Alexandrite of Brésilia aproximatively 14 carats with another one half smaller of same crystal !!! at Alexandrite discussion forums | Alexandrite guide
OneMine collects the most relevant and reliable aggregation of technical papers associated with mining and minerals. Anyone can search OneMine, but only members of participating societies can view, download and print documents.
Founded in 1981, the American Gem Trade Association is a group of US and Canadian professionals dedicated to promoting the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl trade while maintaining the highest ethical standards among its members and within the i
The International Colored Gemstone Association, headquartered in New York City and operating additional "GemBureaus" in Idar-Oberstein and Dubai, is the nonprofit trade association that represents the international colored gemstone industry, an extremely
Colored Stone is owned by Interweave Press. Included among its magazines are Beadwork, Knits, American Artist, and FiberArts. In business since 1975, Interweave Press publishes a growing number of magazines and many books related to fiber, thread, needlew
Thai/U.S. joint venture established to manufacture high quality diamond tools at affordable prices for gemstone and glass cutting industries throughout the world.
Diamond Tech standard diamond discs feature high concentrations of specially micronized q
The Association of Jewellery Appraisers is a non-profit making organization that is governed by a volunteer team of elected Professional Jewellery Appraisers, all of whom are experienced Certified Appraisers.
The National Association of Goldsmith (N.A.G.) was established in 1894 to serve and support the Jewellery Industry of Great Britain and Ireland. The Association promotes high professional standards among its membership to inspire consumer confidence and t
The society originated in 1936 and incorporated in 1952. ASA is headquartered in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. It is one of eight major appraisal societies that, in 1987, founded The Appraisal Foundation, a national nonprofit organization creat
The International Society of Appraisers (ISA) was formed in 1979 as a for-profit corporation focused on the education and professionalism of personal property appraisers. It became a non-profit corporation in 1994, and remains dedicated to enhancing the p
The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers is the only appraisal association in the United States that devotes itself solely to the appraisal of gems, jewelry, silver flatware and hollowware.
Jewellers Vigilance Canada (JVC) was established in 1987 as an independent non-profit association with a mandate to advance ethical practices, establish a level playing field for the Canadian jewellery industry and provide crime prevention education for t
Gem-A, which began as a Gemmological Committee of the National Association of Goldsmiths, first introduced a gemmology qualification in 1908 in order to encourage jewelers to understand the gems they were selling and to identify the fakes.
GIA is considered the world's most trusted name in diamond grading and gemstone identification. GIA’s D-to-Z colour-grading scale and Flawless-to-I3 clarity-grading scale are recognized by gem and jewellery professionals everywhere. And, by extension, t
American Gemological Laboratories is a unit of Collectors Universe, the leading provider of value-added authentication and grading services for high-value collectibles and gemstones, which was founded in 1986 and publicly traded since 1999. In 1977, Ameri
The AGTA Gemological Testing Center is the natural coloured gemstone industry’s premier independent laboratory providing the industry and the public with a complete range of services, including gemstone identification, origin determination and pearl ide
SSEF laboratory offers analysis of precious stones and issue test reports for diamonds, coloured stones and pearls. It was recognized in 1978 by the International Confederation of Jewellers and Goldsmiths (CIBJO and also a member of the International Colo
Dr. Eduard J. Gubelin, one of the forefathers of modern gemology, and who was a Founding Organizing Member as well as an Honorary Member of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), passed away in Lucerne, Switzerland in March at the age of 91
IT Gem Testing Laboratory (GIT-GTL), has been accredited by The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) as the CIBJO Registered Laboratory since May 2000.
First professional gemological laboratory to be established in Asia in 19978, - The AIGS Gemological Laboratory is a private, independent gemological laboratory, member of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association (TGJTA), and The International Colored
Found at 1995, MSU Gemological Center is a part of MSU Department of Geology and co-founders of the Russian Gemological Society (2000), the Union of Modern and Antique Jewelry Appraisers, and member of the Russian Diamond Chamber.
Leading gemmological educational institution in Japan has been providing professional education in the field for the past 30 years.
Zenhokyo Laboratory is equipped with the most professional and advanced testing devices and systems, including inductive
As a member of the EGL USA Group, European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) is a full-service lab and offers a comprehensive array of gem identification, evaluation reports including customized reports of identification for rough and polished diamonds as well
GAA was formed in Sydney, on the 29th October 1945, the Association has been responsible for producing Australia’s gemmologists by educating and updating members of the gem and jewellery industry and the general public, about all aspects of gemstones an
An internationally acclaimed designer of fine jewelry. Recognized as the leading American jewelry designer, Yurman paved the way for a new era in fine jewelry with wearable, classic designs that carry a distinctive signature cable look. Available in over
David Wein is an online fine jewelry store in association with Multicolour.com, the world´s most eclectic favourite online gemstone retailer.
David Wein brings together an exquisite range of fine jewelry at exceptional value. Visitors will find an e
Perlera Online Jewellery Boutique offers high fashion and timeless jewellery classics in an exquisite range of pearl jewellery, silver and coloured gemstone creations. Provides jewellery collections showcase, buyers tips and jewellery guides.
An internationally acclaimed designer of fine jewelry. Recognized as the leading American jewelry designer, Yurman paved the way for a new era in fine jewelry with wearable, classic designs that carry a distinctive signature cable look. Available in over
David Wein is an online fine jewelry store in association with Multicolour.com, the world´s most eclectic favourite online gemstone retailer.
David Wein brings together an exquisite range of fine jewelry at exceptional value. Visitors will find an e
Fameo Online Jewellery Boutique specialises in design and manufacture of the gold, colour gemstone and pearl jewellery. Award winning jewellery designs and bespoke jewellery service. Provides jewellery collections showcase, buyers tips and jewellery guid
Alexandrite Guide website accessibility standards are in place with the intention of making the content accessible to the widest range of visitors, regardless of disability or impairment.
First and foremost, we need to look at the quality and strength of the color change. A strong change where the colors are bright and attractive under any kind of light is most desirable. Many stones are either a beautiful green in daylight or a nice pinki
The most well known gemological laboratories are listed below and all of them are equipped to test alexandrite. Most gemological laboratories only identify gemstones, they do not appraise them.
Fine alexandrites or alexandrite jewelry can be purchased from jewelers specializing in colored gemstones, at trade shows, from TV sellers, at high end jewelry auctions, or online from websites specialized in alexandrite. You would be unlikely to find a h
With a hardness of 8.5, Alexandrite is a tough, hard, and durable gemstone that doesn't require any special attention. Still, even the hardest gemstones can shatter with a single well-placed blow so caution is always a good idea. Washing dishes with your
Although Russian alexandrites have the most historical value, fine stones are occasionally available from deposits in Brazil, India, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, there has been little production of alexandrites from any deposit in r
It is very unlikely that even an old alexandrite ring could contain a natural alexandrite. Natural alexandrites, especially large clean stones are extremely rare and almost never available at any price. Most old inherited alexandrite rings are actually sy
Alexandrite cannot be improved by any kind of thermal treatment. Although some have tried, heat treatment does not seem to affect alexandrite at all. Some lower quality cracked alexandrites are oiled to hide the cracks but beyond that, alexandrite is not
Natural alexandrite is not better than synthetic alexandrite but natural alexandrite is very rare and uncommon in modern jewelry because it is hardly ever available and because it is too expensive for the general public to buy. Even lower quality more inc
Along with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, top quality alexandrites are among the most expensive gemstones in the world. In larger sizes over 4.00 or 5.00cts., Burmese rubies are more rare and expensive than alexandrites but in sizes below 1.00cts., alexa
The retail replacement cost for a 1ct. alexandrite could be anywhere between $500 to $12,000 per carat. The intensity of the color change and the attractiveness of the colors are the most important factors in determining the value of an alexandrite. With
Unfortunately, most alexandrites show either a nice color in daylight or an attractive color under incandescent light. Rarely are both colors bright and vivid and often stones that change to bright red under incandescent light are only brown or almost bla
Alexandrite is a trichroic gemstone which absorbs and reflects light differently in each of its three optical directions. Spectroscopic analysis reveals a different absorption spectrum for each of the three optical directions. The differences in absorptio
Several other well known gemstones, including diaspore, sapphire, garnet and spinel may also change color as a function of the light source but the color change of top alexandrites is distinctive and attractive under any light conditions.
The cat's-eye effect is caused by the reflection of light off of minute, parallel, needle-like rutile crystals or hollow tubes within the stone. Cat's eye inclusions are aligned parallel to the crystallographic axis and the stones are always cut as caboch
Cat's eye is the popular name for an optical effect known as chatoyancy in the gemological nomenclature. Microscopic needle-like inclusions inside the stone reflect a streak of light that appears to open and close as the stone is rotated -- hence the eye
Chrysoberyl is the species name and Alexandrite is the variety name. Alexandrite is that variety of chrysoberyl that changes color as a function of the light source; green in daylight and red under incandescent light.
Alexandrite is an expensive gemstone because it so rare and production has always been limited. For years, the only source for alexandrite was Russia. In the last 20 or 30 years several new discoveries of alexandrite have been reported but production of s
The mining of alexandrite in Russia lasted less than 100 years from the time it was discovered in 1833 to the early 1900’s. It was George Kunz, the gemologist/gemstone buyer for Tiffany & Co that probably did the most to popularize this unique gemst
The straight, parallel growth-lines in the internal structure of a gemstone with definite angles, usually seen in some stones, which occur by slightly variation in the chemical composition within the crystal due to separation or interruptions of the cryst
Zonary growing of crystals bounded by plane crystal faces, which occur by slight variation in the composition of a crystal due to separation or interruptions of the crystal phases during growth.
A dark gray, silvery luster, rare earth metallic element of the Periodic System with the symbol Y. Flammable when powder from. Used in alloys and as a metal deoxidizer.
The theory that the eye contains three different groups of retinal fibers (cones) with maximum response to three primary colors to red-yellow, green, and blue violet, which are parts of the spectrum.
Yellow greenish to light yellow or brown chrysoberyl, which contains ferric iron as an impurity. Has an absorption spectrum band at first part of the violet at 444 nm, which can be seen in some chrysoberyl cat's-eye.
A colorless glass-like material used as an impregnation or filling agent to improve the appearance and reduce the visibility of inclusions in stones such as diamonds and emeralds.
Several characteristic lines of the spectrum of X-ray, which are emitted by a bombardment of material with electrons such as curved dark lines on the films produced by X-ray method of powder diffraction of stone or minerals.
If a crystal is irradiated by an intense X-ray or gamma-ray beam, this includes the substance to emit its visible characteristic secondary X-ray line spectra of a longer wavelength, which is known as X-ray fluorescence. It is a nondestructive method. Used
To generate monochromatic X-rays or line spectrums only one wavelength used is a suitable selective filter made of very thin layers of metal elements. There have one or two atomic numbers lower than the target metal such as nickel with atomic number 28 us
A device to obtain an X-ray spectrum for determining the wavelength of its chemical consistent. Each element, when irradiated by electrons, emits X-ray of several characteristic frequencies the line spectrum depending on the atomic number.
The produced wavelengths of X-rays according to the electromagnetic theory of light consisting of continuous band of wavelengths, which are a mixture of all wavelengths. Depends on the used voltage of apparatus, which is know as white X-ray radiation or g
A natural geological description for disintegration and decomposition of rocks and minerals as consequent exposure to atmospheric agents at or near the Earth's surface such as chemical action of air, rainwater, frost, insolation, bacteria, plants, and mec
The distance between two points having the same phase on the following or preceding wave. The wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is equal to the velocity of the wave divided by its frequency =c/v. It is measured in nanometers unit.
Generally a fine crystalline or glassy igneous rock, which is formed by the solidification of molten magma or lava on the Earth's surface during volcanic action. Such as basalt, obsidian, etc.
A solid volcanic natural form of glass (rock) produced by sudden cooling and solidification of viscous lava before crystallization can take place, such as obsidian, pitchstone or other glassy masses. Obsidian is used for tumbled gems, ornamental objects,
A very hard, light-gray, ductile, malleable, metallic element of the group V of the Periodic System with the symbol V. It is one of the 8 pigment metals responsible for color in gemstones such as beryl, sapphire (natural or synthetic). Used as a component
A miniature cathode ray tube (CRT), which is closet to cover glass and heated cathode made of tungsten wire emits electrons. The electrons are accelerated by positively charged by hexagonal steel and passing through the grid to anodes covered with blue fl
A special magnifying device for investigating the objects are illuminated by ultraviolet light in the range 180 to 400 nm. The resolving power is increased corresponding to the resolution of shorter wavelengths than visible light. It requires special quar
A mercury discharched lamp in quartz glass designed to produce ultraviolet light for exciting luminescence in gem minerals specially diamonds. The long-wave lamp is provided with wood's glass filter to emit wavelengths between 400 nm and 300 nm. To obtain
A device for cleaning dirt and other foreign particles from gemstones and jewelry articles by subjecting them to ultrasonic vibrations immersed in water or other solvent. The articles must be free of stress flaws. Glass lenses and other bodies can be poli
A type of igneous rock characterized by a high content of mafic minerals, particularly olivine, pyroxenes, amphiboles, etc. The silica content is less than 45%.
A gemstone permits the pass of electromagnetic radiation through it without distortion so that the object can be seen clearly and distinctive through it, such a quartz crystal. It is a see through effects.
A variety of luminescence where certain rocks of minerals showing the property due to application of heat or infrared. Some diamonds exhibits blue thermoluminescence, when heated to about 200 C. Thermoluminescence emitted when the color traps are disappea
The science of high temperature of one subject to change its color, because by increasing of temperature expands the bond length of lattice, reduced the ligand field. A red compound of 10% Cr2O3 and 90% Al2O3 by increasing the temperature to over 400 C th
A misleading term for synthetic spinel or corundum (sapphire), which is able to change color like alexandrite reddish-green in daylight and reddish at artificially light, such stones were at first misnomered as scientific alexandrite. Synthetic sapphire
Artificially made substance that has the same appearance, physical properties and chemical compound as its natural counterpart mineral. Some synthetic stones have no counterpart in nature they are synthetic gemstones except if they used as an imitation fo
An isomorphous mineral of spinel group. A wide range of colors and shade of gemstone. Red-orange is named as flame spinel, an iron-rich dark-green to black, which is known as green spinel, pleonaste or ceylonite, grass-green as chlorospinel (iron-rich), b
Any array of electromagnetic visible light ordered according to its constituent wavelengths or colors, when the white light is dispersed by a prism or diffraction grating, ranging from about 750 to about 400 nm. The spectra can obtained by means of spectr
A small hand optical device for obtaining and visually observing spectrum, in which collimated light passes through a narrow slit onto either a prism or diffraction grating, its spectrum being viewed by a lens system or telescope. The angle between the c
The ratio of the weight of any substance to that of pure water at temperature of 3.98 C (39.2 F) degree and standard atmospheric pressure. Specific gravity of gems and minerals are determined by means by hydrostatic weighing method.
To simulate or imitate a natural gemstone, which is made from components that are easier, cheaper or more convenient to manufacture. Simulated stone having superficial appearance to the true stone but differs from it either in chemical composition, struct
Dioxide of silicon (SiO2), which appeared in five crystalline polymorphous such as quartz (alpha and beta), tridymite, cristobalite, coesite, and stichovite, in cryptocrystalline such as chalcedony and chert, and in amorphous such as opal (a hydrated sili
Several methods are available for the measurement of refractive indices such as refractometer for total reflection, immersion method in liquid for Beck effect, shadow method, and minimum deviation method.
The turning back of wave from surface, on which they are incident according to the definite law of reflection. A small part of ray 17.2% of incident light striking the surface vertically is reflected from the surface (the 17.2% is upper limit of reflected
Radium treatment of minerals such as beryl to produce a bluish-white fluorescence only on the basal planes. Under SWUV and LWUV light beryl fluoresces bluish-white.
The emission of particles or electromagnetic waves from a source such as nuclear radiation, X-rays, neutrons, gamma rays, electrons positive or negative, protons. Radiation has the effect of artificially altering color by artificially creating color cent
The four quadrilateral facets of 8 main facets on the crown or on the pavilion of a brilliant-cut stone, which are also called bezel facets. The 4 on the crown touching the girdle with their apex and extending up to touch the table. There are four lozenge
An oily colorless, specific odor, insoluble, basic heterocyclic with the formula C9H7N. Composed synthetically by heating aniline, nitrobenzene, glycerol, and sulfuric acid. Used as food preservative and in the manufacture of dyes and antiseptics. R.I. -
An unusual feature occur in Verneuil synthetic corundum by plunging of still heated stone into a much cooler liquid (thermal shock), which create fractures and it resemble closely to natural stone. By pursuing of this process developed honeycomb pattern d
A variety of translucent, grayish-green to greenish yellow chatoyant quartz or chalcedony containing fine parallel fibers of asbestos or parallel channels, arranged through the stone at right angles to the eye and parallel to the base of the crystal, that
Quantum of light or electromagnetic radiation, it can behave as a wave or as a particle. Traveling at the velocity of light. Photon have momentum but not mass or electrical charge. Also known as light quantum. Caused by excitation of atoms and molecules a
Physical properties of gemstones are extremely important in understanding geological phenomena in synthesizing new materials, and identification of minerals. Physical properties and chemical composition of minerals change with temperature and pressure. P
A special optical occurrence, or circumstance observed or are visible in certain gemstones such as chatoyancy, asterism, or play of color, adularescence, girasol, labradorescence, opalescence, schiller, etc.
The sum of homogeneous, physically distinct portion of matter in heterogeneous system, as the three phases; solid, liquid, or gas. Each phase may exist in different temperatures and pressures.
Prized by collectors. Synthetic strontium titanate or fabulite found in a similar manner to perovskite. Natural counterpart of fabulite with the same composition is called tausonite.
A light-colored, coarse-grained igneous rock from granite clan containing orthoclase, quartz, microline, mica, gemstones, and many ferromagnesian minerals resulting from slow solidification. Pegmatite is occurring place of many uncommon gem minerals such
The placing of atoms or radicals in a crystal so that they point in a definite direction, or its crystallographic axes are in the conventional position.
Synthetic alexandrite made in three methods in Russia, (a) growing synthetic stones of solution-growth process or flux process specially for alexandrite, (b) Growing stone of floating-zone process. (c) Melt-grown process or so-called pulling method.
Testing a gemstone on a refractometer prism, when the stone has a greater refractive index than the measuring prism of the device, or higher than the refractive index of immersion liquid used for optical contact, the scale of refractometer remains dark an
The most commonly used ten standard scale of relative hardness of minerals. The scale is expressed in numbers ranging from 1 through 10: (1) talc, (2) gypsum, (3) calcite, (4) fluorite, (5) apatite, (6) orthoclase, (7) quartz, (8) topaz, (9) corundum, (10
The scientific study of minerals; their formation, occurrence, chemical composition, physical properties, and their classification. Oryctognosy and oryctology are obsolete terms.
A loose and inexact term that may be to define: usually homogeneous inorganic substance of definite physical properties and more or less chemical composition, which occur naturally in the earth, and usually possess a crystalline structure, which frequentl
Any rock, which has been derived from pre-existing rocks by mineralogical, chemical composition, textural and structural changing, essentially in the solid state due to processes operating in the earth's crust of heat or intense pressure, shearing stress,
A naturally occurring molten or semi-molten material in suspension, with dissolved gases, generated within or beneath the earth's crust and capable of intrusion and extrusion. Magma, which is extruded on the surface of the earth is called lava.
The emission of certain visible wavelengths of light from a substance other than thermal process, which are used as diagnostic determination of gemstones. It is caused by the emission of photons, when an exited atom within the substance returns to the gro
In optics, the reduction of the light intensity in transmission through an absorbing substance or in reflection from a surface, in crystals, minerals and gems. Absorption may vary with wavelengths of vibration in the direction of the transmitted light or
An acronym of light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A device that emits UV to infra red electromagnetic energy, that is a nearly parallel, nearly monochromatic and coherent beam of light of very restricted diameter formed by causing exi
In metallurgy a unit that expresses only to the purity of solid gold used in jewelry. In trade based on a scale of twenty-fourths, 24 karat means pure gold, 18 karat gold means, containing 18 parts gold to 6 parts of alloy, and 9 karat gold means, contain
Indian gem lore was from ancient times famous for its good quality and richness. There are several famous gems in other museums such as Timur Ruby, Koh-i-Nur Diamond, etc. Most famous part of Indian jewels was in possession oh Maharajah Duleep Singh.
A number of decorative articles made artistically of gold, platinum, silver, and precious stones that are worn for personal adornment, such as bracelets, rings, necklaces, etc.
The process of exposing certain diamond or other pale or poorly colored gemstone to radiation, such as in nuclear reactor, X-rays, neutrons from an atomic pile, deuterons a nucleus of the heavy hydrogen atom, gamma rays from a cobalt-60, electrons positiv
In crystal optics, a number indicating the speed of the velocity of light in a vacuum or air to its velocity in a given crystal. The refractive index (RI) of a crystal can be expressed as ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angl
A general name for any small visible foreign matter such as gas, liquid, glass, or mineral enclosed within a gemstone or rock, which is a growth phenomena. Fracture or cleavage in a gemstone are not classed as inclusions. The nature of inclusions are used
The chrysoberyl crystal is penetrated by microscopic tubes, two-phase or relatively short needles parallel to the vertical or c-axis of the crystal, suitable for cut en cabochon. In brown and yellow varieties can be seen. The so-called stepped twin planes
The emission of light by a substance due to high temperatures: white or bright-red heat. When objects such as iron placed in fire it become dull red by 700 C degree. From 700 C degree to 1500 C degree, the color shifted from red to orange and definitely y
To result something of a genuine article or natural gemstone or simulate it from any material that imitate by its color, the appearance of a natural gemstone. Imitation gemstone having wholly different physical properties and chemical composition, and hen
The characteristic color that is determined by its wavelength as red, green, blue, purple, yellow, etc., and excludes white, black, and shades of gray in reference to the visible spectrum of light.
Minerals having a high specific gravity, which are separated in the laboratory from light minerals by use of heavy liquid, such as bromoform. Generally grains heavier than bromoform constitute the heavy minerals.
Any gemstone that has been heated to change its color or improve the color, such as blue zircon, hyacinth, burnt amethyst, white chalcedony, smoky quartz and many aquamarines.
The quality of resistance or property of minerals, gemstones, etc., which is determined by reference to an empirical scale of standard of minerals. Hardness is the resistance of a mineral offered to abrasion or scratching (scelerometric). The absolute har
A subsidiary company of the Gemological Institute of America Enterprises, which provides professional grading and identification for the diamond and colored stone industries.
In each crystal class there is a form, in which the faces, of which intersect all of the crystallographic axes at different lengths with the symbol {hkl}. In the orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic crystal system {111} is a general form. All other for
Any rough mineral or other material natural or synthetic, which possesses the necessary attractiveness, brilliance, beauty, rarity, color dispersion, refraction, color or colorless, flawless, portability, fashionably, and durability for use in gem industr
An isomorphous group of minerals with general formula 8[A3B2(SiO4)3]. Cubic system. Mainly dodecahedral or tetragonal trioctahedral crystals. Vitreous to resinous luster. No cleavage. Conchoidal to uneven fracture. Brittle to tough. Garnets are divided in
This is a technique used to make certain synthetic gemstones such as emerald, ruby, spinel, quartz, Alexandrite, YAG, etc., man-made crystals growing in a high melting solvent or flux. The material or composition of desired synthetic crystal (beryllium an
Inclusions, which are produce by hydrothermal synthetic emeralds by presence of wispy or veillike groups, manufactured by Chatham, Gilson, and Zerfass. That is an unmistakable characteristic of flux-fusion or flux-melt method.
A variety of luminescence. Certain materials display an effect of producing visible electromagnetic light, when irradiated by ultraviolet light, cathode ray or X-rays, or other forms of radiation of an appropriate wavelength. The emitted light has another
Any lens or combination of lenses acting virtually as a magnifying lens in a microscope nearest the eye of the observer. Also called ocular, or ocular lens.
A powerful optical instrument, which uses a stream of electrons or X-ray radiation instead of light focused by electron lenses to throw shadows of opaque object on a fluorescent viewing screen or photographic plate in a manner similar to that, in which a
The degree of ability of a gemstone to withstand the effects of abrasion, scratching, impact, and chemical action, etc. The durability of a gemstone depends on chemical composition and both of its hardness and toughness. A mineral may be quite tough but r
A common rock-forming rhombohedral mineral from carbonate group, which is used for large objects. It is prized by collectors. Massive variety misnomerly known as dolomite marble. Banded material in red, yellow, green brown, and white from north America is
An isometric mineral, representing a naturally occurring crystalline form of pure carbon polymorphous with graphite, chaoite, and lonsdaleite and being the hardest substance known. Found in volcanic neck, volcanic pipe, and alluvial deposits. Cut into var
The weight (mass) of a substance per unit volume at a stated temperature, measured in kilograms per cubic meter, Kg/m3 or gm/cm3. The comparison of the weight of a given space of a gemstone with the weight of a similar space of another gem.
A method of growing synthetic crystal by high-melting point devised by Czochralski and is named as Czochralski pulling technique. Where a seed crystal is gently lowered until it is in contrast with pure melt in the crucible and it is then pulled slowly up
A regular polyhedral solid form of a definite internal atomic structure, bounded by natural plane surfaces. This definite arrangement directly influences the physical and optical properties. Crystals are classified into seven systems according to the symm
An aluminum oxide, it occurs as shapeless grains and masses (emery), rhombohedral crystals. Ruby contains traces of chromium oxide, when red and Fe2O3, which modified the color. The color of sapphire results from a combination of titanium and iron oxides,
There are four major methods of changing the colors of gemstones. These are surface painting or foiling the back, oiling, coating, impregnating, staining of porous stones, heat treatment, and irradiation by particles of atomic size and X-rays. The color c
The classification of fashioned gemstones or diamonds according to their clarity using the standard nomenclature of terms: flawless, pure, clean, perfect (for top grade). VVS (very very slightly included), VS (very slightly included), SI (slightly include
A hard, important gem mineral, of which alexandrite and cymophane are two varieties. Occasionally a greenish chatoyancy can be seen which was formerly known as cymophane, but is now called chrysoberyl cat's eye, or oriental cat's eye, when cut en cabochon
A grayish-white, hard, brittle, non-corrosive metallic element in the Group VIB of the Periodic System, obtained from chromite. One of the eight metallic elements, mainly responsible for green or red color in very important gem minerals such as emerald, r
An optical effect, possessed by certain translucent gemstones in reflecting light, in which a movable, wavy or silky sheen is concentrated in a narrow band of white light that changes its position, when the gem is turned. This is a characterized of cat's
A unit employed in weighing diamonds, pearls, and other gemstones, which formerly ranged from 185.5 to 205.3 milligrams. Now the International metric carat is equal to 0.2 gram, or 200 milligrams and this is the standard in a majority of countries. Abbrev
An unfaceted, highly polished, cut gemstone, in which the top of the gem forms a dome-shaped or curved, convex surface. The base may be flat, convex or concave. The girdle outline may be round, oval, square, triangular, polygonal, or any other fancy shape
A gemstone that has been associated, by superstitions and religious tradition as appropriate to the time or month of one's birth. There are also birthstones for days, hours, signs of the zodiac, and seasons. Also called natal-stone.
A transparent to semitransparent, cyclo-silicate mineral species. Varieties of beryl are emerald, aquamarine, heliodor or golden beryl, bixbite, goshenite, maxixe, and morganite. Rare spelling: berylline. Sometimes showing chatoyancy and exhibiting star e
An artificial gem comprised of lithium aluminum silicate and made in a variety of colors. Neodymium as a coloring agents yields pink lavender colors. A vivid, laser blue variety blue is colored by copper.
Named after Russian Tsar Alexander II. A highly dichroic, rare variety of chrysoberyl. Emerald green in natural daylight, reddish in violet by artificial light, due to its unusual absorption properties. One of the hardest and most important gemstones. A f
Alexandrite gemstone buyer and jewelry collector guide holds information on history, lore, value and properties of the chrysoberyl varieties, including alexandrite and cymophane gemstones.