ZEPROG!

You know why this caught your eye?  Sexy.  If it had just read, « characteristics » you might not have looked.  And you would have missed it.  This is good stuff.

Tourmaline gemstones and gemstone jewelry are always in fashion. Gemstones are a great accessory for any mode of dress. The variety is endless. But you know what? Gemstones are just rocks. Okay, special rocks.  Rocks that are stunning when cut and polished and finished as jewelry.  But rocks.

Gemstones make gorgeous jewelry, but some think they represent more than good taste. They have long been connected to specific birth months and are often considered lucky for the birthstone wearer. Before we deal with this aspect in detail lets see about the elements of classification of gemstones.

How Are Gemstones Classified?

There are three levels of gemstone classification. They are divided into species, then groups, then varieties. For instance, rubies are in the hematite group which is part of the species conundrum. Aquamarine and Morganite are both beryl varieties. There are over 150 different species available.

Gemstones have the same set of characteristics found in crystals such as hardness and dispersion. You should also discern inclusions and fractures, as well as cleavage, as these directly affect the value of the gemstone. Whatever their characteristics, all gemstones are considered precious or semi-precious.

The characteristic that may matter the most in day-to-day wear is hardness. Hardness is an indication of how well the gemstone will resist scratches. . Moh’s hardness scale evaluates the hardness of the gemstone from 1 to 10, with 10 being the hardest. A diamond is at the top of the scale and talc is at the bottom. Other popular gemstones like tourmaline, topaz and sapphire having Mohs of 7.5, 8 and 9 respectively.

About Birthstones

Gemstones as birthstones have been classified as such by the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS has a list of « official » birthstones. The list is in the order of calendar months with each month having at least one gemstone specific to that month.

Buying Gemstones

Of course, there are fraudulent folks out there who will try to sell you a synthetic gemstone.

A few items to look for when you buy:

• The clarity of a stone is sometimes improved with the use of heat.
• Radiation can be applied to gemstones to darken the color.
• Sometimes flaws are fill with resin or wax.
• Plastic is used to fill fractures, injecting it into the problem area.
• If you see color variations on the surface, this may be a sign of diffusion treatment.

Shop with reputable sellers. You will be delighted with the result of your purchase.  Start here today at Tourmaline Gemstone.