Is topaz semi-precious or precious stone? This issue is not at all difficult to understand, but why then did the confusion arise? It appeared because the stone has excellent characteristics, it is in demand, and it is very expensive. It is for this reason that disputes about whether topaz belongs to one or another group of minerals have not subsided to this day, and in disputes, as we know, the truth is born.

Natural blue topaz

Why is it called precious?

The topaz gemstone has been known to humanity for quite some time. Certain characteristics of the gem, or rather its hardness, became the reason why crowns and symbols of power were encrusted with topazes.

Kings and monarchs loved crystals of various shades, assigning magical properties to them. Since the range of colors of topaz is amazing, it had many properties.

If you delve into the problem, you can immediately encounter problems, since in some countries topaz is classified as a precious stone, and in others - as a semi-precious stone.

In our country, such issues are resolved through legislation, but in some countries the laws are different. For this reason, topaz is regarded as a precious mineral, and the reason for this is not only the characteristics of the stone, but also its cost.

The rarest and most expensive are blue topazes; there are very few such stones left in nature. Most of the deposits that are familiar to humanity have almost completely exhausted themselves. The cost of such gems is very high.

But the technologies that people have owned since ancient times help combat the shortage. Minerals that are not brightly colored must be processed; they go through a refining procedure. The crystals are heated and exposed to radiation. As a result of processing, minerals become bright and acquire the desired shade.

It is difficult to recognize a substitution, because at its core, a crystal that has gone through the refining procedure is the same topaz that meets all the requirements. Only a bright color or shade can reveal the synthetic origin of a mineral, because those stones that are found in the bowels of the earth are distinguished by a soft color.

In our country, topaz is a semi-precious stone; it is not included in the list of precious stones for the reason that at the moment there are quite a lot of deposits in the world where topazes of various colors are mined.

Place of Birth

Today, several countries are engaged in topaz mining. The largest deposits of this stone are located in the following countries:

• Brazil, where high-quality stones are mined, is distinguished by its deep color and large size. Blue and light blue topazes are called Brazilian sapphires.
• Russia, on the territory of our country there is one of the largest deposits of topaz, it is located in the Urals. In these places it is possible to find stones of a golden and yellow hue.
• Madagascar, where large gems are mined, are distinguished by their quality and are quite expensive.

In Brazil, they managed to find a stone weighing about 1.5 kg, it was called “Mirabella”; the topaz was distinguished by its blue color, which was comparable only to the beauty of the sky.

“Mirabella” is unique, but it is still inferior in weight to topaz, which was found on the territory of Ukraine back in the days of the USSR. The weight of the mined crystal was about 120 kilograms. The topaz was the color of white wine.

Jewelers' point of view

Oddly enough, jewelry craftsmen are not too fond of working with these stones. The reason for the high hardness of topaz is the difficulty of cutting and processing.

Earrings with topaz

Most often, crystals are shaped:

1. Oval.
2. Circle.
3. Cabochon.

Fancy cutting methods are also used in crystal processing. The stone can also be given the shape of a rectangle, but this cutting method is used mainly for processing emeralds.

Gold is considered the best setting for topaz - this metal emphasizes the beauty of the gem and makes it brighter. In the store you can find jewelry made of platinum or silver. Silver is rarely used because this metal is not very expensive and is mostly used for making inexpensive jewelry.

On store shelves you can find the following products inlaid with stones:

• rings and rings;
• brooches and pendants;
• earrings and bracelets.

Topaz set in gold or platinum is an expensive pleasure, especially if the crystal is large in size or bright in color. But in the world of jewelry, there is a high risk of stumbling upon a fake. Most often, topaz is disguised as:

1. Tinted quartz (known as rauchtopaz, has a smoky tint).
2. Rock crystal (this type of quartz is often passed off as those minerals that have no color).
3. Aquamarine (it is tinted and passed off as an expensive and rare blue topaz).

So, when choosing jewelry, you should be vigilant, ask the seller for a certificate and understand the origin of the gem. Fake stones have a trade name that has nothing to do with topaz, although you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at the price tag.

But if the jewelry is really inlaid with topazes, then they should be protected from falls and mechanical damage. If a ring or ring falls onto the floor from a height, the crystal may crumble into fragments due to its high hardness. The products also do not tolerate contact with reagents and sunlight.

The rays of the sun are dangerous; under their influence, topaz fades, and this happens unevenly. The process may take several years. But to prevent the sun from harming the mineral, it is recommended to wear jewelry in the evening and store it away from the sun’s rays in a dark and preferably cool place.

There is one interesting case that was told by a security guard at one of the museums. He went out into the hall while checking the room and noticed that one of the exhibits had changed color. This observation specifically concerned topaz - it simply faded under the rays of the sun.

What stones are considered precious?

Not only a jeweler and a gemologist can understand stones. Such knowledge will also be useful to jewelry lovers. When choosing a product in a store or boutique, you should understand what exactly you will have to pay for.

• diamonds;
• sapphires;
• rubies;
• emeralds;
• alexandrites.

Eternal value, a sign of wealth and high position in society, is a diamond, whether processed or unprocessed. The stone has high characteristics and is the hardest material on Earth. The cost of diamonds is extremely high, especially when it comes to those gems that do not have defects, are large in size or have a rare shade.

Sapphires are blue corundums, which are also classified as precious stones. Sapphires are distinguished by high characteristics, they are expensive and are valued not only by jewelers, but also by collectors.

Ruby is another variety of corundum, but these stones must have a red tint. Corundums have been called by various names since the 19th century. The most valuable and rare rubies are those mined in Asia.

Emerald is a type of beryl; the most valuable stones are of a bright green hue; they are mined in Colombia.

Alexandrites are expensive only because their mining has almost completely stopped. The large deposit that existed in the Urals exhausted itself quite a long time ago. Alexandrites are found during the development of ore deposits, but such finds are sporadic.

Pearls are also considered precious in our country, but only those pearls that are of natural origin, and not cultured pearls, fall under this concept.

This leads to the conclusion that topaz is a semi-precious stone. However, gems began to be divided according to these concepts relatively recently; this happened in the 19th century. And at that time, all crystals that were highly valuable and rarely found in nature were called precious.

The discovery of a deposit of one or another mineral immediately made the stones semi-precious, since the cost of them decreased, and they no longer fell under the concept of “rare”.

When wondering whether topaz is a precious or semi-precious stone, you should not rely only on today. Yes, today this mineral has nothing to do with precious ones, but who knows what will happen tomorrow? It is possible that in a few decades, topaz will significantly increase in price and diamonds, rubies and sapphires will become in demand.

Precious stones are a large group of diverse stones of mineral and organic origin. The properties that determine the dignity of a precious stone include: the beauty of the stone, color, various colors and shades, shine, transparency, play of light and the hardness of the stone, which determines its durability and ability to maintain its shape without changing under mechanical stress.

There are different classifications of stones. However, the most widely used classification is developed by the Soviet professor E. Ya. Kievlenko. According to this classification, all stones are divided into three groups:
jewelry or precious stones
jewelry and semi-precious stones
ornamental stones

In these groups, the stones are arranged in order of their value on the world market.

The first group is divided into four orders:

I - diamond, ruby, emerald, blue sapphire
II - alexandrite, orange, purple and green sapphires, noble black opal, noble jadeite
III - demantoid, spinel, noble white and fire opal, topaz, aquamarine, rhodolite, tourmaline, moonstone,
IV - peridot, zircon, yellow, green and pink beryl, turquoise, amethyst, citrine

The second group is divided into two orders:

I - lapis lazuli, amber, rock crystal, jade, jadeite, malachite
II - agate, opal, rhodonite, amazonite, rose quartz, heliotrope, cacholong

The third group has no divisions. These are mainly decorative facing stones. It includes: jasper, written granite, petrified wood, marble onyx, jet, selenite, patterned flint, jaspilite, fluorite, obsidian, colored marble.

Background information on the most common gemstones.

DIAMOND

Diamond (from the French “brilliant” - brilliant) is a transparent artificially cut diamond. This is the hardest stone in the world. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale (stone hardness scale) is 10. It is not for nothing that the Arabs called it “almas”, which means “the hardest”. Diamond is the most valuable among all jewelry stones. Not a single stone can compare with it in the brightness of its shine and shimmer of all the colors of the rainbow. Diamonds are graded according to the “4 C” system: cut - cut, clarity - purity, color - color, carat - weight in carats.

The largest and most expensive diamond in the world, the Cullinan, was found in 1905 in South Africa. "Cullinan" adorns the top of the royal scepter of Great Britain. Its value is equal to the cost of 94 tons of gold.

RUBY

Ruby (from the Latin “rubens”, “rubinus” - red) is a transparent red modification of corundum (aluminum oxide). Ruby is the second hardest stone after diamond. The hardness of ruby ​​on the Mohs scale is 9. The red color is given to it by the addition of chromium oxide. The color ranges from dark red to light red. The best rubies are fiery red or dark red in color.

Rubies of high quality, without defects, are very rare and are much more expensive than diamonds of the same weight. The largest uncut Raja Ratna ruby ​​weighs almost half a kilogram (459 g), which is 2,475 carats. The cost of rubies weighing up to 400 carats ranges from $600,000 and above.

Large deposits of rubies: Pamir, Ural, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and East Africa.

SAPPHIRE

Sapphire (from the other Greek “sappheiros” - blue) - like ruby, is a transparent variety of corundum. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 9. Sapphire has the same properties as ruby, but its color is due to the admixture of iron and titanium oxides. Sapphire is known as a blue mineral. However, there are sapphires in blue, purple, yellow, green and even pink. Sapphire is a very hard mineral; only a diamond can scratch it. Therefore, it is perfect for jewelry.

Sapphire is one of the four most expensive stones in the world. It is found more often than ruby, and often in the form of large stones. The most expensive sapphires are dark blue and cornflower blue.

Large deposits of sapphires are considered to be: India, USA, Vietnam, Australia, Burma, Brazil, China, Sri Lanka.

The cost of sapphires ranges from $200 to $5,500 per carat.

EMERALD

%0A
%0A%D0%98%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%20(%D0%BE%D1%82%20%D0%BF%D0% B5%D1%80%D1%81.%20%C2%AB%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%BC%D1%83%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%C2 %BB%20%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%20%D0%BE%D1%82%20%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%87.%20%C2% AB%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B4%C2%BB)-%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE% D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F%20%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%BE% D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C%20%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8% D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B0.%20%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B8%20%D1%85%D1 %80%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0,%20%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%B8%20% D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%8F%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0% D1%8E%D1%82%20%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%83%20%D1%8F%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BE-%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0 %BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82.%20%D0%95%D0%B3%D0% BE%20%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82% 20%D0%BD%D0%B5%20%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82%D1% 81%D1%8F%20%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B5%20%D0%BD%D0%B5%20%D1%83%20% D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4% D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%BD% D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0. %20%D0%98%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D1%81%D1%80 %D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8E%20%D1%81%20%D0%B4%D1%80%D1%83%D0 %B3%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%20%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0 %BC%D0%B8%20%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20%D1%85%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%BA %D0%B8%D0%B9.%20%D0%A2%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C%20% D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B0%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D1%88%D0% BA%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%20%D0%9C%D0%BE%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B0%20-%207.5-8.%20%D0% 9D%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%80%D1%8F%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D1%82%D0%BE, %20%D1%87%D1%82%D0%BE%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%20%D0%BF %D0%BE%20%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%20%D0%B7%D0 %BD%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%BE%20%D1%83%D1%81%D1 %82%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82%20%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B7%D1%83,% 20%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%83%20%D0%B8%20%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BF%D1%84% D0%B8%D1%80%D1%83,%20%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%B2%D1%8B%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0 %BE%20%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8F%D1%82%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1 %81%D0%B8%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9%20 %D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B5%2080%20%%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80% D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%20%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%8E%D1%82%20%D1%82%D1%80%D0% B5%D1%89%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%20%D0%B8%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80% D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B6% D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8E.%20%D0%A7%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B%D0%B5 %20%D0%B8%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5%20 %D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D1%8B%20%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80 %D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C %20%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BA%D0%BE%20%D0%B8%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%8D%D1%82%D0%BE %D0%BC%D1%83%20%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1 %80%D1%83%D0%B4%D1%8B%20%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8F%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%BD %D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%B2%D1%8B%D1%88%D0%B5%20%D0%B0%D0 %BB%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%9E%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%20%D0%BA%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%BD %D1%8B%D1%85%20%D0%B2%20%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC %D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%20%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BC%2014%C3 %9735%20%D1%81%D0%BC%20%D0%B8%20%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BC%2024%20000%20%D0%BA %D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D0%B1%D1%8B%D0%BB%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%B4%D0 %B5%D0%BD%20%D0%B2%20%D0%AE%D0%90%D0%A0%20%D0%B2%201956%20%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1 %83.%20%D0%9A%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8E%20% D0%BE%D0%BD%20%D0%BD%D0%B5%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0% BB%D1%81%D1%8F.%20%D0%95%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB %D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1 %8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%20%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B9.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%9E%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5%20%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D1 %82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1 %83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1 %8F%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%B2%20%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B1%D0%B8 %D0%B8,%20%D0%B2%20%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B8,%20%D0%90%D0%B2%D1 %81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B8,%20%D0%AE%D0%90%D0%A0,%20%D0%B2%20%D0%A1%D0%B5 %D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9%20%D0%90%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BA %D0%B5,%20%D0%91%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B8%20%D0%B8%20%D0% B4%D1%80.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1 %83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%20%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0 %BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%BE%D1%82%204%20800%20%D0%B4%D0%BE%2026%20600%20%24 %20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82.%20
%0A
%0A
%0A%D0%90%D0%93%D0%90%D0%A2%20
%0A
%0A%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://akika.tj/upload/medialibrary/0a2/.jpg%5Bimg%5D
%0A
%0A%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%20-%20%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1% 8B%D0%B9%20%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD,%20%D1%80%D0%B0 %D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C%20%D0%BA %D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%86%D0%B0.%20%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20% D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%83%D1%87%D0%B8%D0%BB%20%D1%81%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0% BD%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%20%D0%BE%D1%82%20%D1%80%D0%B5% D0%BA%D0%B8%20%D0%90%D1%85%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%81,%20%D1%87%D1%82%D0%BE%20 %D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%20%D0%A1%D0%B8%D1 %86%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B8.%20%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D0%BE%D1%87%D0% B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0% B7%D0%B5%D0%BD,%20%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B5%D1%82%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87 %D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B5%20%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D1%8B ,%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0%20%D0%B8%20%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%82%D0%B5%D0% BD%D0%BA%D0%B8.%20%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8B%20%D0%B1%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0 %D1%8E%D1%82%20%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%80% D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20% D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%82 %D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0% B3%D0%BE,%20%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D0%BA%D1% 80%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BE%D0% B2.%20%D0%9B%D1%83%D1%87%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%BC%20%D1%81%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0 %D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0 %BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0,%20%D1%81%20% D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0 %B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%BC%D0%B8%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0 %B0%D0%BC%D0%B8.%20%D0%A2%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C% 20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%20%D0%9C%D0%BE%D0%BE%D1%81% D0%B0%206.5%20-%207.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20%D1%80%D0%B0 %D1%81%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1 %8B%D0%B9%20%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20%D0%B2%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0 %B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B5.%20%D0%9E%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D1%8B% D0%B5%20%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD% D0%B8%D1%8F%20%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%20%D1%8F%D0%B2%D0%BB%D1%8F%D1% 8E%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F:%20%D0%A4%D0%A0%D0%93,%20%D0%91%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0% B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%8F,%20%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%8F,%20%D0%93%D1% 80%D1%83%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%8F,%20%D0%90%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F,% 20%D0%A2%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD,%20%D0 %9C%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%8F,%20%D0%98%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8% D1%8F.%20
%0A
%0A
%0A%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%92%D0%90%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%A0%D0%98%D0%9D%20
%0A
%0A%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://akika.tj/upload/medialibrary/1d9/%201.jpeg">

Aquamarine (from the Latin “aqua marina” - sea water) is a pale blue variety of beryl. Greenish-blue, blue-green and colorless aquamarines are also found.

Hardness on the Mohs scale 7.5-8. Aquamarine is the most common mineral in nature. Main deposits: Brazil, Russia, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA, Mozanbeque. The largest aquamarine was found in Brazil in 1910.

The cost of aquamarine is relatively low. $20-200 per carat. The most prized aquamarines are their deep blue-green color.

ALEXANDRITE

Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl. It has the rare property of changing color. In daylight, the stone changes color from dark blue to emerald green, and in artificial light from pink-crimson to red-violet. The hardness of the stone is 8.5 on the Mohs scale. Alexandrite should be worn in pairs, that is, have a set of alexandrite jewelry.

Alexandrite is found in the Urals, Sri Lanka, and Brazil. The cost of alexandrite varies from $5,000 to $30,000 and above. However, their price depends on color, purity and weight.

The name “Alexandrite” was given to the mineral in 1842 in honor of the heir to the Russian throne, Alexander II.

AMETHYST

Amethyst (from the Greek “amethystos” - intoxicated) is a semi-precious stone that belongs to the quartz group. It is a transparent mineral ranging from almost colorless, pale violet, bluish violet, dark violet, almost black. The purple color is due to iron contamination. Dark purple amethysts are considered the most expensive.

The hardness of amethyst on the Mohs scale is 7. Amethyst can withstand high temperatures. When heated to 200-300 °C, the stone completely loses its purple color. But then, as the amethyst cools, it returns to its previous color.

I meet amethysts in the Urals and are considered the best in the world, Brazil, Uruguay, Saxony, Madagascar. In nature, this mineral occurs in the form of elongated crystals.

The cost of amethyst is $2-20 per carat.

TURQUOISE

Turquoise (from the translation "firuza" - stone of happiness or "piruz" - winning) is an aqueous hydrated phosphate of aluminum and copper. It is an opaque stone with an amphora structure in sky blue, bluish blue, bluish green, apple green. Turquoise is also found with spotted colors and brown stripes. The most highly valued turquoise is sky blue.

The hardness of turquoise on the Mohs scale is 5-6. Large deposits of turquoise are Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Egypt, USA, Australia, Argentina. The price of turquoise is about $10 per carat.

Turquoise has always been a popular stone and is highly prized. Used as inserts in jewelry and beads. For Muslims, turquoise is a mandatory element of a bride's wedding dress. Rings with turquoise were traditionally exchanged on the day of engagement.

RHINESTONE

Rock crystal is a transparent, colorless variety of quartz. The hardness of the mineral on the Mohs scale is 7. Pure, defect-free crystals are very rare in nature and are more valuable. Rock crystal is very cold to the touch; in ancient times it was considered petrified ice. Due to its hardness and beauty, it has been used very widely since ancient times.

This mineral is found frequently in nature. The main deposits of rock crystal are: Pamir, Crimea, Ural, Swiss Alps, Brazil, China.

The cost of rock crystal is $2 - $6 per carat.

POMEGRANATE

Garnet (from the Latin “granatus” - grain, grain) is a mineral consisting of silicic acid and metal oxides. The shape resembles pomegranate seeds, hence the name. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 6 - 7.5.

There are different types of pomegranate:
Pyrope - dark red garnet (cost $12-50 per carat);
Rhodolite - pinkish-red garnet (cost $12-60 per carat);
Almandine - blood-red or pinkish-red garnet (cost $12-50 per carat);
Demantoid - bright green garnet (the most expensive, costing $25-100 per carat);
Spessartine is an orange garnet with a reddish-brown tint;
Uvarovite - emerald green garnet;
Grossular - apple green garnet;
Hessonite - honey-orange garnet;
Topazolite - bright yellow garnet;
Andradite - red, brown, yellow garnet;
Pereneite is a blackish-brown garnet;
Rotofit - yellow-brown garnet;
Leucogranate is a colorless garnet;
Melanite - black garnet.
Garnet is relatively unburned, but in beauty it is not nearly inferior to ruby ​​or emerald. The main deposits of garnet are: Russia, Ukraine, Canada, USA, Brazil, Madagascar.

JADE

Jadeite is a silicate of sodium and aluminum, a green mineral in composition similar to jade. It also comes in white, yellow, black, red and blue. Jadeite is much harder than jade. Hardness on the Mohs scale 6.5 - 7. Extremely viscous. Rarely found in nature. There are only two dozen deposits of jadeite. These are mainly: China, Japan, Guatemala, Russia.

The cost of jadeite is 5 - 115 $ per carat.

PEARL

Pearl is a mineral of a class of organic compounds, round or irregular in shape. It is formed in the shells of smallmouths, as a result of the deposition of layers of aragonite (calcium carbonate) around a foreign body, most often a piscina. Next, mother-of-pearl is deposited around the object, which in its chemical composition is calcium carbonate with a mixture of organic substances. The composition of mother-of-pearl also includes iron, copper, zinc, titanium, manganese, narthium, and silicon.

The word pearl comes from the Chinese “zhenju”, from the Arabic “zechug”. Pearls can come in a variety of shades: white, yellow, gray, brown, pink, purple, red, black, green and blue. The most highly valued pearls are white, pink and black with a silver tint, as well as green and blue. It takes less than 30-40 years to grow one pearl with a diameter of 8 mm. The size ranges from microscopic to the size of a pigeon egg. The larger the pearl, the more expensive it is.

The hardness of pearls on the Mohs scale is 3.5-4.5. Pearls are mainly mined in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, Japan, and Sri Lanka. Freshwater pearls are mined in Russia, Germany, the USA, and China.

Pearls are undoubtedly a feminine accessory. Jewelry made from natural pearls is considered one of the most expensive. The cost of pearls ranges from $275 to $26,400.

The world's largest pearl was found in 1934 on the island of Palovan in the Philippines. A Muslim who acquired the pearl as his property saw a head in a turban in it and called it “the pearl of Allah.” The diameter of the pearl is 238 millimeters, weight is 6,400 g or 1,280 carats. This pearl was valued at $40 million.

However, pearls are not durable. Over time it fades. To prevent pearls from aging, they must be worn and should not be left in the bright sun.

MOON ROCK

Moonstone (adularia) is a translucent bluish-silver spar. Rare mineral. It got its name due to its mother-of-pearl sheen with a blue or soft bluish tint, reminiscent of moonlight in a soft milky color. There are also stones of light yellow color.

Hardness on the Mohs scale 6 - 6.5. The main deposits of moonstone are located in India, the USA, Burma, Australia and Brazil. However, the best are considered to be moonstones from Sri Lanka.

Jade (from the Greek “nephros” - kidney) is a hydroxysilicate of calcium, magnesium, iron. It comes in a variety of colors: yellow, red, gray, honey, black, but the most common is jade green. A characteristic feature of jade is the depth and softness of tone. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 5.5-6.5.

Jade is a sacred stone for the Chinese. The cost of the stone is 6-7 $. Jade is found in China, the Pamirs, the USA, Canada, and also in New Zealand.

Opal (from the Sanskrit “upala” - precious stone) is a mineral, a type of silicon dioxide with small admixtures of iron oxide, alumina, and lime. The color of the mineral can be red, blue, yellow, green, pale milky and even black. Opal is a very fragile stone. On the Mohs hardness scale 5.5-6.

The best opals are light pink and golden in color. Opals are found in Hungary, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, and Guatemala. A very large opal was found in a corn field in Brazil. Its weight reached 4,300 g (21,500 carats) and was valued at $60,000.

There are several types of precious opal:
Hyalite is a white, transparent opal;
Fiery - wine yellow or red;
Irisopal - brown opal;
Jirasol - blue or colorless opal;
Cacholong - milky white opal;
Peruvian - orange or bluish-green opal;
Prazopal is an opaque apple green opal.
Opal prices range from $10 to $100 per carat.

TOPAZ

Topaz (from the Sanskitic “tapas” - fire, flame, heat) is a semi-precious stone, aluminum fluorosilicate mineral. Topazes have a wide variety of color shades. They can be blue, yellow, pink, light red, golden, greenish, violet, purple, brown, and also colorless.

The hardness of the stone is 8 on the Mohs scale. It has a glassy luster and shimmers like mother-of-pearl. The most valuable are blue, golden and pink topazes. Rich deposits of topaz are located in the Urals, Siberia, Brazil, Ukraine, and Sri Lanka. Topaz is used in jewelry, although it is very difficult to process.

Topaz can be very large. Thus, in Ukraine in 1965, a wine-yellow topaz weighing 117 kg and 82 cm high was found.

The cost of topaz ranges from $2 to $40 per carat.

TOURMALINE

Tourmaline (from the Senegalese “turamali” - multi-colored) is a brittle stone belonging to boroaluminosilicates. The hardness of the mineral is 7 on the Mohs scale. The range of shades of tourmaline is varied:
Agnits are purple;
Apirites are pink;
Achrontas are colorless;
Verdelite - green shades;
Dravite - brown;
Indigolites are blue;
Rubellites are cherry-red in color;
Shirley is black.
Tourmalines are found in Russia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Canada, Burma, USA, India and Afghanistan. Tourmaline has beneficial properties that are used in microelectronics and medical devices.

The cost of tourmaline ranges from $50 to $700 per carat.

CITRINE

Citrine (from the Latin “citrus” - lemon yellow) is a semi-precious stone, a type of quartz. Color from light lemon to amber. Transparent mineral. Rarely found in nature. Citrine is sometimes called “golden topaz.” This is due to the fact that when cut, the color of topaz and citrine is the same. Citrine is a hard mineral, but compared to topaz it is softer and has less shine. Hardness on the Mohs scale 7.

The main deposits of citrine are: Brazil, Spain, France, USA, Russia, Kazakhstan.

AMBER

Amber is a fossil resin, an organic mineral. Amber contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and small amounts of sulfur and ash. There are different shades of amber: from pale yellow to bright golden. Amber is an amphora mineral, that is, it does not have a crystalline structure. Amber is a very fragile stone. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 3 - 4. Amber is flammable.

The main part of amber production (about 70%) occurs in Russia and the Baltic states. The cost of the stone is 60 - 350 $ per kg.

There are several classifications of precious stones, which are based on characteristics such as hardness or light scattering of the stone, mineral composition, crystallographic features, and prevalence in nature. That is why the division into precious and stones is very arbitrary.

For the first time, the division into types of precious stones was proposed by M. Bauer in 1896. Later, many scientists addressed the improvement of this issue, including A.E. Fersman and V.I. Sobolevsky.

It is customary to divide jewelry stones into three types: precious, semi-precious and ornamental.

Gems

Precious stones are minerals that are distinguished by their particular brilliance, beauty and play of color, or strength and hardness, and which are used as jewelry.

According to a simplified classification, first grade precious stones are: diamond, sapphire, chrysoberyl, ruby, emerald, alexandrite, spinel, lal, euclase.

The second grade of precious stones are: topaz, aquamarine, red, phenacite, demantoid, bloodstone, hyacinth, opal, almandine, zircon.

Diamond and brilliant are the same stone, which is a type of crystalline carbon. The first name refers to the stone in its natural form, and the second - cut.

There are no such terms as semi-precious and ornamental stones, since they differ from precious stones only in their wider distribution and less pronounced properties, which is also reflected in the price of products with them.

Among the semi-precious stones are: garnet, epidote, turquoise, dioptase, green and variegated tourmalines, rock crystal, chalcedony, light amethyst, sun and moonstone, labradorite.

Ornamental (gemstone) stones include: jade, bloodstone, lapis lazuli, amazonite, labradorite of lower quality, varieties of spar and jasper, smoky and rose quartz, Vesuveman, jet, corals, amber, mother-of-pearl.

Modern classification of jewelry stones

Professional jewelers and mineralogists consider the best and most modern classification proposed by Professor E.Ya. Kievlenko.

The first group includes jewelry (other synonymous names are cut, precious) stones:

Diamond, blue sapphire, emerald, ruby, constituting the first class;

Alexandrite, orange, yellow, purple and green sapphire, noble jadeite, noble black opal, which are included in the second class;

Demantoid, noble spinel, aquamarine, topaz, rhodolite, noble white and fire opal, red tourmaline, moonstone (adularia), which represent the third class;

Blue, green, pink and polychrome tourmaline, turquoise, chrysolite, noble spodumene (kunzite, giddenite), zircon, yellow, green, golden and pink beryl, pyrope, almandine, amethyst, citrine, chrysolite, chrysoprase, which the scientist classified as the fourth class .

The second group classifies ornamental, or stone-cutting, stones:

Rauchtopaz, amber-succinite, hematite-bloodstone, jadeite, rock crystal, lapis lazuli, malachite, jade, aventurine, belonging to the first class;

Agate, cacholong, colored chalcedony, amazonite, heliotrope, rhodonite, rose quartz, iridescent obsidian, labradorite, common opal, belomorite and other opaque iridescent spars, which make up the second class.

The third group is represented by decorative facing stones, including: jasper, written granite, marble onyx, petrified wood, larchite, jet, jaspilite, obsidian, selenite, aventurine quartzite, fluorite, agalmatolite, colored marble, patterned flint.

Jewelry lovers are beginning to favor colored stones, especially since Kate Middleton's sapphire ring has reignited interest in color. Professionally cut stone from quality Raw materials are the most important thing in jewelry. Our jewelry workshop offers precious and semi-precious stones as inserts in jewelry manufactured in our jewelry workshop. The stones we offer: amethyst, topaz, aquamarine, ruby, sapphire, emerald, peridot, rauch topaz, tanzanite and others of your choice will delight the eye with an impeccable and original cut. We will help you select the rare and best stones by color and clarity in their group with the best characteristics.

It’s hardly worth saving money - inflation will eat it up. But you can, for example, buy diamonds weighing 1 ct - 2 ct of average characteristics, you will not only save your investment, but also increase it. The sale of such diamonds occurs much more often than the sale of investment diamonds weighing 3 - 5 - 10 ct with the best characteristics. And therefore, if you need to sell a diamond, it will not take you much time. Money depreciates, but gold and diamonds do not. The profitability of gold and diamonds is much higher than that of other assets. It's reliable, and that's the main thing now.

We offer certified gemstones: rubies, sapphires, emeralds and certified diamonds. Taking into account your requirements for price, weight, color, quality and other characteristics.

What stones are considered precious?

Precious stones are natural minerals formed in a complex way in the earth's crust.

The main requirement for a stone to be considered precious is its rarity. It is also necessary that the mineral be sufficiently hard, that is, it resists external influences (does not scratch or chip).

Precious stones in Russia, in accordance with the Federal Law “On Precious Metals and Precious Stones,” include natural diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, alexandrites, and natural pearls.

Unique amber formations are also considered precious stones.

What is natural stone?

The terms “authentic” and “natural” are synonymous and refer exclusively to natural substances formed without human intervention.

What is synthetic stone?

Synthetic stones are crystallized minerals, fully or partially produced by man using different methods in special laboratories. For example, grown emerald.

What is fake stone and how can it be distinguished from natural stone?

There is no such term as “fake stone” in the practice of trading jewelry stones. There are imitation stones, which are fakes of natural or synthetic stones. These stones imitate the effect, color and appearance of natural stone without imparting their chemical composition and physical properties. A specialist can easily distinguish a fake using instruments.

It is well known that precious stones have high hardness, but sometimes they chip when wearing jewelry. Why is this happening?

Chipping of a gemstone occurs due to the fact that the stone has cleavage. Gemstone cleavage is the natural divisibility of gemstones along crystallographic directions. Cleavage has nothing to do with hardness. The cleavages are diamond, topaz, tourmaline, and chrysolite. This property must be taken into account when setting and wearing stones - great care is required to prevent chipping.

Can a gemstone change its color?

The color of gemstones comes from impurities of metal oxides (chromium, iron, nickel, cobalt, titanium). Some stones can be changed in color by heating. For example, as a result of slow heating (in sand), amethyst can change its purple color to yellow. Yellowish-brown beryl, when heated, can turn bright blue, similar in color to aquamarine. The porosity of gray chalcedony allows them to be easily painted (orange carnelians, apple-green chrysoprase, black onyx are obtained). A gemstone can fade in the sun (amethyst, topaz). Bright blue turquoise can turn green from contact with skin where cosmetics are applied.

How to correctly determine the color of a gemstone?

Color is one of the most characteristic distinguishing features of most minerals.

The color of the gemstone is determined against the background of a white sheet of paper in daylight from the north side or when illuminated by a fluorescent lamp. When assessing color, it is necessary to pay attention to all deviations from the uniform distribution of color in density, tone and color. It must be taken into account that heterogeneity of color affects the quality of the gemstone. The color of a stone primarily evokes emotions when perceiving and choosing jewelry.

Types of cuts and colors of gemstones

Diamond

Most diamonds are valued for their lack of color. However, only a few of them are truly completely colorless; the rest have a slight yellowish or brown tint. Colorless diamonds are called "white". The color (or lack thereof) of diamonds is usually assessed in comparison with a set of sample stones. The most respected organization conducting such assessments is the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) - tables of correspondence and characteristics, gradations in alphabetical order, proposed by them, have become widespread throughout the world; the grade “D” is assigned to the best white or colorless stones, followed by the remaining letters up to “Z”, after which the stones already have a fairly pronounced yellow tint and are regarded as “colored”. Categories “D”, “E” and “F” are colorless or “white” diamonds, and the difference between them is almost impossible to notice with the naked eye, even upon closer inspection. However, despite the fact that they are visually almost indistinguishable, these stones differ greatly in price.
The absence of defects is established during the examination of the stone at tenfold magnification (x 10). A stone in which no cracks are found at this magnification is considered to be “internally intact” (IF). The presence of a tiny crack means a reduction in category to WS, grade 1 or 2. If the crack is slightly larger, the stone is classified as VS, grade 1 or 2. The next category is SI, when the crack is visible to the naked eye, although it is extremely small. Further, the stones are recognized as “defective” (I). In this case, the cracks are so pronounced that they affect the shine of the stone. Surface damage, even slight, also means the stone does not qualify as IF, although the certificate may state that it is "potentially intact" if resurfaced, although there will be some weight loss. As with color, the presence of defects greatly affects the value of the stone.
Cut is also an important factor in the valuation of diamonds: a classic 19th-century diamond cut stone can cost 25% less than a well-cut modern stone. The “fire” of the stone is best seen when the diamond cut achieves “total internal reflection,” in which the bottom edges of the stone act as mirrors, reflecting the light entering the stone onto each other and throwing it back, already broken into all the colors of the rainbow. At the beginning of the 20th century, jewelers began to understand that this effect is achieved only with strict adherence to the proportions of the diamond cut and at certain angles between the faces. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the weight of the uncut diamond is lost in this process, and since many antique stones have been recut, they have lost some of their value. It is more difficult to evaluate fancy-cut stones, such as emerald, pear-cut (the archaic name is “pandelok”) or marquise. In this case, with the same weight, the proportions of the stones can vary greatly; in addition, the price is affected by the quality of processing. The most expensive stones are those whose cut is recognized as “most suitable” or “exemplary”. Fancy cuts are influenced by fashion. For stones weighing more than 20 carats, the emerald, marquise or pear cut is preferable to the classic diamond cut; If you give a diamond cut to a 40-carat stone, it will be almost impossible to insert it into a ring, but if you choose the “emerald” shape, it will turn out to be simply luxurious. For stones smaller than 10 carats, the brilliant cut is more suitable than the fancy cut.
Finally, you need to consider the weight of the stone: a diamond weighing 0.99 carats will cost much less than a diamond weighing 1.10 carats; A stone weighing exactly 1 carat is much more difficult to sell, since even a small grinding of the edges to eliminate abrasions that occur during wear will lead to the weight of the stone becoming less than 1 carat. The price per carat for a 2 carat stone will be higher than for a 1 carat stone with the same color and clarity, the same for a 3 carat stone and so on. Weighing over 10 carats, the rarity of such a stone will significantly increase its price. Therefore, when evaluating diamonds, you have to balance between four main categories: color, clarity, cut and weight.
Diamonds occur in nature in a variety of colors. Most often, these are shades of yellow and brown. The classification includes both “colorless” and “almost colorless” stones. Depending on the degree of color, stones may be “slightly colored,” “very lightly colored,” “lightly colored,” or “colored,” as graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The least valuable colored diamonds are brown in color, otherwise called “cognac” or “cinnamon”, although fashion makes adjustments to their value - after all, they look very attractive. They are followed by colored yellow diamonds, canary colored diamonds, with the most popular being the daffodil yellow colored stones. Blue and pink diamonds are extremely rare, so even with a weakly expressed color they are very expensive. Ideally, blue diamonds should be completely devoid of gray tint, and pink diamonds should be completely free of brown. Until recently, in Australia, fine stones of deep, pink, and sometimes even purple color were mined from the Argyle diamond vein in small quantities; despite the fact that their weight rarely exceeded 1 carat, they were offered a huge price. The rarest are green and red diamonds. The happy owner of such a stone can ask almost any price for it: their appearance on the market creates a real sensation. The highest price paid at auction recently was for a red diamond weighing 0.95 carats - $880,000 ($926,315 per carat), which is 100 times more than the price of a colorless diamond of the same size.
Some collectors exclusively collect colored diamonds and have the financial resources to acquire these rarest examples of the Earth's treasures.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a discovery was made: diamonds burned for a certain time with radium salts acquire a green tint. Unfortunately, after this procedure the stones remained radioactive for a long time; There were terrible rumors about how their unlucky owners died from skin cancer. Over time, this process has been improved, and diamonds are now processed in nuclear reactors, giving them different shades, but without residual radiation. Determining whether a diamond has been artificially colored requires complex testing that can only be done in a laboratory. Therefore, not a single colored diamond is put up for sale without a certificate from a reputable gemological laboratory confirming the natural nature of the color.

Stones commonly used to imitate diamonds

Natural: White sapphire

White Topaz

Rock crystal (quartz)

White beryl

White zircon

Artificial: CSC (cubic stabilized zircon)

Strontium titanite

GGG (gadolinium gallium garnet)

Lithium niobate

Moissanite

Ruby

Among colored gemstones, the ruby ​​is the most prized, and in terms of price per carat it is surpassed only by the rarest pink, blue and green diamonds. The most expensive rubies are those mined in only one small region.
The city of Mogok in Upper Burma is a remote, almost inaccessible place, and has been so for hundreds of years; Not long ago, the government of the republic restricted the entry of foreigners there, and now visas are issued to them only for the shortest possible time. For centuries, the best rubies in the world came from this tiny region of a few square miles, but it was only after the annexation of the area by the British Empire that rubies began to be mined efficiently, under the patronage of Edwin Streeter, the Bond Street jeweler. However, relatively few stones weighing over 5 carats were mined during British ownership, and with the British withdrawal from the area just before World War II, mining was sporadic and disorganized.

To understand why Burmese rubies have been so highly valued for many centuries, you need to know a little more about this stone. Ruby is a combination of minerals, otherwise called corundum. In its pure form, corundum is colorless (white sapphire). The red color of rubies is due to a small amount of chromium oxide (in some cases, iron). Burmese rubies are primarily colored with chromium, giving them the characteristic red blood hue (also called pigeon's blood) that distinguishes the best examples of this mineral. The presence of chromium as a coloring agent in a gemstone is often the reason for its strong fluorescence. In the case of Burmese rubies, fluorescence is noticeable under artificial light, which, being especially strong in the red part of the spectrum, makes the stone “sing”, making its color more saturated; often the stone seems to be illuminated from within, flickering like a hot coal.

Nowadays, jewelers most often use rubies mined in Thailand. The sight of these stones can greatly disappoint the buyer, but such disappointments almost always occur in daylight. Thai rubies owe their color to the presence of iron, so they have a brownish tint, slightly reminiscent of garnet, often their color is so rich that it can be compared with the blood-red color of Burmese stones. Iron absorbs fluorescence, and as a result, Thai rubies generally lack the “fire” found in Burmese and the best Sri Lankan examples. In daylight, the difference is not so obvious, but the price differs by orders of magnitude: a 5-carat Burmese ruby ​​can cost ten times more than a ruby ​​of the same quality from Thailand.
But Burmese rubies are valued differently. Ruby is not a rare stone. Some Burmese rubies can cost as little as $20 per carat, while the best examples can fetch $200,000 per carat or more. As with other gemstones, the price is determined based on the intensity and beauty of the color (or lack thereof in the case of a colorless diamond), degree of clarity and absence of defects. A skeptic would also mention here that the rarity of the mineral is also very important. Without a doubt, when choosing between an excellent Burmese ruby ​​and a stone from Thailand, the buyer will prefer the first, if only because of its beauty. However, how often does an amateur have the opportunity to make such a comparison? Other places where rubies are mined include East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) and Pakistan. All three deposits were discovered relatively recently and are being actively developed. In the last few years, high-quality rubies from a new mine in Vietnam have appeared on the market. Their properties are similar to Burmese, they are highly fluorescent and rich in chromium. For stones with good color, high clarity and sufficient size, the location of extraction is an important assessment factor. For smaller rubies of lower quality, it is no longer important whether they were mined in Burma or elsewhere;

Both rubies and sapphires undergo a variety of procedures to improve the quality of the stone, enhancing its color and transparency, and creating asterism.

For this purpose they use; irradiation (mainly yellow sapphires are exposed to it); surface diffusion; high-temperature treatment, both with and without additives; filling cracks and cavities with colorless substances and dyes. High-temperature processing is commonly used to improve the color of sapphires and rubies, as well as to remove invisible "silk". On stones that have undergone this procedure, especially rubies, glassy particles can be found filling the surface cavities; they stay there even after sanding again. Often high-temperature processing ends with the expansion of some inclusions inside the stone, which leads to the formation of characteristic disc-shaped splits.

Other red stones that are confused with ruby

Natural red spinel is a very attractive and impressive stone, but is rarely used in jewelry. The color of red spinel is rather strawberry, in contrast to the crimson of ruby. Like many Burmese and Sri Lankan rubies, spinels fluoresce strongly. A phenomenon known as "silk" is present in most Burmese, Vietnamese and Sri Lankan rubies. To the naked eye, it appears as a whitish glow inside the stone, which catches light if the stone is tilted. This effect is produced by the mineral rutile, which forms the finest threads.

“Silk” is a common attribute of natural rubies and sapphires. This is the inclusion that any new gemologist will learn about first; Having found it in a red stone, we can confidently say that it is ruby, however, sometimes it is also introduced into synthetic minerals. Spinel is characterized by inclusions of crystals that look like bubbles, which is why amateurs often mistake spinel for a red rhinestone.

Red tourmaline is often mentioned as a mineral that can be confused with ruby. High-quality red tourmalines are otherwise called “rubellites,” but their color rarely approaches ruby ​​red. Unlike ruby, it does not fluoresce.

Sapphire

Many people consider sapphire to be the most beautiful of gemstones, although it is not the most expensive.

As with a ruby, the origin of a sapphire greatly influences its value. If the best rubies are mined in Burma, then the homeland of the best sapphires is Kashmir, and in the same way very little is mined there. The color of a quality Kashmir sapphire is simply stunning, a perfect velvety mid-blue often accompanied by a characteristic sea green dichroism visible when light passes through the stone. This color is often described as “sleepy”, covered in a milky haze, which appears due to the presence of cavities in the sapphire filled with liquid, or crystals so tiny that they are difficult to see even under a powerful microscope.
It is much easier to notice the “zoning” phenomenon characteristic of sapphire, in which the color seems to be concentrated in parallel lines. In addition, Kashmir sapphires retain their color under artificial light, which is rare for this stone.
Unlike rubies, large sapphires weighing more than 50 carats are not exactly rare, although a Kashmir stone of this size is a real treasure; All sapphires from this region weighing over 10 carats are very expensive.
Burmese sapphires can also be of excellent quality: their color is more saturated, tending towards ultramarine blue.

Sapphires from Sri Lanka are usually paler, with pronounced dichroism, some of them are almost colorless; but the best stones nevertheless approach the color of Kashmiri stones. Both Burmese and Sri Lankan stones contain inclusions that look like white needles, like rubies, which catch light when the stone is rotated, as well as fluid-filled cracks.
The presence of "silk" in a stone is usually sufficient evidence of its natural origin; however, if the "silk" is visible to the naked eye, it can significantly reduce the value of the stone, unless it forms a "star". True, “silk” in the shape of a star can also be found in artificial sapphires.
A characteristic feature of Sri Lankan sapphires are zircon inclusions, since they occur in the same places in this region. Zircon has little radioactivity; it gradually destroys the crystal lattice of minerals immediately adjacent to it in the deposit, creating a “halo” around itself.
Thai sapphires tend to be quite dark in color, similar to blue spinel. The darkest and therefore cheapest sapphires are mined in Australia. Some of the Australian stones are so intensely colored that they appear black (possibly due to excess iron, the coloring agent), unless held in direct light. Such stones are rarely used in quality jewelry. Good sapphires are mined in Cambodia, especially in the town of Pailin. In the last quarter of the 19th century, deposits were discovered in Montana, USA, and the sapphires extracted from them are called “new mine” stones. They have a distinctive electric pale blue color and are often found in items created before the First World War.
High temperature processing of sapphires has been widespread for a long time. With its help, you can remove “silk” from stone and, what is much more important, significantly lighten samples with rich colors. It is therefore not surprising that mainly Australian sapphires were subjected to this treatment; Since this operation was learned to be performed in Thailand, it has become more difficult to determine what part of the stones sold in Bangkok are truly of Thai origin.
It was already mentioned above that only rare sapphires do not change color under artificial light. Sri Lankan sapphires change color most noticeably, in which it becomes dark purple due to the presence of chromium in the stone; If you look at such a stone under a color filter, it will shine like a ruby. Until recently, such color changes in sapphires were considered undesirable and could negatively affect the value of the stone.

Other blue stones that are confused with sapphire

Blue spinel can resemble sapphire, although it is too dark, inky in color, and can only be confused with low-quality sapphires. Artificial blue spinel rarely resembles sapphire in color (more like ultramarine) and under a color filter it appears bright red. It also has a noticeable absorption spectrum due to the presence of cobalt as a coloring agent.

Emerald

The last in the line of precious stones, the emerald, like sapphire and ruby, is valued depending on where it was mined. If for a ruby ​​the “password” is Burma, and for a sapphire it is Kashmir, then for an emerald it is Colombia, or more precisely, the mine in Muzo, near Bogota, where stones of the most beautiful grass-green color are mined.
Without a doubt, most emeralds are treated with clear organic oil after polishing, a technology as old as emerald mining itself. Usually its consequences are reversible (as many who have agreed to subject their stones to ultrasonic cleaning have already seen). By and large, colorless oil treatment can be considered acceptable, especially considering that it is reversible. But other types of processing, for example using wax or epoxy resins (colored or not), are unacceptable, since their consequences are not eliminated. Fortunately, good gemological laboratories issue certificates confirming the presence or absence of traces of oil treatment or other crack filling procedures, and some can even determine the origin of the substance used for this.
Most emeralds have defects that are much more pronounced than those of sapphires and rubies. Many emeralds are not even transparent; at best they have a green color, but no sparkle. Very large emeralds are not uncommon; When mining, you come across crystals that go meters deep into the rock.
For thousands of years, emeralds have been highly valued. It is believed that some excellent examples came from India, but they are unlikely to have been mined there, most likely the result of trading operations by Spanish merchants who discovered deposits in South America in the 16th century. In jewelry circles there is often talk of "antique stones"; Usually these are samples of a rich green color that appear on the market quite rarely, and are almost never found in new deposits. It is for them that they give the highest price. It should be noted that emeralds of this quality and size are as rare as the best Burmese rubies, and almost never come to market.
Emerald is a beryl silicate, and in most cases its color is due to traces of chromium, the element that gives Burmese rubies their distinctive red color. When viewed through a color filter, most emeralds appear red or brown due to the presence of chromium. Emerald is a relatively soft mineral, its surface wears off easily, and scratches remain on the edges. If an emerald has been stored in the same container with diamonds, sapphires and rubies for a long time, it may appear almost dull, lacking luster due to constant damage from harder materials.

Other green stones that are confused with emerald

An artificial emerald is more difficult to distinguish from a real one than in the case of a sapphire or ruby. The streets of Bogota, the “emerald capital” of Colombia, are full of gem dealers selling artificial emeralds that even a knowledgeable amateur is unlikely to distinguish from real ones. When people come to Colombia, Brazil or the Far East, they think that since there is mining here, both respectable merchants and street hustlers sell exclusively natural stones. In fact, firstly, they purchase emeralds at a price no less than in Europe or the USA, and secondly, and this is the worst thing, they may well receive a low-quality stone, artificial or even rhinestone. The gemstone market is international and most dealers, whether in Bangkok or New York, are well aware of the value of their goods.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite is the gemological name for a variety of the mineral zoisite, an aluminum and calcium silicate.

Tanzanite was discovered in March 1966 on the Merelani plateau, not far from the slopes of Kilimanjaro.

The mineral is mined only in the Arusha province in northern Tanzania.

It became famous thanks to the American jewelry company Tiffany, which proposed the name in honor of Tanzania, where there is the only deposit in the world. Its popularity was facilitated by clever advertising policy, rarity, magnificent color and the use of jewelry made from it by film star Elizabeth Taylor.

It is found in blue, purple and yellow-brown colors; the latter, after heat treatment, also become blue-violet and are used in jewelry.

Good quality stones are ultramarine or sapphire blue in color. When exposed to electric light, it takes on an amethyst-violet hue. When heated to 400-500°C, brownish and yellowish shades disappear and the blue of the stone deepens. Also known tanzanite cat eye.

The deposit is represented by veins and cracks with overgrown crystals in gneisses.

Glass imitations of tanzanite and glass doublets with a tanzanite top or two colorless synthetic spinels held together with blue glue appear on the jewelry market. Tanzanite can be confused with natural and synthetic sapphire. A recently discovered green variety of zoisite has been named chrome (green) tanzanite.

Topaz

Of all the semi-precious stones, topaz is a recognized favorite. Its best examples have the famous orange-red color of “royal jelly” and are extremely rare, although this fact does not affect their value. Until the adoption of the “Inventory of Jewelry Trade,” yellow quartz, whose real name is citrine, was sold under the same name (with great profit). This practice is still common today, much to our regret. Citrine is a commonly found and therefore inexpensive stone, with which only low-quality topaz can be confused.
Topaz is an excellent jewelry material, with a strong shine that tolerates polishing well. Its color varies from white to yellow, reddish brown or blue. The pink color of topaz is a consequence of the high-temperature treatment to which the red-brown stone was subjected. Orange-red samples are the most expensive, blue ones, similar to aquamarine, are sold cheaper, their color is enhanced artificially, and colorless topazes, like other colorless stones, except diamonds, are relatively cheap.
The most common forms of cutting topaz, especially for the early period of jewelry, were and remain a long oval or an elongated slab, which are obtained by cutting the crystal along its length. Since topaz crystals easily split along strictly parallel lines to the very base, characteristic flat splits are often found inside the stone, at right angles to the edges. It is necessary to remember about the tendency of topaz to split and handle these stones carefully, trying not to drop them.

Stones that are confused with topaz

The color of “royal jelly” of topaz, once seen, cannot be forgotten. However, it is often imitated by artificial sapphires. Yellow and yellow-brown citrines can be mistaken for topazes.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is to emerald as ruby ​​is to sapphire. Both are forms of the mineral beryl. The name "aquamarine" exactly corresponds to the ideal blue color of sea water, which is demonstrated by its best examples. Stones with a noticeable green tint are valued much lower.
Unlike emerald, aquamarine is less susceptible to defects, but its cost remains quite modest. The only noticeable inclusion in it, the so-called “rain,” is small needle-shaped crystals or cavities running parallel to the main axis. The more expressive and intense the blue shade of the stone, the more expensive it is.

Stones that are confused with aquamarine

The cheapest and most common imitation of aquamarine is artificial blue spinel, which, like other artificial spinels, can be distinguished by spherical bubbles. Blue topaz, often large in size, is quite similar to aquamarine, and is much cheaper. Blue topaz exhibits more sparkle and play than aquamarine. Blue zircon has even more fire and brilliance than blue topaz,

Chrysoberyl, alexandrite and cat's eye

Chrysoberyl is a curious mineral whose derivatives range in color from transparent yellow, greenish-yellow and yellow-brown stones to the rare color-changing alexandrites. Among them there is also a precious “cat’s eye”, translucent, rich honey color, which is usually cut into cabochons. The phenomenon from which these stones get their name is the presence of microscopic rod-shaped crystals or cavities, parallel to which, when the stone is rotated, a streak of light runs across its surface. A similar effect can be seen on a reel of fishing line.

Chrysoberyl cat's eye can be stunning, and the best examples, where the eye is well defined and richly honey-colored, are rare and highly prized. Much more common, however, is quartz cat's eye, and since it costs much less, it is necessary to be able to distinguish between them. As a rule, quartz cat's eye is much less transparent, and the color is closer to greenish or pale brown. Additionally, because the “eye” in quartz is formed from relatively large asbestos fibers, it does not appear as pronounced as in chrysoberyl.

Alexandrite is the most valuable form of chrysoberyl. The main thing that a hobbyist needs to know about these stones is that they are extremely rare and, therefore, very expensive. The best examples in daylight show a beautiful green color, which under artificial light (except fluorescent) changes to the red color of Burgundy wine.
The value of genuine alexandrite depends on the severity and beauty of the color change. Low-quality examples that change to a dirty brown color (usually stones from Sri Lanka) do not cost more than a few hundred pounds per carat. But the price of a stone that changes color to deep red can reach many thousands of pounds per carat (usually stones from Siberia); In addition, rare forms of the “cat’s eye” are highly valued.

Spinel

In relation to jewelry, only the red and blue varieties of spinel are worthy of mention. Red spinel is a very beautiful and relatively rare stone, the best examples of which compete worthy with ruby, especially since both are colored with chromium. Experts distinguish spinel by its color, which tends toward “strawberry” (also called “sweet red”), as opposed to the blood red (“pigeon’s blood”) of quality rubies. Still, a good red spinel is an excellent stone, famous for its play; however, it is rarely larger than 5 carats in size.

Artificial spinels, which are quite common, are similar to both rubies and sapphires. In addition, it is worth keeping in mind that colorless artificial spinel is often used as a diamond imitation because it has a cubic crystal lattice and single refraction, just like a diamond.

Zircon

In jewelry, the most popular blue variety of zircon began to be used only since the First World War. There is an opinion among amateurs that all zircons are blue, but in fact they owe their color to high-temperature processing, which is most often subjected to orange-brown stones found in the Mekong Delta. The “capital” of high-temperature processing of zircons (as well as sapphires) is Bangkok. Unfortunately, the color of treated blue zircons is not stable and may fade over time.
A characteristic property of zircons, in addition to green and brown ones, is a high level of double refraction.
Colorless or white zircons, formerly called "jargon", due to their high dispersion, are often used to imitate diamonds, especially in Indian-made jewelry, since the main source of this mineral is Sri Lanka. True, diamonds with their single refraction can be easily distinguished from zircons using a simple magnifying glass.
The presence of radioactive elements in zircon can lead to the destruction of the crystal lattice of the stone. From a commercial point of view, only blue and, less often, orange-brown samples deserve attention, which, as a rule, have “outstanding” qualities: high dispersion, strong double refraction, unreadable refractive index, and, in addition, high gloss.

Tourmaline

This mineral is common and comes in a variety of colors, most commonly green or red. Quality green tourmaline is a beautiful stone, highly polishable, with a rich color tending towards black-green. All tourmalines have pronounced dichroism: when turning the stone, you can easily notice two shades of green, usually bluish and yellowish. If you look at the stone along its length, its color becomes saturated almost to black. Red tourmalines are sometimes used to imitate low-quality rubies and are also called “rubellites.” They can also be distinguished by their strong dichroism as well as their crimson hue. Usually these are stones that have undergone high-temperature treatment.
Most tourmalines have significant flaws, the most common inclusion being fluid-filled cavities that appear black under a microscope. Pink tourmalines can be confused with the much more valuable pink topaz.
There are also blue, brown and black varieties of this stone, as well as rare examples of “watermelon color”, iridescent in shades of pink and green. Recently, good samples have been coming from Mozambique, among them there are stones of a rare green shade characteristic of peridots, as well as stones of a good blue color.

Peridot

Previously, this stone was called olivine, since it is a valuable variety of this mineral, but then the name “peridot” was assigned to it, putting an end to the confusion when the same word meant demantoid garnets.
The classic place for peridot mining is the romantically named St. John Island in the Red Sea. Good specimens also come from Burma and Arizona. Peridot was used widely in jewelry in the 1830s and 1840s, and, like demantoid garnet, was one of the favorites of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Pomegranate

The name "garnet" refers not so much to a specific stone, but to a group of minerals with the same chemical composition and cubic crystal lattice. Most garnets found in jewelry are red or brown-red in color and are inexpensive but can be quite beautiful. The best examples, colored with chrome and called "pyropes", are close in color to rubies. Jewelers, as a rule, do not specify whether the garnet is pyrope or almandine, or any other variety, since this has little effect on the cost of the stone. In the past, attractive tangerine-orange spessartine garnets, known as “tangerine garnets,” were popular.
Green garnet is a rare and valuable stone. A quality demantoid garnet, a variety of andradite, can be quite attractive due to a level of dispersion higher than that of diamond, which causes the stone to exhibit excellent fire and play. The best examples of it have a radiant grass-green color, but they cannot be confused with emerald due to their yellowish tint and strong shine. Green garnets, which first appeared on the market in the second half of the 19th century, were mined in the Urals and are most often found in items dating from approximately 1895 to the First World War. The best examples can cost several thousand dollars per carat, but their size rarely exceeds 5 carats and these stones are generally small. The inclusions characteristic of them are called “horsetail” - these are brownish asbestos fibers.

Pearl

Pearls are the only jewelry material formed in the body of mollusks, and they are also, perhaps, one of the oldest stones used as jewelry, since they do not require additional processing. For centuries, high-quality pearls fetched exorbitant prices, but the advent of cultured pearls in the 1920s and 1930s brought an end to this price premium.
The formation of a pearl inside the oyster bag is a reaction of the mollusk to the presence of a particle that irritates it. The mollusk successively envelops it in layers of aragonite (calcium carbonate) crystals, holding them together with organic matter, conchialin. The layers grow like an onion and a pearl appears. Aragonite crystals are laid in the same order as the tiles on the roof - hence the unique pearl shine.
In a cultured pearl, the core is a bead on which the mollusk deposits layers of natural nacre. Good cultured pearls have a fairly thick layer of natural nacre, while low-quality ones have just a thin film on the surface of the bead. The thickness of the nacre layer on cultured pearls can range from approximately 0.5 mm to 3 mm.
It must be said that a person who has once studied pearls begins to understand its varieties, which is most important when working with natural samples. The pearl should have good color and luster, and the best pearls should be pink in color, and their “skin” should be as smooth and intact as possible. Low-quality cultured pearls are usually waxy in color and have imperfections on the surface that resemble marks from a casting mold. The better the color and luster, the higher the value of the pearl. Large natural pearls of good color, shiny, smooth and regular in shape are still extremely expensive. Such a pearl over 10 mm in diameter is considered rare and highly valued. Even cultured pearl necklaces can fetch upwards of a million dollars at auction.
"Baroque" and irregularly shaped pearls, cultured or natural, are much less expensive than round or regular specimens. “Blister” pearls are cut from the shell of a mollusk, so they take the shape of a cabochon. Two blister pearls glued together can imitate a large round pearl if the glue line is masked with a setting. Jap or mabe pearls are also blister-shaped, and their core is a disk; The cost of any blister pearls is low.

“Imitation” pearls are usually glass balls, onto which a layer of “oriental essence” extracted from fish scales is applied, or hollow beads coated with the same substance from the inside. To check in this case, you can rub the pearl on your front teeth in the old fashioned way, and the natural or artificial pearl will become slightly rough, but the imitation will remain smooth.
Pink pearls, similar to coral, grow in shells and are distinguished by a characteristic “fire-like” pattern on the surface, visible through a magnifying glass, and a silvery sheen. The best ones can cost up to several thousand pounds.
Nucleus-free cultured pearls are produced on river farms in Japan, and more recently in China, in huge quantities; Such pearls weigh less than ordinary cultured specimens, they are whiter, but can be specially colored, and their shape is rather oval. Once seen, they are easy to distinguish later; their cost is low.
Natural “black” pearls are rare and highly prized. Cultured pearls are sometimes dyed with silver nitrate to appear black, but the induced color is darker and more uniform. There are ways to grow cultured black pearls, and if the specimens reach a significant size, then their cost can be high.

Jade

Jadeite is a valuable form of jade, which is also called the “New Zealand” stone; however, jade is much more common and, in the opinion of most buyers, less attractive. Its existence must be remembered, since high-quality jadeite necklaces sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds, and jade ones for less than a thousand.
The best jadeites are distinguished by their color - from the color of a bright apple green to grassy green; Such translucent and very beautiful stones are called “imperial”. The most common and cheapest form, called mutton fat, is often used for crafts in China.
Jade can never match the exceptional emerald green color of jadeite. Most green jades are a darker shade, similar to the color of willow leaves, and can be sanded completely smooth.

Turquoise

Traditionally, turquoise is considered to be of high quality if it has the bright blue hue of a summer sky. This is important to keep in mind because “turquoise” is often considered a blue-green color, which many specimens have, especially those mined in Arizona.

Quartz family: amethyst, citrine

Quartz is the most common of minerals, and its hardness and luster make it ideal for use in jewelry. In crystalline form, it forms two semi-precious variations that we will talk about: amethyst and citrine. The latter is often confused with topaz, a much more valuable mineral. Citrine is mined in large quantities and widely used, with yellow and tan specimens considered the most beautiful.

Amethyst- purple or violet form of crystalline quartz. Its best examples, which had a rich, saturated color, were popular in the mid-19th century and were then mined in Siberia. Nowadays, the main source of amethysts is Brazil. Amethyst's characteristic inclusions are fluid-filled cracks called "tiger stripes" or "fingerprints." It should be noted that most citrines are obtained from low-quality amethysts through high-temperature processing.
Cryptocrystalline quartz (which does not have a visible crystal structure) forms many ornamental materials that are not of particular value. The same group includes onyx, a mixture of black and white varieties (rather than the pale green mineral mistakenly called by the same name, which is actually a variety of alabaster); jasper; sardonyx (a mixture of brown and white varieties, often used for cameos); heliotrope, or red ironstone (green with streaks of red) and agates.

Amber

Amber is often counterfeited because it is easily imitated by plastic. This is a frozen resin (insects that lived on our planet about forty million years ago can be found in it); Amber varies in color from yellow, the color of acacia honey, mined in the Baltic, to reddish-brown and brown, the color of Oloroso cherry, characteristic of its Burmese variety.

Coral

Coral is similar to pearls: both come from the sea, are organic, and are formed from calcium carbonate. In the 19th century, Italian jewelers carved coral from the Bay of Naples into cameos, or used it in its natural form for brooches and necklaces. The color of coral is usually orange-red; There are also pink varieties known as “angel skin” (“peau d’ange”). Sea pollution has led to the death of many coral colonies, so this material is becoming increasingly rare, and its prices are steadily rising. Glass and porcelain The easiest way to distinguish a fake is with a drop of hydrochloric acid: coral, which is a carbonate, will hiss.

Jet

Like amber, jet is a fossil derived from wood, and this origin makes it similar to coal. It is not surprising, therefore, that England was the main supplier of jet. In the 19th century, the largest quantities were mined in Whitby, on the Yorkshire coast. The Victorian preference for mourning jewelry ensured the popularity of jet; it was most often used in cameos and necklaces. Nowadays it is of value only for collectors.

Opal

Many people have had the opportunity to observe how multi-colored spots flash inside an opal, like lightning. The richer and brighter these colors, the more expensive the stone is, especially if the background color is dark gray or black, like a “black” opal. Black opals have dominant blue and green areas, but if there are no other shades, the value of the stone will be low. Red and gold shades are highly prized, and ideally the color “zones” or “areas” should be distributed evenly across the entire surface of the stone. Black opals have been mined in Australia since the late 19th century. Opals, the background color of which tends to be white or light green, are cheaper, obviously because the play of colors on them is not so impressive. The transparent variety of this mineral is called "water" opal. Mexico produces a small amount of amazing transparent orange gemstones known as fire opals.

Rarely does anyone doubt whether an emerald or a diamond is more expensive. If you ask such a question to a person inexperienced in jewelry, he will most likely answer: “Of course, a diamond!” It is difficult to say why such injustice arose, because a diamond, although rightly considered a valuable stone of exceptional beauty, is not at all “the very thing”. There is an opinion that the marketing efforts of sellers are to blame. The jewelry market is literally flooded with diamond products. The diamond sparkles everywhere, leaving other precious gems in the shadow: sapphire, ruby ​​and emerald. It’s as if no one will remember the latter. But let's correct this misunderstanding.

Diamonds are diamonds that have been cut. Diamond has been rightly recognized as the hardest mineral, measuring 10 on the Mohs scale. The cut is designed to give the diamond unique beauty and brilliance; after cutting, its faces begin to refract rays of light and shimmer with the bright colors of the rainbow. Of course, diamonds are expensive stones, and their cost is determined depending on the following features:

1. The weight of a mineral, measured in carats. The larger the stone and the more carats it has, the more expensive it is. This characteristic is relevant not only for a diamond, but for other precious stones too.
2. Color. The mineral is usually colorless, but diamonds of various shades can be found in nature. Colorless diamonds are called "white".
3. Purity of the stone.
4. Cutting method