09/04/2020
• Susan Hartwig
Synthetic moissanite is marketed by the jewellery industry as an affordable diamond alternative. Named after Nobel Prize winner and French chemist Henri Moissan, moissanite in its natural form is a rare mineral, silicon carbide.
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20/06/2013
• Jeff Salton • Assistant Editor
Are your customers becoming disenchanted with everyday gemstones and asking for something a little different? Gem-cutter Doug Menadue believes bespoke gemstones can provide jewellers with a competitive edge.
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28/03/2013
There are many myths and misconceptions in the gem and jewellery world. Some are found on the internet, some have bizarre origins in history and some, unfortunately, are believed even by people in the industry. Here are a few of the more common ones.
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07/10/2010
• Katherine Kovacs
With an array of gemstone treatments in
use, retailers need to realise that treatment disclosure is more important than
ever. KATHERINE KOVACS reports.
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07/10/2010
• Katherine Kovacs
Rubies and sapphires should be cut to retain as much weight as possible,
while still aiming to retain brilliance and a pleasant shape. KATHERINE
KOVACS reports.
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12/09/2009
So well-reputed is the sapphire’s radiant blue colour that a giant sapphire upon which the Earth reputedly rested was believed to have given its reflection to the sky.
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12/09/2009
For thousands of years, ruby has been considered one of the most valuable gemstones. According to Judaeo-Christians, the ruby was the most precious of all 12 stones created by God.
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12/09/2009
Peridot is a gem-quality form of the mineral olivine, a name given to a mineral series with the two end members being iron-rich fayalite and magnesium-rich forsterite.
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12/09/2009
Pearls are the most romantic of gemstones, perhaps because of the ancient legend surrounding their first appearance. Myth has it that the first pearls were made when Venus, the Goddess of Love, came out of the sea shaking herself dry. The water droplets that propelled off her body reputedly hardened into pearls and fell back into the sea.
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12/09/2009
• Staff Journalist
Australia is the world leader in opal production and produces 95 per cent of the precious gemstone. As such, opal is regarded Australia’s national gemstone.
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12/09/2009
Amethyst, a beautiful purple gem, is the most valuable form of quartz. It ranges from pale lavender to a deep, rich violet, its unparalleled colour and delicate crystal structure make it extremely popular with purchasers in both cut and crystal form.
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12/09/2009
Natural citrine is the most valuable form of quartz, and extremely rare. It occurs when amethyst formations are close to natural heat sources in the Earth's crust.
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12/09/2009
The word aquamarine is Latin for seawater. Aquamarine's association with the sea comes from the brilliant range of hues in which it appears - from an almost transparent blue to a deep ocean azure.
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26/08/2009
While the word “emerald” didn't make its way into the English language until the 16th century, its derivation dates back to ancient time and the Persian word smaragdus, meaning green. Later, it evolved as esmaraude, émeraude and then esmerald before forming the term used today.
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