Haute Couture Information

Gemstone Article Of The Month

How To Start Gemstone Collecting

By Lee MacRae

Why would anyone collect items like loose gemstones, you ask? Well to begin with they've been sought for their beauty for many centuries. And like their higher counterpart, natural diamonds their value increases over time. Many hobbyists love to find, collect and finish the nearly 150 types of gemstones found today. Follow along as we discuss the hobby of loose gemstone collecting.

The first thing you need to do is to get yourself some reading material. You want to learn everything there is to know about precious and semiprecious gemstones. The more you know about each kind of gemstone the better off you'll be. You will know exactly what you are looking at.

The chief thing you need to take into account is the color of the gemstone. You want the gemstone that is as close as possible to the pure spectrum colors. We are talking about blue, green, yellow, orange, red and violet. In general terms, the prices of very dark are very pale precious and semi precious gemstones are less per carat.

Cut is one of the all-important 4Cs and factors into appraisal of diamonds but gemstones in general as well. A good cut highlights the pure color of the stone, diminishes its inclusions, and show off its symmetry and proportions. One excellent way to determine the excellence in the cut of the stone is to consider if it is able to reflect light on a consistent level over its entire surface. But if a gem is cut too shallow, much of the light will refract out of the gem instead of reflecting inside. The gem appears washed out.

A third consideration is the clarity. This refers to the purity of the stone or the absence of internal inclusions, spots, or particles inside the crystal. Without a doubt, zero flaws are hard to find and make your stones very valuable.

Next to consider are weight and size. Save for pearls and corals, all gemstones are priced by the carat. A carat is equal to 0.2 grams. Be aware however, that weight and size are not the same in gemstones. Density or specific gravity can very. If you have a diamond that weighs 1.00 carats, you will find a similar sized ruby or sapphire is 1.20 carats.

Although gems are frequently used in jewelry, they are a great hobby and pastime as well. Actually there are many interesting and attractive gemstones who that are too fragile or too large to be used in jewelry. Take each gemstone and think of it as a piece of art, a miniature sculpture to be treasured for its unusual nature and for the craftsmanship of the artisan who shaped it. And unlike some hobbies that require you to pay for your specimens you can find your raw materials through field trips In the US in Alaska you can find White Quartz and Jade. And in Canada you can find rhodonite at various locations in British Columbia or sodalite and rose quartz near Bancroft, Ontario along with zircons in Sebastopol and Brudnell Townships in Renfew County, Ontario. Take up a hobby of loose gemstone collecting and enjoy yourself.

Buy Tanzanite loose gemstones as well as loose diamons and also pear natural diamonds today in our store!

Gemstones For Sale

Tips On natural pink diamond

The Patricia Emerald Crystal was discovered in the Columbian Andes' Chivor Mine
in 1920 and is named after the mine owner's daughter. Not only is it one of the
largest gem-quality emeralds in the world, but it is also dihexagonal, or 12-
sided, and measures 2�" � 1". The stone has flaws, but this is common in
emeralds -- the vast majority of faceted emerald gems have flaws. The stone
resides in the New York Museum of Natural History.
Buy square princess natural diamonds today!

Aquamarine gemstones are found in Brazil, India, Nigeria, Russia, Pakistan and
the United States. Aquamarine is the March Modern Birthstone. For the 16th and
19th year of marriage, Aquamarine is the anniversary gemstone. Besides being
used for anniversary jewelry, used as an aquamarine engagement ring is very
affordable and fairly traditional.
Buy pear Aquamarine loose gemstones today!

All The Latest News From The natural pink diamond World

Fragrance shopping an exercise in individuality - Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:11:00 GMT
When the contents inside the bottle are sprayed on the pulse points of a woman -- those places she feels the beat of her heart -- it creates a scent that is hers alone. Perfume ...

Eldred Co., Inc. - Antiques and the Arts Online

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:07:11 GMT

Antiques and the Arts Online

Eldred Co., Inc. Antiques and the Arts Online, CT - Dec 4, 2008 Jewelry (128 lots): rings include: full-cut diamond solitaire, natural Columbian emerald, diamond & 14kt yellow gold, 18kt white gold & diamond solitaire, ...

Gemesis COO McEwen leaving in April - National Jeweler Network

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:24:25 GMT

Gemesis COO McEwen leaving in April National Jeweler Network, NY - 7 hours ago Clark McEwen, chief operating officer of lab-grown-diamond company Gemesis, will leave the company when his contract expires in April, McEwen confirmed to ...

loose white diamonds | best loose diamonds | best place to buy loose diamonds

Haute Couture Information

Our Featured Gemstone Writer

So You Want To Collect Loose Gemstones

By Lee MacRae

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

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

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

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

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

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

Taking up the collecting of loose gemstones can be very rewarding hobby. And there is a wide range and variety when it comes to gemstones. You could try collecting Garnet, Sugilite Bixbite (Red beryl) and then try others. The varieties are nearly endless. And if you like to save money but love vacations you can find gemstones for yourself instead of buying. Take the example of the United States. In Arizona you can find Agatized wood (Petrified wood), Azur-Malachite, Turquoise, Garnet, Peridot, Jasper and Moissanite

Buy Topaz loose gemstones along with rough loose diamonds as well as natural color diamonds today in our store!

Gemstones For Sale

Hints About buy loose diamonds

Malachite is said to bring harmony into one's life. It is said that malachite
gives knowledge and patience. Malachite was used as a children's talisman to
ward off danger and illness. It is attached to infant's cradles. Mining
Malachite began as early as 4000 BC by ancient Egyptians.
Buy loose Beryl gemstones today!

Tips on buying gemstone beads:
Look for the best quality gemstone (if buying real gemstones)
Verify that the cracks in a gemstone bead are not darker than the bead itself (
if so, the bead is dyed)
If the beads are being sold in a 16" strand -- I make sure it is 16" -- not 14"
or 15" if possible.
Make sure beads are not cracked or chipped by the holes as this tears the thread
Evenly shaped beads (as appropriate)
Good color (so can create harmonious necklaces and matching earrings)
Good sized holes (so can use a stronger thread)
Buy uncut loose gemstones today!

There is the precious opal, the common opal, the fire opal, the Peruvian opal
and then, of course, there is the synthetic opal. The Sanskrit language knew the
stone as upala, while the Greek variation is opallios while the Latin world for
opal is opalus. All of the different word origins refer to the special nature of
the opal. The Sanskrit word literally means "precious stone," and the Greek and
the Roman meanings have a shared outcome. They called the opal "precious stone".
Buy loose Iolite gemstones today!

buy loose diamonds Stories

Diamonds On Web Offers Brilliant New 'Don't Pay Before You See ... - Send2Press (press release)

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:18:27 GMT

Send2Press (press release)

Diamonds On Web Offers Brilliant New 'Don't Pay Before You See ... Send2Press (press release), CA - Dec 8, 2008 Now, diamond shoppers will feel nothing but confidence when they decide to buy diamond engagement rings or loose diamonds on the web. ...

Medium Square Earrings/gg (e-sqm0-gg)

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:28:44 -0800
Brushed vermeil square earrings, measuring approximately 1/2'' on 14kt gold-fill earwires. Matching necklace available.

Latin America - Foreign Policy Blogs

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:21:00 GMT
Are you a member of the global elite? Do you enjoy shooting things? Have we got the product for you. Colombian tailor Miguel Caballero , who for years has provided Colombia's ...