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Posts Tagged ‘Investing’

Gemstone Jewelry Shopping – How Lighting Affects Gemstone Color

December 17th, 2009

The determining factors of the quality and value of gemstones are clarity, cut, carat weight and color. All four of these factors are determined differently and display themselves in a variety of ways based on lighting. Lighting plays an extremely valuable role when defining the color of any stone. When deciding the final color of a gemstone, mid-morning light is often the most used. It is the whitest form of lighting and has a neutral effect on the color and hue of each individual stone. Most reputable jewelers will provide photos and evidence of the color of each stone through the use of this form of lighting. There are number of ways that light can affect a stone and these should all be considered when investing in a gemstone.

Luminescence is a very influential lighting factor that determines a stone’s color and its quality. Valuable stones have an undeniable ability to somehow display light even in complete darkness. This fluorescence is a very big factor in the price and quality of each individual stone. This should not be confused with phosphorescence which is the ability for the stone to contain light for a few moments after light has been removed from the room. Fluorescence is the capability of the stone to give off light without being given any light to reflect from whatsoever.

Luster within a stone is the term used for a stone’s ability to reflect light both internally and externally. The smoother the surface of a stone is, the more luster it will have and more light reflection it will be able to display.

The ability of a gem to redirect light is classified as refraction. Many gemstone enthusiasts swear by stones that have the ability to change the direction of light and display it in a number of ways. If a gem is dirty or not cut appropriately it will lose most of its refraction ability and damage the value of a stone significantly.

Another important factor in a gemstones ability to be affected by lighting is dispersion. This is classified when a gem can separate light into a number of different colors. When a gemstone can turn neutral light into a rainbow color, it has an excellent dispersion rating and its value will be directly inflated. Usually, games that have a good ability to redirect can also have a high dispersion rating.

Lighting is a very important variable that should be examined and taken into consideration when shopping for or comparing gemstones. A stone can look completely different in a number of lights and you should compare each stone in varying lights in order to determine its true color and value in the most appropriate way. While many stores will only display the stone in the best lighting, you should move it around and change the lighting that the gemstone is under to ensure that you are aware of all the hues and lighting effects that are evident within the stone you are considering investing in.

With over 6000 collections, Livapo.com is a leading online jewelry shop for cheap gemstone jewelry and cheap pearls, discount pearl jewelry.

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Mining Stocks Investor Guide.

December 7th, 2009

A Guide To Investing In Mining Companies And Mining Stocks. Learn How To Analyze Drill Results, News Releases, Technical Reports, Secrets Of The Pros, Market Manipulation To Watch Out For And More! Don’t Miss The Rush On Metals And Mining Stocks.

Mining Stocks Investor Guide.

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Alexandrite Gemstone As An Investment

November 29th, 2009

Very few people think of buying natural gemstones as an alternative to investment. Well one cannot depend solely on it as an investment factor, but spending wisely on gemstones can definitely prove wiseful after some years. The basic reason for this is that- demand is ever increasing and supply limited!

Conversely, investing in gem stones can be a profitable business if not just a hobby. But love for gemstones and appreciating their worth are also equally important. One should, therefore, not only look at the monetary benefits but also should be able to appreciate their beauty. If you have the money and are also a gemstone lover then this article is definitely worth a look.

Most of the gem lovers have, at some point or the other, must have heard of the natural colour changing Alexandrite gemstone. It is one of the rarest natural gemstones found which possesses a beautiful characteristic of colour change, i.e. it shows a different colour in morning light and another colour in evening light or candle light. This phenomenon along with rarity makes it very valuable. If you are interested in investing in alexandrite then it’s better to learn everything about it. A single search online yields enough information for you to know everything about it.

Tips for buying natural alexandrite:

1. Trust only natural! When buying an alexandrite gemstone, one must always make sure that he/she is buying a natural alexandrite and not synthetic alexandrite( more commonly known as lab created, man made, lab origin etc). The gemstone should be certified as ‘natural’. People often end up buying synthetic gemstone paying very high price and later repent on their decision. As technology rapidly develops, more and more synthetic alexandrites are flooding into the market, which are becoming increasingly difficult to identify. In other words, natural alexandrites are getting rarer day by day and hence it’s becoming more valuable.

2. Always insist on authentication. Always buy Alexandrite with a certificate, from a reputed gemological laboratory and not just from the dealer who is selling it, mentioning its authenticity. These days it’s very easy to print out a piece of paper and laminate it, calling it a certificate. Many customers get carried away by this laminated and printed sheet .So one must make sure that the certificate is from a reputed source.

3. Quality comes first! Always go for quality rather than quantity. A good piece, though a small one, is any day better than a big gem with lower clarity and colour.

4. Choose the cutting edge. As far as possible go in for a gemstone that is being cut perfectly. Gems that have flat and shallow cut lighten the colour of the stone, where as very deep cut darken the colour so much that the colour change is not prominent as it should be. Always go for the best cut your money can buy!

5. As far as possible dont go for any enhanced gemstones. Gemstones on which enhancements(treatments) are done tend to loose its market value over a period of time as newer and newer enhancement technology comes up. If you know what enhancement is being done on the stone and are sure of its quality then buy it, otherwise buy un treated alexandrites only.

Finally to conclude, if you are a gem lover or collecting gemstones is your hobby, you’ll just love this amazing colour changing gemstone in your collection. An investment you will never regret!

Mithun Rao holds a professional degree in gemology and jewelry design from Mumbai. He manages his own jewelry business and takes out the free time to write and maintain his site on gemstones information and diamond industry. Click here to read more on natural alexandrite gemstone.

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How To Examine Gemstone Colors When Selecting A Gemstone Jewelry

November 20th, 2009

There are a number of important factors that you need to take into consideration when shopping for and comparing gemstones. It is important to analyze color, cut, clarity and carat weight and each factor affects the quality and price of the each individual stone. While each factor is important, you need to analyze and judge the color first and foremost. It is important for you to be as informed as possible before investing in a gemstone. Making sure your gem is quality and worth the money is very important if you want to be happy with your investment.

There is a plethora of color options when it comes to gemstones but it is best to analyze and find the one with the best primary color. This is the first step when analyzing a stone. The primary color can only be determined through comparison of stones and careful examination but is often the most important thing to identify with when shopping for a gemstone. Some of the colors are very difficult to determine but you need to do the best you can in order to find the best stone.

When analyzing emeralds you want to find the green color that is as close to Nature as you can find. This is the comparison used when classifying the green within emeralds. When rubies are in question, you want to identify and find the gemstones that are the purest form of red. However, most rubies you find will contain a slight purple or orange discoloration and it’s very difficult to find a completely and true red colored ruby. No matter what you are looking for, you should try and avoid any gemstone with a gray or brown colored hue evident within the color. Sapphires are quite possibly the most unique gemstone when it comes to judging or determining the color involved with the stone. Just as emeralds are used to define the color green, sapphires are used to determine and set the comparison color of blue. However, sapphires can be found in every color except for red.

The depth of gemstone color is also extremely important when analyzing color. Each gemstone can vary from a very black color to an almost completely clear depth. It is best to find a depth that is in the middle range. Completely black gemstones are worth a lot less and very unspectacular, just as the clear gemstones are. Finding the perfect medium depth is very important if you want a stunning and valuable gemstone.

If you are beginning a search for the perfect gemstone, you should begin by looking at the color. There are other important aspects that you should judge a gemstone by, but it is often color that can determine the overall quality or value of each individual gemstone. Cut and clarity especially are dependent upon the initial colors and hues of the original stone. Many jewelers and gemstone experts will inform you that color is the single most important aspect of determining a gemstones price, value and overall beauty.

Shop at Livapo.com for sapphire, ruby, topaz, garnet and other colored gemstone jewelry.

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