November 16, 2007
Ruby.
Ruby is a light pink to blood red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). The common red color is caused mainly by the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. It is considered one of the four precious stones, together with the sapphire, the emerald and the diamond. Improvements used include color alteration, improving transparency by dissolving rutile inclusions, healing of fractures (cracks) or even completely filling them.
Prices of rubies are primarily determined by color (the brightest and best "red" called Pigeon Blood Red, command a huge premium over other rubies of similar quality). After color follows clarity: similar to diamonds, a clear stone will command a premium, but a ruby without any needle-like rutile inclusions will indicate the stone has been treated one way or another. Cut and carat (size) also determine the price.
copyrigth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby
October 26, 2007
How to clean your Diamonds?
Through our day to day movements our diamonds get smudged and soiled. Even when we are not wearing them, they collect dust. Lotions, soaps, our natural skin oils, can cause film and grime on diamonds and inhibit their brilliance.
Want to keep that Brilliance and Shine? Diamonds require cleaning so that maximum amounts of light can refract fiery brilliance. Remember that all it takes is a few minutes and a little care to keep that diamond as fiery as the day you first saw it.
You can use an small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush and soap and water to clean your jewelry. Simply make a bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild detergent and place your pieces in the mixture. Then brush the diamonds with the soft bristles of the brush while they are inthe suds. You will need to make certain that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them. You can use a small kitchen strainer such as a tea strainer to contain them while rinsing under warm water. Usea lint free cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.
If your diamonds are in need of a stronger cleansing, you may want to soak them for 30 minutes in a solution of half and half water andammonia. Once they have soaked for 30 minutes, remove them and gently brush the mountings with a small brush. Then replacethe pieces to the solution and swish them around in the mixture before removing them to rinse and pat dry.
If you find your self too busy to be mixing soaps and ammonias, many department stores sell liquid jewelry cleaners. Most are kits, with everything you need included. You need to read the labels to determine the one that is right for your diamonds and other jewelry. Read the complete directions and follow all the precautions.
And if you find yourself more the “high-tech type”, even in your diamondcleaning routine, there are multiple ultrasonic cleansers on the market. These machines use high-frequency to create a cleaning motion.All machines are not the same, so please read the instructions before using.
Only you can choose the cleaning method right for you. But, it is essential to keep your jewelry clean to keep it brilliant and sparkling. Between cleaning, try not to touch your clean diamonds with your fingers orhandle your jewelry by its edges. This will help maintain its shine and brilliance for longer periods.
Content from my-diamond-site.com
Want to keep that Brilliance and Shine? Diamonds require cleaning so that maximum amounts of light can refract fiery brilliance. Remember that all it takes is a few minutes and a little care to keep that diamond as fiery as the day you first saw it.
You can use an small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush and soap and water to clean your jewelry. Simply make a bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild detergent and place your pieces in the mixture. Then brush the diamonds with the soft bristles of the brush while they are inthe suds. You will need to make certain that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them. You can use a small kitchen strainer such as a tea strainer to contain them while rinsing under warm water. Usea lint free cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.
If your diamonds are in need of a stronger cleansing, you may want to soak them for 30 minutes in a solution of half and half water andammonia. Once they have soaked for 30 minutes, remove them and gently brush the mountings with a small brush. Then replacethe pieces to the solution and swish them around in the mixture before removing them to rinse and pat dry.
If you find your self too busy to be mixing soaps and ammonias, many department stores sell liquid jewelry cleaners. Most are kits, with everything you need included. You need to read the labels to determine the one that is right for your diamonds and other jewelry. Read the complete directions and follow all the precautions.
And if you find yourself more the “high-tech type”, even in your diamondcleaning routine, there are multiple ultrasonic cleansers on the market. These machines use high-frequency to create a cleaning motion.All machines are not the same, so please read the instructions before using.
Only you can choose the cleaning method right for you. But, it is essential to keep your jewelry clean to keep it brilliant and sparkling. Between cleaning, try not to touch your clean diamonds with your fingers orhandle your jewelry by its edges. This will help maintain its shine and brilliance for longer periods.
Content from my-diamond-site.com
How Diamonds Are Fashioned?
Diamonds like all gemstones are normally found as rough crystals or rolled pebbles. They must be cut and polished by professionals before being sold as jewellery or ornaments. These professionals are called lapidaries, and it is their job to make the diamond as attractive as possible without losing too much of the original weight of the stone.
The lapidary must know the exact properties of each stone being dressed before he or she commences cutting an polishing. These include hardness and dispersion, as well as any weaknesses such as cleavage spots. They must also look carefully for any flaws or inclusions in the diamond. It is vital that the end product has the stone orientated in such a way that it shows the best color of the stone and hides as many flaws as possible.
Probably the oldest known method of cutting are called cabochons. Diamonds that are cut in this way are smooth and polished with a curved outline. This style of cut is used mainly for stones that are opaque or translucent.
If a stone is transparent it is most likely to be cut in such a way that a number of flat polished faces are shown. This is referred to as multi-faceted.
The brilliant cut is the most popular cut for diamonds as it highlights these stones high dispersion and lustre. In an ideal cut all the light that reaches or enters a stone is reflected. In this way the more facets that a diamond has the greater its reflection or lustre. If the angles of the facets are not cut correctly some light may be lost and thus the lustre will be diminished.
The cut of the diamond adds immensely to its value, if you are in the market for a diamond you must make sure to view as many different cuts as possible and choose the one that you fell will look best in the setting you have in mind.
A poorly cut diamond will result in a shabby finished setting. Make sure your diamond has been cut and valued by a professional before purchasing.
write by Sean Friedman from GoArticles.com
The lapidary must know the exact properties of each stone being dressed before he or she commences cutting an polishing. These include hardness and dispersion, as well as any weaknesses such as cleavage spots. They must also look carefully for any flaws or inclusions in the diamond. It is vital that the end product has the stone orientated in such a way that it shows the best color of the stone and hides as many flaws as possible.
Probably the oldest known method of cutting are called cabochons. Diamonds that are cut in this way are smooth and polished with a curved outline. This style of cut is used mainly for stones that are opaque or translucent.
If a stone is transparent it is most likely to be cut in such a way that a number of flat polished faces are shown. This is referred to as multi-faceted.
The brilliant cut is the most popular cut for diamonds as it highlights these stones high dispersion and lustre. In an ideal cut all the light that reaches or enters a stone is reflected. In this way the more facets that a diamond has the greater its reflection or lustre. If the angles of the facets are not cut correctly some light may be lost and thus the lustre will be diminished.
The cut of the diamond adds immensely to its value, if you are in the market for a diamond you must make sure to view as many different cuts as possible and choose the one that you fell will look best in the setting you have in mind.
A poorly cut diamond will result in a shabby finished setting. Make sure your diamond has been cut and valued by a professional before purchasing.
write by Sean Friedman from GoArticles.com
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