Technical Information on Gemstones

Fortgeschrittene Edelstein-Analyse

Gemstone identification increasingly depends on high tech instruments such as FTIR, EDXRF and LIBS

African Tsavorite Gemstones - 100 per cent naturally green

Tsavorite is a rare vivid green grossularite garnet, colored by chromium or vanadium, with deposits mainly in East Africa.

All About Gemstone Treatments - Information

Many gemstones today are treated with various methods to improve color and quality. Learn about the latest treatments and how they are detected.

Alternative Metals for Jewelry-Making

Alternative metals such as stainless steel, tungsten carbide and titanium can be used to make modern jewelry. Read more about other metals for jewelry-making

Ancient Turquoise Gemstones - Desired from east to west

Blue-green turquoise has long been admired and used by Native Americans in the Rocky Mountains of the west and by Persians in the bustling bazaars of the east.

Edelsteine mit Asscher-Schliff

The Asscher cut is a modified emerald cut with a square shape, cut corners and a deep pavilion. The result is greater brilliance and fire

Beryllium Treatment for Gemstones 'Be Heated' - Gemston...

Gemstone Treatments are nothing new, but beryllium gemstone enhancements (Be heated) to improve color is a recent innovation that has made gems more affordable, e...

Blue Topaz Gems: Learn About Blue Topaz Gemstones and T...

Blue topaz is one of the most popular colored gemstones. There are many trade names for the different shades of blue, including Swiss blue, London blue and Sky bl...

Brillanz, Glanz und Feuer

These are important technical terms in gemology, but they are often misused. Learn how to use these terms correctly to describe gemstones.

Buying Aquamarine - What you should know before you buy

Read about this beautiful gemstone, what to look for when you are buying and what to avoid. What is most important when buying aquamarine - the cut, the clarity, ...

Carats und Karats

Gemstones are weighed in carats, while the purity of gold is measured in karats.

Zertifizierte Edelsteine

Many gemstone are certified to guarantee their authenticity. But not all gem certificates are created equal

Classifying Gemstones: How Gemstones Types Are Classified

Gemstones are classified by species, groups, types and varieties; and are assigned to the 10 mineral classes. Learn more about how precious and semi-precious gems...

Farbwechsel bei Fluorit-Edelsteinen

Color change fluorite is a rare gem that displays a color change under different lighting conditions, often from blue in daylight to purple under incandescent light

Farbverläufe in Edelsteinen

Color zoning refers to the uneven distribution of color within a gemstone. It is usually not desirable, but some gems are valued specifically for their color zoning

Colored Gemstone Clarity Grade Table

Clarity grading for colored gemstones is not as simple as for white diamonds, colored gemstones are categorized into 3 types, and are then graded for clarity

Concave Cut Gemstones

Concave cutting is a recent innovation that uses curved rather than flat facets, resulting in a more brilliant gem. But not everyone is impressed

Copper-Bearing Gemstones

Ever since the discovery of paraiba tourmaline, the market is excited about copper-bearing gems. What's so special about copper?

Cubic Zirconia Info

Cubic zirconia, a synthetic gemstone, became the most successful diamond simulant on the market

Kalette bei beschliffenen Edelsteinen

The culet is the tiny facet at the very bottom of many faceted gemstones. Some gems are cut with a closed culet.

Geschliffene Edelsteine

The art of cutting gems is known as lapidary. It requires a high degree of skill to produce a well polished faceted gem.

Cutting Gemstones - Gemstone Information

Cutting gemstones is known as lapidary work, and the shaping, engraving, faceting and polishing of stones is performed by a person known as a lapidary

Nachweis von Gem-Behandlungen

Gem treatments should always be disclosed, but not all enhancements can be detected, even by the best gem labs

Synthetischen Quarz identifizieren

Synthetic quartz has become very common in the gem market. Distinguishing synthetic from natural quartz takes considerable expertise.

Diamant und Graphit

Diamond and graphite have the same chemical composition, but they are as different as could be.

Diffusion Treatment for Gemstones

Diffusion treatment of gemstones is controversial, and may affect the ability to recut the stone in the future.

Drusy Gemstone Info

Drusy (druse or druzy) refers to encrustations or clusters of minute crystals in a matrix

Behandlunfg von Smaragd

Natural emeralds tend to have surface-reaching fissures and are treated with oils, resins or polymers

Epidote & Unakite: Green Epidote Gemstone Info

Epidote is a silicate mineral often recognized by its pistachio green color. Unakite is a type of granite which contains epidote; both gemstones are cut en caboch...

Facettierte Edelsteine

The art of faceting enhances the brilliance and luster of gemstones. Buy faceted gemstones online at GemSelect.

Schöner Cordierit ist selten

Iolite gemstones with good color saturation and clarity are rare in sizes over 1 carat.

Schöner roter Rhodolith-Granat

Rhodolite, the rose-red to violet-red garnet, is a mixture of almandite and pyrope. It has the best red of any garnet.

Fracture Filled Treatment - Gemstone Information

Fracture filling is a common enhancement for emeralds, turquoise and a number of other gemstones. Learn about fracture filling and other gem enhancements at GemSe...

Aufgefüllte Rubine

Why are so many fracture-filled rubies being offered in the market? Should you buy one?

Farbsättigung bei Schmuckstein

Color saturation, sometimes known as chroma, is a measure of the purity or intensity of color hue. Highly saturated colors are highly valued in gemstones.

Gem Pavilion, Girdle and Crown Guide

A GemSelect guide to colored gemstone anatomy, learn how to identify a gem's pavilion, girdle and crown, and about different cutting styles and why they are used

Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstone Glossary

Gemstone & Mineral Glossary - Gemstone Information

A comprehensive glossary of terms used to describe colored stones, precious and semi-precious gems, minerals and gemstone jewelry. Gemstone and Jewelry Informatio...

Gemstone Clarity Scale - Gemstone Information

GemSelect grades colored gemstones according to the following clarity scale: IF, VVS, VS, SI and I1, type 1, type 2 and type 3 should also be taken into account

Gemstone Cleavage Chart - Gemstone Information

Chart with cleavage ratings for more than 110 varieties of gemstones. Learn which gemstones have perfect cleavage and which have none at all.

Gemstone Dispersion Chart Information

Looking for gemstones with significant fire? Here is a chart that ranks many gem varieties by their dispersion or fire.

Schmuckstein-Dubletten

A gemstone doublet is a composite stone made up of a natural gemstone and a less expensive material. Opal doublets are commonly found in the market.

Gemstone Hardness - How durable is your gemstone?

What is the toughest gemstone? Which ones are easily scratched? Will my crystal break? These questions are many more answered in our informative article on hardness.

Gemstone Hardness and Durability

Hardness is only one measure of a gem stone's durability. Learn what other properties are important.

Schmuckstein bestimmen

Trying to identify gemstones has become more challenging with the advent of new treatments and synthetics. What once was an art has become a science.

Informationen zu Edelsteinen

The most comprehensive library of gemstone information on the internet. Info on more than 80 varieties of gemstones.

Gemstone Laboratories

In the gem trade, gemological labs have the last word in gemstone identification. A recent lawsuit shows that might not always be true.

Gemstone Names - How did those gemstones get their names?

Investigate the origins and meanings behind the fascinating and often bizarre names given to the precious stones we love and desire. All the answers are here.

Schmucksteine Bewegungsbrillanz

Well-cut faceted gemstones display 3 different illumination effects: brilliance, scintillation and fire

Gemstone Shape and Cut - What is the difference?

You may think shape, cut and facet all mean the same thing but read this article to discover the differences between pear shape, rose-cut and a faceted pavilion

Schmucksteintester

Gemstone testers are becoming useful. But they are still no substitute for a trained gemologist.

Schmucksteine Handelsnamen

Some marketing names for gemstones have succeeded; others, thankfully, have failed.

Gemstone Treatment Disclosure

The Federal Trade Commission defines the rules for disclosing gemstone treatments. These rules may not go far enough

Gemstone Treatments: Stabilization and Impregnation

Stabilization and impregnation are gemstone enhancements that improve the hardness, density, color and durability of naturally fragile gemstones, especially turqu...

Schmucksteine als Kunst

Cutting gems is a traditional craft, but a new art has developed in the last 30 years.

Sanfte Wärmebehandlung

The term -gentle heat- for the heat treatment of sapphire and ruby is seriously misleading, and should be avoided

Green Zircon: Rare Low Metamict Natural Zircon Information

Green zircon, low zircon or metamict zircon, forms as a result of radiation from uranium & thorium. It is especially rare and highly prized by gemstone collectors...

Heat Treatment - Gemstone Information

Some gemstones are routinely heated to improve their color and clarity. Learn how heat treatment works and how it can be detected.

Hemimorphit-Schmucksteine

Gem-quality hemimorphite is usually blue or green, and bears some similarities to chrysocolla, smithsonite and turquoise.

Die Geschichte der Pendeloque

The briolette, a pear-shaped gemstone with geometric facets, is one of the oldest styles of cut gems.

How Gemstones are Formed: Learn about the processing of...

Most gemstones form in the Earth's crust. Only two gemstones, diamond and peridot, form in the mantle. Learn about how gemstones form.

How Gemstones Get Their Colors

Some gemstones get their color from their essential chemistry; others from trace elements or impurities. Learn how the different gem varieties get their color.

Hydrothermal Quartz - Gemstones created in the laboratory

Scientists can now recreate the work of mother-nature by creating colorful quartz crystals on demand. Are they real quartz crystals? Can you tell them from the re...

Irradiation Treatment - Gemstone Information

All about the irradiation of gemstones to improve their color.

Kyanit Härte

Kyanite is an unusual gemstone because it has a highly variable hardness, depending on the direction of the crystal.

Labradorite Iridescence: Optical Phenomena of Labradorite

Labradorite is an iridescent gemstone with a fascinating metallic luster when viewed from certain angles. Iridescence is also found in a variety of other gems too...

Making Mystic Topaz - What's the secret behind the amaz...

Natural gemstones have been enhanced in a variety of ways forever but modern technology has led to dramatic new methods to alter a crystal's look. Discover the se...

Minerale, Steine und Schmucksteine

What is the difference between a mineral, a rock and a gemstone? You'll find some answers here.

Organic Gemstones - Certain gemstones are not stones at...

Most gemstones are crystals but some of our most famous precious gems are organic in origin, forming from animal or vegetable - pearls, amber, coral and ammolite.

Paraiba Tourmaline Gemstones - Brazil's dazzling discovery

It is not often that a new gemstone appears and the arrival of the vivid neon blue of the Paraiba Tourmaline took the world by storm shortly after it was discover...

Peridot Gemstones

Peridot, the birthstone for August, has many unusual qualities. Unlike most gemstones, peridot is formed deep within the earth.

Pezzottait-Schmucksteine

Pezzotottaite, a rare gem first discovered in Madagascar, is often confused with red beryl.

Bilder von Edelsteinen

High quality photos of thousands of gems. More than 115 gem varieties, including sapphire, ruby, emerald, tourmaline, spinel, zircon, amethyst, topaz and garnet.

Planetarische Gemmologie

Planetary gemologists prescribe gems based on astrological principles. Using the right gems is said to enhance health, wealth, power and popularity.

Mehrfarbige Schmucksteine

Some gemstones display different colors when viewed from different angles. Andalusite, iolite, kyanite, kunzite, sphene and tanzanite exhibit pleochroism to a str...

Krappenfassung vs Zargenfassung

Prongs and bezel settings have advantages and disadvantages. Learn about prong (or claw) settings and bezel settings for gemstone jewelry.

Raman-Spektroskopie

Scientists are using Raman spectroscopy to identify gemstones and minerals with a Star Trek-style tricorder device.

Seltenes Klinohumit

Clinohumite is a rare mineral and an especially rare gemstone. It is a member of the humite group of minerals, which includes humite, clinohumite, chondrodite, an...

Seltene Sillimanit-Schmucksteine

Sillimanite is a rare collector's gemstone that is colorless, grayish-white, green, bluish or brownish hues. Transparent, faceted sillimanite gems are extremely rare

$Refractive Index Chart$

Refractive Index Chart - What does it mean and how do I...

A chart of the refractive indices for more than 115 varieties of gemstones, sorted in descending order.

Seeing Gemstone Stars - Asterism Effect Information

Learn how to evaluate star gemstones, and why the star may not be easy to see under diffused light. Gemstones that display the star effect, known as asterism, are...

Semi-Precious Gemstones - The Diverse World of Semi-pre...

The world of semiprecious stones is incredibly diverse. Some are as rare and valuable as any precious stone. Others are very affordable. In between is a remarkabl...

Simulants Vs. Synthetics - Gemstones

Fake gemstones may be synthetics or simulants. Learn how to identify the difference between these.

$Singly Refractive Gems$

einfach brechende Schmucksteine

Diamond, garnet and spinel are well known as belonging to the small group of singly refractive gemstones. But there also are some lesser known members of this group

Specific Gravity Chart - Gemstone Information

Specific gravity is the term for the relative density of a gemstone. This chart shows the specific gravity for more than 60 varieties of gemstones.

Titanit-Brillianz

Sphene is one of very few gemstones with an adamantine or diamond-like luster. Sphene's dispersion or fire even exceeds diamond.

Spudomene Species - From industrial use to the jewelry ...

Spudomene is a major source of the lithium found in batteries around the world but the pink gemstone Kunzite is a spudomene and so is the green Hiddenite

Star Diopside the Phenomenal Black Star of India

Star diopside is known in the gem trade as the Black Star of India. Not as well known as chrome diopside, but special and unique with asterism chatoyancy - GemSelect

Stern-Edelsteine

Star sapphire and star ruby are examples of gems that exhibit asterism or the star effect. Learn why some gemstones exhbit this rare phenomenon.

Synthetic Emerald - Gemstones grown in the laboratory

Scientist, Carroll Chatham, experimented in his laboratory for many years before finally succeeding in creating an synthetic emerald, a one carat crystal now on d...

Synthetic Moissanite - Diamond Substitute or Gem on it...

Moissanite is the latest diamond simulant to hit the market, with a hardness and density more diamond-like than cubic zirconia

Synthetic Ruby and Sapphire - Flame Fusion Method

In 1902 the French chemist Verneuil invented the flame fusion method for creating synthetic corundum. It is still being used today.

Taaffeite Gemstones - Rare Gemstone Varieties

Taaffeite is one of the rarest gem varieties in the world. It has many similarities to spinel, but is doubly refractive

Spannringe

Tension settings use compression to hold a gemstone in place. The designs are stunning, but are these setting secure?

The Mystery of Andesine-Labradorite

An attractive red feldspar called andesine has attracted a lot of attention in the gems world. What is really known about andesine?

The Secret of Spinel Gemstones

Spinel is a gemstone that is not well known in the commercial jewelery world, but one which has become a great favorite with gem dealers and gem collectors. Learn...

Understanding Gemstone Cleavage

Some gemstones, including diamond, topaz, tanzanite and fluorite, have perfect cleavage. Learn about why this is important.

Untreated Gems for Jewelry - Part II

There are many untreated colored gemstones that come from the mines to the market completely natural and unenhanced, such as opal, tourmaline, quartz, spinel and ...

Unbehandelte Edelsteine

Some varieties of gemstones are never treated, and they represent exceptional value in today's gem market.

Uvarovite Garnet - the rarest of all the Garnets

An odd gemstone, striking emerald green, outstanding brilliance, they are a sight to behold if you can find one, they are even rarer than Tsavorite or Demantoid

Valuable Gemstone Inclusions

Conventional wisdom about colored gemstone inclusions is that less is more. But some inclusions are valuable.

Was ist natürlicher Saphir?

Natural sapphires are mined from the earth; synthetic sapphires are produced in a lab. But are natural sapphires enhanced by humans still natural?

Was ist das Besondere an Spessartite?

Spessartite is no ordinary garnet. With its striking mandarin orange color and its high refractive index, it is one of the finest gems in today's market.

Why are Some Gems Cut as Cabochons?

What are gemstone cabochons, and why are some gemstones cut as cabochons and others as faceted gems?

World of Quartz – Much more than Amethyst and Citrine

Tiger's Eye, Onyx, Jasper, names to fire your imagination. Discover the wide world of quartz in this article which reveals the colorful characters that live there.

Zircon and Zirconology - The Study of Zircon

Zircon is the oldest mineral on Earth, over 4.4 billion years old. It is also a fine gemstone with great brilliance and fire.

Zultanite, Csarite and Diaspore: Color Change Diaspore ...

Zultanite, Csarite and Diaspore are all names for a color change gemstone from Turkey. What is color change diaspore and why does it have many names?