The Endless Beauty of Gemstone Jewelry
Sunday, 5. July 2009
Gemstone jewelry is jewelry that offers an extraordinary look for any and every occasion. Available in a wide spectrum of colors and shades, you can find so many pieces that you would enjoy wearing, whether for formal or informal affairs. Shopping for these gorgeous pieces is always a thrilling experience because the choices are so many. You will have trouble finding a piece to suit the occasion, your style and your pocketbook.
Unlike diamonds, which are indeed beautiful in their own right, colorful gemstones are so versatile and appeal to so many different people, and yet another benefit is that they can also be considerably less expensive. Emeralds, rubies, and sapphires are considered to be among the most valuable of all the precious and semiprecious gemstones in the world and are available in a wide variety of values, settings, cuts, and types.
Deep blue sapphire is a popular choice for rings, although it can be found in lighter shades as well. It is the birthstone for September and after diamonds, sapphire is the hardest gemstone of all.
Deep, rich, red rubies have been worn and coveted by emperors and kings all over the world for centuries. They have traditionally been the gemstone that represents love and passion and power. Rubies are the birthstone for July births. They rank extremely high on the Mohs scale which measures the hardness of a mineral.
Who doesn’t love the beautiful deep green color of the emerald? These breathtaking gemstones are among the most expensive of all gemstones. They are, fortunately, being man made in laboratories, and these are much less expensive but look just as genuine. A natural emerald’s value is also measured by their depth and color, the deeper and greener it is, the higher the value.
The cut of the stone influences its beauty. Gemstone jewelry is available in a variety of popular cuts that have been chosen to show up the particular gem. Larger stones are most often cut with the popular “brilliant-cut” which allows maximum light to pass through the gem and reflect back. This particular cut is used for marquise, round, oval and pear shaped stones. The princess cut is also popular, as is the heart shape, emerald shape, radiant and trillion shaped cuts.
When you are shopping for a gemstone ring, you will find gems set as a solitary stone and those clustered with other stones, either the same stone or a variety of complimentary stones. Be sure and choose a gemstone and a ring that you will enjoy throughout your life.
It is important to take the time you need to decide what gemstone jewelry is right for you. Learn how to take care of these precious natural stones. They are durable and need little care, but proper cleaning will show off their brilliance for years to come.
When you are cleaning your gemstone ring, be very careful not to do so over a sink drain. Rings can so easily slip from our hands and down the drain. Use bowl instead.