Gemstone Info

Gemstones, Beads, Jewelry

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Useful articles and information on gems and gemology

This page contains all types of helpful information regarding not only gemstones, but jewelry and beads. Some of these articles and charts are our own. Some are links to other sites that we found interesting. We are constantly adding information, so check back often.

Contents:

Brilliance & Scintillation

Bead Chart

Birthstones

Evaluating Colored Gemstones

Faceting: an Introduction

Garnets

Color Change Garnets

Grading Gemstones

International Gem Society

Jewelry FAQ

Jewelry Making (on Squidoo)

Lapis Lazuli

Mystic Topaz

Moh’s Scale

News from the Jewelry Industry

Opals:

Terminology: Common, Precious, Fire, Potch

What are Doublets & Triplets

Describing Opal Fire Patterns

Opals on a Budget

Other Popular Gemstones

Necklace Lengths

Tourmaline

Treatments of Gemstones

Zircon

Gemstone Info

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Click Here to Visit My Gemstone Blog

Gemstone Grading

Different dealers may use different methods and symbols to describe the grade of a gemstone. Many use "commercial", "good", "fine" and "extra fine" to describe the stones. You will also often see "AAA","AA","A","B" etc. The grade of a stone takes into consideration the clarity of the stone, the color and to a lesser extent, the cut.

Color is the most important consideration for colored gemstones. There are 3 factors affecting the color of a stone. They are Hue, Saturation, and Tone.

Hue is the color of the stone: red, yellow, blue, etc. Generally, the more pure colors are more desirable. For instance, a red ruby is better than a orangish-red ruby.

Saturation refers to the intensity of the color. Saturation is usually rated from 1 to 6, 1 being grayish or brownish and 6 being "vivid". Generally the more vivid color, the better .

Tone is how dark or light the looks. They are rated on a scale of 0 to 10 with colorless being 0 and so dark as to appear black being 10.

Grading can be very subjective and standards vary from one type of gemstone to another. For example, inclusions are more acceptable in an emerald than in, say an Amethyst. The Gemological Institute of America has attempted to standardize clarity standards for Colored Gems. They have divided Gemstones into 3 types and have defined the clarity grades for each type.

Below is the GIA grading standards for clarity.

Type I - Gemstones
Beryl
   Aquamarine
   Green
   Morganite
   Heliodor
Chrysoberyl
   Green
   Yellow
Quartz
   Smokey
Spodumene
   Kunzite
   Green
Topaz
   Blue
   Yellow
   Orange
   Pink
   Red
Tourmaline
   Green
Zircon
   Blue
Zoisite
   Tanzanite

Type I - Clarity

VVS - Very, Very Slightly Included (the best) Minute inclusions that are difficult to see using 10X, and are not visible at all to the naked eye.

VS - Very Slightly Included Minor inclusions that are easier to see using 10X, but still not visible to the naked eye.

SI1 - Slightly Included I The inclusions are easily seen using 10X, and are noticeable with the naked eye.

SI2 - Slightly Included 2 The inclusions are more easily seen using 10X, and are quite visible with the naked eye.

I1 - Included 1 The inclusions are very obvious and they have a moderate negative effect on the over-all appearance or durability of the gemstone.

I2 - Included 2 The inclusions are very obvious and they have a severe negative effect on the over-all appearance or durability of the gemstone.

I3 - Included 3 The inclusions are very obvious and they have a sever negative effect on both the over-all appearance and durability of the gemstone.

Type 2- Gemstones
Andalusite All
Chrysoberyl
   Alexandrite
Corundum
   All colors
(Sapphire and Ruby)
Garnet
   All species and colors
Iolite - All
Peridot - All
Quartz
   Amethyst
   Citrine
   Ametrine
Spinel - All
Tourmaline
   Blue
   Orange
   Yellow
   Multi-colored (except
         watermelon color)
Zircon
   Green
   Orange
   Red
   Yellow

Type 2 - Clarity

VVS - Very, Very Slightly Included (the best) Minor inclusions that are somewhat easy to see using 10X, but still not visible to the naked eye.

VS - Very Slightly Included Noticeable inclusions that are easier to see using 10X, and may be slightly visible to the naked eye.

SI1 - Slightly Included I The inclusions are easily seen using 10X and are large or numerous, and are noticeable with the naked eye.

SI2 - Slightly Included 2 The inclusions are easily seen using 10X and are large or numerous, and are very noticeable with the naked eye.

I1 - Included 1 The inclusions are very obvious and they have a moderate negative effect on the over-all appearance or durability of the gemstone.

I2 - Included 2 The inclusions are very obvious and they have a severe negative effect on the over-all appearance or durability of the gemstone.

I3 - Included 3 The inclusions are very obvious and they have a sever negative effect on both the over-all appearance and durability of the gemstone.

Type 3 - Gemstones
Beryl
   Emerald
Tourmaline
   Red
   Pink
   Watermelon

Type 3- Clarity

VVS - Very, Very Slightly Included (the best) Noticeable inclusions that are easy to see using 10X, but usually not visible to the naked eye.

VS - Very Slightly Included Obvious inclusions that are easy to see using 10X, and usually visible to the naked eye.

SI1 - Slightly Included I The inclusions are large and numerous using 10X, and prominent with the naked eye.

SI2 - Slightly Included 2 The inclusions are large and numerous using 10X, and very prominent with the naked eye.

I1 - Included 1 The inclusions are very obvious and they have a moderate negative effect on the over-all appearance or durability of the gemstone.

I2 - Included 2 The inclusions are very obvious and they have a severe negative effect on the over-all appearance or durability of the gemstone.

I3 - Included 3 The inclusions are very obvious and they have a sever negative effect on both the over-all appearance and durability of the gemstone.

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MOH'S SCALE OF HARDNESS

10	Diamond
9	Corundum (sapphire)
8	Topaz
7	Quartz
6	Feldspar
5	Apatite
4	Fluorite
3	Calcite
2	Gypsum
1	Talc

Bead Chart

Bead Size	Beads per Inch	Beads per 16”
2 mm	12.5	200
3 mm	8.3	133
4 mm	6.25	100
5 mm	5	80
6 mm	4.2	66
7 mm	3.6	57
8 mm	3.13	50
10 mm	2.5	40
12 mm	2.1	33

Necklace Lengths
Standard necklace lengths

Choker	16 inches
Princess	18 inches
Matinee	20-24 inches
Opera	28-32 inches
Rope	>32inches

Birthstones

MONTH	MODERN	ANCIENT
January	Garnet	Garnet
February	Amethyst	Amethyst
March	Aquamarine	Bloodstone
April	Diamond	Diamond
May	Emerald	Emerald
June	Alexandrite	Pearl
July	Ruby	Ruby
August	Peridot	Sardonyx
September	Sapphire	Sapphire
October	Rose Zircon	Tourmaline or Opal
November	Golden Topaz	Topaz
December	Blue Zircon	Turquoise or Lapis

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News From the Jewelry Industry

Useful articles and information on gems and gemology

Gemstone Grading

MONTH

MODERN

ANCIENT