Available from light buttery yellows to deep golden cognac tones, Citrine is what happens to Amethyst when it is heated. Adamantine Silky. Greasy? Gemologists use various evocative terms to describe gemstone luster. This refers to the appearance of a gem’s surface when it reflects light. Though cuts can be unique, there are many tried and true styles. Their predetermined number and placement of facets have stood the test of time to bring out the best in stones. Whether you gravitate towards the glamour and nostalgia of an antique cut, or you’re looking to modernize a classic mold, here are a few standard techniques to get you started. Discover How Lustre, Brilliance, Dispersion, Refraction And Scintillation Create The Beauty Of Gemstones There are only four stones in the world classified as precious gemstones and we are proud to say we use them all in our jewellery and rings. The “Big Four” are: Diamond

This color changing miracle was first discovered in Russia in 1830. The original mine has long since been depleted, but we still source a variety from India.This opaque greeny-blue stunner often has unusual, natural patterns running through it, and is so famous it has a color named after it. This soft pink jewel is the epitome of feminine grace, a perfect balance of light pastel tones and deeper pink flashes. It’s phosphorescent too.

We’ve only touched on the very basics of gemstones and jewelry in this feature, but before we run out of space, we have to squeeze in these incredible phenomena that certain gems display. Color Change These richly coloured stones belong to the beryl group, which also includes aquamarine. Emerald's captivating green colour is unique and unparalleled in all other gemstones due to inclusions that make each stone unique. Along with high quality diamonds, blue sapphires and red rubies, the green emerald is one of the “big four”. Unlike the other three, however, emeralds are more fragile and exposure to excessive moisture should be avoided. High Value Semi-Precious Gemstones There are generally three ways that gemstones are mined, although of course the size and scale of the mining operation varies significantly from mine to mine. There are substantial commercial mines with modern equipment and a large workforce right down to small artisanal miners, sometimes with as little as a single miner digging through their small claim with hand tools. Mines are found all over the world in many different countries, and certain countries are renowned for the quality of the stones they produce. Examples of this include Colombian Emerald, Sri Lankan Sapphire and Australian Opal. Tunnel Mining There are entire encyclopedias on the formation of individual gemstones – the process is fascinating, incredibly technical and involves more variables than we could ever list. What follows is a very simplified explanation of how some gems form.

Hallmarking

Famously a deep red, dark-toned stone, Garnet has also been discovered in a plethora of colors including green, orange and yellow. Gemstones and crystals are used for jewelry, industry, lasers and precision technology. Firefly Guide to Gems is a practical, compact guide to the identification and use of precious and semi-precious stones, novelty stones, agates and crystals. Additionally, the gypsum would display a silky luster if it was found in aggregates of long fibers. So, it’s possible that luster won’t be a helpful diagnostic feature for recognizing gypsum or other gemstones!