carolina, rubies from Myanmar would be the rarest and the most useful.

The reddish version of corundum recognized as ruby is the second hardest gemstone recognized to man, rating a 9. on the Mohs scale of hardness. The only harder stone is the diamond. Even though the ruby is really a hard stone, it isn’t often obtained in big carat weights. All rubies also have inclusions or little flaws in them, just as numerous diamonds earrings have. These inclusions can affect the cost of the ruby within the jewelry stores or market, together with other elements such as the depth of the reddish color, the cut and also the carat size from the ruby.

Numerous pieces of ruby charms are created with artificial rubies, or gemstones that appear similar to rubies, simply because of the scarcity from the gemstone. Other stones such as reddish spinel, reddish tourmaline and reddish garnet are utilized instead of rubies - and occasionally are even passed off as the true post. It is important to possess a thorough gemological verify of any ruby charms before you purchase it, because these other stones are worth far less than true rubies. The most expensive, and biggest, ruby ever bought was a 38.12 carat ruby purchased at auction for $5,860,000.

While you might not be able to enjoy the splendor of authentic pigeon’s blood ruby jewelry, it is easy to discover acceptable substitutes and artificial replacements. Most synthetic rubies cannot be distinguished from their authentic counterparts unless they are beneath gemological scrutiny, which means you can rest assured that your ruby jewelry will look as lovely since the true point.

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March 3, 2010

Little Things You Should Know When Buying Beaded Jewelry

From emerald cut engagement rings. Beads never really left the scene, even after Cher decided to hang up her costumes.  In fact, you can wear beads even if it’s not Mardi Gras.  Beads are so flexible and adaptable that the possibilities of their use and design are truly limited only by your imagination.  Here are some things you should know when buying beaded Jewelry:

Price should equal quality.
When checking out beaded Jewellery, look for quality of materials, design and construction.  Do colors look harmonized or do they complement one another?  Are the materials authentic, imitation or synthetic?  Some beads can be made to resemble more expensive stones so make sure you know.

Beads are sometimes combined with more costly materials such as semi-precious stones and precious metals, which significantly increase their price.  Check the quality of these materials as well.

What type of beads are you buying?
You can’t spot quality beaded Jewellery if you don’t know the material it’s made of.  Beads can be made using metal, ceramic, plastic, wood, clay, glass and other natural materials such as seeds, seashells and coral.  Quality will depend on how the bead looks like, their size, make, color, sheen, etc.  

Size and measurement matter.
If you’re buying beaded Jewelry of approximately the same size, make sure that they have even sizes and shape.  With even-sized Jewelry, what you’re aiming for is symmetry.  Try the Jewellery on and look at yourself from about 3 to 5 feet away.  If you find something is askew or not right, other people will notice it, too.

With asymmetrical Jewellery, check the quality and then put it on to see how well it will complement your height and body shape.  Measure if you can.  If the seller says the strand is 20″ in length, it shouldn’t measure 19″ or 18″.

Look for flaws.
Whether you’re buying a string of beaded Jewelry, a belt or a necklace, inspect the beads for chips and cracks.  Check the holes.  Holes are often overlooked by people shopping for beaded Jewellery but if you’re buying some expensive stuff, you might as well know what you’re getting.  Holes should be a comfortable size for the string; not too big and not too small.  If you hold the bead by the end clasp, the thread or string shouldn’t show too much.

The holes on the beads should also be neat.  Holes that are uneven or show cracks and chipping at the edges are often a mark of bad craftsmanship.  They can also tear at the string or thread.  If you find these flaws on cheap Jewellery, that’s probably fine but if the beaded Jewellery is rather expensive, you might want to think twice.

For more see unique cushion cut engagement rings and cheap princess cut engagement ring.

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February 27, 2010

How to take good care of your Gemstone Jewelry

From unique solitaire engagement rings. Your Jewelry cost a lot, so it should be well-taken care of to extend its life and beauty. Here are some guidelines to take care of your Gemstone Jewellery.

Clean it!

Cleaning your Diamond Jewelry doesn’t require any special accessories or appliances. A bowl of water with some drops of dish detergent will do the trick. Arm yourself with a soft toothbrush and brush away especially behind the stone. Don’t scrub too hard as it may scratch the stone. Scrub gently and rinse after it is done. Dry it with a soft cloth with soft pats. 

A home ultrasonic cleaner can also be used, but only for those who know how to use it and what gem to use it with. It could be used with ruby, sapphire, and amethyst, among others; however, it could damage Diamonds such as emerald, turquoise, and pearl. So use this appliance with extreme caution. 

Take note that organic gems should only be wiped with a soft cloth when cleaning them. Pearls, corals, and ambers are examples of organic Gemstones. These Gems are soft and porous. Long-term exposure to chemicals such as hairspray, cosmetics, and perfume may damage these organic Diamonds, especially pearls.  

Be very careful with it

Taking care of your Gemstone Jewellery will make it look brand-new for many years. Oftentimes, common sense should be used in taking care of your Gem Jewellery. Take your Jewellery off when doing strenuous activities that may cause damage to your Gemstone. Diamonds are still susceptible to breakage when they collide with something hard or heavy. Gemstones, rubies, or sapphires may be the toughest but they can break easily when given a solid blow. 

Store your Gemstone Jewellery separately to avoid scratches from by harder gems. If possible, get each piece a velvet box to be stored in. Don’t get lazy in storing your Diamonds as they are very valuable. 

Put your Jewellery on last when dressing. This is to avoid getting the Diamond tangled with your clothes. But remove the Gem Jewellery first at the end of the day. Its also a big no-no to wear your Jewellery when going swimming. The chlorine in the water might damage your Jewellery. 

Its essential to take care of your Gemstone Jewelry so it to last a long time. The value of these pieces of Gemstone Jewelry are really high and may get higher as time goes by. And who knows, after some decades, your Jewellery may be a good gift for your granddaughters! So take good care of your Gem Jewellery.

For more see antique diamond rings in princess cut and cushion cut diamond engagement rings.

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Tips When Buying Gemstones

From princess cut engagement rings. People have always fell in love with Gemstones. That is because these items are almost always breath taking and are truly exquisite. Gemstones are valuable because naturally, their market appraisal is high. Thus, it is expected that you need to allot a significant investment when you aim to purchase any type of Diamond.

When buying Diamonds, it is important that you first seek to be knowledgeable about the task. It is easy to acquire such items on the market if you have plenty of money. But if your resources are limited and you are aiming for the best deals, then, you need to get to know several guidelines of how the purchase can be made worthwhile and practical. Here are some tips.

- Observe and look at the Diamond of your choice at all possible and viewable angles. You should get a thorough ocular examination of the item to find any defects like uneven color distribution, presence of color zones, cutting defects and apparent inclusions. Defects found can reduce the value of the Diamond. If you want to purchase an item at significant discount, be observant enough and look out for any sign of defects.

- Be interested but don’t let your enthusiasm show. You are advised to maintain your composure no matter how breath taking a Gemstone. This strategy would help you maintain a sound and reasonable judgment over the Jewelry.

- Don’t be intimidated by the overall appearance and presence of the broker. If the gender, nationality and age of the broker distracts you, chances are greater that you would only nod to what the broker has to say and forget to affirm your side or your judgment. If that happens, you will lose your power to secure a bargain.

- Be patient to present your offer for the Diamond at the end or near the conclusion of the negotiation. You should appear and sound firm on your stand so that the broker would think your standing offer is the ultimate concession you could possibly offer.

As you buy the Gemstone, aim to keep it as a priced possession. You should make sure to constantly update yourself about the valuation of your possession so that anytime, as the need may arise, you could always get the choice to dispose it. Diamonds are beautiful. They will never fail to mesmerize the eyes of the beholder, so keep it safe the way you guard your life.

For more see cheap emerald cut engagement rings and unique diamond solitaire rings.

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February 20, 2010

Simple Tips on How to Appraise Jewelry

From emerald cut engagement rings. If you have a collection of Jewelry, it is important that you possess the skill in appraising your Jewellery. It is important to estimate or determine the value of your accessories because that would gauge the extent of the investment you are putting into your Jewellery. Jewelry are valuable accessories that are generally considered as prized possessions. They can be collected and can be readily purchased at premium prices anytime.

Appraising your own Jewelry is not an easy task to do. The activity would need a significant amount of time, effort skills. To do the appraisal action more accurately, you will need a professional Jewellery appraiser. But if you want to try determining or estimating the value of your Jewelry, then the following simple guidelines will be of great help to you. 

- Retrieve any purchase receipt that would indicate the purchase price of the Jewelry. Doing this would be of great help for simple appraisal. You could infer the current value of the Jewelry based on its actual pricing on the time of its purchase. 

- Look around and find a similar Jewellery. You can judge by the price tag. This way, you are determining the actual and standing value of any Jewelry you are holding.

- Determine the history of the Jewelry. This is especially applicable if the Jewellery is old and has been passed on to many generations and numerous other owners before you.

- Determine the general and main composition of the material used. Gold and silver Jewelry are almost always highly priced. Gems also drive prices up or down. Diamonds as Gemstones always boost the price tag of the Jewelry as well as other precious stones.

- Pearls are almost always precious and highly priced. However, you should make sure the pearl is genuine. Perfect round and smooth pearls are fakes. Genuine pearls are not smooth but not rough, and they aren’t perfectly round.

- The size and total mass of the Jewellery will increase its value. The heavier the Jewelry is, the higher its appraisal.

If all else fails, you simply should give up the effort and hire a professional appraiser to do the job for you. Such professionals are scattered across the market. You could easily and conveniently contact and get connected to one. Your Jewellery needs to be appraised at least every two years to keep you updated on how the accessories are priced on the market.

For more see cushion cut rings for less and brilliant round diamond engagement rings.

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February 9, 2010

Different Kinds of Gemstones in Men’s Diamond Jewelry

From affordable solitaire engagement rings. While it is a more common practice for women to wear Jewellery and Diamonds, there are certain Jewelry designs that are suitable for men and have been worn by men over the years. Most of the more common men’s Gemstone Jewelry that you find are rings and cuff links but there are a few other kinds that seem to be becoming more popular with the younger generation of males these days.

The Diamond

The most common Gemstone that you can find in men’s Diamond Jewellery is the Diamond. Due to its versatility and classy appearance, Gems have always been seen on rings for men and for women as well. This kind of a gem, one of the most expensive gems that can be used in Jewelry, can be found in men’s rings and cuff links and are usually cut in the classic round shape. Of course, as versatile as the Diamond is, it can also be found combined with other Diamonds in certain designs that are somewhat masculine or manly to the eyes. 

Precious and Semi-Precious

Other Gemstones that can be found in these kinds of Jewellery are other precious and semi-precious stones that have been cut in either a square, oval or round shape to give the Gemstone a more manly appeal. The Gemstones used in men’s Diamond Jewellery is also in chunkier and bigger sizes than those usually seen on women’s Jewelry to help exude that same masculine air. This kind of a logic in Jewelry cuts and designs has long been in use in Jewelry and you can see those big precious and semi precious stones on the fingers and cuffs of a lot of men. Among the precious and semi precious gems that are often seen on men’s Gem Jewelry pieces, you can easily find the red ruby, amethysts, opals, quartz and emeralds. 

Big Jewelry for Men

Most men’s Gemstone Jewelry designs are chunky bracelets, necklaces and stick pins as well. This kind of a trend in men’s Jewelry design has been around for quite a while and there are men’s Diamond Jewelry that do have thinner components on certain designs, the overall assembly still ends up being a bit on the bigger side as compared to women’s Jewelry.

Men can easily find Diamond Jewellery at a lot of Jewelry stores and online shops everywhere. Finding the right kind of composition and design for their choices will solely depend on the individual taste of each man who buys them.

For more see cheap emerald cut diamond rings and cheap cushion cut diamond engagement rings.

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February 8, 2010

Gem Mining: A Reason Behind the High Costs of Gemstones

From inexpensive princess engagement rings. A lot of mining companies make money from the precious stones and minerals they are able to dig up. Gem mining isn’t an easy task. There are several things to be considered before mining. Some of these are: purchasing or lending of the machineries involved, payment for miners and other people who work at the mining area, getting a source of electricity and insurance for the miners in case accidents happen.

Crucial points owners consider before jumping into a mining activity

Due to the difficulties that may lay ahead in mining operations, Gem mining owners usually figure out these things:
How long does it take for the Diamonds to be dug out of the ground. Money is usually one of the most important factors that will affect the mining operation because, every single day, a large sum of money is used in mining.

How many Diamonds will the company be able to obtain. A mining company usually decides whether it should do its operation if the number of Diamonds their going to get exceeds the cost of the operation.

How much will the people pay for the Diamonds they’ve acquired.

How much money will it earn after every cost in the operation is deducted.

Why some mining companies are unstable

For Gemstone mining owners, mining is a business, therefore they don’t invest on mining operations if they make less profit or none at all. A lot of controversies have spread on many mining companies closing down due to the large amount of money spent in an entire Gemstone mining operation and its profit wasn’t able to cover the total cost of the operation. Other causes include the participation of government environmentalists who were against mining in certain areas due to the chemicals and other intoxicating substances which were released and flowed in rivers, streams, etc. thereby poisoning the organisms that live in them and also to the people living nearby whose livelihood depended on these sources of water.

Reasons why Gems are so expensive

Most people never know the real reasons why a Gemstone is worth a hundred thousand dollars. Other than the fact that these stones are rare, precious and add sophistication to the wearer, the whole mining operation itself costs a ton. Most of us never truly look beyond certain things other than a Diamonds beauty and the aura that surrounds it. We never knew that a single Gemstone is a product of man’s hard work and the difficulties involved in obtaining it.

For more see round diamond solitaire engagement rings and oval diamond rings.

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An Overview Of Gemstone Cuts

From one of a kind princess cut engagement rings. Colored Gemstones are usually cut to make the most of the exquisiteness of the gem’s color. A high-quality cut highlights the Gem’s color, moderates its attachments and unveils superior regularity and proportion. Since Diamond color can differ, there are no rigid geometrical principles to follow to maximize the radiance of the stone. The cut of the rare Diamonds are usually done with no thought for its color.

Cut considerations

The percentage of the stone together with its gleam and exactness in faceting conclude the amount of the stones ability to exude beauty and fire. If you are to assess the significance of cutting the Diamond, you might just arrive at the thought that it is everything. The stone’s cut intensely affects the energy, brightness and vivacity together with its observed size and its plain color.

With the previously mentioned identification of the stones brilliance the cut made on it must be geometrically precise, meaning the facets of the stone must be properly aligned which would allow enough light to come in to the stone which in turn would reflect on the upper large side.   

Diamond cuts

Round brilliant cut- this is the most widely accepted surface cut for most of the Gemstones which includes Diamonds that are known for deflecting the most light. The regular round brilliant cut normally has 24 faces on its pavilion, 32 faces on its crown and a table surface. 

Cabochon cut- this cut is known for being flat on its bottom and rounded on its upper portion. This cut is known as the primogenital and a common cut, its variety includes: oval, round, triangular, and sometimes even octagonal cuts. 

Oval cut- this is the spin-off of the round brilliant cut.

Emerald cut- less deflective among all the other kinds of cut, but this is considered as the best cut for emeralds. Its variations include trillion and square.

Radiant cut- consists of 70 surfaces and is naturally rectangular in shape with small cut on its corners. When done on a Diamond, its crown corner consists of a blend of the pavilion section and the brilliant-step cut scheme. 

At the end of the day, there really is no single and standard arrangement regarding what angle to utilize for faceting the different Gems. The definition of the best cut is rather subjective for it is completely dependent on the personal preference of the person who wants the stone to be cut.

For more see asscher cut diamond solitaire rings and solitaire engagement rings in emerald cut.

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