A gemstone is a rock, stone or mineral that after being treated, cut and polished can be used in jewelry. Some gems are organic in nature, such as amber, which is nothing more than resin from trees that existed more than 25 million years ago and underwent a process of fossilization forming masses of amorphous structure.

A gem when it is going to be used as a gem is primarily evaluated by her beauty and purity. When a gem is damaged because it spider, breaks or undergoes a micro break, immediately loses much of its monetary value. The characteristics that make a precious stone has value are the coloration, which have a peculiar marquetry (e.g. fossil), producing an unusual visual phenomenon, its scarcity and, sometimes, have a unique and different look.

The gems are divided into two broad categories, the precious and the semi-precious. In this article I will only discuss the four types of gems are precious stones:

1) Diamond: The most valuable are colorless and adamantine brightness. One of the most appreciated qualities of diamonds is his quality of disperse light generating beautiful sparkles. It has a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale.

(2) Ruby: The rubís are red with glassy shine. They can produce the optical effect known as asterism consisting of the precious gem is needle-shaped inclusions which are oriented in such a way that they form a star (Star rubís). Its hardness is 9 on the Mohs scale.

(3) Sapphire: The sapphires are dark blue. The rubís can go star sapphires (optical effect of asterism). Its hardness is 9 on the Mohs scale.

(4) Emerald: Emeralds are green grass, with glassy shine as the rubís. Its hardness is between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs scale.

Amethyst, which historically was valued as a precious stone, he lost that category to appear important deposits of this quartz purple and cease to be a scarce commodity.

Ruby is a mineral, gem, of reddish in color quality, in fact the word Ruby comes from ruber, which in Latin means red. Because its color metals of iron and chromium with which is associated to this variety of corundum (Al2 O3 aluminium oxide) in which a few aluminum ions have been replaced by ions trivalent chromium. Ruby is a mineral hard, corresponding to a hardness of 9 on the Mohs, surpassed only by diamond hardness scale. According to geological conditions and the concentration of hexavalent chromium color can vary from a Crimson strong through all the ranges from red to pink. Its melting point is approaching the 2,000 degrees Kelvin.

Its density, according to the crystallization, is 3.0 to 4.2. Your Crystal Configuration is tetragonal, hexagonal and cubic. Ruby is corrosion-resistant because it is stable thermally and kinetically. It can be dissolved in sulfuric acid. Also attacks it the perchloric acid, the hydrofluoric and the hexafluorosilic.

It is considered one of the four precious gems with the Sapphire, the Emerald, and diamond.

Obtaining and deposits of rubies

Ruby is obtained in mines bauxíticas, using the method of leaching and flotation. It is also found in the shallow rivers.

Ruby is synthesized from the 18th century, and was the first gem obtained artificially by man. Synthetic rubies are produced by the mixture of peppers of chromium with alum. This method allows to produce precious stones with characteristics very similar to natural rubies. However, synthetic rubies are more used in watchmaking as in jewelry. The law provides that if a Ruby is synthetic, it must be marked to not be confused with the real.

Rubies found in deposits of Sri Lanka, India, Burma, Thailand, Madagascar, Russia, in addition to Australia, Greenland, South Africa and United States which appears in lesser proportion. Rubies of the Malay Peninsula, territory belonging to Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, are very valuable, reaching value diamonds of the same size.

Uses and value of Ruby

The uses of is precious stone are limited to jewelry and the creation of helio-rubí or pure Ruby lasers. The value of the rubies as a jewel or gem depends on its color, size, density and purity. The most valuable color is the so-called pigeon blood or blood of paloma, a deep red with a bit of purple. Gross rock Ruby seems opaque and I fat, but has carved a bright almost like the diamond. Some rubies show cracks that, in jewelry, jewelers artist may fill with glass, these cracks repaired are detected by carefully watching the surface of the carved gem.

When a Ruby is illuminated with white light, it emits a strong light crimson red color. This effect is called fluorescence. If Ruby contains too much iron, reduces or cancels this red fluorescence and gem has a more dull and less lively color.

Curiosities about Ruby

There is a population that is named for this precious stone in the province of Barcelona. The population of Rubí, located between Sant Cugat del Vallès and Terrassa owes its name to the existence of an ancient mine of rubies that was close to the river that passes through.

The mineral called jade belongs to the silicates and often takes a greenish tone due to impurities of chrome. The chemical composition of the jade indicated their geological origin, which, according to the researchers, gives us an idea about ancient trade networks. Using data taken from 144 objects and jewels of jade dating from 3,000 b.c. to 500 of our era and located in Taiwan, Philippine Islands, Malaysia, Viet Nam and Thailand, they discovered that most, 116 of them, came from Fengtian in Taiwan. Today, one of the world’s richest deposits of jade is located in the Valley of the Motagua River at Guatemala, and is the source of the colors more current, like Black Jade, Jade Rainbow and Galactic gold, a black jade with natural incrustations of gold, silver and Platinum.

The name of jade is associated with two minerals, the Jadeite and nephrite the. To be able to be considered as jade, both minerals should appear aggregated in form of interwoven fibers or fine granules. It is very rare that Jadeite form real crystals. Serpentine is a mineral that looks very similar to jade and also occurs in the same places that the Jadeite and nephrite the, but is less hard and resistant than jade.

According to other minerals present jade can be of different colors: green, yellow, red, white, cream, pink and grey. The Mayans used the black in their ceremonies of hidden magic. Light green was used to open the doors of more beyond, after death, this color is that found in the tombs in the form of vases, necklaces, bracelets and other utensils. A very desired color was dark green to almost black blotches or green jaguar that you used in amulets.

Jade is a very hard stone. Nature jade is in the form of rock. These rocks are not like anything to the already finished pieces. Once it is polished and comes to get shine it has the appearance of wet soap. Experts choose the rocks of jade which have no flaws or veins and her then cut according to the piece you need. The most valued jade is the transparent, this type of jade which is commonly used in ornaments made in China. The opaque jade are in Guatemala. The development of the jade in China has achieved a high level of specialization. Some pieces are true art treasures as you can see in the photo. Comment in the imperial palace were pieces and jewels of jade which took more than one hundred in done, requiring several generations of expert craftsmen to be able to develop some of the precious work in jade are today exhibited in museums.

Collection of jewellery Thomas Sabo Rebel

Clara influence of the ancient Asian culture, and especially china, in the new 2012 of Thomas Sabo jewellery collection.
Urban dandies will find the wisdom and happiness wearing silver dragons, the most Rock ‘n’ Roll pay homage to the noble art sword samurai carrying pendant or pieces of jewellery with Katanas.
Others might be impacted by the new collection of jewellery Thomas sabo for 2012, definitely one of my favorites.

the Seasonal jewelry line is the most poetic, making traditional Buddhist bracelets bracelets of accounts, with beautiful and friendly bears panda product into small works of art laptop…. the dominant color of this collection of jewelry for women of Thomas Sabo is a warm and deep red passion…. and Rock’andRoll, of course.

What you may need to consider is purchasing a home contents cover that is large enough to replace your expensive jewellery pieces. Diamonds and other stones can be worth quite a lot, as can metals such as gold. Bracelets, necklaces, rings, watches, and more can all be included in a home contents policy. If you do not wish to value and list these items separately, you may not have to. Items that are valued at less than £15,000 need not be listed on their own.

Insurance for jewellery only is really not necessary if you have a strong home contents policy in place. Should you inherit a valuable collection or purchase a highly valuable piece, simply let your insurance company know and adjust your policy accordingly. Jewellery is meant to be worn, and need not simply be stored all of the time. Rest assured that your pieces can be protected whether they are located within your home, or worn out in public where they can be admired.

The use of the silver was given in antiquity manufacturing silver and vessels. The bactericidal power of silver, it was discovered without knowing its causes.
There is the custom of giving a glass of silver to the newborns, allowing mother to give to their drink pure water (photo on the left, Greek vase of silver). The bactericidal action of silver is made thanks to the salts of silver or silver in suspension oxides that break the pathogenic cells membrane, unless these can survive.
To this day the silver oxide is a basic component of antibacterial cream and allows to treat, among other ailments, burns more severe.
There is no irrigation with ingestion of silver, except for an azuleado tone of the skin in cases more severe (the miners that breathe dust of silver in the mines for the example)

To this day, 30% of the silver is intended to process photography. Mainly in medicables x-rays.

It is widely used with other applications: is the metal that better conducts electricity, even taking the silver as a reference to define the conductivity of materials. On a scale of 0 a100, silver has el100, 97 copper and gold 76.
Rechargeable batteries for longer duration and quality lead oxide of silver as a main component. It is the portable type of used batteries in devices of high price, such as spatial instruments, or medical devices.
Silver is the element that best reflects the light. A silver mirror reflect 95% of received light, and part of the use domestically in a mirror, silver is a principal element in the telescopes, and solar panels.

Because it reflects so well light shines, besides being a malleable metal is becoming silver jewellery since thousands of years. Its low price, with gold, explains why it is the preferred metal of many jewelry brands.
Famous brands like Thomas Sabo used exclusively the silver in the realization of their jewels, while for others the silver becomes favorite metal to gold, as the pandora bracelets.
How to clean Silver: silver is oxidized with the contact of air, this article “Clean Silver”, we explain some of the techniques more effective to clean silver. For jewelry in general, this article: clean jewelry of gold and silver.

Initially, Platinum was considered a parasitic metal, this was present the American South gold mines, and it was difficult to separate it from the gold.
Impossible to merge with the techniques of the time, Platinum had no value or use until 1751, when it was recognized as a new element of incredible property: more heavy than gold, impossible to oxidize, and 30 times more scarce than gold.

Such chemical resistance spurred its use in the manufacture of scientific equipment throughout the 18th century.

Tiffany platinum wedding ring
Gradually, the Platinum became interested jewelers, as Marc Janety, Royal Jeweler of Louis XVI, and Pierre Chabaneu, supplier of jewelry for the Spanish Court. Started to use Platinum in the manufacture of buttons, chains of watches and other accessories.

Since the second half of the 19th century, the use of Platinum as a noble metal for jewelry became more common.
It is now the favorite metal for mounting diamonds, being their widespread use in rings of commitments.

Platinum should cost much more than gold (is 30 times more low), but gold and Platinum prices are not so far. The reason is that Platinum has so much industrial uses than gold, which main use is still the jewelry and the minting of coins, which does not cause excessive shortage in the market.

Yellow Gold with stones in Pink Hearts ring or
black. A piece of exclusive design symbolizing love
the more United souls. Elegance and good taste for 735€
the piece.

Miuccia Prada, the same designer earrings I make as a banana or electric guitars during the last spring/summer 2011 collection, has made a curious collection of earrings, leather and strass, clearly influenced by the aesthetics of the House Prada summer Collections.

Proposals in jewels are marked by using bright colors, such as red and green, yel use of rhinestones that adds light to the pieces, which are sized generous, as dictates it the current trend in the fashion world to have recourse to the aesthetics of the 1950s / 60.
The recurrent use of rose jewelry, like earrings already games the gargantilla, brings glamour with a touch of extravagance, with an own house Prada, always away from the conventions of Baroque touch.

The diamond is the hardest mineral in nature, therefore the Mohs hardness scale assigns the value 10 as much as possible. Its hardness is due to its carbon-carbon bonds are very stable and that you have formed a perfect pyramid. It resists the action of acids and burns in oxygen to 800 ° C approximately.

We are currently able to produce artificial diamonds and in addition they are manufactured on a large scale. Although artificial diamonds are mostly of industrial application, however, are also manufactured diamond jewelry. Its price is obviously smaller than a real diamond.

The diamond-rich regions are the India, Brazil and South Africa. He is usually needed to dig extensive kilometers of land to obtain a good size diamond. That’s why these gemstones have a high price on the market.

Diamond dazzles by the beauty of its sparkle and glare that produces. This is caused by his quality of dispersed light that transcends him and its high index of refraction, light bounces off the inside and turns into a range of multiple colors. The degree of the beauty of the iris of the diamond depends, largely, the carved and polished it. Because of its extreme hardness, a diamond, only, can refine using another diamond.

But not all diamonds are useful for jewelry, when you buy a diamond jewel must assess the following aspects:

Transparency of the diamond

It is determined by the purity of the mineral, as diamonds to the form may include small particles of coal which lead to microscopic inclusions. The following classification of the gemstone is set according to the number and size of these inclusions:

FL – flawless (Flawless): No imperfections visible using a 10 x magnifying glass, both internal and external.

IF (Internally Flawless – impeccable internally): Without visible internal imperfections using a 10 x Loupe.

VVS (Very Very Slightly Imperfect – very very light imperfections): Imperfections are seen with difficulty using a 10 x Loupe. Within the VVS we can find diamonds VVS1 and VVS2.

VS (Very Slightly Imperfect – very light imperfections): Visible imperfections using a 10 x Loupe. VS1 and VS2 diamonds found within the VS.

S (Slightly Imperfect – light imperfections visible): Clearly visible with the magnifying glass 10 x. Within the S we can find diamonds S1 and S2.

(I) (Imperfect – Imperfectos): Imperfections are obvious when using a magnifying glass 10 x and they are also perceptible to the naked eye. In the I can find diamonds I1, I2, and I3.

Color of diamonds

The color is very important in determining the price of a diamond. By the trend of wanting to have a pure diamond is valued mainly the absence of color, transparency has as a result a better refraction of light, and therefore a greater number of reflections in all ranges of colours, in turn getting greater intensity in flashes. Diamonds have a natural tendency to present a yellow or brown hue which makes that the absence of color is even more prized in these gems. However, those diamonds that are markedly from a single color, which makes them very rare diamond, also have a very high value.

On the basis of the color of the bright, establishing a classification to facilitate its assessment, the scale is based on the trend of the tone of diamonds into the most common color is yellow:

Colorless: With three stops, D, E and F.
Nearly colorless: with four scales, G, H, I, and J.
Pale yellow: with three scales, K, L and m.
Very clear yellow: with five scales, N, O, P, Q and R.
Light yellow: with the scale S, T, U, V, W, X, and y Z.
Yellow: Is used in jewellery.

The weight of the diamond

The weight of a diamond is measured in carats, a carat equals 0.2 grams or 200 milligrams. You must not confuse weight with size, because according to the type of carving, a diamond may appear larger than other but really the weight is less. What if you can compare are diamonds with the same size will where obviously of greater diameter always weigh more than the smaller diameter.