Jumat, 20 April 2012

Gemstone Appraisals: What You Should Know


It requires an expert to identify gemstones, since different gem varieties can look quite similar. It is not always easy to tell a sapphire from a Tanzanite, or an aquamarine from a blue topaz. It takes even more skill to separate natural from synthetic gems, and treated stones from untreated.

The gemstone trade depends on gemological laboratories with sophisticated equipment for gemstone identification. But you might be surprised to know that even the best gem labs can't tell you how much a gemstone is worth.

The reason is that gemology is the scientific study of gemstones: their chemical composition, optical properties and history of formation. Gemological knowledge is essential for identifying gems. But while gemology can tell you reliably that a particular gemstone is a natural ruby, it can't tell you whether it's a fine ruby or merely mediocre. Gemology is a quantitative science, while judgements about value are qualitative.
To find out about the quality of a gemstone you need to turn to the people who make their living trading in loose gemstones -- gem dealers. A gem dealer's livelihood depends on making sound judgements about about both the quality and value of gemstones. If a gems dealer is not very good at making these judgements, he won't survive long in the gems business.

When a gem dealer prices the gems he offers for sale, he makes an appraisal of his stones. If he asks too high a price, it will be difficult for him to sell anything; if the price is too low, he won't make a profit. Getting the quality/price equation right is critical for his business. He makes his decision and the market tells him if he is right.

The financial value of a gem of course depends on who is doing the buying and the selling. A gem dealer who is buying rough stone from the mine naturally pays a different price than the consumer who buys a cut and polished stone set in jewelry from a retail jeweler. The price of an unset cut and polished stone in Bangkok tends to be significantly lower than the same gem sold in New York, since Bangkok is where many colored gems are cut.

If you've purchased a gem and want an appraisal on it, be clear what you're looking for. If you want to know how much you could sell the stone for, that depends on the market conditions at the time you want to sell it. You can check the prices for comparable gems by looking at online gem dealers. But gemstones are a bit like real estate -- prices increase over time, but you might not get the price you want when you want to sell.

In many cases gem buyers want an appraisal for insurance purposes, so they know that their valuable gem can be replaced if stolen or damaged. Appraisals done for this purpose often assume a replacement cost based on prices in the retail channel at some point in the future. Since the value of gemstones tend to rise over time, this replacement value could easily be twice the price you paid for your gem if you bought closer to the source. Just don't assume you could sell your gem today for the replacement cost.

AJS Gems, Bangkok is a leading online dealer in top grade gemstones, specializing in Burma ruby, sapphire, spinel, tourmaline, spessartite garnet and zircon. Gemstone Value.

By Ron Nash

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Nash

Types of Precious Gemstones


The most precious gemstone - Ruby
Out of all precious gemstones the most valued gemstone is Ruby. It is known as "king of all gems" for its unique qualities. Its vibrant red color is a sign of love and passion. It can be an amazing gift as well for your loved ones if embedded properly in jewelry form. There is a variety of jewelry such as earrings, engagement ring, necklaces, anklets, bracelets in which the rubies can be embedded. Ruby is the birthstone of July which means that people born in July should use Ruby for good fortune. It belongs to the Corundum family of minerals. The red form of corundum mineral is called as Ruby and all others are called Sapphires. Ruby has red color due to the chromium content in the mineral. Its hardness is pretty good. In terms of hardness it stands out to be the second hardest mineral after diamond. Its price is also high due to rare availability. All the gemstones like emerald and sapphires are readily available but rubies are less in number and hence rubies are priced so high. Ruby is ruled in Sun in the planetary system.

Precious Gemstone - Sapphires (Yellow and Blue)
Yellow Sapphire is well known as gemstone of Jupiter since it is ruled by the planet Jupiter. It has beautiful yellow color and come be embedded in various forms of jewelry. The person who wears yellow sapphire gets good fortune and problems get solved easily. It is believed that if the girl is not getting married then she is advised to wear yellow sapphire for marriage related problems. It brings both peace and prosperity in the life of wearer. If you want to know whether you have a real yellow sapphire simply follow following steps: Place the gemstone in milk for a day and if the color of the gemstone does not change it means that the yellow sapphire gemstone is a real one.

Blue Sapphire is ruled by the planet Saturn and hence called as gemstone of Saturn. Among all the gemstones blue sapphire is known for its instant effect on the wearer. If suitable it can be very profitable for the wearer. It is blue coloured gemstone which varies from light to darker shades according to the type of blue sapphire.

Precious Gemstone - Emerald
It is green variety of Beryl family of minerals. It is very rarely available in the market. The best variety of Emerald comes in deep green coloured. Colombia is the place where we find good quality Emerald gemstones. It is used to make the relations stronger especially in love matters. So gift your loved one or better half a ring embedded with Emerald gemstone. People having heart problems should use emerald with proper consultation.

Precious gemstone occurring naturally - Pearl
Pearl is another beautiful gemstone which is widely used in jewelry making. Pearls are found naturally in fresh water. Mostly women are noticed with pearl jewelry. Pearl gemstone is ruled by moon. It should be worn by people who are mentally disturbed or have memory problems. It is used to get a relief from disturbed life.

Other Precious Gemstones
Except for the ones listed above other precious gemstones are coral, hessonite, cat's eye and alexandrite. Red coral is not a mineral, it is derived from a marine remains. It is similar to Pearl in terms of derivation. It represents Mars planet. Hessonite is used when the person has problems because of Rahu. Similarly, cat's eye is used when problems are caused by Ketu. Alexandrite is a natural gemstone with unique ability of changing colors. It is highly used in Jewelry making.

By Ravindra D.


Precious Gemstones - Gemstones
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ravindra_D.

How to Wear Gemstone Jewelry


There is a certain art form to wearing gemstone jewelry; it needs to be worn with certain finesse. Most women tend to wear at least one article of jewelry, either a pair of earrings, a ring, necklace, or bracelet. If you are wearing a piece gemstone jewelry, you want to keep it to be the focal accessory, so you should either refrain from wearing other items or wear understated other jewelry to avoid overwhelming the look.
Gemstone jewelry, such as sapphire or ruby jewelry, is special since different gemstones have different associations attached to them. Gemstones have many meanings in astrology; wearing particular gemstones on at certain times of day on certain dates is thought to bring you good luck. Regardless of your motivation in wearing this jewelry, you cannot deny that it makes you look more sophisticated put together when they are appropriately worn.

The significance of a gemstone ring depends upon the type of stone in the setting. Therefore, choose a ring carefully when you are purchasing it for another person; you do not want to inadvertently insult him or her. Gemstones engagement rings are very popular and usually feature small-medium sized diamonds or sapphires. If you have a ring that has 10 karats or more, you should wear it on your forefinger. Such rings are generally worn as eye catching accessories to formal events.

You should choose gemstone earrings that complement your facial structure and hairstyle. If you have a small face and short hair, you should generally wear stud earrings with small gemstones. If you have a rounder face and longer hair, you may wear earrings that have medium or large gemstones. Location is the most important factor to consider when deciding what size gemstone earrings to wear; going to the grocery store in large diamond semi-mount earrings is tacky.

When selecting a gemstone necklace to wear, you need to consider its length and the neckline of your shirt or dress; wear a short necklace with a high neckline and a long necklace with a low neckline. And, remember this rule for gemstone bracelets: a gemstone bracelet, like a diamond tennis bracelet, which features many small gemstones, may dangle from your wrist. But, a bracelet that has only one gemstone, like a large emerald, should more snugly fit your wrist.

Gemstone jewelry is not a demure aesthetic; it is an attention-grabbing look and individual items should each be worn as a single, main accessory. If you wear only one piece of jewelry, a gemstone will add depth and character to your entire ensemble.

Le Varon has gorgeous sapphire jewelry and ruby jewelry.

By Mark Etinger

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Etinger
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6668720

Senin, 16 April 2012

Are Precious Gemstones a Good Investment?


A diversified portfolio is a smart move in any economy. Stocks, bonds and a savings account are standard assets. Some investors include precious metals in their nest egg as well. Investing in gemstones is trickier because it takes knowledge about the stones themselves. There is no public market for individuals selling gemstones like there is for selling company shares. Investing takes common sense, knowledge, access to the gemstones and a safe place to keep them.

Determine how much to invest. Like any asset, determine how much you feel safe in investing in the gemstones. Gemstones are a long term investment rather than a buy today and sell tomorrow investment. The money you invest could be tied up for years.

Decide which gemstones to invest in. Diamonds probably come first to mind, but they're not the only gemstones and may not even be the best investment. Diamonds are controlled by a few large conglomerates who decide what new diamonds will be sold and to whom. Sapphires, rubies and emeralds are not controlled and are probably familiar stones to you. There are other gemstones to consider as potential investments, such as opals, South Sea pearls, Alexandrite and tsavorite.

Understand how diamonds are valued. The four Cs rule value: Carat, Clarity, Cut and Color. Carat is how much the diamond weighs, not how big it looks. Diamonds that are heavier, don't have flaws visible under 10x magnification, are blue white, and perfectly cut are worth more than diamonds with flaws that are visibly yellow with a less than excellent cut. The difference may be $50,000 or more for the same weight diamond.
The exception to the rule of diamonds being more valuable when they color is closer to blue white are colored diamonds, called fancies. Fancies are rarer and more valuable than white diamonds. The Moussaieff Red Diamond, weighing only a little over 5 carats sold for $7 million dollars. Fancy diamonds naturally occur as pink, vibrant bright yellow, blue, violet and even green.

Understand how colored gemstones are valued. Colored gemstones are valued based on their depth of color, carat, clarity and cut and how rare the gemstone is. Rubies, or red corundum, is much rarer than amethyst and valued at a thousand or so times per carat. Don't assume that because a gemstone is a certain color, blue for example, that it's a certain stone: sapphire. Blue stones are sapphires of course, but so are topaz, spinel, beryl, tourmaline, zircon and iolate, each having very different values. Sapphires also come in red, known as rubies, green, yellow, pink, purple and white.

Buy from a reputable dealer. Gemstones are offered for sale by individuals, on the Internet and directly from the mines. Unless you're an expert certified gemologist experienced with valuing gemstones, it's easy to get ripped off when buying from anyone other than a reputable dealer.

Keep the gems safe. That may mean in a bank safety deposit box rather than at home. Gems are very transportable. A million dollars worth of diamonds fits in your pocket. If you've had the gems set to wear in a ring or bracelet, once they're removed from their setting, they're difficult to identify. Wearing the gems shows people that you own them. That may open you up to the possibility of being robbed.

Keep in mind you want to buy at the wholesale price not the retail. Don't go to a jewelry store, even an upscale retail store, to buy investment gems. Buy loose gems.

By Dee Power


Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books. She writes Tips for Investing in Precious Metals and on the general topic of Precious Metal investing

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dee_Power

Gemstone Collecting and Investing


Serious gemstone collectors have special needs that very few gem dealers can meet. These collectors search out the rare and unique gemstones that are likely to increase significantly in value over time.

Most professional gemstone collectors began their careers as amateur collectors with a passion for colored stones. Indeed some of the most famous gem collectors in the world started out as amateur rockhounds. George Frederick Kunz (1856-1932), for example, had collected more than 4,000 mineral specimens by the time he was 20, and succeeded in selling his collection to the University of Minnesota. He went on to become the resident gem expert at Tiffany & Co., and was a major force in popularizing colored gemstones in the jewelry business. But he never lost his passion for collecting and he collected rare gems for some of the great names of his time, such as Thomas Edison and J.P. Morgan. The Morgan collection was eventually donated to the American Museum of Natural History. When pink spodumene was discovered in California it was named Kunzite in his honor.

There are as many different strategies for collecting gemstones as there are collectors. Astute collectors often focus on one kind of gemstone, such as rubies or sapphires or tsavorite garnets. This makes it easier to develop the specialized knowledge necessary to make subtle qualitative distinctions. It is not unusual as well for a collector to focus on a particular gem variety from a specific location, such as Burmese ruby or Ceylon sapphire or Russian demantoid garnet. With the discovery of new colored gem deposits in Africa it is still possible to be an early participant in collecting stones from locations such as Madagascar, Tanzania and Mozambique.

Some gem collectors focus on breadth as well as depth. Collecting sapphires from all the important deposits around the world -- Burma, Ceylon, Madgascar, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Montana, etc. -- can be fascinating, and comparing stones from these different locations can really help one appreciate the unique characteristics of the material from each source. Some gem varieties, such as tourmaline, occur in such astonishing variety that the collecting opportunities are endless. Some collectors focus not just on rare specimens, but on rare varieties. There are some gem minerals that are so rare that only a small number of specimens are known to exist. They include varieties such as painite, musgravite, benitoite, jeremejevite, red beryl and poudrettaite. Some collectors collect mineral specimens as well as cut and polished gems.
Though rare gemstones can be very expensive, it is possible to begin collecting colored stones on a modest budget. Many unusual gems are still inexpensive because the supply is so limited that no market demand is created for them. Many gemstones that are in good supply today will become rarer in the future as mines are exhausted. Time tends to be on the side of the collector.

Savvy collectors understand that fine gems have historically appreciated over time, but that gemstones are not an especially liquid commodity. Like real estate, a particular stone cannot always be sold for a good price at the time you want to sell it. Gemstone collecting is really only for those with a true love of gemstones and the patience required to achieve a substantial return on the investment. To cite one of the most famous cases in the gemstone world, a Montana rancher named Warren Hancock bought a 0.95 carat red diamond from his local jeweler in 1956 for $13,500. After Mr. Hancock passed away, his family sold his rare red diamond at auction in 1987 for more than $879,000. Though Mr. Hancock never lived to see the day when his red diamond was sold for an enormous sum, we can safely assume he derived a great deal of pleasure from this remarkable stone during his lifetime.

AJS Gems, Bangkok is a leading online dealer in rare gemstones for the connoisseur and collector. Gem Silica Chrysocolla

By Ron Nash


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Nash
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6867687

Gemstones Natural vs Synthetic


What is a synthetic gemstone? A synthetic gem is created in a laboratory under controlled conditions. The gem is grown from a natural gemstone "seed". By controlling the environment in which the gem is grown, impurities and inclusions can be avoided which occur in natural gemstones. The created stones have perfect color and clarity which is so highly desired. Most natural gemstones have imperfections due to uncontrolled growing conditions in nature. Synthetic stones will have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties of their natural counterparts without the imperfections.

A good analogy for synthetic gemstone creation is growing roses. Roses grown in a hot house where their growing environment is controlled will be closer to perfection than roses that are grown in your backyard. They're both roses, but the backyard rose will most likely be flawed or imperfect due to disease, insects, and other environmental impacts. Not so with the hot house rose because of the controlled conditions.
Don't confuse simulant gemstones with synthetic gemstones. Simulants can be made up of any substance, like glass. They are made to simulate a particular gemstone, but they do not have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties of the natural gemstone like the synthetic gemstone. Some examples of simulants are cubic zirconia, moissanite, and yttrium aluminum garnet which are diamond simulants.

The most popular gemstones that synthetics have been created for are emeralds, sapphires, rubies and alexandrites. I'm sure you have seen jewelry with synthetic stones, also known as "created" gemstones in your local retail jewelry store. They are easier to obtain and less costly than natural gemstones. Synthetics have made it more affordable for people to own nice jewelry and many prefer the flawless created stones compared to the natural stones. You can usually spot a "created" stone because it's just too perfect in color and clarity. A natural stone, especially in rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, which is perfect in color and clarity, is scarce and the cost is beyond most people's means.

Should you buy a synthetic gemstone or jewelry with created stones over the natural gemstone choices? I would recommend going with your own personal preference. If you want a piece of jewelry with a flawless, perfect gem, then go with the synthetic gemstone. Also, if cost is a deciding factor. As a collector/investor my preference would be for the natural gemstone. It's value and appreciation factor will be much greater, flawed or not.

It's interesting that there are some gemstones man has not been able to synthesize in a laboratory. One example is the garnet family of gems. They have not been able to unlock garnet's secrets to create it in a lab.
How do I know if the gemstone is natural, synthetic (created), or a stimulant? If you can't tell by your own examination...ask! A reputable dealer or jeweler will be honest about the origins of the stone. If they don't know or won't say, then don't buy!

Another interesting fact about gemstones that is not common knowledge to the public is that the majority of gems on the market have been treated to create or enhance their color and clarity. There are many different treatments used today. Heat treatment is the most common and widely used. I have written another article specifically regarding gemstone treatments. You can go to Gemstone Treatments to read more on the subject.
As a gemstone collector/investor, as stated before, my preference is for natural gemstones, but as an adornment in jewelry a synthetic gemstone makes for a gorgeous ring, earrings or pendant at an affordable price.

By Debra Hamer
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Debra enjoys collecting jewelry and gemstones. She operates a retail web site that sells wedding and bridal shower favors and gifts at [http://favorsgiftsgalore.com]
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debra_Hamer

History, Benefits and Types of Gemstone Beads



If you are new to the world of gemstone beads you are in for a spectacular treat of the senses. Crafted out of precious and semi-precious stones these beads are available in a whole array of colors, shapes and cuts and can be used to design some of the most stunning pieces of handmade jewelry. In the following sections we will explore some of the basic aspects of these timeless gems and try to get a better understanding about their significance and the reasons behind their undying appeal since ancient times.

A Brief History of Gemstone Beads
Gemstones have been used in the form of beads since ancient times. During the earlier ages these stones were used for adornment as well as in the form of currency. In some cultures precious forms of these stones were a mark of royalty and power and were exclusively worn by kings and noble men. One of the most important roles of these stones in the past was that the pure and completely natural ones were used in religious ceremonies as they were believed to represent celestial bodies and therefore carried strong spiritual significance for the communities.

Types of Gemstone Beads
A gemstone is basically a mineral or a rock of precious or semi-precious nature and the most sought after amongst them are the natural ones which are then cut and polished mainly for jewelry making. Due to their huge market demand you can now find an unlimited range of gemstones which are differentiated on the basis of their mineral compositions and structure. While the list of various gemstone types is virtually endless, beads made out of aquamarines, amethyst, pearls, topaz, jade, quartz, opals, ruby, sapphires, crystal, garnet, onyx are some of the most popular ones.

Varied Uses As Well and Benefits
One of the most popular ways of using gemstone beads is in the form of jewelry. Nowadays more and more people are opting for a whole selection of different beads and creating their own pieces by hand. Designing handmade jewelry with these stones has become very easy as the beads are available in beautiful and very attractive shapes and can be easily fitted into pendant and brooches as well as stringed into necklaces.
Natural gemstone beads have been valued since ancient times due to their stunning beauty as well as healing properties. As these stones are made up of a crystalline structure they are known to attract positive energies as well as provide the wearer with a strong immunity. Nowadays it is very easy to find out which stone would be curative and beneficial for you to wear as most of them are available as birth stones. All you need to do is pick up gemstone beads that correspond to your month of birth and you can create a beautiful set of jewelry that will be unique and custom-made just for you!
Want to find out more about Gemstone Beads, then visit site http://www.beadsonsale.com for details and your requirements.

By Fiona Hogeveen
 
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fiona_Hogeveen

Gemstones Article

Gemstones: Introduction
For the past 10,000 years, mankind has always been fascinated with gemstones. Their colors, properties, myths, and legends are diverse and captivating. In the ancient times gemstones were reserved only for the rich and served as status symbols. They were also worn as amulets and talismans, offering protection against ghosts, repulsing evil, and preserving health. Today these stones can be admired in museums; treasure vaults, and are even bought for jewelry. In the following, we will be discussing more about gemstones, its origins and properties.
Please enjoy!

Origin of Gemstones
Most gemstones are mineral crystals and can be formed in various ways. Some crystallize from molten magma and gases of the earth's interior, and some from volcanic lava steams that reach the earth's surface. As it slowly cools, it forms what is known as igneous rocks. Other minerals crystallize naturally from hydrous solutions or grow with the help of organisms. This is known as sedimentary rocks. Gemstones can also be formed by recrystallization of existing minerals under great pressure and high temperatures in the lower regions of the earth's crust. This is known as metamorphic rocks.

Properties of Gemstones
Hardness Scale
Different gemstones can be differentiated by their hardness, or scratch hardness. The Viennese mineralogist Friedrich Mohs introduced the term scratch hardness, which is the resistance of a mineral when scratched with a sharp pointed object. Mohs set up a comparison scale using ten minerals of different degrees of hardness, which ranges from 1-10(1 being the softest and 10 the hardest), which is still in use today. Gemstones of scratch hardness 1 and 2 are considered soft, those of 3 - 5 medium hard, and those over 5 are hard.

Scratch Hardness     Mineral used Cutting
(Mohs)
1.                   Talc          0.03
2.                   Gypsum        1.25
3.                   Calcite       4.5
4.                   Fluorite      5
5.                   Apatite       6.5
6.                   Orthoclase    37
7.                   Quartz        120
8.                   Topaz         175
9.                   Corundum      1,000
10.                  Diamond       140,000

Cleavage and Fracture
The cleavage of a gemstone is the manner in which minerals can separate and split off. Gemstones can "cleave" along certain planes where the atomic bonding is weaker. Cleavage is often used to divide large gem crystals or to remove faulty or uneven pieces. The largest diamond ever found was the Cullinan Diamond, which was 3,106 carats in 1908 and was cleaved into 3 large pieces then cleaved again into numerous smaller pieces.

Weight
When dealing in gem trade, there are four main units of measurement used as units of weight. There is the, carat, gram, grain, and momme. The carat is the basic unit of measurement for gemstones. It is equal to 200 milligrams or.2 grams. The price of a certain gemstone would be indicated by the total number of carats. To measure smaller diamonds, it is often expressed as points. The way to look at points is that 1 carat is equal to 100 points, so a point would be equal to.01 or one-hundredth of a carat. The gram is a unit of weight measure used for less precious/expensive gemstones and especially for rough stones. The grain is a unit of weight measure for pearls and is equal to.05g or ¼ of a carat. The momme is an old Japanese measure for cultured pearls. One momme is equal to 3.75g or 18.75ct.

Density and Specific Gravity
Another way to measure gemstones is to measure the specific gravity. The specific gravity is the measurement of weight of a specific item, in this case a gemstone, which is of any volume, compared to the weight of an equal volume of water. Specific gravity is usually expressed in density, which is the grams per cubic centimeter(g/cm3) or for larger gemstones kilograms per cubic centimeter (kg/cm3). To determine density, there are two methods that have been proven to be successful. The first method is the buoyancy method which can be done with the help of a Hydrostatic Balance. The Hydrostatic Balance uses Archimedes Principle of buoyancy which states that the buoyant force of an object in water is equal to the weight fluid that is displaced by the object. The second method of determining density is the suspension method. The suspension method is states that an object will float in liquid of higher density, sink in a liquid of lower density and remain suspended in liquid of the same density. This is an inexpensive method that can be performed using a set of liquids where the amount of density is known.

Color
Of all the properties of gemstones, color is the most important. This is because color is the most obvious and attractive feature of gemstones. The color of the gemstone is determined by a mixture of different colors of light. When light passes through a material, some of the wavelength is absorbed, while the rest passes through. If all the light is absorbed, the stone will appear black. If all wavelengths are absorbed in the same degree, the stone will be white or gray. Most gemstones cannot be distinguished by color alone because many of them have the same color. Gemstones of the same species can vary in different colors. A certain gemstone can have its own inherent color from its chemical makeup. All other colors are created by impurities. The inherent color can be seen by streaking the mineral on a rough porcelain plate called a streak plate.

Refraction of Light
The amount of light that refracts in each gemstone is constant in each specific gemstone. This can be used to identify each specific stone. The amount of light that refracts through a specific stone is called the refractive index(RI). A refractive index(RI) can be properly defined as the measure of the angle at which light traveling through a stone is bent or refracted. The refractive indexes of gemstones are between 1.4 - 3.2. In most gemstones, the exception of opals and glasses, the ray of light is refracted when entering and is divided into 2 separate rays, each of which is travelling into separate directions. This is what is called double refraction. Light refraction can be measured using a refractometer (link to refractometer on website). Unfortunately testing with common refractometer is only possible to measure the value on 1.81 and only stones with flat stones with flat face or facet are suitable. Refractometers can also detect stones with double refraction.

Transparency
Another way to evaluate gemstones is through their transparency. The transparency of a gemstone is the property of transmitting light through a gemstone without any cloudiness or haziness of the gemstone. Transparency can be affected in many ways. One way is through the gemstones inclusions. Certain types of inclusions such as solids, liquids and gaseous inclusions can affect the gemstones ability to transmit light. This will be discussed more on the next portion.

Inclusions
Most gemstones are completely "clean", meaning that they may contain some type of foreign material or some irregularity in the gemstone. This is what is called an inclusion and is one of the ways that makes a gemstone unique. Inclusions can come in 3 different types: solid, liquid and gaseous. Solid inclusions may include some minerals of same or foreign. This may have been caused from older minerals can be surrounded by a host stone. Liquid inclusions are usually in the form of water but may also include saline. Gaseous inclusions can different types of gasses such as oxygen, nitrogen, etc. Some inclusions may include both liquid and gas and is called a two-phase inclusion.

By Allan Vinluan 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allan_Vinluan