Colorful gemstones are only anybody's dream to own. Their natural colors greater than match your very fashionable dresses. Their sheer range could strike you spell bound. Gemstones are precious or semiprecious mineral stones that if cut and faceted can be utilized as jewels.
There is more to gemstones than just being jewelry items. They are regarded as lucky when worn specific to an individual's birth month. Before we deal with this aspect in detail lets see the classification of gemstones.
Classification and Characteristics of Gemstones
There exists a tri-level classification of gemstones namely, groups, species and varieties. In other words, rubies which can be red in color participate in conundrum species which often participate in hematite group. Others like emerald, aquamarine, goshenite, heliodor and morganite, these participate in that variety called beryl. You can find over 150 different species available.
Gemstones display all characteristics of crystals like dispersion, refractive indices, hardness, and particular gravity etc. Additionally they possess characters like inclusions, fractures and cleavage which play upon their quality and values. However gemologists include all gems to the precious list.
Hardness is yet another important characteristic of gemstones. To put it simply, hardness means potential to deal with scratch that is measured in Mohs, something produced by an Austrian mineralogist F. Mohs. The size of hardness reads from 1-10 with higher number indicating the hardest. If talc reaches the underside with just 1Moh, diamond has 10Mohs. Other popular gemstones like feldspar, topaz and sapphire having Mohs of 6, 8 and 9 respectively.
Birth Stones
US Geological Survey lists gemstones classified as birth stones. It is believed by most people that wearing birthstones brings luck to their lives. It is not surprising that all societies have this kind of faith with regards to gemstones, albeit with differences here and there, looking at the romancing tryst every society had with these stones'. The list is in the order of calendar months with each month having at least one gemstone specific to that month. One can find a list of birth stones on official website of USGS.
Buying Gemstones
USGS cautions buyers against unscrupulous sellers as more turn out attempting to proceed synthetic gemstones as genuine pieces to unsuspecting, inexperienced buyers. Gemstones are measured by size and carats. (1carat=1/5th of the gram.)
When buying gemstones, watch out for:
1.Heating alters the color sometimes improving clarity
2.Irradiation darkens colors
3.Impregnation with wax, resins etc fills cracks, flaws
4.Fractures filled by injecting plastic
5.Differential colors in center and surface indicates diffusion treatment
Always obtain reputed sellers who produce certificates by Gemological Institute of America to stop a lucky stone turn unlucky.
Before buying anything please check author's newest site on Citizen Gold Watch. Author has spent years on researching Citizen Watches and other valuable time peaces.
Posted under Watches
This post was written by Tim Bucharchiu on December 2, 2010

