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Featured Gemological Article

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.
You will find loose cultured diamonds

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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The Gemstones Scene Review

The Hobby Of Gemstone Collecting

By Lee MacRae

Why would anyone collect items like loose gemstones, you ask? Well for one thing they are very beautiful items. And like their higher counterpart, natural diamonds they can become extremely valuable over the years. Many hobbyists love to collect and show case the wide variety of gemstones available today. Read long as we examine the loose gemstones hobby.

The first thing you need to do is to get yourself some reading material. You want to learn as much as possible about the subject of gemstones. The more you know about each kind of gemstone the less likely you are to make a mistake. You'll know exactly what to buy.

The first item to look at is the color of the stone. You want the stone to be as close in color as possible to the pure colors of the spectrum. This means orange, red, violet, green, yellow, and blue. The prices for very pale or very dark precious and semi precious stones are lower.

The cut of the stone is extremely 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, lessen any inclusions and show off its symmetry and proportions. One excellent method to determine the precision of the cut is to consider how evenly it reflects light over its entire surface. But if a gem is cut too shallow, much of the light will refract out of the gem rather than reflecting internally. Gem color appears washed out.

Our next consideration is the clarity of the gemstone. The aspect of clarity refers to the internal conclusions or flaws of the gemstone. Larger flaws can easily be seen with the naked eye with others requiring a 10X magnification.

Next up are weight and size. Other than the corals and pearls gemstones are valued by the unit called the carat. One carat equals a 0.2 grams. You should know however that weight and size are not always equal and gemstones. Density or specific gravity can vary in gemstones. If you have a diamond that weighs 1.00 carats, you will find a similar sized sapphire or ruby weighs out at 1.20 carats.

Taking up the collecting of loose gemstones can be very rewarding hobby. And there is such a variety in gemstones you can collect. You could try collecting Jasper, Quartz and its varieties or Iolite for instance. The choice and beauty and variety is almost endless. And if you like a hands on hobby you can go hunting for raw gemstones. Just in the United States in Utah You can find Topaz, Garnet, Petrified Wood, Jasper and Obsidian.

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Peridot is one of the few gemstones which exist only in one color � green. Fine traces of iron account for the green color with a slight golden hue. It is a variety of the mineral olivine and is formed during volcanic eruptions. The amount of iron determines the variation of the color which can range from yellow-green and olive to dark lime-green. The ancient Romans noticed its color did not change in artificial light, so they named the stone �evening emerald�. Currently it is found in the U.S. in Arizona and New Mexico, Burma, Pakistan and China. Peridot ranks 6.5 to 7.0 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness and is the birthstone for the month of August.
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"Indeed there is no stone, the colour of which is more delightful to the eye;
for whereas the sight fixes itself with avidity upon the green grass and the
foliage of the trees, we have all the more pleasure in looking upon the
smaragdus, there being no green in existence of a more intense colour than this.
And then, besides, of all the precious stones, this is the only one that feeds
the sight without satiating it. Even when the vision has been fatigued with
intently viewing other objects, it is refreshed by being turned upon this stone;
and lapidaries know of nothing that is more gratefully soothing to the eyes, its
soft green tints being wonderfully adapted for assuaging lassitude, when felt in
those organs" The Natural History, Book XXXVII. The Natural History of Precious
Stones, Chapter 16. Pliny the Elder (23-79)
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Very Good Grade diamonds: This grade also has high brilliance and scintillation,
but expect them to be a bit darker in the center or around the edges. In some
cases a diamond can have top brilliance and scintillation, but be down graded by
its pattern. The stone above has a splintery pattern that prevents it from being
graded excellent.
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