Weekly Motivation Quote of the Day

THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS IS IN YOUR HANDS

You cannot do everything, but you can do something.

Only you can make it happen.No one can do it for you.

No one will do it for you.

Always accept the responsibility for your actions.Always set a higher standard for yourself.

Choose the thoughts and actions that will leadyou on to success.Your success is but a determined action away..

By MAX Steingart

The Truth About Gemstones

The Truth About Gemstones

Gemstone treatments, fakes & composites

Most gemstones used in jewelry have been treated to improve their appearance. Treated gemstones can be a good choice when you know what you are buying and pay a price that reflects a stone's true quality.

Common Gemstone Treatments

Heat and radiation can change or enhance colors.

Diffusion is used to deepen color. It only changes a stone's outer layers.

Oil and waxes are used to enhance color by filling-in fine surface cracks.

Fracture filling, which coats stones with a clear or colored epoxy resin or other substance. This treatment fills-in cracks, which improves the appearance of the stone.

Laser drilling removes inclusions (flaws), improving clarity.

Some gemstone treatments are permanent, others are not. Heat treatments create permanent color changes in some stones, but temporary changes in others.
Always ask if the jewelry you intend to purchase contains treated gemstones. If it does, ask which treatments were used and if those treatments are permanent.

Imitation Gemstones

Imitation, or simulated, stones may look like the real thing, but that's where the similarities end. They do not have any of the same physical characteristics of a natural or synthetic gemstone.

Imitation stones are often made of glass or plastic and most can be detected easily by a jeweler.

A stone that's mounted on a solid back might have foil underneath to make it look more brilliant or change its color.

Moissanite is a newer diamond substitute that's even fooling the pros. It is not a fake—it is a synthetic version gemstone that's only been found in very small quantities in nature.

It's a problem when moissanite or other substance that resembles a similar gem is resold as the more expensive gemstone by someone who either doesn't know the difference, or intends to deceive.

Watch for Composite Stones

A composite is a smaller piece of a desirable, genuine stone that's been combined with a larger chunk of an inexpensive or imitation gemstone.


Doublets are composite stones where a larger, inexpensive chunk is topped by a thin slice of a genuine stone. The division usually isn't obvious without magnification.

One type of doublet sandwiches a colored bonding agent between two clear, inexpensive stones to mimic a colored gemstone.

Triplets are composites assembled in three parts.

Be a Careful Shopper

Jewelry made with synthetic, treated, and imitation stones can be gorgeous—there's no reason to avoid it. What you do want to avoid is paying too much for misrepresented merchandise.

Read as many resources as possible and start looking more closely at jewelry. Ask questions when you shop. It won't make you an overnight pro, but in time it will help you become a more savvy consumer.


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Gemstone Basic - Gemstones from Amethyst to Zircon

Amethyst

The brilliant purple stone known as amethyst is draped in centuries of history – and mystery. Purple is the traditional color of royalty and amethyst has been used in the British Crown Jewels, by Egyptian royalty, and in Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads. The name comes from the Greek word “amethustos” which means “not drunken,” and the amethyst was thought to prevent one from becoming intoxicated from wine.

Famed renaissance genius Leonardo Da Vinci claimed amethyst was capable of warding off evil thoughts and could inspire intelligence.

Later the amethyst became a symbol of celibacy, piety and religious purity and thus was adopted as a Catholic symbol around the time of the Middle Ages. Amethyst came to be the stone of Bishops and some Bishops still wear amethyst rings.

Actually purple quartz, Amethyst is the birthstone for February. Amethyst is primarily mined in Brazil and Zambia, but is also found in Russia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and in the US it’s found in New Mexico.

Diamond

Without a doubt the diamond is by far the most highly prized and valuable of gemstones. Most diamonds will never be bound for a jewelry store. They are used for industrial applications like the making of cutting tools and polishing equipment. The power of the diamond’s beauty is undeniable and that is why we tend to give diamonds for the most special of occasions – an engagement, a wedding, a 30-year anniversary.

Diamonds are made of carbon atoms that are bonded together in four directions yielding the hardest naturally-occurring substance on earth. The conditions under which diamonds are formed are extreme to say the least. To pack carbon atoms so tightly, it is thought that diamonds were created deep below the earth’s surface where pressures are up to 65,000 times that of the atmosphere at the earth’s surface. Extreme temperatures are also necessary for diamonds to form – about 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit.

During these conditions it’s not uncommon for a few stray, non-carbon atoms to sneak in. If nitrogen makes its way in the result will be a yellowish, less desirable diamond. However, if a little boron is present, the diamond may take on a bluish tint which is very rare and therefore highly prized.

April’s birthstone, Diamonds are thought to have first been discovered in ancient India when they washed forth from the ground after heavy rainstorms. Diamonds have since been found all over the globe in Brazil, Siberia, South Africa, and even the US and Canada. Today most gem-quality diamonds are found in parts of Africa.

Emerald

Perhaps because of its stunning green color the emerald for centuries has symbolized life and rebirth. The pharaohs of Egypt mined emeralds as far back as 3,000 BC. The Incas and Aztecs also mined emeralds – and some of the best emeralds are still found in South America. The emerald is the most highly sought of the gemstone family known as beryl, of which aquamarine is also a part.

The emerald’s green color is caused by the presence of chromium in a particular form of beryl. Like diamonds, emeralds have inclusions – usually in the form of tiny gas or liquid bubbles, stress fractures, and trace amounts of foreign crystallizations. These internal inclusions are called “jarden” – the French word for garden – and contribute to the emerald’s rich green coloration.

Emeralds tend to be found in Columbia, Brazil, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, and Russia. Emeralds are May’s birthstone.

Garnet

Garnet is actually a family of gemstones. The word garnet is again derived from a Greek word – in this case “granatum” which refers to the pomegranate seed.

When one thinks of garnet variations of the color red almost always leap to mind. The truth is garnet is found in a wide variety of colors and intensities. But the most common garnets are the reddish ones and they are called by a number of specific names including Almandite, Rhodolite, and Pyrope. These stones range in color from a medium reddish orange to a purplish red or reddish purple.

Other types of garnet include Malaia (pinkish orange hues), Spessartite (yellowish orange) and Tsvorite (green tones). Some garnets are known as color change garnets due to their tendency to shift color depending upon how the light strikes them.

Garnet is the birthstone of January and its various types are found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Opal

The opal probably owes its name to the Sanskrit word “upala” which means “valuable stone.” Australia is the center of the known opal universe and the opal plays a significant role in the traditional folklore of Australia’s Aboriginal people. Today almost 90% of all gemstone opals come from the mines of Australia. The remaining amount is found in northern Brazil, Mexico and in Nevada and Idaho in the US. There are basically three types of opals with differing properties and values.

Precious opals

What distinguishes a precious opal is its opalescence – or the intense play of color as light dances on the stone’s background, or body-color. Varieties of precious opals include White (translucent with white body-color), Black (opaque with dark body-color), and Jelly (transparent with almost no play-of-color).

Fire opal

These opals are aptly named. Their unique appeal comes from a stone that has a red, yellow, or orange body-color, and is in the range of transparent to semitransparent. Sometimes there is the presence of opalescence – or play of color – and sometimes there is none. While most other opals are found in Australia, fire opals are primarily found in Mexico, and are sometimes called “Mexican Opals.”

Common opal

As the name might suggest, these opals are not all that rare. Common opals are for the most part opaque and there is little to no play of color.

While the sheer beauty of the opal inspires wonder and they are certainly here to be enjoyed, great care must be made to ensure opals maintain their luster and play of color. Opals contain small amounts of water and over time the water content in an opal can diminish, damaging its beauty and value. When buying opals, always make sure your jeweler has a gemologist available, and ask him or her about the proper care and storage of opals.

Pearls

Pearls are unique in the world of gemology as they are the only gem that is formed inside a living creature. Pearls are produced when an oyster defends itself from an invader, or irritant – like a tiny spec of sand or other debris. The oyster produces a substance called nacre which is deposited around the irritant. Over time the layers of nacre build up to produce a pearl.

The pearl was once one of the most prized treasures on earth because their production was a totally random, natural process. In the late 1800s a Japanese man named Kokichi Mikimoto learned he could gather oysters, implant them with an irritant, and return them to the water where they would produce a cultured pearl. The process usually takes about three years, but can take as many as six years. Today almost all pearls are cultured because natural sources have been depleted.

Cultured pearls generally fall into two categories – saltwater and freshwater. Japan is still the leading producer of saltwater cultured pearls. The largest saltwater pearls are cultivated in the South Pacific with Tahiti being the home of the highly prized Black Pearl. China is the leading supplier of freshwater pearls, they are also produced in the Mississippi river.

Like most other gemstones, pearls are valued by size, rarity, beauty, and degree of perfection. But two specific qualities are used to determine the value of pearls – orient and luster. Orient describes the degree of mild iridescence that results from light refracting off the layers of the nacre. Luster refers to the level of shine and reflectivity on the pearl’s surface. Pearls that have a slightly rose tint are very desirable. Other colors include hints of gray, green, lilac, gold, and of course, the Tahitian Black Pearl.

Unlike some other gemstones, it is simple to determine the authenticity of a pearl. Take the pearl and very gently rub it on the edge of a tooth. The feeling should be slightly abrasive. A completely glass-like smoothness is a sign that a “pearl” is probably just a painted glass bead. A real pearl, either cultured or natural, is the birthstone of June.

Ruby

The ruby likely gets its name from the Latin word “rubeus” which means red. The ruby is also often referred to as the “king of the gems,” not only because of their popularity among royaly, but also because the Sanskrit word for ruby, “ratnaraj,” literally translates to “King of gemstones.”

India is believed to be the traditional birthplace of ruby lore, and was for a long time a prime source for rubies. In fact rubies have been studied, admired, and mythologized in Indian literature for at least two-thousand years. Today rubies are chiefly mined in Southeast Asia, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, and Africa. Other places where rubies are found include Cashmere, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Northern Pakistan.

Around 1800 scientists determined that rubies and sapphires belonged to the same family of minerals called corundum (this word is also rooted in the Sanskrit – “kuruvinda”). Up until this time, both red garnet and red spinel were often referred to as rubies. The differences are so subtle, many of the brilliant red gemstones in England’s Royal Jewels – thought for years to be rubies – turned out to be red spinels.

While the word ruby immediately conjures thoughts of the color red, the depth and intensity of red can vary considerably. For years the most highly-prized rubies had a deep red color which was referred to as “pigeon’s blood.” The redness of rubies can vary so dramatically from deposit to deposit, it is almost impossible to predict where the most desirable rubies will be found. The red color of the ruby is caused by the presence of chromium. The ruby is the birthstone for July.

Sapphire

The word sapphire comes from “Sappheiros” Greek word for blue. But blue is by no means the only color of sapphires. The gemstone that is almost synonymous with “blue” is also found in bluish green, brown, yellow, violet, pink, and the breath-taking and highly valuable pink-orange “padparadscha” – the Sinhalese word for lotus flower.

The sapphire belongs to the same family of minerals, corundum, as the ruby. Sapphires are found today in many of the same regions where rubies are found – largely due to their chemical similarities. Sapphires are currently mined in Sri Lanka, Australia, Africa, Thailand, and in Montana.
The most valuable sapphires are the deep blue Kashmir stones – so named for the region in India where they were originally found. Nearly as precious are sapphires from Myanmar (Burma).

Another extremely rare and valuable variety of sapphire is that which contains what is called an “asterism.” The asterism is a naturally occurring trait caused by slivery inclusions that appear as a six-pointed star floating in the heart of the stone when the light catches it just right. These sapphires depend on the skill of the gem cutter as much they do on nature for their singular beauty, and the craftsman must cut the stone into domed shape called a “cabochon.”

For centuries, because of its true-blue color, the sapphire has been a symbol of sympathy, harmony, loyalty, permanence, and reliability. For this reason in some cultures the sapphire is a popular stone for engagement rings. The sapphire is the birthstone for those born in September.

Topaz

The origin of the word topaz is likely the island of Topazios in the Red Sea – a theory partially substantiated by the fact that ancient Egyptians associated the golden color of topaz with their sun god Ra. The Romans also symbolized their sun god, Jupiter, with topaz.

Today the topaz is most commonly thought of as having a brilliant blue color. In reality the topaz, like a number of other precious stones, occurs in a variety of colors including yellow, reddish-brown, pale green, and even colorless. Topaz can have a gold or amber color – hence the sun god meanings for the Egyptians and the Romans. “Imperial” topaz, so named for the Russian Czars who prized it, possesses an orange coloration with hints of pinkish red. Imperial topaz is among the world finest. Pink topaz is also one of the most valuable varieties.

Chicanery lead the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to regulate the nomenclature in the world of gemstones – sapphires in particular had been the subject of creative marketing language. “Smoky Topaz” is really quartz and it is now called “smoky quartz.” “Golden topaz” is actually heat-treated amethyst. Mix-ups and misrepresentations have lead to real topaz being called “precious topaz.” Topaz is the traditional birthstone for November, but because blue topaz is prevalent and inexpensive, it is a widely accepted substitute for March’s birthstone aquamarine.

Zircon

Zircon probably gets its name from the Persian word “Zargun” with “zar” meaning “gold” and “gun” meaning “color.” While sometimes the zircon has been viewed as a second-class citizen in the gem world, it is a brilliant, fiery gemstone. In medieval times it was believed the zircon possessed mystical properties that could remedy sleeplessness, promote wealth, and endow its owner with wisdom and honor.

Like many other gemstones, the zircon appears in myriad colors, the most sought after being red. Blue zircons are also highly-valued. Other colors include brown, yellow, colorless, and orange. Zircons are often heat-treated to achieve a blue, golden-brown, or colorless appearance. Of all gemstones, clear zircons most closely resemble diamonds, but that is where the similarities end. Zircons are downright brittle compared to diamonds, and therefore greater care should be taken with them.

Zircons are mined in a number of countries but most are found in Australia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Blue zircon is the birthstone of December, but turquoise and tanzanite are accepted alternatives.

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What are Diamond ?

Diamonds: The Most Precious of Gems

Diamonds are among the most prized substances on earth. Their incomparable brilliance, elegance, durability and mystery have captivated our imagination for thousands of years. Considering the endless lore and mystique behind this regal stone, it's no wonder that it has come to symbolize the ultimate gift of love and romance.

Not only is a diamond the overwhelming choice for prospective brides and grooms selecting an engagement ring, but the gem is also the birthstone for April. And diamonds are the recommended gift for couples celebrating their 10th, 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries.

Buying a major piece of diamond jewelry such as an engagement ring or anniversary band is one of the most expensive purchases many of us will ever make. That's why it's so important to understand the elements behind the quality and cost of a stone, so you can make an informed buying decision.

When shopping for a diamond, keep in mind that the value of a stone is determined by the "4 Cs" of cut, color, clarity and carat weight.

Cut refers to the execution of the diamond's design, the skill with which it was cut, the quality of its polish, and the overall symmetry of the stone. Diamond cuts are broadly graded as Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Fair or Poor. A well-cut diamond releases the inner brilliance of the stone and projects its maximum amount of fire and sparkle. A poorly cut diamond allows light to leak out the sides or bottom rather than reflecting back to the eye, resulting in a "dull" diamond that may even have some "dead" spots inside.

Color refers to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. As a rule, the whiter the stone, the greater its value. Even a slight tinge of yellow or brown could have a negative impact on a stone's value. Most diamonds are graded on the GIA color scale that begins with "D" for colorless and continues all the way down to "Z", with the color becoming more visible as you move down the alphabet. Stones in the D-F color ranges are considered the most valuable because they are the rarest.

Clarity refers to the presence of surface or internal flaws within a diamond caused during its formation. External marks are known as blemishes, while internal ones are called inclusions. Diamonds are graded for clarity on a scale ranging from "F" for flawless (no blemishes or inclusions visible under 10x magnification) to "I" for imperfect (inclusions visible to the naked eye), with numerous grades and subgrades in between. The best diamonds, of course, are flawless, but these stones are exceptionally rare and therefore very costly.

Carat weight refers to the size of the stone. The carat is the measure of weight for diamonds. One carat is approximately 200 milligrams, or 100 "points". A stone weighing a half-carat would be a 50 pointer, and so on. In general, larger diamonds are rarer and have a higher value per carat. However, other factors such as cut, color and clarity come into play as well in determining a stone's value. It's entirely possible for a smaller stone of exceptional cut, color and clarity to be worth more than a larger stone of only average quality in these areas.

There are even fancy natural colored diamonds in reds, pinks, blues, greens, yellows, browns and other colors. They vary in color richness or saturation from "faint" to "vivid", with the latter grade reserved for stones with the most vivid and deepest saturation.

The value of a fancy stone depends largely on the rarity of its color (for instance, reds and greens are rarer than yellows and browns); the saturation of the color; and the purity of the color (whether the color is bright and clear or clouded by tinges of other underlying colors). Top grade fancy diamonds are extremely rare and can command tremendous prices. Probably the most famous colored diamond is the Hope, a 45.52-carat deep blue gem that resides in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Even though diamonds are the hardest known substance on earth, rating a "10" on the Mohs scale of hardness, they can still be damaged if they aren't handled with care. Since only diamonds can scratch other diamonds, it's important to wrap and store your diamond jewelry pieces separately so they aren't touching one another.

Also, diamond jewelry should never be worn during heavy work, since points are vulnerable to chipping and the setting can be loosened. Visit a jewelry retailer every six months to have your diamonds, mountings and settings checked.

As for cleaning, it's always best to have this done by a professional. To clean jewelry at home, you can soak your diamonds in warm, sudsy water made with any mild liquid detergent, brush with a soft toothbrush, then rinse and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Other effective cleaning methods include soaking diamonds in household ammonia, brand-name liquid jewelry cleaners and even a glass of vodka.

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Necklaces Buying Guide for Him to Her

A necklace or pendant adds style to anything she wears. If you give a necklace as a gift, you also have a romantic opportunity to put it on her. She'll lift her hair up so you can wrap your hands around her neck to put it on.

A necklace is any type of chain, or length of precious metal or gems, while a pendant features a single jewel, pearl or charm. A pearl strand is a length of strung pearls.

Metal Chains
Chains go with everything. A fine platinum chain in a choker length will add just a touch of shine. Consider giving her an 18-inch, sterling silver or 18k gold chain to add an element of visual interest to her wardrobe.

Pendants
A pendant is something she can wear with a dress or jeans. The simple design of a solitaire pendant allows all the attention to focus on a beautiful pearl or diamond solitaire. Other pendants feature shapes like a heart, or a cross made of precious metal, diamonds, or gemstones.

Pearl Strands
Pearl strands are an essential element to a woman's jewelry wardrobe. She can wear one with a dress to create a classy look.

Fashion Necklaces
These include chains with tags, or chains with decorative beads or gemstones fixed on the necklace, or several decorative beads strung so that they slide around a chain.

Choose The right Length

When selecting a necklace or pendant, consider that the length will determine where it will lie on her chest. Remember that longer lengths accentuate the bust while shorter lengths feature the beautiful lines of her neck.

Necklaces & Pendants Gifts

Many women start out with a strand of faux-pearls, so a strand of freshwater pearls makes a very nice gift for a young woman. If you have a special occasion like a birthday or your first wedding anniversary, consider a solitaire pendant featuring a pearl or diamond. For a very special occasion like a five- or ten-year anniversary, you might give Akoya pearls, which are the most beautiful white pearls available. She'll remember the occasion every time she wears the gift.

If it's a gift for a fun occasion, like a vacation or a promotion, consider a pendant featuring an 18k gold, platinum, or sterling silver charm — these are fashion pieces just for fun.

Articles By : Jewelryfinest

women's Fine jewelry trend

Historically, marketers of fine jewelry have targeted their advertising campaigns primarily towards men, but times have changed. With powerhouses like Debeers leading the way with their famous right hand ring campaign, jewelers have realized that the modern woman is now the target consumer and the rest of the industry is taking notice. Men still tend to purchase the higher ticket items, but they buy for special occasions, namely engagements, anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas.

The workingwomen today have strong purchasing power and equally strong opinions of what they like. And what the modern woman wants, the modern woman buys. In fact, according to the JCK magazine, 80% of all jewelry purchasers today are women.What are they buying? What is it that women are buying and not buying today? The first thing they want is “Big” with a lot of bling.

They are doing this by sometimes sacrificing the quality of stone for size, other times by choosing pieces with multiple diamonds that give the illusion of a big look. The days of women being satisfied with a plain gold wedding band is gone. Anything paved, basically small round diamonds set everywhere, with minimal metal showing is in hot demand.And the second thing they want is color…lots and lots of it.

In fact,They are opting for alternative semi-precious stones set around diamonds, rather then going for the traditional pricier precious stones. Sales of the traditional sapphires, emeralds and ruby stone jewelry have plummeted and have been replaced by the colorful and “cheaper” alternative semi-precious stone jewelry.

All colors sell and the popularity of a certain color will vary with the season and fashion. Beryls, rubellite, rhodolite, garnet, topaz, citrine, garnets, jade, tourmalines, periodot, amber, carnelian, jade, the selection and colors are endless. Pink and blue-green are always hot colors.Not only are stones big in rings but also gemstone bead strands have been the hot ticket item the last few years. Tourmaline, peridot, topaz, iolite, jade, lapis, onyx, beryl mixed with gold beads, pearls and accented with big centerpiece pendants have been popular.

After enduring a decade of the white metal and diamonds minimalism look, women revolted and the “bigness” of size and color became the flavor du-jour for women’s necklaces. During the minimalist period where necklaces were all worn short, the necklaces of today have evolved to the belly button length. These necklaces are usually 32” or longer and worn long or doubled for a layered look.Thus the designs of fine jewelry offered in the market today are as varied as each designer’s imagination. Even the traditional industries of diamonds and pearls have had to use modern technology and upgrade their designs to keep up with the demands of the female consumer.

These consumers are no longer satisfied with the status quo; they don’t want just the round white diamond or the round white pearls. Diamonds are being color treated to come in blue, green, pink, yellow, brown and black. They are being cut with names like the asscher cut, cushion cut, radiant cut, criss–cut, lily cut. In fact, now that laser is cutting diamonds, many firms are out there putting their own spin on traditional cuts and renaming the cuts after themselves. Also, pearls are hotter then ever. Some of the biggest name in jewelry designer made their mark specializing in pearl designs.

Pearls are now being dyed every color under the rainbow and laser treated to turn them chocolate brown. The cast offs that used to be thrown away are being turned into designer masterpieces. Every part of the oyster is used to make all different shapes and size pearls. Cultured, Tahitian, south sea, fresh water, mother of pearl, mabe pearls come in all shapes and sizes. In the past, the Japanese dominated the industry with their traditional akoya pearl strands, but then the Chinese, Australia and many of the South Sea regions came up with their own farming techniques to make their mark with their own pearl specialties.

Women today want fashionable jewelry, they follow not only the fashion runway trends, but also their fashion icons. A diamond circle of life necklace worn by an icon such as Oprah Winfrey can start a major frenzy that can last up to 3 years. Women want versatility in their jewelry. They want jewelry they can wear to the office as well as go out to dinner and just plain live in. They want anything that gives her a feeling of change from day to night or that she can color coordinate with different outfits. So whether it is a ring, earring, bracelet or necklace, it is all desired as long as it is accented with diamonds, stones or pearls.

The price point that woman buy for themselves is still a lot less then what men spend on average, but there is something to be said about volume sales. Also where men have usually purchased traditional designs, women have forced the jewelry industry to evolve and revolutionize in a short period of time. This is the power of what women want.

Articles By Jewelryfinest