Gemology science

The science of gemology is i concerned with investigating and establishing facts about gems and gemstones. Somehow, because gems usually are objects of monetary value, it is often difficult to think of them in scientific terms. Questions about where they come from, what they are made of, and how they can be distinguished from one another usually take second place to questions about their value. However, these other questions must be answered first, before decisions can be made about value. For example, the market values of look-alike quartz and topaz differ greatly. Proper identification of a suspected topaz is crucial before a relative price can be assigned to it. Aside from pricing problems, other kinds of serious mistakes can be made because of faulty identification. Two of the more famous rubies in the world, the Black Prince's Ruby and the Timur Ruby, are not rubies at all, but spinel. Even so, they are extremely important stones because of their historic past and their prominence, among the British crown jewels. The science of gemology is quite different from the lapidary art, which deals with techniques for cutting, polishing, and generally shaping gemstones for ornamental use by themselves or in jewelry. Cutters and carvers and craftsmen through the centuries have refined the techniques and equipment for gem cutting. Lapidary work has become a joint venture for artist and craftsman, and it leans heavily on the science of gemology. Certainly, a lapidary must know how his gemstone is going to behave and how to turn its characteristics to advantage before he begins to work on it.

To most people who talk about gemology and about gems in general it becomes obvious that, through careless usage, some of the basic vocabulary has become confused. To set the record straight, "gemstones" are the specially treasured minerals found in the earth and "gems" are the objects fashioned from them. "Jewels" are gems that have been prepared for mounting in jewelry or other objects of art. Remember gems are used also for Wedding Bands, Wedding Jewelry

Why are only certain natural mineral samples specially treasured as gemstones? Because gems can be cut from them that have at least some of the qualifying characteristics: brilliance, beauty, durability, rarity, and portability. If the gem also happens to be "fashionable" it acquires status. Partial qualification is more often the rule, because seldom does a gem have a large measure of all these attributes.