September 21, 2009
What is Moissanite?
Randy just heard about moissanite and asked to know more about it.
Moissanite is a lab created gemstone. It is made in the laboratory from carbon and silicon using heat and pressure.
It is commonly used as a diamond simulant, meaning that it is a diamond substitute but is not a diamond. It may be the simulant that looks the closest to a diamond.
It is carbon based like a diamond and its thermal conductivity is similar to a diamond. It will fool conventional thermal diamond testers and will register as a diamond. You would need a moissanite tester to confirm that it is not a diamond.
It has a refractive index is also similar to a diamonds and will appear as brilliant. Unlike a diamond it is double refractive whereas a diamond is single refractive. A moissanite has more “fire” (dispersion) than a diamond. It also appears a little darker in the J-L color range with a tinge of yellow to green.
It has a hardness of 9.5 on the Mohs scale so it it very durable. Diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs scale.
As a lab created gemstone it is not a diamond and is therefore not as valuable as a diamond. It is approximately one-twentieth the value of diamonds.
Moissanites because its properties are similar to a diamond it can be considered a “fabulous fake” and it may be just the right fit for some people.
Russell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
September 15, 2009
Sapphires, Aren’t They Blue?
Sara recently commented when she came in recently that a friend had told her she just bought a pink sapphire. But isn’t a sapphire blue she exclaimed.
Actually sapphires come in blue, pink, purple, orange, yellow, green, gray, black and even clear colors. There are even some sapphires that appear to have one color in natural outdoor lighting and a different color in artificial lighting.
Rubies and sapphires are made of the same mineral, called corundum. When a piece of corundum is red then it is called a ruby. All the other colors of corundum are called sapphires.
Sapphires that are pink-orange are known as padparadscha.
The range of colors of sapphires make for an interesting choice especially for those born in September for which sapphire is the birthstone of that month.
Rusell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
July 17, 2009
The Fragileness of Invisible Set Round Diamonds
Susan approached us with a repair job. One of the side diamonds on her tanzanite ring was missing and she needed to have it replaced.
When we examined it closely we noticed that it was an invisible set round diamond that was missing. It is called invisible set because the diamond appears to be floating with no apparent appendages like prongs to hold it in place.
While this is aesthetically interesting and pleasing to look at it is not the most practical way to set a diamond. To set it tiny grooves are cut under the girdle of the diamond. The metal is then pushed into these grooves to secure it in place.
The problem occurs when it is worn and banged around a little, these tiny grooves are not deep enough to hold it very securely and many of them eventually fall out.
For Susan we are going to remove the diamonds and bezel set them. Bezel setting is one of the most secure ways of setting a diamond that will also still look similar in appearance to the invisi
ble set style using the same tube structure.
Russell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
June 17, 2009
A Very Valuable Jade Ring
Jade is difficult to evaluate because there are so many enhancement techniques, such as dyeing, and resin filling, not to mention that there are hundreds of simulants, stones that look like jade but are not jade.
Based on this knowledge it was interesting when Nicole came in with a jade ring to ask what it may be worth. She said that she was planning to give it to a friend and wanted to know what she was giving.
The ring was inherited from her grandmother and she thought it was ugly. The jade was about 3/4″ in length and a 1/4″ in width. It was rectangular in shape and shaped with a ridge going across the top. It was not a very nice looking shape.
The ring was in 14K white gold old-fashioned design. Also not very pretty.
The color of the jade on the other hand looked fantastic. It was a beautiful apple green color and shiny as hard candy.
We told her that by the look of the jade she may want to reconsider giving it away for the jade may be worth a lot. We suggested she get an appraisal for confirmation from a gemologist.
She took our advice and had an appraisal done. What she found out astounded her. The jade, it appears, would be valued between $10,000 to $20,000, depending on the whether it was sold in the West or the East because orientals would place a different value on it than westerners.
Needless to say she kept the ring.
Russell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
June 14, 2009
Unfortunately A Synthetic Ruby Is Not as Valuable
Jennifer brought in a 2 carat ruby ring she had inherited from her grandmother. It was purchased in the forties and she wanted to know how much it was worth. The ring was in 14k white gold and the ruby was a beautiful red color.
We had explained to her that she may have a very valuable piece if it was genuine. She said she knew it was a ruby so she asked how much was it worth.
We told her that it could be a synthetic ruby is a real ruby that is created in a laboratory. The technology to created synthetic gemstones was already known in the thirties and just because the ring was old did not mean that the ruby she had was genuine.
A genuine nature created ruby has straight striations, much like the rings of a tree when it is formed. A synthetic ruby is grown so quickly that the striations are curved.
All we had to do was examine the ruby under the microscope to determine whether it was genuine or synthetic. Unfortunately much to her disappointment curved striations were evident. She had a beautiful synthetic ruby, nice but not nearly as valuable as a genuine one.
Russell Oshita
The Diamond Specialists Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
June 12, 2009
Pendant Enhancers Offers Flexibility
Susie wanted to wear her ruby pendant with her pearl necklace and as a standard pendant on a chain without making either one looking out of place.
Fortunately there is a pendant enhancer that opens up to fit between pearls when mounted on the necklace. It will also fit on a regular chain to wear as a normal pendant.
The pendant enhancers are wonderful accessories that allows the flexiblity of being used for different purposes and looks. They help bridge the best of both worlds.
Russell Oshita
The Diamond Specialists Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
May 27, 2009
Synthetic Gemstones
Every now and then someone asks about synthetic gemstones and wonders if they are real or fake.
Synthetic gemstones are real gemstones that are created in a laboratory. There are synthetic rubies, emeralds, sapphires, alexandrites, and several others. All are real just man-made. As such these are produces in a relatively short time and in indefinite amounts that the value is much lower than the limited amounts of the rare natural gemstones that are found in the earth.
You should not be confused with stimulant gemstones that are mostly colored glass or other materials that may look like a ruby, sapphire, emerald or one of the real gemstones.
Russell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists, Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
May 12, 2009
Valuing Tahitian Pearls
Yesterday June came into our store to ask us if the strand of Tahitian pearls she bought was a good value. She did not bring it with her but proceeded to describe it as 9 to 11 mm and 17″ long.
We told her that with pearls we would have to see it to determine the quality and in turn that will determine its value.
Tahitian Pearl value is determined by the size, shape, roundness, smoothness, luster and the thickness of the nacre. Color will vary from silver to jet black but color does not affect its value as much.
Cultured Tahitian pearls are usually left in the oyster for three years. Within these three years the nacre is built up to 4 mm. Because of the length of time it allows for deformations and blemishes to form. If a smooth, round, lusterous pearl is found in the oyster it will have a very high value.
There are pearls that are taken out of the oyster sooner than three years. They are left in the oyster only 6 months to a year and then removed. These will not have a very thick nacre, and the luster is usually not as good. Since the seed for the pearl is not left in it very long the pearl will not have many blemishes or deformations. It may look like a high quality pearl because of the lack of blemishes and is round but its value will not be high. They are sometimes referred to as “young pearls”.
For June we cannot determine whether she got a good price or not until we have a chance to physically inspect her necklace.
Russell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists, Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
April 24, 2009
Caring For Your Pearls
Several people have asked about the care and cleaning of pearls and we thought you may also be interested in knowing. As an organic gemstone, pearls are not as durable as most of the other gemstones and requires a little extra attention.
To clean a pearl you just need to wipe it using a damp cloth with a mild soap not detergent and follow it with just a clean damp cloth. Cleaning should be done a couple of times a month more often if it is worn a lot, less if it is not.
Restringing should be done every 2-5 years depending of amount of use. Knotting between each pearl on a necklace will reduce loss of the pearls if it breaks.
Pearls should be put on last after make up, perfume, hair spray. The accumulation of these products will reduce its luster.
It should be stored in a soft pouch or bag where it will not be scratched by other jewelry. It should not be stored in a really dry place. Pearls appreciate some moisture.
Pearls are perhaps happiest on your neck where it is warm and the natural body oils will help to maintain its luster.
By following this procedure you will enjoy your pearls for many years to come.
Russell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists, Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
