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…
Facet Designs For Beginners
What are the best facet designs for novice gem cutters? Find recommendations for cutting styles, books, resources, and gemstone rough here.
Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 2: Crystal Growth
Learn about the different crystal growth methods used to artificially create gemstones in laboratories.
Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 4: Synthetic Gemstone Guide
Many varieties of gems besides diamond can be created in the laboratory. Our synthetic gemstone guide covers many examples and explains their…
Smoky Quartz Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Smoky quartz comes in every shade of brown, from a light tan to nearly black. This gem is known for its large sizes. If you want a really big gem on a very…
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