Categories of Gemstones

There are many different types of gemstones, and knowing the different categories can help a collector or enthusiast expand his repertoire greatly. Some precious gemstones are so unique in chemical composition and crystalline structure that they fall into their own categories, while others can be collectively lumped into one. Here are the major types of precious and semi precious gemstones:

Diamond - diamond is it's own type of gemstone, and is well known for being the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man. Diamonds are primarily high-carbon crystals that were fused under extremes of pressure and heat.

Diamonds themselves aren't especially rare, with thousands being mined throughout the world every year; however, large diamonds of high quality are extremely rare, and it is these which are well known for setting the standards of diamond gemstones as the world's most precious stone.

Corundum - this is the second hardest type of gemstone, and is primarily defined as being composed of aluminum oxide and various trace minerals. The trace minerals create different types of corundum, and perhaps the two most well known examples of this type of stone are rubies and sapphires. Rough corundum isn't used as a gemstone, but is used as an industrial strength abrasive element due to it's tough nature.

Chrysoberyl - this is the third hardest gemstone, and while it uses aluminum oxide as a base element like corundums, it has high quantities of beryllium mixed in with it. Appearance wise, chrysoberyls often come in a green to yellow shade, though their appearance is best known for having the tendency to actually change color somewhat under different types of lighting. Cat's eye and alexandrite are two common chrysoberyls used in jewelry.

Quartz - this is actually one of the most common types of mineral in the world and comes in a wide variety of colors. It's main tendency is to form in hexagonal shapes and it makes an excellent prism if unflawed.

The main reason quartz can still be categorized as a valuable gemstone is that, while it IS easy to find quartz stones, finding a large, perfect, and unflawed quartz crystal of jewelry quality is extremely rare. Some examples of quartz gems commonly used in jewelry are onyx, amethysts, citrines, and carnelians.

Beryl - this is a stone well known for it's beauty and has elements in common with both chrysoberyl and quartz. It's basic chemical composition is similar to chrysoberyl, with beryllium and aluminum prevalent but mixed in with other trace elements. It's basic crystalline structure, on the other hand, is closer to quartz, being hexagonal in nature.

At it's simplest, beryl is actually transparent, while it's other colored variants include emeralds and aquamarines. It can come in yellow and red shades as well, and these are referred to as "red" or "yellow" emeralds.

Jade - this is one type of gemstone originally lumped into the same category as beryl. The main reasons for this are because both can be mined in similar places and they possess similar textures, opacity, and appearance (just different colors).

Later on, chemical analysis showed that the elements which made up the different forms of precious jade, namely nephrite and jadeite, were different from beryl completely, thus earning jade it's own category among gemstone collectors. Jade based stones are often composed of calcium and magnesium elements.

Feldspar - this is a unique type of gemstone whose base material is tectonic in nature. It is often found in areas of high geographic instability like earthquake faults and volcanic chains. Feldspar's basic chemical composition is made up of very common elements found deep inside the earth's crust.

What makes it valuable as a gemstone is the same factor that makes a diamond much more valuable than a lump of coal that would normally contain the same elements as diamond. That is, with sufficient heat and pressure applied, the tectonic elements fuse together to make a rare red gemstone known as feldspar.

Organic Gemstones - the most famous examples of this are pearls and amber. Basically, organic gemstones are ones which occur naturally in organic sources as opposed to mineral sources. Pearls are formed from oysters, while amber is a yellow stone formed from fossilized tree sap. While not gemstones per se, organic gemstones are still used heavily in jewelry so are included in this list.

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Rarity is Determined by The Gem's Color

If there is one appealing aspect of gemstones that up to this moment continuously lures women to be inclined toward it, that would be its bedazzling sparkle and exquisite colors. Among all gemstones the precious stones are the most dazzling of them all which includes sapphires, emeralds and rubies.

The aforementioned gemstones are popular due to their striking colors such as blue, red and green. While sapphires among the three other gemstones have other variety in terms of its color, which includes yellow, green and pink.

Nonetheless, all gemstones have their own respective appealing color which adds to its daintiness. As an example, we may take the pearls which have several colors like pink, red and white while aquamarine is known for being bluish green. The amethyst for that matter is known for being stained with the shades of purple, while garnets are known to be green, purple and red. Gems also have other color variations like red, green and blue.

Your desire matters

An exceptional advantage that is offered by gemstones to its clients is that they have all the freedom to select the color which they prefer. In line to that, most of the gems that are intense and richest in terms of its color merit higher market value as compared to others. This is the very reason why other gemstones even though it is of the same kind has different price depending on its color.

For instance the emerald is known for its various shades of green, however the most famous color is the bluish green which also happens to be the most expensive kind.

Finding treasure

If you think that those adorable gemstones are beautiful from the very start then you are wrong, because when they are located inside the mines they might probably end up on long list of your most precious objects. The beauty of the gem only is discovered after it is polished and cut out by the stores which are to sell these gems to the public.

The richer the color of the stone the more precious it is. But of course once it undergoes the proper polishing measures, its sparkle also contributes to its potential market value. However, you ought to be reminded that the stones of the richest colors are very rare, which results to the lessening of the client's standards and leads them to settle for gems with lighter colors.

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Spotting a Good Gemstone

Jade, a generic term for nephrite and jadeite gemstones is regarded as a fascinating gemstone for collectors and jewelry enthusiasts. Asian countries regard jade as a valuable antique. Jade is said to have symbolic beauty and energy since it balances creativity and mental agility in gemstone therapy. Many people want jade for various reasons because of its uniqueness as well as its impressive history where even the Aztecs and ancient Egyptians regard jade as a symbolic item. Here are some guidelines in spotting a good jade.

Select the people you buy jade from

Since jade is a really rare and wanted gemstone, many people have created ways of making fakes or imitation jades. Finding a good genuine jade might cost a lot and consume a lot of time. In buying jade gemstones, only trust reputable sellers or dealers and collectors. Never buy from shady stores in the area or resorting to online stores which can be doubted most of the time. Having a critical eye to look for a good jade gemstone will be a necessary weapon in hunting for these beauties.

Determining the value of the jade

Generally, a jade gemstones value depends on the intensity of the color, transparency, clarity, and its texture. Connoisseurs differentiate the shades of green in seven main qualities, from light shades of apple green to the darker shades of green.

Different countries regard a specific color more valuable among jade gemstones based from their culture. USA and Europe regard spinach green and apple green colors of jade the most valuable. Meanwhile, far eastern countries prefer jade in colors of sheer white or yellow with a trace of pink. Generally, the hint of lavender or fine violet in jade is the most popular color. However the rarest of jade gemstones in color are the imperial green which has extraordinary depth. This color of jade gemstone fetches the highest price.

It all depends on the collector or buyer

For those collectors who don't just fancy buying jade gemstones, advice on what to buy will be futile. Everyone has their own tastes and preference on what color or shape to buy. However for those enthusiasts who enjoy the beauty of jade, they have a wide variety of designs to choose from, especially since modern chic designs have sprouted.

Nevertheless, anyone will enjoy a jade gemstone, no matter its color, shape, or texture, since it is a beauty no one can deny.

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