Identification – Main Lesson
Unit 4: How to Identify Gems What’s This All About? Become a gem detective! Jake teaches us how scientists figure out what type of gemstone…
Extraction – Optional Activity
Extraction Experiment – Backyard Mining Operation Introduction What are you doing? You’re experiencing authentic mining techniques…
Is Amethyst Expensive?
Amethysts are one of the most popular gemstone varieties. Used in jewelry at every price point, and you can find them set in inexpensive children’s…
Middle Weight Jewelry
Move over dainty chains and barely-there stackable rings, the cutting-edge jewelry at the 2025 Las Vegas shows was noticeably more substantial…
Separation of the Natural and Synthetic Diamond Markets Revisited
At the 2024 JCK show, we interviewed both natural and synthetic diamond sellers about the state of the global diamond market as a whole. We were interested…
Guide to Identifying and Correcting Poor Gemstone Cuts
As a gemstone cutter, you’ve likely encountered stones that should sparkle brilliantly but instead appear lifeless and dull. The culprit…
Hardness and Cleavage Considerations
Picture this: You’re holding a stunning piece of rough diamond, the hardest material on Earth. You strike it with a hammer, expecting it…
Color and Transparency
Imagine holding a rough, dull piece of crystal that transforms into a dazzling, brilliantly colored gem through the magic of faceting. This transformation…
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