Our Featured Gemstone ArticleThe Hobby Of Loose Gemstone Collecting
By Lee MacRae
For many people collecting
loose gemstones or
loose diamonds is their favorite hobby. Many people have a great love of the various gemstones found worldwide today. Read long as we examine the things you need to know when starting this interesting gemstone hobby.
The first thing you need to do in starting the hobby of collecting gemstones the proper way is by getting adequate knowledge about them. By visiting a local library you can find everything you need to know that will make you an informed buyer.
Color is a very important part in evaluating a gemstone. The closer the color of the gemstone is to its purer spectral value the more valuable it is. Traditionally, these specter colors include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Colors that tend to be paler or darker than the pure color tend to be less valued.
Cut is one of the all-important 4Cs and factors highly into the appraisal of not only diamonds but you're gemstones as well. A good cut highlights the gemstone's color, lessen any inclusions and exhibits good overall symmetry and proportion. One way to determine the precision in the cut of the stone is to consider how well it reflects light on a consistent basis throughout the surface of the stone. If the stone is cut on the shallow side much of the light will refract out of the gem rather than reflecting inside the stone. The gem appears washed out.
Gemstone clarity is an important consideration. Clarity refers to a stones relative freedom from inclusions or blemishes. A perfect gemstone is obviously worth more. To see flaws beyond with the eye can see requires a 10X gemstone loupe or gemstone microscope. Many hobbyists will employ an inexpensive 10X gemstone or jewelers loup for viewing stamps, coins, beads as well as gems.
Next comes size and weight. Other than the corals and pearls gemstones are valued by the unit called the carat. One carat equals a 0.2 grams. Be aware however, that weight and size are not the same in gemstones. The density and specific gravity can differ in stones. Take a diamond that weighs 1.00 carats and you will see that a Sapphire or ruby of the same size would weigh 1.20 carats.
Though you may find gemstones used a lot in jewelry, loose gemstones are great for collecting. In fact, there are many attractive and interesting gemstones that are simply too big and fragile for use in jewelry. Take each loose 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 actually go hunting for raw gemstones in the field. In the US in Michigan you can find Agate, Chlorastrolite and Hematite. And if you travel to Canada you will find nephrite jade in Cry Lake, British Columbia or sodalite and rose quartz near Bancroft, Ontario as well as iolite from Manitouwadge, Ontario. Think of collecting gemstones as a great hobby and pastime.
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Learn More About natural color diamond
The Orloff diamond is now in the diamond treasury of Russia, but legend have it
that it was originally the eye of a god in a Hindu temple. It is 300 carats.
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Emeralds are almost always treated for color enhancement and strength. The
treatment on emerald gemstones would wear off with time and the emeralds will
then need to be treated again by gemstone specialists. Special care is to be
taken when handling and wearing emerald jewelry. This gemstone is expensive and
haphazard handling could ruin the gemstone.
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Sapphires do twinkle. This is caused by the smaller, microscopic stones inside
the primary gem that were created at the same time. This twinkling phenomenon is
known as "silk" referring to its silky and silvery qualities. It appears as a
star that seems to be imposed over a silk like background.
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