Gemstone and Jewelry Marketing: The Duh Factor
What can you learn about gem and jewelry marketing from other businesses? Tracking your inventory and requests for what you don’t stock is a start.…
What can you learn about gem and jewelry marketing from other businesses? Tracking your inventory and requests for what you don’t stock is a start.…
The crossed filters technique allows gemologists to detect chromium in gems. Learn how to build a portable device for conducting this useful ID…
Gem identification is part detective work, part art. Learn how gemologists can distinguish gem species and determine whether a stone is natural…
The 10X loupe is the gemologist’s best friend. Learn how to examine gemstones for fractures, inclusions, color, and much more with this simple…
Recutting gems that have been poorly cut can increase their value significantly. See how precision custom cutting can transform a gem.
First-time buyers may not understand how diamond rating works. Our guide will teach you how diamonds are graded, so you can choose the best one for…
We live in a world of crystals. Learn what they are and where you can find them, from deep underground to the dust in the air and even inside our bodies.…
Distinguishing diamond lookalikes from the real thing can be challenging. Learn how to use specific gravity and birefringence to make simple…
Gem formation usually involves mineral crystallization and other geological processes. Learn how these affect the gemstone properties gemologists…
Crystals have habits. In crystallography, mineral habits refer to the way crystals form within a specific mineral. There are six crystal systems.…
Jewelry attachments are the pieces used to hold jewelry items together. Learn about the most popular types as well as miscellaneous decorative…
Explore gemstone hardness, wearability, and durability. Learn how hardness, cleavage, and settings affect jewelry use. Essential for smart…
Earrings are available in many styles. Learn to identify the most popular types of metal and gem earrings and the parts that comprise these jewelry…
Bracelets and necklaces share much of their terminology. Learn the names and functions of the different parts of these popular types of jewelry…
Though rings may come in many styles, gem cutters will regularly encounter a few common types of gem rings. Learn how to identify these popular designs.…
Jewelry designers and consumers can pick from many different gem settings. Learn the names and uses of common and speciality settings for any type…
Starting a jewelry business takes a lot of planning. Answer these questions about your inventory and services now and save yourself time and money…
Explore our comprehensive standard gem sizes chart to determine if your gemstone will fit standard settings and learn how to estimate gem weight…
Even the most general definition of a gem has many exceptions. Learn what qualities have been used to identify gemstones both scientifically and…
Learn the difference between allochromatic and idiochromatic gems and why some gem species can occur in many color varieties and others occur…
Learn the best techniques and tools for cutting rough stones. Making small pieces from big pieces is one of the most basic procedures in the lapidary…
Cabochon cutting or cabbing is the most popular form of gem cutting. With practice, you can master this skill. Read on to learn more about this technique.…
Gemstone tumbling is the simplest and least expensive lapidary art to learn. These guidelines can help you choose the right equipment and get started.…
Learn the basic procedures of gemstone faceting. This walkthrough for a standard round brilliant cut gem includes cutting instructions and pics.…
Learning how to identify gems involves more than just data. This gem identification quiz can help novice gemologists learn how to choose tests…
How does the GIA diamond cut grading system work? Our guide will explain what the grades mean and how gemologists evaluate round brilliant diamond…
Although you can’t weigh a gemstone in a jewelry setting, you can get a close approximation of the gem weight by determining its volume.
Gemstone identification requires a good reference library and some basic gemology tools. Before you go shopping, learn more about what you’ll…
The spectroscope is one of gemology’s principal tools. Our basic spectroscope instructions will teach you how to operate and calibrate this…
Gemologists use refraction liquids to identify gemstone refractive indices (RI). Learn about the properties of these liquids and safe RI testing…
Ouro Verde quartz, also known as lemon quartz, is a popular treated stone. Learn how experiments with other gems led to the development of this treatment.…
Center-fused color treated gems are assembled from natural rough. Learn how the procedure works and how to identify this stable color enhancement.…
Diamonds are popular gemstones surrounded by popular misconceptions. We’ll tell you how they became so prized and debunk some of those diamond…
Gemstone enhancements improve the appearance and wearability of gems. Learn about the most commonly used procedures and frequently treated…
Based on interviews with gem trade experts, this series of FAQs addresses many topics, such as gem value, investing, insurance, and collecting.…
Carved in Thailand in 2006 from a 3,600-ct emerald, “The Sacred Emerald Buddha” has a message of peace. Read the inside story of this amazing…
Made from two or more materials, assembled gems can make durable and affordable jewelry. Learn more about gemstone doublets, triplets, and other…
Why are some gems so rare in nature? Learn which elements in the Earth’s crust are the rarest and how these ingredients help form uncommon gemstones.…
This table contains a selection of minerals gemologists may encounter as jewelry stones or gem specimens. The gems are sorted by their crystal…
Measuring specific gravity helps gemologists identify gemstones. The following table lists the specific gravity values for a variety of gem…
Learn what gemologists do in our introduction to gemology. Whether your interest is casual or professional, the world of gems will amaze you.
Refractive indices and double refraction (birefringence) help gemologists identify gems. The following table lists these values for selected…
Diamond simulants, like cubic zirconia and moissanite, often appear in jewelry. See how the properties of real diamonds compare with popular…
Diamond buyers often find assessing clarity challenging. Although inclusions may be difficult to see and identity, they can have a significant…
Cut is perhaps the most complex of the Four Cs of gem grading and is usually taken for granted by consumers. However, diamond cuts greatly affect…
For most gem buyers, color is probably the most well known of the Four Cs of gem grading. However, diamond color grading can be confusing. Learn about…
Diamond buyers often want to know which of the Four Cs of gem grading is most important — color, clarity, cut, or carat. However, these qualities…
Rounds dominate the gem market, but fancy gem cuts offer many beautiful options. Learn about the most popular fancy shapes, such as heart and emerald…
Lapidary is the art of working with gemstones. Learn more about the four basic lapidary arts: tumbling, cabbing, faceting, and carving.
A multipurpose microscope stage can help you move, view, and photograph gemstones under magnification easily from many angles. Learn how you…
Whether you’re a novice bead jewelry maker or just shopping for necklaces, these bead and necklace size charts and links to related articles…
Buyer beware! Not all color-change chrysoberyl is alexandrite. Learn the classic color ranges of true alexandrite and avoid being scammed by…
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.…
Pickle is a liquid compound used to remove oxidation and flux from newly soldered jewelry. It is what you put your pieces in to clean them after…
Are you a hobbyist or professional gemologist facing high equipment costs? Read our IGS series of articles that can help you build your own gemology…
Tech advances and market forces make it essential for gem buyers to know the science behind synthetic gemstones and gem formation. Learn the basics…
A list of False or Misleading Gemstone Names and its Actual Gemological Name. Gathered by the source “Gemstones of the World, 3rd Edition, Walter…
My goal is to share with each of you the fun and folklore or gemstones. Since this is my first article for IGS, my goal is to introduce you to the difference…
Learn these quick and simple test taking tips and strategies to help you on your next gemology test.
What are the birthstones by month? January is garnet, February is amethyst, March is aquamarine, April is diamond, May is emerald, June is alexandrite,…
Printable chart to convert weights and measures including Carats, Grams, Kilograms, Ounces, Pounds and Troy Ounces Pounds and Pennyweights.…
A tabel of Lap Materials, Compliments of The International Gem Society. These figures are approximate and are put together for your general reference.…
Ring Size Comparison Chart compliments of the International Gem Society. A conversion table of Ring sizes. 7 different ring size equivalents…
Jewelers need to know how to determine how much gold is needed for a wax mold. Here are three methods for you.Information and tips on metal or wax formulas.…
How does a gem’s crystal system affect its properties? Consult our gem structure table to learn more about selected gemstones.
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