Gemstones: An Introduction to Make an Informed Decision
Gemstones are mineral crystals or organic materials that have been cut and polished into beautiful items by skilled craftsmen. Minerals are naturally formed solid inorganic chemical compounds found in rocks. Each mineral has a fixed chemical composition and regular atomic structure, which gives it its specific hardness and color. Many natural crystals are attractive enough to display. However, most of these crystals are faceted and polished to enhance their appearance.
Few gems, which are called organic, come from plants and animals. These gems include ivory, amber, and pearl. There is a category of gemstones known as synthetic. They have no natural origin and are produced in laboratories. These artificial gems are cut to resemble the real thing. They have the same physical properties and chemical composition as natural gemstones. Gemstones are generally measured by their carat weight.
To be considered a gemstone, it has to be rare, beautiful, and durable. Gemstones, in their natural crystalline form, are rare, meaning they can only be found in certain parts of the world. Their scarcity makes them valuable in the market. The color of the minerals must be attractive, so that the gemstones look beautiful. Gemstones must be durable, which means they must be hard enough to withstand scratches and damage.
The most valuable characteristic of gemstones is color. Colored gemstones such as emeralds, rubies, and sapphires command a high price. Diamonds, though colorless, are made beautiful and brilliant by skilful ways of cutting. White light is made up of a combination of the color spectrum. When white light falls on a gemstone, some of the colors are absorbed while the rest are reflected. Those colors that are reflected are what we see as the color of the gemstone. As each mineral interacts with light differently, a wide variety of gemstone colors are produced.
The physical properties of gemstones are their hardness, their specific gravity, and the way they break. These properties are highly dependent on the atomic structure and chemical bonding of the stone. The hardness of a gemstone is measured by how well it resists scratching. The specific gravity or density of a gemstone is obtained by evaluating its weight based on the weight of an equal volume of water. Gemstones can be broken in two ways, either by cleavage or fracture. How they break depends on the atomic structure of the stone. Gemstones that are cleaved will break along planes of weak atomic bonding. Those that fracture will break along a surface that is unrelated to their atomic structure.
Gem cutting is an art form performed to produce finely cut faceted gems. This art contributes to the beauty of the gemstone and its value. Much progress has been made in the methods of cutting and polishing gems. These improved methods, coupled with a greater understanding of how gemstones respond to light, have resulted in remarkable improvements in gemstone appearance.
Gemologists are fascinated by gemstones. They study each precious stone in depth, both in its natural state and after it has been cut and polished. Gemologists can identify each individual gemstone, as well as distinguish between a natural stone and a fake.
Since ancient times, gemstones are considered precious and are highly sought after. In the past, gemstones were known to represent wealth and power. They are used not only as jewelry to decorate crowns and robes, but also as amulets, talismans and amulets. Today, gemstones are not just for the rich, they are prized by anyone who finds them beautiful and enchanting. Gemstones are commonly used to make creative jewelry pieces that are widely used as accessories for personal adornment. Gemstones are highly prized by people from all walks of life due to their unfading beauty over time. Being captivated by the timeless beauty of gemstones, most of the people wish to own them. Therefore, some people buy gemstones for collection purposes, while others buy gemstone jewelry for personal adornment or as a gift to friends. Gems that represent birthstones are commonly used as birthday gifts. Due to the wide variety of gemstone jewelry items available on the market, there are many gift ideas to choose from.
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