Any naturally occurring substance in a raw, uncut state that is capable of being a gem. They are also known as precious stones.

What are natural gemstones?

Gemstones mined in nature are known as natural gemstones. They may take several millennia to grow.

What are synthetic or laboratory grown stones?

Synthetic stones are made in the laboratory using molten chemicals to solidify and form the stone. They are also referred to as laboratory grown. They do not have the rarity and the history of natural gemstones. These stones generally lack imperfections.

What are imitation stones?

Imitation stones look like natural gemstones in appearance only. They may be glass, plastic or less costly stones.

What is a carat?

Gemstone weight is measured in carat. One carat equals one-fifth (1/5th) of a gram. Carats are divided into 100 units, called points. The abbreviation for carat is Ct. and for point is Pt.

What are faux gems?

These are imitation stones.

What are inclusions?

Materials that are locked inside a mineral as it is forming. They make each gemstone unique. They are fingerprints of the gemstone’s natural origin.

What is a cut?

Cut refers to the shape of the gemstone. It also refers to the size, angle, uniformity and polish of the facets. The cut has an important influence on the brilliance and fire of a gemstone.

What is the importance of cut?

The combination of all the reflections from the surface and the inside of the gemstone - it gives a polished gemstone its brilliance and brightness. The cut has a significant influence on the value of a gemstone.

What is a fancy cut?

Fancy cut gemstone is cut in unusual ways.

Tell me about gem treatments?

Gemstone treatments or enhancements refer to the way some gems are altered or treated to improve their appearance or durability.

Name a few gem treatments?

Heating, irradiation, dyeing, bleaching, fracture filling and laser-drilling.

How do I find out if a gemstone is treated or untreated?

The jeweler should inform you if the gemstone is treated. Ask the jeweler to write this information on the sales receipt.

Why should I know about gemstone treatments?

Some treatments are permanent; some many not be permanent. Some treated gemstones require special care. Some treatments significantly affect the cost of the gemstone. Treated gemstones are generally less expensive than untreated.

Related Link: Gemstone Jewelry

Painting. Using paint or some other colored material underneath a gem to improve its color. For example, a speck of paint placed on one spot of the gemstone will reflect throughout the entire stone.

Foil Backing. Using foil behind gems adds brilliance to the stone. This technique is often found in jewelry with closed back settings. The use of foil was common and is often seen in antique jewelry.

Crackling. Cracking synthetic gems by applying thermal shock. This technique if often used on lab-made stone to create the flaws found on natural stones.

Assembled Stones. Two or more stones are glued together to form a bigger and better looking gem. Several types of composites can be made. Assembled opals are normally disclosed to the consumer and are not considered a deceptive practice. However, this technique is often used with Sapphire or Ruby to deceive the consumer.

It can be difficult to spot a fake stone. Your best defense is to buy jewelry from reputable jewelers. An honest establishment will always reveal to the consumer what treatments a gem has received. As a general rule, a buyer should avoid gems that have been set on a closed backing, unless the item in question is an antique.

The natural gemstone zircon is often misunderstood with the laboratory grown and inexpensive cubic zirconia. This is because of their similar sounding names. Though zircon looks like the synthetic cubic zirconia, the two are totally different.

Zircon is mined in from Norway, Austria, Germany, Srilanka, Combodia, Myanmar, Australia and other countries.

Not all gold alloys are suitable for jewelry making. The main purpose of adding base metals to gold is to improve its properties. Pure gold is too soft; making is susceptible to dents and scratches. Some base metals however, are better than others. Purple gold can be made with aluminum. Unfortunately, the resulting alloy is difficult to work with, making it an uncommon color in jewelry.

Related Post: Jewelry Metals

King of precious stones. The gleaming ruby should adorn, all those of you who are born in July.

A multitude of legends and strange beliefs surrounded the Ruby in ancient times. Among other things, it was thought that the wearer of a ruby was blessed with health, wealth, wisdom, and outstanding success in affairs of the heart. For centuries, the Hindus believed that colorless sapphire was an unripe ruby that would eventually mature.

There is no doubt that the finest rubies are found almost exclusively in Burma. Some rubies from Thailand, Kenya, and Tanzania have the beauty associated with good Burma qualities.

Stones that have a ruby color and that also display distinct asterism when cut in cabochon are called star rubies. A Cat’s-eye effect has also been encountered in ruby but it is exceedingly rare, especially in a sharply defined band.

Onyx

Onyx is an alternate birhstone for July. Onyx is in the quartzs family. The varieties of chalcedony. Natural black chalcedony is not too frequently encountered. Since quartz is the most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust. Quartz is found in every country, it is not surprising that there are a large number of distinct varieties. Onyx is one of them.

Related Link: Birthstone Jewelry.

It is best to clean daily-wear jewelry with tepid water and a mild soap that does not contain ammonia or harsh abrasives. Regular care eliminates the necessity for professional cleaning. Most jewelers use ultrasound to quickly remove dirt build-up. Although very affective, this treatment can fracture already weakened stones or loosen poorly set stones. Some gems, such as emeralds, which normally have flaws, should avoid ultrasonic cleaning altogether.

Flawed or dyed stones are perhaps the most difficult to care for. These stones tend to contain more fractures and enhancements. More often than higher quality stones, they are easily damaged through chemical exposure and physical abuse. It best to keep these pieces in storage until needed. However, some pricey gemstones (including diamonds, rubies and sapphires) are equally vulnerable to harm. No matter the value of your gemstone, gentle handling and regular cleaning will ensure longer wear and enjoyment.

Related Link: Gemstone Jewelry.

The best colored rubies are often found in Burma while the best sapphires are often found in Kashmir. The rarest of the various colored saphires is the pinkish-orange sapphire. Among the ruby and the blue sapphire, medium colored stones are the most valued. Pale or dark areas are not desired.

Related Post: Birthstones. Related Links: Sapphire, Ruby, Sapphire Rings.

The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24karat (24K) gold. Gold has been a monetary standard throughout the history of mankind. Gold is a soft but heavy metal.

What is a karat?

Karat tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. For example, 18 karat (18K) gold contains 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of metals. Therefore 14 karat (14K) gold is less valuable than 18 karat gold since it contains 14 parts of gold and 10 parts of other metals. The abbreviation of karat is K. or Kt. It is easy to confuse this term with carat described below in the gemstone guide.

What are the gold alloys?

Pure (24K) gold is soft and unworkable. To increase its durability and hardness, it is mixed with other metals which are referred to as the gold alloys.

What is yellow gold?

Yellow gold refers to gold that has been alloyed with a mix of 50% copper and 50% silver.

What is white gold?

Pale, almost silver-colored gold caused by nickel, zinc alloys.

What is pink or rosegold?

Gold with a sligthly reddish hue, caused by copper.

What is green gold?

Gold with slight greenish hue that has been alloyed with a higher percentage of silver than copper.

What is gold plate?

Gold plate refers to items that have a layer of gold placed to a base metal. Gold plating wears away with time exposing the metal underneath.

What is vermeil?

A gold plated product consisting of a sterling silver base coated or plated with gold.

What is the best gold for jewelry?

The design parameters of a jewelry piece, personal choice, cultural preference and the economics are some of the factors that may have an influence on deciding the karat of gold. Each has its pros and cons.

In Asian countries, much jewelry is made of 24K or 22K. The 22K maintains most of the bright rich color of 24K, with enough added hardness to make it durable. 18K is used around the world, and generally is considered to be sufficiently hard for use in making most jewelry. The commercial mass produced 14K is harder but the gold color is significantly less satisfyingly rich.

How do I determine the karat of a gold item?

It is difficult to determine the karat of a gold item by looking at it. An effective test is the streak method.

Related Post: How to Choose Diamond Engagment Ring. Related Links: White Gold Rings, Yellow Gold Rings.

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Garnets are available in many colors such as orange, green, purpe red, pink, gold and more. They may look similar to ruby or emerald. The dark, slightly brownish or violet red color is the most popular.

Garnets are the foundation of the woman’s wardrobe for formal and informal events. They are used in children’s jewelry. Garnet are used to make rings, pendants, pins and earrings. They strung into beads alone or with other gemstone or beads and pearls.

Related Post: Rhodonite. Related Link: Garnet Jewelry.

Without X-rays, it is nearly impossible to distinguish between cultured and naturally occurring pearls. When cultured pearls were first introduced to the marketplace in the early 1900s, dealers tried to discredit the gems as simulations. Kokichi Mikimoto, the first commercial producer of cultured pearls, fought through courts around the world to prove his pearls were genuine, differing only from natural pearls by the uniformity of the artificially inserted nucleus.

A simple way to determine the difference between a genuine pearl (cultured or natural) and a simulated pearl is to rub it against your teeth. A genuine pearl, though silky smooth to the touch, will have a distinctly gritty feel when rubbed against your teeth.

It was Egypt, however that manufactured such an enormous variety of beads in so many different materials that virtually everyone wore them. They were used not only for jewelry but for adornment from sandals to aprons. Most of these beads and finery was made for funerals, however. Of course the most prized stones and jewelry were made for the wealthy.

Actually glass beads are known by the Seventh and Eighth Dynasties. The Egyptians were first to manufacture for large commercial market about 1400 B.C. The New Kingdom of the Eighteenth Dynasty is considered the world’s first glassmaking epoch. Glassbeads took the place of precious and semiprecious stones. During this time all kinds of designs and styles of glass beads came into being.

A decline in glass making skills occurred in Egypt after the Nineteenth Dynasty ended. Glass virtually disappeared after the fall of the New Kingdom about 1085 B. C. It was revived in Ptolemaic times, when Alexander the Great founded Alexandria. Glass produced during this time is reported to include some of the most beautiful and complex beads ever made.

Related Post: Jewelry Glossary

Amber is a gemstone which has been sought after and revered since ancient times.

As well as being desired for its beauty, it was valued as a talisman and protector against various illnesses.

Amber was formed tens of millions of years ago from the resin of prehistoric trees. The coastal areas around the Baltic sea are the world’s principal source of amber, and the local craftsmen possess a skill and a feeling of the material which derives from a centuries-old tradition.

Many people are surprised to discover the wide range of colours which amber can take. The various colours are commonly caused by light interference on minute gas bubbles, or less often, by stains of minerals or compounds resulting from decomposition of organic debris enclosed in the amber. Some items contain fossilised insects and vegetation, which were trapped in the amber when it was formed. These inclusions undoubtedly add to the fascination and value of pieces in which they occur.

Related Posts: Rhodonite, Ammolite

The market for your work becomes more limited as you increase the labor costs. If you are well known, and have a large following and/or demand for your work, then it does not really matter what your work costs — it will sell. If you are just starting out, adding many hours of work to a relatively insignificant amount of intrinsic value probably will not sell very well. Without an established name to justify the cost of a piece of relatively low intrinsic value — a piece made of silver with an inexpensive agate, for example — you’ll end up paying yourself only a few cents per hour in order to sell a piece that took you 40 hours to complete. Spending that same 40 hours on a gold piece with expensive stones, however, even if the selling price will be quite a bit more than the one in silver, makes the work more saleable. Unfortunately, it takes a certain amount of educating the buying public to make people perceive that an artistic value may be greater than the intrinsic one.

So how does this market value affect your choice of metals? It will depend on a number of factors. Do you need to sell this piece to earn your living? Or will it be “not for sale” — made for yourself or as a gift? What is your current market? Could the galleries now handling your work sell something like this? Many galleries cater to a specific kind of clientele, and might find it difficult to sell work which is radically different. Is there an exhibition or competition coming up which would be an appropriate showcase for this piece? Would recognition of you as an artist be worth the time and effort you will need to take away from your regular work for you to produce this piece? All of these aspects must be considered when you are designing and making decisions about what materials to use.

Related posts: Color Factor, Weight of Metal

The Masons are an ancient and noble organization. Masonic jewelry proclaims a proud heritage, and should be worn with a deep sense of honor. Fortunately, it has become possible to find well-crafted Masonic jewelry online.

Find Masonic Jewelry Online

This brotherhood has existed for centuries, and members know each other through their distinctive and elegant jewelry. The wearing of Masonic jewelry is a matter of pride, and a symbol of commitment to the order. The ability to find and order this jewelry online allows members of this organization to effortlessly deepen their commitment to their group, and proclaim pride in their membership.

There are many different types of jewelry that can be ordered from a quality online jewelry supplier. The Internet has made finding just the right piece so much easier. Everything from Celtic jewelry to Masonic money clips to military rings can be found and ordered with ease.

People have worn jewelry since time immemorial. Jewelry celebrates the human existence and announces our commitment to beauty and art. Masonic jewelry also incorporates history, tradition, and brotherhood into every piece.

Ordering Fine Jewelry Online

Other types of traditional, time-honored jewelry, like bridal sets, also can be ordered from a quality online resource. The Internet is allowing us to get exactly what we need, when we need it, with a minimum of time and expense. You can find quality men’s jewelry info and women’s jewelry info online, in addition to excellent, well-designed pieces.

Masonic jewelry is more than simple ornamentation, or proclamation of belonging to an established organization. Silver Masonic jewelry, sterling Masonic rings, Masonic money clips, and other pieces also remind the wearer that they are a part of a sacred, global connection, that supports and encourages them as individuals and as members of the group. These vital, valuable tokens are not meant to be worn lightly, but with full recognition of the honor that is concomitant with being a Mason.

People looking for quality Masonic jewelry will be delighted with the selection to be found online. Shopping, especially for fine products, has never been easier. Announcing Masonic pride is now affordable and effortless, and ordering can be done from the privacy and comfort of your private computer.

In the 70s, a fad for Southwestern Indian style jewelry, primarily of turquiose and silver, swept across the country. This caused a resurgence in the use of silver for a less formal style of jewelry, an interest which has continued to this day. (As an aside, many commercial repair shops, used to working only with gold, had to learn the differences between working with silver and gold, as the silver started coming in for repair, much of it made by Hong Kong “Indians”). Then, perhaps as a backlash to the ornate Indian-style silver jewelry, the next major fad was for multiple thin gold chains, usually worn just by themselves, or occasionally with a simple, small pendant.

So what does the current fashiontrend have to do with your design choices? Not much, if you can afford the luxury of doing only what you wish, or if you have a large and very loyal clientele which disregards current fashion. Wearing a large, ornate silver neckpiece when everyone else is wearing tiny gold chains takes fashion courage, an assertive personality, or simply chutzpah.

On the other hand, if you make a living by selling your jewelry, you do need to be aware of the current trends. It will be easier to sell your work if it is not too different from the images with which your customers are being bombarded by ubiquitous multimedia advertising. Developing a product may sound terribly unromantic and thoroughly anti-artistic, but it is necessary if you want to be successful. If your market currently is for limited-production silverwork in a medium price range, making an elaborate, time-consuming, high karat gold piece loaded with expensive gemstones may not make economic sense. But if you want to expand your market, then by all means experiment with something entirely different. Just realize that you will be expending your resources, both time and material, and may not get an immediate return on your efforts.

However, looks alone don’t tell the whole story of the Ammolite. Our mission is to provide you with all of the Ammolite information you need to both understand the fascinating back story of these stones as well as shop wisely for them. For these stones can be nearly as interesting to learn about as they are to gaze at.

The Origins of Ammolite

Ammolite stones didn’t actually start out as stones–they started out as shells. Once upon a time, the Ammonite traversed the seas, securely snuggled in a spiral shell. These shells dropped to the bottom of the ocean when the Ammonite was done with them, where they waited. And waited.

And waited. Seventy million years later, the shells were discovered–as fossils, due to the extreme passage of time. The shells had been settled in the minerals that lay at the bottom of the deep, which enhanced their pre-existing colors to form a dazzling spectrum on each shell. As many as seven colors joyously inhabit each piece of Ammolite.

Ammolite Jewelry Today

People eventually discovered these incredible fossils, and had the bright idea of making them into Ammolite jewelry. While the shells are found in many places, the one location at which they are mined into gems is Alberta, Canada. This makes for a scarce supply of these wondrous little historical remnants.

Accentuating the scarcity of these stones is the fact that very few of them are deemed to be of the very highest quality (grade AA). Ammolites are distinguished by their color combination, composition (lack of scratches and cracks), and reflecting ability. Only a few lucky stones pass every single one of the strenuous tests laid out in the opal grading process (yes, the stones are also opalescent in nature!). Those that do make for Ammolite jewelry that is stunning to say the least.

Ammolite Jewelry in Other Cultures

To some, the Ammolite is more than just a pretty stone. The colors of the stone hark back to the mythical Kirin of Eastern culture, as the stone’s colors match up quite well the Kirin’s scales. The colors as well as the age of the Ammolite also makes the stone a perfect fit for Feng Shui. In fact, practitioners of this art have given the Ammolite its own name: the Seven Color Prosperity Stone.

On occasion, it is practical to build a prototype in silver, even if the design is intended for gold or platinum. While working with the less expensive material, you can try new techniques or work out the most efficient steps for the process. This can also give you a good idea of how much time the project will take to complete, and therefore what the final price range will be. If you are trying to stay within a certain price point, it helps to know before you begin production if the time allotted is realistic.

When working on custom orders, the cost of materials is not so much of a factor. Jewelers usually require a deposit, about 50 percent of the final estimated cost, to cover the cost of materials. This should include both the metal and stones. Or if you sell your work wholesale, you know about how much metal you need for any given time period. But when doing “speculation” pieces for an exhibition, or to supply stock to a gallery on consignment, you have to buy the materials before any sale is made. And this can run into a considerable expense, especially if you choose to work in gold or platinum. For example, a large silver neck piece I recently completed cost less than $40 in silver. The same materials in 14K yellow gold would have cost more than $750. The time I spent on the project would have been about the same regardless of the material, so my labor cost is the same for either metal. But because of the difference in material cost, the silver neck piece was priced at $2,000, while in gold it would have been at least $5,000, a substantial difference.

Take advantage of this. If you’ve never started your own business, wholesale silver rings can provide you with a low-risk, business opportunity. Here’s how you get started.

Stay on Top of Jewelry Trends

Find a wholesale silver rings distributor. The Web is a great place to find affordable merchants and impressive selections. Once you’ve chosen your distributor, start creating your own collection based on your personal taste and fashion trends.

Get your friends together and show them your jewelry collection. Compare them to magazine cut outs from Vogue and Cosmopolitan. If they see they can get the same styles as J. Lo for a fraction of the price, business will start to boom. Happy shoppers tell their friends, and before you know it, you have a network of ladies waiting each month for your next inventory.

What Kind of Supplies Will You Need?

For starters, you need a way to show off all your rings, earrings and gemstones. Choose from velvet trays or jewelry rolls to aptly show off the latest styles of costume jewelry and sterling silver. These items are a one time purchase and will help you get your business off the ground.

Additionally, you may want to consider purchasing other silver jewelry supplies, such as velvet or satin pouches, in order to carry your rings to flea markets and fairs. Or perhaps, you’d like each of your customers to have a pouch in order to keep their jewelry from tarnishing. Be sure to include the cost of the pouch in the price tag on the ring.

How to Avoid Tarnish

Since silver is known for tarnishing, one of the most crucial silver jewelry supplies your small business should have is tarnish remover and brushes. This will help to keep your stock looking new even if they’ve been around for months. Use the cleaning products to show your shoppers the appropriate methods of keeping their sterling silver looking fresh.

I have a sterling silver bracelet and it’s completely brown. I don’t have a polishing cloth or any cleaners for it. How do I clean my sterling silver using household products?

The best jewelry cleaner in the world, including precious stones, is simply denture cleaner tablets like “Steradent”. Drop a tablet in warm water with whatever jewels and metals you want cleaned and let the tablet do the hard work.

A few minutes later (up to 30 min soaking) just rinse it all off and you won’t believe how clean and sparkling it all is. One small box of tablets will last you for years and you will always have them on hand whenever you want to clean your sterling silver jewelry.

You can also use a toothbrush dipped in lemon juice and then dipped in salt and scrub the precious metal with this.

Other Answers:

- use brown vinegar on your silver jewelry, just soak your jewelry in the vinegar over night

- make a paste using baking soda and a bit of water

- i clean my silver jewelry with luke warm water mixed with detergent, you dip it for some minutes, and brush it with a tooth brush

Yahoo!Answers

http://www.bja.org.uk - The British Jewellers Association (BJA) - UK jewellery industry including, jewellery manufacturers, jewellery wholesalers, designer jewellers, internet retailers and others. British Jewellers Association offers a range of jewellery info and advice, promotional services to members (over 750 members). (http://www.jewelleryinbritain.org.uk - Jewellery in Britain - 8 page news sheet, which is sponsored by BJA).

http://www.acj.org.uk - Association for Contemporary Jewellery (ACJ) is an organization based in Great Britain, dedicated to the promotion of contemporary jewellery.

http://www.designerjewellersgroup.co.uk - The Designer Jewellers Group - promoting individualism in jewellery designs and professional craftsmanship.

http://www.theabds.co.uk - Association of British Designer Silversmiths (ABDS) - promoting the best standards of silverware design and crafts and bring the work of it’s members to a wider audience.

http://www.jewellers-online.org - The National Association of Goldsmith (NAG) - promotes professional and ethical standards among its members to inspire consumer sureness and to raise the reputation of members.

http://www.jda.org.uk - Jewellery Distributors Association (JDA) is a nonprofit jewellery association, specializing in supporting jewellers who distribute, wholesale, import/export jewellery, watches, jewellery accessories and other.

As far as the workability of the metals is concerned, your choices when designing will depend to some degree on your skill level and the equipment available. If your design is for a large piece, you need to consider your torch capability. Gold, because it does not conduct heat very well, can be spot soldered with a small torch. Silver, on the other hand, needs to be heated evenly all over, and thus will require a larger flame. Platinum has its own techniques and equipment requirements, especially for casting. If you do not have the tools or experience, platinum will not be an option for you.

Specific techniques may dictate which metal you choose. If you want to enamel part of your piece, you would not choose either platinum or white gold; enamel works best on higher-karat golds and on fine silver. Both will need to be protected in some way, since they are softer and more vulnerable to damage.

Some techniques can be done with either gold or silver, such as lost wax casting, granulation, reticulation, or forging. Platinum can also be forged and repoussed with standard tools, but requires specialized equipment for casting. For techniques involving moving the metal, like repousse or forging, you will have to literally work harder (apply more pressure) on gold or platinum than you would on silver to achieve the same results. When working on wax models, a wax intended to be cast in gold can be made thinner and lighter than would be practical in silver. And a wax for a silver casting can be larger and more massive than gold, since it is a lighter (and cheaper) metal.

http://www.jic.org - Jewelry Information Center (JIC) - the source for consumer information on fine jewelry.

http://www.gia.edu - Gemological Institute of America (GIA) - is the world’s foremost authority in gemology, diamond grading, jewelry education, gemology research, diamond and gemstone grading reports and laboratory services.

http://www.nationaljeweler.com - National Jeweler Network - current affairs and trends affecting the jewelry trade.

http://www.jewelers.org - Jewelers of America (JA) - is the national association for the retail jewelers.

http://www.ags.org - American Gem Society

http://www.mjsa.org - Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA)

http://www.polygon.net - enables its members to buy and sell diamonds, jewelry, colored stones. The jewelry industry’s largest internet marketplace.

http://www.agta.org - American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) - the natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls source of information.

So what does all this technical information mean to the designer? It means that you need to understand the characteristics of the various metals so you can make intelligent choices.

To sum up:

- Gold or platinum should be used when durability is a prime consideration, such as a wedding and engagement set to be worn every day.
- Silver can be used in a large piece where lightness is important, since it will weigh less than gold.
- Thinner material can be used when working with gold, because it is stronger than silver, so 24-gauge sheet gold could be substituted for 20-gauge sterling silver sheet.
- Platinum has more tensile strength than gold, so thinner material can be used than if the piece were to be made of gold.

The process of picking the perfect dimond ring is therefore of utmost importance. You cannot do this without spending some time learning about diamonds and ring metals and how to differentiate between authentic and synthetical diamonds. There’s nothing wrong with fake diamonds, but you don’t really need to break your bank just to buy a real expensive diamond for your engagement ring.

The most important that you need to know about engagementring diamond is that there’s a synthetic version of it and it’s called cubic zirconia. Now cubiczirconia (cz) rings are quite awesome because cubic circonia looks like a real diamond, if not better. This man-made diamond surpass a real diamond in almost every aspect except it value of course. If you intend to buy a real diamond for your engagment ring then you must learn how to judge the value of a diamond based on the 4Cs. You need to know how the cut, clarity, color and carat of a real diamond. Generally, the more precise the cut, the purer the clarity is, the heavier the carat is, the more expensive the diamond will cost you.

You are free to choose any color you like for your diamond though. Diamonds are not limited to only the normal colorless ones. Among the colors you can expect from a diamond are yellow, orange, brown, blue, red, and pink. There’s a color rating scale for dimond though. For your information, if you see a diamond is colorless, then it’s the most valuable and it will cost a fortune.

The campaign, “Romance of India” is being launched by The Gem&Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) in collaboration with Taj Enterprise in Tokyo. Taj is headed by the Japanese jewelry designer, Kazuo Ogawa.

Japan is the world’s second largest jewelry market. So far, India’s exports of gems and jewelry items have been mainly restricted to cut and polished diamonds. Sanjay Kothari, chairman of the GJEPC, said that the initiative was launched to boost the volume of jewelry exports to the country by spreading awareness of Indian craftsmanship and manufacturing skills among Japanese consumers.

Atul Parekh, managing director of Taj Enterprises says that there is awareness of India’s capabilities as a supplier of raw materials, particularly diamonds, but its ability to also deliver the finished product is not so well known.

In addition to launching the “Romance of India” campaign, the GJEPC will also be conducting other events to promote Indian jewelry in Japan including cultural programs and fashion shows.

A Jewelbiz India Report

Pure gold is 24kt (karat) and is extremely soft. Most pieces of gold are 18kt, 14kt, or 10kt. Gold may be white or yellow in appearance and each have the same properties with the exception of white gold being mixed with different metals to give it a white color. The same karat weight system is used for both white and yellow gold. Gold filled jewelry is the next best thing to solid gold. Gold filled jewelry is manufactured by laminating a sheet of gold over a base metal.

Platinum

Being heavier, more rare and more durable than gold, platinum is the most precious metal used in jewelry and is very expensive. Platinum will never tarnish or wear out and its light color makes it popular for jewelry. Platinum settings make white diamonds appear very bright. It is an excellent metal for people who are allergic to other metals.

Titanium

The latest trend in jewelry fashion, Titanium is known for its strength and durability. Titanium has unique characteristics making it the ideal metal for jewelry. It has a silver-grayish color and is said to be one of the hardest metals in the world. Titanium is much stronger and resistant than gold and platinum. Titanium is durable and lightweight and has a decreased tendency to provoke allergic reactions. It does not cause skin discoloration and does not tarnish. Titanium is a perfect jewelry metal and can be comfortably worn.

Sterling Silver

When a metal is designated as sterling silver it is 92.5% pure.

Stainless Steel

An alloy of steel containing at least 10% chromium that makes the alloy resistant to corrosion or rusting associated with exposure to water or moist air. Stainless steel is stronger than sterling silver and pewter.

Brass

Brass is an alloy of 2/3 copper and 1/3 zinc.

Pewter

Pewter is a tin alloy and has a dull finish that can never be polished to the fine luster of sterling silver.

January - Your birthstone is a lustrous, rich red Garnet.

February – The stone that marks your special month is the Amethyst. A beautiful clear purple stone.

March - If you were born in March your birthstone is a blue, blue-green or green stone known as the Aquamarine.

April - Babies born in April are truly blessed for their birthstone is the dazzling diamond. The most coveted of all birthstones most are colorless but colored varieties do exist.

May - The Land of Oz was famous for this birthstone that marks the birth of all born in May. Emeralds range from light to dark green. Perfectly clear emeralds are rare and very expensive.

June – The month known for brides and for the beautiful pearl. Most pearls are white with flashes of iridescent pink. Less common colors for pearls are yellow, gray, tan, and black.

July - Like the brilliant, hot sun of summer July’s birthstone is the red, sparkling ruby.

August - The peridot is a popular yellowish-green stone.

September - If you were born in September your birthstone is a beautiful, brilliant blue sapphire.

October - O stands for October and Opal. These iridescent stones have different colors depending on how you look at them.

November - If your birthday is in November your birthstone is the color of fall leaves. It is usually yellow, though the colors can vary from white to brown. Blue topaz is very beautiful and is a popular choice for the November born.

December - Those in December are blessed with two special occasions to celebrate and what better birthday or Christmas gift to give someone born in this month than the Sky blue and valuable Turquoise.

Each has its own symbol on the periodic table. Gold is Au (for aurum, Latin for gold); silver is Ag (the Latin for silver is argentum); and platinum is Pt. Each of these elements has a definite specific gravity, which is a measurement of density (the ratio of mass to volume), expressed in a relationship to the density of water. By definition, the specific gravity of water is 1, so each metal’s specific gravity shows how much more than water that metal would weigh, given an equal volume. For example, the specific gravity of 24-karat gold is 19.32, meaning that a piece of 24-karat gold is 19.32 times heavier, and denser, than a body of water of equal volume. The specific gravity of fine (pure) silver is 10.49, that of platinum is 21.45. Therefore, a one-square-inch sheet of 20-gauge pure gold will weigh almost twice as much as the same size sheet of fine silver, but about 10 percent less than the same size sheet of platinum. Each alloy of gold, silver, or platinum will have a different specific gravity, depending on the proportions of the metals in that alloy. That one-square-inch sheet of 10-karat gold would be only slightly heavier than the silver sheet, since the specific gravity of 10-karat yellow gold is 11.6.

The weight of metal is always a concern when designing jewelry, because it will affect the wearability of the finished piece. Large earrings in high-karat gold will be heavy and uncomfortable, and could cause damage to the earlobe. Oversize brooches may sag or even tear delicate fabric. Weight also affects cost, since it will take more mass and therefore more weight of a more expensive, higher-karat gold to cast a ring than it would of a lower karat.