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WHAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COLOURED GEMSTONES |
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The
legendary power of gemstones |
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What
is a gemstone? |
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Why
buy a coloured gemstone? |
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What determines the value of a gemstone?
Colour, Cut, Clarity, Carat weight. |
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Caring
for your gemstones |
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Gemstones
and Birthstones |
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Why
should you buy your coloured gemstones from a jeweler |
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Jewelery is special. It can
last a lifetime, It can be an emotional and sentimental experience that evokes wonderful
memories while still giving pleasure for years ahead. When buying for yourself or for
others, it helps to have an understanding of the qualities and characteristics of
jewelery. |
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If you need more
information or advice, please click on the links at the bottom of the page. |
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1 |
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The
legendary power of gemstones |
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Your
desire to own or wear a coloured gemstone isn't new or unique. Throughout all
civilisations, gems have held a fascination - sometimes even a legendary power - for
people from all cultures. |
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The
mystery and romance of gemstones goes back as far as we can trace, to those primitive days
when people coveted these beautiful stones as charms or amulets to ward off evil. Later;
as life became more sophisticated, the rarity and beauty of gems established themselves as
the ultimate status symbol. |
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Today,
the pride of possessing a rare and beautiful gemstone is as great as ever. There is,
however, one major difference - at one time only the very wealthy or the very powerful
could hope to own a gemstone. Now, thanks to discoveries of rich mining and alluvial
sources, no-one needs to be a millionaire to afford a gemstone. |
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2 |
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What
is a Gemstone? |
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Most
simply stated, the majority of gemstones are minerals (important exceptions - pearls and
coral are of animal origin; jet and amber are vegetable). These minerals have been
crystallised as a result of high temperature and pressures exerted by nature on the
elements that form the earth’s crust. |
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Of
more than 3,000 minerals found on earth, only a small percentage qualify as gemstones due
to their beauty, durability and rarity. The most sought-after are transparent gems, drops
of pure colour cut from single crystals, which were once divided into precious and
semi-precious categories. This is no longer true as gem discoveries have new varieties to
the traditional selection of ruby, emerald and sapphire. In fact, some of the more unusual
gemstones command higher prices because of their beauty and rarity. For example, fine jade
and fine opal, tsavorite and alexandrite could be more valuable than lesser quality
emeralds of the same carat weight. |
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The
selection of fine quality gemstones includes such stones as alexandrite, amber, amethyst,
aquamarine, chrysoberyl, citrine, granet, islite, jade, kunzite, lapis lazuli, moonstone,
opal, peridot, spinel, tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline, ziosite, turquoise and zircon. Each
of these gemstones has a particular charm, colour and identity. |
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3 |
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Why
buy a coloured gemstone? |
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Each
person has his or her own reason for wanting to buy, own or wear a coloured gemstone.
There are, however, several basic and valid reasons that make gemstones desirable
possessions. |
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Gemstones
are primarily beautiful. Every stone is a natural work of art, each one having a
distinct and separate personality and possessing unique and distinguishing beauty marks. |
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Gemstones
are generally durable. Gemstones can last for generations and, in some cases, for
centuries. The treasures of King Tut prove that gemstones endure through many lifetimes. |
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Gemstones
are rare. While it is true that there are new sources of gemstones, today's
economy has brought higher disposable incomes to more people than ever before. As the
demand for gemstones is greater, the supply has become limited in its ability to meet this
demand. |
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4 |
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What
determines the value of a gemstone? |
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There
are several factors that determine the value of a gemstone. |
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Colour
- The strength and purity of a gemstone's colour is of prime importance. There is
no established right or wrong colour; and there are literally thousands of shades of red,
blue and green. Therefore, you should make your selection according to your own personal
taste. |
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Cut
- The cut of a gemstone is of extraordinary importance. The proper cutting
emphasises the richness of the gemstone's inherent colour, which is the focal point of the
gem's beauty that attracts the eye. |
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Clarity
- While the clarity of a gemstone is an important feature, it is equally important
to remember that completely flawless gemstones are very rare. Inclusions are inherent to
practically every gemstone and are nature's way of adding variety and individuality to a
gemstone. Even the most expensive contain some inclusions. |
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Carat
weight - The size or weight of a gemstone also affects its value. Remember, 1.00ct
of gem weight equates to 0.20 gram but it is not a quality rating as in gold. |
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5 |
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Caring for
your gemstones |
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Buying a gemstone
is your investment in lasting beauty. Treat it accordingly. A gemstone's durability means
it can last for generations - but it must be handled with care. Here are some easy
guidelines for taking care of your gemstones. |
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Keep your jewelery separated when you put
it away. Never let one item touch another, and always put it in soft fabric. |
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Apply colognes and toiletries before you put
on your jewelery. |
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Clean your jewelery regularly. Ask your
jeweler to recommend the proper cleaning methods. |
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Bring your gemstones to your jeweler
every year. They can then be expertly cleaned and their settings checked. |
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Finally, rely on your jeweler, before
and after your purchase. Your jeweler is here today, not only to sell merchandise to you,
but also to be here tomorrow, to give you service and advice. |
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6 |
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Gemstones
and Birthstones |
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The variety of
colours and qualities of valuable gem is almost limitless. Some of the most popular ones
have been allocated to months of the year; bringing all people born in their months under
the protection of that stone. |
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The
Birthstones: |
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January.........................Garnet |
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February.......................Amethyst |
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March...........................Aquamarine |
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April.............................Diamond |
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May..............................Emerald |
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June..............................Pearl |
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July
..............................Ruby |
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August..........................Peridot |
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September....................Sapphire |
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October........................Opal |
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November....................Topaz |
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December.....................Turquoise |
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7 |
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Why you should
buy your coloured gemstones from a jeweler |
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Admiring and reading about
gemstones may make you feel knowledgeable, but you're still not an expert. If you're
thinking about purchasing a gemstone, you need a trained professional jeweller whom you
can trust, so you can be advised on quality as well as a suitable setting and mounting. |
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Your jeweller can
recommend a setting that will best display your gemstone, allowing the right amount of
light to reach the stone while still providing maximum protection. The correct design can
further enhance your gemstone. |
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