Collecting Loose Gemstones
By Lee MacRae
Gemology is the profession, science, and even art of evaluating and identifying gemstones from natural diamonds to loose gemstones. A number of people taken up this profession as a hobby. They become interested in collecting and evaluating loose gemstones or loose diamonds. You'll even find some that like to travel to different areas close by or to other countries to hunt for raw or rough gemstones. Some hobbyists will learn to cut or tumble the gemstones they find. If this hobby interest you then follow along as we discuss the various aspects of gemstone collecting.
The very first step in beginning this hobby the proper way is through the power of knowledge. By taking a quick trip to the library or local bookstore you can find books on the subject that will make you an informed buyer.
The chief thing you need to consider will be gemstone color. You'll want the gemstone to be as close in color as possible to the pure colors of the spectrum. This means blue, green, yellow, orange, red and violet. The prices for very pale or very dark semiprecious and precious stones are less per carat.
Cut is one of the all-important 4Cs and is used not only to appraise diamonds but along with your gemstones. A good cut showcases the pure color of the stone, diminishes its inclusions, and highlight the proportions and symmetry of the stone. One way of determining the excellence of the cut 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, most of this light were refracted away rather than reflecting inside the stone. The gem appears washed out.
Another factor to look at is the gemstone's clarity. This means the purity of the stone with no internal conclusions, spots, or particles within the crystal. Obviously, stones with a lack of flaws are hard to find and make your stones very valuable.
Next to consider are size and weight. Save for pearls and corals, all gemstones are priced by the carat. One carat is the equivalent of 0.2 grams Be aware however, that weight and size are not the same in gemstones. Density or specific gravity can vary in gemstones. If you have a diamond that weighs 1.00 carats, you will find a similar sized ruby or sapphire is 1.20 carats.
Collecting gemstones as a hobby can give you an enjoyable pastime and could be rewarding as well over time. You can start small and don't have to spend a lot of money and yet you can build a very exquisite collection. Many people love to take vacations to go hunting gemstones. For example in Missouri you can hunt for Pearl, Fluorite, Pyrite and Calcite. Or you can take the time to travel and find opal in Coober Pedy, Andamooka or Mintabie in South Australia, topaz in Mt Surprise or O'Briens Creek in Queensland, Australia or check out the quartz regions in Mt Hope or Inverell, New South Wales.
Buy round Alexandrite loose gemstones as well as a loose diamond lot and natural fancy diamonds today in our store!
Gemstones For Sale
Tips About loose diamons
Tourmalines consist of ten mineral species and only three of them are considered
to be gems. They are part of a crystal system that produces long prisms of a
columnar shape. They range from slender to thick densities, and appear in
triangular cross-sections. Tourmaline has a three-sided prism which is unique in
the world of gems. There is a large range of colors among the tourmaline family
of stones. According to ancient Egyptian lore the tourmaline made a long journey
from the center of the earth and on its way it passed over a rainbow and
absorbed and the colors. Collectors still refer to it as the "gemstone of the
rainbow". The colors range from red to green and blue to yellow, and very often
sport multiple hues. Some colors change when exposed to artificial light.
Tourmaline also has unusual electrical qualitities. It collects fine dust when
it is subjected to artificial light sources. Each tourmaline has a different
appearance, and consequently there is one that suits each individual buyer. For
this reason the ancients claimed that it had magical powers. They said it
promoted long-lasting love and friendship.
Buy rutilated quartz loose gemstones today!
"Green amethyst" is a misnomer since the term "amethyst" applies only to the
purple variety of quartz. However, that doesn't stop the marketing of these less
valuable pale amethyst stones after irradiation and/or heat treatments turn the
color green. Properly, after treatment, this stone should be marketed as
Prasiolite or Green Quartz, not green amethyst, and it should not be marketed as
"rare" since there is an abundance of pale lavender quartz which can be treated
to produce a light spring green stone.
Buy marquise ruby loose gemstones today!
More loose diamons Information
Baby Square Earring w/ White Pearl Accent/gg (e-bsr2-wp-gg)
Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:45:26 -0800
Brushed vermeil square earrings, measuring approximately 1/2'', with white pearl accent. 14kt gold-fill earwires. Please select stone color: garnet, pink tourmaline, citrine, peridot, hessionite, white pearl, black onyx, white quartz, black pearl, carnelian, blue topaz, mystic topaz, apatite, green apatite, dark apatite, london blue etc.
Heavy Oval Earring: Oval/ms (e-ho1o-ms)
Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:45:26 -0800
Brushed silver heavy oval with small vermeil oval accent. Sterling silver earwires. Also available in large vermeil oval with silver accent.
Baby Coin Necklace/gg (n-mbc0-gg)
Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:45:26 -0800
Brushed vermeil baby coin necklace, measuring approximately 1/4''. 16'' 14kt gold-fill chain and toggle clasp. Brushed metal necklaces available in a variety of shapes: tear, coin, pear, square, nugget etc.
