Gemstone Buying Guide
Table of Contents
|
|
Acknowledgements
|
7
|
1. Colored Gem Price Factors in a Nutshell
|
8
|
|
Price Factors Explained
|
8
|
|
Two Common Beliefs Which Warrant Review
|
15
|
|
Colored Gem Pricing
|
16
|
2. Shape and Cutting Style
|
18
|
|
Gemstone Terms Defined
|
19
|
|
Traditional Cutting Styles
|
20
|
|
Fancy Cuts and Cutting Techniques
|
24
|
|
Carving
|
27
|
|
Drusy Gem Materials
|
31
|
3. Carat Weight
|
33
|
|
Size Versus Carat Weight
|
33
|
|
Effect of Carat Weight on Price
|
34
|
|
Estimating Carat Weight
|
35
|
4. Gemstone Color
|
36
|
|
Evaluating Gemstone Color
|
37
|
|
How to Examine Color
|
39
|
|
How Lighting Affects Gem Color
|
40
|
5. Judging Clarity and Transparency
|
42
|
|
Gemstone Inclusions
|
43
|
|
Gemstone Blemishes
|
45
|
|
Examining Gemstones for Clarity
|
45
|
|
How Lighting Can Affect Your Perception of Clarity
|
47
|
|
Do We Need Grades to Evaluate Clarity and Transparency?
|
48
|
6. Judging Cut Quality
|
49
|
|
Judging the Face-Up View
|
49
|
|
Judging the Profile
|
51
|
|
How Cut Affects Price
|
54
|
|
Judging "Life"
|
55
|
7. Evaluating Star and Cat's-Eye Stones
|
56
|
8. Treatments
|
59
|
9. Synthetic Stones
|
63
|
|
Synthetic Versus Natural
|
64
|
10. Deceptive Practices
|
65
|
|
Misnomers
|
67
|
11. Gemstone Descriptions
|
68
|
|
Amethyst and Other Quartz Stones
|
71
|
|
Chalcedony
|
75
|
|
Chrysoberyl (Alexandrite, Cat's-eye...)
|
80
|
|
Emerald and Other Beryl Stones
|
82
|
|
Garnet
|
86
|
|
Iolite
|
91
|
|
Jade
|
92
|
|
Lapis Lazuli
|
100
|
|
Malachite
|
101
|
|
Moonstone and Some Other Feldspars
|
102
|
|
Opal
|
104
|
|
Peridot
|
112
|
|
Spodumene
|
113
|
|
Ruby and Sapphire (Corundum)
|
114
|
|
Spinel
|
118
|
|
Tanzanite and Other Zoisites
|
120
|
|
Topaz
|
122
|
|
Tourmaline
|
124
|
|
Turquoise
|
128
|
|
Zircon
|
130
|
|
Ammolite
|
132
|
|
Andalusite, Apatite
|
133
|
|
Azurite, Benitoite
|
134
|
|
Charoite, Calcite
|
135
|
|
Diopside, Fluorite
|
136
|
|
Hematite, Natural Glass (Obsidian, Moldavite)
|
137
|
|
Larimar, Prehnite, Rhodonite
|
138
|
|
Rhodochrosite, Sugilite
|
139
|
|
Sphene (Titanite), Variscite
|
140
|
|
Test Your Gem IQ
|
141
|
12. Caring for Your Gems
|
142
|
Birthstones and Anniversary Stones
|
146
|
Suppliers of Jewelry and Stones for Photographs
|
147
|
|
Bibliography
|
150
|
|
Index
|
153
|
