Guide to Gems: Illustrated Guide to the Identification, Properties and Use of Gemstones (Firefly Pocket)

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Most gemstones can be safely dipped in silver dip or gold dip, but not pearls and great care should be taken when cleaning jewellery set with opals, for further tips see our Caring for your Jewellery guide. The Four Precious Gemstones Garnets are widely known as a deep red gem. The name “garnet” derives from “gernet”, which is old English for “dark red” and “granum”, the Latin for “grain or seed”. This may be a reference to the pomegranate whose vivid red seeds can look similar to some garnet crystals. Garnet is also found in other colours but it is the beautiful claret-red variety that Sheila has used in her silver Garnet Cathedral collection. Rhodalite Delve into the one-of-a-kind characteristics, colours, and attributes of more than 130 gemstones with this compact visual guide. For easy classification, each stone's entry includes annotated photographs to highlight distinguishing features and concise details about the attributes of gems.

Refraction occurs when light travels from the air into a denser material. As light passes from the air into the denser material of the gemstone, it is bent. The amount of bending depends upon the refractive index of the material. High refractive index materials bend the light more. Diamond has an RI of 2.42 and quartz an RI of 1.54. The higher the refractive index, the greater the dispersion, giving more fire. The bending of the light also leads to more internal reflection giving a greater degree of sparkle. Though the name implies mass production, it has more to do with modernized techniques, aka a more symmetrical model for uniformity.The symmetry and proportion of each flat, polished plane is what contributes to (or detracts from) a gem’s sparkling brilliance. Faceting all but guarantees the gem’s performance as a stunner. Essentially, forging its facets by hand (or machine) increases the gem’s “fire,” meaning you’re getting the most light possible from your stone. Honing in on how light enters and exits your gem ensures its brightest — and subjectively best — appearance. For transparent gems, this often means greater clarity. Parts of a Faceted Gemstone Like the blue sapphire, pink sapphires belong to the corundum family. While blue sapphires and red rubies have traditionally been recognised as the most desirable gems, the pink sapphire is rapidly gaining in popularity and demand. It is sometimes described as a “Pink Ruby” and the classification depends on how the colour is rated. If defined as a red rather than a pink it will be classified as a ruby rather than a pink sapphire. It is a beautiful stone and its lower profile means it is more affordable. Our Venus Solitaire Ring can be set with a pink sapphire. Tanzanite Gemstones is filled with all you need to know about these fascinating minerals - cut and uncut stones, organic gemstones, and precious metals. Inside you'll find: A gem cut is its intricate design. Cutting sculpts a gem from its initial roughness or smoothness to improve its appearance and make it more desirable as a piece of jewelry. What is a modified cut? Amethyst is the purple variety of crystalline quartz, with colours ranging from pale lilac through to deep reddish purple. Unlike many gems, amethyst is readily available in larger sizes and, due to this, even larger stones are comparatively affordable. These vibrant stones have been used in jewellery throughout history and Sheila has set amethysts in jewellery inspired by tradition. Take a look at the Celtic Trinity collection, Thistle collection and Sheila's Ogham kilt pin. Citrine

Fossilized tree sap from ancient rainforests. Amber is often found along the beaches of the southeast of England where it washes up after a very long journey. A type of carved cab. The engraved design is made by cutting away the top layer to create a shape that appears raised from the rest of the gem’s body. This could be a face, animal, flower, etc. These richly coloured stones belong to the beryl group, which also includes aquamarine. Emerald's captivating green colour is unique and unparalleled in all other gemstones due to inclusions that make each stone unique. Along with high quality diamonds, blue sapphires and red rubies, the green emerald is one of the “big four”. Unlike the other three, however, emeralds are more fragile and exposure to excessive moisture should be avoided. High Value Semi-Precious Gemstones Vintage or modernized, crosses or quarter moons — your gem’s cut doesn’t have to be standardized. Brilliant Earth offers one-of-a-kind gemstones to craft what works for you or your loved one.Faceting perfects the gem’s shape, allowing it to refract the most light inside and reflect the most light outside (also called scintillation). But when you’re not about glitz and glam, non-faceted gemstones are gorgeous alternatives. Why Choose a Faceted Gemstone