Gemstone Buying Guide

by Newman, Renee

• ISBN13: 9780929975344
• ISBN10: 0929975340
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-01
• Publisher: Intl Jewelry Pubns

Summary

Buying colour gems is a challenge. To make a wise choice, you must be able to judge their colour, flaws, transparency and brilliancy. This guide will show you how. Written for both consumers and professionals, it is easy to read, has over 200 colour photographs and gives practical pointers on how to buy the best stone for the money. Whether you are interested in jade, opal, ruby, topaz, spinel, garnet, tourmaline or some other coloured gem, you will find this guide to be a fascinating and valuable resource. Topics covered include: price comparison; gem treatments; quality evaluation; gem cleaning and care; fake stones; savvy buying.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	7	(1)
Colored Gem Price Factors in a Nutshell	8	(10)
Price Factors Explained	8	(7)
Two Common Beliefs Which Warrant Review	15	(1)
Colored Gem Pricing	16	(2)
Shape & Cutting Style	18	(15)
Gemstone Terms Defined	19	(1)
Traditional Cutting Styles	20	(4)
Fancy Cuts and Cutting Techniques	24	(3)
Carving	27	(4)
Drusy Gem Materials	31	(2)
Carat Weight	33	(3)
Size Versus Carat Weight	33	(1)
Effect of Carat Weight on Price	34	(1)
Estimating Carat Weight	35	(1)
Gemstone Color	36	(6)
Evaluating Gemstone Color	37	(2)
How to Examine Color	39	(1)
How Lighting Affects Gem Color	40	(2)
Judging Clarity & Transparency	42	(7)
Gemstone Inclusions	43	(2)
Gemstone Blemishes	45	(1)
Examining Gemstones for Clarity	45	(2)
How Lighting Can Affect Your Perception of Clarity	47	(1)
Do We Need Grades to Evaluate Clarity and Transparency?	48	(1)
Judging Cut Quality	49	(7)
Judging the Face-Up View	49	(2)
Judging the Profile	51	(3)
How Cut Affects Price	54	(1)
Judging ``Life''	55	(1)
Evaluating Star & Cat's-Eye Stones	56	(3)
Treatments	59	(4)
Synthetic Stones	63	(2)
Synthetic Versus Natural	64	(1)
Deceptive Practices	65	(3)
Misnomers	67	(1)
Gemstone Descriptions	68	(74)
Amethyst and Other Quartz Stones	71	(4)
Chalcedony	75	(5)
Chrysoberyl (Alexandrite, Cat's-eye...)	80	(2)
Emerald and Other Beryl Stones	82	(4)
Garnet	86	(5)
Iolite	91	(1)
Jade	92	(8)
Lapis Lazuli	100	(1)
Malachite	101	(1)
Moonstone and Some Other Feldspars	102	(2)
Opal	104	(8)
Peridot	112	(1)
Spodumene	113	(1)
Ruby & Sapphire (Corundum)	114	(4)
Spinel	118	(2)
Tanzanite and Other Zoisites	120	(2)
Topaz	122	(2)
Tourmaline	124	(4)
Turquoise	128	(2)
Zircon	130	(2)
Ammolite	132	(1)
Andalusite, Apatite	133	(1)
Azurite, Benitoite	134	(1)
Charoite, Calcite	135	(1)
Diopsite, Fluorite	136	(1)
Hematite, Natural Glass (Obsidian, Moldavite)	137	(1)
Larimar, Prehnite, Rhodonite	138	(1)
Rhodochrosite, Sugilite	139	(1)
Sphene (Titanite), Variscite	140	(1)
Test Your Gem IQ	141	(1)
Caring for Your Gems	142	(4)
Birthstones & Anniversary Stones	146	(1)
Suppliers of Jewelry & Stones for Photographs	147	(3)
Bibliography	150	(3)
Index	153