[Jewelry making - Article 00558] - Re: [Orchid] Blurring of Lines

[Gerry]

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    All, A gemstone has three qualities which make it a gemstone.  #1 is
    rarity, #2 is color,clarity, and size, # 3 is durability.  That is
    the accepted definition of a gemstone by anyone who deals in
    valuable stones.  With the flood of gemstone dealers and jewelry
    marketers that has hit the market in the USA since 1980 the word
    gemstone has been made an irrelivant term.  The word means nothing to
    anyone accept one.  Appraisers are still forced to make choices and
    assign value to stones and jewelry. That is the point where value is
    assigned as to the actual stones and metal. Appraisers have for a
    long time assigned very little value to the actual cut of a
    gemstone. To me that is like saying that the metal work should only
    be evaluated by the weight and identity of the metal. That is
    changing as more appraisers are adding value to the stone because of
    the cut and giving a more realistic evaluation to the the total
    piece. Appraisers must constantly walk the line of value of materials
    and value of the artistic expression and skill used to make the
    piece. 

    Another line is being blurred by science and unlocking the mystery of
    how gemstones form.  In the berillium diffusion of sapphire a whole
    new era of gemstone knowledge will evolve that will further blur the
    lines.  Berillium is a mineral not found in natural sapphire, but
    just a small amount of berillium diffused into the crystal lattice of
    a sapphire drastically changes the color.  What do we call a natural
    stone that is changed by a man induced substance not found in the
    natural stone?  Is this a natural synthetic? Because we have added
    something like a goldsmith adds elements to gold - Have we created an
    alloy of sapphire? I do not know the answer. But, I do know that the
    people treating gemstones will not stop and they will unlock the
    mysteries of formation, color, and improvement of all stones.  They
    cannot be stopped. We are at the begining of a very exciting time in
    stones. CZ's will never be gemstones to me as I remain locked and
    close minded in my own description of gemstones.   Gemstones and 
    jewelry have value which lasts for generations when combined with
    exceptional cutting and metalsmithing.  That's what makes gemstrones
    and fine jewelry. 

    Gerry Galarneau, in cooling off Arizona where many stones are being
    cut in preparation for the Tucson February show.  Jaspers, agates,
    beryl, tourmaline, rhodochrosite,  etc...  Feel the love.


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