Gemology

Jadeite is one of two minerals commonly called jade. The other is nephrite. The two minerals weren't recognized as separate until 1863. Chinese jadeites have been carved for thousands of years and...

Pool Maintenance is not fun, and can be a pain_Here are some tips to help you with the dreadful "sand change."

Hobbyists and jewelers alike rely on rock tumblers to smooth and polish the surface of rough-cut stones thanks to abrasive technology. Abrasive technology involves the use of materials such as...

When cleaning rhinestone jewelry, you basically need soap, a toothbrush and water. Discover how to clean rhinestone jewelry with tips from a professional bench jeweler and gemologist in this free...

Cleaning crystal jewelry, the one thing you have to watch out for the most is the type of material that it's strung on. Learn to clean crystal jewelry the right way with the guidance of a...

Cleaning a copper bracelet requires the use of Tarn-X and Connoisseurs Jewelry Wipes. Find out how to properly clean a copper bracelet with the advice of a professional bench jeweler and...

To clean turquoise and silver jewelry, use Tarn-X, a toothbrush and an end brush. Learn more about how to clean turquoise and silver jewelry from a professional bench jeweler and gemologist in...

To clean gold chains, you're going to need soap, Tarn-X, a toothbrush and an end brush. Make your gold chain look brand new with help from a professional bench jeweler and gemologist in this free...

Caring for copper jewelry is very easy with the help of a dry cloth. Polish your copper jewelry with the advice of a gemologist in this free video on cleaning jewelry.

The pet rock craze started around 1975 in Los Gatos, California. Did you buy one then? If you did, where is it now? Can’t remember I bet. If you released it into the wild (as most people did),...

Faceting is a process of achieving geometric patterns on a gemstone by polishing and cutting. This is accomplished using a faceting machine. Diamonds were the first gemstones to be faceted...

The diamond tester for fine jewelry and gemstones is a great little hand-held tool that is about the size of a pair of sunglasses. It comes in a case that looks similar, too. You can carry this...

If you've found some rocks that you think are promising, your next step is to polish them up. But you may not be in a position to spend a few hundred dollars on a commercially made rock tumbler....

Stone marbles are part of many game-playing traditions, both ancient and modern, from all across the world. In Germany, they are made by breaking up hard stone into small pieces and grinding off...

Rock tumbling is the process by which gemstones are polished. The stones are placed in a barrel that is mechanically rotated. Small material that is very hard and coarse, called grit, is placed in...

Rock polishing grit is made of silicon carbide, a substance harder than most rocks. It is much the same as silica sand, a sand used in sandblasting with a primary component of quartz. Polishing...

The principle behind grading of pearls is similar to that of diamonds. The 5 most important characteristics to consider while evaluating pearls...

Most consumers are familiar with precious and semi-precious jewels, but there are numerous other classifications of gems and stones.

A diamond is a form of carbon in which the carbon atoms are arranged in a crystal structure such that each carbon atom is surrounded by four other carbon atoms to form a perfect tetrahedron. This...

Using a stone and a setting, you can fashion your own ring instead of going to a jeweler. With the right tools, common setting metals such as silver, sterling silver, karat gold and pure gold are...

Rhodochrosite is manganese carbonate, a pink mineral with white bands, and is used in jewelry and as an ornamental stone. Rhodochrosite, which has the chemical formula of MnCO3, is found in a...

Rock tumbling is a popular hobby. A rock tumbler is a motorized barrel that turns the stones over and over in compination with a sanding grit. This process takes rough stones and creates...

Fire agate is a rare iridescent gem in the quartz family, a variant of chalcedony. It can be found in the southwestern area of North America and in Mexico. It is collected by mineral enthusiasts...

Jump rings are findings used in creating jewelry. When a jump ring is used to complete the end of a chain, the two ends should be soldered together for a permanent connection. It is helpful if...

Quartz crystal is crystallized silicon dioxide (SiO2). Quartz crystals are quite hard, around 7 on the Mohs scale, just under diamond which, along with concerns such as silicate dust makes these...

Cubic zirconium was developed in the 1970s in the Soviet Union for use in lasers. Although two small naturally occurring crystals were discovered in Germany in 1937, the microwave technology for...

Tourmaline is a mineral used in the gem business that subdivides into several species which are in turn subdivided into varieties. It was originally brought from Sri Lanka to Europe by the Dutch...

A popular and beautiful way of shaping both precious and semi-precious gemstones is forming the stone into a cabochon. The cabochon form is ideal for transparent, translucent, and opaque stones....

Digging and mining for minerals especially rose quartz can be lots of fun and lots of hard work. If you happen to receive the favor to find some beautiful rose quartz, then you will want to know...

A coral is a kind of marine life form, which has an exoskeleton (comprised of calcium carbonate), and it is comprised of colonies of polyps. Red coral is a name used to encompass multiple reddish...

Although gold mining is most often associated with an earlier era as a romantic career for frontiersmen, gold remains a valuable commodity today. While the goal of gold mining remains the same,...

The three-stone ring is a classic setting popular for both engagement rings and right-hand rings. The three stones are said to signify past, present and future love. In this article, you will...

Birthstones are different depending on the country, and have changed throughout history. Even today, "official" birthstones may be replaced with another gem, and some months have several birthstones.

Kyanite, also called disthene, is a striated blue or green crystal that is used in making jewelry, such as necklaces or as a light reflector with porcelain artwork. It is a combination of two...

Polishing cut rocks is a rewarding experience; you get to take something that is dull and make it shine. How you polish rocks will depend on what type of rock you are polishing. Soft Rocks such...

A semi-precious stone is a natural gem, mined from the earth. The difference between precious and semi-precious stones are the availability and quality. Although rubies, emeralds and diamonds,...

Rock tumblers come in different sizes and qualities of finished products. If contemplating purchasing a rock tumbler as a hobby for your children consider having them make their own! Although...

Colorful rocks can be a decorative addition to your home environment. Today you can find beautifully polished rocks added to a number of home decor, be it candles, flower vases, or yard...

The ground is prospected. When deposits are found then the process of digging begins. Topaz is usually mined using the surface mining method, as with an open pit mine. Underground mining is also...

Polishing gem stones is a fun activity for kids and adults alike. If you polish gem stones up to their full potential, you can find many used for them including making jewelry or using gem stones...

Boredom is one of the many problems we face every now and then. Somehow we wind up sitting in a room not knowing what to do with ourselves and we can` t think of anything that seems like it would...

Treasured for its beauty, the value of a gemstone depends on four elements: aesthetic beauty of the stone itself, gem scarcity, solidity or density, and cut and polished qualities of the gemstone....

This project will allow you to use a piece of left over tile with a little class. Any piece any color of texture will do. I have found the smoother the surface the better the adhesision of the...

Having a weekend with no plans? The have a sleepover! Here are some quick easy steps to have the best sleepover!

The crashing waves of the ocean smooths broken glass pieces against the sea floor and makes beautiful sea glass. You do not have to wait for the good fortune of finding nature's sea glass art at...

Rock tumblers mimic the natural forces of nature to wear down and polish stones until they are shiny. The most basic kind of rock tumbler is a rotary rock tumbler. It works by mimicking the...

Gemstone elixirs are similar to flower essences – but are made with gemstones instead of with flowers. Gemstones, like flowers, are all different in their qualities. They have many different...

Gold Prospecting is still alive and well in the 21st century. In the mid 1800's my husband's ancestor left his family for the gold fields in California to make his fortune. With a promise to...

It pays to learn as much as you can before purchasing a diamond ring. Knowing all about the four Cs, having a budget and thoroughly vetting your jeweler are tips that will help you buy the diamond...

You can drill through just about anything with diamond drill bits. Choose the right one and watch your projects take on a professional quality.