How Buy Sell Real Gemstone Jewelry

1) Use soft brushes for hard gems. A popular tool of choice is a soft-bristle tooth brush. The brush must be soft; otherwise, you might do more harm than good to your stone or setting. A hard-bristle brush might even damage the metal holding your gems and diamonds. Better not chance it. To clean your jewelry, get a warm bowl of water and scrub with a few drops of ordinary liquid dish detergent.

2) Use regular glass cleaner. One very popular cleaning method among jewelers is to simply wipe down your gems with regular household glass cleaner. The cleaner quickly removes oil and dirt while leaving behind a vibrant shine. Wear rubber gloves if you don't want to get the scent on your skin.

3) Remove grime your jewelry with window cleaner. Fill a bowl with lukewarm, soapy water and let your jewelry soak. If you use a sink, use a plug or drain stopper so your precious gems don't accidentally spiral down into your home plumbing. Transfer your jewelry into another bowl filled with glass cleaner for a few moments, and then use your soft brush to wipe away any residual dirt. Rinse under water and let dry.

4) Use ultrasonic cleaner. If you want to step it up a bit, baby your gems and diamonds with an ultrasonic cleaner. These devices combine high-end technology and efficiency to provide unstoppable gem-scouring power! Bonus: Ultrasonic cleaners are completely hands-off when it comes to grime. You won't even have to get your hands dirty.

5) Try good old-fashioned baking soda. Baking soda has an amazing amount of cleaning uses, and can also get the grime off of your jewelry. Combine the baking soda with water to create a paste, then use a soft brush to gently scrub your gems and metals. Next, dry and polish the ring with a lint-free cloth and your jewelry will shine. (If your jewelry is very dirty, a stronger chemical solution will get your diamonds and gems sparkling better.)

6) Use an ammonia cleaner. If you use ammonia, you'll know that it is a very strong chemical — cut the solution with water. Typically, one part ammonia to three parts water will make a safe solution that won't harm your jewelry.

Lastly, don't throw your jewelry all together in a box. Store your treasures neatly in a jewelry box or wrapped in soft cloth; diamonds and gems can easily scratch the metal in your rings, bangles, and necklaces. Different gems and metals require different care; read all about your favorite gems and how to clean them here. If you're nervous on how to properly clean jewelry at home, take it to a pro.


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Buying jewelry gets expensive, especially if you have expensive tastes like I do. I don't tend to buy costume jewelry, but instead I prefer real gold and silver jewelry. I also enjoy the beauty of real gemstones as opposed to glass and synthetics. Making your own jewelry is fun, but before I found out about snaptite castings I didn't care for the jewelry I could make. Some people like that artsy look to their jewelry, but I prefer classic beauty. I want my jewelry to look professionally made. Even if I didn't pay a lot for a piece, I want it to look nice. I want my jewelry to be of real silver and gold, not some mystery metal. Perhaps most importantly, if I'm making jewelry myself, I want it to be easy to make. Using snaptite castings and faceted gemstones, anyone can easily make quality jewelry.

What is a Snaptite Casting?
A snaptite casting is a casting that is pre-set to fit a standard sized gemstone (often referred to as a calibrated gemstone). The snaptite casting is able to fit around a gemstone easily and securely once snapped into place. Don't be confused by pre-notched castings. Pre-notched castings are not the same as snaptite castings. Pre-notched castings require more skill to use as they do not just snap into place. You will need pliers to bend the prongs of a pre-notched casting into place, but you likely won't need pliers at all for a snaptite casting. Snaptite castings generally come in gold and silver, but if you're not into using quality metal you can often find them in goldtone and silvertone as well.

Faceted Gemstones
Faceted gemstones are gemstones that have already been cut. When you go into a department store's jewelry department, most of the gemstones you will see are faceted. Common shapes include: rounds, ovals, emerald cuts, hearts, and princess cuts (square). You can easily find faceted gemstones for sale online. Generally, faceted gemstones will be available for sale as either a single gemstone, a matched pair, a parcel of only a specific type of gemstone, or a mixed parcel. Prices vary, but generally buying a mixed faceted parcel will be cheapest. You can buy genuine gemstones, lab created versions of genuine gemstones, or cubic zirconia (and other man-made gemstones). Once you know what gemstones you have and what the sizes are, you'll be able to buy castings for them.
Making Jewelry

To get started, first you'll need to have your gemstones and castings ready. If you bought a parcel of gemstones that haven't been measured, you'll need to measure their sizes in millimeters. Then you'll search for the castings in the sizes you want. Common calibrated sizes include: 5x3mm ovals, 6x4mm ovals and emeralds, 7x5mm ovals and emeralds, 8x10mm ovals, 5mm rounds, 6mm rounds, 6mm hearts, and many more.

Just browse through any website that sells gemstones to see sizes that are commonly offered. Generally, the most common sizes sold are also going to be the easiest sizes to find castings for. Once you have your gemstones and castings, you're ready to start making jewelry. Simply lay the stone on a flat surface, table side down. Gently push the snaptite casting down over the stone. The casting will actually snap into place. At this point, take your 10x magnification jeweler's loupe and check that the prongs are holding the gemstone securely. If any of the prongs are out of place, you can make minor adjustments with a pair of pliers. Just push the prongs of opposite sides together at the same time until you have achieved your desired result.

Making jewelry with snaptite castings and faceted gemstones is easy and affordable. You'll pay a fraction of the price, yet the work you do in putting your pieces together is extremely minimal. You'll be making real jewelry of quality that you can wear yourself or give away as gifts. You could even sell the jewelry you put together. Your jewelry will look professional and bring you joy for many years to come.


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The fact is, most gemstones used in jewelry have been treated to improve their appearance. That's not necessarily a negative, because treated gemstones can be a good choice -- they should be more affordable than untreated stones that achieve the same quality naturally. Are you familiar with common gemstone treatments? Do a little background reading before you buy -- some treatments are permanent, but others are not.
A few methods commonly used to enhance gemstones:

• Heat and radiation are often used to change or enhance gemstone colors.
• Diffusion is used to deepen a gem's color, but it only intensifies a gemstone's outer layers.
• Oil and waxes make a gem appear more richly colored -- the coatings fill-in fine surface cracks, blending them away temporarily.
• Fracture filling coats gems with a clear or colored epoxy resin or another substance. The treatment fills-in cracks, which improves the appearance of the gemstone, and is more durable than oils.
• Laser drilling removes inclusions, improving clarity.

If any form of the word enhanced is used in jewelry ads or disclosures, the gem has been treated in some way.

Are Gemstone Treatments Permanent?

Some treatments are permanent, but others are not. Heat treatments can go either way, because they create permanent color changes in some gems and temporary changes in others. Always ask if the jewelry you are interested in purchasing contains treated gemstones. If it does, ask which treatments were used and if those treatments are guaranteed to be permanent.

More About Colored Gemstones

Many of today's gemstones are synthetic -- created in a laboratory. They match the configuration of natural gems, but are usually more 'perfect.' Lab created gems can be a good option if the price is right and their origins are disclosed. Get the facts about synthetic gemstones.


Article Source ----- http://jewelry.about.com/cs/enhancements/a/gem_treatments.htm

Distinguishing a real gemstone from a synthetic one is a skill which every individual should learn. Gems are expensive and the last thing you want is to pay a great deal of money for a piece of jewelry which isn't real. In order to help you determine whether or not a gemstone is real, we have compiled a list of techniques you can use to determine whether a gem is real or synthetic.

The difference between synthetic and real gemstones is very difficult to distinguish just by looking at one. A real gemstone is natural which means it's subject to flaws because of the wear and tear it experiences in the outdoors.

A synthetic gemstone is created in a laboratory and therefore appears to be flawless. Moissanite –a lab-created diamond substitute – is one of the most popular diamond substitutes because its hardness and thermal conductivity are quite similar to diamonds and almost perfectly formed. This is one of the easiest ways to distinguish a real from a synthetic gemstone.

Although you would think it would be the other way around, a real gemstone will not look perfect and is likely to have scratches, dents or other flaws. These flaws make each gem unique to one another.

Another way to determine whether a gem is real or fake is by the weight of the stone. Synthetic gemstones often weigh more than real ones. Synthetic gems are denser than their counterpart and when held in the hand, you can feel the weight difference between the two types of stones.

In rare instances you can tell a real stone from a fake because synthetic gemstones tend to sparkle more than real ones. Real stones have been worn through weather and other forms of nature and for this reason do not sparkle as naturally as their synthetic counterpart.

Perhaps the most notable difference between synthetic and real gemstones is the price. Synthetic stones are moderately priced because they are not as rare as real gemstones. They are made in a laboratory and therefore can be mass produced for very little money. Real gems are rare and for this reason are very expensive because there is a limited amount of natural gemstones available. If the price of a piece of gemstone jewelry seems too good to be true, it probably is. It is impossible to sell a real gem for a considerably low price, so don't be fooled into thinking you're getting a deal because you probably aren't.

It is important to ensure that the gems you are buying are genuine and authentic. When spending such a great deal of money you want to make sure you are getting what you pay for. When it comes to gemstones, the higher the price, the higher quality of gemstone you receive.


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Aquamarine is a popular and affordable gemstone. It is a member of the beryl family, and gets its blue tint from traces of iron in chemical composition. Unlike its cousin, the emerald, this beryl-based stone is highly resistant to inclusions and relatively easy to mine, making it fairly common and much less expensive. If you want to buy aquamarine gemstones, you must learn how to spot a high quality stone. You should also shop smart by setting a budget and avoiding untrustworthy sellers.

Steps

1) Look for a flawless or near flawless aquamarine for nicer jewelry. By nature, aquamarine is one of the cleanest gemstones available. Major inclusions are rare and often a sign of mistreatment. A quality aquamarine should not have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, and any inclusions that are visible through magnification should be slight and interior.

2) Consider an aquamarine with more noticeable inclusions if using the stone for beads or casual pieces. Even though aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, it can still get damaged if worn frequently or if it strikes a hard surface. If you expect a piece of jewelry to get roughed up, save money by purchasing an aquamarine with interior inclusions that are noticeable to the naked eye. Avoid surface inclusions, however, since these may make your stone more likely to chip or break upon being struck.

3) Decide on the right hue. Stones rich in blue are typically more valuable than green hues, but most blue-green hues are more valuable than borderline-clear stones. Ultimately, however, the right hue is a matter of personal preference.

4) Pick an appropriate intensity. Deep sky blue stones are the most valuable and, in general, darker shades are more coveted than light shades. Darker shades are rarer, and they also have a more vivid color than pale shades. This, too, is mostly a matter of personal preference, however.

5) Determine the carat weight you want.
Small aquamarines look nice in delicate pieces, but large aquamarines can make a striking statement.
Since aquamarine is fairly common, you can usually find large carat stones for affordable prices. For most gemstones, the price per carat rises considerably with more carats, but the price per carat for a 30 carat aquamarine is only a third higher than the price per carat of a 1 carat aquamarine.

6) Choose the high-quality cut. The cut of any gemstone determines its brilliance, or the way it reflects light. Well-cut aquamarines are highly reflective. Hold the stone up to the light and turn it to examine how the light strikes it from various angles.

7) Pick out a shape. Aquamarines are fairly easy to cut and resistant to fractures, which allows jewelers to offer the gemstone in a vast variety of shapes. Traditional shapes include round, pear, oval, square, and emerald, but many vanity and modern shapes are also available. Choose a shape that appeals to your sense of taste.

8) Ask about heat treatment. Heat treatment is a widely accepted practice used to enhance the blueness of a stone. Yellow-brown and yellow-green stones are heated to a temperature between 400 and 450 degrees Celsius, or 752 and 842 degrees Fahrenheit. This treatment is permanent and does not damage the stone.


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The creation of gemstone jewelry dates back thousands of years to ancient stories found in the Bible and elsewhere. Most scholars agree that the stories and myths behind this form of jewelry can be traced to the story of the "Breastplate of Aaron," which was a ceremonial and spiritual garment that was inlaid with twelve natural gemstones. It's believed that each of these gemstones represented the twelve tribes of Israel from the Old Testament and are associated with the Twelve Apostles.

In modern times, the belief that the twelve gemstones present on the Breastplate of Aaron was extended to include additional meaning. The practice of assigning meaning to stones was probably associated to astrological practices and the custom of wearing gemstones as in birthstone jewelry was first seen in 15th century Poland. In the early 1900s the connection of specific stones to birth months was formalized in the United States; although criticized by gemstone purists as a commercially motivated effort, people from across the world now embrace the concept of birthstones and the ability to place deeper meaning in the gemstone jewelry that they wear.

As you search for gemstone jewelry, the folklore and myths associated with each gemstone offer greater interest and enjoyment. While it may require some homework, identifying the characteristics and meaning of each gemstone will give your jewelry more meaning. Some sample meanings include prosperity, luck, serenity and more. In addition, gemstones are considered by many to possess a variety of healing qualities and personality traits. Regardless of your beliefs, gemstones and the jewelry in which they are featured have a long and interesting history.


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Gemstone jewelry is no doubt one of the most sought after jewelry online and you will no doubt have considered getting yourself or an acquaintance something based on it. However there are a few things to keep in mind before you buy gemstone jewelry. This includes what gemstone jewelry entails and what your options are. Gemstones, as stated before come in many colors and flavors and you should learn as much as you can before you make your purchase. These include natural gemstones, synthetic gemstones, imitation gems and composite stones.

Natural Gemstones
These are usually what people are looking for. Natural gemstones are nature's gift to man and are mined from the Earth. While most people will think that just because a gemstone is natural it will be more expensive, this is usually not the case. Gemstones are priced according to desirability, quality and availability. Certain natural gemstones are a lot cheaper than others precisely because they are more abundantly available. A gemstone's quality is usually determined by how many inclusions it has, its color and brilliance.
Natural gemstones are also often treated to enhance their natural beauty. For instance heat and radiation can affect the color of a gemstone. Jewelers also use oils and wax to fill inclusions within a gemstone (used a lot in emeralds and rubies). Diffusion can also help deepen the color of a gemstone. Treated gemstones are a good choice to go by if you are on a budget. Recently there has been a debate regarding the nomenclature used in such conditions. Many jewelry and gemstone experts have cited that calling a gemstone as treated and untreated is wrong and misleading as almost all gemstones are treated to a degree.

Synthetic gemstones
These resemble a natural gemstone in chemical properties, physical looks and color, the only difference is that these are produced artificially in a lab. While they have been around for a long time modern technical breakthroughs are making it easier to grow gems such as diamonds and harder for instruments and experienced experts to detect them. Not to mention these are also significantly cheaper. For instance Moissanite is a diamond substitute which is even fooling gem professionals.

Imitation gemstones
These are usually glass or plastic and are made to resemble a natural gem only in appearance. These can also be very easily detected. In the price hierarchy these are usually the cheapest.

Composite Stones
Composite stones are made as doublets where the larger chunk is utilized from glass which is then coated with a thin film of the real gemstone which it is trying to imitate. In order to blend the stone and the glass, a color bonding agent is used. These stones cannot be told from a real gemstone with the naked eye, however an expert with a jeweler's loupe can tell the difference.
So there you have it; gemstones have a ton of options to choose from ranging from the pure and natural to the artificial. The idea here is to appeal to as many budgets as possible. Keep these things in mind when you buy jewelry online.