How To Start Loose Gemstone Collecting
By Lee MacRae
Many people, young and old, say collecting various loose gemstones or loose diamonds is a favorite pastime. They love the colors and the beauty of the wide array of gemstones you can find just about everywhere in the world. Follow along as we look at a number of factors you should understand in starting in this interesting hobby.
The first thing you need to do in beginning this hobby the smart way is by acquiring knowledge about them. By taking a look in your local bookstore you can find everything you need to know that will make you an informed buyer.
The first criteria you need to evaluate is stone color. Without a doubt, gemstones are the most intensely colored natural material available on earth. Gemstones are so related to color that they've even become associated with particular ones. Everyone knows ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue, aquamarine, turquoise, and jade green Gemstones will have a higher value when they equal the colors in the spectrum of yellow, blue, violet, green, orange and red. They drop in value when they are lighter or darker than the natural color.
Gemstone cut is very important and factors highly into the appraisal of not only diamonds but along with your gemstones. A good cut showcases the natural color of the gemstone, diminishes its inclusions, and show off its symmetry and proportions. One way of determining the excellence in gemstone cut is to consider how consistently it reflects the light over its entire surface. If the stone is cut on the shallow side most of this light were refracted away rather than reflecting inside the stone. The gem appears washed out.
Our next consideration is gemstone clarity. Clarity refers to the the internal conclusions or flaws of a stone. Any large flaws can easily be seen with the naked eye while others need a 10X magnification.
Next to consider are weight and size. Except for corals and pearls, all gemstones are priced by the unit, carat. One carat is the equivalent of 0.2 grams However you should know weight and size are not always equal and gemstones. Density or specific gravity can very. Take a diamond that weighs 1.00 carats and you will see that a similar sized sapphire or ruby would weigh 1.20 carats.
Collecting gemstones as a hobby can give you an enjoyable pastime and rewarding in the long run. It doesn't have to be very expensive and yet you can buy some very beautiful items. Many people loved to spend weekends to go hunting for raw gemstones. Take the example of the US. In Arizona you can find Agatized wood (Petrified wood), Azur-Malachite, Turquoise, Garnet, Peridot, Jasper and Moissanite Or ou can take a longer vacation and find opal in Coober Pedy, Andamooka or Mintabie in South Australia, topaz in Beechworth, Victoria or check out the quartz regions in Cloncurry in Queensland, Australia.
Buy Tanzanite loose gemstones along with yellow loose diamonds and also fancy natural diamonds today in our store!
Gemstones For Sale
Learn More About loose emerald gemstone
Weighing 138.7 carats, the Rosser Reeves Ruby is one of the world's largest and
finest star rubies. This Sri Lankan stone is renowned for its great color and
well-defined star pattern. Advertising mogul Rosser Reeves, who donated the
piece to the Smithsonian in 1965, carried it around as a lucky stone, referring
to it as his baby. He often stated that he had acquired the stone at an auction
in Istanbul in the mid-1950s. He actually bought the stone from Robert C. Nelson
Jr. of New York who was acting on behalf of Firestone & Parson of Boston.
Firestone & Parson were selling the stone for Mr. Paul Fisher of New York. Mr.
Robert Fisher, Paul's father, had bought the ruby at an auction in London in
1953. At the time the ruby then weighed just over 140 carats, but was very
heavily scratched, and a few carats were removed in the repolishing. The
repolishing also helped to center the stone's star. Articles in the New York
World-Telegram and The Sun in 1953 mentioned this fabulous gemstone.
Buy marquise natural diamonds today!
Some of the most important occurrences of sapphires can be found in Sri Lanka,
but sometimes access to them is difficult. Pit and river mining are the most
used techniques in Sri Lanka, but is impeded because the country resists
modernization. Other areas where sapphires can be found are Tanzania, Australia,
Madagascar, and Montana (USA).
Buy Turquoise loose gemstones today!
The Cullinan IX diamond is over 4 carats, and is a pear shaped mount in a ring
made for queen Mary.
Buy pear loose diamonds today!
Some loose emerald gemstone Stories
Keishi Pearl Necklace w/Pink Tourmaline Accent
Tiny keishi pearl studded with pink tourmaline. 14kt gold-fill chain. 23kt gold vermeil toggle. Necklace measures 16" long.
Heavy Hammered Ring Earring: Pink Topaz
Hand hammered heavy sterling silver rings with purple garnet accents. Sterling silver earwires and components.
