Pearl: Seven characteristic

Just like diamonds, pearls also have some essential Seven (7) characteristics in order to differentiate high quality pearls from the rest.


Size
In this case size does matter. The size of pearls is measured in millimeters. The bigger the pearl, the better. The pearls that have a bigger size are more precious due to their rarity. There are small pearls, generally around 3-5 centimeters, and big pearls, having more than 9 millimeters. Akoya cultured pearls sold today are between 7 and 7.5 millimeters, Tahitian Pearls are around in 10-12mm and South Sea pearls around 12-15mm.

Shape
The shape if pearls is also different. they can be spherical, symmetrical or baroque. Very few pearls are actually round, they might be near-round, button-round, semi-baroque, baroque, coin, circle and drop pearl. Baroque jewelry is very popular in modern jewelry designs due to its uniqueness.

Color
Cultured pearls present a base color but also an overtone. The overtone is not obvious and it refers to the translucent and radiant color. The third component of a pearl’s color is called orient. It is present if the pearls shows a moving iridescence on the surface. Possible colors are white, pink, silver, cream, black and gold.

Luster
The luster is one of the most appreciated characteristics of a pearl. It represents the intensity of the reflected light, that “inner glow” everyone talks about. An excellent luster truly confers value to the pearl and brings true beauty, appeal. The degrees of luster are: excellent, good and fair.

Surface quality
The surface quality of a pearl refers to degree of irregularities on the surface of the pearl. They are also called imperfections or blemishes like spots, abrasions and bumps. The value of a pearl is higher as blemishes are less visible. Even so it’s very rarely that a pearl has no imperfections.

Nacre quality
A pearl is considered to have a high nacre when the layer of nacre is thicker and thus the luster more full. This characteristic can be observed quite easily. If the pearl is matte that means the nacre is thin and the pearl looks chalky. An intermediate level of nacre quality is when the nucleus is still visible.


Matching
This is an important factor when a jewelers wants to make a uniform strands of pearls. If the easthetic pattern focuses on asymmetry matching is not a problem. Matching means the consistency of all the other factors for more than one pearl.


ConclusionBecause they are produced in different animals in different environments under unique conditions, each pearl type has its own expected characteristics. When the traits shown for a certain pearl are outside the norm for its type, the pearl will be more valuable.

Each pearl is unique, and uniquely beautiful. Which pearl and pearl type is the most beautiful? It’s up to you.


Now you know what to look for and what questions to ask when shopping for pearls. Remember, a pearl’s worth depends on its overall look--how well it combines the seven value factors. Keep in mind that not all value factors are important to all people. You may be more interested in pearl color than pearl size, for example. As with anything, individual tastes reign supreme. Now, go forth and buy with confidence.


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Diamond: Treasure of time

DIAMOND: TREASURE OF TIME
Every diamond is unique. Each reflects the story of its arduous journey from deep from deep inside the earth to a cherished object of adornment. Yet all diamonds share certain features that allow us to compare and evaluate them. These features are called 4C’S.

GRADING YOUR DIAMONDS

Independent and non profit, GIA is considered the final word on a diamond’s authenticity and quality. GIA developed the 4C’S and the international grading systems, the grading standard adopted by Jewelry Professional around the world.
Every stone is screened to identify synthetics, stimulants and known treatments. Expert gemologist examine each diamond under controlled lightning and viewing conditions, in order to provide the most rigorous assessments of a diamond 4C’S.
Every diamond Grading Report or diamond dossier contains the assessments along with additional descriptive information and state of the art security features. Regarded as premier gemological credentials by international gem professionals and fine jewelry houses, GIA Reports accompany the world’s most legendary diamonds – and now, quite possibly yours.

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Citrine

Citrine Blends especially well with the sunny yellow gleam of polished gold. This yellow to gold quartz. The largest faceted stone in the record is a 19,548 carat citrine.

HISTORY & LORE:
Named from the French term for lemon citron, many citrines have a juicy lemon color.
In ancient times, citrine was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts.
Sometimes you will hear citrine incorrectly referred to as topaz quartz. Since topaz is a different mineral, the industry has ruled to eliminate this name.
Along with topaz, citrine is one of the US birthstone for November.

QUALITY, VALUE & AVAILABILITY:
Citrine includes transparent quartz from yellow to honey to orangey brown.
Although the darker orangey brown to reddish orangey color, called Madeira citrine, has its traditionally been the most valued, recently the bright lemon color has been more popular.
Citrine is generally more affordable than amethyst, its quartz sibling. Like all quartz gems, citrine is relatively plentiful and is available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, including very large sizes. Citrine is also popular for designer cuts and carving.

SOURCES:
More Citrine is mined in Brazil, particularly the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is also mined in Bolivia.
ROUTINE ENHANCEMENTS:
Most citrine on the market began as amethyst that was treated to turn its color to gold.

CARE & CLEANING:
Citrine has the hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. It’s durable and great for everyday wear.
Clean Citrine with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.
Citrine Jewelry should be kept away from prolonged exposure to strong light or heat.

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Amethyst

A royal purple admired by Kings and queens for centuries, amethyst is an affordable luxury. Its rich color durability has made it one of the world’s most popular gems.

HISTORY AND LORE:
Amethyst comes from the Greek amethystos, which means “not drunken” Wine goblets were carved from its purple gem because it was said to prevent intoxication.
Because amethyst was thought to encourage celibacy and piety, it was used for bishop’s ring and church ornamentation in the Middle Ages.
Buddhist believes the gem aid meditation and today it continues to be used for rosaries in Tibet.

QUALITY, VALUE, & AVAILABILITY:
The color of amethyst ranges from “pale lilac” (sometimes called “Rose de France”) to deep purple. A rich purple with rose flashes is considered the finest color.
Amethyst is relatively common, affordable, and can be found in large sizes in variety of gem cut and shapes.
There is a synthetic amethyst that is grown in labs in Russia, China, and other places. It often takes a gemological laboratory like GIA gem Laboratory to separate it from natural amethyst, so use care when buying from questionable sources.

SOURCES:
Mined mainly in Brazil, Urugay, Bolivia, Tanzania, Zambia and Namibia, small amounts of amethyst are also found in the United States in Arizona at the Four Peaks mine near Phoenix .

ROUTINE ENHANCEMENTS:
Dark material may be heated to lighten color.

CARE & CLEANING:
Amethyst is the mineral quartz, with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Its durable and great for everyday wear.
Avoid exposure to heat or prolonged exposure to sunlight, which may bleach the color.
Clean with mild dish soap in warm water: use toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.

Garnet

Although most people think of it as a dark red gem, garnet actually comes in a spectrum of different hues, including bright orange and green, almost every color except blue. There is garnet for every taste and budget. Vibrant green TSAVORITE garnet can be thousand of dollar per carat while RED GARNET is among affordable gems.

HISTORY & LORE:
Garnets have long been carried by travelers to protect against accidents. Ancient mystic believe garnets could prevent nightmares.
Centuries ago in Asia, bullets incorporated bits of red garnet to increase ferocity of a wound.
In the ancient world, reddish-brown garnet was known as carbuncle. Scholars believe the name garnet derives from the Latin for pomegranate: in many ancient pieces of garnet jewelry, the tiny red stones are set to resemble a cluster of pomegranate seeds.
Garnet is a US birthstone for January.

QUALITY, VALUE & AVAILABILITY:
Gem varieties include purplish-red rhodolite garnets, green tsavorite and demantoid garnets, and orange mandarin spessartite and Malaya garnets.
Availability depends on variety: tsavorite is very difficult to find sizes above a carat or two, while rhodolite garnet is available in large sizes.
Prices also depends on variety: fine tsavorite and dematoid are often thousands of dollars per carat. Mandarin, Malaya, and fine purple-pink rhodolite garnet can be hundreds per carat. Dark red almandine garnet is usually among the most affordable gems at a few dollar per carat.
Collectors should always be on a lookout for Victorian jewelry set with brilliant green stones. These could turn out to be rare and valuable demantoid garnet, the era’s favorite green gem.
Garnets are most commonly cut round oval and cushion shapes.

SOURCES:
East Africa produces the most exciting color ranges of garnets. Kenya and Tanzania produce garnets not found elsewhere, including “lime green” tsavorite and orange Malaya.
Madagascar, Mali and Namibia also produce a wide range of garnets, with Namibia noteworthy for producing the vivid orange color mandarin garnet as well as some demantoid garnet.
The most famous source of demantoid is Russia but production is limited.
India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the United States are also garnet sources.

ROUTINE ENHANCEMENT:
The is no routine enhancement for garnet

CARE AND CLEANING:
This durable and brilliant gem is easy to care for, with hardness of 7,25 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
Clean garnet with mild soap in warm water: use toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.

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Turquoise

With a color so distinctive that is has lent his name to a hue, turquoise has been treasured for a millinnea. Ancient cultures including Tibetans Native Americans, Aztec, Chinese and Egyptian priced turquoise as much for its spiritual power than its beauty.


HISTORY & LORE:

Ancient Egyptians treasured turquoise: archeologist has found royal jewelry featuring this gem that is more than five thousand years old.
Chinese artisans were making turquoise carving three thousand years ago.
Turquoise is the national gem of Tibet, where it is considered to grant health, good fortune, and protection from evil.
The Aztecs and Incas regarded turquoise as more valuable than gold, Importing it from the mines far to the north in what is now the American southwest. Wearing turquoise was reserved for the Gods.
Apache warriors attached turquoise to their hunting bows to increase their accuracy. The spectacular turquoise jewelry made by the Navajo, Pueblo and Zuni people is highly priced by the collectors.
In the Smithsonian Institution, turquoise blaze along with 700 carats of diamond in the Marie-Louise Dialem, a gift of Napoleon to his wife for their marriage. Actually the diadem was original set with emeralds, which was replaced with fashionable turquoise in the fifties by Van Cleef & Arpels.
In European tradition, the gift of a turquoise ring means “forget me not”.
Turquoise is the birthstone for December.

QUALITY, VALUE AND AVAILABILITY:

Turquoise with fine quality with a dark pure “azure” blue and even translucent texture is difficult to find.
The most valuable color of turquoise is “SKY” blue.
Sometimes turquoise is cut with veins of matrix, like black spider-web veins in attractive patterns.
Turquoise is available in a wide range of beads, cabochons, carvings, and inlays in all shapes and sizes.

SOURCES:

Turquoise is mined in the southwestern United States and China.
Arizona, Mexico, Colorado and Nevada produce most of US Turquoise.
Fine Turquoise was mined in PERSIA. Now know as IRAN. But famous source is no longer producing commercial quantities.

ROUTINE ENHANCEMENT:

Much of the inexpensive turquoise on the market today is “stabilized” with polymers or resin to keep it from discoloration. Sometimes dye is also used to improved color.

CARE AND CLEANING:

Turquoise has a relatively low hardness of 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale.
Natural turquoise often discolor overtime since most of turquoise is porous and can absorb skin oils and chemicals.
Never clean turquoise with chemicals and make sure not to touch the stone with metal cleaner, ammonia, perfume and cosmetics.
Do not clean turquoise with ultrasonic cleaner. High heat may cause discoloration.
Wipe turquoise clean with a soft dry cloth.

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