How To Collect Loose Gemstones
By Lee MacRae
Gemology is a term referring to the science, art and profession of identifying and evaluating gemstones from loose gemstones to natural diamonds. Many people take up gemology as a hobby. They become very interested in starting to collect loose diamonds or loose gemstones. Some people even begin to visit various locations close by to look for rough gemstones. Some even tumble or learn to cut their own gemstones. If you have an interest in this hobby follow along as we show you the different aspects of this hobby.
The first step in beginning this hobby the wise way is by acquiring knowledge about them. By taking a look in your local bookstore you can find books on the subject that will make you an informed buyer.
First on the list to evaluate is gemstone color. Without a doubt, gemstones are the most intensely colored naturally occurring materials you can find. Gems have become so synonomous with color, 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 are equal in color to the spectral colors of yellow, blue, violet, green, orange and red. They drop in value the farther they are from the natural color.
Gemstone cut is an important factor to consider when you value gemstone. The stone has to be cut correctly to reflect light properly. A stone that has a poor cut can't reflect the light consistently over its surface. Tone, color saturation, and color hue will always look inconsistent.
The clarity in a stone is an important consideration. When we talk of clarity it relates to a stones relative freedom from inclusions or blemishes. A flawless gemstone is obviously worth more. To determine the flaws not seen with the unaided eye requires a gemstone loupe or gemstone microscope. Many hobbyists will buy an inexpensive 10X gemstone or jewelers loup for viewing their coins, beads, stamps or in our case gemstones.
Next up are size and weight. Other than the corals and pearls gemstones are priced by the carat. One carat equals a 0.2 grams. You should know however that size and weight and gemstones are not the same. The density and specific gravity can differ in stones. Take a diamond that weighs 1.00 carats and you will see that a similar sized sapphire or ruby would weigh 1.20 carats.
Getting involved in collecting gemstones can be very enjoyable and could be rewarding as well over time. You can take your time and not lay out a lot a cash at the start and yet you can buy some very beautiful items. Many people loved to spend weekends to go hunting for raw gemstones. For example in Minnesota you can hunt for Agate and Thomsonite. Or ou can take a longer vacation and find opal in Opalton, Yowah, Queensland, Austalia, topaz in Beechworth, Victoria or hunt the quartz regions in Yellowdine Lake in Western Australia.
Buy Alexandrite loose gemstones as well as find loose diamond sales and natural fancy diamonds today in our store!
Gemstones For Sale
Tips About natural green diamonds
Tiger Eye Quartz is used in cabochans and beads where it's lovely tiger-like
quality comes out best. Generally, you will not find faceted tiger eye. This
stone is often called "Tiger's Eye" or simply "Tiger Eye". Tiger Eye is black
with iron oxide staining which gives it yellow and golden brown stripes. It is a
type of chatoyant quartz. Tiger Eye has a hardness of 7.
Buy Opal triplets loose gemstones today!
In Kashmir sapphires are formed in pegmatites which are veins made up of
pegmatite. In the pegmatite formations that are the feeding ground for Kashmir
sapphires there is an abundance of aluminum and boron. In the rock surrounding
the formation there is iron and titanium present.
Buy loose Spinel gemstones today!
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Labels: natural fancy color diamond | natural russian diamond
