Gems and Precious Stones

One could suggest that there is simply no substitute for the color play of a top quality opal, although synthetic opals can look nice, Albertan ammolite can be quite spectacular, and color-play feldspars like labradorite or sunstone can be quite stunning.

Sure.

In the past people would not see diamonds set in silver or turquoise in gold. Now you see both, though not very common.

Turquoise has been found in silver in the South West, thus associated with silver.

Sterling Silver is a bit soft for setting diamonds, thus the setting either has to have some gold in it, or copper or be very heavy ( the prongs) of something to make up for the softness of the sterling. Thus the exact same style that you see done in gold could not be done in sterling . That does not exclude the combination though

825 silver is a lower grade silver generally from the continent. Very common but unfortunately not worth very much.

There are lots of good quality antiques our there which if they were sterling ie 925 they would be worth many times the amount of the poorer quality silver. The workmanship and detail is just as good but the manufacture price was lower.

Regarding the jewelry, if it's new not worth a dickie bird. If it's old worth far less than it should be.

Opals are mined in Queensland, Australia, primarily in the areas around the towns of Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy, and Mintabie. These regions are known for producing high-quality opals with vibrant colors and unique patterns.

Yes, topaz is commonly heat treated to enhance its color. This process can create a variety of colors such as blue, pink, and red. Heat treatment is a widely accepted practice in the gemstone industry and is used to improve the appearance of the stone.

Mystic Topaz can be very tricky. I bought my wife a ring and we used it in our sonic cleaner only to ruin it. The coating on the stone needs to be handled with kid gloves. Not hot water, nothing abrasive and don't leave it laying on your window sill where the son can alter the properties of the coating. You can read all about it at this website which, unfortunately, we found AFTER I ruined her first ring!

http://www.gemaffair.com/content/Mystic_Fire_Topaz_Jewelry.htm

This page tells how it is made and who makes it and who has the patent on it and of course, very in depth ways to clean mystic fire topaz safely. Enjoy !

The purple stone you may be thinking of is likely tanzanite. Tanzanite is a rare gemstone that exhibits a vivid purplish-blue hue and is often compared to both diamonds and amethysts due to its color and brilliance.

Yes, amber is a natural stone. It is fossilized tree resin that has hardened over millions of years.

HDS is the maker's mark for Helzberg Jewelers.

Ruby is the birthstone for July, while tanzanite is associated with the zodiac sign of Sagittarius. Virgos are typically associated with sapphire and peridot as their birthstones.

Ruby is the birthstone for Virgo, representing passion, energy, and vitality. It is believed to bring good luck and protect against negative energies for individuals born under this sign. Therefore, wearing a ruby can enhance the positive qualities associated with being a Virgo.

You buy one, or inherit one or trade someone for one.

The value of uncut amethyst can vary depending on factors such as size, quality, color, and clarity. In general, rough amethyst can range from a few dollars to several hundred dollars per carat in the gemstone market. It is recommended to have the amethyst evaluated by a professional gemologist for a more accurate valuation.

A 'transitional' diamond is probably a diamond given with the intention of replacing it with a larger stone at some point in the future.

This is an emotional designation, not a gemstone designation.

normally the letters cc means carbon copy (not aimed for you but a copy sent to you as well) and 14k means 14 thousand.

however in a gold market it most likely represents 14 carot gold. as each shop has a diffrent coding system though you are best off askign with the store to make certains

It depends on personal preferences and occasions. Watches are often considered a more practical accessory for everyday use, while jewelry is popular for special occasions or as a fashion statement. Both watches and jewelry have their own unique appeal to different individuals.

No, opal is an amophous hydrated silicate, while emerald is the name given to green beryl, which is a beryllium aluminosilicate. There is no relation between the two, and their only similarity is that they are both popular and highly valued gemstones.

Opal mutation displays a variety of colors known as play-of-color, including white, gray, blue, green, orange, red, and purple. The specific colors and patterns within opal mutation can vary greatly, making each stone unique.

Cullinan is important due to its rarity, exceptional quality, and large size. It is one of the largest gem-quality diamonds ever found, making it highly valuable and sought after in the world of gemstones and jewelry.

Diamonds are mined, not quarried. Diamond mining involves extracting diamonds from the earth's crust, typically through open-pit or underground mining operations. Quarries, on the other hand, are used to extract building materials like stone, sand, and gravel.

Gemologists, geologists, miners, and collectors typically seek out precious stones in various locations such as mines, rivers, and gemstone markets. These individuals often have specialized knowledge and tools to identify, extract, and evaluate precious stones.

Opal is a gemstone because of its distinctive play-of-color, which is a unique iridescence that reflects a rainbow of colors. It is formed from silica-rich solutions that fill cavities in rock formations, resulting in its characteristic color display. Opal is valued for its beauty and rarity, making it a sought-after gemstone in jewelry.

It is, so diamond will become graphite over time. The structure of diamond hinders the necessary kinetics, so the process is very slow, unnoticeable most of the time.

It's because the standard enthalpy of formation of graphite is 0; but diamonds is not equal to 0.

According to Wikipedia:

" ...cushion antique brilliant [cut] with a faceted girdle and extra facets on the pavilion."

Black opal can be very expensive, only low grade black opal is sold by kilo weight. This low grade is called potch and colour which means that maybe bit of colour might be in this rough black opal I have seen parcels sold for $200 per kilo but it has no colour. Good kilo bucket of rough black opal would cost around $5,000 .00 Black opal is rated by body tone N1 for deep black colour, and N4 for light black colour. So for $5000 per kilo, dont expect N1 body tone. Black opal is sold by carat, and rare patterns are worth $5,000 to $20,000 per carat; especially red fire harlequin pattern n1 body tone, and over brighness rating of 4.