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The treatment and enhancement of gemstones has existed for centuries. Some enhancements improve on nature slightly, are undetectable, and they are permanent; this provides the gem market with a larger supply of beautiful gemstones. Other treatments produce dramatic changes in the gemstone; the irradiation and heating of colorless topaz that permanently transforms it into blue topaz is an excellent example. A few treatments are less stable and should be avoided by the knowledgeable buyer..... (1999) Complete Story
Topaz is a gem that is very often eye clean, so stones with good clarity are available. The red color can be a strawberry hue: these are quite hard to find and will command the highest price. Deep pinks can be exceptionally beautiful. Pink topaz is mined in Pakistan. Pink stones are also available from Brazil; but most of these stones have been heated from orange material. It will not be easy to find the red and deep pink colors; if the color is intense, expect to pay an expensive price per carat. Pastel pinks are also available. These rarer topaz colors generally are found in stones under ten carat sizes.... (1999) Complete Story
The most common tourmaline colors are greens and pinks. Yellow and violet tourmalines are relatively rare. Tourmaline that falls into the distinctive red colors is called rubellite. Blue colors are called indicolite. Chrome tourmaline is a green variety that is found in Tanzania: in its best qualities it can resemble fine emeralds. Stones with two or more distinctive colors are called bi-color, tri-color or parti-color tourmaline. If the stone is green with pink in concentric bands it is called watermelon tourmaline.... (1999) Complete Story
Turquoise has a long history as a gemstone. It was one of the favorites of the ancient Egyptians. Its name was derived from the word "Turkish", which referred to the ancient source of turquoise in present day Iran. Turquoise will vary in color from pale to medium in any possible combination from sky blue to green. Turquoise may contain visible matrix or webbing. Each source has its favorite color. If you are in Nevada they may charge more for a blue piece with a complex pattern of black lines called spiderweb, in Colorado they may revere the green stuff. The turquoise that commands the highest price per carat on the world market is called Persian turquoise: it is a medium blue color without green secondary colors and has no visible matrix, lines, or other type of flaws in it. At this point fine turquoise is called "Persian quality" meaning it may really come from Arizona but it resembles the fine turquoise that was once mined in Persia, now Iran....
(1999) Complete Story
Each gemstone species has unique properties; the informed buyer can save time when he knows what is feasible and what is not. Specific prices will not be listed in this book for two reasons: price lists can be very misleading if you do not truly understand the quality of stone described. There is no standard shorthand for evaluating the quality of most gemstones and prices can vary significantly with slight nuances in color which are impossible to quantify. The gemstone market can also fluctuate rapidly at times. General price indications will be given in retail prices per.... (1999) Complete Story
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