Do you actually think the diamond is the only stone that is used to make a profit for a few people while forcing more people to slave away mining it? Let me introduce to you the Ruby. Quite possibly the bloodiest colored gemstone on the face of the Earth.
As of today, Monday September 30th 2008, the "Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008" or also known as "Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008" ban takes effect. Unfortunately these red gems from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) that entered the country before the ban can still be bought and/or sold in the United States. As long as supplies last and then after that... no more rubies.
The act also bans gems that originate in Myanmar but are processed, treated or manufactured into jewelry in third-party countries such as Thailand.
United States lawmakers passed the JADE Act to encourage democratic reforms in Myanmar instead of the ruling military junta. The junta regime has a long history of human rights violations. After the junta's violent crackdown against the Buddhist monks in 2007, news headlines blamed that "blood rubies" sold were funding the regime.
Rubies are also mined from other countries including Madagascar, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand and, recently, even Greenland but rubies from Myanmar are better quality and better color.
What does this all mean to the consumer? Less Myanmar rubies means higher prices. Less Myanmar rubies means the chances of your jeweler replacing a damaged or lost ruby in your existing jewelry will unlikely happen. Companies like Tiffany and Cartier have been having this issue for 1 year already and it is expected to get worse.
[source National Jeweler Network]
Prasiolite is a transparent green quartz that is usually confused as Green Beryl, Peridot and Tourmaline, but it isn't any of those. Prasiolite is it's own gemstone and is actually quite rare in nature. Prasiolite, being in the quartz family, is ideal for everyday wear and is perfect for a wide variety of jewelry applications.
The color of prasiolite varies from pale yellow green to that with the deeper shades and more lustrous shades of deep green.
Prasiolite ranks a 7 on the Moh’s Scale.
It is believed that prasiolite facilitates the gap between the physical and spiritual aspects of life. It attracts prosperity through strengthening the mind, emotions and will.
It is found in Brazil, Poland and the U.S. (Arizona)
Great uses in jewelry:
Prasiolite rings, Prasiolite bracelet, Prasiolite necklace, Prasiolite pendant, Prasiolite earrings. Prasiolite beads and loose Prasiolite gemstones are also very attractive.
Prehnite is a rare pale yellowish to light green gemstone that forms as a result of hydrothermal actions within volcanoes and was named after the Dutch Colonel Hendrik Von Prehn who discovered the stone in the 18th century.
Prehnite occurs most commonly in veins and cavities in igneous rocks with zeolites. Prehnite is never clean enough to produce bright faceted gemstones but beautiful cabochons can be cut from the right material.
Prehnite is a stone of unconditional love and it is said to connect to the archangel Raphael. Prehnite enhances inner knowledge, showing the path forward to spiritual growth through atonement to divine energy.
Prehnite ranges from translucent to transparent while the main body color ranges from pale green to dark green, with yellow, white and clear forms occurring in some locations. Prehnite is a stone, sometimes even resembling jade, but prehnite often displays a unique and beautiful glow or sheen.
Prehnite ranks a 6 to 6.5 on Mohs' hardness scale.
The main occurrences are located in Africa (Namibia, South Africa), Europe (Germany, Scotland, France), USA (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia), Australia (Western Australia, Northern Territory).
Great uses in jewelry:
Prehnite rings, Prehnite bracelet, Prehnite necklace, Prehnite pendant, Prehnite earrings. Prehnite beads and loose Prehnite gemstones are also very attractive.
Morganite is the best known gemstone from the colorful family of beryls. Morganite get's it's love for its fine pink tones which radiate charm, esprit and tenderness. Morganite is typically used in gemstone therapy for stress related cases because of the radiating pink creates a pleasant feeling of relaxation and calming.
In 1911, on the suggestion of New York gemologist G. F. Kunz, the pink beryl was given the status of a gemstone in its own right and renamed after a banker and mineral collector John Pierpont Morgan hence the name morganite.
Beryls are beryllium aluminum silicates rich in minerals, and when a mineral such as manganese is joined with beryl, then the colorless gemstone (pure Beryl is colorless) turns into an enchanting pink Morganite.
Morganite is found in deposits in Brazil, Madagascar, Afghanistan, California, Maine, Connecticut, and North Carolina. Its good hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale is the reason for its excellent wearing qualities.
When determining the quality of a morganite, the rule is "the more transparent, the more valuable", but only applies to a certain extent. There are plenty of collectors who would prefer a morganite with fine inclusions like pure silk. Either way, transparent or included, the cut really is a decisive factor, for only a high-quality cut will allow the subtle color of the morganite to shine out.
Great uses in jewelry:
Morganite rings, Morganite bracelet, Morganite necklace, Morganite pendant, Morganite earrings. Morganite beads and loose Morganite gemstones are also very attractive.
Marcasite name was applied by mineralogists to an unstable form of iron sulphide. The color of Marcasite gem stones are black with an iridescent pale bronze tone when struck by light. Some have said they have a brilliant silver color or a bright metallic luster when fashioned with many small facets at the top. Marcasite's hardness is 6.0 - 6.5 making it suitable for most jewelry styles like rings and pendants.
Marcasite occurs world wide like in the chalk near Dover, Folkestone, and the French side of the English Channel.
Marcasite is frequently found in inexpensive silver jewelry (pendants and earrings mostly) and have been found in low-end "fashion" watches. It was fashionable and popular in Victorian times but found a lower stature in modern times.
In the very large world of precious stones, Emeralds glow in the fieriest green imaginable, Aquamarines sparkle in a range of light blue to the deep blue while soft and sexy pink of Morganite attracts women the whole world over. Are you aware that these gems mentioned above belong to a single family? Welcome to the large family of Beryls. Whether blue, green, yellow, colorless or pink, it is only in the color that differ from one another.
Beryls are beryllium-aluminum-silicates. Pure beryl are colorless, but add various foreign substances, and you get the various colors.
Iron will color a beryl to the varying blue hues of Aquamarine.
Chrome and/or vanadium will create the crisp green of Emeralds.
Manganese will give Beryl a special feminine pink of Morganite.
Small traces of iron, natural aura from minerals containing uranium will give colorless berysl a more or less intense yellow tone creating a Golden Beryl. Iron and uranium together are also responsible for the greenish yellow of Heliodor.
Colorless beryl, a rare find, is known in the trade, as Goshenite.
Originally, the name 'beryl' came from India. It was derived from the Sanskrit word 'veruliyam', an old term for the gemstone chrysoberyl, from which the Greek word 'beryllos' later developed.
The Beryl family are popular gems because of their magnificent colors, high brilliance and qualities such as their hardness (7.5 to 8 on the Mohs Scale).
Beryl crystals are mainly found in South America, Central and West Africa, Madagascar, in Russia, the Ukraine, and in the USA.
Beryls are well suited to rectangular or square step cuts, since it takes a clear design to bring out the transparent beauty of this colorful gemstone family to the full.
It is in Mexico that the most significant fire opal deposits in the world lie. Rock strata containing opals run through the Mexican highlands, and with a few exceptions they lay hidden in cavities and crevices which is extracted in open-cast mines. The mining work gives rise to impressive canyons with walls up to 60 meters high and labyrinthine passages which wind their way through the mining areas. A beautiful site.
Fire Opals are also found in other countries, in Guatemala, in the USA, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Ethiopia and Turkey, but these are mostly sites of little or no economic significance. Except Brazil, where several years ago, in an agate mine near Campos Borges, fire opals colored yellow to orange were discovered. They distinguish themselves by their beautiful color, often with slight clouding, but without the Opal "play of color". Their warm, expressive orange comes in all varieties from yellow to light red, sometimes with a brownish undertone. These Brazilian fire opals are setting new trends in the fascinating world of gemstones.
The warm glow of the fire opal beguiles jewel enthusiasts the world over because the radiant orange simply cannot be ignored.
The fire opal consists of silicic acid with a relatively high water content and the color itself comes from fine traces of iron oxide.
Fire Opals have a hardness of between 6 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale and need to be protected in a protective setting.
All fire opals are not the same so we differentiate common fire opals depending on their quality, are either faceted or cut into cabochons. The valuable ones are also have the gaudy play of color typical of opals. With or without the play of color, fire opal plays its part as a top quality gemstone.
The fire opal is the lucky stone of those born under the sign Aries.
Fire opals are either faceted (as far as their transparency allows) or cut cabochon. Like other opals, cabochon is the shape which best brings out the rich glow.
Brazilian raw stones are cut into other shapes because their sheer size gives the cutters and designers (almost) unlimited freedom for both work and play.
When setting up the cut of the fire opal, the cutter must pay attention to the direction in which the stone shows its play of color to the best advantage and must take extra care not to come into close contact with high heat. The water content of the fire opal is unevenly distributed and the stone can crack if dried artificially. When the raw stones are found in a chalky white weathering crust is a sign that the stone has aged through loss of water. This can create a cloudy and cracked fire opal. An experienced gemstone specialist can judge by where it was found whether a fire opal is going to be durable or not. The drier the place where it is found, the more durable the fire opal.
The tolerance to extreme heat, its resistance to acids, cosmetics, alkaline solutions, intense light over long periods and sharp objects is poor. These unfavorable conditions will remove the moisture from the opal, which can make it cloudy and cracked.
The more transparency and 'fire' the opal has, and the more intense the deep red of its body color, the more valuable it will be. The rarest, and highly esteemed, is the intense red-orange fire opal from Mexico with its strong play of color. A higher value is placed on fine cabochons than on good, faceted fire opals. Cabochons glow from orange to red.
Turquoise is called a 'gemstone of the peoples' in the early world. The oldest piece of evidence was found in Egypt where grave furnishings with Turquoise inlay were discovered. These furnishings has been dating from approx. 3000 BC.
In ancient Persia, Turquoise was worn round the neck or wrist for protection against unnatural death. If the Turquoise changed color, the wearer thought to have a reason to fear the approach of death.
The Aztecs in Mexico used to decorate their ceremonial masks with this stone which was holy according to their beliefs. The Indians of North America believe that Turquoise opens up a direct connection between the sky and the sea.
Other beliefs for wearing Turquoise, when worn in earlier times they preserved horse and rider from unexpected falls. Even today, Turquoise is a protective stone of pilots, air crews and other occupational groups who are exposed to an especially high degree of risk.
Turquoise cheerful color is said to endow reticent personalities with more confidence. It is also often given as a gift, a stone of friendship, for the Turquoise is said to be responsible for faithfulness and constancy in relationships.
Turquoise occurs in a range of hues from sky blue to greyish green, and found in places where there is a high concentration of copper in the soil. The best quality Turquoises are a pure, radiant sky blue, with or without the matrix. The more the color tends toward green and the more blotchy and more irregular the matrix, the lower the estimate of the stone's quality.
The Turquoise blue color is created by copper, the green by bivalent iron and a certain amount of chrome. Turquoise can change color, but the change is caused by the light, or by a chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the acidity of the skin.
The "veins" or blotches running through Turquoise is known as the 'Turquoise matrix'.
The most beautiful Turquoises, in a splendid light blue, come from deposits in the north of Iran.
Turquoise is rarely faceted. Usually, it is cut into cabochons or beads, or into some more imaginative shape.
Turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphate with a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale.
Turquoise are relatively sensitive and the color may change to a slightly paler blue when the stone has been worn for a long time. Even high-quality stones need to be stabilized. Today, Turquoise is treated with wax to the sensitive gemstone more resistant. There is a large number of Turquoise on the market that has been sealed with synthetic resin.
Turquoise are almost always subjected to a treatment of one kind or another. Turquoise which have a good natural color and are simply hardened with colorless wax or synthetic resin will have a much higher value than stones whose color has been improved. Improved Turquoise is dipped in a coloring medium before being subjected to durability treatment
There is also a 'reconstructed' Turquoise, which is made from pulverized Turquoise.
Turquoise should be protected from cosmetics, heat and bright light. It is not a gemstone to take with you when you go sunbathing. It is best to give it a clean from time to time with a soft cloth.
Zultanite is a transparent, eye-clean with some inclusions under 10x magnification, with phenomenal properties like chatoyancy and color change. The bigger the stone, the more striking the change of colors. Stones over 5 carats are considered very rare.
Zultanite can only be found in one location, in a remote, mountainous region in Anatolia, Turkiye.
Zultanite was named in honor of the 36 sultans who founded the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia in the late 13th century, which eventually became the Republic of Turkey.
Zultanite registers 6.5-7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Depending on the light source, Zultanite can shift from a kiwi green to a rhodolite purplish-pink. This same stone can also exhibit a khaki-green to brownish–pink, or pinkish-champagne to ginger color. You can easily see the kiwi green when the gemstone is viewed outdoors in daylight, except under direct sunlight. Yellow flashes are noticeable under sunny skies, a rich champagne color under traditional indoor lighting and pink to raspberry hues under other low lighting conditions like candle light.
The color of Zultanite is most intense in sizes above three carats while smaller stones are usually lighter in color.
Zultanite is one of the few stones which has no known enhancements or treatments.
Photographing Zultanite is a great challenge, the colors change from a grayish purple, purple with just the slightest hint of blue and a blue. Pictures of Zultanite will not give it justice but only hurt this fabulous gem.
Care & Cleaning Tips:
- Do not clean Zultanite in an ultrasonic cleaner.
- Try to avoid sudden temperature changes.
- Try to avoid direct impact to the gemstone.
- Clean with warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush.
- Store separately from other jewelry and gemstones.
- Do not resize or repair jewelry without removing the gem because heat of a torch could shatter the stone.
Where to buy Zultanite please click here.
Sphene is a brilliant transparent yellowish-green, green gemstone with a high luster and pronounced fire. The name comes from the word "sphen" meaning wedge shaped because it is found in wedge shaped crystals.
Sphene is a rather soft gemstone, but unlike other soft gems, it is always cut in a faceted way to show off it's lively appearance. Sphene rates a 5.0 to a 5.5 on the Mohs scale.
Sphene is usually yellow brown or green and some of them will show flashes of red. Sphene is trichroic (titanium), so the colours for the main axes will be being greenish yellow, reddish yellow, and almost colorless. The exact shades depending on the body colour of the stone. Sphene has a higher dispersion than a diamond.
Sphene is found in Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Madagascar, Burma, and Mexico.
Andalusite is an attractive gemstone which was discovered in Andalucia, Southern Spain. Hence the name Andalusite. It shares pleochroic characteristic as Alexandrite, but unlike Alexandrite, Andalusite is quite hard. The hardness on the Moh's scale is 7.5. Because it shares the color changing ability as Alexandrite you would expect to see it in jewelry? You're wrong because it is very rare, and most people, including the professionals in the jewelry industry have never heard of it, let alone seen it.
Andalusite was originally discovered in Andalucia, but it is also found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Siberia, the UK, Australia and the USA.
Many Andalusites display different colors within the same stone. This is due to its pleochroism. Typical Andalusite colors are green, brown, red, greenish-brown, brownish-green. Its pleochroic colors are red, green and yellow. Just like Alexandrites, the color of an Andalusite can be affected by the direction of the cut.
Photographs of Andalusites are very disappointing and deceptive because the actual stone is a pleasant greenish brown to red. The deception is caused by the flash of the camera.
Andalusites that contains carbonaceous inclusions in a cruciform arrangement is known as Chiastolite. These are cut and polished for use as amulets in many countries, because of the symbolism of the cross.
The optical characteristic of all gemstones are caused by their chemical composition and crystal structure. Optical characteristics can also be surface, or internal blemishes. Below are some optical characteristics that deal with color:
Color of Gemstones:
Color is the result of selective absorption or transmission of different frequencies of visible light. Color is described as the combination of the three following categories: hue, tone, and intensity.
Hue - the frequency of light and is described by familiar terms such as red, orange, yellow, blue, green, indigo, and violet.
Tone - the color variation from very light to very dark.
Intensity - a measure of saturation, or purity, of a color.
The differences between colors may be extremely obvious or so subtle that direct comparison under controlled conditions is needed to differentiate them. Color grading is so highly affected by fatigue, diet, lighting, education and other human factors, so no color grade is an ABSOLUTE. A color grade should be known as "color range".
Color Change in Gemstones:
Changing of colors in gemstones is known as Pleochroism. Pleochroism is the change in color of a refractive gemstone when viewed through different directions of the crystal. In most cases, the color variation is not very obvious to the untrained eye and must be viewed through a polariscope or dichroscope. In many cases, the pleochroic colors are strikingly obvious.
Singly refractive (or isochroic) - the velocity of constant light through all directions in the stone is said to have one refractive index.
Doubly refractive (or anisotropic) - the velocity of light varies with direction through the stone is said to have two refractive indexes. In anisotropic gemstones, light is separated in to two polarized components, the ordinary ray and the extraordinary ray. (can be further characterized as uniaxial, biaxial positive, and biaxial negative).
Amorphous (non-crystalline) material - opal, amber, and glass, may scatter light in unusual directions due to internal characteristics and display a phenomenon known as anomalous double refraction.
Refractive index (or R.I) - the ratio of the velocity of light in air to the velocity of light through a transparent gemstone. Gemstones with high R.I. are more brilliant than those with low R.I.
Birefringence - the difference in value between the highest and lowest R.I in a doubly refractive (anisotropic) material.
Dispersion - the ability of a gemstone to separate light in to its component colors.
Fluorescence - when exposed to ultraviolet light or X-rays and transform some of the incoming energy into visible light.
Phosphorescence - When the gemstone continues to emit light after the UV or X-ray light is removed. This phenomenon usually only will last a few seconds but could, on occasion, last much longer periods and is a rare characteristic in gemstones.
Clarity - will vary from complete opacity to lucid clarity and may contain few or many inclusions such as crystals of other minerals, gas- or liquid-filled cavities, or even insects. (Preserved insect specimens in amber are highly prized.) In some gemstones, such as emerald, certain inclusions are highly distinctive and can be used as reliable indicators of identity.
Alexandrite is named after the Russian tsar Alexander II (1818-1881), with the very first crystals being discovered in April 1834 in the emerald mines near the Tokovaya River in the Urals. Alexandrite is a young gemstone, but has a noble history. Because Alexandrite shows both red and green, the colors of old Imperial Russia, it became the national stone.
Tiffany & Co. master gemologist George Frederick Kunz was also fascinated with Alexandrite, and created some beautiful rings and platinum ensembles at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Smaller Alexandrites were occasionally also used in Victorian jewelry from England.
What give Alexandrite it's draw and lust is its ability to change its color from green in daylight to a shade of red in incandescent light. This unique characteristic makes it one of the most valuable gemstones of all.
Alexandrite is very scarce gemstone mainly because of its chemical composition. It is basically a chrysoberyl, but differs from other chrysoberyls because they only contain iron, titanium and chromium. It's the chromium which accounts for the fascinating color change and rarely vanadium may also play a part, but in small circumstances.
Like other gemstones, Alexandrite were born millions of years ago in a metamorphic environment, but its formation required very specific geological conditions. The chemical elements beryllium (chrysoberyl) and chromium (the color changing agent) have contrasting chemical characteristics and do not occur together because of contrasting rock types.
Russia has remained the primary source of all Alexandrites since gems from the mines of the Urals became available. When the Alexandrite deposits were thought to have been exhausted in Russia, this situation changed dramatically in 1987, when Alexandrites were discovered in Brazil.
Brazilian Alexandrites show both a distinctive color change, good clarity and color. The color of the Brazilian Alexandrites is admittedly not as strong a green as that of Russian Alexandrite, but the color change is clearly visible. Today Brazil is one of the most important deposits of Alexandrite in economic terms.
Alexandrites are also obtained from mines in Sri Lanka, but the hue of these stones compares less than favourably with that of the Russian Alexandrites. They appear green in daylight and a brownish red in incandescent light. In southern Tanzania has also produced some outstanding Alexandrites since the mid-1990s as well as India, Burma, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.
Alexandrite's hardness is 8.5 on the Mohs scale.
The more distinct the color change, the more valuable the Alexandrite becomes. A fine Alexandrite should show a vivid bluish-green in daylight and a purplish-red in incandescent light. A fine Alexandrite should not have any trace of brown or grey too. If the origin of the Alexandrite is known to be Russia (proof needs to be in hand) then the value increases to an unimaginable price. A faceted Alexandrite above 1ct will be the most expensive gemstone in the world, rarer than fine ruby, sapphire or emerald.
Quartz is one of the most popular and versatile gemstone on earth also known as 'rock crystal' because they were used to make crystal balls and bowls.
Throughout history, quartz has been standing in for more expensive gemstones ranging from diamond to jade.
Unusual specialties like drusy quartz (surface covered by tiny sparking crystals), and rutilated quartz (shining gold needles inside), are adding variety to many jewelry lines.
Rose quartz - Pale pink color of quartz which will range from transparent to translucent. The color is a very pale and delicate powder pink. Transparent rose quartz is very rare while translucent rose quartz is much more readily available.
Smoky quartz - Brown transparent quartz that is sometimes used for unusual faceted cuts.
Tiger's eye - Tiger's eye quartz contains brown iron which produces its golden yellow color.
Rock crystal - Rock crystal is transparent, colorless variety of quartz is still known as rock crystal. Colorless quartz is common while large flawless crystals are not.
Rutilated and tourmalinated quartz - The most popular of these two is known as rutilated quartz because of it's internal golden needles. Each pattern is different and some are breathtakingly beautiful. Tourmalinated quartz has black or dark green crystals.
Chalcedony - Created by single crystal and a number of finely grained microcrystals. They come in a wide range of solid colors like Agates (banded), Bloodstone (red spots on a green background), Moss agate (plant-like pattern), Jasper (takes on landscapes), Black onyx (even black color), Carnelian (brownish orange color and clear translucency), and Chrysoprase (rich apple green).
How to Determine the Quality of a Colored Gemstone
(AGL) American Gemological Laboratories became the first laboratory in the world to quantify colored stones in a linear, comparative manner. They are the leaders in gemstone documentation and have extensive experience in consumer protection programs.
The grading system which they created is very comprehensive and requires some knowledge to understand. However, once you grasp the foundation, you will be able to communicate to anyone in the diamond or gemstone industry.
Document Number:
This is a gem specific number for each grading report issued.
Image:
A digital representation of the stone assists in verifying the gemstone matches the grading report. This image does not show actual size or body color. Our technology, lighting and printing isn't "life-like" yet.
Identification:
This tells the owner if the gem is natural, synthetic or altered.
Shape and Cut:
Self explanatory but can go further in-depth when it comes to fancier cuts like "hearts on fire".
Carat Weight:
Colored stones are weighed with an extremely accurate scale.
Measurements:
Measurements in millimeters.
Color Scale:
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10
Excellent - Very Good - Good - Fair - Poor
Since there are so many optical/physical principles involved in the reflection and re-reflection of light through a gemstone, any particular gem can exhibit a wide range of colors. The color grade is based upon the purity of primary, or body color.
Fun Fact on Color Grade:
Asking for 1.00 to 2.00 color grades of a particular gem is a waste of time Because of the AGL's strict grading practices, a 3.5 color is usually the best color grade any gem will receive. On occasion you may find exceptional gems that will receive even better color grades, but that is rare.
Tone Scale: (in percentages)
0 - 5 - 15 - 20 - 25 - 30 - 35 - 40 - 45 - 50 - 55 - 60 - 65 - 70 - 75 - 80 - 85 - 90 - 95 - 100
Very Light - Light - Light Medium - Medium - Medium Dark - Dark - Very Dark
Tone describes the lightness or darkness of a gemstone. If a stone is too light in tone, the color will not be rich enough, but if a stone is too dark, it will sacrifice transparency and brilliancy (depending on gemstone).
Clarity Scale:
FI - LI1 - LI2 - MI1 - MI2 - HI1 - HI2 - E1 - E2 - E3
Free of Inclusions - Lightly Included - Moderately Included - Heavily Included - Excessively Included
Clarity is defined as the degree to which the stone is free of inclusions.
Fun Fact on Clarity:
You will probably not see inclusions in a LI (Lightly Included) gem, you could see some inclusions in a MI (Moderately Included) gem, and you will see inclusions in a HI (Heavily Included) gem. E (Excessively Included) gems have durability issues and should be avoided at all costs.
Depth:
The depth of the gemstone from top to bottom.
Cutting and Finish Scale:
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10
Excellent - Very Good - Good - Fair - Poor
Fun Fact on Cut and Finish:
Unlike diamonds which are cut according to strict parameters, many colored gemstones are cut for weight retention and body color retention. So don't overlook a gem because of it's cut. You could lose a beautiful gem.
Average Brilliancy:
Brilliancy is the amount of play the gem displays. Most diamonds are 100% brilliant while the average gem displays only of 50%.
Comments:
The comment section is very critical area because it generally designates the country of origin, any treatments the gem has been subjected to and if it is natural or not.
Total Quality Integration Rating:
It's the total visual impact of the gem into a textual description and wouldn't have an effect on the value. It couldn't... but there were times it did.
Ideal Parameters:
There are many professionals that will explain the run-of-the-mill parameters but these parameters don't cover every gemstone. In many cases people will walk away from a beautiful gem because the sales person stayed within the parameters.
Tourmalines come in a wide variety of colors and is referred to as the 'gemstone of the rainbow'. Tourmalines range from red to green and from blue to yellow and they often are two-toned. The gemstone also come in colorless and black. There are also Tourmalines which change their color when the light source changes.
No two Tourmalines are exactly alike even if they look the same. Tourmalines with only a single color are fairly rare.
The name of Tourmaline comes from the Singhalese words 'tura mali'. In translation means 'stone with mixed colors'. The Tourmaline family has an endless number of faces, and for that reason it suits all moods.
Tourmalines are crystals of aluminum boron silicate with a complex and changing composition. Even slight changes in the composition cause completely different colors.
All Tourmalines have a good hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
Tourmaline of an intense red is known as a 'Rubellite', but only if it continues to display the same fine ruby red in artificial light as it did in daylight. If the color changes when the light source does, the stone is called a pink or vivid pink Tourmaline.
Tourmalines have even more names like two colors are known as 'bicolored Tourmalines' and those with more than two as multicolored Tourmalines. If the center of the Tourmaline is red and the area around it green then it is known as 'water melon'. If the crystal is almost colorless and black at the ends only, it is then called a 'Mohrenkopf'.
Tourmalines are found almost all over the world like Brazil, Sri Lanka and South-south-west Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Pakistan, Afghanistan and in the USA.
Scientists are interested in Tourmalines because they can become electrically charged when they are heated and then allowed to cool. Then, they have a positive charge at one end and a negative one at the other, known as 'pyro-electricity'.
Green Tourmalines - is regarded as the classical Tourmaline color. If you ask a gemstone merchant about a Tourmaline, green is the first color he will think of. Some green Tourmalines are very light, others so dark that the green color can only be recognised when the stone is held against the light, there are green Tourmalines in fine leek hues, but also in intense yellowish-green, olive green and brownish-green nuances and there are Tourmalines in the range from blue-green to dark bottle-green.
Chrome makes green Tourmalines look like Emeralds and are also free of inclusions.
Green Tourmalines can be cut in all kinds of different ways and does require special care, since the color intensity of most green Tourmalines is variously developed depending on the direction of growth.
Paraiba Tourmaline - are from the Mina da Batalha in the Federal Brazilian State of Paraiba are small, rare and precious. They are turquoise blue to green and not found in any other gemstone in the world. The exclusiveness of this legendary find makes these rare gemstones real treasures. It was not discovered until the early 1980s.
Tourmaline colors are usually created with iron, manganese, chrome and vanadium are the elements responsible for the beautiful coloring in Tourmalines but the Paraiba Tourmaline is different. It owes its color to copper and it often also contains manganese.
Certain mixtures of copper and manganese can also result in pale grey to violet-blue tones while Copper in high concentrations is responsible for the radiant blue, turquoise and green hues, while violet and red tones are caused by manganese. The vividness of the Paraiba Tourmalines does not reveal itself until the stone has been cut.
Yellow Tourmalines - until recently there were no pure yellows in the rich color range because most of the yellow Tourmalines found had a slight tinge of brown. In Malawi a gemstone deposit with some wonderful yellow Tourmalines was discovered in mid 2000.
It is fine traces of magnesium that are responsible for the electrifying yellow color.
Blue Tourmaline - are the most colorful gemstone of the family. A Tourmaline that is pure blue is a rare thing while other blues color have a more or less noticeable touch of green.
The rare blue Tourmalines originate mostly in Brazil where the magnificent turquoise Paraiba Tourmalines were also discovered. However, they are also found today in the gemstone mines of Namibia, Afghanistan and Pakistan and, since recently, also in those of Nigeria.
Multicolored Tourmalines - are mixed crystals of aluminum boron silicate with a complex and changing composition in the same crystal. Tourmaline crystals have often grown in close proximity to one another, their cross-sections can also contain triangles which are closely joined together and gathered around a nucleus.
Other Tourmalines - Tourmalines that have black at both ends and referred to as a 'Mohrenkopf'. If a Tourmalines has red at one end it used to be called a 'Turk's head Tourmaline'. Bicolored Tourmalines with a red center which changes to green towards the edges are still referred to as 'watermelons'. If the color zones of the crystal lie on top of one another then it is called 'rainbow Tourmaline'.
The Rubellite is from the colorful family of the Tourmaline and shines in the most beautiful red to hot pink.
Tourmalines are closely related gemstones which have been created by nature in many different colors of the rainbow. There are red and pink tourmalines in many nuances, which include a soft pink, a vivid pink, an intense violet and a bold fire engine red. Only a few of Tourmalines are entitled to call themselves "Rubellites".
The name Rubellite comes from the Latin 'rubellus', which means reddish.
Many gemstones will change color depending on the light source but a true Rubellite does not. It shines just as intensely in artificial light as it does in daylight. The color of pink or red tourmalines will display a tinge of brown in artificial light. The color range of Rubellite starts around soft pink to a jellybean violet and everything in between. It takes these two components, soft pink and jellybean violet) to get the best out of that Rubellite red.
Gemstones in great quality will be as free of inclusions as possible (by rule). Not with Rubellite. Rubellites have inclusions that make this stone really interesting from the point of view of a true connoisseur. The inclusions should be subtle and they must allow the light to pass through the gemstone. A Rubellite with only a few fine inclusions is more valuable than one with inclusions which are clearly visible.
Rubellites are cut in various ways but the most important cut is the cut that takes in account of the varying intensity of the color.
Rubellites are mainly found in Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria and Pakistan. Some beautiful vivid pink Rubellites come the USA.
The green tsavorite is a youthful gemstone with a very long history. Its home is the East-African bushland along the border between Kenya and Tanzania.
In 1967 a British geologist named Campbell R. Bridges was looking for gemstones in the mountains in the northeast corner of Tanzania potato-like nodules of rock containing green grains and crystal fragments of green grossularite. The same mineral belonging to the garnet family.
In 1971 the green grossularite was found in Kenya.
In 1974 Tiffany & Co. began a broad campaign which soon made the tsavorite well known in the USA.
Tiffany & Co. came up with the name Tsavorite from modern mineralogical methods where gemstones are given a name that ends in 'ite' and 'Tsavo' is in honor of the Tsavo National Park where Tsavorite was discovered.
Tsavorite is so desirable because of its vivid and radiant green color which ranges from light green, an intense blue-green and a deep forest green. Tsavorite is also valuable on account of its great brilliance because it has a high refractive index (1.734/44).
Tsavorite doesn't need any treatment and rate a 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
Only in very rare cases a raw crystal of over 5 cts will be discovered, so a cut tsavorite of more than two carats is rare.
The moonstone is characterized by an enchanting play of light where it owes its name to the mysterious shimmer which looks different when the stone is moved around. This is known as "adularescence".
Moonstones are from Sri Lanka (pale blue on an almost transparent background) and India (play of light and shadow on a background of beige, green, orange or brown). These discreet colors, in connection with the fine shimmer, make the moonstone an ideal gemstone for jewelry with a sensual, feminine aura. the other places to find blueish moonstones are the USA, Brazil, Australia, Myanmar and Madagascar.
In India it is regarded as a holy, magical gemstone and are also regarded as 'dream stones' which bring the wearer beautiful visions at night. In Arabic countries, women often wear moonstones sewn out of sight into their garments because the moonstone is a symbol of fertility.
Moonstone belongs to the mineral group of the feldspars, which is almost 2/3 of all the rocks on Earth consist. The moonstone is the feldspar variety known as 'adularia', a potassium aluminosilicate of gemstone quality, which is also found in the European Alps near the Adula Group.
The uncut moonstones afford little idea of what it is that actually constitutes their charm... that shimmer of light. The shimmer is not really shown until the art of the cut has been completed. Moonstones are almost always cut as cabochons to bring the correct height of the stone. The cutter must also align the axes of the crystal precisely into the zenith of the stone, because that is the only way to get the desired light effect. But moonstones also show the shimmer of light in round beads which are cut from suitable raw material.
Gemologists refer to the phenomenon inside a moonstone as 'adularisation' and is caused by the lamellar inner construction of the gemstone. The light is refracted and scattered in the stone giving way to a unique light effect. This refraction and scattering makes the moonstone a distinctive and so desirable gemstone.
Moonstone is relatively low on the Mohs hardness scale ringing in only 6. For that reason, moonstones should be handled with care. Because of it's softness you can polish the moonstone easily.
The higher intensity of color and the more transparent, the more highly valued the moonstone. Specimens of that kind and show their shimmering light are highly esteemed on account of their rarity and their prices are correspondingly high.
Indian moonstones are not only very much in fashion and somewhat more reasonably priced than classical blue moonstones.
All of Nature’s splendor is reflected in the opulence of fine Opals: fire and brilliance of all the colors of the rainbow. Australia is the country most associated with Opals origin. Almost 95% of all fine Opals come from the dry and remote Australian Outback deserts.
The family of Opals can include quite a number of wonderful gemstones, which share one characteristic: they show a wonderful dance of colors, which is called “Opalising”. Depending on the kind, place of occurrence, and color of the main body, we differentiate Black Opal, White Opal, Crystal Opal, Boulder Opal, Opal Matrix, Mexican and Fire Opal and Blue Opal. Opal variations are practically unlimited and all show their own dance of colors. Fire Opal, which due to its transparency, doesn't have a dance of color but is nevertheless considered a Fine Opal while other Opals that are lacking the typical play of colors are named “Common Opal”.
Opals were relatively overlooked until the mid the 19th century. But then their career boomed suddenly because contemporary gemstone artists started preferring them to all other stones because of their colorful charm, which in turn was excellently suited to be combined with enamel, another very popular material of those days.
Opal’s color play emanates a very special attraction and fascination. Opals play of color is caused by small spheres from silica gel caused interference and refraction manifestations. The spheres, which are arranged in more or less compact structures, succeed in dissecting the light on its passage through the gemstone and turning it into all the colors of the rainbow.
Australia is the classical Opal country and today is the worldwide most important supplier of Fine Opals. Almost 95 per cent of all Opals come from Australian mines. The remaining five per cent are mined in Mexico, and in Brazil’s north, also in the US states of Idaho and Nevada, but recently the stones have also been found in Ethiopia and in the West African country of Mali.
In 1849 the first Opal blocks were accidentally found on an Australian cattle station called Tarravilla .
The most popular location is probably Lightning Ridge in Australia where most coveted Black Opal is found.
The largest Opal found, 6 ,843 kilograms, named “Andamooka Desert Flame”.
Opal prospectors made their home in deep holes or caves in the ground so they can protect themselves from the burning heat of daytime and from the icy winds of night time. They usually they worked only with tools such as pick and shovel. Buckets full of soil, hopefully containing Opal rocks, were pulled up out of the depths of 5 to 40 m deep shafts by hand.
Being an Opal prospector is still not an easy job even with modern technical tools available.
In order to best bring out the beautiful play of color in an Opal, the stones are cut and polished into cabochons. Only the best qualities of Fire Opal are suited to faceting. The Opal cutter will first of all carefully remove any impurities using a diamond cutting wheel, before working out the rough basic shape. Then comes the fine cutting, the finishing with sandpaper and then the final polishing with a wet leather wheel.
Opal is often found as flat lenses, or thin layers while bigger pieces are very rare. If you leave a thin layer of the harder mother rock, you will have the Opals that are frequently used today for mass produced jewelry. Gemstone combinations consisting of a surface from millimeter-thin Opal plates and have been mounted on Onyx or Black Obsidian and then receives an additional cover from Rock Crystal, Plastic, Hard Glass or Lead Glass for protection.
Opals are a gel made from silica with varying percentages of water. Due to the differing percentage of water, Opals can become brittle. Thus if stored too dry or exposed to heat over a longer period of time, Opals will show fissures and the play of color will become paler. Therefore, Opal jewelry should be worn as much as possible so the Opal will receive the much needed humidity from the air and from the skin of its wearer. Dabbing a damp cloth on the Opal also won't hurt your Opal.
Opals are not very hard and only achieve 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs’ scale. Because they are soft, Opals should be in a protective setting and away from many activities.
In earlier days the Opal’s soft surface was often oiled, but today also sealing them with colorless artificial resin has become quite popular.
Opal’s value is not only determined by the body color or it's transparency but based on place of the occurrence and it's pattern. It is also important if the stone is transparent, translucent or opaque because the Opalizing effect may also influence the transparency. If red appears when looking through the stone then all the other colors will appear. For evaluating Opals the thickness of the Opal layer is considered, the beauty of the patterning, the cut, weight and finish.
Black Opal shows the most brilliant play of colors while runner up Crystal Opal, is transparent with a deep play of colors. White Opals show more diffuse colors and are the least expensive Opals.