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Starting To Collect Gemstones

By Lee MacRae

Why would anyone collect items like loose gemstones, you ask? Well to begin with they are very beautiful items. And like their more familiar cousin, natural diamonds, they can appreciate in value over time. Many people love to find, collect and finish the wide variety of gemstones available today. Follow along as we discuss the hobby of loose gemstone collecting.

To begin with you'll need the knowledge on the various gemstones available. This knowledge will help you to know what you're buying so you buy the right items. This will help you make informed decisions.

The first criteria you need to evaluate is stone color. Gemstones are the most intensely colored naturally occurring materials you can find. These materials are so related to their color that they've even had their names combined with associated colors. You've no doubt heard about emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue, jade green, turquoise or aquamarine. Gemstones will have a higher value they closer they are to natural spectral colors of violet, blue, green,, orange and red. They drop in value the farther they are from the natural color.

The cut of the stone is extremely important and is used not only to appraise diamonds but gemstones in general as well. A precision cut will highlight the gemstone's color, diminishes its inclusions, and exhibits good overall symmetry and proportion. One excellent method to determine the precision of the cut of the stone is to consider how well and consistent it reflects light throughout the surface of the stone. If the stone is cut on the shallow side most of this light were refracted away rather than reflecting internally. Gem color appears washed out.

The clarity in a stone is our next factor. When we talk of clarity it relates to a stones relative freedom from inclusions or blemishes. A gemstones that is normally found to be clean is obviously worth more. To determine the flaws not seen with the unaided eye you need a gemstone loupe (gemstone clarity magnifier) or gem microscope. Most hobbyists will get an inexpensive 10X gemstone or jewelers loup for viewing their coins, beads, stamps or in our case gemstones.

You will often find that gemstones are often listed according to their size criteria because it is more uniform than carat weight. But two different gemstones may be of the same size but differ in carat weights and as a result different in prices as well. This is due to gemstone difference of specific gravity depending upon the chemical composition and crystalline structure. Normally a one carat brilliant round diamond of typical proportions will be approximately 6.5 mm in diameter. A comparable round brilliant ruby of the same size and proportions will weigh approximately 1.55 carats.

Though you may find gemstones used a lot in jewelry, they are perfectly good collectibles in their own right. Actually there are many interesting and attractive gems that are just too big or fragile to be used for jewelry. Here's a suggestion -- don't think of a gem as a component of jewelry; think of it as a piece of art, a miniature sculpture to be treasured for its unique nature and vibrant colors. And unlike many hobbies where you have to buy everthing you can find your raw materials through field trips In the US in Maryland you can search for Beryl and Clam Pearl. And if you travel to Canada you will find nephrite jade in Mount Sidney Williams, British Columbia or amazonite (microcline) near Eganville, Onttario and even ammolite from Lethbridge, Alberta. Think of collecting gemstones as a great hobby and pastime.

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Amethyst was thought to protect soldiers in battle, and Crusaders attached them to their rosaries for that protection. Because Amethyst was believed to encourage celibacy and also symbolized piety, Amethyst became very important in the ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages.
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Most blue gemstones come in a pastel blue, but some exceptional gems have a
bright blue color. Zircon is also available in green, dark red, violet, yellow,
brown, and orange. Due to its high refractive index and strong dispersion,
zircon has great brilliance and intensive fire. The luster is vitreous to a
brilliant sheen. Although relatively hard (rating 6.5-7.5 on Mohs scale) zircon
is brittle and therefore sensitive to knocks and pressure. The gem has the
tendency to wear along facet edges. Its use in rings should therefore be limited
to protective settings or occasional wear jewelry. Zircon jewelry should be
stored carefully.
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