3 Important Facts About Gemstone Jewelry - Want to Know?

Are you fond of jewelries and love to flaunt them? Get to know a little bit more about the gemstones that adorns your jewels. Gemstones are composed of various rocks and elements. Unprocessed stones are polished, cut, and faceted and then they are given the name of gemstones. Gemstones can be classified in various ways as follows-

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• On the basis of the constituent element. E.g. rubies are composed of aluminum and diamonds are composed of carbon.
• On the basis of shapes of stones. E.g. cubic, trigonal, monoclinic etc
• On the basis of mineral species. E.g. beryl mineral species includes such gemstones as emerald, aquamarine, bixbite, heliodor, and moeganite.

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A variety of gemstones are available in the market. Gemstones are available not only in the three primary colors of green, blue and red but also in various other hues.

Look Alike Gemstones

There are hundreds of gemstones that have corresponding look-alike in the wide variety of colors accessible. For instance take the following cases: in the realm of red gemstones you can find ruby, blistering jewelry like rubellite tourmaline, red spinel, red beryl and rhodolite garnet. If you are searching for blue gemstones you can try out tanzanite, sapphire, iolite, benitoite and indicolite tourmaline among others. Each of these gemstones has unique characteristics of its own. Tsavorite garnet, emerald and chrome tourmaline falls in the realm of green gemstones. Tsavorite garnet is very much similar to the clean green shadow of the bright green. On the other hand peridot and chrome tourmaline have an attractive yellowish green tinge.

Buying Gemstones

Before you purchase gems you must consider various things. For instance consider the sturdiness of gems. Not all gems are meant to be used for the same purpose. Studier ones and the lighter and more delicate ones can't be used for the same purpose. For instance burgundy is not as sturdy as ruby but can be effectively used in charms and rings. Tourmaline is not as durable as ruby, therefore should be used keeping this characteristic in mind. Delicate and soft stones like benitoite, tanzanite and iolite should be handled with greater care and are best suited for making pendants. Navy gemstones are best suited for trinkets and necklaces. Apart from the precious gemstones you can also avail of semi precious gemstones. If your funds are constrained you can opt for the semiprecious gemstones. These are easily available at your local jeweler's and you can use it to make rings. Though the semi precious stones are not as attractive as the precious gemstones, they are not exactly cheap looking either. Find an attractive one that suits your taste.

Gemstones- Original Vs. Fake

Purchasing gemstones can be quite a harrowing task. If you are not mindful and cannot tell the difference from one gemstone to the next then the chances of your being duped is very high. There is no dearth of unscrupulous dealers who can resort to fraudulent practices and give you inferior quality gems at the price of the original one. Thus it is very important that you buy gemstones only from a goldsmith and authorized gold dealers.

3 Important Facts About Gemstone Jewelry - Want to Know?

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Garnet As A Jewelry Gemstone

Garnet has a long and storied history dating back to before the Bronze Age. These stones have long been prized for their beauty and brilliance. These gemstones are used in creating jewelry and are used in industrial applications for polishing grinding. Industrial garnet can be commonly found in sandpapers and other abrasive materials. The color of these stones covers almost the entire spectrum of colors from deep reds to vibrant greens and yellows.

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Where Are Garnets Found?

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Garnet is found in a surprisingly wide area of the planet, though Montana, New York and Idaho are the only areas in the United States where garnet is mined and is of an industrial quality, though gem-quality star garnet can be found in Idaho. Some other areas of the world that provide gem-quality stones include China, areas of Africa, South America, northern Europe and Thailand.

History

The name garnet actually refers to a wide variety of gemstone species, with each species representing a different base color. Initially discovered in Scandinavia and areas of the Middle East, discovery these stones dates back to around 3100 B.C. The earliest use as a gemstone seems to date back to around 400 B.C. in areas of southern Europe.

Birthstone Information

Garnet is considered to represent the month of January and is most closely associated with the astrological birth sign of Aquarius. Its significance as a birthstone is said to date back to the time of Moses and is recognized as one of the twelve original birthstones and are said to represent the original twelve tribes of Israel.

New Age Beliefs, Uses and Powers Through The Ages

Like many mineral crystals, garnet is believed to impart healing qualities to the wearer and these beliefs date back to biblical times, through the medieval period times and into the New Age. Among other beliefs during medieval times, these beautiful stones were even rumored to protect the bearer from poisons and venoms. People in the New Age community believe that garnet has healing properties that benefit the physical and mental wellbeing of the bearer with the ability to purify the body and even cure or eliminate certain diseases.

Other Names Known By

Garnets come in very wide choice of colors and are categorized by color with reds such as pyrope and almandine, oranges like Spessartite, black as in melanite and greens and yellows like grossular, demantoid and topazolite.

Artificial Forms of Enhancement

There no known enhancements possible in naturally-occurring garnet.

Color

The color of this stone varies throughout the color spectrum with the exception of blue.

General Scientific Information

The chemical names vary by species X3Y2(SiO4)3 otherwise referred to as nesosilicates.

Almandine garnet Fe3Al2(SiO4)3 otherwise referred to as Iron Aluminum Silicate.

Androdite garnet Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3 otherwise referred to as Calcium Iron Silicate.

Grossular garnet Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 otherwise referred to as Calcium Aluminum Silicate.

Pyrope garnet Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 otherwise referred to as Magnesium Aluminum Silicate.

Spessartine Mn3Al2(SiO4)3 otherwise referred to as Manganese Aluminum Silicate

Uvarovite garnet Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3 otherwise referred to as Calcium Chromium Silicate.

Hardness measures 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale - the Mohs scale measures the hardness of metals, minerals, gemstones and crystals on a scale of 1 to 10. For example the hardness properties of most quartz crystals fall around 7 on the scale, as does steel and titanium. Diamond is the hardest known substance on the Mohs scale coming in at a hard 10. To most consumers hardness generally reflects the stones able to resist scratches and cracks.

There is no cleavage found in garnet and breaks into irregularly shaped pieces with sharp edges.

The color of this stone is said to come from irons, magnesium and calcium.

The specific gravity is approximately 3.8.

The crystalline system is isometric.

Garnet As A Jewelry Gemstone

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Garnet Gemstone Jewelry - January's Birthstone

Garnet gemstones have been treasured for thousands of years and they are considered to be one of the world's most ancient gems. Use of garnets as gemstones have been traced to Egyptian artisans in 3100 B.C. Garnets were named by the ancient Greeks who thought the stone resembled a pomegranate. Garnets have been used in bracelets and brooches since the latter part of the 19th century. They have also been used as abrasives for materials such as glass, metal, plastic, wood, and leather due to their sharp fracture.

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Garnet makes a popular gemstone for jewelry for several reasons. Garnets are a reasonably cost-effective gemstone. They are also known for their beauty. There are several different kinds of garnet that make up many different colors. The best known color for Garnet is reddish brown. Garnet can be found in every color except for blue. Garnet is January's birthstone and can be found in a wide variety of pieces of jewelry. They are a popular gemstone for Valentine's Day gifts and are beautiful when they are paired with diamonds.

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Their durability also make them a good choice for jewelry. Depending on the variety of the stone, they can rank between 6 and 7.5 on Mohs scale of hardness. They can be found in many different shapes and sizes. The gold are silver settings can complement the colors of garnet quite well. The violet red shades look beautiful in white gold, silver, or platinum while the reddish brown shades look best in yellow gold.

Garnet jewelry is relatively low maintenance as well. Garnet jewelry can be cleaned by soaking it warm soapy water and being gently scrubbed with a toothbrush. With proper care, garnet jewelry can last a lifetime.

Garnet Gemstone Jewelry - January's Birthstone

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Tsavorite - A World-Class Gemstone

Whilst many gem-lovers have indulged themselves in the joy of owning Diamonds, Ruby, Emerald and Sapphires, many have not yet discovered equally rare and fine gems such as Tsavorite. Still relatively unknown to the gem-buying public, stones like Tsavorite present a unique and exciting opportunity as due to the fact they are little known, their prices are still relatively low compared with the "big 4". This will not always be the case as the charms of this beautiful gemstone is quickly becoming known to jewelers the world over who are marketing it to their clients creating a pull effect through the market which will eventually push up prices.

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Tsavorite is such exciting gem for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is a gemologically superior gemstone with very high brilliance, life, hardness, is extremely rare and most important, is very beautiful. In terms of its gemological properties: Its Refractive Index is very high at 1.74 (Ruby and Sapphire are 1.76) which means that it bends light to a high degree and as such, has excellent light return and hence brilliance. This is aided by its high Hardness on the Mohs scale (a rating of 7.5) which means it takes a good polish which leads to excellent luster. Its Dispersion Rating is double that of its green rival, Emerald, meaning that it is a much more firey gem. In terms of rarity, there is only 1 commercial source in the whole world - in East Africa.

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When looking to buy a Tsavorite, it is important you consider the 4C's just as if you were buying a Diamond. The first, and most important of these is Color. Obviously if the color is not fine, the stone will not be beautiful and it will lose its "raison d'etre". So look for a deep color saturation with a pure green (minimal yellow modifier is important-yellow is the bane of Tsavorite). The saturation of the color must be vivid. When buying online, this can be a confusing prospect as there are so many sellers all proclaiming their stones to be the finest and all the colors seem different. I suggest you use the resources at the bottom of this article to get a better idea of how color grades are constituted.

Second is Clarity. Many online sellers try to ignore or downplay this factor. The truth is that the majority of Tsavorite contains quite heavy inclusions and the majority of online sellers are peddling this material. The prices for Tsavorite that is moderately included is very different from those that are very slightly included or clean so keep this in mind. Fine stones should be almost loupeclean or loupeclean.

Thirdly, consider the quality of the cut, including symmetry, faceting and proportions. Fine stones are well proportioned, have proper facet junctions and good symmetry. The cut is instrumental in creating brilliance and badly cut stones lack brilliance and hence beauty to don't overlook this.

Carat Weight - this is the fourth "C" and is important with this gem type as Tsavorite does not come in large sizes generally speaking. The vast majority of Tsavorites are well below a carat and fine stones of 2 carats are considered very rare. This means that the per carat price increases quicker with Tsavorite than most stones as large Tsavorites as relatively so much rarer. A very fine 4 carat can retail as high as 00 per carat.

In summary, Tsavorite is a very exciting, beautiful gemstone with a bright future. Those gem enthusiasts that invest in a fine large piece now will be well placed to see the value of their investment rise in the near future as demand for the stone increases as consumers become more knowledgeable.

Tsavorite - A World-Class Gemstone

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Garnet - The Travelers Gemstone

Almost everyone confuses the Garnet Gemstone with the dark red stone only, the truth of the matter is that Garnet comes in an array of different colors with some of them costing nearly as much as a Sapphire. Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January and is the anniversary stone to celebrate two years of marriage. Good sources of Garnet originate from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Pakistan, Russia and areas of Scandinavia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania and the United States.

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Garnet Gemstones come in a range of colors ranging from colorless to black, the only color they do not appear is blue. Garnet has a high specific gravity, which gives it a heavy weight. This makes it cost a little more than other Gemstones of the same size and carat weight. Garnet sand is also used for industrial purposes to make sandpaper and mixed with high-pressure water jets to cut steel. Many different Gemstones make up the Garnet Group, here is a list of the more well known.

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Pyrope...is the blood red variety of the group and was very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in 'Bohemian Jewelry'. The best stones have a fiery red color that does not darken too much after being set in Jewelry. Pyrope has a bright glassy look to it and gem quality stones are mined at Buell Park, beyond the reaches of the Painted Desert just east of Canyon de Chelly with specimens up to five carats not uncommon.

Almandite...ranges in color from deep red to violet-red and sometimes even black.

It's name is derived from a town in Asia Minor and it is often confused with Pyrope.

Often cut into cabochons with the underside hollowed out to allow more light to pass through the stone. Almandite can be brittle and have been known to chip while being faceted.

Rhodolite...has a beautiful bright purple-red color with it's composition between that of Pyrope and Almandite, it also has fewer inclusions. Rhodolite is regarded as a superior Gemstone to both it's red counterparts.

Spessartite...a rich orange to red-brown in color often with feather like inclusions, which are actually clouds of minute drops, clean Gemstone quality material is very rarely found and is often confused with Hessonite. A bright orange pure form of Spessartite, which is known as Mandarin Garnet is very rarely found in Gemstone quality material.

Hydrogrossular Garnet...has a very distinctive gooseberry-green color and is very often made into beads or cabochons. Very often inclusions of black magnetite are present which give the Gemstone a speckled look. Because of its resemblance to green Jade it is known as Transvaal Jade or Garnet Jade in South Africa. A variety of pink Hydrogrossular Garnet can also be found.

Grossular Garnet-Hessonite...A brown-orange to brown-yellow member of the Grossular Garnet group, Hessonite is also known as cinnamon stone. The Gemstone has inclusions of small crystals of apatite, that give a swirling effect.

Grossular Garnet-Tsavorite...is a lime-green to emerald-green member of the group, it was first mined in Kenya in 1968. Emerald-green crystals only produce small stones of 2 carats or less, ensuring that they are more expensive than the lime-green stones. Tsavorite is nearly always faceted as a Gemstone.

Demantoid...the bright green variety of andradite group of Garnet is very rare, it is also rare to find stones greater than 1 carat in weight. Demantoid has a very lively fire, as it has a higher light dispersion and brilliance than a diamond. The Gemstone has distinctive inclusions of yellow-brown hair like pieces of asbestos. Of all Garnets, Demantoid is by far the most valuable.

To give a gift of Garnet is believed to be a symbol of love and to show desire of a loved one's safe travel and speedy homecoming. Garnet Gemstones are said to help attract love and to assist in past life recall. Garnet Gemstones have been carried by travelers to protect them from accidents while far away from home. Wearing Garnet Jewelry is believed to give guidance through the night and protection from nightmares. It is said that Noah used a Garnet lantern to navigate the Ark at night.

Garnet has a hardness of between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Moh scale of hardness. It is a perfectly suited Gemstone for use in Jewelry. This quite robust Gemstone is one of the few gems that look better in sterling silver rather than in gold. Above all enjoy the many different colors that Garnet Jewelry has to offer.

Garnet - The Travelers Gemstone

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Garnet: January's Gemstone - The Benefits of Garnet Jewelry

What is Garnet?

garnet pendant

Garnet is the gemstone for January and those born under the Capricorn zodiac sign.

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Garnet is a name given to over ten gemstones with similar chemical structure. Although red occurs most, there are also shades of green, pale to bright yellow and fiery-orange. Some rare gems even change color from daylight to artificial light.

The name "garnet" derives from the Latin "granum" meaning "grain". Describing the typically rounded shape of the gemstone and similar to pomegranate seeds. Garnet comes mainly from Africa, but also from India, Russia, central and south America.

It is one of the few gemstones that is usually sold natural. Rarely treated, enhanced or dyed.

Benefits

Garnet makes good jewelry because it's very hard, and so resistant to wear. The gemstone is said to symbolize happiness as well as deep and enduring love and friendship.

Garnet has been found in jewelry from ancient Greece, Rome, and dating back to 3100 BC in Egypt. Oriental warriors made garnet bullets because they believed these would inflict more harm. Others thought garnet brightened the night because of its high refraction of light - explained Noah's garnet lantern to steer his Ark.

Travelers' wore garnets to protect against evil, poison and wounds. It was also believed to help depression and prevent nightmares. Red garnet in particular is said to break a fever, stop bleeding and to reduce inflammation.

Modern Garnet

Today, garnet is prized for its beauty rather than its magical powers. People like its naturalness, its brilliance, and color of a sun-drenched Indian summer. Deep green garnets are the rarest and therefore expensive. Emerald green and colorless garnet is next rarest, followed by pure red. Most gemstones come from India and Thailand.

Garnet Jewelry

Garnet gives a classy, sophisticated, classical and bold image to jewelry. Simple and elegant. As it is relatively expensive, it is usually used sparely on necklaces and bracelets. When designing jewelry, spread your garnet beads out using lots of silver spacers and findings.

Garnet jewelry is commonly set in gold and other precious metals, so is expected to be expensive - don't sell your hand-crafted garnet jewelry cheap!

Garnet: January's Gemstone - The Benefits of Garnet Jewelry

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