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Chess Tables
Where design meets functionality A well made chess table isn't going to make you a better chess player but it is going to bring a level of class to both your game, and the room that it resides in, that no ordinary chess board can match. More than...
Hand-Crocheted Baby Booties And Sweater
There's very little in this world that's more rewarding than dressing your baby in a special sweater, bunting - or even booties - that you've crocheted yourself. Crochet is one of the easiest of the clothing crafts to learn. Even if you've never...
How to Make a Winter Crafts Snow Globe
Snow globes are great for any occasion or holiday, simply by changing what you use to create your scene. Just let your imagination run wild!
For example, make a harvest scene for Thanksgiving, a ghostly haunted house for Halloween, a red...
Toys For Kids : A Guide To Buying Age-Appropriate Toys
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Wedding Save the Date Cards—Best Ideas and Wording
The sole purpose of save-the-date cards is to give the people you intend to invite to your wedding plenty of advance notice. If, for example, you are planning to marry during the holiday season or a holiday weekend, you’ll want your guests to...
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Precious Stones V.S. Semi-Precious Stones
Stones have been worn by both women and men since prehistoric times. Just as in the jewelry of modern times, beautiful stones, rare and colorful, are most often the dominant feature of a piece with a metallic setting for ornamentation.
The stones used in the crafting of fine jewelry are generally divided into two classes- precious stones and semi-precious stones.
These terms are used heavily in the commercial world of jewelry when considering variety and value. While artistic merits are only a matter of opinion, the value of a stone is what it will bring in the marketplace. It should also be mentioned that many people, collectors and general consumers alike, prefer the rare to the beautiful.
These stones are simply rocks (minerals) taken from the earth, and after they have been enhanced by the artisans cutting and polishing, the finest and rarest of them are what we call gems.
Precious Stones
The most precious stones are the diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. The pearl is oftentimes classed with precious stones. Although strictly speaking while it is not a stone it holds an esteemed place in jewelry.
Semi-Precious Stones
A large number of stones used in jewelry are known
as semi-precious; the most important ones are as follow: amethyst, lapis-lazuli, turquoise, aquamarine, topaz, moonstone, peridot, opal, tourmaline, zircon, chrysoberyl, alexandrite. Others of less importance although much used are: chrysoprase, jade, garnet, agate, azurite, malachite, bloodstone, coral, carnelian and many others. These stones while comparatively common and inexpensive are indispensable to the worker in jewelry. The variety of colors to be had in these stones make it possible to produce unusual designs of artistic merit and to adapt them to the personality and costume of the wearer. For more detailed information regarding gem stones the reader is referred to “Gem Stones” by G.F. Herbert Smith, also “The Curious Lore of Precious Stones,” by George Frederick Kunz.
About the Author
The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.
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