This Type Of Stoned Has Always Been Legal

Gemstoned 

Diamonds          *          Emeralds          *          Rubies          *          Sapphires

Diamonds were originally found in India but now they can be found in South Africa, Brazil and many other places. Speaking of other places, I can't wait to find my way to the Crater of Diamonds in Murfreesboro,  Arkansas. Approximately 300 miles away, taking less than 6 hours to get there, doesn't seem too far for a road trip. I'm going to do my research and be prepared.

Guide for recognizing a diamond in the rough. (*Sniff*) That's what us experts call a gemstone when found in their natural state in the ground. You know, before they are all polished up and stuff, they are in the "rough."

I can hear a diamond calling my name. Hold on my precious, I'm coming!

Diamonds possess qualities that other stones don't and can be found in a lot of different colors. Other than the traditional "white" they can be found in black, brown, yellow, blue, green and many other shades too. Diamonds are found in deposits of gravel, sand or clay and even in river beds.

Look at those eyes. Precious!

Emeralds are the rarest of the precious stones and are considered to be more valuable than even the diamond. Skillful marketing early on probably played a part in the diamonds social status today. Unlike diamonds, emeralds are found in the rock in which it was formed, it never occurs in deposits of gravel or sand. The best stones are known to come from Columbia, South America. But the United States have unearthed some beauties themselves. A rich and dark color is mostly seen and even given the title "emerald green." It's often used to describe the green color of other items. But an intense fresh (lighter) green shade is more highly valued in the market.

 Image courtesy: Gemstone Universe and shared on Quora

Rubies can be dated back in early history before all of the other precious stones. Burma is known to produce the best of the best. The rubies from Burma are a shade of red slightly inclined to the purple and often referred to as "Pigeon Blood Ruby." Rubies can also be found in Ceylon, Siam and Australia among other locations but they do not compare to the deep, rich color produced by Burma.

Corundum is the mineral where genuine rubies containing irregularly shaped bubbles can be obtained. Imitation rubies contain perfectly round bubbles. All genuine stones contain flaws. The fewer the flaws, the rarer the gem. A manufacturer, being more careful than nature, can produce an imitation stone with imperfections that are much less noticeable. A trained gemologist will be able to tell the difference.

I just had to share the awesome picture above of an untreated ruby from Burma. Isn't it gorgeous! Do you see the rose that appears naturally in the center. It's no wonder these are the most desired rubies.

Sapphire reminds me of the color cobalt.
Am I the only one?

Sapphires can be found in the same local as the ruby and many parts of the world. The largest number and best quality are known to come from Siam. Close to the diamond in hardness and like the ruby, its value is measured by its color and quality. The most desired and valuable are a deep blue but other colors have been discovered including red, green, yellow and pink.

Popular semi-precious stones used in jewelry

Alexandrite - grass green/combined red color

Amethyst - pale purple

Aquamarine - sea green

Chrysoberyl - yellow - pale green

Lapis Lazuli - deep blue

Moonstone - pearly - opaline lustre

Opal - opalescent - fire redness

Peridot - deep yellow/green

Topaz - transparent - pale yellow

Tourmaline - transparent - pink or green

Tuquoise - blue

Zircon - blue/green

Coral - red

Carnelian - deep red, flesh red or reddish white

Garnet - red

Jade - green - white, yellow, black, pink, gray

Malachite - green

Agate - reddish - yellow red

Azurite - blue

Bloodstone - green with red

Chrysoprase - translucent green

What's Black Jewelry Made From ? 8 Choices Simple Tests To Find Out !

pinterest.com
Now that's a Stack!

Plastic is very light weight. Tapping plastic on your natural tooth will result with a clicking sound. It might be hollow and could be solid but mold lines will most certainly be present. A jeweler's loupe helps to identify this line that will run all the way around your plastic's middle.

No mold lines present? No "click, click"? Now what?

Glass is heavier than plastic and reflects light. As you hold glass in your hand it will warm up.

Stone is also heavier than plastic. In your hand it will stay cold.

pinterest

Jet is as light as plastic. It's very hard and the material resembles coal. Jet was first mined in Whitby, England in the mid 1800s. Carving this type of fossilized wood became so popular by 1870 there were approximately 200 jet shops in the small town of Whitby. Mining for jet is illegal today which translates to rarity which translates to valuable.

pinterest

Take note, jet breaks easily. That's the bad news. The good news is there's a test. Rub your specimen on concrete or clay pottery. Jet will leave a brownish black mark behind.

Gutta-purcha first appeared in England in 1841. Made out of sap from the Malayan tree. Mostly used during the Victorian era. When you run this material under hot water it will produce a noticeable burnt rubber smell. Rubbing it against your clothing creating friction is another testing method that should result with the same burnt rubber smell.

Crepe Stone is a black material made of glass.The Fowler brothers of Providence, Rhode Island introduced this distinctive looking product in 1883. Also known as English Crepe Stone.

pinterest

pinterest

Bog Oak is a black material that is easily recognized because of the Irish motifs used for jewelry. It is oak wood preserved in the Bogs of Ireland.

Bakelite can be black but not all Bakelite is black. Bakelite was super popular during the 1920s and 30s. It is a phenolic (phenol formaldehyde resin) plastic. A good test that has been proven to be reliable is the 409 test. Take a cotton swab dipped in 409 bathroom cleaner and touch the material. Make sure to make contact in a hidden area on the jewelry, just to be safe. If the cotton swab remains yellow after contact it must be Bakelite.

Amazingly Beautiful Bakelite
pinterest

These two sites are packed with useful information. I mean packed!

The Spruce

Love To Know

The following is a new-to-me website for freebies, deals and etc.

Cha Ching On A String

14 Unknown Facts About Jewelry

Wearing Your Jewelry

Long drop earrings give the illusion of length to your face.  So they're a great thing for those who have chubby cheeks or maybe a double chin.

Perfume oils will discolor gold, pearls and other gems.  Don't spray perfume over your jewelry.  This goes for hair spray too.  This can easily be avoided by putting your jewelry on after you are completely dressed with hair and makeup in place.

Cleaning Your Costume Jewelry

Jewelry made with some stones and with imitation gold & silver can be washed in mild dish washing liquid and warm water.  Wash in bowl not sink ( you don't want to take the risk of losing something down the drain).  Individual pieces of jewelry should not touch each other in solution so as not to scratch.  After soaking for a minute, brush individual piece with soft toothbrush and dry with chamois cloth or facial tissue.  Before you dump left over solution make sure to check the bowl for lost pieces.  DO NOT use bleach because it will damage metal mounts beyond repair.

Absolute Clean Online

Special Treatment Required

     Ivory - Dust ivory pieces regularly with soft cloth; using a clean, soft toothbrush to reach into carved areas.  Sunshine keeps ivory from yellowing but too much sun can cause ivory to crack.  Perfume and hair spray can cause discoloring.
     Jade - Combine 1 tablespoon ammonia and 1 cup hot water.  Swish jewelry briefly and dry immediately with soft cloth.  Jade scratches easily.
     Jet - Never soak in water or any type of chemical solution.  Just wipe with damp soft cloth.
     Diamonds - Swish these stones briefly in 1 tablespoon ammonia and 1 cup hot water.  Then dip in rubbing alcohol and pat dry with tissue paper.

Interesting Jewelry Facts Not Well Known

• Only one natural pearl will form out of every 10,000 oysters. That's it. 
• 100,000 year old beads made from Nassarius shells is officially known as the oldest ever found
• Americans spell it jewelry, everyone else spells it jewellery.
• "Jewel", from the old French jouel, which comes from the latin jocale, translation - plaything.
• For the past 100 years Africa has been the top producer of gold.
• The #1 producer of silver is Mexico. A close second is Peru.
• Real Amber, fossilized tree resin at least a million years old, will float in water.
• In Asia, the Middle East and Africa, 24K gold is used in the making of jewelry.
• In the USA and across Europe, most jewelers believe 24K is too soft for jewelry making.
• A large, perfect, gem quality ruby is worth more than a diamond the same size and quality.
• Peridot, Lapis Lazuli and Pearls were ground up and used as eye shadow in ancient times.
• Naturally colored diamonds are extremely rare. The most expensive and rarest are red, purple and then pink. Their white cousins are abundant and cost considerably less.
• Burma Rubies are not allowed out of Burma. These rubies are quite valuable and can only be purchased on the secondary market.
• Live insect jewelry was popular at certain times in history. You heard me right. Egyptians wore scarab beetles into battle. A Mexican Maquech Beetle and the Giant Madagascar Hissing Cockroach  were also used in jewelry. Victorians in Britain could often be seen sporting live beetles attached to their clothing by tiny, fine gold chains.

    Lots of jewelry history to be found at this link by by clicking here.

   Instructions for jewelry you can make. I especially like the dainty knot ring. #13