GEMSTONES

DEFINITION MINERALS that are cut RARE= valuable Usually above 7 on hardness scale

Gold Pure gold is soft

(malleable), heavy and expensive!

Gold in jewelry is an alloy (mix of metals)

K= % of gold 24K= 100% gold 14K = ?

The 5 C’s Cut Clarity Color Carat Cost

CUT Ground down on a grinding wheel

Faceting- for TLT-TPT Lets light through mineral; adds brilliance

Cabachoning- for OPQ

Diamonds in the “rough”

Round brilliant

Faceting

Cabachoning

Cabachons

Clarity Amount of imperfections

Specs Cracks discoloration

Color Colored gems= deep color, more $$

Diamonds= D-Z scale (see handout) Exception is Z+ fancy diamonds are

colored diamonds- most rare of all

D, Fl I 3

Fancy Diamonds More rare than

traditional diamonds.

Carat Weight of gemstone 1 ct= 200 mg 100 pts.= 1 carat TGW= total gem

weight for many stones together

Cost Depends on previous 4 C’s

FAMOUSDIAMONDS

How Do Diamonds Form?Contrary to what many people believe, most diamonds do not form from coal

CULLINIAN 9

CULLINAN ISTAR OF AFRICA530 CTS.

Cullinan II: 317 cts.

Kohinoor Originally 186 cts. Now 108 cts. Queen of England

HOPE DIAMOND; 65 cts. New setting Nov. 2010

Smithsonian

Tiffany yellow

PINK SUNRISE30 CTS.

DeYoung Red5.03 cts.

Taylor-Burton Diamond68 cts.

Smithsonian diamonds

MILLENIUM STAR- 230 CTSD, IF (“Millenniums come and go, but a diamond is forever” DeBeers

The Regent Diamond 410 carat

diamond when originally found.

Later cut down to 140 carats.

Today is at The Louvre.

                                                              

Birthstones

GarnetJanuary birthstone

ALEXANDRITE

1.6 ct

$16,000

OPAL(hydrated quartz)

TOPAZNovember birthstone

EmeraldMay birthstone

PeridotAugust Birthstone

Synthetic gemstones Advantages?

Less expensive Less flawed

Disadvantages?