The Hobby Of Loose Gemstone Collecting
By Lee MacRae
The term gemology refers to the art, profession and science of evaluating and identifying gemstones from natural diamonds to loose gemstones. A number of people taken up gemology as a hobby. They collect and evaluate loose gemstones or loose diamonds. A number of these hobbyists start to visit various locations close by to look for raw gemstones. Some of them will even tumble or finish off the gemstones themselves. If this hobby interest you read along as we show you the things you should know to start this hobby.
First off you need to read up on each of the gemstones out there. This will help you to know what you're buying and prevent you from wasting your money. Without the proper knowledge you can make costly mistakes.
One of the first things you look at is the color of the gem. Top grade gemstones have pure colors there as close as possible in pureness to the spectral colors of violent, blue, green,, orange or red. Muted gemstone colors or are too dark lowers the value per carat.
Stone cut is the second most important value determination to consider before a purchase is made. How precise the cut is is the factor which determines how much light is reflected by the gemstone. The cut will determine the brilliance of the stone and its final value.
The clarity in a stone is an important consideration. When we talk of clarity it relates to the amount of inclusions (trace elements or large particles of other elements or minerals) that a gem has. Generally speaking, a clearer stone is obviously valued highly. To see flaws beyond with the eye can see you need a 10X gemstone loupe (gemstone clarity magnifier) or gem microscope. Most hobbyists will get a 10X jewelers were gemstone loup for viewing stamps, coins, beads as well as gems.
Next up are weight and size. Other than the corals and pearls gemstones are priced by the carat. One carat equals a 0.2 grams. Be aware however, that weight and size are not the same in gemstones. The density and specific gravity can differ in stones. Take a diamond that is 1.00 carats in weight and you will find that a similar sized sapphire or ruby would weigh 1.20 carats.
Though you may find gemstones used a lot in jewelry, loose gemstones are great for collecting. In fact, there are many attractive and interesting gems that are too fragile or too large to be used in jewelry. Look at each stone and consider it as a piece of art and value it for its unusual nature and for the craftsmanship of the artisan who shaped it. And unlike many hobbies where you have to buy everthing you can find your raw materials through field trips In the US in Missouri you can hunt for Pearl, Fluorite, Pyrite and Calcite. And in Canada you can hunt for nephrite jade in the Frances Lake area in the Yukon Territory or labradorite on the adjacent islands and coastal area of Labrador along with zircons in Sebastopol and Brudnell Townships in Renfew County, Ontario. Think of gemstone collecting for the great hobby it is.
Buy round Peridot loose gemstones along with the cheapest loose diamonds and also natural uncut diamonds today in our store!
Gemstones For Sale
Hints About purchasing loose diamonds
Sapphire is September's birthstone and comes in every color except red (ruby).
Blue is the most common color for sapphire gems. White sapphire is occassionally
used as a diamond substitute. Sapphire tennis bracelets are beautiful and loved
by many.
Buy loose quartz gemstones today!
The weight of a diamond is measured in carats (ct.). Each carat is divided into
100 points. For example: 1ct.= 100 points, 1/2 ct. = 50 points. Points in a
fraction are measured within acceptable ranges. For example: a 1/2 ct diamond
pendant may have a range of + or - .06 points. In other words, the total diamond
weight may vary from .44 to .56 points and still be considered a 1/2 carat.
at Loose Diamonds Galore!
More purchasing loose diamonds Info
ACLU asks judge to order changes at women's prison - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:21:00 GMT
Jan. 23, 2009 4:28 p.m. | The American Civil Liberties Union today asked a federal judge to order changes in how medication is administered to inmates at Taycheedah Correctional ...
Garnet Clover and Vermeil Hammered Ring Earrings (e-hr01-gc-g)
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:19:30 -0800
Hand hammered 23kt gold vermeil ring. Clover shaped faceted garnet. Earrings are about 1/2" in diameter. 14kt gold fill earwires. Also available in sterling silver. Assorted stones available: moonstone leaves or cushion cut kyanite.
loose gemstone
natural yellow diamonds
loose cultured diamonds
loose diamond wholesale
Labels: buy loose diamonds | loose black diamonds
Starting The Hobby Of Loose Gemstone Collecting
By Lee MacRae
Why would anyone collect items like loose gemstones, you ask? For many people it's because they've been sought for their beauty for many centuries. And like their more familiar cousin, natural diamonds, they can become extremely valuable over the years. Many people love to collect and show case the wide variety of gemstones available today. Read long as we look at the hobby of collecting loose gemstones.
The first thing you need to do in starting the hobby of collecting gemstones the wise way is through the power of knowledge. By visiting a local library you can find books on the subject that will make you an informed buyer.
First, color is a major part in the value of the stone. The closer a color is to its purer spectral value the more valuable the stone becomes. Remember that the spectral colors are yellow, blue, Violet, green, orange and red. Gemstones colors that are paler or darker than the pure spectral color tend to be less valued.
Gemstone cut is very important and factors into appraisal of diamonds but you're gemstones as well. A precision cut gemstone showcases the pure color of the stone, diminishes its inclusions, and show off its symmetry and proportions. One excellent method to determine the precision of the cut is to look at if it is able to reflect light on a consistent level throughout the surface of the stone. But if a gem is cut too shallow, most of the light will refract out rather than reflecting inside the stone. The gem appears washed out.
The next factor to look at is the clarity of the gemstone under consideration. This means the purity of the stone or the absence of internal inclusions, spots, or particles inside the crystal. Obviously, stones with a lack of flaws will make a gemstone very valuable.
Next up are size and weight. All gemstones [except for pearls and corals] are priced by the carat. A carat is equal to 0.2 grams. You should know however that weight and size are not the same in gemstones. The density and specific gravity can differ in stones. Take a diamond that weighs 1.00 carats and you will see that a similar sized sapphire or ruby would weigh 1.20 carats.
Taking up the collecting of loose gemstones can be a great hobby. And there is a wide range and variety in precious and semi precious stones that you can collect. You could try collecting Lapis lazuli, Tiger's-eye or Tourmaline and then try others. The opportunities are seemingly endless. And if you like a hands on hobby you can find gemstones for yourself instead of buying. Take the example of the United States. In New York you can find Beryl, Brown Tourmaline, Rose Quartz as well as Fresh Water Pearl.
Buy loose Jade gemstones or a loose diamond lot and heart natural diamonds today in our store!
Gemstones For Sale
More Information On loose aquamarine gemstones
Poor Grade diamond: Diamonds in this category have very poor proportions and
show very little brilliance or scintillation. Expect to see "nail heads", where
the diamond is black in the center and "fish eyes" where the brilliance washes
out in the middle.
Buy Tanzanite loose gemstones today!
Opal-C is made up of an arrangement known as a-cristobalite which is formed into
a number of disordered stacks. Cristobalite is found in volcanic rock where the
temperatures were high and the succeeding environments were arid.
Buy loose faceted gemstones today!
Some loose aquamarine gemstones Stories
Triple Oval Necklace: Heart/ms (n-ov3h-ms)
Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:26:14 -0800
Three brushed sterling silver ovals, double jumpringed together. Brushed vermeil heart accent on middle oval. 16'' 14kt gold-fill chain and toggle clasp. Matching earrings available. Necklace available in a variety of charms: heart, star, X, no charm.
Riveted DIsc Earring w/Star -ms (e-rd1s-ms)
Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:26:14 -0800
Brushed sterling silver disc, measuring approximately 1 1/8'', with riveted vermeil star accent. Sterling silver earwires.
Mallette & Assoc - Antiques and Arts Weekly
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:07:42 GMT
 Antiques and Arts Weekly | Mallette & Assoc Antiques and Arts Weekly, CT - Two loose 1.93 & 2.00 carat aquamarine stones. Ladies custom made 18k YG beaded style 7 bracelet with (20) 3-4 mm size rubies, 1.5 ozs. ... |
loose faceted gemstones
Labels: buy loose diamonds | loose black diamonds
