Tag Archives: gemstones

The Why Of The Cut

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Gemstone Cuts and The Why.

Who does the cutting? What are the different methods of cutting? Ever thought why it is cut that way?
What is a cabochon?  Why a Marquise?  isn’t that a Royal title such as Baron or Earl? ( Actually it is a royal title that is lower than a Duke but higher than an Earl, if you are into Royalty.)

After delving into the history of gemstone cutting I have found some interesting answers.
A gem cutter is called a “Lapidarist” This trade is usually learned on the job, but there are several colleges that do give courses.  How long it takes to learn, depends on the skill of the student.

The different methods of cutting are tumbling, cabbing, faceting and carving.

Tumbling, the simplest method, is done in a revolving barrel with abrasives. Finer and finer abrasives are used until the stones have the expected high sheen. This is closest to nature as the same thing happens to stones in a stream. Of course, man made tumbling creates a much higher polish.

Rock Tumbler

Rock Tumbler

Cabbing is the cutting of cabochons, the most common form of gem cutting.
Cabochons are cut with a highly polished rounded or convex top, no faceting,and a flat or slightly domed base. This cut is used for softer stones to safeguard them from scratching. It is also the main cut for opals, turquoise,onyx, moonstone and star sapphire. Cabochons are not actually cut but shaped and polished. they are much easier to produce than faceted stones witch have many angles. They can be produced in any shape but oval is the most used.

This cut is used for star saphires and tiger’s eye stones to get the most of the design and brilliance.

The faceted cut can be various shapes, where as the cabochon has special limits.
Facet is the cut but not the shape.  It is actually the shaping of many cuts to show the stone at it’s best color and shine.

All natural stones including the rocks you might find along the edge of the road, have prisms or  points of light that enhance their color. ( You might want to study an old rock just for the fun of it.) Faceting was created to take advantage of that fact.

There are simple faceted cuts such as these step cornered aquamarine gems from the Smithsonian gem gallery or the many faceted cuts shown here in this round brilliant cut.

Step Cut Gemstones

Step Cut Gemstones

Round Brilliant Cut

Round Brilliant Cut

This started in the 13th and 14th centuries. At a time when stone cutting machines   were being invented to actually do the job. Before then, one would have to hire an artist to actually carve out a stone by hand, which could take many, many hours. Today there are very few lapidary carvers. One design that has been carved through the ages is the Cameo, which is usually cut from sea shells or agate.

 

The Marquise Cut
The marquise cut is a thin oblong shape with pointed ends and is named after Jean Antoinette Poisson, the Marquise de Pompadour……….. It is said French King, Louis the IV, asked his jewelers to create a cut to capture his mistress’ smile

Madame Pompadour

Madame Pompadour

… For that interesting story go here..http://www.ajsgem.com/articles/history-marquise-cut.html

A marquise has 57 facets.

 

Marquise Cut

Marquise Cut

The Princess Cut
Then there is the Princess cut which is a square version of the round brilliant. It has 76 facets.
With modern computers Lapidarists are creating more and more advanced designs for faceted gemstones.
For a more complete picture go to http://www.e-jewel.co.il/en/gemstonesshapes.aspx?PageID=259   Very interesting.

Hope Diamond, most expensive princess cut valued at two million dollars!

Hope Diamond, most expensive princess cut valued at two million dollars!

 

Now with all the modern computer technology, the Lapidarist can create original cuts never before  seen.  The Lapidarist artist would start with the anatomy of the gemstone, observing the natural prisms in each piece, just as the stone carver would, then proceed to work his magic.

  Note:     If you would like to learn more about the “Hope” diamond check out my blog post  under diamonds  “Famous Diamonds”  It has a fascinating history.   It even has a curse!

 

 

Until next time,

Enjoy your gemstones.

Erma

 

 

Resources:  Wikipedia, Gemselect, Gem society, as well as many others  from around the world.

 

The Atlantis Stone

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The Atlantis Stone

Recently I was introduced to the “newest” gemstone. A beautiful blue stone I had never seen before. Well it wasn’t new of course, no gemstone is new. The latest gemstone to be found in modern times by modern geologists is “Larimar” the ” Atlantis stone”, also known as the “Dolphin Stone”. It is only found in the Caribbean, natives have been using this stone down through the ages for healing, divination and decoration.

Larimar stones

Larimar stones

It was first discovered by modern man in 1916, Father Loren of the Barahona Parish in the Dominican Republic requested permission to mine a certain blue rock he had discovered. His request was rejected because “pectolites” were not known in that end of the world.

Larimar is a pectolite which is composed mostly of acid silicate hydrate of calcium and sodium. Pectolite is found in many locations but no others have the distinct blue color of Larimar. That is a result of a copper substitution for calcium in this unique stone.

Next in 1974, Dominican Republic geologist Miquel Mendez rediscovered the stone, naming it after his daughter Larissa. He used the Spanish word for sea “mar”and formed Larimar. The stones he and his partner Norman Rilling found, had been washed into the sea by the Bahoruco River. When they searched up river they soon found the stones source and the Los Chapaderos mine was created.

Larimar

Larimar

The stone did not reach the USA until 1986 and is still fairly rare in gemstone listings.

Healing Qualities

Larimar is said to support and promote emotional strength, releasing stress and cooling tempers. It is also an antidote for hot flashes. Used in meditation it helps one release unhealthy bonds to negative people who do not hold your best interests. When placed throughout your home it creates a pleasant, quiet atmosphere.

In healing it is used for the throat, also to reduce fevers and draw out inflammation. When placed on a painful area it provides soothing relief. It stimulates the heart and higher chakras. A stone of love.

Larimar is called the Atlantis stone due to a declaration by an ancient prophet that Atlantis was once part of the Dominican Republic and what made Atlantis great was a beautiful, blue healing stone. The description of that stone has an uncanny resemblance to Larimar.

After seeing this stone for the first time I can believe it. I have never seen a more beautiful blue.

Polished Larimar

Polished Larimar

An interesting note about “Atlantis”  the lost continent.

Edgar Cayce, (March 18,1877 – January 3,1945)  One of the greatest clairvoyants the world has ever seen, predicted    that a “blue stone” with extraordinary healing attributes would be found on “an island in the Caribbean” where he believed part of Atlantis could be found. In 1974 a volcanic blue pectolite named Larimar was discovered in the Dominican Republic.  Read more about healing crystals and Atlantis here.

 

Resources; “The Pocket Book Of Stones” Robert Simmons
“The Illustrated Directory of Healing Crystals” by Cassandra Eason
http://www.bernardine.com/gemstones/larimar.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larimar

 

Until next time,

Have a great day!

Erma.

Garnet – A Gem For All Seasons

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The Many Facets of  Garnets

I have always loved garnets. Once thought “if I can’t have a ruby I’ll have a garnet.” At that time I did not know the different qualities and varieties of gemstones. Now I find I can have both. There are many price brackets in all the gems. In other words something for everyone. Also some garnets are just as expensive as the beautiful ruby.

The other thing I did not know was how many colors of garnets there are. Most of us think of the garnet as dark red or purple, but there are green, orange, red, purple, even black. It was once thought there was no blue garnets until someone found color changing garnets from Madagasgar. They change from grey blue to cornflower blue depending on the light and where they are found.. All are beautiful. Each color has a slightly different chemical makeup and are classed as species.

many colors of garnets

many colors of garnets

Garnets have more species than any other gemstone,The six main ones are:

Almandine
Pyrope
Spessartite
Grossular
Andradite
Uvarovite

All six have varying color ranges from light rose red to black. The andraite being the rarest with colors ranging from a lustrous rose to the very rare black malanite.
– See more at: http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/garnet_gemstone.aspx#sthash.iX6GeqHl.dpuf

It is also one of the very few gemstones hardly ever enhanced so you are getting natural purity.

The garnet is very important to geologists due to it’s chemical and magnetic properties. With each garnet they are able to tell the age of the surrounding rocks where the stone was found. This helps to determine how the earth was and is forming under our feet. We tend to forget rocks are living things made up of minerals and various earth elements made from atoms just like we are. They just take many centuries to grow. (There are many arguments about the life of rocks on the internet. I think if they grow, they must be alive.)
——-
An observation from http://www.livescience.com/32234-can-rocks-grow.html
Rocks don’t eat, drink, or take their vitamins, but they do grow.

Observing the process, though, is less interesting than watching paint dry. Rocks called iron-manganese crusts grow on mountains under the sea. The crusts precipitate material slowly from seawater, growing about 1 millimeter every million years.

Your fingernails grow about the same amount every two weeks.
——–

Our world is such a fascinating place, the older I get the more fascinating it becomes. Maybe because I do not have the restrictions of younger adults, with jobs and families still growing, I am able to open my mind to God’s miracle planet, Earth.

Garnet is the official birthstone for January. It is a stone of protection, of energy, of manifestation and of business. Different colors speak to each of these areas. It is also the stone of Aquarius.

Dark, rich red is the most common garnet. It is the stone of the heart.

Deep Red Garnet

Deep Red Garnet

Offering physical, emotional and spiritual support. It eases sadn or guilt   memories and keeps you in touch with your softer side. The red garnet is a path to spirit guides and guardian angels. The lighter red garnet is a perfect gift for returning soldiers who are having a hard time living with the horrors of war. It offers peace for the soul.

A few more  interesting facts about the healing uses of garnets.

It physically heats cold fingers and toes!  It melts frozen feelings and fears! It can ease the acute pain of gall stones! Use it to strengthen your imune system against a host of infections, especially winter illnesses.  One more thing, I find this amazing,  use it to help a pet who is unhappy when its owners go to work. (  I am going to thread some tiny garnet stones into my paranoid wee dog’s collar, since she hates being left alone.  Will let you all know the outcome.)  Reference for this last bit came from a beautiful book called ” the illustrated directory of Healing Crystals”  by Cassandra Eason.

Garnets are found all over the world. One of the world’s largest garnet deposits is in New York State. Apparently the garnet is “The Gem Of The Adirondacks” The Historic Barton Mines opened in 1878 and are still working today. Gore Mountain garnet deposit is recognized as a world famous geology site. Read about it here http://www.lakegeorgeguide.com/regional-area-info/articles/geology-of-the-gore-mountain-garnet-mine/

Barton mines concentrates on industrial garnets. For gemstone quality mining we go to the “Gem State” Idaho. Here is the stone of the heart from Crystal Creek, Idaho, where,thanks to the National Parks service you can go “rock hounding” and collect your own garnets! What a neat way to spend a family day, you never know you might just find a rare one.

Handful of Raw Garnets

Handful of Raw Garnets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crystal Balls – Beryl

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Crystal, Crytstal, Crystal

Everywhere I look these days, crystal stares me in the face. maybe once a thing is in your mind, you become more observant of it. Crystal was to be my theme until I came across a beautiful crystal ball. Very small, very expensive,a (scryers) dream.
How and why over many generations did crystal become the medium for psychics and fortunetellers of all ilk? So we delve into the history of “the Crystal ball” not as jewelry, but as the path to the subconscious. ( We will get back to the actual gemstone as well)

 

The first gemstone used as a crystal Ball was beryl.

Pure Beryl is colorless; traces of different impurities are responsible for the color diversity and varieties.

History has deemed the first people to use crystals for divination were the Druids in Britain about 2000 BC. The Druids were a very spiritual people. They were priests, teachers, counsellors to the Kings. They believed beryl had special powers. It was used to read the furure as well as advise of the past. The clearer the stone the better.

(Lately there have been discoveries claiming that crystal balls have been in use even longer, in Eygpt and possibly even by the Mayans.)

In the middle ages in Europe crystal balls were being used by fortune tellers and seers. Eventually beryl would be replaced with rock crystal which is even more translucent. ( I really wonder if the same powers could be asscribed to rock crystal)

Antique crystal ball

A well known Royal councellor to Elizabeth 1, Dr. John Dee, used a crystal ball in his work. He believed the crystal acted as  a communication device between him and Angels. ( There is actually one of his quartz balls in the British Museum)

 

Which brings us more into modern day thinking. Today crystal balls are used as point of concentration that clears the mind and opens the road to the subconscious. A gifted psychic will be able to see visions and possibly tell the future. Most of us will see a mist and sometimes a vision. Then we have to interpret the vision….

It is very interesting to try seeing in the ball, maybe if we could get a real beryl it might actually work.
I have a feeling it is not so much the ball as the actual person doing the reading or whatever, that determines the vision.

(By the way, did you know you can buy a crystal ball at Amazon!?  Is there anything Amazon doesn’t sell?…)

 

Let’s get back to the true gemstone. Beryl.

Some varieties of beryl are:

Emerald, one of the most valuable gemstones, a beautiful green color.
Aquamarine, light blue gemstone.
Morganite, pink to light purple, was named after J.P. Morgan. Hmm…
Heliodor, yellow to greenish yellow, also some light green and brown.
Goshenite, white to colorless
Golden Beryl, golden yellow to orange yellow
Red Beryl, very rare, also known as Bixbite, deep red

In the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. located in the “Hall of Gems” is one of the largest cut beryl stones in the world. It is a 2,054 carat flawless, golden colored beryl, also known as Heliodor.

Golden Heliodor (Yellow beryl)

While golden beryl is beautiful I found Red beryl more fascinating.

Laboratory analysis shows that manganese and small amounts of iron, chromium, and calcium create the raspberry-red color of red beryl.

Red Beryl or Bixbite is very interesting as it is found in only three places in the world. The Thomas mountain range and the Wah Wah mountain range in Utah, USA, as well as the Black Range in Mexico. The Wah Wah mountians Ruby-Violet claims are the only known place where large, gem quality red beryl can be found. They are private and closed to outsiders.

Ruby Violet Open Mine

This very rare gemstone is estimated to be worth 1000 times more than gold. The claim is that for every 150,000 diamonds found there is only one red beryl crystal found.  A faceted red beryl crystal from the Wah Wah location sells for an average of $2000.

Raw Beryl from Ruy Violet mine

(For the last few years the Ruby Violet Claims have been inactive. The price tag on the property is so enormous that no one has stepped forward to buy the mine. Dwindling supplies, already quite limited, have pushed prices to even higher levels. Rumors about a new prospect being opened elsewhere in the Wah Wahs have been circulating since Tucson 2010, but have yet to be confirmed, and no new material surfaced. ) http://www.treasuremountainmining.com

So we have a gemstone rarer than diamonds, more valuable than gold. Wow!

Here is what it looks like in it’s natural form.

Well I started out with crystal and ended up with red beryl. I think it is time to gaze into my crystal ball and see where we go from here.

Until next time, Have a great day.

Erma

 

AMETHYST (Lavender Gemstone)

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Collected at Jackson Cross Mine

Treasure from Jackson Crossroads Mine

I was reading about lavender gemstones and thought, “Lavender, isn’t that a plant?”

Further reading discovered what they were really talking about.   Amethyst,the most precious gemstone within the quartz group. Ranging in color from pale lilac to deep reddish purple. this beautiful stone has the ability to transform lower energy into higher energy at all levels of mind, body and spirit.  A great healer, just holding a natural amethyst for several minutes, calms one’s spirit and encourages positive thoughts.

There is an amethyst mine in Georgia  where one can pay $25. for the day to actually go digging in the mine   Here is one treasure found in one of there dump piles.  The mine in question is: Jackson Crossroads Amethyst Mine, Tignall, Georgia.  Owner: terry Ledford

In ancient times the Greeks and Romans believed amethyst protected them from drunkenness, so they made lavender goblets and wore amethyst stones.  The word amethyst comes from the Greek word amethystos, meaning” not drunken” There are even myths about Greek Gods using the stone.

It is the traditional birthstone for February, and the lavender or violet variety of Quartz.  It owes it’s purple color to irradiation and iron impurities as well as trace elements causing complex crystal shapes(lattice) At the same hardness as quartz,it is excellent for jewelry. Amethyst also produces something called FAR Infrared Rays.  These rays can revitalize the biological function of your cells, increasing the bodies healing power.  they also can be used for anti- bacterial agents and purifying the air. ( Resource: Biomatamethyst.com)  Professional massage therapists are now using amethyst mats and tables in their clinics.  ( I know of one therapist who would actually rather sleep on her amethyst massage table then in her bed.)

South Africa amethyst

The stone can be found in many countries, Austria, Russia, South America.  One of the largest mines is in Zambia in South Africa.    In North America it is found in many US states, as well as in Ontario and Nova Scotia in Canada.

The largest North American mine is in Thunder Bay Ontario.  Discovered in 1955 when a road to a forest fire look-out was being built. It has been in production ever since .  It also allows  “pick your own” from their dump piles like the one in Georgia.

Amethyst Mine Panorama has 60-7 0 years of reserves and will be providing amethyst  for many years to come. The exceptional variety of amethyst crystals makes Amethyst Mine Panorama well worth visiting!

Amethyst Mine Panarama, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Here is a legend from the Panarama mine at  http://www.amethystmine.com/history

(Being Canadian, I just had to add it here.  Of course, the same legend, in various forms, is all over the world)

Millions of years ago the great wine god Bacchus was angered by the insults of man. He vowed to let his man-eating tigers destroy the first human they could catch.

A beautiful princess named Amethyst was travelling from the shores of Thunder Bay to worship at the shrine of the goddess Diana on the highest hilltop. Hearing the beasts roar, she climbed up to Elbow Lake hoping to escape by canoe. No canoe could be found and alas, Amethyst believed she would be killed.

Amethyst quickly climbed into a nearby crystal cave praying for help. The goddess Diana, hearing the maiden’s prayer, sealed the princess safely into the cave.

Bacchus, now remorseful and ashamed, poured red wine on the cave. The wine stained all the crystals in the cave, creating the beautiful gemstone Amethyst and freeing the princess.

So strong is this legend that people all over the world believe the gods guarantee the wearer of Amethyst will always be healthy and protected from the results of over-indulgence.

These brilliant purple colored gems are still mined today in the cave at Amethyst Mine Panorama.

I am already planning an amethyst digging holiday.

Resources;  wikipedia, Biomatamethyst.com, http://www.amethystmine.com,: Jackson Crossroads Amethyst Mine,

ABC STONE COMPANY'S COLLECTION OF FINE QUALITY OF LOOSE PRECIOUS AND SEMI PRECIOUS GEMSTONES. …

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COLOR IS THE MOST ATTRACTIVE FEATURE OF GEMSTONES. WE ABC (All Beautiful Colors) CARRY FINE & RARE GEMS. We Specialize in any kind of Precious and Semi Precious Stones. We supply Cut, Cabs., Beads, and Fancy cut stones on made to order basis. We Specialize in Tanzanite, Tsavorite, Iolite, Rhodolite, Prehnite, Spessatite, Rubilite,Apatite, Kunzite (all calibrated and Far Sizes ), Spinel, Morganite, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Peridot, Tourmaline, Aquamarine, Blue Topaz , and many more other color stones. We also cut Fancy Cutting on order basis. Contact us for ALL BEAUTIFUL COLOR STONESABC STONE Co. LTD.919/1, Room No. 305 , 3rd Floor, Jewelery Trade Center Building., Silom Road., Bangrak, Bangkok — 10500 ThailandPhone :- 0066 2 236 7100-1, 0066 2 630 2260 Fax :- 0066 2 630 2261 MB. 006687 1414 000 (KAPIL)Email- abcscl@gmail.com abcstone@mail.com http://www.gemstonescompany.com Skype ID:- kapil_gupta_bkk / abcstonebangkokContact :- Mr. Kapil Gupta

Chanthabury – City of Gems

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At Sun Sun Jewelry (http://www.sunsun.com.sg), we get most of our gemstones from Chanthaburi, Thailand's center of gemstone mining, cutting and trading. Buying straight from the source, we are able to bring you high quality natural gemstones and custom-made jewelry at very attractive prices.

Gemstones to Gift this Valetine's Day

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Every culture in the world has valued semi precious gemstones for centuries and has used them to fashion their most important objects, due to their intrinsic beauty. In addition, no matter what style of fine jewelry you might be looking for, you are sure to find a gemstone piece that helps compliment just about any outfit. Warm weather will soon be here, so let us check out what gemstones to concentrate for spring 2010.

JTV Sapphire Jewelry and Gemstones

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http://www.jewelrytelevision.com/index.aspx?tid=21847&product_id=DVD4&amp…Ruby, Emerald, and Sapphire- This illusive trilogy of gemstones has impacted the course of history like none other. Experience the story of the Ruby, Emerald, and Sapphire.

The Chakra Chest of Drawers – Secret Locking System

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My son collects semi-precious gemstones and was needing something to store them in. So I built him this chest of drawers for Christmas. As well, his growing interest in spirituality led me to design the chest such as to mimic the 7 Chakra's, painting each drawer accordingly with the outer carcase painted gold. Following the demonstration are a few bloopers of our filming fun. Enjoy. : )