Faceting Made Easy, Part 3: Starting a Standard Brilliant Cut
In Part 3 of “Faceting Made Easy,” Trevor Hannam covers how to select gem rough as well as dopping and rounding techniques for a standard brilliant…
A Visitor’s Guide to Colorado Gemstones
Colorado has a lot to offer gemologists and rock hunters. Before you visit, learn about Colorado gemstones as well as notable gem shows, museums,…
What is Your Gemstone Personality?
Think of jewelry stones as reflections of you or the recipient. Learning about colored gems can help you find the gemstone personality you’re looking…
What is my Birthstone?
The idea of a single birthstone for each month is a modern idea with a long history, but today’s consumers can choose gems from traditional or modern…
Evaluating Gem Color: Hue, Tone, and Saturation
Accurately describing gem color is critical to determining a gemstone’s value. Learn how to grade hue, tone, and saturation and avoid some common…
The Mohs Hardness Scale and Chart for Select Gems
The Mohs hardness scale measures a mineral’s resistance to scratching. Find the traditional scale here and a chart of select gems ordered by hardness.…
A Faceter’s Guide To Dark Saturated Rough Gems
Can you turn dark saturated rough gems into facetable material? Learn how to pick the right cuts and heat treatments and, importantly, when to just…
Chalcedony Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Technically, chalcedony (kal SED’ uh nee) is any form of microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz, (meaning any form of quartz whose crystals…
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