Starting The Hobby Of Gemstone Collecting
By Lee MacRae
Many people today say collecting semi-precious and precious gemstones like loose diamonds or loose gemstones is a passionate hobby. They love the colors and the beauty of the various gemstones found worldwide today. This article will examine the things you need to know when starting this gemstone hobby.
The first thing you need to do is to get yourself some books on gemstones. You want to understand as much as you possibly can about precious and semiprecious gemstones. The more you understand about gemstones the less likely you are to make a mistake. You'll know exactly what to buy.
To start with, an important aspect in gemstone evaluation is color. Without a doubt, gemstones are the most intensely colored natural materials you can find. Gemstones are so related to color that they have even lent their names to specific colors. Everyone knows ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue, aquamarine, turquoise, and jade green Gemstones will have a higher value the closer they are to the colors in the spectrum of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. They drop in value the farther they are from the pure spectral color.
The cut of the gemstone is one of the most important traits when evaluating gemstones. The gemstone must be cut in a way that reflects light back to the viewer. A stone that has a poor cut will not reflect light in a consistent way. Color saturation, color hue and color tone will always appear inconsistent
Another factor to consider is the clarity of the stone. This refers to the stones purity or the absence of internal inclusions, internal particles or spots within the crystal structure. Without a doubt, zero flaws will make a gemstone very valuable.
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 size and weight and gemstones are not the same. Density or specific gravity can vary in gemstones. 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, they are a great hobby and pastime as well. 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 along with amethyst from Nova Scotia. Think of gemstone collecting for the great hobby it is.
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Hints About loose natural gemstones
The best chrysoprase is found in Australia (Queensland). Other places include:
Austria, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Russia, and USA (California). Chrysoprase is
used for spiritual protection. Chrysoprase was said said to be a "Victory Stone.
" In the 1800's, Chrysoprase was said to help thieves become invisible.
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Emerald is May's birthstone and is a beautiful green, well-loved stone. It is
used in rings, necklaces, pendants and bracelets. It is a wonderful birthday
gift. The dictionary definition of an emerald is: 1. a rare variety of the
mineral beryl that is green because of its chromium content and is valued as a
gem. 2. clear, deep green.
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a precious gem stone is defined as: "A gemstone that, owing to its beauty, rarity, durability, and hardness, has the highest commercial value and traditionally has enjoyed the highest esteem since antiquity; specifically, diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald (and sometimes pearl, opal, topaz, and chrysoberyl)."
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