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So You Want To Collect Loose Gemstones

By Lee MacRae

Why collect loose gemstones you ask? Well to begin with gemstones are extremely beautiful. And just like natural diamonds they can appreciate in value over time. Many in this hobby love to collect and work with the nearly 150 types of gemstones found today. This article will discuss the hobby of loose gemstone collecting.

The first thing you need to do in beginning this hobby the intelligent way is by getting adequate knowledge about them. By taking a quick trip to the library or local bookstore you'll find numerous books on gemstones that will help you to know exactly what you should do.

The first criteria you need to evaluate is stone color. 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 become higher in value when they are equal in color to the spectral colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. They become less valuable the farther they are from the natural color.

Gemstone cut is very important and is used not only to appraise diamonds but you're gemstones as well. A precision cut gemstone highlights the pure color of the stone, diminish any inclusions, and exhibits good overall symmetry and proportion. One way to determine the precision in the cut is to consider how well and consistent it reflects light throughout the surface of the stone. But if a gem is cut too shallow, much of the light will refract out of the gem instead of reflecting inside. That will make the gem seem washed out and windowed.

Next to look at is the clarity of the gemstone. Clarity is the term that refers to internal flaws (inclusions) or the external blemishes of a stone. Any large flaws can easily be seen with the unaided eye with the others needing a 10X magnification.

Gemstones are often categorized according to their size aspect because of being more uniform than carat weight. But two different gemstones may be the same size but different carat weights and consequently, different prices as well. This is due to the difference of specific gravity or relative density depending upon the materials chemical composition and crystal structure type A one carat round brilliant diamond, for example of typical proportions will be approximately 6.5 mm in diameter. A comparable a brilliant ruby of the same proportions in size will weigh in at 1.55 carats.

Taking up the collecting of loose gemstones can be very rewarding hobby. And there is a wide range and variety when it comes to gemstones. You could try collecting Garnet, Sugilite Bixbite (Red beryl) 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. Take the example of the United States. In Arizona you can find Agatized wood (Petrified wood), Azur-Malachite, Turquoise, Garnet, Peridot, Jasper and Moissanite

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In nature, diamonds can also occur in shades of red, pink, blue, green and deep
yellow - These are called "Fancy diamonds". In the United States and around the
world colorless diamonds are graded on an alphabetical scale, introduced by the
Gemological Institute of America (GIA). "Colorless" or "rare white" diamonds are
of color grades D, E and F. Diamonds of color grade D are very rare, and
extremely valuable.
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Even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to breakage if it has
inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: if you have
a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before
strenuous activity. Even the hardest gemstones like Diamonds, Rubies and
Sapphires can shatter with a single well-placed blow especially if they have
inclusions, which weaken the crystal structure.
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