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Our Featured Gemstone Article

Starting The Hobby Of Gemstone Collecting

By Lee MacRae

Many people today say collecting various loose gemstones or loose diamonds is a favorite pastime. They love the colors and the beauty of the various gemstones you can find just about everywhere in the world. Read long as we examine the things you need to know when starting this gemstone hobby.

Right at the beginning, what you need is to get some books from the library or bookstore. You want to learn as much as you possibly can about your new hobby. The more you learn about gemstones the wiser will be your purchases. You'll know exactly what to look for in a quality stone.

The first criteria you need to evaluate is stone color. It is a fact that gemstones are the most intensely colored naturally occurring materials you can find. Gems have become so synonomous with color, they have even lent their names to specific colors. You've no doubt heard about emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue, jade green, turquoise or aquamarine. Gemstones are valued much higher when they equal the colors in the spectrum of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. They become less valuable when they are lighter or darker than the pure spectral color.

Gemstone cut is very important and is used not only to appraise diamonds but gemstones in general as well. A good cut showcases the natural color of the gemstone, lessen any inclusions and show off its symmetry and proportions. One way to determine the precision in gemstone cut is to consider how evenly it reflects light over the stones complete surface. If the stone is cut on the shallow side much of the light will refract out of the gem rather than reflecting internally. Gemstone color will be washed out.

The next factor to look at is the clarity. This refers to the gemstones purity or the absence of internal inclusions, internal particles or spots within the crystal structure. Obviously, stones with a lack of flaws will make a gemstone very valuable.

Next item to look at is the duo of size and weight. Because gemstones vary and specific gravity or density. Weight and size are not equal for each and every stone. If a diamond of a certain size weighs 1.00 carats then a sapphire of equal size would weigh 1.20 carats. An emerald stone would be about 0.95 carats and an Alexandrite stone would be about 1.23 carats.

Collecting various gemstones can create an enjoyable hobby and pastime. And there is such a variety in precious and semi precious stones that you can collect. You can start collecting gemstones like Lapis lazuli, Sapphire or Iolite for instance. The varieties are nearly endless. And if you like a hands on hobby you can go gemstone hunting and find the raw materials instead of buying them. Just in the United States in Alabama you can find Beryl, blue and yellow; Smoky Quartz and Hematite.

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Onyx is very similar to agate. Onyx has straight bands of brown, white or black;
agate has curved lines of many colors. Since ancient times, Onyx has been dyed
to improve it's color. Often treated agate is sold as Black Onyx. Onyx may chip
or scratch rather easily. Onyx is found worldwide. Onyx is the anniversary
gemstone for the 7th year of marriage. Black Onyx is the anniversary gemstone
for the 10th year of marriage. Black Onyx is used to help one change habits.
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Alexandrite is used for increasing self-confidence, balance, and happiness.
Alexandrite is the Traditional Birthstone for June. For the 45th and 55th year
of marriage, Alexandrite is the anniversary gemstone. The first Alexandrite was
mined in 1831. Alexandrite is named after Alexander II of Russia.
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Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:52:28 -0800
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Three December Birthstones - Blue Topaz, Tanzanite and Turquoise ... PR Web (press release), WA - 4 hours ago Similarly to topaz and turquoise, this richly colored, trichroic gemstone (which shows indigo, purple or bronze depending on the viewing point) enhances ...

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My Gemstones Reviews

Starting The Hobby Of Loose Gemstone Collecting

By Lee MacRae

Why would someone go to the trouble of collect loose gemstones? Well to begin with gemstones are extremely beautiful. And like their more familiar cousin, natural diamonds, they can appreciate in value over time. Many in this hobby love to find, collect and finish the wide variety of gemstones available today. Read long as we discuss the hobby of loose gemstone collecting.

The first thing you need to do is to get some books from the library or bookstore. You want to know everything there is to know about your new hobby. The more you learn about gemstones the wiser will be your purchases. You will know exactly what to look for.

To start with, an important aspect in gemstone evaluation is color. Gemstones are the most intensely colored natural materials you can find. Gems have become so synonomous with color, they have even lent their names to specific colors. You've no doubt heard about emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue, jade green, turquoise or aquamarine. Gemstones are valued much higher the closer they come to the natural spectral colors of violet, blue, green,, orange and red. They become less valuable the more they move away from the spectral color.

The cut of your gemstone is an important aspect to consider in determining gemstone value. The gemstone must be cut in a way that reflects light back to the viewer. A stone that has a poor cut will be muted or washed out. Tone, color saturation, and color hue will be inconsistent.

The clarity in a stone is the next item to consider. Clarity refers to the amount of inclusions (trace elements or large particles of other elements or minerals) that a gem has. A perfect gemstone is more valuable. To determine the flaws not seen with the unaided eye requires a gemstone loupe or gemstone microscope. Most hobbyists will buy an inexpensive 10X gemstone or jewelers loup for examining coins, stamps and of course gemstones.

You will often find that gemstones are often listed according to size because it is more uniform than carat weight. But different gemstones may be of the same size but different carat weights and consequently, different pricing structures. This is due to the difference in specific gravity and depends on the materials chemical composition and crystalline structure. A one carat round brilliant diamond, for example of typical proportions will be approximately 6.5 mm in diameter. A ruby that is the same size will weigh approximately 1.55 carats.

Collecting gemstones can create an enjoyable hobby and pastime. And there is a wide range and variety in gemstones you can collect. You can start collecting gemstones like Kunzite, Agate or Tourmaline and then try others. The varieties are nearly endless. And if you like to save money but love vacations you can find gemstones for yourself instead of buying. For example in Wyoming you can find Agate (including Moss Agate), Jade, Ruby, Jasper, Bloodstone as well as Star Sapphire.

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The world of gemstones is vast, fascinating, and at times intimidating. When we
are shopping for gemstones, there is a lot to know. Sometimes we want something
beautiful and valuable for ourselves, sometimes we want to give a special gift
to someone else. Whatever the case, we gemstone shoppers want to make sure that
what we are buying is as valuable as we think it is. This means that we need to
learn about the different kinds of gemstones and how much they usually cost. We
need to learn about gemstone treatments and imitations. And an especially
important task is understanding why pieces of gemstone jewelry can be worth very
different amounts even though they contain the same gemstones.
There are many factors that influence the value of gemstones. When shopping for
gemstones, it is important to understand these factors. The most common ones are
color, clarity, size and cut. Most of these factors have an impact on most
gemstones, but on some more than others.
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Tiger Eye Quartz is used in cabochans and beads where it's lovely tiger-like
quality comes out best. Generally, you will not find faceted tiger eye. This
stone is often called "Tiger's Eye" or simply "Tiger Eye". Tiger Eye is black
with iron oxide staining which gives it yellow and golden brown stripes. It is a
type of chatoyant quartz. Tiger Eye has a hardness of 7.
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Zircon will have more wear on its facets than diamond. Zircon is imitated by
colorless glass and synthetic spinel. Zircon is found in Australia, Brazil,
Cambodia, France, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Zircon is the
December Traditional Birthstone. Zircon supposedly helps one be more at peace
with oneself. Zircon was believed to provide the wearer with wisdom, honor and
riches. The lost of luster on a Zircon stone is said to warn of danger. The name
Zircon is from Zargun which means "gold color".
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Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:37:47 -0800
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Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:37:49 GMT

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Selling Your Jewelry in This Economy: Fred Leighton’s Chairman ... Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - Oct 31, 2008 Not all semiprecious stones are the same. The four precious stones – diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires – will always fetch the best prices but ...

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Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:43:26 GMT

The Bargain Hunter's guide to holiday shopping San Francisco Chronicle, USA - Nov 11, 2008 The sale features a holiday selection that includes a huge variety of stickers on rolls and strips, 3-D stickers, glass crafting gems, patterned crafting ...

The Best Information On Gemstones

Latest Gemological Article

Starting To Collect Gemstones

By Lee MacRae

Many people, young and old, say collecting semi-precious and precious gemstones like loose diamonds or loose gemstones is a passionate hobby. They simply love the beauty and the colors Of the assorted number of gemstones you can find just about everywhere in the world. This article will examine the things you need to know when starting this gemstone hobby.

The first thing you need to do in starting the hobby of collecting gemstones the proper way is through the power of knowledge. By taking a quick trip to the library or local bookstore you can locate all you need to know about the subject that will prevent you from making mistakes at the start.

The first criteria you need to evaluate is stone color. Without a doubt, gemstones are the most intensely colored naturally occurring materials you can find. Gems have become so synonomous with color, they've even had their names combined with associated colors. Everyone knows ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue, aquamarine, turquoise, and jade green Gemstones are valued much higher when they equal the colors in the spectrum of orange, green, yellow, violet and blue. They become less valuable the farther they deviate from the pure natural color.

Gemstone cut is easily one of the most important aspects in evaluating gemstones. The stone has to be cut correctly to reflect light properly. A poor cut will not reflect light in a consistent way. Color saturation, hue and tone will always look inconsistent.

The next factor to consider is the clarity. This means the purity of the stone or the lack of internal inclusions, internal particles or spots within the crystal structure. Needless to say, stones with no flaws will make a gemstone very valuable.

Next up are weight and size. Except for corals and pearls, all gemstones are valued by the unit called the carat. One carat equals a 0.2 grams. Be aware however, that weight and size are not the same in gemstones. The density and specific gravity can differ in stones. Take a diamond that is 1.00 carats in weight and you will find that a similar sized sapphire or ruby would weigh 1.20 carats.

Though you may find gemstones used a lot in jewelry, they are perfectly good collectibles in their own right. In fact, there are many attractive and interesting gems that are simply too big and fragile for use in jewelry. Look at each stone and consider it as a piece of art and value it for its unusual nature and for the craftsmanship of the artisan who shaped it. And in this hobby you don't have to always lay out cash because you can find your raw materials through field trips In the US in Georgia you can find Ruby, Beryl, Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet and Quartz. And in Canada you can find nephrite jade in Mount Sidney Williams, British Columbia or labradorite on the adjacent islands and coastal area of Labrador along with the unique deep blue beryl in Canada's Yukon Territory. Think of gemstone collecting for the great hobby it is.

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Obsidian is fairly fragile. treat obsidian carefully as sharp blows will cause
it to crack. Obsidian is most often found in Hawaii, Japan and Java. However, it
can be found in all areas with volcanic activity. Apache tears are dark obsidian
pieces found in Arizona and New Mexico. It is said that gemstone healers use
obsidian to get clearer insight into problems. In ancient times, obsidian was
used as mirrors. Sharp shards of obsidian were formed into arrowheads.
Buy loose Diopside gemstones today!

Onyx is a rich-looking, affordable black stone. It is often mixed with pearls to
create elegant jewelry. Onyx, sard, and sardonyx are all varieties of chalcedony
(microcrystaline quartz). Onyx comes in brown, white, grey, and black. Sard is a
reddish-brown variety. Sardonyx is a blend of sard and onyx with the red bands
of sard and the white bands of onyx. Onyx, Sard and Sardonyx all have a hardness
rating of 7.
Buy loose Emerald gemstones today!

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Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:01:24 GMT

German settlers turned utilitarian objects into works of art San Antonio Express, TX - Nov 23, 2008 The Amish learned quilt making in America, but because their religion prohibits natural imagery, they used large geometric designs made with solid colored ...

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Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:46:10 GMT

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Gemological Information Article

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A natural gemstone is any stone that has crystallized in the earth unassisted by man before it is mined. Gemstones are rated on the Mohs Scale of Hardness which indicates the durability of the stone in jewelry. Minerals are ranked from the softest (1 for talc) to the hardest (10 for diamond). The natural gemstones most commonly used in our jewelry line include: amethyst, blue topaz, diamond, garnet, moonstone, and onyx.
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Rose Quartz is found in Brazil, Madagascar, Scotland, Spain, and USA (Colorado,
Connecticut, Maine, and New York). Rose Quartz is the anniversary gemstone for
the 2nd year of marriage. Though not meant to replace traditional medical
treatment, Rose Quartz is used to balance ones emotions and open the heart. The
star effect seen in some Rose Quartz cabochans and beads happen when rutile
inclusions are present. Wiccans supposedly use Rose Quartz for forgiveness. Rose
Quartz is the US State Gemstone of South Dakota.
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Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:08:30 GMT

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Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:55:00 GMT
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