Tips When Purchasing Gemstone Rings

Rings are perfect gifts for your special someone, especially for the ladies.
They adore gemstones so much that you could feel their heart jump and their
eyes sparkle when faced with a high carat jewelry.

A ring can be bought for many special occasions and numerous purposes. It could
either be a gift for your mom or wife on her birthday, anniversaries, mother's
day and a lot more. Or it could be a bridge to a brighter future between
lovers. As the saying goes, "say it with a ring," it applies when someone
proposes. Rings are also popular in nuptial ceremonies.

Until now, diamonds are the best choice for rings. For their many different
characteristics, they indeed are forever. But that would be conventional. In
this modern world, diamonds are not only used as a sign of undying love and
loyalty. There are quite more.

But how can you choose the best kind of ring for your special someone?

There are several factors that you must first consider before buying a ring.
Here are some:

Budget

Depending on the kind of ring that you're planning to buy, you must consider
how much it would cost. Does it fit the money at hand or are you short? You can
risk your entire trust fund just by purchasing a single shiny ring. It just
wouldn't define the meaning of your purpose. There are rings that can be quite
expensive just determining on its simplicity and elegance.

Color

Knowing the kind of person to which you'll purchase the ring for, you must know
what color she likes or hates. This would add up to the thrill of the whole
event because she would think that you know her that much to know her favorite
color.

Kind of stone

If you have decided which color to buy, now you have to think of what kind of
gemstone that person would appreciate most. After considering the color and how
much you can afford, look for a stone that she would be able to wear every day.
A stone that would further enhance the beauty of her eyes, her lips, and her
smile. Your gemstone must be vibrant with a saturated look. And the most
important characteristic is that they should possess translucence and not
opaqueness. The cut of the gemstone must also be considered.

Occasion

Now if you still can't choose which kind of gemstone to buy, you could base
your choice on the kind of occasion that fits it. If it's an engagement, buy an
engagement ring. You could choose from diamond, ruby to sapphire with trinkets
of diamond. If it's a wedding, buy a wedding ring. You can also base your
choice by thinking when her birthday is. There is a particular gemstone for
every birthday. You can browse through the net or ask someone in the jewelry
department of your store the different kinds of birthstones.

Personality

A person's personality is seen by those who heartily know them. If you just met
the person of your dreams, you could have at least an idea on what her
personality is. Base your choice on that. If she's passionate and loving, fiery
ruby works perfectly. Sapphire can be given if she gives you peace of mind or
something like that. Gemstones do have personalities too. So choose well.

Gemstones Made for Jewels

Gemstones have this specific characteristic of being able to shine on their
own. A beauty of best quality. Some of the rarest and finest gemstones are
polished and made into jewelries that are expensive enough to buy an entire
house. Some of these jewels are designed by trademark manufacturers, others are
personalized for the customer's desire. Either way, the most popular gemstones
made into jewels are widely accepted.

The good thing about gemstones is that they are abundant enough to be produced
from different ideas. From rings to earrings, necklaces to bracelets. Sometimes
they are made into pendants. People, especially women, are very specific with
their jewels. They want it made from the finest most intricate design man can
ever make.

Gemstones mix with precious metals like silver, bronze and gold that make them
more attractive than being just a simple stone. They are fabricated and molded
to blend with the metals that result to beautiful jewelries. Not to mention,
you can also combine gemstones with different gemstones. For example, a ring
made out of gold can be embedded with pieces of diamond on the side and a shiny
ruby as its main stone. That would probably cost thousands of dollars.

Who identifies gemstones?

Gemologists are the ones who identify these stones. They have the authority to
describe the minerals using terminologies that is within the scope of gemology.
These people are the ones who give out certain gemstone characteristics and
identify them according to their composition as chemicals.

How are they characterized and what are their classifications?

Gemstones are characterized through:

* Chemical composition 
* Dispersion 
* Cleavage 
* Refractive index 
* Specific gravity 
* Hardness 
* Fracture 
* Luster

These stones may exhibit double refraction, luminescence and a particular
spectrum that is distinct from other typical stones. Gems may have flaws that
are presented as inclusions.

Classifications may vary. They may be introduced as the cubic crystal system,
trigonal crystal system and the monoclinic crystal system. But the general
approach for classifying is according to varieties, species and groups.

Gemstone values

The most valuable gemstone of all time is the diamond. Amounting up to millions
of dollars, diamonds are priced based its properties which would be its
brilliance and defiance. Unlike other gemstones, the diamond has its purpose.
This magnificent yet available resource can cut through glass without being
broken into tiny pieces.

A gemstone's value is based on its characteristic and rarity. It all depends on
how clarity is shown, the cut and phenomena to its optical reasons. Great demand
in the market lessens the price of the gemstone unless situations may occur.
Example, the diamond would be a need by millions, yet the supply offers only
thousands.

With this kind of situation, distributors can increase the price of the
material. It is only when the stone is that scarce that people tend to adjust
its value. But other than that, there are a wide variety of gemstones these
days. Some are surprisingly cheap.

To determine the value of a particular gemstone, water is used. Water is
referred to as the combination of different colors and transparencies marked in
gemstones. First water would pertain to the finest of all stones. Byewater would
be the opposite of the latter.

Some of the most precious stones are the emerald, ruby, opal and sapphire and
are precious enough to reach such a surprising amount.

Size also matters when predicting a price of a particular stone.

In this era, gemstones are placed on a pedestal to be known as fashion
material. Designers have used such stones to include in their piece of artwork
thus making it priceless and elegant in such a manner.

Finding the Right Gemstones

A lot of people nowadays purchase gemstones for different reasons. It can be
for personal and physical adornment, it can be for business reasons, or you
simply want to give it as a gift. The sources of gemstones are minerals and
they are mined in different parts of the world. If you're trying tp find the
right gemstones, you have come to the right place.

Thousands of gemstones are being sold both in the online and offline market
(local physical stores). They are available in different yet beautiful and
attractive colors. Because of this, many people don't hesitate to purchase
gemstones regardless of the price.

If you have plenty of diamond and gold jewelries, it's time to make a change.
Using gemstones will truly change your physical looks. If you don't want to be
bored with your old set of jewelries, you can always find a suitable gemstone
that will compliment your looks. You can purchase different gemstones with
various cuts and sizes.

Finding the right gemstone may take some time especially if this is your first
time to purchase one. You have to look for the exotic and extraordinary
gemstones that will suit you. If you can find local jewelers, then you can
personally look at their collections of gemstones.

You get to check the actual appearance of the stones. If there are several
jewelry stores in your area, you can shop around first and canvas. You can
compare the gemstones in terms of price and quality. The good thing about
gemstones is that you can wear them in any occasion, whether in formal or
casual occasions. It all depends on the cut and beauty of the stone.

If you have a hard time finding the right gemstone locally, you can try
shopping online. Beware though that some of the pictures of the gemstones are
deceiving and once you receive the package, you will be dismayed by the
appearance. When shopping in online jewelry stores, you have to find reputable
retailers or sellers.

You can also check on customer testimonials to make sure that the customers are
satisfied with the seller's or retailer's gemstone items. You should also look
into the shipping arrangements especially if the store is from a foreign
country.

As mentioned earlier, there are many gemstones sold all over the world. You
have to know a great deal of information about them. You have to know about the
history, the structure, luster, and colors. You should also determine where
precious and popular gemstones are mined. Aside from that, you have to know
about the imitation and synthetic gemstones because not all gemstones sold in
the market are genuine.

If you have friends and relatives who love gemstones, you can ask help from
them so that you're shopping will be a lot easier. Try to find out about the
different birth stones so that you can also get a gemstone that corresponds to
your birthday. Some say that birth stones can bring good luck, wealth, and
health.

Some of the popular gemstones include diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire, topaz,
and many others. You simply have to choose which one to purchase. If you have
enough money, you can even buy different kinds of gemstone jewelries and have
your own collection.

Finding the right gemstones is so easy nowadays because you have two
alternatives -- shopping locally and through the internet.

List of Gemstones and How to Clean Them

Here is a list of some of the popular gemstones and how to clean them:

1. Turquoise -- this gemstone has a chalky texture and is regarded as fragile.
This gemstone should have a separate box to prevent chipping and scratching.
Never handle it roughly. Avoid immersing it in water because it negatively
reacts with chemicals. The surface can be wiped using a smooth and damp cloth.
Don't use jewelry dips or even ultrasonic cleaners.

2. Lapis Lazuli -- just like turquoise, this gemstone is easily chipped. It
must be stored separately. Protective coatings of the lapis lazuli gemstones
are easily removed so avoid immersing it in water. The cleaning procedures are
the same as that of turquoise.

3. Coral -- this is a porous and organic gemstone. Don't expose this gemstone
in direct sunlight especially for long hours and you should also avoid large
temperature variations. Simply wipe it with a damp smooth cloth.

4. Pearl -- this is less durable as compared to other gemstones. Pearl is
sensitive to dryness, acids, and humidity. After using pearl jewelries, you
have to wipe it because they are easily discolored. You should have one pearl
jewelry box. Don't mix it with other harder gemstones. If you have a cultured
pearl, you can wash it in soapy yet mild water. Never dry the pearl in heat.
Make sure you restring it every two years.

5. Larimar -- you can keep this in a tissue or chamois bag, or in a separate
box. Avoid direct contact with perfumes, hairsprays, and other chemicals. Color
fading occurs when exposed to bright sunlight. You can use a drop of ammonia and
soapy water to clean it; you can also soft brush to clean it.

6. Labradorite and Moonstone -- these stones are primarily stored in oils
before made into jewelries. Because of this, the gemstones don't crack or dry
out easily. However, it is easily scratched. Wipe it with smooth and damp cloth
and never use ultrasonic cleaners or jewelry dips.

7. Onyx and Chalcedony -- avoid contact with harsh chemicals. Chipping and
scratching can be avoided if the jewelry has a separate container. Use a soft
brush and soapy water to clean it. Rinse the gemstones well.

8. Rose Quartz -- avoid prolonged sun exposure to prevent color fading. Don't
soak the gemstone and you can clean it using soapy water and soft brush. Never
steam clean the gemstone and rinse it well.

9. Topaz -- this is a very durable stone and does not easily chip nor scratch.
Avoid too much heat and chemical exposure. Don't use ultrasonic cleaners, steam
clean, nor soak. Use soft brush and soapy water to clean the gemstone.

10. Garnet -- this gemstone is brittle. Avoid chemicals. Ultrasonic cleaners 
can't be used with an andradite but all other garnets can be cleaned with it. 
Don't soak.

11. Peridot -- avoid too much heat exposure, harsh chemicals, and extreme
temperature changes. Use soft brush and soapy water to clean it and then rinse
thoroughly. Don't use ultrasonic cleaners nor steam clean.

The list of gemstones in this article are considered semi precious. These
stones are less expensive as compared to the precious stones but still needs
extreme and proper care. Gemstone jewelries are great investments and even the
ancient people believed that the stones bring good luck. So if you have several
different pieces of gemstones, be sure to get a jewelry box with different
compartments so that you can place the gemstones in separate bins.

Colored Gemstones Facts and Families

Gemstones are very attractive even from afar. For women, a simple dress prepped
with beautiful gemstones can turn something simple into something elegant. The
brightness of the colors from within these gemstones possesses a trigger to
provide a different splash of energy to its wearer. Claims have it that these
gemstones have therapeutic effects too.

Based on color variety, a person is defined by what they choose. Experts say
that if you're the red type of person, you are considered passionate and
loving. Others say that this type of color represents anger and fury. Thus, the
list goes on.

Colored gemstones are formed through mixtures of different kinds of elements
aided by the change in climate.

There are 3 types of gemstones. Type 1 would be the usual colored gemstone that
doesn't contain any inclusions. Examples would be Aquamarine, amethyst, blue
topaz, etc. Type 2 are those gemstones showing inclusions visible to the naked
eye. Examples would include Ruby, Peridot, tourmaline, etc.

And the last type would have to be those gems that possess inclusion both
visible and invisible to the eyes and normally are always included due to the
influence of the environment. Examples are emerald, watermelon, etc.

Principles of grading a gemstone are determined by 4 aspects.

* Color -- considered as one of the most vital ingredient to determine the
grading of a gemstone. A gem's color must be standard. Every detail must be
vivid, leveled and elaborated throughout the body of the stone. Variations
would equate to the gem's value.

* Clarity -- this would pertain to a flawless gem. Inclusions must not be
visible. Inclusions are used to tell how old the stone is and it helps
gemologists identify what kind of gem it is under. If you're planning to buy a
stone, consider the placement and type of inclusion. If you could find a gem
without flaws or inclusions, that would be very expensive because seldom it is
that you find no inclusions in a gem.

* Cut -- it is in the cut that light communicates with the gemstone. Cutting in
a certain kind of proportion affects the color and liveliness projected.

* Carat -- this refers to the heaviness of a stone. The heavier it gets, the
more expensive it becomes. The carat lets you know how much is stripped off
from the stone. It is a stone's weight, whether heavy or light, that is often
measured in jewelry making.

A gemstone has different colors. It doesn't mean that when you think of red
gemstone, only ruby would ring a bell. It takes more than one to identify a
gemstone based on its color. Sometimes, a single gemstone can contain 3-4
different auras or a name can produce variable hues. Here are the families of
gemstones under shades of different colors:

Red

* ruby (yes, you have thought of that) 
* garnet 
* spinel 
* coral 
* tourmaline
* alexandrite

Blue

* topaz 
* turquoise 
* tanzantine 
* sapphire 
* spinel 
* zircon 
* lolite 
* aquamarine 
* lapis lazuli

Green 

* alexandrite 
* peridot 
* sapphire 
* emerald 
* jade 
* garnet 
* hiddenite

Pink 

* garnet 
* topaz 
* kunzite 
* sapphire 
* ruby 
* spinel 
* beryl

Violet 

* spinel 
* garnet 
* jadeite 
* amethyst 
* sapphire

Orange 

* fire opal 
* garnet 
* sapphire 
* topaz 
* citrine

Yellow Gold 

* beryl 
* Mgarnet 
* amber 
* tourmaline 
* citrine 
* topaz

Naturally multicolored

* tourmaline 
* ametrine 
* opal

Gemstones and the Birthstones for Each Month

Regardless if you're male or female, birthstones are often worn as jewelries
even during the ancient times. However, the gemstones of today are much more
colorful, beautiful, and rare. Usually, the gemstones are set in a metallic
background for ornamentation. Gemstones can be semi precious or precious. You
can find some useful information about gemstones and birthstones for each month
in this article.

For the month of January, the zodiac sign is Capricorn and the birthstone is
Garnet. It is available in a variety of colors except blue. If you were born in
January, you should get a garnet jewelry as an addition to your get up.

February is considered as the love month. The zodiac sign is Aquarius and the
birthstone is amethyst. The color of this gemstone is purple and it originated
from the myths of the Greeks. Amethyst is said to be of quartz variety and the
expensive stones are much darker in color. The lavender shades of amethyst or
the smoky light shades are cheaper.

Pisces if the zodiac sign for the month of March and the birthstone is
aquamarine. By wearing an aquamarine jewelry, you can be endowed with
happiness, courage, and foresight. It can promote your youthful glow and
increase your intelligence. Ancient people believed that the stone can be used
to reduce poison effects and it can also treat anxieties.

Diamond is the birthstone for April. It was only in the 500 BC when diamond was
discovered. Adamas is a Greek word wherein the word 'diamond' is derived. It
means unconquerable. This stone is very unique because it reflects light and is
the hardest ever known substance on earth. It is also composed of only one
element and therefore it is considered the purest.

Emerald is May's birthstone. For Gemini people, emerald is a talismanic stone
and for the Taurus people, it is a planetary stone. You can find this gemstone
even in the ancient tables of birthstone.

In the month of June, pearl is the birthstone. For many years, the pearl
necklace is the best piece of jewelry for brides. Many people believed that by
wearing pearl necklace during the wedding will help prevent women from crying
and uphold marital bliss. The knights of long ago also gave pearls as gifts to
their beloved.

Ruby is July's birthstone. By wearing a ruby jewelry, you can be endowed with
good health, happiness, wisdom, and good luck.

The birthstone of August is peridot. This is a volcanic gem and it available in
yellow green shades.

Sapphire is for September and for October is opal. Sapphire is a great gift to
give especially on 65th wedding anniversaries. Opal is available in two types,
the common and the precious opal stones.

Topaz and citrine are the birthstones for November. You can find topaz in
different colors such as red, brown, pink, orange, yellow, sherry, and
colorless. You have different choices when it comes to the color of you
November birthstone.

Tanzanite is December's birthstone. Others say that turquoise is the birthstone
but tanzanite is now the official stone of December according to the American
Gem Trade Association.

So there you have it, the twelve gemstones and birthstones for each month. Know
your birthstone and get the appropriate piece of jewelry that will suit your
zodiac sign and gemstone.

Birthstones: Identifying your Birthday Gemstones

Garnet

January's gemstone. Garnet has colors that go from dark red to lavender to
rose. This is often mistaken for a ruby but when compared, garnet has its
deeper effect than that of the latter. It is said that when worn, it has
calming, self-rejuvenating effects.

Amethyst

February's gemstone. This gemstone is known for its elegant violet color that
comes in different shades. Amethyst belongs to the quartz family, which is
considered as the most valuable gemstone within the group. With a hardness
scale of 7, it has been popular for its durability for everyday usage.

Aquamarine

March's gemstone. Derived from its name, aquamarine came from the Latin words
water and sea. It is the member of the beryl group that when faceted, will show
clarity and brightness. Color ranges from pale and light blue, blue green, and
sometimes, colorless. Aquamarine will become almost invisible if put under
water.

Diamond

April's gemstone. Imperishable. Durable. Two words that can describe this
special kind of stone that came from the Latin word adamas that means
unconquerable. With its hardness scale that reaches over 10, diamond can't be
easily broken unless some extreme pressure is applied on it that makes it as
the hardest of all gemstones. Diamonds have various sizes and colors like
brown, yellow, black, green, pink. Although, the most popular would be the
transparent or colorless one.

Emerald

May's gemstone. With brilliance of shades of green, this heavily included
gemstone can be identified easily with this specific characteristic. It can
sparkle amongst spectrum of flame. Emeralds are also fragile stones because of
its porous characteristic but have a hardness scale of 7-8.

Pearl

June's gemstone. The finish of this top quality stone consisting of calcium
carbonate primarily came from mollusks and is created under the depths of deep
sea water. Varies widely in size, color, luster and the size of their pores,
they are the main categories for grading a pearl. This gemstone comes in shades
of white, black, silver, pink, and golden blue. These stones though are highly
sensitive to perspiration, perfume, and other liquid that contains high levels
of acid.

Ruby

July's gemstone. Comes in beautiful shades of pink and fuchsia but is more
popular due to its bloody red color. If diamond is the hardest, well, ruby is
the most valuable gemstone of them all. With a hardness scale of 9, it is in
fact the perfect choice for every class of jewelry.

Peridot

August's gemstone. Notwithstanding the fact that their scratch resistance
tolerance is low, Peridot had become popular for those who are into the fashion
world. With colors as bright as yellow green, brownish, kiwi grren, olive green,
this gemstone are considered wearable by those who are advocates with the color
green.

Sapphire

September's gemstone. Sapphire is widely known for its elegant blue hue.
Although it also comes in colorless, black, purple, yellow, pink. Because of
its intricate characteristic, this stone also considered as the heaven's gem.
The darker the color, the better.

Opal

October's gemstone. The name was derived from the Indian word meaning stone and
is known for its floating fire within. Colors may vary from gray, blue, white,
green and pumpkin orange.

Citrine

November's gemstone. This varies from golden brown to the lightest of yellow.
The glow of this gemstone is delightful enough to enlighten the mood of every
occasion.

Topaz

December's gemstone. Color ranges in hues of dark blue to intense aqua. The
popularity of this gemstone is due to its extravagant color, hardness and
affordability.

Semi Precious Gemstones: Facts and Information on Amber

Amber is a fossilized resin that came from the sap of a particular tree that is
now extinct and was suspended inside it. Sometimes, small insects or pieces from
the earth's surface are fossilized inside it. Insect fossils trapped inside are
usually ants, flies, wasps, etc. It is very exotic to find large insects like
butterflies, moths, mantises, etc. More interesting enough is when you find
tarantulas, millipedes, frogs, and even lizards.

Amber history

Amber is one of the oldest and the first specimen ever made as jewelry. Some
archeologists found evidences that aged for about 40,000 years. With its fine
golden brown color, Ambers were never considered as minerals but as organic
compounds because they lack certain structures like crystalline which is an
important factor to be identified as a mineral.

One of the oldest amber specimens are found around regions of the Baltic Sea.

Evidence has it that amber was once used to beautify the surroundings as
decorations during the Stone age. Ancient people consider amber as a sort of
talisman that brings protection to its wearer.

Amber Formation

For an amber to be formed, it must endure long years of processing. First,
resins must harden. As they do, it becomes copal. And for copal to become
amber, it must be fossilized within extreme pressures that require periods of
time.

If an entity is trapped as the process is being done, its features will remain
the same unless some pressure excavates it from within. Some of the most
extinct creatures that were found trapped inside an amber is recognized by many
scientists as remnants of the Jurassic age. Thus, the movie Jurassic Park was
based on this theory.

Amber Color

True, amber is a living golden jewel for its color ranges from orange to
yellow. But it also has colors that vary from red, green, greenish black, and
blue. Those would be very seldom. Certain inclusions like insects and air
bubbles give further life to this gem.

Amber Characteristics

An amber is great if made as large jewelries for its lightness and bright
color. Their transparency ranges from transparent to certain translucence. If
put under ultraviolet rays, amber becomes fluorescent. Its habit includes
embedded nodules and the fracture would have to be conchoidal.

Amber Treatment and Care

Since amber is a soft compound, it can be scratched easily. You have to store
this gem separately from the harder jewelries. To imitate amber, you have to
use glass, natural resins, plastic and synthetic resins. To remove its
cloudiness, it is heated.

Amber as a Source of Healing

It is said that amber has healing effects on the human body. It enables
positive energy to rotate within the body which gives power to the depreciated
body. Other positive contributions of amber are to do away with an eccentric
behavior, it activates the nature of being altruistic, and it can strengthen
tissues pertaining to the ear and brain.

Amber is the stone that is paired with Mercury as its planet. Its behavioral
effects is said to stimulate mental preparedness because it eliminates
aggressiveness and brings about happiness and eases burdens in life.

Those who believe in the power of this stone say that it has effects on beauty
and is an enhancer of success. It is also believed that amber has equal power
to equate the sun which can contribute to further healing, joy, abundance in
life and vitality.

So you ask, what are jewelries for?

Two words. Investment and accessory. Sometimes you would wonder why in the
world women crave for these small priceless wonders? This is because as time
goes by, these stones become scarce. And when that moment comes when these
stones become extinct, those who have in possession of things like this can
gather a million just by selling it. In terms of accessorizing, a gown or
beautiful dress wouldn't shine without jewelries. They add brilliance to the
person wearing it.

Stores and internet shops provide distinct array. You can design the jewelry of
your own. Match them with the color of your choice and the birthstones of those
you love. You could also shop basing on the gem of your choice, by birthday, or
by color.

Here are lists of gemstones that are fascinating enough to be carved into
jewels.

1. Alexandrite -- this stone is artificially made for reducing its high cost.
One specific characteristic is that this kind of gemstone has no definite
color. Some are colored green at the flash of sunlight and changes to red when
artificial light strikes it. The thickness contributes to the change in color.
Be careful in the purchase of these stones for they are sensitive to light.

2. Amber -- the color of this gemstone ranges from yellow to brown. In
scientific sense, amber came from pine tree sap that is hardened and
fossilized. Organic as it may seem, amber can be polished and be made into
gemstones that are affordable in an unusual way.

3. Cat's eye -- based on its name, this stone looks like the thin slit of the
cat's pupil. The slits are caused by the light's reflection that forms in
parallel angles gliding through the surface of the stone. This comes in gray,
white, and yellow.

4. Jade -- Once used as currency, jade's popularity came from the Chinese who
believed that this stone is used for good luck that's why they incorporated
this with different kinds of jewelries. Jade is durable enough to be worn daily.

5. Topaz -- known for its bright shade of blue color, this is also the
birthstone of those born in the month of December. But not all topaz is blue in
color. They come in shades of pink and yellow. It has been popular because of
its affordability and strength.

Fashionable Gemstone Beads

When it comes to being fashionable, beads are so in. It is embroidered together
with silk, laces and cloths. Beads redefine the meaning of fashion. Consider
this, these gems are made from the finest minerals and stones that would make
it more shine and attractive. This would be perfect with any kind of occasion
and as seasons would change.

Whatever the size and color, beads are definitely in demand. Mixing and
matching them doesn't have to be a fuss. All kinds of beads -- the big, the
bold and the beautiful, add color and vibrant to every gown, dress and ensemble
fit for every occasion. You can wear them as earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and
even rings.

If you're wondering what are the most favorable gemstones that you can include
in your beadwork, here are some:

Jade

Renowned for its beautiful color, jade has gone a long way since the Stone Age
when it was used as a weapon and tool. For the Chinese, jade is a sign of luck
and has been widely worn because of that belief. As time went by, it had been
considered as the gem for royalty, thus symbolizing courage and overwhelming
wisdom. Jade can be made into beautiful necklaces and bracelets. For fun, you
can combine the colors and sizes of different varieties of jade.

Coral

Now this one's quite an eye catcher. With stunning shades of red, beadwork had
never been so tropical and sophisticated. You could buy coral beads and wear
them at any time of the day. Some of the coral beads being made into jewelries
are vibrant enough to be pleasing during summertime. Others have strong or soft
color that can be joined with any type of gemstone.

Turquoise

This is a crowd favorite, gathered from varieties of hues like apple green,
blue-green, sky blue, etc. Ever since the introduction of jewelry making,
turquoise had been used. In fact, archeologists have found some from mummified
artifacts recovered from tombs, enough basis for them to believe that those who
were once royal in ancient times also favor jewels. With its soft color,
turquoises are hot during summer and yet elegant when embedded with silk.

Carnelian

If you're wondering what kind bead to wear during fall, why not try settling
for carnelian? With colors ranging from strong to soft orange, and dark to
golden yellow, this gemstone is perfect to enjoy the change in climate and fall
of the leaves. This will look great when randomly mixed in one single strand.

Peridot

This one's best for evening gowns and romantic candlelit dinners. With a touch
of classic, peridot is embraced with a beautiful shimmer of green color. It is
claimed that ancient Egypt patronized this stone. Egyptians believed that this
jewel shone a beautiful glow in the evening. It is also believed peridot can do
away bad spirits and terrors. Considered as the emerald of the evening, this
stone is also known for its therapeutic effects bringing health and vitality to
the body. If merged with turquoise strands, a stunning piece of jewelry can be
made into being.

You can still search your favorite bead shop to find for more assortments of
gemstones. Don't be afraid to mix and match to add vibrant and life. Varieties
of sizes can also be an additional point for adjustment. It will bring more
emphasis to your beaded gemstones.

Gemstone Facts

What people don't know about gemstones is that they are just a bunch of
colorful stones and rocks polished and precisely cut to be made into jewelries.
Attractive as they seem, these stones are usually minerals dug out of the
planet, others are tossed out. These gemstones posses certain characteristics
that made them valuable to those who adore them.

These crafted rocks go a long way. They have soft textures but majority are
mostly hard. Lustrous ones are used for jewelry making. Some would address to
these stones as semi-precious or precious. These stones are also used for
therapeutic or aesthetic purposes.

Mineral value would most likely depend on the rarity of the stone and how hard
it is to find. The more exotic and difficult the area and location where the
stone was found, the more expensive it is to purchase. Pebbles are also
addressed as gemstones in some way. Some would come out big some just the right
size.

Drilling Gemstones

Who says gemstone drilling can only be done by experts? That's fairly true but
doing it on your own is possible. Not all gemstone wearers have the courage to
put a hole through their priced possession. It's like an all or nothing kind of
challenge. Some are very fragile that with one blow, they might break. That's
why you have to be very careful when drilling those precious gemstones.

What's the purpose of drilling?

For one, you could create your very own jewelry for decoration and fashion.
Drilling can enable you to mix and match or add up to your old and boring
jewelries.

The basic and essential tip on drilling is practice. You could do it on
ordinary stones or gems that are made of glass. Those are really cheap and you
wouldn't regret the moment you break it.

What you'll need is a drill press and a drill bit.

The first thing that you should do is to determine the part of the gem you'll
put a hole into. You can do this by knowing where you'll hang or mount your
gem. You have to realize that every hole drilled within the gem lessens its
integrity by adding flaws to its surface.

Next, you have to fill in a container full of water. Drilling in water is the
easiest and most acceptable way to for drill bits to be wet. This wouldn't be
messy and wouldn't give you a hard time collecting and disposing fallen debris.
Drills have built-in cooling feature that drips away water.

Let the drill stay still perpendicularly with the stone. Make the correct angle
because if your angle is a bit off the grid, you might cause a crack either at
the exit or entry point. So be accurate.

Maintain an up and down movement gently. This will enable water to move under
the bit. Don't put so much hard pressure for this will cause knocking out the
gemstone off the bit.

The advisable measurement for starters is to start drilling below an inch. This
is highly recommended especially when dealing with softer gems. Furthermore,
softer gemstones don't require a diamond bit.

Now that's all done, you could wipe away the particles around your gem and look
at the drill made. If you found out that you made a clean drill, maybe you could
start considering an entire course on manufacturing jewelries when passion
strikes you. But other than that, you could now clean your gem and wipe it dry.

One popular drilling is laser drilling. This is usually applied to hard
gemstones like diamonds. The materials used for this process differs from the
ordinary drilling machine. You need a thin and strong laser beam and vacuum
furnace. The purpose for this drilling is to remove the impurities that are
seen in diamonds and generate clarity.

Bits of advice before, during and after the drilling process:

1. Do not compromise the quality and price of the drill. While alternative
drills are quite cheap and is almost exactly the same result, you can't gamble
such precious gems. Precision of clear drilling isn't assured therefore you're
gem is at risk.

2. Use glasses that will protect your eyes from flying particles when drilling.

3. If you're too scared to drill a straight line, let the dealers do it.

Meanings of Some Semi-Precious Gemstones

Gemstones can be precious and semi-precious. There are several precious
gemstones sold in the market as well as semi precious stones.

Many people are familiar with the precious gemstones like pearls, rubies, and
diamonds. But did you know that there are also other semi precious gems out
there? That's right and it includes alexandrite, amber, amethyst, beryl,
garnet, jadeite, lapis lazuli, moonstone, opal, topaz, and turquoise.

If you want to purchase a transparent and fascinating gem, you can get
alexandrite. It changes color because when you're in broad daylight, the stone
appears as bright green but when you're indoors, it is colored raspberry red.
It was only in 1831 when this stone was discovered in Russia.

Amber is not actually a gemstone because it is a fossilized tree sap. However,
this is highly prized up to now and it can be found mostly in the region of
Baltics. If you want to achieve inner peace, you can get amethyst. It is purple
in color but it is also available in lighter lavender shades.

Warriors of long ago wore beryl to protect themselves. This gemstone is
available in different shades such as pink, yellow, golden, emerald, and
aquamarine. This is a durable stone and because of this characteristic, the
stone is well known.

Before, garnet was used mainly to stop blood diseases and hemorrhaging. But
because of its durability and brilliance, this red stone is a very precious
gem. The Chinese people revered jadeite and this stone came from Guatemala and
Myanmar. This gemstone is also available in different colors like mottled
green, whitish gray, white, pink, mauve, brown, orange, yellow, and lilac.

If you prefer intense brilliance and deep color, you can purchase lapis lazuli.
You can find this stone in Argentina, Afghanistan, Chile, Russia, and Canada.
Moonstone comes from the family of feldspar. The blue moonstone varieties are
far more valuable and desirable than the transparent and milky varieties. If
you love the colors of the rainbow, go for opal. This stone can also be found
in rare black and this is really valuable.

Topaz is a gemstone that symbolizes affection and love. This is a very rare
stone. It is brilliant, hard, and is available in a variety of colors. Most
people are unaware that this is a rare stone and often mistakes the glass or
quartz imitations as the true stones. In Africa and Asia, turquoise is very
precious. It is also available in color varieties like greenish blue,
light/dark blue, and robin's egg shade.

These are some of semi precious gemstones in the world. You can find these
stones in major jewelry stores worldwide. However, beware of imitations so make
sure that you're only purchasing the genuine stones. If this is your first time
to purchase a precious gemstone, make sure that you're dealing with reputable
jewelry stores. If you're shopping online, you can check the customer
testimonials to ensure the quality and genuineness of the gemstone.

Precious and semi precious gemstones are good investments. If you want, you can
get your specific birthstone. Search the internet and find out more about the
different gemstones for every month. There is a wealth of information on the
internet that can help you in choosing the best deal gemstones in the market.

You can buy your own gemstones. Gemstones are also great gifts to friends and
loved ones.

Caring for Japanese Gemstones

Japan is a country known for exquisite quality. This otherwise proves that
their products are to be taken care of with extreme caution. When it comes with
jewelries, Japanese have products that are all natural and therefore expensive
to be put in a stressful manner. In this article, you would have the idea on
how to care for Japanese gemstones even without lavishly spending a single yen.

Japanese treasure their heirloom. That's why it is clear that their love for
jewelry is shown through gatherings and special occasions.

There are different ways to care for a gemstone. Here are some of the general
options however the scale in terms of hardness is.

1. Do not put your Japanese gemstones with other gemstones. Have them
separated. If possible, separate every gem that differs from composition to
avoid scratches. To do this, provide boxes and label them. Or if not, wrap them
in pieces of cloths to store them individually. If you love diamond and pearls,
might as well do what is said because pearls are very sensitive and can be
easily scratched especially with a diamond.

2. Keep them away from extreme pressure, temperature and sunlight. There are
gemstones that are only meant to worn at night. There are also Japanese gems
that can be worn at any time of the day. So know the class and characteristic
of your jewelries.

3. Avoid applying sharp pressures like blows and chemicals that are harsh
enough to destroy the credibility of your gem. Some gems are really brittle
that even when light pressure is applied, it breaks into pieces.

4. Do not forget to remove your jewelries encrypted with fine gemstones to
avoid scratch marks. If it's too valuable to remove, try wearing gloves
especially when gardening. Long hours dipped in water can also damage parts of
your unprotected stones. Remove your rings if cleaning, it might slip right
through your fingers while cleaning the bathroom.

5. Only put your jewelry after applying makeup, hair spray or cosmetics or even
after brushing your hair and blow drying it. Chemicals are a no-no. They can't
be worn while you do your hair spray because chemicals can harm the physical
qualities of certain sensitive jewels. Earrings can be slashed out of your ears
when you accidentally brush it.

6. Before joining in athletic activities, take off your jewelries and make sure
that you hide it somewhere safe that no one can take it. If your favorite sport
is swimming, rather not wear any jewels with while doing the activity for
chlorine contributes much on the stone's integrity. Their settings might get
loose or eventually fall out.

7. Beaded gemstones must not be stored in knots and must always maintain a flat
stretch.

8. Always apply a gentle touch on your gems. If you're mad or irritated, don't
take it on them to endure the blame. You might regret it when you're anger is
washed away. Do not tug. Never toss the pieces so carelessly for they might
loosen their settings and end up being wind up and therefore scratching each
other.

9. Immediately keep your jewels after use. Put them in some place where you
could easily locate them. Do this especially for the benefit of the smaller
gems.

10. To clean your gems, it is not necessary to use harsh chemicals. Just use
clean, cloth or cotton balls to polish and clean your pieces. Some Japanese
gems only require lukewarm water for cleaning.

Identifying Gemstone Effects

Techniques in cutting and shaping gemstones are vital to add brilliance to the
defiance of the stone itself. Experts call it special effects. These effects
are responsible for the different shapes, sizes, and shine of a particular
gemstone. Like in the movies, some effects can trick you into believing
something that isn't there.

Pleasing the optical sense through special skills of cutting the gem can enable
the enhancers to hide the undesirable characteristics and let the good ones
shine and be more elaborated. The phenomena of a specific gemstone, as what
gemologist call it, can be addressed through these effects.

Here are the popular gemstone effects that are often used for better stone
definition.

Fire

This type of effect that is commonly used by cutters allows separation of true
light from the original color. Because of dispersion, fire enables light to
scatter like a prism and is refracted. Zircon and diamond are among those that
show elaborated fire abilities. Fire is usually defined as the color of
highlights.

Fluorescence

Effects pertaining to fluorescence are defined, as the events when directed UV
rays or colors that aren't visible on first sight becomes visible. A special
effect like this is desirable to transform the dull color of a stone to a
different glow. This will account to the extravagant price a stone may have.
Majority of diamonds have this fluorescence that makes other pale stones
seemingly white.

Color change

Some gemstones have certain color changes especially when put in different
aspects of light especially when faced with sunlight. This is due to a
gemstone's ability to absorb wavelengths strongly.

Iridescence

There are two special effects that are considered under the umbrella of
iridescence: labradorescence that means flashes of blue and gold upon light
movement and schiller that means playing of colors. Iridescence means all
effects of a specific gem that shines in rainbow colors. This happens when
interference of strands of light arises from layers of the material.

Schiller

As mentioned above, schiller is the moment when color playfully flickers along
the surface of a gemstone when interacted with light. The most popular gem that
is known for this trait is the Opal. No tricks within the stone itself. The cue
is that the interference of light is based on the structure of the object.

Asterism

If minerals are cut in domes of high quality, asterism occurs. This will follow
if and only the inclusions of fibrous densities align in more than two different
directions. The most popular gemstone known for this effect is the star sapphire.

Cat's Eye

Derived from the French term "chatoyance". Cat's eye is caused by impurities
within the gemstone arranged like fibers and line up forming axes. Quartz is
famous for its cat's eye property when struck by light. Traces of fiber within
the mineral give this effect a special twist.

Aventurescence

If inclusion flaws in gemstones create such sparkles that would enhance its
appearance, it is called as aventurescence. Plain quartz, for example, can be
alive and have an appealing glittering effect if numerous petite flakes of
hematite protrude.

Labradorescence

This has become quite popular with the masses because this effect converts
dramatic flashes of gold and blue upon movement of light. If the interference
of light in thelayers of crystals arises, this happens. Colors are considered
strong and limited with regards to its direction and orientation.

Purchasing Rhodonite Gemstones Online

What are rhodonite gemstones? These gemstones come from the mineral manganese
silicate. It is available in pink and brown colors. The primary source of the
mineral is metamorphic rocks. Do you have plans of purchasing this ornamental
gemstone? Well, if you have, you should purchase it online.

Before you make any gemstone purchase online, you should have enough knowledge
so that you can get only the quality stones. Some online shoppers often go
through pitfalls because they are inexperienced. Shopping online is not like
shopping in your local stores.

In order to avoid online shopping problems, you should know exactly what you
want. For this instance, you will be shopping for rhodonite gemstones. The
following is the common pitfalls of online shoppers that you should give proper
attention:

1. You should look into the reputation of the online seller or dealer.

2. Sometimes the color and image shown online is not exactly the same as the
actual stone.

3. Aside from that, you should always read the fine print especially when
you're already purchasing the gemstone.

4. There are also those who want to return purchased gemstone however they are
unable to because the seller charges hefty re-stocking fees.

5. Some online shoppers are not familiar with the importance of tone, clarity,
saturation, and hue.

These are only five of the common problems encountered by online shoppers of
gemstones. You're quite lucky if you haven't experienced any of these things.
When purchasing rhodonite gemstones, you have to make sure that you're getting
a good deal in exchange for your money. This way, you wouldn't be disappointed
once you receive the item.

You should always make it a point to make correct assessments. By doing your
homework, you can make a good buying decision. So if you plan to purchase
rhodonite gemstones, you have to find useful information about it. As mentioned
earlier, the stone is available in pink and brown colors. Firstly, you have to
choose which color you like.

If you can afford to purchase different colors of rhodonite gemstones, all the
better; but if this is your intention, you have more reasons to make a careful
and educated decision. Make sure that you have credible resources so that you
can arrive at a good judgment.

When purchasing rhodonite gemstones as well as other precious stones, you
always have to consider the so-called 5 W's.

1. Who -- you have to check the reputation of the online seller or retailer.
Aside from that, you also consider the location of the seller (domestic or
foreign).

2. What -- for this question, the answer would be rhodonite gemstones. Look at
the range of rhodonite stones offered by the online seller or retailer.

3. MWhy -- so why are you purchasing a rhodonite gemstone? The reason is quite
obvious, because you want a top quality gemstone.

4. Where -- this is also obvious, you plan to purchase online. There are so
many online stores that offer rhodonite stones so you can easily canvas the
prices and quality.

5. When -- this pertains to shipping matters. How long will it take until you
receive the item? And some other facts about the carrier.

These are some things that you need to consider when purchasing rhodonite
gemstones and other precious gemstones. If you follow these things, you can
shop till you drop.

Rare Gemstones: How Much are They Worth

Not all gemstones are that easy to find. Some, you must go through impeccable
distances to dig. And the further it takes to find one, the more expensive it
gets. Others who don't want to go through such fuss resorts to making something
close to the real deal. Yes, gemstones can be made. You just have to mix all the
elements and use the right chemicals to be able to make a real gemstone without
even recognizing the difference. Oddly, some of the rarest gemstones are lag
work. But nothing beats the original.

What made these stones amazingly rare and unique? It's their characteristic and
the place where they mined it. Below are some of the rarest gemstones that are
known for their fine qualities and outstanding price.

Andesine

This gemstone is worn out from the natural extracts of a well-faceted crystal.
Its superior quality made it possible for distributors to form them into
various shapes that will please those who might spot them. The likeness would
contribute to its magnificent shade of red. Prices would depend on how big or
small the size would be. Some ranges from 250-700 dollars per piece. The
rareness of this stone is due to the mixture of red and green or red and orange
when confronted with incandescent lighting.

Alexandrite

This comes from either Russia or Brazil. Lightly included, alexandrite has a
very natural change in color triggering from deep green, blue, or extreme blue
and green combined during daylight. If in close inspection, you would see the
parallel inclusions that make the item more unique than other stones. Also,
this can also be incorporated with the cat's eye. Price of this valuable gem
ranges from 300-2500 dollars.

Red Beryl

Also known as the red emerald, red beryl has a unique shade of red with dashes
of red-violet tones. Cuts can be made in shapes like rectangular or trillion. A
piece is amounting up to two thousand bucks or more.

Colombian Emerald

Comes in a rectangular and square cut. Based on the name, this kind of unique
emerald came from the depths of the mountains of Colombia with a brilliant
shade of green and a beautiful tone of blue that is visible in daylight. Price
would range from 900-2800 dollars.

Chalcedony

Mined from Indonesia, this gem is grounded and polished to make the lavender
and purple color shine. The white tone brushed all over its surface is what
makes this stone unique. It's like staring the Milky Way or a bundle of clouds.
Surprisingly, the amount wouldn't reach 200 bucks. Best deal ever!

Quartz

This item is mined from Brazil. Resembling a pearl with its perfect globe
shape, the asteriated quartz glows with a silver dreamy surface even though
it's naturally colorless. Its natural brilliance paved its way to stamp an $850
price tag.

African Sapphire

Design with 6 rays of the star, this gem's opaqueness and visible blue
tranquility is mined in within Africa and has the natural characteristics that
made it more unique. This oval cabochon shaped item costs a smashing 800
dollars. Rewarding enough to be included in your collection's list.

Spinel

This mighty fine colored gemstone mined in Sri Lanka and parts of Burma has
varieties of indigo, blue, deep pink, and dark purple shades that are cut to
reach the customer's desire. Per carat is worth 150 dollars, sometimes, more
than that.

Four Precious Gemstones to Consider

Precious gemstones are dazzling and stunning. You can find them in different
sizes, shapes, and colors. People usually wear gemstones according to their
birth dates because they believe that the gemstones bring prosperity and
happiness. Nowadays, gemstones are worn because of their beauty and
significance.

Among the precious gemstones are diamond, emerald, ruby, and sapphire. Diamond
is the king of all gemstones. This precious gemstone is now available in
synthetic as well as imitation. It's not easy to find diamonds because these
are located in the great depths of the Earth. The beauty of diamonds is brought
out depending on the cut.

If you want to purchase a genuine diamond, you have to consider the clarity,
color, cut, and carat weight. These are the four C's of diamond. You can also
find diamond in fancy colors like green, blue, orange, and red. Fancies are
also highly prized as they are rare.

Another gemstone is emerald. Ancient people love emerald because of its power
to heal certain diseases and also for its beauty. Oftentimes, the gem has a
mossy silk appearance. If you can find flawless emerald specimens, expect a
very high price that can even be compared to that of diamonds. You can find
green Brazilian varieties of emerald, spodumene varieties, and corundum
varieties.

If you love red, you should get ruby. This gemstone is available in different
shades such as ruby red, purplish red, pigeon blood, and rose red. The most
highly prized ruby stone is the clear deeper shades. You can also get star
rubies. Beware though that there are rubies being sold in the market that are
not actually genuine rubies.

These are the balas ruby (spinel), bohemian ruby (rose quartz), Siberian ruby
(pink or red tourmaline), Cape ruby, Montana, Rocky Mountain, and American ruby
(these are garnet varieties). If you happen to visit Myanmar, this is the best
place to get a genuine ruby because this is the place where most rubies are
mined. You can also get rubies in Afghanistan, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka,
Soviet republics, and China.

Sapphire is another precious gemstone. Sapphire is the blue variety while ruby
is the red variety of corundum. Genuine sapphire is deep blue in color (Kashmir
blue). You can also find white sapphire, golden or yellow sapphire (oriental
topaz), and pink sapphire. You can find many deposits of sapphire in Sri Lanka
but you can also find them in the mines of China, Ural Mountains, Afghanistan,
India, Australia, Soviet Union, and Thailand. In the US, deposits can be found
in Montana (Helena) and North Carolina (Macon County).

Diamond, emerald, ruby, and sapphire are truly popular all over the world.
Because of today's advanced technologies, you can find imitations and synthetic
versions of these precious gemstones. If you want to get a good deal when
purchasing these precious gemstones, you have to shop extensively. You have to
invest time and money to make sure that you get a good quality gemstone.

If you want, you ca also follow your birth month. Diamond is the birthstone for
April, May is emerald, July is ruby, and September is sapphire. So which month
were you born?

Find suitable precious gemstone jewelry now and show them to your friends and
loved ones. If you want to add extra happiness into your life, get the
appropriate gemstone.

Gemstones Shaped for the Heart

Gemstones aren't made just for the purpose of fashion. It's so much more than
that. It's an investment with sentimental value. Given or bought for the ones
you adore. A ring is not just an ornamental thing of beauty but also an undying
confession of a loving couple's union.

To give someone a gemstone that is shaped like a heart, it would mean two
things: that you are giving your heart to that person and as crystals are
forever, so is your affection.

But before kneeling down the red carpet and saying "will you: " there are a lot
of things that you have to keep in mind. Choosing heart shaped jewelry requires
more than liking it. You must have certain categories to identify a gem that
would definitely last a lifetime.

To evaluate a heat shaped gem, you must see to it that the angles and sides
must go in proportion. Achieving an ideal heart shaped cut, it must exhibit
concave and convex effect.

According to several findings, the ideal symmetry of the shape must be relevant
to the length and width of the one who's going to wear it.

Here are some ideals to help you out in choosing the right gem for your partner.

Quality

* Are the colors equal on all sides? Sometimes poor cut will affect the color
of the shape.

* The shadow that refers to the bow tie reflection must show.

* Look at the lobes if it's balanced to avoid distorting that is caused by an
unbalanced cut. Also check out for an aligned point that is proportional with
the lobes for even though the lobes look perfect, it will still result to a
distorted feature due a misaligned point.

* See to it that the point must be sharp and not rounded because if the tip is
well rounded, it only shows a poor cut.

Designs

Art Deco -- utilizes an unusual feature and bold style

Solitaires -- Here, prongs are emphasized. A solitaire must require at least 5
prongs; 4 of which is used to protect the stone and the other to safeguard the
sharp tip of the stone.

Accented -- Rings can be paired with many different stones. Some of these are
the emerald or accent stones in oval shape. The more preferred is the channel
settings that are subtle and enables the heart to be left undisputedly focal.

Claddagh -- in this design, designers prefer to use ruby, diamond, or emerald
as the heart.

Three Stone -- A perfect symbol for the three-letter-word. It can also
represent a match made to last after the past, during the present, and through
the future. You could also choose a three stone design that has different
gemstones and colors.

Inset -- Using clusters and settings that become rather usual but adds vibrant
effects encircling accents all over the gem.

Alternative Heart Designs

Because heart shaped gems are hard to find due to the fact that it is also hard
to cut and polish without imperfections, couples can settle for something
different yet, still, acceptable.

* Cluster small gems around a heart shaped pattern to create the desired shape
without requiring a center piece.

* Engrave the shape on the item itself or the metal where the gem is attached.
You could opt to put it along the band or underneath the setting.

All About Green Gemstones

People value durability and beauty very much and because of this, they love
gemstones. What are gemstones anyway? These are minerals highly prized by many
individuals because of their beauty, toughness/hardness, rarity, and the cut of
such precious minerals. Green gemstones are also quite popular and if you do
like this stone, you should get emerald.

Minerals come in different color varieties and if you prefer the green
varieties, you have to purchase emerald. Ancient people who had eye diseases
believed that with the help of emerald stones, their eye conditions will be
cured or healed.

Beryl is the mineral where emerald is derived. The properties and composition
of emerald is just like that of other beryl types. A very important composition
of beryl is chromium and this is responsible for the gemstone's green color.

If you try to examine emerald stones, you will notice that it has featherlike
materials. Some people call it 'silk' and this is responsible for the stone's
mossy appearance.

Some individuals prefer to purchase the flawless emerald specimens because of
the size and beautiful color. However, these specimens are very rare and the
price is even higher than diamonds of the same weight.

Ancient people of Egypt loved emeralds. In fact, the emerald gemstones were
chiefly mined there. However, a large deposit of emerald has been found in
Siberia. At present, most of the emerald gemstones can be found in Columbia and
it is primarily mined there. In the US, particularly in North Carolina (Mitchell
and Alexander counties), emeralds are also being mined. You can also find
significant deposits of emerald in Afghanistan and some emerald mines in
Brazil, Zambia, Australia, Pakistan, India, and South Africa.

Not all emeralds sold in the market are genuine stones. Other gemstones are
also referred as emeralds although they are not exactly emerald. For instance,
tourmaline's green variety is called Brazilian emerald. Spodumene also has a
green variety and it is called hiddenite or Lithia emerald. Corundum's green
variety is called oriental emerald and andradite's green variety is Uralian
emerald.

Nowadays, a lot of people desire for the bluish green emerald. If you were born
in May, then your birthstone is emerald. The 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries
are also symbolized by emerald.

By weight, emerald is the most precious and valuable of all gemstones. For many
years, emerald is quite popularly known as a gemstone. If you want to find an
ideal emerald stone, choose a highly transparent stone with an even color. If
you find certain flaws like fissures and cracks, you can treat it with cedar
oil. The oil will show the stone's vibrant color and conceal the flaws. Because
of today's advanced technology, the flaws of most emerald gemstones are hidden
with the use of epoxy resin.

Perhaps you know Cleopatra right? Did you know that she had vast collections of
emerald? That is a fact since the Egyptians were the very first ones to mine
emerald. If you have an emerald gemstone, your life will surely be filled with
love. Couples who give each other an emerald jewelry will have everlasting love.

There are other beliefs associated with emerald gemstones. It can help pregnant
women deliver normally; it can help you concentrate more; increase wealth or
social stature; and increase career opportunities.

Now you know many things about the green gemstones.

Bytownite: One of the Rarest Gemstones

Bytownites are not usually known in the gemstone industry because its
composition and occurrence are somewhat hard to find. It had become one of the
rarest gemstones belonging to the plagioclase feldspars family.

An Introduction

One of the rarest gemstones to be the fifth member of the plagioclase family is
the bytownite. Its composition comprises of minerals that range from pure albite
to anorthite. Bytownite from the real class is defined as at least 90-70%
calcium and 10-30% sodium. This should be seen in the position of the structure
of its crystal. To identify feldspars, one should look into the gradations of
density and refraction when chemical analysis or optical measurements are
absent.

Plagioclase feldspars show a type of twinning named after pure albite. Twinning
is formed when a stack of layers twin together which are fractions of several
millimeters thick. The formation of bytownite exhibits a grey to white crystal
that shows striations.

Bytownite has two properties namely the refractive indices and specific gravity
.Its specific gravity varies between 2.75-2.76. To precisely determine these
properties will enable you to identify and analyze the mineral. It should be
determined together with diffraction, chemicals, and petrographic analysis.

Metamorphic complexes and intrusions occur in bytownite.

The Mineral's History and Origin

Bytownite's name was derived from Bytown (now known as Ottawa in Canada) by T.
Thomson who found it in a boulder near the area. T. Thomson was also the person
who gave the name to this stone who later found out that this material is a
mixture when looked under the microscope. This happened in 1835.

G. Tschermak was the person who applied the name to whatever mineral that lies
between anorthite and labradorite. The petrologists adopt this, in the modern
time.

How Bytownite Became Rare

Bytownite is not usually found around obvious places. It normally occurs in
tiny grains found in igneous rocks which are said to be lime-rich. The clear
yellow crystals are usually found in Oregon and Mexico.

Characteristics or Properties

Bytownite's hardness ranges from 5.5-6.0 that's why aside from being rare, it
is also quite fragile. The specific gravity is 2.75. Color would normally be a
wide variety of gray hues, white, and pale yellow. Others can exhibit colorless
properties. Its chemical composition can be traced as calcium sodium aluminum
silicate. Its fracture would be conchoidal. The luster is glassy-like; if
weathered will perform vitreous to translucence.

Habits in crystals will be tabular or blocky. Free crystals are rarely seen.
Although a square or rectangular cross-section is perforated together with
pinacoid terminations and a slanted dome. Twinning is a general attributein
plagioclases. Bytownite is found as small grains in compact masses and gabbros.

A bytownite's cleavage is immaculately perfect wherein they form prisms of the
right angle. It has a white streak and is associated with minerals like
pyroxenes, biotite and hornblende.

Other significant characteristic is that the striations that appear can cause a
simple grooved effect on cleavage surfaces. Refraction is approximately 1.575 to
1.585.

Occurrences, aside from Canada, are also found in South Africa and Scotland.

To indicate this mineral, you should identify its striations, occurrence, index
of refraction and density.

Gemstone Care

Bytownites must be cleaned with warm water and polished with a clear, dry
cloth. Refrain from using harsh chemicals to avoid destroying the integrity of
the stone.

Facts and Trivia about the gemstone Turquoise

Everybody loves blue. With its calming and rejuvenating shade, this color has
often been associated with the sky and water. Blue has also been the color that
symbolizes royalty and tranquility. These are one of the few hundred reasons why
it is not hard to love turquoise. To own jewelry made of turquoise is like
looking at the open sea.

Turquoise can be mined all over the world. They have it in India, China, and
US. One of the finest and most respected kinds of turquoise is the Persian
turquoise.

Why the Color Change?

Perhaps it's because of the influence of the mineral present. The higher the
mineral content in the gem, the more it will be enhanced. Naturally, blue will
shine within the stone if copper becomes present. But if, as it is formed,
aluminum is more dominant, a green shade will appear.

All About Gemstone Formation

Turquoise is formed when percolation of water occurs inside rocks containing
aluminum, copper, and other minerals found within the depths of the earth. As
chemical reaction occurs, turquoise is produced. This simplified explanation
for the entire process happens for millions of years and happens in suitable
conditions only. Oftentimes, the climate and temperature both belonging to
extremes are factors that affect molding of this gemstone.

Turquoise Dark Markings

You call those markings as the matrix. It is that piece of rock where this
stone was formed into. If you tend to cut this stone, you would notice that
sediments of these rocks are still suspended within the center of it. About the
different color changes in the matrix, it is due to the fact that turquoise is
formed among varieties of rocks. If the lining of the matrix is extended
throughout the item, it is called as spider webbings for it resembles the
strands of a spider web.

Justifying the Hardness of a Turquoise

When used for jewelry making, the hardness that makers require must be within
the scale of 5-6. Other than that, they treat it.

Common Treatments used for Turquoise

1. Treatment for color -- they usually use chemicals to change the stone's
color or elaborate it.

2. Stabilizing -- this is done by infusing substances or resin inside the pores
of the material.

Other treatments are used for an unusable turquoise to turn it into something
usable. A lot of turquoise gemstones are either enhanced or treated. It is
seldom that you find a turquoise that is all natural. But if you do, the price
would not be less extravagant.

You could identify a turquoise that was made natural by looking at its
features. You have to be sure that no other treatments have been made. No
changes of the artificial kind should be involved.

Turquoise Care

Here are some tips on how to handle your turquoise with so much care without
having the fear of neither scratching it nor breaking its viability.

* Have it hidden in a separate place away from harder stones to promote scratch
reduction.

* Keep it away from extreme heat and pressure.

* Avoid any contact with dangerous chemicals that might destroy its usefulness
like perfumes, cleaners and oils.

* To clean your gem, use warm water and dry it immediately. No cleansers needed.

The most important knowledge that you have to keep in mind when buying a
turquoise is that you should purchase it from merchandisers who are known to
save your money from fake ones.

Finding Wholesale Gemstones

Where can you find wholesale gemstones? Well, that's not a very big problem
nowadays because you have two options -- one is to shop in local jewelry stores
and the other one is to shop online.

Skilled craftsmen are the ones responsible for creating different cuts of the
popular gemstones. The gemstones are inorganic compounds found mostly in rocks.
The color and hardness of the minerals are determined by their atomic structure.

Before you purchase gemstones in wholesale, you have to know a great deal of
information about them to make sure that you get only the good quality ones.
Organic gemstones include pearl, amber, and ivory. There are also synthetic
gemstones that are produced mainly in laboratories and have no natural origin.
However, the chemical composition and physical properties of synthetic
gemstones and genuine gemstones are alike. The weight of gemstones is measured
in carats.

To be called a gemstone, the mineral must be durable, rare, and beautiful.
Because of the scarce resources of gemstones, most of them are quite expensive.
These stones are not damaged easily, nor scratched.

What should you do if this is your first time to purchase gemstones in
wholesale? Follow these steps:

1. MBefore anything else, you have to decide what gemstone to get. Since you
plan to get them in wholesale, the perhaps you have plans of selling them as
well. Choose the gemstones that are in great demand so that your customers can
have a few choices.

2. Shop around locally. You can find several jewelry stores in your local area.
Perhaps you've even bought some jewelry there too. You can canvas the prices in
each store so that you can compare them.

3. If you can find reasonably priced wholesale gemstones locally, then you have
to choose the store that can offer you the best deal.

4. There is another option available to you just in case you can't find the
best deal locally. Log on to the internet.

5. Try to search the internet for wholesalers. Simply type the words 'wholesale
gemstones' and you can obtain a lot of search results. Click on the links and
you can check out several online stores that offer wholesale gemstones. Check
on the background of the sellers as well as the suppliers to ensure the quality
of the gemstones.

6. You should also consider the shipping cost. If the cost is quite high, try
to find other online sellers that offer better deals especially in terms of the
shipping cost.

7. Shopping online is sometimes frustrating because the pictures are sometimes
deceiving. You have to choose carefully and wisely. This way, you can get only
the best products.

8. People have different reasons when purchasing gemstones in wholesale.
Whether it is for business purposes or for personal satisfaction, you must
always get a good deal because you're going to pay for the gemstones.

Make sure that you follow these steps so that you can find a good seller of
wholesale gemstones. Remember, you must choose a store with a good reputation
and with high customer satisfaction. With a bit of effort in shopping around,
you can find reasonable wholesale gemstone prices.

Wholesale gemstones are a good way to get the stones at a much lesser cost.
Each gemstone is a bit expensive especially the rarest ones but if you purchase
them in wholesale, you might be able to get discounts.

What Gemstones are Mined in Israel?

If you go to southwestern Asia, you will be able to find Israel. On the north
of the country is Lebanon, Syria on the northeast, Jordan on the east, and
Egypt on the southwest. What gemstones are mined in Israel?

Israel has a large mining industry. The industry can produce large quantities
of potash, bromine, magnesium, etc; the Dead Sea is the primary source of
minerals. Widespread quarrying of granite and marble fulfills Israel's
construction needs.

Since gemstones can be found in many parts of the world, it's no wonder if you
can also find different gemstones in Israel. Israel also has online stores so
you can easily find them on the internet. There are also local jewelry stores
there to cater to the local residents of the country.

Online stores in Israel offer various gemstones, with different cuts and in
different sizes. Very good examples are the Israel diamonds and sterling silver
glass earrings. You can also find Israel gemstones in the form of rings,
necklaces, and other accessories. The prices also vary depending on the size
and cut of the gemstone.

If you prefer handcrafted gemstones, try to check out Israel online stores.
Many of their gemstone collections are artistically handcrafted. You can choose
among the various styles and collections of gemstone jewelries.

If you live in Israel, then you probably want to patronize your own country's
gemstone products. You not only help in improving your country's economy but
you also can be proud of locally mined and cut gemstones. You see, gemstones
are really popular these days so if you want to help you country to become one
of the best producers of gemstones, you have to promote local products like the
handcrafted gemstones.

If you live far from Israel and you're shopping online, perhaps you might want
to look into the shipping costs. There are online sellers or retailers that
mislead their customers when it comes to the shipping cost. These customers end
up with empty pockets because they paid huge money for the shipment of the
gemstones. You must always try to make a good deal when shopping online. If the
shipping cost is reasonable, you can proceed to the purchase of the gemstone.

Those who live in the neighboring countries of Israel, they can take advantage
of the low shipping cost. Gemstones designed in Israel are beautiful,
attractive, durable, and highly prized. The gemstones will be great additions
to your existing jewelry collections. You can use the gemstones to match your
daily attire whether casual or formal.

It all depends on the cut and size of the gemstone. When looking into the
different gemstones produced in Israel or in other countries, make sure that
the stones are of good quality. You should also find out if the gemstone is
genuine, imitation, or synthetic. This way, you can be sure that you're getting
the best deal in the market.

So what are you waiting for? Look for the Israel online stores present on the
internet. Check out the range of gemstone jewelries they have and compare the
ones that catch your fancy. This is the best time to shop for the gemstones as
many people find it attractive and in fashion. You can use a certain part of
your savings to purchase the gemstones and once you have them, observe proper
care to prolong it's life.

Aquamarine Gemstones -- March Birthstone

What month were you born? If you're quite interested in gemstones, then you
probably know your gemstone. The birthstone of those people born in the month
of March is aquamarine. Aquamarine gemstones are available in greenish blue or
blue green shade.

If you translate the word 'aquamarine', it literally means sea water. Many
years ago, people believed that you can call the great spirits by simply
holding an aquamarine gemstone in your mouth. By doing so, the spirits will
provide you with the answers to the most vexing questions you have. There are
also those who soak aquamarine in water and then they use the water in curing
eye troubles, hiccups, and other minor respiratory diseases.

Way back in the 1920's, a huge aquamarine was found in Brazil and the weight
reached 243 pounds. The gemstone was clearly visible and its length was 19x16
inches. The outside color was greenish but the inside part was blue. You can
even find an 879-carat aquamarine in a British museum and in a county museum in
Los Angeles you can find a 638-carat aquamarine gemstone. Eleanor Roosevelt also
received a 1,847 carats aquamarine gemstone and at present it can be found in
their estate in New York.

This gemstone is also the symbol for the 19th wedding anniversary of couples.
It is a very cool gem and it is available in two qualities -- AA and AAA. Both
of the qualities have clean cuts; AA stones are available from light tones to
medium ones while the AAA is available from medium to dark tone.

It is not hard to find an aquamarine gemstone. You can find them in your local
jewelry stores or you can shop for the stones online. You can find aquamarine
pendants, earrings, or rings. There are also other pieces of jewelries made
from the aquamarine gemstone. All you need to do is to shop around for a
variety of jewelry designs. You can use it personally or you can even wrap it
as a birthday present.

If you were born in March, you should have at least a piece of jewelry made
from aquamarine. Some say that it can bring the holder good luck and it's up to
you to prove it. So what are you waiting for? You'd better get an aquamarine
jewelry in a local jewelry store or from an online store.

Aquamarine gemstones are rich in history and many ancient people had beliefs
attached to it. Have you tried soaking this gemstone in water? Nothing would
hurt if you try it out and perhaps it will also work miracles on some of your
health concerns. You might also be able to find some answers for your life's
questions. The ancient people surely would not have established such beliefs if
they themselves weren't able to prove it.

Aquamarine gemstone is just one of the many gemstones that are considered as
precious. There are twelve months in one year and so you can find at least
twelve precious gemstones in the market. Some of the stones are quite
affordable but there are also expensive ones. So what will it be -- an
expensive aquamarine stone or a cheap one?

Find the right aquamarine gemstones that suit your personality and taste. All
you need is money and time to shop around. Start looking for the gemstone now.

Antique Birthday Gemstone History

Every gemstone has its own story. Some fascinating enough to be heard, others
are just the same old story. But it wouldn't matter how old the story is for as
long as it's important enough to be heard. To know the history of an antique
gemstone is all worthwhile especially when you're dealing with the birthstones.

Every gemstone is antique in its own place and story. Mind you, because these
antiques that were buried long before mankind multiplied is more priceless than
that done in laboratories and had been fabricated and polished for more than a
hundredth time. Why? They posses such qualities that these gemstones don't have.

Garnet

It is said that those born in this month are great communicators and are
sociable. Garnet, on the other hand, was known long before the time of the
Ancient Romans and Greeks. This gemstone looks like a pomegranate seed thus
deriving its name from it in the Latin sense. Ancient people associate this gem
with fire. The Christians believed that Noah used this to put a certain
illumination on his Ark. A gem of constancy, truth and faith.

Amethyst

The amethyst is one of the oldest gemstones used. Associated with royalty, this
stone had been used for ecclesiastic purposes too. This is worn by travelers or
warriors when being booted to war for protection, avoid intoxication, and is
said to bring luck for business matters.

Aquamarine

The gemstone aquamarine is known for its seawater color. That when submerged
into water it seems to disappear and be invisible. Ancient fishermen wear this
stone as safety for their water journey. People back then believed that because
this stone posses the qualities of water, the moment they wore this, they are
purified. It also brings unfazed youthfulness and happiness throughout life.

Diamond

A stone that means unconquerable. Diamond has no equal when it comes to
hardness. And because of its quality, hardness, outstanding brilliance and
rareness, this is one of the most expensive and priceless gemstones ever found.
History has it that this stone is only reserved and is exclusively brought upon
royalty. A diamond symbolizes eternal happiness through marriage bonds.

Emerald

A stunning beauty of enchanted green. Emerald had been known as the stone for
the gods and goddesses. The Ancient Greeks offered this gemstone for Aphrodite
as the symbol of beauty. The Incas worshipped a goddess made of emerald. And it
is stated that the bowl that Jesus Christ used during the Last Supper was made
of emerald. The Emerald serves as the stone for faith, immortality,
intelligence and insight. Pearl

This gem made by mollusks as defense from foreign substances is known, before,
as the god's tears. This represents the influence of the moon on earth. Aside
from the diamond, pearls are also used during nuptials. Pearl symbolizes
femininity, wisdom and purity.

Ruby

Ruby means red. Its majestic color associates this stone with passion and
power. Ancient civilizations believed that if a piece of ruby is thrown inside
a pot of water, it will cause the water to boil at an instant. Ruby is a sign
of attraction and love.

Peridot

Pharoahs desire this stone. They require their people back then to use peridots
as adornments and currency. Furthermore, people only mined this stone during the
night for they believe that they glow like lanterns.

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