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Thank you for visiting JewelryZen.com! Find what you have been looking for with ease by searching your next purchase. Whether it's handcrafted designer jewelry from NOVICA or diamond earrings from Diamonds.com, you can rest assured that you are being directed to the finest in online jewelry. We also offer engagement, wedding, and anniversary jewelry.
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Emerald
Derived from the Greek word “smaragdos” meaning “green gemstone,” the emerald is a gemstone of the most fascinating and intense green color. Emeralds of good quality are extremely rare, which is why these gemstones can sometimes exceed the value of diamonds.
What is different about emeralds is that the more inclusions and flaws that an emerald has, the higher its value becomes. These flaws only indicate that the gemstone is natural, since inclusions are considered as part of the emerald’s character.
The Emerald’s Four C’s
Just like diamonds, there are also four C’s to follow when it comes to rating the quality of emeralds. These four C’s are color, cut, clarity, and carat.
In grading an emerald, the color is a very important factor. There are three components in rating an emerald’s color–tone, hue, and saturation. In a scale of 1 to 10, emeralds are graded from poor (1-2) to exceptional (9-10). An exceptionally colored emerald is pure green. When it comes to color hues, the range starts from light yellow green to intense blue green. Therefore, the normal secondary hues found in an emerald are yellow and blue, while the primary hue is green. The tone measures the lightness or darkness of an emerald. A green gemstone that is too light in color is not considered an emerald; rather, it is called a green beryl. Medium to dark tones are the best tones for emeralds, although very dark tones may not be as brilliant as medium tone emeralds. Gray is the normal saturation of an emerald. Ideally, an emerald should not have a visible gray mask.
The next C, cut, is essential for the overall appearance of an emerald. A well-cut emerald should be symmetrical and brilliant, with light reflecting evenly across its surface. Emeralds come in different shapes, such as round, oval, radiant, and square, among others. The most common emerald shape is the “emerald cut,” which is rectangular with its corners clipped-off. The polish, or the smoothness, of the emerald must also be considered, since this can affect its brilliance.
The grading of an emerald’s clarity is interesting, since the emerald is the only gemstone that is expected to have inclusions. In fact, a flawless emerald is suspected to be synthetic. Also, the clarity of an emerald is graded by the naked eye or though a magnifying glass. The natural inclusions found in an emerald are called “jardin” or “gardens,” and no two emeralds have the same internal gardens. The emerald’s clarity is the most important factor when it comes to grading an emerald. The higher the clarity, the more brilliant and valuable an emerald is. To enhance an emerald’s clarity, cedar oil can be used.
The carat is the weight of the gemstone. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. Since larger emeralds are rarer than smaller emeralds, the heavier an emerald, the more costly it becomes.
Crystal –The Fifth C
The crystal is also another important factor in grading an emerald. This is also referred to as the diaphaneity or transparency of an emerald. Some people advocate that emerald buyers should pay more attention to the crystal rather than the clarity, since it is the crystal that gives the emerald a wonderful inner glow. |
Ruby
Passion, love, intensity, power–these are the words that are most closely associated with the color red. And what other gemstone would perfectly embody all these traits other than the blood-red ruby?
Perfect for the passionate and intense soul, rubies have long been considered as the most valuable gems on earth, largely because of its deep red color, harness, and brilliance.
Ruby belongs to the family of the mineral corundum, which means that it is the sister of another coveted jewel, sapphire. While sapphires can come in different colors, rubies only come in a range of red shades, from slightly pinkish to intense bloody red.
What makes a ruby as red as it is? Pure corundum is colorless, so it needs to have other substances or elements mixed with it to endow it with color. While sapphire can be mixed with a variety of elements to produce a desired color, rubies are usually mixed with chrome and some traces of other elements to produce the desired color.
Rubies are also very hard gemstones, even ranking second to diamonds when it comes to hardness. In fact, rubies scored a 9 in the Mohs scale of hardness. It is also a very rare mineral, originally found in India, which is regarded as the ruby’s country of origin.
What makes rubies rare is the fact that chrome is also a very rare element. While chrome is responsible for giving rubies its beautiful color, it is also responsible for the many cracks and fissures found in authentic rubies. Because of these fissures, only a small amount of rubies in the world can be used for jewelries. In fact, rubies that are more than 3 carats are already very rare finds. Those in perfect conditions can even surpass the prices of diamonds.
Color matters
The color of rubies is the single determining factor affecting its prices. While some people think that the darker the ruby is, the better, it may not be completely true. Very dark rubies may appear black, and this is not a desirable color anymore. On the other hand, very pale rubies would look colorless, much like its base mineral, corundum. This does not hold much value any more than very dark rubies. Therefore, the desired color for a ruby is intense, deep, and passionate red, which holds plenty of brilliance and life. Of course, the color must be coupled with clarity and cut in order for the ruby to become valuable.
Taking care of your rubies
Just like other jewelry, ruby jewelries must also be properly taken care of so as to keep them in top form. Ruby jewelries can be cleaned by using hot and soapy water. You can also make use of detergents, but make sure that you rinse them off thoroughly to avoid any allergic reactions. To remove dirt and grease, you can also brush your ruby jewelry using an old, soft-bristled toothbrush.
One thing you need to avoid is the use of chlorine, since this may have a detrimental effect to your ruby jewelries. |
Sapphire
Though sapphires come in different colors, it is most associated with the color of the sea and the sky. In fact, sapphires can be as dark as the ocean depths, or as light as the afternoon skies.
A sapphire is just one of the gemstone varieties of the corundum group, which also includes rubies. Corundum gemstones are especially known for their exceptional hardness, surpassed only by the hardness of a diamond, which is by far the hardest substance on earth.
Since corundum is made of pure aluminum oxide, what contributes to the color of the sapphire is the presence of other elements, such as titanium and iron. Because of these elements, sapphires are able to have many different colors, such as green, blue, pink, and yellow. Whereas all these colored gemstones are still considered sapphires, red corundum are known as rubies. The ruby’s red color is mainly due to chrome mixed with aluminum oxide.
Types of Sapphires
The most well-known type of sapphire is the blue sapphire, which is a result of the mixture of titanium and iron with aluminum oxide. Sometimes, the mixture is not well saturated, resulting in a gray shade rather than blue. To enhance its color, these sapphires are “baked” in a temperature of 1800 degrees Centigrade.
Another type of sapphires is the sapphire with fancy colors. As mentioned before, sapphires come in different colors. Purple sapphires are usually cheaper than blue sapphires. To create a purple sapphire, the aluminum oxide is mixed with vanadium. Other sapphire colors include yellow, green, pink, orange and brown. Iron is used to create yellow and green sapphires, while chromium is used to create pink sapphires. Some pink sapphires are even very close to the red color of rubies, and these are priced higher than those with light pink shades. There are also colorless sapphires that are used as a substitute for diamonds. Salmon-colored sapphires are called padparadschas, derived from the Sinhalese word meaning “lotus flower.” They are now a popular collector’s item.
Aside from fancy colored sapphires, there are also color changing sapphires. Just like what its name implies, this type of sapphire appears blue outdoors, while it appears purple indoors. There are also variations, wherein the sapphire appears pinkish under the sun and greenish under fluorescent light. The more evident the color change, the higher the monetary value of the sapphire.
Finally, the star sapphire is so-called because of the six-rayed star found in its center, called as asterism. The asterism phenomenon can be observed under a single bright light source. The value of a star sapphire depends on the carat or the weight of the gemstone. Aside from the carat, its value also depends on the quality of the asterism–its sharpness or intensity, symmetry, body color, and visibility. Some of the famous star sapphires in history are the Star of India, Midnight Star, and Star of Bombay.
There are also synthetic, or manmade, sapphires available in the market nowadays. It was first developed in 1902 by French chemist Auguste Verneuil. Synthetic sapphires can be used in different industrial applications, but they can also be used in jewelry.
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Silver
What's great about silver jewelry is that it can match and compliment any type of outfit, so you can wear it with a gown during formal occasions or even with simple jeans and shirt during a casual stroll around the park. Silver especially looks good on dark colors, since the luster of silver makes it shine through. Moreover, silver can be partnered with other gemstones, such as turquoise, amethyst, and diamond.
But this does not mean that silver cannot stand alone. In fact, there are a lot of bracelets, necklaces, and earrings available in the market that are made of sheer silver, and these are enough to make one transform from drab to fab. Aside from jewelry, silver can also be used in a number of different things, such as dental fillings, mirrors, coins, and even medicine.
Types of Silver Used for Jewelry
Natural silver in itself cannot be made into jewelry, for it is too soft. In order to create beautiful silver jewelry, silver must be combined with other elements to strengthen it and make it durable for jewelry.
One type of silver jewelry is pure silver, which exudes a brilliant metallic luster. Natural silver is just 999/1000 pure, which makes it too soft for molding into jewelry. This is in contrast with pure silver, which is even a little harder than gold, making it a malleable and ductile metal. Pure silver jewelry can resist tarnishing when exposed to water or air, but not when it is exposed to sulfur or ozone.
Sterling silver jewelry is perhaps the most marketable type of silver jewelry, not just because of its sheen but also because of its beautiful craftsmanship. It is composed of 90% pure silver, and the other 10% are alloys that can add strength and durability. Copper is one element that is usually mixed with sterling. Most high-quality silver jewelry are made from sterling silver. To ensure that it is authentic sterling silver, look for the “925” engraving at the backside or inside of a silver jewelry piece. One nice thing about sterling silver is that it never fades, unlike other types of silver, such as silver plating.
German or nickel silver jewelry is composed of copper, zinc, and nickel, and exudes a silvery white luster. Occasionally, lead and tin are also used to create nickel silver jewelry. However, a lot of people are allergic to nickel, that is why this type of silver jewelry is not as popular as sterling silver. What makes it good for jewelry-making is that it is considerably tougher than other silver types.
As mentioned above, silver can also be mixed with other gemstones to enhance its beauty. Silver gemstone jewelries are also popular choices for jewelry aficionados. Some examples of precious and semi-precious stones that can be partnered to silver are emerald, amethyst, ruby, jade, pearl and sapphire. Aside from these real gemstones, artificial or synthetic gems can also be used.
Lastly, oxidized silver jewelry is said to be the most popularly worn jewelry in the world. It gives out a white metallic luster, which makes it more versatile than the bright luster of other silver jewelry.
Taking Care of Your Silver Jewelry
Since silver jewelries are prone to dullness, you must know how to take proper care of your jewelry to avoid losing its metallic sheen. Simple measures, such as removing your jewelry to avoid contact with other harsh chemicals, can help your silver jewelry achieve timelessness. Also, proper storage is essential so as to slow down oxidation, which is the main cause why silver loses its luster. |
White Gold
White gold was orginally a replacement for platinum in the 1920s, but today is one of the most popular fine Jewelry choice, often paired with sapphire, diamonds, gemstones or even crystals.
White gold is a true carat gold, very similar to red or yellow carat gold fine Jewelry. Using certian allow metals, the gold appears white, as there really is no naturally occuring white gold. New white gold fine Jewelry is noramly covered with rhodium, a finish that protects the white gold. If you are intersted in keeping your fine Jewelry looking brand new, think about having your rhodium renwed as the coats tend to fade over time.
White gold is quickly gaining recognition nowadays as one of the top choices for wedding rings. It started to pick up popularity during the 1920s as a good platinum substitute, and since then has created waves in the jewelry industry.
But then, there is really no such thing as “white gold.” Pure 24-carat gold is yellowish in color, and it only transforms into other colors because of the alloys mixed into them. In fact, all jewelries containing gold have other elements mixed into them, since the 24-carat pure gold is too soft to be molded into fine jewelry. The more gold there is in a piece of jewelry, the more yellowish it appears. For example, an 18-carat gold may be a little more yellowish than a 10-carat gold.
In the case of white gold, the alloys mixed into it are metals of whiter color, such as silver, palladium, and nickel. However, this mixture results into an off-white color, which is why rhodium plating is further added to the gold to enhance its white luster. Since rhodium is extremely reflective and resistant to corrosion, it is the perfect choice for white gold plating. The downside is that the rhodium-plated white gold may lose its luster over a period of five years, and the white gold may then appear yellowish.
Of all the metals that can be alloyed to produce white gold, nickel produces the most allergic reactions. Around one out of eight persons are mildly allergic to nickel, which is why it is now seldom used as a white gold jewelry alloy, even if it is hard and strong. Also, those white gold jewelries with nickel alloys have a higher tendency to whiten and become less bright.
Platinum vs. White Gold
Platinum and white gold jewelry had always been compared and contrasted with each other. While both are equally popular choices for engagement and wedding rings, white gold jewelries pose several advantages over platinum. The first difference lies in the cost. Platinum rings are way more expensive than white gold ones, even though they look similar in terms of design. Moreover, white gold is said to be stronger than platinum, hence it cannot be bent or scratched easily. The white gold finish also stays bright for a long time. Also, platinum prongs, or those that are used to hold a gemstone in place, are said to break more easily than white gold prongs.
Taking Care of Your White Gold Jewelry
Since the rhodium plating of white gold jewelry wears off over time, the jewelries must be re-plated with rhodium every 12-18 months to ensure its continuous sheen. Just like other jewelries, keep them away from all harsh chemicals, like cleaning fluids and chlorine. You also have to constantly clean your white gold jewelry by washing it with warm water and a detergent-free soap. Make use of a soft-bristled brush to avoid any unwanted abrasions on your jewelry. When it comes to storage, you must keep them in separate soft cloth bags or boxes. |
Yellow Gold
Looking for engagement and wedding rings? Yellow gold remains to be the most popular choice when it comes to marriage rings. Indeed, gold has become a symbol of fidelity and commitment for both the husband and the wife. Although there are now many different colors for gold, yellow gold is still the perfect choice if you are going for the traditional look. However, jewelries made of yellow gold are not exclusively used for weddings alone. They can also be used in earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
Just like silver, pure gold is too soft to be molded into jewelry. That is why it makes use of alloys to make it stronger and more durable. Different alloys are mixed for different types of gold. For yellow gold, silver is used as an alloy. Other elements that can be alloyed to produce yellow gold include zinc and copper.
Why Choose Yellow Gold?
What is nice about yellow gold is that unlike other metals, it does not corrode, rust, or tarnish, hence it can last for a very long time, even for a lifetime. In addition, gold is also a very rare and expensive metal. Although gold is generally yellow in color, it can be changed into different colors through the process of alloying.
Yellow gold has always been associated with aristocracy ever since it was discovered during prehistoric times. In historical accounts, yellow gold has been the first metal to be used by ancient people as ornaments for their bodies and for their rituals. Not only can gold be found in historical accounts; the bible also contains references for gold. Truly, gold is definitely one of the most precious metals this world has to offer.
Gold Carats
One thing you have to keep in mind when it comes to purchasing gold is the carat. Carat is defined as the gold content of a certain jewelry or metal. Traditionally, carats are used to measure two things–the proportion of pure gold with the mixed alloy, and the weight of a gemstone. When it comes to gold, however, the first definition is applicable. It is used to know the percentage of gold in certain jewelry as compared to the alloy used.
A 24-carat pure gold is soft, and this is the type of yellow gold that is alloyed to other base metals. 22 gold carats is also very soft, hence it is also not used for jewelries. Therefore, most carats usually used for yellow gold jewelries are 18, 14, and 10 carats. The higher the carat, the higher is the gold percentage. In effect, the jewelry with a higher yellow gold carat is more valuable than those with lower carats.
A 9-carat or 10-carat yellow gold contains 37.5% of pure gold, while a 14-carat yellow gold contains a higher amount of pure gold, which is 58.5%. The 18-carat yellow gold has the highest concentration of pure gold that can be used for jewelry, and that is 75%. The remaining percentage is a mixture of alloyed metals, and these metals have an effect on the appearance of the jewelry. |
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