FACTS ABOUT GEMSTONES
Facts about Gemstones
Though many have the rudimentary knowledge about gemstones, these stones also referred to as gems or jewels possess some additional facts you should know.
Foremost, they are also regarded as gems; they are used in making jewellery or ornaments for the adornment of the body. They show splendour and elegance of the wearers. What are gemstones made up of? As we have stated above, gemstones are made of minerals and sometimes rocks and a few organic materials too. Rocks like lapis lazuli can be considered as a gemstone and organic material like amber or jet can equally fall into the category of gemstones.
Gemstones have grades and this is just a way the quality of one gemstone is distinguished from the other. No, the grading is not done by looking at the diamonds, it is not just an eye test, grading is done in a select laboratory, called AGL, and then diamonds are placed accordingly. Many times, people have asked the question in how many ways, gemstones are cut?
The gemstones that are cut in the shape of the dome are polished on the opposite sides of the facets called cabochons. They can be opal, variscite, or turquoise. In the same vein, some gemstones are polished in the facets and are cut by a faceting machine at exact angles and hence they are transparent in looks. There are a lot of things to consider when cutting the diamond. The angles must be weighed and the light also considered.
Also, people have asked the question why are gemstones of different colours? As the saying goes “Variety is the Spice of life”. What is the essence of colours? It brings spice; the reason for any material being colorful is not farfetched, the daylight itself is a combination of many colors and whenever it flows through any material, some of the light is absorbed and the remaining part which isn’t reflected off the eyes of a person glancing at the material hereby creating a burst of colors.
For Example, Ruby is red as the blue, yellow, green colours present in white light are absorbed and only red is left which makes the Ruby looks red. Also, colours can be absorbed with the help of impurities. Another instance is beryl which though is colorless can be made to appear in two colors like green with the help of impurities like chromium which changes beryl into emerald and pink i.e. pink morganite, with the help of addition of manganese impurity.