garnet

Gem faceters and jewelry enthusiasts alike should learn about gemstone toxicity. This table has toxicity ratings for 280+ gems, based on their…

Although natural pearls are extremely rare and expensive, the availability of cultured pearls makes it easier to buy this classic, elegant gem…

Although many gems show a cat’s eye effect, when the term “cat’s eye” is used alone, it always refers to the rare gemstone chrysoberyl.…

Due to the single-fold symmetry of heart gem designs, most hearts can be tedious and time consuming to cut. Jeff Graham’s “B” Still My Heart…

A gemstone’s birefringence is a measure of its double refraction. Learn how to use it to identify gems and see the effects birefringent gems can…

Until 2001, only three painite crystals were known to exist. Since then, additional discoveries have produced many more specimens of this deep…

A “Money Cut” is a gem design that’s fast and easy with great performance. That’s what Jeff Graham’s Light House cut is all about. This…

Jeff Graham’s Tic Tac gem design is ideal for earrings. It shows an interesting “X” pattern on the crown. Learn more about this fast cut with…

Jeff Graham’s SweetHeart cut shows great flash and dispersion. It’s a good choice for novices trying to cut their first heart design and experts…