Gemstones Tips
Read these 106 Gemstones Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Jewelry tips and hundreds of other topics.
Uses of Malachite
Did you know:
As early as 3000 BC, malachite was recovered from the copper mines of Egypt and Israel. Besides being used for jewelry, magic charms and ornaments, it was ground into a powder and worn as eye makeup. The same powdered pigment is used by painters under the name of mountain green.
Mystic Topaz
Mystic topaz is a topaz gemstone that has been coated with an iridescent, reflective coating similar to that on marbles and sunglasses.
Zodiac Stones - Virgo (Hindu Version)
Carnelian - guarantees success in virtually anything a Virgo wearer tries
Titanium Quartz
Titanium quartz is quartz that has a reflective, iridescent layer of titanium sublimated onto the surface of a quartz gem.
The Beryl Family
The beryl family of gemstones has many colors. Emerald is the most well known, with its rich green hues. Other gems include delicate pink morganite, baby blue aquamarine, rich red bixbite, golden yellow heliodor, and colorless goshenite. The different colors in the beryl gems come from trace elements present when the crystal is formed.
Delicate Gems
Gemstones all have different hardnesses and durabilities. This is often overlooked in commercial jewelry, and stones that may be inappropriate for high wear settings are often found mounted in pieces that literally were designed to fail.
Very delicate gems such as moldavite, amber, apatite, and others with hardnesses below 7 should never be worn in rings unless in an extremely protective setting. Harder stones such as emerald, which tends to be hard yet brittle, should also be avoided in rings. To prolong the life of your delicate jewels, wear them in earrings or pendants. These are low wear pieces of jewelry, and your fine gems will remain intact and beautiful much longer than they would in a ring or bracelet.
Rhodocrosite
Argentina has the oldest rhodocrosite mines; its banded rhodochrosite is sometimes called "Inca Rose"
Zodiac Stones - Capricorn (Hindu Version)
Ruby - protects Capricorn wearer from any trouble
Herkimer Diamonds
"Herkimer Diamonds" are actually very pure rock crystal quartz. These crystals usually form in beautiful doubly-terminated crystals. They occur in the area of Herkimer, New York.
Disguised as Rubies?
Did you know that some of the world's most famous rubies are not rubies at all? The "Black Prince's Ruby" and "Timur Ruby" in the British Crown Jewels are actually spinels! They occur in such a rich red color, they have long been thought of as rubies, yet they are not.
Caring for Opals
Opals are one of the toughest gems to keep looking their best. Sometimes they lose thier luster due to small scratches on the surface of the gem. These can be repolished by a lapidary to renew a glossy surface. However, many times opals will seem to just lose their fire. This is due to dehydration. Every so often, take a small jar and fill it with distilled water. Place your opal jewelry in the jar, under the water and let it soak for a few days. Think of it as a spa for your jewels! This should help rehydrate your opals and renew some of their life. This is especially vital in very dry or hot climates!
Cassiterite
The name cassiterite comes from the Greek word, kassiteros, meaning tin. (cassiterite is tin oxide)
Zodiac Stones - Gemini (Hindu Version)
Agate - guarantees long life, health and wealth to a Gemini
Zodiac Stones - Aquarius (Hindu Version)
Garnet - guarantees true friendship when worn by an Aquarian
The Viking's Compass
Iolite has been referred to as the "Viking's compass." On cloudy days, the Vikings were able to locate the position of the sun by looking through a thin colorless slices of iolite. The stone acted as a light polarizer and cancelled out haze and mist.
Colored Stone Values
Value in a colored stone is based on rarity, followed by intensity and trueness of color, as well as evenness of color. Following these factors in determining value is cut, and weight.
Hyacinth Stone
Prior to the 1900's, orange or reddish brown zircon was referred to as Hyacinth.
Is it Jet?
Jet is a form of fossilized coal that was revered during Victorian times, and used widely as jewelry to mourn the passing of a loved one. But how do you know if what you have is jet? The preliminary tests are quite simple. First feel the piece - does it seem exceptionally light for its size? Jet is very light, so this would be step one. After you have determined the heft (or lack thereof!) you can then test aroma. Rub the beads briskly between your hands to warm them and stroke the surfaces of the beads and then smell the piece - does it have an organic smell, possibly with a touch of woodsy smoke? Jet is fossilized coal, and it will smell slighly like coal when rubbed. Jet will also not be cold to the touch when first picked up.
If your beads pass all of these tests, you very well may have a lovely piece of jet on your hands. If you need to know for certain, take your beads to a jeweler for a second opinion, but these hints can help you find your way to identifying your beads.
Keeping Colors True
Store opaque stones in a dark place. Over a period of time, intense light can bleach the color. -- In Style Magazine, July 1999
Flashier than a Diamond?
Did you know, a zircon has a higher refractive index (sparkle factor) than a diamond?
A Rainbow of... Garnets?
Did you know, that garnets occur in every color of the rainbow? It is true, the gem once only associated with deep red has popped up in ever color of the rainbow! Most varieties occur in red, including pyrope, almandine, and spessartine. Andradite garnets occur in green, yellow, orange and black. Spessartine are orange, while Almandine are purple, Pyrope-Almandine are purple red or purple pink and commonly known as rhodolite. Grossular-Andradite are yellow or green, and Pyrope-Spessartine color changes to orange and pinky orange. Grossular also includes colors such as white, orange, yellow, green, and pink. There is a new variety recently discovered in Madagascar that color changes between velvety royal blue and rich purple.
Gemstone Beads
Gemstone beads are hotter than hot! Everywhere you look gorgeous baubles of emerald, sapphire, ruby, and beyond are popping up. Pair them with jeans and a white t-shirt for a classy casual look, or set them off as the highlight to that slinky black dress. Gemstone beads are the next great classic - go get yourself some!
Meerschaum
Light and porous enough to float on water, meerschaum derives its name from the German word for "sea foam".
The Quartz Family
The quartz family of gems has many colors. Purple amethyst, golden citrine, bicolor ametrine, smokey quartz, rose quartz, and rutilated quartz are all in the same family. These beautiful gems have been among some the most popular jewels.
Emeralds and Fuzz
Does your emerald look like it has "fuzz" inside? This type of inclusion is referred to as Jardin. It is extremely rare for any natural emerald to be free of Jardin, and some consider it to be a natural part of an emerald's beauty. It is part of your gem's character, and helps identify your emerald as a genuine gemstone.
Czar Alexander Stone
Did you know, the highly revered gem Alexandrite was named after Russian Czar Alexander? The jewel was discovered on his birthday, and its unique color changing properties exhibit both the national colors of Russia, red and green.
Zodiac Stones - Leo (Hindu Version)
Onyx - protects a Leo wearer from loneliness and unhappiness
Opaque stone care
Opaque stones can be ruined by chemicals. Wait a few minutes after applying hairspray or perfume to put them on; remove them before using lotion. -- In Style Magazine, July 1999
Chrysoberyl
The name chrysoberyl is from the Greek word chrysos, meaning golden, and beryllos, which refers to the beryllium content.
Zodiac Stones - Taurus (Hindu Version)
Sapphire - protects from mental disorders if worn by a Taurus
Brazilian Sapphire
"Brazilian Sapphire" is often a misnomer for either tourmaline or topaz.
Zodiac Stones - Scorpio (Hindu Version)
Beryl - guarantees protection for Scorpio from "tears of sad repentance"
Zodiac Stones - Pisces (Hindu Version)
Amethyst - protects all Pisces from extremes of passion
Cleaning Gemstone Beads
Clean opaque semi-precious stones with mild, soapy water. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaning machine; it may alter the color. -- In Style Magazine, July 1999
Guru's note: Ultrasonic machines can not only alter color of gems, but can drastically damage them as well. Some gems will shatter or crack when subjected to the high frequencies that ultrasonic machines produce. It is a good rule of thumb to avoid them with most gem beads, to avoid any unnecessary structural damage.
Colorless or White
Diamond
Quartz
Zircon
Sapphire
Tourmaline
Apatite
Moonstone
Fluorite
Goshenite
Achroite
Petalite
Datolite
Scheelite
Dolomite
Euclase
Scapolite
Zodiac Stones - Sagittarius (Hindu Version)
Topaz - protects Sagittarians, but only when they show the stone
Full Spectrum Sapphires
When you think of sapphire is your mind filled with rich velvety blues and clear summer skies? If so, you are not alone. Sapphires invoke thoughts of opulent shades of blue from the softest baby blanket to rich midnight hue. You might be surprised to find that sapphire is one of the few gems that occur in every color imaginable. Some sapphires even have two or three different colors in one stone, these are referred to as bi-color or parti-color!
Rubies and Sapphires
Rubies and sapphires are basically the same stone. They are chemically identical, save for a minute little trace element. This trace element is what determines colouring in the jewel. If the stone contains traces of Chromium, and is red or deep pink, the gem is then transformed from a sapphire to a ruby!
Zodiac Stones - Cancer (Hindu Version)
Emerald - guarantees everlasting joy to a Cancer-born
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