The Hobby Of Loose Gemstone Collecting
By Lee MacRae
Why collect loose gemstones you ask? For many people it's because they are very beautiful items. And like their more familiar cousin, natural diamonds, their value increases over time. Many hobbyists love to collect and work with each and every one of the 150 varieties available. This article will discuss the hobby of loose gemstone collecting.
First off you need to learn all you can on the wide variety of stones available. This will help you to know what you're buying so you buy the right items. This will help you make informed decisions.
The chief thing you need to look at will be stone color. You'll want the gemstone to be as close as possible to the pure spectrum colors. We are talking about violet, orange, yellow, green, blue, and red. The prices of very dark are very pale precious and semi precious gemstones are lower than the vibrant colors.
The cut of the stone is extremely important and is used not only to appraise diamonds but along with your gemstones. An excellent cut will highlight the pure color of the stone, diminish any inclusions, and exhibits good overall symmetry and proportion. One way of determining the excellence regarding the cut of the gemstone is how well it reflects light on a consistent basis over the stones complete surface. If the stone is cut on the shallow side most of this light were refracted away instead of reflecting internally. The gem appears washed out.
Next up is the clarity of the gemstone. Clarity is the term that refers to the internal conclusions or flaws of the gemstone. Normally large flaws are visible to the naked eye while others need a 10X magnification.
Next item to look at is the duo of size and weight. Because gemstones can vary in density or specific gravity. Weight and size are not necessarily equal across the board. If a diamond of a certain size weighs 1.00 carats then a sapphire of equal size would weigh 1.20 carats. An Emerald of equal size would be approximately 0.95 carats while an Alexandrite gemstone would be about 1.23 carats.
Although gems are frequently used in jewelry, loose gemstones are great for collecting. In fact, there are many attractive and interesting gemstones that are simply too big and fragile for use in jewelry. Look at each stone and consider it as a piece of art and value it for its beautiful colors and the finish you apply to it. And unlike some hobbies that require you to pay for your specimens you can use vacation time to actually hunt for raw gemstones in stead of buying. In the US in Pennsylvania you can find Amethyst, Almandite Garnet and Pyrope Garnet, Beryl, Sunstone and Moonstone. And in Canada you can hunt for nephrite jade in Mount Ogden, British Columbia or labradorite on Tabor Island, and even ammolite from Lethbridge, Alberta. Take up gemstone collecting and you won't regret it.
Buy loose Coral gemstones or loose diamonds for less as well as natural diamonds today in our store!
Gemstones For Sale
Hints About loose diamond lots
Malachite is a beautiful green earth stone with black bands. It is beautiful in
earrings, necklaces, and pendants. Malachite is green with irregular black
banding. It has a hardness of 4. Malachite is especially fragile. Protect
malachite from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes (
such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car). Do not clean malachite in
a home ultrasonic cleaner. Washing malachite in water will remove its finish.
Buy loose Aquamarine gemstones today!
Moonstone can be easily scratched. Moonstone is found in Brazil, European Alps,
India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and USA (Pennsylvania
and Virginia). Sri Lanka has the highest quality moonstones. Moonstone is the
June Modern and Mystical Birthstone
Buy loose Chalcedony gemstones today!
Lapis is known as the December Traditional Birthstone. Lapis Lazuli is the
anniversary gemstone for the 7th and 9th year of marriage. It is said that Lapis
helps one understand the mind. It helps to expand your viewpoint. It is good for
connecting the heart and the mind when worn over the heart.
Buy loose Ametrine gemstones today!
loose diamond lots Stories
Sterling Double Hammered Marquise Earrings
Hand hammered sterling marquise earrings. All sterling silver components and findings. Earrings hang about 2" from base of earwires. Also available in 23kt gold vermeil.
Sterling Baby Disc Cascade Earrings
Ten sterling silver baby discs arranged in a cascade. Earrings hang 2" from base of earwires. All sterling components and earwires. Also available in 23kt gold vermeil.
Music for Nothing - Reason.com
Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:14:00 GMT
When disco died, the record industry did not start taking new wave bands to court, demanding that they stop competing with the Bee Gees and kindred has-beens. It went hunting for ...
