tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34168651711255279772024-02-07T20:04:56.177-08:00ON LINE NEWSSERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-68673901297366023132010-04-14T19:37:00.000-07:002010-04-14T19:46:27.521-07:0059 Mobil dan 6 Motor Dibakar, Peralatan Kantor Dijarah<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqHVtC93r_0982qn_JnB34ApoCRdh0uR1QDA5U839l7zYE8H6ShpUZx1jiKokOd_ZW5Jk9DqNV8dDnNKHafX1EFnJZVmJOzpJqGc9noq8vS58YL1HF-h2a9aKSxjModOZT_vcfBRlbZU/s1600/Bangkai-mobil-(Amel)-dalam.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqHVtC93r_0982qn_JnB34ApoCRdh0uR1QDA5U839l7zYE8H6ShpUZx1jiKokOd_ZW5Jk9DqNV8dDnNKHafX1EFnJZVmJOzpJqGc9noq8vS58YL1HF-h2a9aKSxjModOZT_vcfBRlbZU/s400/Bangkai-mobil-(Amel)-dalam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460189802060457922" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);font-size:78%;" >Massa merusak kendaraan milik aparat saat bentrokan dengan Satpol PP yang berupaya membongkar kompleks makam Mbah Priuk di Koja, Jakarta Utara, Rabu (14/4/2010). Bentrokan mengakibatkan sedikitnya seratus orang terluka dan belasan kendaraan roda dua dan empat dibakar massa. KOMPAS IMAGES/DHONI SETIAWAN </span><p><strong>JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com </strong>— Insiden Koja membawa kerugian besar bagi banyak pihak. Data terakhir, sedikitnya 59 mobil dan belasan motor dibakar massa setelah bentrok dengan petugas Satpol PP dan kepolisian di area makam Mbah Priok, Koja, Jakarta Utara, Rabu (14/4/2010).<br /><br />Mobil yang dibakar terdiri dari 36 mobil <em>pick up milik </em>Satpol PP, tiga truk ukuran tiga perempat milik Satpol PP, dua truk <em>back hoe</em>, dua kontainer pengangkut <em>back hoe</em>, satu mobil derek, dua bus ukuran besar milik kepolisian, dua bus kepolisian ukuran tiga perempat, tujuh truk kepolisian ukuran tiga perempat, satu mobil <em>water cannon</em> kepolisian, dan satu mobil pribadi.<br /><br />Selain itu, juga sekitar enam sepeda motor dirusak dan dibakar massa, dua di antaranya milik wartawan. Hasil pantauan <em>Tribunnews.com</em>, sampai saat ini bangkai mobil dan motor tersebut masih berada di lokasi kejadian.<br /><br />Seusai perusakan dan pembakaran, tak ada seorang anggota polisi yang menjaga keamanan di lokasi kejadian. Hal ini membuat ratusan orang tak dikenal dengan bebas memereteli dan menjarah komponen mobil yang masih bisa berfungsi.</p><p>Misalnya, <em>radio tape</em>, sasis, ban, dan velg. Bahkan, massa yang tak dikenal itu mulai merangsek melakukan penjarahan di depan kantor manajemen Terminal Peti Kemas Koja. Selain merusak mess petugas keamanan, massa juga menjarah peralatan di kantor tersebut.</p>Di antaranya 6 unit komputer, puluhan lemari loker, kulkas, dispenser, televisi, dan AC. Hingga saat ini aksi penjarahan berlangsung. "Sepertinya mereka bukan warga sini. Komputer yang di kantor habis semua diambil massa. Ada juga uang yang hilang, enggak tahu berapa," ujar petugas keamanan, Afrizal.SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-59258023670737774912010-04-06T23:23:00.000-07:002010-04-06T23:24:38.590-07:00Ada Darah Babi di Filter Rokok, Kuatkan Fatwa Haramnya Rokok<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZdiGkVnZelT6YvUsXa9O0OlMRg0LLiWXittwPDs1tIuJb9Srmq_lXQTv_bOzlQQR3T64dufYSfvYoDG3QDyAqwye4jhZhEZyJ9sVwDN4arh_w0ck2pQ0_6aNJg-08F8nneEIeWJZWl4/s1600/rokok1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZdiGkVnZelT6YvUsXa9O0OlMRg0LLiWXittwPDs1tIuJb9Srmq_lXQTv_bOzlQQR3T64dufYSfvYoDG3QDyAqwye4jhZhEZyJ9sVwDN4arh_w0ck2pQ0_6aNJg-08F8nneEIeWJZWl4/s320/rokok1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457277614830192002" border="0" /></a>Seorang peneliti di Australia melansir penelitian mengenai rokok yang diduga mengandung darah babi. Kandungan babi yang diharamkan umat Islam ini ditemukan di filter rokok.<br /><br />Profesor di bidang Kesehatan Publik, Universitas Sydney, Simon Chapman, menunjuk pada riset terbaru yang mengidentifikasi 185 penggunaan bagian dari babi, termasuk dalam pembuatan filter rokok. Penemuan ini, kata Chapman kepada News.com.au, bisa berdampak pada kelompok Islam dan Yahudi.<br /><a name="more"></a><br />"Komunitas Yahudi jelas akan menilai masalah ini sangat serius dan komunitas Islam akan menilainya sangat mengganggu," kata Chapman, Rabu 31 Maret 2010.<br /><br />Penemuan ini, kata Chapman, membuka bobrok industri rokok yang tidak diwajibkan mencantumkan komposisi dalam rokok. "Mereka mengatakan, "ini bisnis kami dan sebuah rahasia dagang"."<br /><br />Darah babi ini, kata Chapman, setidaknya ditemukan di satu mereka rokok dijual di Yunani. Darah babi dipastikan dipakai dalam pembuatan rokoknya.<br /><br />Sebuah riset di Belanda menemukan darah babi ini dipakai untuk membuat filter lebih efektif menangkap kimia berbahaya sebelum asap masuk ke tenggorokan. Artinya, temuan ini jelas tak berlaku untuk rokok yang tidak menggunakan filterSERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-6488678421976103952010-04-06T23:20:00.000-07:002010-04-06T23:22:33.531-07:00Filter Rokok Mengandung Protein Babi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0FbIPPm7QBquie2BBwONH2pcufHz-sWvONO7pC5SKlqiplhzUSV69bSKLE9gdYTX59UWXrXb5yBrebqX0Wm9HFsrJ_cfMpnTUf7PDPbraGiGYZ_WiCcfO-RVJzFIAM52wNSF25I0YFo/s1600/rokok.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0FbIPPm7QBquie2BBwONH2pcufHz-sWvONO7pC5SKlqiplhzUSV69bSKLE9gdYTX59UWXrXb5yBrebqX0Wm9HFsrJ_cfMpnTUf7PDPbraGiGYZ_WiCcfO-RVJzFIAM52wNSF25I0YFo/s320/rokok.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457276945024077666" border="0" /></a>Liputan6.com, Sidney: Kabar mengejutkan datang dari penelitian tentang rokok. Ternyata, filter rokok mengandung hemoglobin atau protein darah babi! Benarkah <p>Fakta itu terungkap dari hasil riset peneliti dari Eindhoven, Belanda, Christien Meinderstma, bersama Profesor Kesehatan Masyarakat dari University Of Sidney, Simon Chapman. dalam riset yang diterbitkan sebuah portal berita dari Australia itu disebutkan, filter rokok dimaksudkan untuk menangkap bahan kimia berbahaya.</p> <p>Menurut kedua peneliti, riset itu merupakan bagian dari rahasia bisnis dan dagang. Hal itu, kata meraka, dimaksudkan untuk meningkatkan kepedulian umat Islam dan Yahudi yang mengharamkan babi.</p> <p>Sementara ini, Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) belum mengetahui berita tersebut. Namun jika penelitian itu benar, maka MUI tidak segan-segan untuk memutuskan fatwa haram. MUI juga akan meminta BP POM untuk melakukan penelitian atas temuan itu.</p> <p>Sebelumnya, persoalan hukum merokok sempat menjadi polemik. Terutama, setelah Muhammadiyah mengeluarkan fatwa yang mengharamkan merokok. Bahkan, Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakarta melarang warganya merokok di tempat umum. Meski demikian, minat orang untuk merokok tetap tinggi.</p> Akankah hasil riset terbaru itu berpengaruhSERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-71619610142767970352010-03-30T21:47:00.000-07:002010-03-30T21:52:02.584-07:00Mandarin garnet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunoe0OTCIoIyg9i8sKTJ1N2DiKffH3m367aHAVq5eJq5XB4XPDMqu0TC6R_pHYfWWfWzWe0xHcRLxZz9R9DkpoBO9ahVwls16Qsu5ISyK8_8tVUPbHLh1Iln8YrD6TZhyvp5tVAJ-suM/s1600/Mandarin+Garnet-011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunoe0OTCIoIyg9i8sKTJ1N2DiKffH3m367aHAVq5eJq5XB4XPDMqu0TC6R_pHYfWWfWzWe0xHcRLxZz9R9DkpoBO9ahVwls16Qsu5ISyK8_8tVUPbHLh1Iln8YrD6TZhyvp5tVAJ-suM/s400/Mandarin+Garnet-011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454655748822351554" border="0" /></a><br /><b><br /> <br /> </b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Like fiery comets against the evening sky, the first mandarin garnets appeared in the gemstone trade a little over ten years ago. Specialists and gemstone lovers all agreed: the magnificent colours and high brilliance of these orange-red treasures are unique. So what kind of gemstones are they, and where do they come from?</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> Close your eyes and dream a little: Africa. In the north-west of Namibia, the evening sky glows orange-red over quiet hills and a solitary river. The next settlement is some nine hours away by car. Temperatures here are extreme: in summertime they rise to between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius, and in winter they drop almost to freezing-point. Here, far away from civilisation of </span><span class="alltext">any kind, the Kunene River has been winding its way through the hills along the border between Namibia and Angola for centuries. At this remote spot, one of the last untouched places on Earth, the first mandarin garnets were discovered in 1991. Embedded in mica and mica schist where they had come into being millions of years before, small crystals of an unusual coour and transparency were discovered, and they immediately attracted the attention of the specialists. The gemmological examination proceeded to confirm initial suppositions: it was a find involving the rare orange gemstone variety known as 'spessartine' from the large, colourful garnet family. Until then, spessartines had been found in Sri Lanka, Upper Burma, Madagascar, Brazil, Australia, Kenya and Tanzania, and yet they were practically unknown in jewellery, catering mainly to the interests of gemstone lovers and collectors. The reason for this rather sh</span><span class="alltext">adowy existence was a simple one: specimens with really good colour and quality were only found very rarely indeed. The fantastic crystals from Namibia, on the other hand, were of an unusually fine, intensely radiant orange. Some sparkled in the rich reddish-orange of the last light of evening, seen when the sun has already disappeared below the horizon. They were more beautiful and more radiant than anything that had gone before them. And hardly any inclusions interfered with the brilliant image of these 'noble garnets'.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> Swiftly, the raw crystals found their way on to the market via a few gemstone cutting-centres. Most of them were faceted, this being the best way to bring out their incomparable colour and brilliance. But sadly, the mine on the Kunene River was exhausted after a short while. At the beginning, the gemstones had been found there at the very surface, but gradually they had had to dig deeper and deeper, the yield becoming smaller and smaller and the costs highe</span><span class="alltext">r and higher. Finally, production was ceased. Further searches in the remote bush country of Namibia would have required too much effort and proved too expensive. Traders and gemstone lovers greatly regretted the fact that this, of all gemstones, which had gained such an enthusiastic following so quickly, was now only available occasionally from the stocks of a few cutting-centres.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> </span><span class="alltext"><br /></span><span class="gemsubheadline"><b>A real rocket</b></span><span class="alltext"><br /> <br />Within a very short time, this beautiful gemstone had shot up into the firmament of the </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AC0G266uU5eAa8W_XWhD9HBEyyvzEQIyl6ejl-ZmYSbgbuxYOeSlQbBZuFXQCwrEcIjtdoASXKO0SUtl_9EyxSGdx7vkALDbbc8W3GVZTkqhwq2zazRDITlqpBeg9dvX-YrVWWE8f30/s1600/Stones_MandarinGarnet1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AC0G266uU5eAa8W_XWhD9HBEyyvzEQIyl6ejl-ZmYSbgbuxYOeSlQbBZuFXQCwrEcIjtdoASXKO0SUtl_9EyxSGdx7vkALDbbc8W3GVZTkqhwq2zazRDITlqpBeg9dvX-YrVWWE8f30/s200/Stones_MandarinGarnet1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454656047581264098" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">international jewellery scene like a rocket. As to the name, there had been a certain amount of wrangling among gemmologists and gemstone dealers. Some called the brilliant orange to orange-red beauties 'Kunene spessartines', after the place where they had been found, whilst others spoke of 'hollandines'. But fairly quickly, the illustrative name 'mandarin garnet' began to prevail in international trade. That was the name by which the fiery orange gemstone was known when it began its conquest of the world. It was a fitting name, and it is the one which has remained to this day. Fortunately, that unique find on the Kunene River was not the only one of its kind. In about April 1994, more orange spessartines appeared in the trade, this time from Nigeria. As far as their colour and their brilliance went they were very similar to the mandarin garnets from Namibia, even if the experienced specialist was able to discern some subtle differences. They were found right down in the south-west corner of Nigeria, not far from neighbouring Benin. The mine is in a river-bed in the bush. During the rainy season it is necessary to pump the water out of the pits. Garnet specialist Thomas Lind of Idar-Oberstein was thrilled by the attractiveness of the new find: "There are some beautiful, radiant orange mandarin garnets from Nigeria in the trade, and among them there are, again and again, stones in sizes of over 1 carat. I am glad to say that they enhance what is being offered in the trade, and that the supply of this gemstone, which was once so rare, has stabilised in the meantime." Now, mandarin garnets are once again available in reliable quantities, even if top-quality stones are extremely rare.<br /> </span><span class="alltext"><br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Orange symbolises joie de vivre and individuality</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> So what makes the mandarin garnet so special? First, of course, there is its colour, that radiant orange, sometimes with slight brown undertones, in the whole range of hues from ripe peach to deep reddish-orange. Colours which speak of energy and joie de vivre, individuality and a readiness to take risks. A person who displays orange is not afraid of being noticed; showing this colour indicates confidence. Unmistakably, it is a colour shown by extroverts. But orange is more than that: for example, it plays a much more important role in Asian art than in European. There, the gods are often clothed in orange robes, and even the sky can be orange. Yellow and red, the colours from which orange is made, are not opposites in Asia, but are instead related. The robes of Buddhist monks are also orange, and they are made from a single piece of material. Orange stands for the process of all life. All being is perceived as the constant interplay between the active male principle Yang and the passive female Yin. These are not opposites, but transform and interweave incessantly. Life means change - and orange symbolises that constant change like no other colour.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> However, apart from its magnificent colour, the mandarin garnet has other good qualities which make it a truly unique gemstone. For example its good hardness. It is an uncomplicated gemstone and an ideal chaperone for all occasions. And then it has a very high refractive index, which gives it unusually strong brilliance. Even in unfavourable light conditions, small, brilliant-cut, inclusion-free mandarin garnets still sparkle with great vivacity. And then of course there is its rarity. No-one can say how long there will be as reliable a supply of this gemstone in the trade as there is at present. So colour, luminosity, hardness and rarity combine to make this gemstone, beautiful but at the same time easy to look after, something really special. Individualists with a well developed sense of style can only say "That's the stone for me!" when they set eyes on it.</span><br /></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-15290708203731879762010-03-30T21:32:00.000-07:002010-03-30T21:44:20.265-07:00Demantoid<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhvNhu0nUZlrty4PAtk_ffMLHM1NVkJEOfqB_bDuqygCFLf5vZ1xtpu6qOhwssJQVzN5tjNeg0lAT380U5s04TfgpllMjOeQBcXNGxkRicqX44Bs7eemVcjIx0cTGHvSEk7AIg_Jiua8/s1600/Garnet-Demantoid-013.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhvNhu0nUZlrty4PAtk_ffMLHM1NVkJEOfqB_bDuqygCFLf5vZ1xtpu6qOhwssJQVzN5tjNeg0lAT380U5s04TfgpllMjOeQBcXNGxkRicqX44Bs7eemVcjIx0cTGHvSEk7AIg_Jiua8/s400/Garnet-Demantoid-013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454651589057885746" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="alltext"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /> <br /> </span></b></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">The demantoid is one of the most brilliant gemstones that exist, yet until recently it was little known except among collectors and gemstone lovers. Strictly speaking it is a green garnet, or rather the star of the green garnets. Not without reason does it bear a name which means 'diamond-like'. The name comes from the Dutch and makes reference to the outstanding quality of this gem, its incomparable brilliance and fire. Some gemstone lovers claim that a demantoid will continue to glow even in the shade.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The demantoid belongs to the large gemstone family of the garnets, and is actually a variety of the garnet mineral andradite. But it is more than that: it is the most expensive kind of garnet and one of the most precious of all gemstones. It is highly esteemed on account of its rarity coupled with that incredible luminosity. For the latter, at least, there is a plausible explanation: the demantoid has an extremely high refraction (refractive index 1.880 to 1.889). Yet its high dispersion is also remarkable, in other words its ability to split the light which comes in through the facets and break it down into all the colours of the rainbow. The demantoid is a master of this, and does it even better than the diamond.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The spe</span><span class="alltext">ctrum of its colours includes many shades of green, from a slightly yellowish green to a brownish green with a golden glow. Particularly precious is a deep emerald green, though this only occurs very rarely indeed. It is not only fine and unusual, but the specimens are also </span><span class="alltext">mostly small, large ones being extremely rare. Once cut, only a few stones weigh more than two carats, and most of them hardly exceed one. And even if you come across one set in a piece of jewellery, it is always likely to be a small stone.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"><br /></span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Favourite stone of Russia's star jeweller</span></b><span class="alltext"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /> </span><br /> There have been a good many beautiful gems which appeared like </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaFuVE8ujba6zmPLMu32Xwps0fHTSblQVZtpUrhLJFm6gQX61iacCq5Z0fmrxeAio2IRTc4NvacrsE4VApG-YghnWp1ySFOlZV3salvHbvAttJwD7xEQoUBFBDquhgyr9Yhgtq52wSfk/s1600/Stones_DemantoidGarnet.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaFuVE8ujba6zmPLMu32Xwps0fHTSblQVZtpUrhLJFm6gQX61iacCq5Z0fmrxeAio2IRTc4NvacrsE4VApG-YghnWp1ySFOlZV3salvHbvAttJwD7xEQoUBFBDquhgyr9Yhgtq52wSfk/s200/Stones_DemantoidGarnet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454653154825962946" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">shooting-stars in the fascinating world of gemstones and vanished from the scene again after only a short time. That indeed is probably what would have happened to the demantoid ... if a goatherd had not happened to be going ab</span><span class="alltext">out his business one day in Namibia. But more of that in a moment. After its discovery in 1868 in Russia's Ural mountains, the demantoid rapidly proceeded to become a much desired gemstone. Comet-like, it scintillated among the finest jeweller's workshops in Paris, New York and St. Petersburg. First and foremost, Russia's star jeweller Carl Fabergé adored it for its tremendous brilliance and loved to incorporate it in his precious objects. But with the chaos of the First World War, the green star began to fade rapidly. Now, it made only rare appearances in the gemstone trade, and when it did so it was mostly incorporated in an item of second-hand jewellery, or among remnant stocks from the places where it had originally been found in the Urals. Occasionally demantoids were found in other parts of the world, for example in the Co</span><span class="alltext">ngo, or in Korea in 1975, but the quality of these stones was such that they were suitable for collectors' use only.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">The situation changed quite suddenly in the middle of the 1990s, when a new seam bearing gemstones was discovered in Namibia. Demantoid was among them.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP2HA5vqXbsWhuDgaNgTmATqP83hZbO7pTKHWWuvIUF6dSnOEXbrRVggSIXWTi2Xm_2ZMD9S5058VGd7mFI59F_4L-zXbiL2-7p6eNSgdAWtpD8uyTAiXWWN6ABjKqY-gQAkUqCHus4E/s1600/Stones_DemantoidGarnet1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP2HA5vqXbsWhuDgaNgTmATqP83hZbO7pTKHWWuvIUF6dSnOEXbrRVggSIXWTi2Xm_2ZMD9S5058VGd7mFI59F_4L-zXbiL2-7p6eNSgdAWtpD8uyTAiXWWN6ABjKqY-gQAkUqCHus4E/s200/Stones_DemantoidGarnet1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454653730240592786" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">The story of that discovery reads like a thriller. It is set in the southern Damara country near the Spit</span><span class="alltext">zkoppe, as the 'Matterhorn of Africa' is also known. The vast, steppe-like country surrenders to the scorching African sun. Far away on the horizon, the 'black mountains' lie blurred in the bluish haze. It's a dry, hard country. Yet for a long, long time it had held an unknown treasure: gemstones! Millions of years before, liquid magma had shot up from the bowels of the Earth and solidified shortly before it reached the surface. In the course of time, the wind and the elements removed the surface strata until finally only the distinctive granite mountain, the Spitzkoppe, was left. And the gemstones, that is. No-one</span><span class="alltext"> had an inkling of their existence until in December 1996, quite by chance, a wandering goatherd found a number of crystal-like objects which seemed to him worthy of attention. When he had shown them around a bit in a n</span><span class="alltext">earby village, the attention of experts was drawn to the find, and they quickly realised what a treasure was being presented to them.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Meanwhile, the Namibian government has issued concessions for gemstone mines. The rare gemstones are carefully quarried by hand from the parent rock. Care is taken to ensure that as little as possible of the precious raw material is lost.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Why</span></b><b><span class="gemsubheadline"> the </span></b><b><span class="gemsubheadline">horsetail influences the value of a demantoid</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Demantoids from Namibia come in shades from a vivacious light green to an intense blue-green. They have a striking brilliance. Thanks to their hardness of just under 7 on the Mohs scale, they are we</span><span class="alltext">ll suited to being used in jewellery. However, they do lack one feature by which the true demantoid had always been able to be identified through the microscope: 'horsetail inclusions'. These golden brown crystal threads of chrysotile, mostly appearing to radiate out from the centre of the stone, had previousl</span><span class="alltext">y occurred in almost all demantoids. But - more's the pity - they were missing in the relatively inclusion-free gems from Namibia. These horsetail inclusions were not only typical of the demantoid; they could even increase its value if they were pronounced. That may sound surprising, since as a rule inclusions, which can impair the transparency of a gemstone, are not a welcome sight. But with the demantoid's 'horsetail inclusions' it is a different matter. A beautiful, well formed inclusion can increase the value of the gemstone considerably, a good many collectors being prepared to pay a higher price.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> If you are offered a demantoid, it is definitely a good idea to have a look at it through the gemstone microscope. If the stone comes from Russia, you may be able to see these fine, fibrous wisps whose resemblance to the tail of a horse is unmistakable. If that is the case, you have a definite pointer to its origin. At the same time, this 'fingerprint of Nature' shows you that you are holding one of the rarest and most valuable gemstones in your hand. This rarity will also make itself felt in the price, since a demantoid from Russia will be valued much more highly than a green garnet from Namibia, however brilliant the latter may be.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> </span>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-40010200866620311572010-03-30T21:22:00.000-07:002010-03-30T21:30:37.014-07:00Tsavorite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWnW4IOR-bb367xPN9oSX2bRVdnzXtQXjOvvkgk7VzU4n0offCkt4-98P3ZMoDJCw9dlAMMEuyVFV3lCEgNnMc7RHR8ZFBahMBC2ij_wLRUf4UO6PXF__MQsboZyTH7thUnUTb6vUVbw/s1600/Garnet-040.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWnW4IOR-bb367xPN9oSX2bRVdnzXtQXjOvvkgk7VzU4n0offCkt4-98P3ZMoDJCw9dlAMMEuyVFV3lCEgNnMc7RHR8ZFBahMBC2ij_wLRUf4UO6PXF__MQsboZyTH7thUnUTb6vUVbw/s400/Garnet-040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454649049505394962" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="alltext"><b><br /> </b></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">The shining green tsavorite is a young gemstone with a very long geological history. Its home is the East-African bushland along the border between Kenya and Tanzania. The few mines lie in a uniquely beautiful landscape of arid grassland with bare, dry hills. It's dangerous country, the habitat of snakes, and now and then a lion patrols, on the lookout for prey. There, near the world-famous Tsavo National Park, that history began.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="alltext">In 1967 a British geologist by the name of Campbell R. Bridges was looking for gemstones in the</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbPHCk8BBK6wgQK_XQgKLTzaI7gO8O_BNVO1RUxHz7Hgi9dQsP_w8xYmnui4S_T6DZgQJHbiqZUqDTeU_mfBL9a1b5Ji-4SEOFAXiXos0usYr6vCr4Knug-uTgood-dUVEJjnBLgeX4c/s1600/Stones_TsavoriteGarnet.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbPHCk8BBK6wgQK_XQgKLTzaI7gO8O_BNVO1RUxHz7Hgi9dQsP_w8xYmnui4S_T6DZgQJHbiqZUqDTeU_mfBL9a1b5Ji-4SEOFAXiXos0usYr6vCr4Knug-uTgood-dUVEJjnBLgeX4c/s200/Stones_TsavoriteGarnet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454650293006137970" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext"> mountains in the north-east of Tanzania. Suddenly he came across some strange, potato-like nodules of rock. It was like a fairy-tale: inside these strange objects he found some beautiful green grains and crystal fragments. A gemmological examination revealed that what he had discovered was green grossularite, a mineral belonging to the colourful gemstone group of the garnets, and one which had only been found on rare occasions until then. It was of an extraordinarily beautiful colour and good transparency. The find made the specialists sit up and take notice; Tiffany & Co. in New York also soon showed an interest in the newly discovered green jewel.<br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">However, in spite of all efforts, it was not, at the time, possible to export the stones from Tanzania. But Campbell Bridges was not one to give up easily. As a geologist, he knew that earth strata bearing gemstones were not necessarily limited to one particular area, indeed that they could extend over much greater areas - and in his opinion the stratum he had found was just such a one. For the rock belt in which most of East Africa's gemstone mines lie is very ancient. It began to form many millions of years ago, while the continents were still very much on the move. At that time, the area concerned had actually been under the sea. The sedimental deposits between the continents were greatly compressed and folded as a result of the movement of the massifs. Through tremendous pressure and at high temperatures, the rocks which had been present originally were transformed. New, exciting, beautiful gemstones came into being - among them the tsavorite. Having said that, the tremendous forces of Nature damaged most of the crystals so badly at the time of their formation that today it is usually only grains or fragments which are found.</span><br /></div></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Campbell B. Bridges persevered. His surmise that the seam bearing the gemstones might possibly continue into Kenya finally put him on the right track. In 1971, he discovered the brilliant green gemstone for the second time, in Kenya. There, he was able to have the find registered officially and begin with the exploitation of the deposit. It was an adventurous business. To protect himself from wild animals, Bridges began by living in a tree-house. In order not to have any of the gemstones stolen, he set a python to watch over them, making use of the fact that his workers were afraid of snakes. It was a wonderful find. Unfortunately, the gemstone had been known only to specialists up to that point in time, but that changed quickly in 1974, when the Tiffany company began a broad promotion campaign which soon made the tsavorite well known in the USA. Further promotion campaigns followed in other countries, and soon the tsavorite was also known at international level.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Green like a garnet ...</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">So why is the stone called a tsavorite or tsavolite when it is actually a green grossularite and comes from the colourful gemstone family of the Garnet? The nomenclature of gemstones follows certain rules. According to modern mineralogical methods, gemstones are given a name which ends in 'ite'. In honour of the Tsavo National Park, with its abundance of game, and the Tsavo River which flows through it, the former president of Tiffany & Co. Henry Platt, who had followed the developments of the gemstone from the very beginning, proposed the name 'tsavorite'. Sometimes the term 'tsavolite' is used. However, both names denote the same stone, the latter version simply having the Greek suffix '-lite' (stone).</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> What is it that makes the tsavorite so desirable? Well, for one thing there is its vivid, radiant green. The colour range of the tsavorite includes a springlike light green, an intense blue-green and a deep forest green - colours which have a refreshing and invigorating effect on the senses. However, this gemstone is also valuable on account of its great brilliance. It has, like all the other garnets, a particularly high refractive index (1.734/44). Not without reason did they use to say in the old legends that a garnet was a difficult thing to hide. Its sparkling light was said to remain visible even through clothing.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Unlike many other gemstones, the tsavorite is neither burnt nor oiled. This gemstone is not in need of any such treatment. Like all the other garnets it is simply a piece of pure, unadulterated Nature. Another positive characteristic is its robustness. It has almost the same hardness as the (considerably more expensive) emerald, - approximately 7.5 on the Mohs scale - but it is markedly less sensitive. That is an important feature not only when it comes to the stone's being set but also in its being worn. A tsavorite is not so likely to crack or splinter as a result of an incautious movement. It is well suited to the popular 'invisible setting', in which the stones are set close by one another, a technique which ought not to be used with the more sensitive emerald. Thanks to its great brilliance, the tsavorite is, in this respect, a partner to match the classics: diamond, ruby and sapphire.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Only in rare individual cases is a raw crystal of over 5 carats found, so a cut tsavorite of more than two carats is a rare and precious thing. But then that is one of the special features of this gemstone: that it can display its great luminosity even in small sizes.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> There's something very special about this young gemstone with the very long history. With its fresh, vivid green, its good wearing qualities, great brilliance and relatively reasonable prices, it is surely one of the most convincing and honest gemstones that exist.</span><br /></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-14819083932742547192010-03-30T21:08:00.000-07:002010-03-30T21:20:01.307-07:00Garnet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxJEvSZ5dQmoUBePVa1g0u5prcpPdvnblD421twhlaFP23BByWuGEHR3wxbP3kBtAcG6XFPvwMTjUgV924Gx315uaaF69_m8-gzwktPTxok42W2w3jaHuGjJOyJhTus3fcflOA2U6bXU/s1600/Garnet-054.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxJEvSZ5dQmoUBePVa1g0u5prcpPdvnblD421twhlaFP23BByWuGEHR3wxbP3kBtAcG6XFPvwMTjUgV924Gx315uaaF69_m8-gzwktPTxok42W2w3jaHuGjJOyJhTus3fcflOA2U6bXU/s400/Garnet-054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454645763328171330" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="alltext"><b><br /> <br /> </b></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Aren't garnets those wonderful deep-red gemstones you often find in antique jewellery? Well yes, to a certain extent, a deep, warm red indeed being the colour most frequently found in garnets. Sadly, however, far too few people are aware that the world of the garnets is far more colourful than that. Spectacular finds, especially in Africa, have enhanced the traditional image of the garnet with a surprising number of hues - even if red does continue to be its principal colour. Thanks to their rich colour spectrum, garnets today can quite happily keep pace with changes of style and the colour trends of fashion. And thanks to the new finds, there is a reliable supply of them too. So in fact this gemstone group in particu</span><span class="alltext">lar is one which gives new impetus to the world of jewellery today.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"><br /></span><span class="alltext">By the term 'garnet', the specialist understands a group of more than ten different gemstones of </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyXLlk-I87MFxca33slxb-mS8LjhAU3qhFncMO9OPwSne8f1kSdefjWvLhhyphenhyphenizUK07fK2e2i3RqcQQ1q1nsbrm9Un8oD1KOxzHXHwnMZX5jBAPWDR0YAfYlZNOKxKRhk5WUJgOt9EAAk/s1600/Stones_RhodoliteGarnet.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyXLlk-I87MFxca33slxb-mS8LjhAU3qhFncMO9OPwSne8f1kSdefjWvLhhyphenhyphenizUK07fK2e2i3RqcQQ1q1nsbrm9Un8oD1KOxzHXHwnMZX5jBAPWDR0YAfYlZNOKxKRhk5WUJgOt9EAAk/s200/Stones_RhodoliteGarnet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454645949548241090" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">similar chemical composition. It is true to say that red is the colour most often encou</span><span class="alltext">ntered, but the garnet also exists in various shades of green, a tender to intense yellow, a fiery orange and some fine earth-coloured nuances. The only colour it cannot offer is blue. Garnets are much </span><span class="alltext">sought-after and much worked gemstones - the more so because today it is not only the classical gemstone colours red and green which are so highly esteemed, but also the fine hues in between. Furthermore, the world of the garnets is also rich in rarities such as star garnets and stones whose colour changes depending on whether they are seen in daylight or artificial light.<br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> And what else is there that distinguishes this gemstone group from the others? Well, first of all there is it</span><span class="alltext">s good hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. With a few minor exceptions it applies to all the members of the garnet group, and it is the reason for the excellent wearing qualities of these gemstones. Garnets are relatively insensitive and uncomplicated to work with. The only thing they really don't like is being knocked about or subjected to improper heat treatment. A further plus i</span><span class="alltext">s their high refractive index, the cause of the garnet's great brilliance. The shape of the raw crystals is also interesting. Garnet means something like 'the grainy one', coming from the Latin 'granum', for grain. This makes reference not only to the typical roundish shape of the crystals, but also to the colour of the red garnet, which often puts one in mind of the seeds of a ripe pomegranate. In the Middle Ages, the red garnet was also called the 'carbuncle stone'. And even today, fantasy names like Arizona ruby, Arizona spinel, Montana ruby or New Mexico ruby are still rife in the trade.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">The warm red of the garnet illuminated Noah's Ark</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /> </span><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAhSStIlQouPCXrdrqsM0Gs7ZLaYJV-v2r2Qf_rz_fD2Ydtk3YwPHFiKX8_fCbYzlVKDWIwXd5CDu1sDqd85kAhVz41pBPKEtA0H76j1lFqJh0ouCbBJ9YlJTsUAXazzrL77fDoIhFr8/s1600/Stones_MandarinGarnet.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAhSStIlQouPCXrdrqsM0Gs7ZLaYJV-v2r2Qf_rz_fD2Ydtk3YwPHFiKX8_fCbYzlVKDWIwXd5CDu1sDqd85kAhVz41pBPKEtA0H76j1lFqJh0ouCbBJ9YlJTsUAXazzrL77fDoIhFr8/s200/Stones_MandarinGarnet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454646293369505890" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">Garnets have been known to Man for thousands of years. Noah, it is said, used a garnet lantern to help him steer his ark through the dark night. Garnets are also found in jewellery from early Egyptian, Greek and Roman times. Many an early explorer and traveller liked to carry a garn</span><span class="alltext">et with him, for the garnet was popular as a talisman and protective stone, as it was believed to light up the night and protect its bearer from evil and disaster. Today, science has taught us that the garnet's proverbial luminosity comes from its high refractive index.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Not only do garnets have many colours; they also have many names: almandine, andradite, demantoid, grossularite, hessonite, pyrope, rhodolite, tsavorite, spessartine, and uvarovite, to quote but a few. But let us restrict ourselves to the most important and begin with the red garnets. First, there is the fiery red pyrope. Its spirited red, often with a slight brownish nuance, was a gemstone colour much in demand in the 18th and 19th centuries. Garnets from a find in the north-eastern part of the former kingdom of Bohemia - small stones of a wonderful hue - were world-famous at that time. In Europe, they were worked into jewellery a good deal, especially in the Victorian period. That genuine Bohemian garnet jewellery was traditionally set with a large number of small stones, which were close to one another like the seeds of a pomegranate, with their red sparkle. And today too, garnets are still found in former Czechoslovakia and set close together according to the old tradi</span><span class="alltext">tion, the attractiveness of classical garnet jewellery thus consisting mainly in the beauty of the gemstones.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The larger central stones of the typical 'rosettes' are also mostly of garnet, though they belong to a different category. For the 'almandines', named after Alabanda, an ancient city, have a chemical composition that differs somewhat from that of the pyrope. And why, one might ask, are they used as central stones? That's quite simple: because Nature has created the pyrope almost exclusively in small sizes, whilst allowing the almandine to grow in rather larger crystals.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> A further garnet variety, also red, is the rhodolite. a mixed crystal of almandine and pyrope. This popular garnet is of a magnificent velvety red with a fine violet or raspberry-red un</span><span class="alltext">dertone. Originally found in the USA, it now comes mainly from the gemstone mines in East Africa, India and Sri Lanka.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> </span><span class="alltext"><br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">The colourful world of the garnets</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">The specialist world was amazed a few years ago by the fantastic find of a type of garnet which had been very scarce until then. At the Kunene River, on the border between Namibia and Angola, a deposit of radiant orange to red 'spessartites' was discovered. The spessartite was originally named after the site of a find made in Germany. Spessartites had led a quiet, shadowy existence as stones for gemstone lovers and collectors until that momentous discovery in Namibia. There were hardly any used in jewellery because they were so very rare. But this new find changed the gemstone world. Since then, its wealth has increased by the addition of this unusually fine, intensely radiant orange-red gemstone. Under the trade name 'mandarine-garnet', </span><span class="alltext"> this wonderfully orange noble garnet became world-famous in no time at all. Unfortunately, the mine in the quiet hills of Namibia was only able to be exploited for a few years. The search for gemstones in the remote bush country began to involve too much effort and became too expensive. So fears grew that this highly precious gemstone, which had shot into the firmament of the gemmological world like a rocket, might only become available in rare individual cases from the stocks of a few cutting-centres. That is, until another deposit of the orange treasures was discovered, this time in Nigeria. Their colour and brilliance are so similar to those of the mandarin garnets from Namibia that only an experienced specialist can discern the subtle differences.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Now for the green garnets. Green garnets?! Is there really such a thing? Indeed there is! In fact, several green varieties are known. First there is 'grossularite', created by Nature in many fine tones of yellow, green and brown and esteemed for its many fine interim hues and earth colo</span><span class="alltext">urs. Here too, there was a spectacular find: in the final year of the 20th century, extensive grossularite deposits were discovered in Mali. These Mali garnets captivate us with their great brilliance. Even the brown, which is otherwise not terribly popular, seems vivid and natural, and goes particularly well with ethnologically inspired trends.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> Probably the best known green garnet is the tsavorite or tsavolite, which also belongs to the grossularite group. Tiffany's in New York gave this name to the previous emerald-green stone which was discovered in 1967 by a British geologist, Campbell R. Bridges, in the north-east of Tanzania - after the place where the discovery was made, near the Tsavo National Park with its wealth of game. The green of the tsavorite runs from vivid and light to deep and velvety and, like all garnets, it has particularly good brilliance.</span><br /></div><br /><span class="alltext">The star of green garnets is the rare</span><span class="alltext"> demantoid, a gemstone for connoisseurs and gemstone </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgSjIsxtr6Ll_zPCzMiqsa6UYcUaFn-bnlxfkSL4VuyLxjgXwMxMaZDyfq2DP8_ihbQ88vPNfXiFn0YNnFkcbMJaC-pOSHc65jHHqH-Q5j59g7k-0QqYRwHDYti1OS9IbT_0lyWu5NK8/s1600/Stones_DemantoidGarnet.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgSjIsxtr6Ll_zPCzMiqsa6UYcUaFn-bnlxfkSL4VuyLxjgXwMxMaZDyfq2DP8_ihbQ88vPNfXiFn0YNnFkcbMJaC-pOSHc65jHHqH-Q5j59g7k-0QqYRwHDYti1OS9IbT_0lyWu5NK8/s200/Stones_DemantoidGarnet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454646916915333778" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">lovers. Its brilliance is positively tremendous, even greater than that of the diamond. Russia's </span><span class="alltext">star jeweller Carl Fabergé loved the brilliant green garnet from the Urals more than anything else, and used it in his creations. Meanwhile, the demantoid is no longer quite as scarce in the gemstone trade, thanks to some new finds in Namibia. Demantoids from Namibia are of good colour and brilliance, but they lack one tiny feature: the so-called 'horse-tail inclusions'. These fine, bushy inclusions are the unmistakable, typical feature by which a Russian demantoid is recognised.</span><span class="alltext"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Gemstones for every fashion trend</span></b></span><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Anyone who loves what is pure and natural and the warm, sun-bathed colours of late summer will be fired with enthusiasm by the colour spectrum of the garnet. Today, garnets mostly come from African countries, but also from India, Russia and Central and South America. The skilled hands of cutters the world over work them into many classical shapes, but also increasingly into modern, imaginative designer cuts. Garnets remain convincing with their natural, unadulterated beauty, the variety of their colours and their tremendous brilliance. Anyone acquiring garnet jewellery can be assured that the joy he or she derives from this beautiful gemstone gift from Nature will be long-lasting and undimmed.</span><br /></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-36637281277554972052010-03-30T21:03:00.000-07:002010-03-30T21:06:42.162-07:00Ametrine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzC5y3TSTtaZQksAzZ-Ptfa0V8I1zicRwcZn8EvbxCharyDRCXeU-2QJDgr9SSuF8IZGdd8q8r0l5tpOR8a4TSBlYQ-AdEONS8deOq9VQUdEjUWs1fgeR1vICT2f07ds5fV3wqvYnz-5Q/s1600/Ametrine-002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzC5y3TSTtaZQksAzZ-Ptfa0V8I1zicRwcZn8EvbxCharyDRCXeU-2QJDgr9SSuF8IZGdd8q8r0l5tpOR8a4TSBlYQ-AdEONS8deOq9VQUdEjUWs1fgeR1vICT2f07ds5fV3wqvYnz-5Q/s400/Ametrine-002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454644180387142770" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="gemheadline"><b><br />Spinning purple into gold</b></span><span class="alltext"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /> <br /> </span></b></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Do you love both the purple of amethyst and the sunny gold of citrine? Are you an avid Minnesota Vikings fan? I have the perfect gem for you! Sometimes amethyst and citrine colours are found in the same crystal of quartz. These bicolour yellow and purple quartz gemstones are called ametrine.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> With ametrine, you can have both gem colours for the price of one! Ametrine is especially </span><span class="alltext">inexpensive when you consider that it comes from only one mine in the world.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"><br /></span><span class="alltext">The Anahi Mine in Bolivia is the major world producer of ametrine. The </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiOMR2XgFI2D0xqt2jecZlUUN_pm09N63V74T-QXHUFpXK5WZ_RDe3Lk55UaLzjH1KcEWCYeJHIQaY0EG6Acefpi6RsoTXgtDkRDCJRrW0LH8QaOBCeJdvqZLWCDNVKbKseRs3MhLbvk/s1600/Stones_Ametrine.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiOMR2XgFI2D0xqt2jecZlUUN_pm09N63V74T-QXHUFpXK5WZ_RDe3Lk55UaLzjH1KcEWCYeJHIQaY0EG6Acefpi6RsoTXgtDkRDCJRrW0LH8QaOBCeJdvqZLWCDNVKbKseRs3MhLbvk/s200/Stones_Ametrine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454644365739971218" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">mine first became famous in the seventeenth century when a Spanish conquistador received it as a dowry on marrying a princess named Anahi from the Ayoreos tribe. Ametrine was introduced to Europe through the conquistador's gifts to the Spanish queen. Ametrine is most typically faceted in a rectangular shape with a 50/50 pairing of amethyst and citrine. Sometimes a checkerboard pattern of facets is added to the top to increase light reflection. Ametrine can also be cut to blend the two colours so that the result is a mixture </span><span class="alltext">of yellow, purple, and peach tones throughout the stone. Ametrine is also popular among artistic cutters and carvers, who play with the colours, creating landscapes in the stone.<br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Ametrine is a very durable gemstone suited to a variety of jewellery uses. Most sizes and shapes are available but the colour contrast is most pronounced in sizes of over seven carats.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> So why compromise, when you can have two varieties of quartz for the price of one?</span>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-78277869815332639782010-03-30T20:59:00.000-07:002010-03-30T21:02:45.876-07:00Citrine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9_KWYLkXC74Eu5r1DjO6fW8fUw3oek_D18q_eEbainD9OR8wrZIG8wb89kpqrBntxas_NzaXMnwxAgBWjmfNSdjB6jNHxD5H2mDMeUHT4EM4a4OZy3Ys7KaFnG1zvBqYad5dE5LQIHI/s1600/Citrine-006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9_KWYLkXC74Eu5r1DjO6fW8fUw3oek_D18q_eEbainD9OR8wrZIG8wb89kpqrBntxas_NzaXMnwxAgBWjmfNSdjB6jNHxD5H2mDMeUHT4EM4a4OZy3Ys7KaFnG1zvBqYad5dE5LQIHI/s400/Citrine-006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454643026417133730" border="0" /></a><br /><b><span class="alltext"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /> <br /> </span></span></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Let's suppose that someone has bought a moped, yet his friends and acquaintances keep talking about his 'wonderful racing machine'. He surely feels confused, or feels that they are taking the mickey out of him. A moped was exactly what he wanted for short trips in good weather, but even the salesman said that he was now in possession of a 'real flyer'.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> That's roughly how things go with the citrine, the stone for the month of November. Many people have come to know and love this stone under the name gold topaz, or Madeira or S</span><span class="alltext">panish topaz, although in actual fact it has very little in common with the higher-quality gemstone topaz - except for a few nuances of colour. Thus the history of the citrine is closely interwoven with that of the topaz, and coincides with it completely when it comes to the interpretation of alleged miraculous powers. However, the citrine is a member of the large quartz family, a family which, with its multitude of colours and very various structures, offers gemstone lovers almost everything their hearts desire in terms of adornment and decoration, from absolutely clear rock crystal to black onyx. And it does so at prices which are by no means unaffordable.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The name is derived from the colour - the yellow of the lemon - , although the most sought-after stones have a clear, radiant yellowish to brownish red. Like all crystal quartzes, the citrine </span><span class="alltext">has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and is thus, to a large extent, insensitive to scratches. It won't immediately take offence at being knocked about either, since its cleavage properties are non-existent. Even if their refractive index is relatively low, the yellow stones have just that mellow, warm tone that seems to have captured the last glow of autumn. Like golden Rhine wine or sparkling Madeira, heavy and sweet, citrine jewellery shimmers and brings a hint of sunshine to those dull November days.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> There are not many yellow gemstones in the world of jewels. A diamond or a sapphire may be yellow - those will be expensive -, or sometimes a tourmaline or chrysoberyl, though these tend toward green somewhat, a golden beryl or eben a pure topaz, which we will mention again later on. However, the citrine fulfils everyone's colour wishes, from lemon yello</span><span class="alltext">w to reddish brown.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Rare though it is, yellow does in fact occur in quartz in Nature, if seldom, when there are traces of iron in the silicon dioxide. Historically, it has been found in Spain, on the Scottish island of Arran, in France, Hungary and in several mines overseas. Perhaps the citrine wouldn't have been talked about any more at all if, in the middle of the 18th century, it had not been for the discovery that amethysts and smoky quartzes can also be rendered yellow by so-called burning. This heat treatment at temperatures of between 470 and 560 degrees has to be carried out very carefully and requires a great deal of experience. However, in the course of 200 years, its application has become so much a matter of course that most</span><span class="alltext"> of the stones available in the trade today are in fact burnt amethysts or smoky quartzes. Only a trained specialist can recognise the signs of heat treatment at all, burnt stones having subtle stripes whilst the yellow of natural ones is cloudy.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> In Europe, the boom on these yellow to reddish crystal quartzes didn't begin until, in the 1930s, expatriate agate cutters from Idar-Oberstein sent large quantities of citrine back home, along with amethyst and agate, from Brazil and Uruguay. Thus the golden-yellow quartzes made a contribution to Idar-Oberstein's becoming - and remaining - one of the world's great gemstone centres. Just as they had been used to doing with agate and other kinds of quartz, the cutters faceted the citrine using large, rotating sandstones over decades. The raw stone was actually held in the cutter's hand during this process. If you give that a little thought, it will occur to you just how skilled the cutters from the Hunsrück really were.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="alltext">The supply of Europe with sufficient raw material came just at the right moment for the nascent</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs-NYyysrGA6_oiSXnk8AJcxn79VURgyvz2xcS9Ob1BSu0ZMW5BWmIJ6ghUIn52OHJUBuhUI8I5xokYcvtU_Fdn2zAhX6nvzFr33W82e6DzZrUY-pkjCJSo79Q_4btMM0y4tcWSDhwSQ/s1600/Stones_Citrine.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs-NYyysrGA6_oiSXnk8AJcxn79VURgyvz2xcS9Ob1BSu0ZMW5BWmIJ6ghUIn52OHJUBuhUI8I5xokYcvtU_Fdn2zAhX6nvzFr33W82e6DzZrUY-pkjCJSo79Q_4btMM0y4tcWSDhwSQ/s200/Stones_Citrine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454643311844715218" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext"> upheaval in social conditions. As the bourgeoisie grew in strength, the demand for jewellery across a broader spectrum of social strata also grew, and the citrine found a permanent niche for itself. Since until then it was really only the topaz which was known and used as a gold-coloured gemstone, the yellow and brown crystal quartzes quickly became very popular among the ladies, being known as gold topaz or smoky topaz, or by the double-barrelled names that proclaimed their origin. However, they were also found in step and table cuts as cuff-links and rings in the evening wardrobe of fine gentlemen. At the beginning, perhaps, the notion "it's all on the surface" may have played a part. But there was no other stone to which the wrong name clung as doggedly as the citrine. Even now, jewellery enthusiasts with no specialist knowledge may be astounded when you tell them that their 'gold topaz' is a citrine, in other words not a topaz at all, but quartz.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> So what is it that constitutes the difference between the real topaz and the citrine? A fluorine aluminium silicate in chemical terms, the topaz is considerably harder and heavier than quartz, and it has a higher refractive index, which endows it with more fire when the colour is good. It does have one weakness: its good cleavage qualities, which must be taken into account when it is being worked on. It can be found in all the colours of the rainbow and has been known to Man for at least 2000 years. It has not been proved beyond doubt whether the name comes from Sanskrit or Greek, though the Greek name 'topazos' means 'green gemstone'. The Romans dedicated the topaz to Jupiter.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> The colour in which the topaz is most commonly found is yellow, and that is the colour in which it occurs in one of the major German gemstone rocks, the Schneckenstein (a topaz-bearing rock said to resemble a snail) in Saxony. In the 18th century, it was mined there during a period of over 60 years. However, most of the crystals were hardly a centimetre in diameter. You had to go to Siberia or Brazil to find crystals as large as your fist. Having said that, anyone who is interested can convince himself of the beauty of cut specimens in the topaz set in Dresden's Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault). The enormous and magnificent topaz from the Portuguese crown, the Braganza, was for a long time thought to be a diamond.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> In mysticism, the topaz is attributed with a cooling, styptic and appetising effect. It is said to dispel sadness, anger and nocturnal fears, to warn its wearer of poisons and protect him or her from sudden death. It is reputed to make men handsome and intelligent and sterile women fertile and happy. However, it is probably better not to rely too much on its magical powers, since it was also claimed that you could immerse your hand in boiling water after a topaz had been thrown into it and retract it again unharmed!</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> In the Empire style, the topaz was still widespread, but then the more reasonably priced citrine took over from it and even usurped its name. Since then, the topaz has been a rather exotic figure in the jewellery trade, and has been given the additional predicate 'pure' to make it clear that the topaz, not the quartz topaz, is meant. And it is still waiting for its comeback to this day.</span><br /></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-32504555062042314622010-03-30T20:53:00.000-07:002010-03-30T20:57:27.902-07:00Tanzanite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyHJ10PvV1EKTcfxWBBEM-WKEGNq5Qt7reqdky6ZnUZdGJJ75YXaI550Ni56onTOkBR6Imm19nHXGdJFlCqzAKGdkD5_Em4lQJN6zgjo_WXaduyHgc7Yqt-WE7Mle5xdPmmDMl5ZOTrc/s1600/Tanzanite-016.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyHJ10PvV1EKTcfxWBBEM-WKEGNq5Qt7reqdky6ZnUZdGJJ75YXaI550Ni56onTOkBR6Imm19nHXGdJFlCqzAKGdkD5_Em4lQJN6zgjo_WXaduyHgc7Yqt-WE7Mle5xdPmmDMl5ZOTrc/s400/Tanzanite-016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454641635124215650" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="alltext"><b><br /> <br /> </b></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Tanzanite is an extraordinary gemstone. It occurs in only one place worldwide. Its blue, surrounded by a fine hint of purple, is a wonderful colour. Thanks to its unusual aura and the help of the New York jeweller's Tiffany, it has rapidly become one of the most coveted gemstones in the world.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> It is named after the East African state of Tanzania, the only place in the world where it has been found. Africa? Does anyone think of gemstones when they hear that name? Well they should, because Africa is a continent which provides the world with a multitude of truly magnificent gemstones, like tanzanite for example. On its discovery in 1967, it was enthusiastically celebrated by the specialists as the 'gemstone of the 20th century'. They held their br</span><span class="alltext">eath in excitement as they caught sight of the first deep-blue crystals which had been found in the Merelani Hills near Arusha in the north of Tanzania. Millions of years ago, metamorphic schists, gneisses and quartzites formed impressive, flat-topped inselbergs on a vast plain in the shadow of Kilimanjaro. The precious crystals grew in deposits on the inside of these unusual elevations. For a long, long time they were hidden from the eye of Man, until one day some passing Masai shepherds noticed some sparkling crystals lying in the sun and took them along with them.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> In Merelani today, the search is carried on for the coveted crystals in several, smallish mi</span><span class="alltext">nes, in some cases using modern methods. As a rule, only small grains are found, but now and again the mineworkers succeed in fetching out a larger crystal – to the joy of the mine owners and that of the large number of tanzanite fans.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The tanzanite trade is in the hands of many licensed merchants, mostly on a small scale, who have, over the decades, built up stable, trusting business relationships with gemstone companies in India, Germany, Israel and the USA. An estimated 90 per cent of all tanzanite merchants are official members of the International Colored Gemstone Association ICA, and are thus bound by the high ethical standards of that organisation. In this way, this exclusive gemstone is not subject to trade via dubious channels, but instead, in spite of its rarity, passed on along reputable trade routes to established cutting-centres and subsequently to major jewellers all round the world.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"><br /></span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Really just a blue zoisite ...</span></b><span class="alltext"><b><br /> </b><br /> Tanzanite is a blue variety of the gemstone zoisite. It consists of calcium aluminium silicate and is</span><span class="alltext"> not particularly hard, having a value of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. For that reason, it should always be worn carefully and never placed in an ultrasonic bath for cleaning or brought into </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wp_eLiirU1hSHl7hlLqte8BtAO48S_YxiYP6F_g7ZsukyZS8c4cY8it27Mix_1n-FP_Z-8vKixSe23g0I8cONyTJ5nKMf7xrTUcMrVLIJ75JA10Dd3zOAZIRIyTVx-ZydogMb9z6SaI/s1600/Stones_Tanzanite.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wp_eLiirU1hSHl7hlLqte8BtAO48S_YxiYP6F_g7ZsukyZS8c4cY8it27Mix_1n-FP_Z-8vKixSe23g0I8cONyTJ5nKMf7xrTUcMrVLIJ75JA10Dd3zOAZIRIyTVx-ZydogMb9z6SaI/s320/Stones_Tanzanite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454641908116416450" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">contact with acids. When the first tanzanites were offered to the New York jewellery company </span><span class="alltext">Tiffany a short time after their discovery, they sparked an enthusiastic reaction. 'This gemstone is a sensation!', they said. However, they did make a recommendation to give the 'child' another name, since the gemmologically correct name 'blue zoisite' was felt to be too close to the English word 'suicide'. So Tiffany's proposed the name 'tanzanite', after the place where the stone had been found - a name which quickly came into general use in the trade. And it was Tiffany's who, two years after its discovery, presented the exclusive gemstone to the general public with a broad-based advertising campaign.<br /> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">... but what a fantastic colour!</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The deep blue of the tanzanite is fantastic, and runs from ultramarine blue to light violet-blue. The most coveted colour is a blue surrounded by a delicate hint of purple, which has a particularly wonderful effect in sizes of over 10 carats. The well developed polychromaticity of the tanzanite is typical: depending on the angle from which you look at it, the stone may appear blue, purple or brownish-yellow. Having said that, most raw crystals are somewhat spoiled by a brownish-yellow component, though it can be made to disappear by the cutter if he heats the stone carefully in an oven to approximately 500°. During the procedure he must pay careful attention to the moment at which the colour turns to blue. This burning is a method of treatment which is regarded as customary in the trade, but the raw stones must be as free of inclusions as possible, since otherwise fissures may occur. In fact working with tanzanite can sometimes give even the most experienced cutter a bit of a headache, the cleavage of this gemstone being very pronounced in one direction. This exclusive gemstone is cut in every imaginable shape from the classical round shape to a number of imaginative designer cuts.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> A tanzanite will continue to fascinate with its unusual, captivating aura. Its deep blue with the slightly purple tinge is one of the most extravagant colours known to Man. It personifies immaculate, yet unconventional elegance. A person who acquires one of these exclusive gems is someone who wishes to set himself apart from the hoi polloi. A person who wears it exudes confidence and individuality. The almost magical colour of a perfectly cut tanzanite is one that not only suits confident young women; it is also excellently suited to underlining the individuality of the more mature woman.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> In the meantime, almost any price you care to name is being asked - and paid! - for tanzanites of good quality and large size. What makes this stone so popular? Is it simply that fantastic colour? No, it is also the exclusivity of its origin. The stone is particularly highly prized because it is found in only one place in the whole world. The idea of possessing something that not everyone has has always been one of the main criteria in the way we esteem special gems.</span><br /></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-67752432269977344312010-03-30T20:40:00.000-07:002010-03-30T20:51:03.060-07:00Aquamarine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy329W4DsWlUXk282fWJ3Y_F8Kyw2a8sAQw20W1GoK8e6f8J41BpmBh8Ql9YSUMEkx2myMFww-eynmBCOlKlufjR2LVyKhzS9gvEmFcb4dLPG9u2ykcN0gvm_3n-dCE7eRG8Uxx7ZjsSc/s1600/Aqua-BMunsteiner1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy329W4DsWlUXk282fWJ3Y_F8Kyw2a8sAQw20W1GoK8e6f8J41BpmBh8Ql9YSUMEkx2myMFww-eynmBCOlKlufjR2LVyKhzS9gvEmFcb4dLPG9u2ykcN0gvm_3n-dCE7eRG8Uxx7ZjsSc/s400/Aqua-BMunsteiner1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454638761510303666" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="alltext"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><br /> </b></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">From the light blue of the sky to the deep blue of the sea, aquamarines shine over an extraordinarily beautiful range of mainly light blue colours. Aquamarine is a fascinatingly beautiful gemstone. Women the world over love it for its fine blue shades which can complement almost any skin or eye colour, and creative gemstone designers are inspired by it as they are by hardly any other gem, which enables them to create new artistic cuts again and again.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Its light blue arouses feelings of sympathy, trust, harmony and friendship. Good feelings. Feelings whic</span><span class="alltext">h are based on mutuality and which prove their worth in lasting relationships. The blue of aquamarine is a divine, eternal colour, because it is the colour of the sky. Ho</span><span class="alltext">wever, aquamarine blue is also the colour of water with its life-giving force. And aquamarine really does seem to have captured the lucid blue of the oceans. No wonder, when you consider that according to the saga it originated in the treasure chest of fabulous mermaids, and has, since ancient times, been regarded as the sailors' lucky stone. Its name is derived from the Latin 'aqua' (water) and 'mare' (sea). It is said that its strengths are developed to the</span><span class="alltext">ir best advantage when it is placed in water which is bathed in sunlight. However, it is surely better still to wear aq</span><span class="alltext">uamarine, since according to the old traditions this promises a happy marriage and is said to bring the woman who wears it joy and wealth into the bargain. An ideal gem, not only for loving and married couples.</span><br /></div><br /><b><span class="gemsubheadline">A gemstone with many good qualities</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /></span><span class="alltext">Aquamarine is one of our most popular and best-known gemstones, and </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SJj8nT8g4UYz3awGH1vlN8VJIV1l5dZN3fwfas-dgYXdj4KD4222DPnQ1AIqFjrJ0Uk04fXhimPYJ7c5lOPQYf0e6kfN640l5_zfluTQxmNbv4Ra2YcCHyBg-I_zmFSLEAc0AVvt20o/s1600/Stones_Aquamarine2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SJj8nT8g4UYz3awGH1vlN8VJIV1l5dZN3fwfas-dgYXdj4KD4222DPnQ1AIqFjrJ0Uk04fXhimPYJ7c5lOPQYf0e6kfN640l5_zfluTQxmNbv4Ra2YcCHyBg-I_zmFSLEAc0AVvt20o/s200/Stones_Aquamarine2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454639060315408994" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">distinguishes itself by many good qualities. It is almost as popular as the classics: ruby, sapphire and emerald. In fact it is related to the emerald, both belonging to the beryl family. The colour of aquamarine, however, is usually more even than that of the emerald. Much more often than its famous green cousin, aquamarine is almost entirely free of inclusions. Aquamarine has good hardness (7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale) and a wonderful shine. That hardness makes it very tough and protects it to a large extent from scratches. Iron is the substanc</span><span class="alltext">e which gives aquamarine its colou</span><span class="alltext">r, a colour which ranges from an almost indiscernible pale blue to a strong sea-blue. The more intense the colour of an aquamarine, the more value is put on it. Some aquamarines have a light, greenish shimmer; that too is a typical feature. However, it is a pure, clear blue that continues to epitomise the aquamarine, because it brings out so well the immaculate transparency and magnificent shine of this gemstone.</span><br /><span class="alltext"><br /></span><span class="gemsubheadline"><b>'Santa Maria' sets pulses racing</b></span><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /> </span><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGKYyd8ndTx4VFcRrhSv7hyphenhyphenTOjYxbYdzH_GKsVpjgaSDIaGLpB88MECiVRpG0BsGU8Q0RNlfnAx0NIKaVatKXS4asyQz3OgI_aYc9oj0yJwDKRXmazIk1UJZPIz9MXx4n6SqwJJQtvww/s1600/Stones_Aquamarine1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGKYyd8ndTx4VFcRrhSv7hyphenhyphenTOjYxbYdzH_GKsVpjgaSDIaGLpB88MECiVRpG0BsGU8Q0RNlfnAx0NIKaVatKXS4asyQz3OgI_aYc9oj0yJwDKRXmazIk1UJZPIz9MXx4n6SqwJJQtvww/s200/Stones_Aquamarine1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454639336737716466" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">The bright blue of this noble beryl is making more and more friends. The various colour nuances of aquamarine have melodious names: the rare, intense blue aquamarines from the Santa Maria de Itabira mine in Brazil, which make every gemstone lover's heart beat faster, are calle</span><span class="alltext">d 'Santa Maria'. Similar nuances come from a few gemstone mines in Africa, particularly Mozambique. To help distinguish them from the Brazilian ones, these aquamarines have been given the name 'Santa Maria Africana'. The 'Espirito Santo' colour of aquamarines from the Brazilian state of that name is of a blue that is not quite so intense. Yet other qualities are embodied in the stones from Fortaleza and Marambaia. One beautiful aquamarine colour was named after the Brazilian beauty queen of 1954, and has the name 'Martha Rocha'.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> It can be seen from the names of aquamarine colours just how important Brazil is among the countries where aquamarine is found. Most of the raw crystals for the world market come from the gemstone mines of that large South American country. Every now and then, large aquamarine crystals of immaculate transparency are also found with a magnificent colour, a combination which is very unusual in gemstones. And very occasionally, sensationally large aquamarine crystals come to light in Brazil, such as the crystal of 110.5 Kg found in 1910 in Marambaia/Minas Gerais, or for example the 'Dom Pedro', weighing 26 Kg and cut in Idar-Oberstein in 1992 by the gemstone designer Bernd Munsteiner, the largest aquamarine ever to have been cut. However, aquamarines are also found in other countries, for example Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Afghanistan and Pakistan.</span></div><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="gemsubheadline"><b>Favourite stone of modern designers</b></span><span class="alltext"><br /> <br />There is hardly any other gemstone in modern jewellery design which is </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4cZxTepb8A7KS4rlAX8_q6m3Xzot0skQUBx15dXPVz73T-VzFhCLsLXqvus6eBVDhyphenhyphenIMa1SS6xHnMeQWiUa6I-EZFk9kICKV_Bl9ffkBaC8fgRXlmd8u32ocVUYa9VQOcIy2rwawXQI/s1600/carving3_aquaring.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4cZxTepb8A7KS4rlAX8_q6m3Xzot0skQUBx15dXPVz73T-VzFhCLsLXqvus6eBVDhyphenhyphenIMa1SS6xHnMeQWiUa6I-EZFk9kICKV_Bl9ffkBaC8fgRXlmd8u32ocVUYa9VQOcIy2rwawXQI/s200/carving3_aquaring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454639718853926242" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">refined in such a variety of ways as aquamarine. Whether it is fashioned as a clear, transparent gem in the classical step cut, or creatively cut in a more modern design, it is always fascinatingly beautiful. Uncut too, or with many inclusions which can be brought into play by the designer in the way in which the stone is cut, it can be refined to produce the most beautiful creations. Designers call it their favourite gemstone. Again and again they take the world by surprise with a new, modern artistic cut, and when they are breaking new ground, aquamarine is a gem that they particularly like to work with. Without doubt, these creative designer cuts have contributed to the great popularity of this gem. The lucid colour of aquamarine makes it easy to see inclusions. For this reason, aquamarine should always be of the greatest possible transparency. On the other hand, particularly charming effects can sometimes be achieved in the way the gemstone is cut by bringing the inclusions into play. The light colour of aquamarine leaves the gemstone designer free to bring out the brilliance of the gem with fine grooves, notches, curves and edges. In this way, each aquamarine becomes a unique specimen, whose magical attraction no woman can resist.</span><span class="alltext"><br /> </span>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-39028113227250795562010-03-30T20:19:00.000-07:002010-03-30T20:37:11.991-07:00Peridot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdSR667G0MSXFyYAPI_Axa2WOwkBbH2-9CQZzgx_3vTC8k0TYtid0wSKlwc-WJzlDm9wusAIFH3uisVL27Vh5Ral0UcUySmmZQOQk_Y2hU4btes4AuBGfN6-5daQsnwgiUzT8PcPUlAw/s1600/Peridot-010A.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdSR667G0MSXFyYAPI_Axa2WOwkBbH2-9CQZzgx_3vTC8k0TYtid0wSKlwc-WJzlDm9wusAIFH3uisVL27Vh5Ral0UcUySmmZQOQk_Y2hU4btes4AuBGfN6-5daQsnwgiUzT8PcPUlAw/s400/Peridot-010A.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454632853100284578" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="alltext"><b><br /> <br /> </b></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">The vivid green of the peridot, with just a slight hint of gold, is the ideal gemstone colour to go with that light summer wardrobe. No wonder – since the peridot is the gemstone of the summer month of August.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> The peridot is a very old gemstone, and one which has become very popular again today. It is so ancient that it can be found in Egyptian </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6L2ejK2AewWRPE94h1UjhOJdiyeBZqWko3gxTXPnFYJatfyLFuWq3kwgzwNrB3Ehl4Oqs6zCG0xFX5vPknpGanbyu6m_2c5efG3-EMxc6evbhLYLojHqsdtuVRkOI7AJH8mltlYELek/s1600/Stones_Peridot1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6L2ejK2AewWRPE94h1UjhOJdiyeBZqWko3gxTXPnFYJatfyLFuWq3kwgzwNrB3Ehl4Oqs6zCG0xFX5vPknpGanbyu6m_2c5efG3-EMxc6evbhLYLojHqsdtuVRkOI7AJH8mltlYELek/s320/Stones_Peridot1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454633100365700178" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">jewellery from the early 2nd millennium B.C.. The stones used at that time came from a deposit on a small volcanic island in the Red Sea, some 45 miles off the Egyptian coast at Aswan, which was not rediscovered until about 1900 and has, meanwhile, been exhausted for quite some time. Having said that, the peridot is also a thoroughly modern gemstone, for it was not until a few years ago that peridot deposits were located in the Kashmir region; and the stones from those deposits, being of an incomparably beautiful colour and transparency, have succeeded in giving a good polish to the image of this beautiful gemstone, which had paled somewhat </span><span class="alltext">over the millennia.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">The ancient Romans too were fond of this gemstone and esteemed its radiant green shine, which does not change even in artificial light. For that reason they nicknamed it the 'emerald of the evening'. Peridot is also found in Europe in medieval churches, where it adorns many a treasure, for example one of the shrines in Cologne Cathedral. During the baroque period, the rich green gemstone once again enjoyed a brief heyday, and then it somehow faded into oblivion.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Spectacular 'Kashmir peridots'</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> But suddenly, in the middle of the 1990s, the peridot was the big sensation at gemstone fairs all round the world. The reason? In Pakistan, up on an inhospitable pass at some 4000 metres (13,120 ft.), a sensationally rich deposit of the finest peridots had been found. In tough climatic conditions which permitted the gemstones to be mined only during the summer months, the unusually large, fine crystals and fragments were brought down into the valley. These stones were finer than anything that had ever been seen before. And the deposits were so rich that the demand for peridots can, for the present, easily be satisfied.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> In order to emphasise the special quality of the peridots from Pakistan, these stones are offered as 'Kashmir peridots', following the famous Kashmir sapphires. Creative gemstone cutters have succee</span><span class="alltext">ded in cutting some fascinatingly beautiful one-off stones of more than 100 carats from some of the large, fine, clear crystals with their magnificent rich green!</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">How green? It all depends on the iron</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> This gemstone has no fewer than three names: 'peridot', 'chrysolite', from the Greek 'gold stone', and 'olivine', for the peridot is the gemstone form of the mineral olivine. In the gemstone trade it is called 'peridot', derived from the Greek word 'peridona', which means something like 'to give richness'.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> The peridot is one of the few gemstones which come in one colour only. The rich, green colour with the slight tinge of gold is caused by very fine traces of iron. From a chemical point of view, peridot is an iron magnesium silicate. The intensity of the colour depends on the amount of iron actually present. The colour itself can vary over all shades of yellowish green and olive, and even to a brownish green. Peridot is not particularly hard - only 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale - but it is easy to</span><span class="alltext"> look after and fairly robust. Peridot cat's eyes and star peridot are particularly rare and precious.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The most beautiful stones come from the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, the peridot as a gemstone also exists in Myanmar, China, the USA, Africa and Australia. Stones from East Burma, now known as Myanmar, have a vivid light green and fine inclusions with a silky shine to them. Peridot from Arizona, where it is popularly used in native American jewellery, often has somewhat yellowish or gold-brown nuances.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"><br /></span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Uncomplicated, but not for the cutter</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="alltext"> Th</span><span class="alltext">e peridot is cut in accordance with its crystal shape, mostly faceted or in </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqsFYMBgb9rdOSC0XSssiGobBBjKtQ_LmyeDp6UOYuZGatK1pMKw5CmAmhUh9unTo4lJ1JKnPinNlFVFElxCgkwuR2_OiDDKzH_aP4cGzZPdYWIh01r7F1qa9ZXSpmNlFvR9Epa8O9Rc/s1600/Stones_Peridot2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqsFYMBgb9rdOSC0XSssiGobBBjKtQ_LmyeDp6UOYuZGatK1pMKw5CmAmhUh9unTo4lJ1JKnPinNlFVFElxCgkwuR2_OiDDKzH_aP4cGzZPdYWIh01r7F1qa9ZXSpmNlFvR9Epa8O9Rc/s320/Stones_Peridot2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454633283001582866" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">classical table cuts, or round, antique, as an octahedron or oval. Smaller crystals are cut into standardised series stones, larger ones into imaginative one-offs. Cabochons are made if the material contains more inclusions, for the domed cut brings out the fine silky shine of the inclusions to their best. The cutters know full well that this gemstone is anything but easy to work with. The raw crystals can be very tricky and may crack easily. There is often a good deal of tension on the inside of the crystal. But once the cutter has succeeded in removing the coarser inclusions, the peridot is a precious stone with good wearing qualities which does not call for any special care.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">An ideal summer stone</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The peridot adds a wonderful variant to the colour spectrum of green gemstones. Increasingly, it is processed not only to one-offs, but also for use in series jewellery. And since the world of fashion is just in the process of rediscovering its love for the colour green, the popularity of this rich green gemstone is also very much on the up.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> Thanks to the rich finds in Pakistan and Afghanistan, there is enough raw material on the market, so the 'right stone' can now be found to cater for each individual taste and each pocket. Large, transparent stones of an intense colour are, however, rare and correspondingly expensive. The peridot is a gemstone that you should definitely get to know better. Its fine pistachio to olive green is the perfect complement to a fresh, light summer wardrobe.</span><br /></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-85577143299078845072010-03-30T20:02:00.000-07:002010-03-30T20:37:11.991-07:00Topaz<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvTkgeVMWDuikKadgcsoIMLVSfWyh2oNzezGF_StWxiSUYpuH2WmR4OarDQHwvP_-ecVmFydVuUly0WdCHYuMvtkC_KcYh9JKrHKhDPzIxAYU_RFK3qMIwgMBFdAW-T-ihjnFq9DfHxw/s1600/Topaz-imperial-004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvTkgeVMWDuikKadgcsoIMLVSfWyh2oNzezGF_StWxiSUYpuH2WmR4OarDQHwvP_-ecVmFydVuUly0WdCHYuMvtkC_KcYh9JKrHKhDPzIxAYU_RFK3qMIwgMBFdAW-T-ihjnFq9DfHxw/s400/Topaz-imperial-004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454628487283122818" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="alltext"><br /> </span><span class="alltext"><br /> It is a fluorine aluminium silicate and comes in yellow, yellow-brown, </span><span class="alltext">honey-yellow, flax, brown,</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMwFYM16vLuEaDkv4clc22cSFMU-JBvB_YFI8OpSZbw7dSZaknaybuFNbJfRta6Gf_eKZkhIdzTVfon8706VKTGbBm9WclWH_kTsV5XfR2Ih-H1Dx7-_btD1yFTDE7rUfD8o5rnSUKEQ/s1600/Stones_ImperialTopaz.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMwFYM16vLuEaDkv4clc22cSFMU-JBvB_YFI8OpSZbw7dSZaknaybuFNbJfRta6Gf_eKZkhIdzTVfon8706VKTGbBm9WclWH_kTsV5XfR2Ih-H1Dx7-_btD1yFTDE7rUfD8o5rnSUKEQ/s200/Stones_ImperialTopaz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454629182027695778" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext"> green, blue, light blue, red and pink ... and sometimes it has no colour at all. The topaz.</span><span class="alltext"> The topaz</span><span class="alltext"> has been known for at least 2000 years and is one of the </span><span class="alltext">gemstones which form the foundations of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. These so-called apocalyptic stones are intended to serve in protection against enemies and as a symbol of beauty and splendour. It cannot be proved conclusively whether the name of the topaz comes from the Sanskrit or the Greek, though the Greek name 'topazos' means 'green gemstone'. The Romans dedicated the topaz to Jupiter.<br /> </span><br /><span class="alltext"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The colour in which the topaz is most commonly found is yellow, and that is the colour in which it occurs in one of the major German gemstone rocks, the Schneckenstein (a topaz-bearing rock said to resemble a snail) in Saxony. In the 18th century, it was mined there during a period of over 60 years. However, most of the crystals were hardly a centimetre in diameter. You had to go to Siberia or Brazil to find crystals as large as your fist. Having said that, anyone who is interested can convince himself of the beauty of cut specimens in the topaz set in Dresden's Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault). The enormous and magnificent topaz from the Portuguese crown, the Braganza, was for a long time thought to be a diamond. It weighs 1680 ct..</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgFeOcJzTz6So5qf8CFA58gONEaBY4XrtXjNDi1F8XlDdwhIsYnMD-0RBIYiGlSl5855JLAi20lwoOf-1sRzQ3Jx1rmyPMH3UwGAzNbqJ7mXQeYV8y-TqhgbLU3BFAvJ07_MYZnBYGf4/s1600/Stones_BlueTopaz.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgFeOcJzTz6So5qf8CFA58gONEaBY4XrtXjNDi1F8XlDdwhIsYnMD-0RBIYiGlSl5855JLAi20lwoOf-1sRzQ3Jx1rmyPMH3UwGAzNbqJ7mXQeYV8y-TqhgbLU3BFAvJ07_MYZnBYGf4/s320/Stones_BlueTopaz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454629474245159186" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">In mysticism, the topaz is attributed with a cooling, styptic and appetising effect. It is said to dispel sadness, anger and nocturnal fears, to warn its wearer of poisons and protect him or her from sudden death. It is reputed to make men handsome and intelligent and sterile women fertile and happy. However, it is probably better not to rely too much on its magical powers, since it was also claimed that you could immerse your hand in boiling water after a topaz had been thrown into it and retract it again unharmed! It is the stone of the month November.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> In the Empire style, the topaz was still widespread, but then the more reasonably priced citrine took over from it and even usurped its name - gold topaz. Since then, the topaz has been a rather exotic figure in the jewellery trade, and has been given the additional predicate 'pure' to make it clear that the topaz, not the quartz topaz, is meant. And it is still waiting for its well deserved comeback to this day.</span></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-86571914324752960622010-03-30T19:48:00.000-07:002010-03-30T20:37:11.992-07:00Opals<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QRkUJhGWURBeNTO_oxw6VQWGjrqwfNhft0csXoUQNT5vWFiti6hqEgZYTjJUWjSZBXQE6NIqYOfY6XVCn-6iFUagD3bqoy9NvMCskX9kD7KMVdC60PA4qn8ccEgts2tk2ULwdCnCSmE/s1600/opal-040.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QRkUJhGWURBeNTO_oxw6VQWGjrqwfNhft0csXoUQNT5vWFiti6hqEgZYTjJUWjSZBXQE6NIqYOfY6XVCn-6iFUagD3bqoy9NvMCskX9kD7KMVdC60PA4qn8ccEgts2tk2ULwdCnCSmE/s400/opal-040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454625409017539954" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="alltext"><b><br /> </b>All of Nature’s splendour seems to be reflected in the manifold opulence of fine Opals: fire and </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym06NDUCkrtxYywlnz34nt8pcmXcqMfPHT0XGcdEQk35SEW3w1kqx6naK_GNXyj5usyxjugKsS45Lt3wlIrWDqw6TNSTFrRpdMTNiRt6TJrJNfU485gMDtWzpHtun1gwv-RPyqW3dgw8/s1600/Stones_BlackOpal1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym06NDUCkrtxYywlnz34nt8pcmXcqMfPHT0XGcdEQk35SEW3w1kqx6naK_GNXyj5usyxjugKsS45Lt3wlIrWDqw6TNSTFrRpdMTNiRt6TJrJNfU485gMDtWzpHtun1gwv-RPyqW3dgw8/s320/Stones_BlackOpal1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454625653841090194" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">lightnings, all the colours of the rainbow and the soft shine of far seas. Australia is the classical country of origin. Almost ninety-five per cent of all fine opals come from the dry and remote outback deserts.Numerous legends and tales surround this colourful gemstone, which can be traced back in its origins to a time long before our memory, to the ancient dream time of the Australian aborigines. It is reported in their legends that the creator came down to Earth on a rainbow, in order to bring the message of peace to all the humans. And at the very spot, where his foot touched the ground, the stones becam</span><span class="alltext">e alive and started sparkling in all the colours of the rainbow. That was the birth of the Opals.<br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The group of fine Opals includes quite a number of wonderful gemstones, which sh</span><span class="alltext">are one characteristic: they shine and sparkle in a continually changing play of colours full of fantasy, which experts describe as “opalising”. Depending on the kind, place of occurrence, and colour of the main body, we differentiate Dark or Black Opal, White or Light Opal, Milk or Crystal Opal, Boulder Opal, Opal Matrix, Yowah Nuts from Queensland – the so-called “picture stones“, and also Mexican and Fire Opal. Opal variations are practically unlimited. They all show in their own special way that unique play of colours – except for Fire Opal, which due to its transparency, however, is nevertheless also considered a Fine Opal specimen. If Opals are lacking the typical play of colours, they are simply named “Common Opal”.</span><br /></div><br /><span class="gemsubheadline"><span class="alltext"><b>Upala, op</b></span></span><span class="gemsubheadline"><span class="alltext"><b>allios or Opalus – fascination created by tiny spheres</b></span></span><span class="alltext"><b><br /> </b><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The name Opal was probably derived from Sanskrit “upala“, meaning ”valuable stone“. This was probably the root for the Greek term “opallios”, which translates as “colour change”. In the days of Roman antiquity there existed a so-called “opalus”, or a “stone from several elements”. So the ancient Romans may already have had an inkling why the Opals show such a striking play of colours. But we will come to this later …</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Pliny, the famous Roman author, called Opal a gemstone which combines the best possible characteristics of the most beautiful of gemstones: the fine sparkle of Almandine, the shining purple of Amethyst, the golden yellow of Topaz, and the deep blue of Sapphire, ”so that all colours shine and sparkle together in a beautiful combination“.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Up to the first half of the 19th century, Opals were relatively rare. But then their career boomed suddenly and made them one of the most popular gemstones, and the start of this devel</span><span class="alltext">opment brought them to the gemstone cutters of the gemstone centre of Idar-Oberstein. In the era of Art Deco the Opals experienced their flourishing, with contemporary gemstone artists preferring them to all other stones because of their subdued charm, which in turn was excellently suited to be combined with enamel, another very popular material of those days.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Opal’s colour play emanates a very special attraction and fascination. But what causes this phenomenon? This question was impossible to answer for a very long time. Only when in the 1960s a team of Australian scientists analysed Opals with an electron microscope, it was discovered that small spheres from silica gel caused interference and refraction manifestations, which are responsible for the fantastic play of colours. The spheres, which are arranged in more or less compact structures, succeed in dissecting the light on its passage through the gemstone and turning it into all the colours of the rainbow, always new and always different.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><span class="gemsubheadline"><b>Australia, classical Opal country</b></span><br /><span class="alltext"><b> </b><br /> </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Australia is the classical Opal country and today is the worldwide most important supplier of Fine Opals. Almost 95 per cent of all Opals come from Australian </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1XsiEOCrKv7qpFm7bBBownKcJtJ9hxiLdOmzbWLd90Juvt-w-XSM4w93YcNskycUg8I5zJBNEyv5quOgyMJgiO4YTazJKwCHy0NZ82QlDLaFZ9G38DI1SWBDo5nuDyKm30ni1My3Wz8/s1600/Stones_Opal2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1XsiEOCrKv7qpFm7bBBownKcJtJ9hxiLdOmzbWLd90Juvt-w-XSM4w93YcNskycUg8I5zJBNEyv5quOgyMJgiO4YTazJKwCHy0NZ82QlDLaFZ9G38DI1SWBDo5nuDyKm30ni1My3Wz8/s320/Stones_Opal2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454626153147586482" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">mines. The remaining five per cent are mined in Mexico, and in Brazil’s north, also in the US states of Idaho and Nevada, but recently the stones have also been found in Ethiopia and in the West African country of Mali.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The history of Australian Opal began actually millions of years ago, when parts of Australia were covered by a vast inland sea, and stone sediment was deposited along its shoreline. When the water masses flooded back, they flushed water containing silica into the resulting cavities and niches in the sedimentary rocks, and also the remains of plants and animals were deposited there. Slowly the silica stone transformed into Opal, for basically Opals are simply a combination of silica and water. Or, to be more precise: Opals are a gel from silica, with varying percentages of water.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> In 1849 the first Opal blocks were accidentally found on an Australian cattle station called Tarravilla . the first Opal prospectors started in 1890 at White Cliff mining the Opal rocks. And even today the eyes of Opal lovers light up when somebody mentions places like Whit</span><span class="alltext">e Cliffs, Lightning Ridge, Andamooka or Coober Peddy: for these are the legendary sites of the Australian Opal fields. The most famous one is probably Lightning Ridge, the place where mainly the coveted Black Opal is found. Andamooka, where Crystal Opal and Light Opal are brought to the light of day, cam boast to be the place where the probably largest Opal was found, with a weight of 6 ,843 kilograms, the “Andamooka Desert Flame”. Coober Peddy, by the way, is a word from Aborigine language meaning „white man in a hole“. This clearly describes how Opal was in fact mined: many Opal prospectors made their home in deep holes or caves in the ground, to protect themselves from the burning heat of daytime and from the icy winds of night time. Usually they worked only with tolls such as pick and shovel. Buckets full of soil, hopefully containing Opal rocks, were pulled up out of the depths of 5 to 40 m deep shafts by hand, for this is the depth of the Opal containing crevices and cavities, which are also mined nowadays.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> Being an Opal prospector is still not an easy job, although today of course there are some </span><span class="alltext">technical means available, such as trucks or conveyor belts. And still the hope to make the find of a lifetime which will let you live happily ever after attracts many men and women to come to the hot and dusty Australian outback.<br /> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">About cabochons, doublets and triplets</span></b><span class="alltext"><b><br /> </b><br /> </span><span class="alltext">In order to best bring out the play of colour in a Fine Opal, the </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yzIRG9-ttmQm1u7zBi2rtVv1nKJVgFZfeqDodvYgeiym-t7X1RBGD3gyuowftlOapeqtlsA8HaqwxY8CI9ROoxhokaDpfYWA1O5YSa0_FGGRSfJVPdiwbQKoFa0vVRO6HbhjufzmWfU/s1600/australia-diggings2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yzIRG9-ttmQm1u7zBi2rtVv1nKJVgFZfeqDodvYgeiym-t7X1RBGD3gyuowftlOapeqtlsA8HaqwxY8CI9ROoxhokaDpfYWA1O5YSa0_FGGRSfJVPdiwbQKoFa0vVRO6HbhjufzmWfU/s320/australia-diggings2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454626708825758690" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">stones are cut and polished to round or oval cabochons, or any other softly domed shape , depending on the raw material. Only the best qualities of Fire Opal, however, are suited to faceting. The Opal cutter will first of all carefully remove any impurities using a diamond cutting wheel, before working out the rough basic shape. The comes the fine cutting, the finishing with sandpaper and then the final polishing with a wet leather wheel.<br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Opal is often found as flat lenses, or thin layers, bigger pieces are rather rare. If you leave a thin but supporting layer of the harder mother rock, you will receive a pre-stage of the Opal-doublets which are frequently used today for mass produced jewellery. These are gemstone combinations consisting of a surface from millimetre-thin Opal plates, which have been mounted on Onyx, Obsidian, artificial black glass, or Potch-Opal. Triplets have been developed from this design, here the Opal layer receives an additional cover from Rock Crystal, Plastic, Hard Glass or Lead Glass for protection.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Opal love to be worn on the skin</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Due to the differing percentage of water, Opals may easily become brittle. They always contain water – usually between 2 and 6 per cent, but sometimes even more. Thus if stored too dry or exposed to heat over a longer period of time, Opals will show fissures and the play of colour will become paler. Therefore, Opal jewellery should be worn as often as possible, for then the gemstone will receive the needed humidity from the air and from the skin of its wearer.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> Opals are not very hard: they only achieve 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs’ scale. Therefore they appreciate a protective setting. In earlier days Opal’s sensitive surface was often oiled, but today also sealing them with colourless artificial resin has become quite popular.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">From Harlequin to Peacock: Opal experts lingo</span></b><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> When Opal experts talk about “harlequin”, “church windows” or “needle fire”, do not be surprised. They are probably discussing Opals. The play of colour in this stone is described with many imaginative terms for various structures and phenomena, like, for example, “flame opal”, “lightning and peacock opal”, or the above named “harlequin” and “church window”.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> Opal’s value is not only determined by the body colour, transparency and factors based on place of occurrence. (Body colour refers to the basic colour of the gemstone, which can be black, dark or light and coloured). It is also important if the stone is transparent, translucent or opaque. And the opalizing effect may also influence the transparency.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> Black Opal or Opal with a dark grey body shows the most brilliant play of colours imaginable. Crystal opal, which comes immediately after Black Opal in the hit list, should be more transparent with a deep play of colours. White or milky Opals show more diffuse colours and are the least expensive Opals. The occurrence-specific characteristics include, for instance, denominations such as “Black Opal from Lightning Ridge” (we are talking absolute top luxury here) or “Mexican Fire Opal”.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> The most important criterion for determining the price of an Opal, however, is the play of colour, the colours as such and their pattern. If the colour red appears when looking through the stone, all the other colours will appear also. For evaluating Opals the thickness of the Opal layer is considered, the beauty of the patterning, the cut, weight and finish. Finally the total impression will be decisive, and of course offer and demand will determine ho much you will have to pay for “your” Opal. If you are interested in a really valuable specimen, get an Opal expert to advise you, because it takes a real expert to know about the many criteria which determine the price.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">Opals and emotions</span></b><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> For ages people have been believing in the healing power of Opal. It is reported to be able to solve depressions and to help its wearer find the true and real love. Opals are supposed to further enhance the positive characteristics for people born under the zodiac sign of Cancer. Black Opal is recommended to those born under Scorpio, and Boulder Opal is the lucky stone for Aries.</span><br /><span class="alltext"> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> The fantastic colour play of Opal reflects changing emotions and moods of people. Fire and water, the sparkling images of Boulder Opal, the vivid light flashes of Black Opal or the soft shine of Milk Opal – striking contrasts characterise the colourful world of this fascinating gemstone. Maybe this is the reason why it depends on our daily mood which Opal we prefer. Opals are like human emotions: you always experience them different and anew.</span></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-53858088171273898742010-03-30T19:33:00.000-07:002010-03-30T20:37:11.992-07:00The amethyst<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBrF7jJBDo4mUfSkKhviPJod-cZWnDcIX-nYpBuJvFljFT42drrOgq85Z_8bCiWy2P0Jb8eLvc-njt47c1E03W-guDO5rnCGYdVYfzwfvZhbFJiyfbC4vOAJfStWaDkuRUCY3iD81STM/s1600/Amethyst-002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBrF7jJBDo4mUfSkKhviPJod-cZWnDcIX-nYpBuJvFljFT42drrOgq85Z_8bCiWy2P0Jb8eLvc-njt47c1E03W-guDO5rnCGYdVYfzwfvZhbFJiyfbC4vOAJfStWaDkuRUCY3iD81STM/s400/Amethyst-002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454621371931592098" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="alltext"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><br /> </b></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Its colour is as unique as it is seductive, though in fact this gemstone of all gemstones is said to protect its wearer against seduction. The amethyst is extravagance in violet. For many thousands of years, the most striking representative of the quartz family has been a jewel coveted by princes both ecclesiastical and secular. Moses described it as a symbol of the Spirit of God in the official robes of the High Priest of the Jews, and the Russian Empress Catherine the Great sent thousands of miners into the Urals to look for it. In popular belief, the amethyst offers protection against drunkenness - for the Greek words 'amethystos' mean 'not intoxicated' in translation. A more apt stone for the month of February, particularly if there is to be plenty going on in the way of carnival celebrations, could thus hardly be wished for.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> A large number of further miraculous powers are attributed to the amethyst in all </span><span class="alltext">sorts of cultures. It was said to protect crops against tempests and locusts, bring good fortune in war and in the hunt, drive out evil spirits and inspire the intellect. A little study of the works of Pliny will reveal that this gemstone, if worn round the neck on a cord made from dog's hair, affords protection against snakebite. Later, Hieronymus even reported that eagles placed an amethyst in their nest in order to protect their young from the selfsame danger. Apart from these powers, gemstone therapists say that the amethyst has a sobering and cleansing effect. Amethyst has also been said to quell excessive stomach acid and, according to Hildegard von Bingen, served to combat insect bites and beautify the skin. But the amethyst not only had a firm niche in medicine; it was also esteemed as a stone of friendship. And since it was thought to put the wearer in a chaste frame of mind and symbolise trust and piety, the amethyst came to occupy a very prominent position in the ornaments of the Catholic clergy over the centuries. It was the stone of bishops and cardinals; we find it in prelates' crosses and in the so-called Papal Ring (Italian, 15th century) in the Jewellery Museum in Pforzheim.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> However, the most beautiful of all crystal quartzes also posed one or two riddles for the scientists, and indeed they still haven't been completely solved to this day. The amethyst has its hardness (7), its moderate refraction and its weight in common with the other quartzes, but the crystal structure is different, and it is most unconventional. The construction is stratified, as a result of which areas and lamellae of varying colour intensity often come about. This explains why there are relatively few large cut amethysts of an evenly distributed dark colour, in spite of its having been found so abundantly in all parts of the world. It is only in the last few years that scientists have been fairly certain of having found the real cause of the colour. It is now attributed to certain iron constituents in connection with natural radioactive radiation.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> One thing that has been known for a long time, on the other hand, is the fact that the amethyst changes its colour on being heated. Smoky stones are transformed at temperatures of as </span><span class="alltext">little as 250 degrees to a shining yellow to brownish-red, whilst clear ones, i.e. those with a high degree of transparency, become yellow or colourless at 400 degrees. Now and then Nature gives us a surprise by having created bicoloured stones, like the ones recently found in Bolivia in the form of causticised crystal nuggets. This variety is known as ametrine, for in its formation certain energy states of iron introduce violet areas to the yellow citrine. At best, flat jewellery with a three-spoked star can be cut from it. However, the highlight for esoterics is that the energy fields can in fact be made visible in polarised light. The Henn Brothers of Idar-Oberstein even supply the photos to go with it.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> Some amethysts pale almost to colourlessness in daylight. The reason for this has not yet </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf74fgm_AaHC92rZYVIrBkzExnNxSvfJp9HlOnh9_3DM4-bwAfcIetHMPV43KqTk5-4-q5IPb1Pbmyhu8ymcw9bJx86GlyK0bYAHGq9Dr5PXca4Z285U33h63exFj77Kh0UB0rcL3tKmM/s1600/Stones_Amethyst.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf74fgm_AaHC92rZYVIrBkzExnNxSvfJp9HlOnh9_3DM4-bwAfcIetHMPV43KqTk5-4-q5IPb1Pbmyhu8ymcw9bJx86GlyK0bYAHGq9Dr5PXca4Z285U33h63exFj77Kh0UB0rcL3tKmM/s320/Stones_Amethyst.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454622303831264258" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">been</span><span class="alltext"> discovered, but it is possible to re-colour them by means of radium radiation. The fact that these stones can lose their colour makes it obvious that amethyst jewellery should not be worn while sunbathing, in a solarium or in a discotheque with black light. Sudden changes of temperature can also be harmful to the stone.</span><span class="alltext"> The deposits with the greatest economic significance are in various states in southern Brazil and in neighbouring Uruguay. The third major export country is Madagascar. However, this gemstone is spread all over the world. Good specimens were found in Aztec graves, though the deposits from which they were extracted are no longer known today. On the Canadian side of Lake Superior in North America, there is a place named Amethyst Harbor.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">The violet quartz is found there in ample quantities, though rarely in gemstone quality. The fame of Idar-Oberstein, the German gemstone centre, is based on domestic amethyst finds. In earlier times, raw material was delivered there from the Zillertal Alps. When these nearby deposits ceased to yield, the old cutters' tradition was able to be preserved thanks to supplies organised by German emigrés in South America. Russian amethysts, which were mainly mined in winter in the Urals, were once famous for their particularly beautiful colour, which shone magnificently even in artificial light. In Tibet there were amethyst rosaries, for there the gemstone was dedicated to Buddha and was said to promote clarity of mind. In Sri Lanka, stones which have rolled down on their own are found in debris.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> However, the amethyst is more likely to turn up in spaces lining agate almonds and druses in igneous rocks. What was presumed to be the largest-ever cavity was discovered in 1900 in Rio Grande do Sul. The almond measured ten by five by three metres (33 by 16 by 10 ft.) and weighed an estimated eight tonnes. The dark violet amethysts, some as large as a man's fist, may have weighed some 700 cwt. altogether. There is a piece weighing 200 kilogrammes, taken from this Brazilian treasure, in the Washington Museum. In recent times, a find in the USA has been making headlines. In July 1993, a three-metre druse was found in Maine, which contained well over 1000 kilogrammes of cuttable amethyst, some of it in crystals 19 cm in length.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The South American deposits in particular, which were not discovered until the nineteenth century, brought down the price of the violet gemstone. The amethyst bracelet of Queen Charlotte of England, which was so famous at the beginning of the 18th century, its value being estimated at 2000 pounds sterling at that time, was apparently worth only 100 pounds 200 years later. However, the price has a close relationship with the quality, and the quality varies immensely. Most of the material from Brazil is light-coloured, a tender purple. In Madagascar, it is generally red or violet hues which are found. Uruguay supplies the most beautiful and the deepest colour, but it is mostly blemished. Thus immaculate stones of the finest violet still fetch carat prices of well over a hundred euros. Mounted with diamond braid trimming, as has been the custom for some 100 years, enchanting pieces of jewellery are thus created. No wonder that people find it worth going to the trouble of producing imitations and synthetics.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> In ancient times, amethyst was already being engraved and cut into sculptured forms, witness the bust of Trajan which Napoleon captured in Berlin. Amethyst quartz, banded with whitish layers, is particularly good to work with, though it is only ever either translucent or opaque or somewhere in between. In earlier times, people liked to drink wine from amethyst cups, which brings us back to the stone's protective function against alcoholism. According to the ancient Greek saga, Diana turned a nymph whom Bacchus loved into an amethyst; hence the term Bacchus stone. Anyone wishing to protect a drunkard from delirium mixed some pulverised amethyst into the person's drink.</span></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-7553786043323421622010-03-30T19:20:00.000-07:002010-03-30T19:32:13.446-07:00Sapphire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTACK_mae8gy_OYVjTgw40aCY5h6E88d6JGfrh2TtMn6VgB1hRTKwzYtZGiUyD99trEpRgKwWC9-GdC2-XRZEWQOasCGib3Iw7BG9gxCPLdhUwXh1FJbb5jl0GkuPj6l8AthXI263eHM/s1600/Sapphire-017.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTACK_mae8gy_OYVjTgw40aCY5h6E88d6JGfrh2TtMn6VgB1hRTKwzYtZGiUyD99trEpRgKwWC9-GdC2-XRZEWQOasCGib3Iw7BG9gxCPLdhUwXh1FJbb5jl0GkuPj6l8AthXI263eHM/s400/Sapphire-017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454618298986397538" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="alltext">In earlier times, some people believed that the firmament was an </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50R9-MdhjEFfUKxKIcBzPxBns5QxmPgAVJX8T7X3LfhmgMra4s4hOHx9Ej0GAbRYooxTbr4Mgyv_OCImYScQlsy3hgP2_rrQXwLcvmzF3y76vcuqQdHLpKRFuSkm7usjWRXPyRjdZ1FE/s1600/Stones_BlueSapphire1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50R9-MdhjEFfUKxKIcBzPxBns5QxmPgAVJX8T7X3LfhmgMra4s4hOHx9Ej0GAbRYooxTbr4Mgyv_OCImYScQlsy3hgP2_rrQXwLcvmzF3y76vcuqQdHLpKRFuSkm7usjWRXPyRjdZ1FE/s320/Stones_BlueSapphire1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454618701642861778" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">enormous blue sapphire in which the Earth was embedded. Could there be a more apt image to describe the beauty of an immaculate sapphire? And yet this gem comes not in one but in all the blue shades of that firmament, from the deep blue of the evening sky to the shining mid-blue of a lovely summer's day which casts its spell over us. However, this m</span><span class="alltext">agnificent gemstone also comes in many other colours: not only in the transparent greyish-blue of a distant horizon but also in the gloriously colourful play of light in a sunset – in yellow, pink, orange and purple. Sapphires really are gems of the sky, although they are found in the hard ground of our 'blue planet'.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> Blue is the main colour of the sapphire. Blue is also the favourite colour of some 50 per cent of all people, men and women alike. We associate this colour, strongly linked to the sapphire as it is, with feelings of sympathy and harmony, friendship and loyalty: feelings which belong to qualities that prove their worth in the long term – feelings in which it is not so much effervescent passion that is to the fore, but rather composure, mutual understanding and indestructible trust. Thus the blue of the sapphire has become a colour which fits in with everything that is c</span><span class="alltext">onstant and reliable. That is one of the reasons why women in many countries wish for a sapphire ring on their engagement. The sapphire symbo</span><span class="alltext">lises loyalty, but at the same time it gives expression to people's love and longing. Perhaps the most famous example of this blue is to be found in music, in George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". And the blue of the sapphire even appears where nothing at all counts except clear-sightedness and concentrated mental effort. The first computer which succeeded in defeating a world chess champion bore the remarkable name 'Deep Blue'.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="gemsubheadline">What makes the sapphire so fancy?</span></b><br /></div><span class="alltext"><b> <br /> </b></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Its beau</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YJZBGmF6menHVrb0zzQwqFDaFaTw3dgxzdhccdPZ6WSZIjsXTlC_0ROaWLQfHjHtOyVaumfXeGtbWcqsQ0FIiwbk3w1coRtdx6f6rISILZ_q1DgTdl2DTm0yEMF3xhKeK8_ItF2td8U/s1600/sapphires_colors_gembygem-k.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YJZBGmF6menHVrb0zzQwqFDaFaTw3dgxzdhccdPZ6WSZIjsXTlC_0ROaWLQfHjHtOyVaumfXeGtbWcqsQ0FIiwbk3w1coRtdx6f6rISILZ_q1DgTdl2DTm0yEMF3xhKeK8_ItF2td8U/s320/sapphires_colors_gembygem-k.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454619110163910850" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">ty, its magnificent colours, its transparency, but also its constancy and durability are qualities associated with this gemstone by gemstone lovers and specialists alike. (This does not only apply to the blue sapphire, but more of that later on). The sapphire belongs to the corundum group, the members of which are characterised by their excellent hardness (9 on the Mohs scale). Indeed their hardne</span><span class="alltext">ss is exceeded only by that of the diamond – and the diamond is the hardest mineral on Earth! Thanks to that hardness, sapphires are easy to look after, requiring no more than the usual care on the part of the wearer.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> The gemstones in the corundum group consist of pure aluminium oxide which crystallised into wonderful gemstones a long time ago as a result of pressure and heat at a great depth. The presence of small amounts of other elements, especially iron and chrome, are responsible for the colouring, turning a crystal that was basically white into a blue, red, yellow, pink or greenish sapphire. However, this does not mean that every corundum is also a sapphire. For centuries there were differences of opinion among the specialists as to which stones deserved to be called sapphires. Finally, it was agreed that the ruby-red ones, coloured by chrome, should be called 'rubies' and all those which were not ruby-red 'sapphires'.<br /> <br /> If there is talk of the sapphire, most gemstone aficionados think immediately of a velvety blue. It's a versatile colour that becomes many wearers. A blue sapphire fits in best with a well balanced lifestyle in which reliability and temperament run together and there is always a readiness to encounter things new – as with the woman who wears it. The fact that this magnificent gemstone also comes in a large number of other colours was known for a lo</span><span class="alltext">ng time almost only to insiders. In the trade, sapphires which are not blue are referred to as 'fancies'. In order to make it easier to differentiate between them, they are referred to not only by their gemstone name but also by a description of their colour. In other words, fancy sapphires are described as yellow, purple, pink, green or white sapphires. Fancy sapphires are pure individualism and are just made for lovers of individualistic coloured stone jewellery. They are currently available in a positively enchanting variety of designs - as ring stones, necklace pendants or ear jewellery, as solitaires, strung elegantly together or as sparkling pavée.<br /> <br /> However, the sapphire has yet more surprises in store. For example there is an orange variety with a fine pink undertone which bears the poetic name 'padparadscha', which means something like 'lotus flower'. The star sapphires are another rarity, half-dome-cut sapphires with a starlike light effect which seems to glide across the surface of the stone when it is moved. There are said to have been gemstone lovers who fell in love with these sapphire rarities for all time. And indeed the permanence of relationships is one of the features that are said to belong </span><span class="alltext">to this gemstone.</span><br /><br /><span class="gemsubheadline"><b>Top-quality sapphires are rare</b></span><span class="alltext"><b><br /><br /></b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="alltext">Sapphires, call them gemstones of the sky though we may, lie well hidden </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgKq1j7nVA-DRh-V7oSzxztShrQnwZ6GTKVDEi2-7VG5L6OBPXA-qi8DltuPnokNWpfvrDaipcMbpvr1-icrrDK09QnWDnMXZ5KzpMFVEFbysfD8Ey_FhYZhKzuhEaMt9lbgjik9tJok/s1600/Stones_BlueSapphire2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgKq1j7nVA-DRh-V7oSzxztShrQnwZ6GTKVDEi2-7VG5L6OBPXA-qi8DltuPnokNWpfvrDaipcMbpvr1-icrrDK09QnWDnMXZ5KzpMFVEFbysfD8Ey_FhYZhKzuhEaMt9lbgjik9tJok/s320/Stones_BlueSapphire2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454619505543878434" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">in just a few places, and first have to be brought to light through hard work. Sapphires are found in India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa. From the gemstone mines, the raw crystals are first taken to the cutting-centres where they are turned into sparkling gemstones by skilled hands. When cutting a sapphire, indeed, the cutter has to muster all his skill, for these gemstones are not only hard. Depending on the angle from which you look at them they also have different colours and intensities of colour. So it is the job of the cutter to orientate the raw crystals in such a way that the colour is brought out to its best advantage.</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> Depending on where they were found, the colour intensity and hue of the cut stones vary, which means, later on, that the wearer is rather spoilt for choice. Should she perhaps go for a mid-blue stone which will remind her even on rainy days of that shining summer sky? Or should she prefer a lighter blue because it will continue to sparkle vivaciously when evening falls? The bright light of day makes most sapphires shine more vividly than the more subdued artificial light of evening. So in fact it is not, as is often claimed, the darkest tone that is the most coveted colour of the blue sapphire, but an intense, rich, full blue which still looks blue in poor artificial light.<br /> <br /> Specialists and connoisseurs regard the Kashmir colour with its velvety shine as the most beautiful and most valuable blue. These magnificent gemstones from Kashmir, found in 1880 after a landslide at an altitude of 16,000 feet and mined intensively over a period of eight years, were to have a lasting influence on people's idea of the colour of a first-class sapphire. Typical of the Kashmir colour is a pure, intense blue with a very subtle violet undertone, which is intensified yet more by a fine, silky shine. It is said that this hue does not change in artificial light. But the Burmese colour is also regarded as particularly valuable. It ranges from a rich, full royal blue to a deep cornflower blue.<br /> <br /> The oldest sapphire finds are in Ceylon, or Sri Lanka as it is known today. There, people were already digging for gemstones in ancient times. The specialist recognises Ceylon sapphires by the luminosity of their light to mid-blue colours. Having said that, most blue sapphires come either from Australia or from Thailand.<br /> <br /> Their value depends on their size, colour and transparency. With stones of very fine quality, these are, however, not the only main criteria, the origin of the gem also playing a major role. Neither is the colour itself necessarily a function of the geographical origin of a sapphire, which explains the great differences in price between the various qualities. The most valuable are genuine Kashmir stones. Burmese sapphires are valued almost as highly, and then come the sapphires from Ceylon. The possibility of the gemstone's having undergone some treatment or other is also a factor in determining the price, since gemstones which can be guaranteed untreated are becoming more and more sought-after in this age of gemstone cosmetics. And if the stone selected then also happens to be a genuine, certificated Kashmir or Burmese, the price will probably reflect the enthusiasm of the true gemstone lover.<br /> <br /> It is not often that daring pioneers discover gemstones on a scale such as was the case on Madagascar a few years ago, when a gemstone deposit covering an area of several miles was found in the south-east of the island. Since then, not only have there been enough blue sapphires in the trade, but also some splendid pink and yellow sapphires of great beauty and transparency. Meanwhile, experts in Tanzania have also found initial evidence of two large-scale gemstone deposits in the form of some good, if not very large sapphire crystals coloured blue, green, yellow and orange. And the third country to register new finds recently was Brazil, where sapphires ranging from blue to purple and pink have been discovered. So lovers of the sapphire need not worry: there will, in future, be enough of these 'heavenly' gems with the fine colour spectrum. Top-quality sapphires, however, remain extremely rare in all the gemstone mines of the world.</span><br /></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-46837812260295161692010-03-29T23:50:00.001-07:002010-03-30T00:14:58.589-07:00Gemstones of Ruby<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA165v4MkqlPUL21PU8NeZmf1zoMVdFTB-gJXWK2rshpTjxLsE6ksK1mmwfB0OO-AenqrONQYc5o0C3u3fPvAR3JkA-g1z_cZSHxrybECMoky6IEOfp-rxsDUXtLJ0urWt3yxes5riY4/s1600/Ruby-055.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA165v4MkqlPUL21PU8NeZmf1zoMVdFTB-gJXWK2rshpTjxLsE6ksK1mmwfB0OO-AenqrONQYc5o0C3u3fPvAR3JkA-g1z_cZSHxrybECMoky6IEOfp-rxsDUXtLJ0urWt3yxes5riY4/s400/Ruby-055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454316656665489810" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIqlaqrWgOukfufYrz1C3LrZeXsH4f-paV9XUKhYiQNdjlPWY3TAPSOJ1sQeLH5RX99ZWyvcDUI2Br0fM5rDTRAEAPfceebFx2vJsywOrfMsujC7_C6p5B9n6ph8E4_aEa2PLsXK1444/s1600/Stones_Ruby2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIqlaqrWgOukfufYrz1C3LrZeXsH4f-paV9XUKhYiQNdjlPWY3TAPSOJ1sQeLH5RX99ZWyvcDUI2Br0fM5rDTRAEAPfceebFx2vJsywOrfMsujC7_C6p5B9n6ph8E4_aEa2PLsXK1444/s320/Stones_Ruby2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454316837523706002" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Which colour would you spontaneously associate with love and vivacity, passion and power? It's obvious, isn't it? Red. Red is the colour of love. It radiates warmth and a strong sense of vitality. And red is also the colour of the ruby, the king of the gemstones. In the fascinating world of gemstones, the ruby is the undisputed ruler. For thousands of years, the ruby has been considered one of the most valuable gemstones on Earth. It has everything a precious stone should have: magnificent colour, excellent hardness and outstanding brilliance. In addition to that, it is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in its finer qualities. For a long time India was regarded as the ruby's classical country of origin. In the major works of Indian literature, a rich store of knowledge about gemstones has been handed down over a period of more than two thousand years. The term 'corundum', which we use today, is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kuruvinda'. The Sanskrit word for ruby is 'ratnaraj', which means something like 'king of the gemstones'. And it was a royal welcome indeed which used to be prepared for it. Whenever a particularly beautiful ruby crystal was found, the ruler sent high dignitaries out to meet the precious gemstone and welcome it in appropriate style. Today, rubies still decorate the insignia of many royal households. But are they really all genuine rubies? Read on to find out more! !<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsAIwpLP6oPLIi9QMuULYRexYbd1HSbrfpiMXu9iaQ9bEVIalVlCz4yYhYxXmyuXixdjgbDoqI4E6m28d5Hre-xnvdz0AEAcigAbhUTRKuxyuzb-MXxOtGYBRJtbiVQJ_3FX-_za0gUU/s1600/ruby_crystal.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsAIwpLP6oPLIi9QMuULYRexYbd1HSbrfpiMXu9iaQ9bEVIalVlCz4yYhYxXmyuXixdjgbDoqI4E6m28d5Hre-xnvdz0AEAcigAbhUTRKuxyuzb-MXxOtGYBRJtbiVQJ_3FX-_za0gUU/s320/ruby_crystal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454317248837805954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Only a little bit of chrome</span> Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum, one of the hardest minerals on Earth, of which the sapphire is also a variety. Pure corundum is colourless. Slight traces of elements such as chrome, iron, titanium or vanadium are responsible for the colour. These gemstones have excellent hardness. On the Mohs scale their score of 9 is second only to that of the diamond. Only red corundum is entitled to be called ruby, all other colours being classified as sapphires. The close relationship between the ruby and the sapphire has only been known since the beginning of the 19th century. Up to that time, red garnets or spinels were also thought to be rubies. (That, indeed, is why the 'Black Ruby' and the 'Timur Ruby', two of the British Crown Jewels, were so named, when they are not actually rubies at all, but spinels.)<br /><br />Ruby, this magnificent red variety from the multi-coloured corundum family, consists of aluminium oxide and chrome as well as very fine traces of other elements - depending on which deposit it was from. In really fine colours and good clarity, however, this gemstone occurs only very rarely in the world's mines. Somewhat paradoxically, it is actually the colouring element chrome which is responsible for this scarcity. True enough, millions of years ago, when the gemstones were being created deep inside the core of the Earth, chrome was the element which gave the ruby its wonderful colour. But at the same time it was also responsible for causing a multitude of fissures and cracks inside the crystals. Thus only very few ruby crystals were given the good conditions in which they could grow undisturbed to considerable sizes and crystallise to form perfect gemstones. For this reason, rubies of more than 3 carats in size are very rare. So it is no wonder that rubies with hardly any inclusions are so valuable that in good colours and larger sizes they achieve top prices at auctions, surpassing even those paid for diamonds in the same category.<br /><br />Some rubies display a wonderful silky shine, the so-called 'silk' of the ruby. This phenomenon is caused by very fine needles of rutile. And now and then one of the rare star rubies is found. Here too, the mineral rutile is involved: having formed a star-shaped deposit within the ruby, it causes a captivating light effect known by the experts as asterism. If rubies of this kind are cut as half-dome shaped cabochons, the result is a six-spoked star which seems to glide magically across the surface of the stone when the latter is moved. Star rubies are precious rarities. Their value depends on the beauty and attractiveness of the colour and, though only to a lesser extent, on their transparency. Fine star rubies, however, should always display rays which are fully formed all the way to the imaginary horizontal line which runs through the middle of the stone, and the star itself should be situated right in the centre.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ruby-red means passion</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCAuCBOJ4kBIJgiqCnWdg7oVcjQK2Eq7hHi2ZkMPyqcVc0l_mBvhXI5P2SZkAOOSDnbtyT6hT-WBbnPr9foe1JIH1CrzwA3TVDTaNogL5YeU8jPqB52nEzLRn3rB8odp3-J-mWe-ucBA/s1600/rubynecklace1.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCAuCBOJ4kBIJgiqCnWdg7oVcjQK2Eq7hHi2ZkMPyqcVc0l_mBvhXI5P2SZkAOOSDnbtyT6hT-WBbnPr9foe1JIH1CrzwA3TVDTaNogL5YeU8jPqB52nEzLRn3rB8odp3-J-mWe-ucBA/s320/rubynecklace1.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454318847646658018" border="0" /></a> Red for ruby. Ruby-red. The most important thing about this precious stone is its colour. It was not for no reason that the name 'ruby' was derived from the Latin word 'rubens', meaning 'red'. The red of the ruby is incomparable: warm and fiery. Two magical elements are associated with the symbolism of this colour: fire and blood, implying warmth and life for mankind. So ruby-red is not just any old colour, no, it is absolutely undiluted, hot, passionate, powerful colour. Like no other gemstone, the ruby is the perfect way to express powerful feelings. Instead of symbolising a calm, controlled affection, a ring set with a precious ruby bears witness to that passionate, unbridled love that people can feel for each other.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Birthplaces of fine rubies</span><br />Which is the most beautiful ruby-red? Good question. The red of a ruby may involve very different nuances depending on its origin. The range of those nuances is quite wide, and could perhaps be compared to hotel categories, from luxury accommodation down to a plain inn or hostel. For example, if the gemstone experts refer to a 'Burmese ruby', they are talking about the top luxury category. However, it does not necessarily follow that the stone is of Burmese origin. It is basically an indication of the fact that the colour of the ruby in question is that typically shown by stones from the famous deposits in Burma (now Myanmar): a rich, full red with a slightly bluish hue. The colour is sometimes referred to as 'pigeon-blood-red', but the term 'Burmese colour' is a more fitting description. A connoisseur will immediately associate this colour with the legendary 'Mogok Stone Tract' and the gemstone centre of Mogok in the North of Myanmar. Here, the country's famous ruby deposits lie in a mountain valley surrounded by high peaks. Painstakingly, gemstones of an irresistible luminosity are brought to light in the 'valley of the rubies'. Unfortunately, really fine qualities are quite rare even here. The colour of a Burmese ruby is regarded as exceptionally vivid. It is said to display its unique brilliance in any light, be it natural or artificial.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVT8YQgnqa-JeTPlyLqtP5ajOMU276VvlclJvd0pWLT53zdenoI6tQ9fO88UPZSIoBLCtJzGzPOt_FKXeUxh-P2DQe87KqJYmz9THBiNuzkv9E4KRRi-z_Z4eDqRju-QrF1rsRxzI_vw/s1600/Stones_Ruby.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVT8YQgnqa-JeTPlyLqtP5ajOMU276VvlclJvd0pWLT53zdenoI6tQ9fO88UPZSIoBLCtJzGzPOt_FKXeUxh-P2DQe87KqJYmz9THBiNuzkv9E4KRRi-z_Z4eDqRju-QrF1rsRxzI_vw/s320/Stones_Ruby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454319417776759906" border="0" /></a>The journey to the world's most important ruby deposits takes us further on to the small town of Mong Hsu in the North-East of Myanmar, where the most important ruby deposits of the nineties lie. Originally, it was believed that these rubies would hardly prove suitable for use in jewellery, since untreated Mong Hsu ruby crystals actually display two colours: a purple to black core and a bright red periphery. Only when it had been discovered that the dark core could be turned into deep red by means of heat treatment did rubies from Mong Hsu begin to find their way on to the jewellery market. Today, the Mong Hsu gemstone mines are still among the most important ruby suppliers. In the main, they offer heat-treated rubies in commercial qualities and sizes between 0.5 and 3 carats.<br /><br />Ruby deposits also exist in neighbouring Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Rubies of Vietnamese origin generally display a slightly purplish hue. Rubies from Thailand, another classical supplier, however, often have a darker red which tends towards brown. This 'Siamese colour' - an elegantly muted deep red - is considered second in beauty only to the Burmese colour, and is especially popular in the USA. Ceylon rubies, which have now become very rare, are mainly light red, like ripe raspberries.<br /><br />Other ruby deposits are located in Northern Pakistan in the Hunza Valley, Kashmir, Tadzhikistan, Laos, Nepal, and Afghanistan. But rubies are also produced in India, where deposits with relatively large crystals were discovered in the federal states of Mysore and Orissa. These crystals have many inclusions, but they are, nevertheless, eminently suited to being cut as beads or cabochons.<br /><br />Lately, people have begun to talk about East Africa as a source of rubies. Straight after their discovery in the 1960s, rubies from Kenya and Tanzania surprised the experts by their beautiful, strong colour, which may vary from light to dark red. But in the African mines too, fine and clear rubies of good colour, purity and size are very rare. Usually the qualities mined are of a merely average quality.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Colour above (almost) everything</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXKT627LwH5pPth33tTjfK-UYy2wmfm7BDy_rLSKBxW9yz4ygXAXXOl3BiuuT5qoR59bcR8uj0TWMEcgV4e38YHJv6gLgDTv4XIPUZafiphV4mhtusdHbIHA7PtvCD8BH8nJu8aSIAQE/s1600/Stones_StarRuby1-1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXKT627LwH5pPth33tTjfK-UYy2wmfm7BDy_rLSKBxW9yz4ygXAXXOl3BiuuT5qoR59bcR8uj0TWMEcgV4e38YHJv6gLgDTv4XIPUZafiphV4mhtusdHbIHA7PtvCD8BH8nJu8aSIAQE/s320/Stones_StarRuby1-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454319679448249954" border="0" /></a> As we have said, colour is a ruby's most important feature. Its transparency is only of secondary importance. So inclusions do not impair the quality of a ruby unless they decrease the transparency of the stone or are located right in the centre of its table. On the contrary: inclusions within a ruby could be said to be its 'fingerprint', a statement of its individuality and, at the same time, proof of its genuineness and natural origin. The cut is essential: only a perfect cut will underline the beauty of this valuable and precious stone in a way befitting the 'king of the gemstones'. However, a really perfect ruby is as rare as perfect love. If you do come across it, it will cost a small fortune. But when you have found 'your' ruby, don't hesitate: hang on to it! </div></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-43093334968540290162010-03-29T23:39:00.000-07:002010-03-29T23:48:46.124-07:00Emerald<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirG_aZW588rQY1xhV9S0_-Z34IWi2q0Ku8_BgONiSWAYMtwKsPTzlwNaQbzKwLOgaqdrnzOxr9c5-rHcxy5JUrH1ZSR8zwGM20UiiwA4MSYE9wEt3bUCaCSynFMXQD9_AHDJOc3yhFxI4/s1600/Emerald-056.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirG_aZW588rQY1xhV9S0_-Z34IWi2q0Ku8_BgONiSWAYMtwKsPTzlwNaQbzKwLOgaqdrnzOxr9c5-rHcxy5JUrH1ZSR8zwGM20UiiwA4MSYE9wEt3bUCaCSynFMXQD9_AHDJOc3yhFxI4/s400/Emerald-056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454313415842998690" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Emeralds are f</span><span class="alltext">ascinating gemstones. They have the most beautiful, most intense and most radiant green that can possibly be imagined: emerald green. Inclusions are tolerate</span><span class="alltext">d. In top quality, fine emeralds are even more valuable than diamonds.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext"> The name emerald comes from the Greek 'smaragdos' via the Old French 'esmeralde', and really just means 'green gemstone'. Innumerable fantastic stories have grown up ar</span><span class="alltext">ound this magnificent gem. The Incas and Aztecs of South America, where the best emeralds are still found today, regarded the emerald as a holy gemstone. However, probably the oldest known finds were once made near the Red Sea in Egypt. Having said that, these gemstone mines, already exploited by Egyptian pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 B.C. and later referred to as 'Cleopatra's Mines', had already been exhausted by the time they were rediscovered in the early 19th century.<br /><br /></span><span class="alltext">Written many centuries ago, the Vedas, the holy scriptures of the Indians, say of the precious </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhzo52zXHVwIViyad0bNXkj2cTYGBmPeOlXRacYpBcgQ0jsTRYtGbiAsYH0eBRCXJTLY4KeeHEOs9DU8E5kNfyEdbuzmDkI2DysMWEN09613C1zCuh31ptM6bqTlp-tZA2qBC0X8UTlA/s1600/Stones_Emerald.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhzo52zXHVwIViyad0bNXkj2cTYGBmPeOlXRacYpBcgQ0jsTRYtGbiAsYH0eBRCXJTLY4KeeHEOs9DU8E5kNfyEdbuzmDkI2DysMWEN09613C1zCuh31ptM6bqTlp-tZA2qBC0X8UTlA/s320/Stones_Emerald.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454314241205460722" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">green gems and their healing properties: 'Emeralds promise good luck ...'; and 'The emerald enhances the well-being ...'. So it was no wonder that the treasure chests of Indian maharajas and maharanis contained wonderful emerald</span><span class="alltext">s. One of the world's largest is the so-called 'Mogul Emerald'. It dates from 1695, weighs 217.80 carats, and is some 10cm tall. One side of it is inscribed with prayer texts, and engraved </span><span class="alltext">on the other there are magnificent floral ornaments. This legendary emerald was auctioned by Christie's of London to an unidentified buyer for 2.2m US Dollars on September 28th 2001.<br /> <br /> Emeralds have been held in high esteem since ancient times. For that reason, some of the most famous emeralds are to be seen in museums and collections. The New York Museum of Natural History, for example, has an exhibit in which a cup made of pure emerald which belonged to the Emperor Jehangir is shown next to the 'Patricia', one of the largest Colombian emerald crystals, which weighs 632 carats. The collection of the Bank of Bogota includes five valuable emerald crystals with weights of between 220 and 1796 carats, and splendid emeralds also form part of the Iranian National Treasury, adorning, for example, the diadem of the former Empress Farah. The Turkish sultans also loved emeralds. In Istanbul's Topkapi Palace there are exhibits with items of jewellery, writing-implements and d</span><span class="alltext">aggers, each lavishly adorned with emeralds and other gems</span><span class="alltext">.</span><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /> </span><span class="gemsubheadline"><b>The green of life and of love</b></span><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /> The green of the emerald is the colour of life and of the springtime, which comes round again and again. But it has also, for centuries, been the colour of beauty and of constant love. In ancient Rome, green was the colour of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love. And today, this colour still occupies a special position in many cultures and religions. Green, for example, is the holy colour of Islam. Many of the states of the Arab League have green in their flags as a symbol of the unity of their faith. Yet this colour has a high status in the Catholic Church too, where green is regarded as the most natural and the most elemental of the liturgical colours.<br /> <br /> The magnificent green of the emerald is a colour which conveys harmony, love of Nature and elemental joie de vivre. The human eye can never see enough of this unique colour</span><span class="alltext">. Pliny commented that green gladdened the eye without tiring it. Green is perceived as fresh and vivid, never as monotonous. And in view of the fact that this colour always changes somewhat between the bright light of day and the artificial light of a lamp, emerald green retains its lively vigour in all its nuances.</span><span class="alltext"><br /></span><br /><span class="gemsubheadline"><b>Fingerprints of nature</b></span><span class="alltext"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdEHD9sIJUs3RyPNJsyBXjIUPWIE-bmB27zz9goNtzC7TodHdBjJXpmn-z6VAgmY83S3VqRkKUdtUA_TURMJb1rtMUfU6IsjIw82LibmmV8LHJH5k8ACPr6BSlQ5qBZqV4IntX2RdgjE/s1600/Stones_EmeraldRough.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdEHD9sIJUs3RyPNJsyBXjIUPWIE-bmB27zz9goNtzC7TodHdBjJXpmn-z6VAgmY83S3VqRkKUdtUA_TURMJb1rtMUfU6IsjIw82LibmmV8LHJH5k8ACPr6BSlQ5qBZqV4IntX2RdgjE/s320/Stones_EmeraldRough.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454314496130223042" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext">The lively luminosity of its colour makes the emerald a unique gemstone. However, really good quality is fairly rare, with inclusions often marring the evenness of the colour – signs of the turbulent genesis which has characterised this gemstone. Fine inclusions, however, do not by any means diminish the high regard in which it is held. On the contrary: even with inclusions, an emerald in a deep, lively green still has a much higher value than an almost flawless emerald whose colour is paler. Affectionately, and rather poetically, the specialists call the numerous crystal inclusions, cracks or fissures which are typical of this gemstone 'jardin'. They regard the tender little green plants in the emerald garden as features of the identity of a gem which has grown naturally.<br /> </span><br /><span class="alltext"> So where do they come from and how is it that they exist at all? In order to answer these questions, we need to look far, far back into the time of the emerald's origin. Emeralds from Zimbabwe are among the oldest gemstones anywhere in the world. They were already growing 2600 million years ago, whilst some specimens from Pakistan, for example, are a mere 9 million years young. From a chemical-mineralogical point of view, emeralds are beryllium-aluminium-silicates with a good hardness of 7.5 to 8, and belong, like the light blue <a href="http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/aquamarine.html">aquamarine</a>, the tender pink <a href="http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/morganite.html">morganite</a>, the golden heliodor and the pale green beryl, to the large gemstone <a href="http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/beryl.html">family of the beryls</a>. Pure beryl is colourless. The colours do not occur until traces of some other element are added. In the case of the emerald, it is mainly traces of chromium and vanadium which are responsible for the fascinating colour. Normally, these elements are concentrated in quite different parts of the Earth's crust to beryllium, so the emerald should, strictly speaking, perhaps not exist at all. But during intensive tectonic processes such as orogenesis, metamorphism, emergences and erosion of the land, these contrasting elements found each other and crystallised out to make one</span><span class="alltext"> of our most beautiful gemstones. The tension involved in the geological conditions conducive to the above processes produced some minor flaws, and some major ones. A glance through the magnifying-glass or microscope into the interior of an emerald tells us something about the eventful genesis of this unique gem: here we see small or large fissures; here the sparkle of a mini-crystal or a small bubble; here shapes of all kinds. While the crystals were still growing, some of these manifestations had the chance to 'heal', and thus the jagged three-phase inclusions typical of Colombian emeralds were formed: cavities filled with fluid, which often also contain a small bubble of gas and some tiny crystals.<br /> <br /> Logically enough, a genesis as turbulent as that of the emerald impedes the undisturbed formation of large, flawless crystals. For this reason, it is only seldom that a large emerald with good colour and good transparency is found. That is why fine emeralds are so valuable. But for the very reason that the emerald has such a stormy past, it is surely entitled to show it - that is, as long as only a fine jardin is to be seen, and not a rank garden which spoils both c</span><span class="alltext">olour and transparency.</span><span class="alltext"><br /> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">The world of fine emeralds</span></b><span class="alltext"><br /> <br />Colombia continues to be at the top of the list in terms of the countries in which fine emeralds are found. It has about 150 known deposits, though not all of these are currently being exploited. The best known names are Muzo and Chivor, where emeralds were mined by the Incas in pre-Columbian times. In economic terms, the most important mine is at Coscuez, where some 60 faces are being worked. According to estimates, approximately three quarters of Colombia's emerald production now comes from the Coscuez Mine. Colombian emeralds differ from emeralds from other deposits in that they have an especially fine, shining emerald green unimpaired by any kind of bluish tint. The colour may vary slightly from find to find. This fascinatingly beautiful colour is so highly esteemed in the international emerald trade that even obvious inclusions are regarded as acceptable. But Colombia has yet more to offer: now and then the Colombian emerald mines throw up rarities such as Trapiche emeralds with their six rays emanating from the centre which resemble the spokes of a millwheel.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="alltext">Even if many of the best emeralds are undisputedly of Colombian origin, the 'birthplace' of a</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHwlVxRFYljFi_FFvOVCUdnDwFZ2_uINVVG0PXtVMfmYXbwglPbWn6h9hNV3VAQf207CuXDoULFzUCP0WsTrgNBWRi9NBAHMmV3Mp4LCuq8vabaWtiYOUENfOEduVlgKJbjjJVdBe3YY/s1600/Stones_Emerald2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHwlVxRFYljFi_FFvOVCUdnDwFZ2_uINVVG0PXtVMfmYXbwglPbWn6h9hNV3VAQf207CuXDoULFzUCP0WsTrgNBWRi9NBAHMmV3Mp4LCuq8vabaWtiYOUENfOEduVlgKJbjjJVdBe3YY/s320/Stones_Emerald2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454314889719279170" border="0" /></a><span class="alltext"> stone is never an absolute guarantee of its immaculate quality. Fine emeralds are also found in other countries, such as Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Russia. Zambia, Zimbabwe and Brazil in particular have a good reputation for fine emeralds in the international trade. Excellent emerald crystals in a beautiful, deep emerald green and with good transparency come from Zambia. Their colour is mostly darker than that of Colombian emeralds and often has a fine, slightly bluish undertone. Emeralds which are mostly smaller, but very fine, in a vivacious, intense green come from Zimbabwe's famous Sandawana Mine, and they often have a delicate yellowish-green nuance. And the famous emerald mines of Colombia currently face competition from right next door: Brazil's gemstone mine Nova Era also produces emeralds in beautiful green tones, and if they are less attractive than those of their famous neighbour it is only by a small margin. Brazil also supplies rare emerald cat's eyes and extremely rare emeralds with a six-spoked star. Thanks to the finds in Africa and Brazil, there are more emeralds on the market now than there used to be - to the delight of emerald enthusiasts - .</span><br /></div><span class="alltext"> <br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">A sophisticated gemstone</span></b><span class="alltext"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><br /> </b></span></span><br /> <span class="alltext">Whilst its good hardness protects the emerald to a large extent from scratches, its brittleness and its many fissures can make cutting, setting and cleaning rather difficult. Even for a skilled gem cutter, cutting emeralds presents a special challenge, firstly because of the high value of the raw crystals, and secondly because of the frequent inclusions. However, this does not detract from the cutters' love of this unique gem. Indeed, they have developed a special cut just for this gem: the emerald cut. The clear design of this rectangular or square cut with its bevelled corners brings out the beauty of this valuable gemstone to the full, at the same time protecting it from mechanical strain.<br /> <br /> Emeralds are also cut in many other, mainly classical shapes, but if the raw material contains a large number of inclusions, it may often be cut into a gently rounded cabochon, or into one of the emerald beads which are so popular in India.<br /> <br /> Today, many emeralds are enhanced with colourless oils or resins. This is a general trade practice, but it does have the consequence that these green treasures react very sensitively to inappropriate treatment. For example, they cannot be cleaned in an ultrasonic bath. The substances that may have been used by the cutter during his work, or applied subsequently, seal the fine pores in the surface of the gem. Removing them will end up giving the stone a matt appearance. For this reason, emerald rings should always be taken off before the wearer puts his or her hands in water containing cleansing agent.<br /> </span><span class="alltext"><br /> </span><b><span class="gemsubheadline">A matter of trust</span></b><span class="alltext"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /> </span></b></span><br /> <span class="alltext">Unfortunately, because the emerald is not only one of the most beautiful gemstones, but also one of the most valuable, there are innumerable synthetics and imitations. So how can you protect yourself from these 'fakes'? Well, the best way is to buy from a specialist in whom you have confidence. Large emeralds in particular should only be purchased with a report from a reputable gemmological institute. Such an institute will be able, thanks to the most modern examination techniques, to differentiate reliably between natural and synthetic emeralds, and will inform you as to whether the stone has undergone any treatment of the kind a purchaser has the right to know about.<br /> <br /> And one more piece of advice on the purchase of an emerald: whilst diamonds generously scintillate their fire in sizes below 1 carat, you should go for larger dimensions when acquiring a coloured gemstone. True, there are some lovely pieces of jewellery with small coloured gems to set decorative accents, but emeralds, like other coloured gemstones, do not really begin to show that beautiful glow below a certain size. How large 'your' emerald ends up will depend on your personal taste, and on your budget. Really large specimens of top quality are rare. This means that the price of a top-quality emerald may be higher than that of a diamond of the same weight. The fascination exuded by a fine emerald is simply unique.</span><br /></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-72803703381100540762010-03-29T22:17:00.000-07:002010-03-29T23:33:32.780-07:00Zamrud<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloPslZopNTd91i05qC79i3ISRDuNTscj9vRzjo793UQ84imFHsiiYUVrLqjLrseCIUrOHOSHMrpGqgzZiB08_0wVgVE0Ag8SKRrZoNjsxawZ8UPuMNU1za1VMVLxwrVWgjpdul4FB9MI/s1600/zamrud+colombia.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloPslZopNTd91i05qC79i3ISRDuNTscj9vRzjo793UQ84imFHsiiYUVrLqjLrseCIUrOHOSHMrpGqgzZiB08_0wVgVE0Ag8SKRrZoNjsxawZ8UPuMNU1za1VMVLxwrVWgjpdul4FB9MI/s320/zamrud+colombia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454292538376395538" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSEKRET%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;" lang="SV">S</span></strong><span style="" lang="SV">iapa yang tidak pernah mendengar tentang Zamrud. Hampir seluruh masyarakat di Indonesia maupun Internasional tak asing lagi dengan yang namanya Zamrud. Zamrud merupakan batu permata atau batu mulia kelas II yang berwarna hijau sampai hijau tua. Zamrud termasuk mineral silikat beril (mengandung beryllium) dan warna hijaunya disebabkan oleh kelumit kromium. Adanya vanadium dan besi yang menyertai kelumit kromium akan menyebabkan ragam zona pada warna hijau tersebut. Kekerasan zamrud termasuk rapuh (7,5 dalam skala Mohs). Walaupun tergolong rapuh</span><span style="" lang="SV">, Zamrud masuk sebagai golongan batu Mulia papan atas karena banyak dicari orang dan harga bisa sangat mahal ketika potongan Zamrud menjadi octogonal atau heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSEKRET%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="Edit-Time-Data" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSEKRET%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_editdata.mso"><!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1027"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;" wrapcoords="-112 0 -112 21450 21600 21450 21600 0 -112 0"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\SEKRET~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg" title="zamrud-koleksi"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJdyT04Ie7usCDHsMjUZWR09BkNxrOulFH8Xzai3dMhKTpfHa7T7louAbgoDbIiNBdzxWXPLPkGDTRWQpaPUSD79OgPSvW7E127IDsUWeSBOSsPCHpqimkYd5Jucb0mKf-aT-bpRQ_Zc/s1600/zamrud-clmb-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJdyT04Ie7usCDHsMjUZWR09BkNxrOulFH8Xzai3dMhKTpfHa7T7louAbgoDbIiNBdzxWXPLPkGDTRWQpaPUSD79OgPSvW7E127IDsUWeSBOSsPCHpqimkYd5Jucb0mKf-aT-bpRQ_Zc/s320/zamrud-clmb-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454293334206471090" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="SV">Ada beberapa negera penghasil zamrud kualitas tinggi diantaranya : Kolombia, Siberia, Afrika Selatan, Zimbabwe, Australia dan Brasil<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="SV">Para pemakai batu ini mempunyai keyakinan batu yang dikenakannya akan membawa keberuntungan. Dan tak jarang kita lihat para pebisnis banyak yang memakai Zamrud sebagai batu kesayangan mereka. Batu zam</span><span style="" lang="SV">rud sangat berbeda dengan batu mulia lainnya, selain tahan panas juga tidak mudah berubah warna, namun tergolong batu yang mudah pecah (rapuh) dengan skala kekerasan 7,5 Mohs (skala 10).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="" lang="SV"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdSZu6J4satdgnP8s7-NgvY7Sa6yr1eA8-xCoQ5sMWK97ZVkgiTScqip1n-izLoGNWx14KzJBSvJcdD1L7bVqVB33saSRxQCXyUGwi9h5cE_bKmZzH6MOPixlqvfU39r5hV6-RvLRpXg/s1600/zamrud-clmb-3.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdSZu6J4satdgnP8s7-NgvY7Sa6yr1eA8-xCoQ5sMWK97ZVkgiTScqip1n-izLoGNWx14KzJBSvJcdD1L7bVqVB33saSRxQCXyUGwi9h5cE_bKmZzH6MOPixlqvfU39r5hV6-RvLRpXg/s320/zamrud-clmb-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454294484793215506" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" lang="SV" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Batu ini tergolong rapuh dan tidak sekeras Safir atau Ruby yang memiliki tingkat kekerasan hampir 9 Mohs (skala 10). Sehingga harga batu Zamrud dengan bentuk cuting lebih mahal dibanding Zamrud yang diproses dalam bentuk biasa. Warna keindahan Zamrud ini secara sekilas memiliki kemiripan dengan Giok, dan Batu Bacan (berasal dari pulau Bacan-Indonesia Timur) yang memiliki warna dasar hijau. Tapi bila ditelisik lebih jauh akan serat dan pancaran warnanya, Zamrud sangat memiliki keindahan dibanding dengan giok ataupun Batu Bacan (kritokola Bacan)</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSEKRET%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="" lang="SV">Membedakan zamrud asli atau sintetis</span></strong><span style="" lang="SV"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="SV">Berdasarkan pengalaman, tidak mudah untuk memberikan pendapat tentang asli </span><span style="" lang="SV">tidaknya zamrud tersebut. Walaupun demikian, anda bisa memeriksanya dengan 2 metode umum yang paling tidak bisa membantu pembeli/kolektor untuk memeriksanya, yaitu : senter khusus untuk memeriksa batumulia, lensa pembesar minimal 10x. Lensa pembesar bisa dibeli dengan harga sekitar Rp 75.000 sd Rp 150.000.<o:p></o:p></span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="SV">Sebelum membeli Zamrud idaman, Cahaya senter diarahkan dari bawah dan juga diperiksa dari atas dengan lensa pembesar. Bila terlihatlihat ada gelembung udara yang bentuknya bundar-bundar seperti bola-bola kecil, maka zamrud Anda jelas tidak asli alias sintetis.. Hanya Anda perlu pengetahuan tentang fluid inclusions yang bentuknya bundar juga (membentuk three-phase inclusions yang sangat umum terdapat di zamrud Columbia ) .<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="SV">Walaupun pemeriksaan di atas sangat dasar , kalau Anda sudah berpengalaman, maka kesimpulan bisa didapat . Hanya, untuk memastikan, beberapa pemeriksaanlain perlu dilakukan seperti kilap, berat jenis, indek refraksi, warna di bawah filter Chelsea, retakan didalamnya, rataan distribusi warna, kadar mineral, dsb. Mengingat harga zamrud tersebut cukup mahal, ada baiknya kalau anda cermat tidak berspekulasi saat membeli, kalau memungkinkan membawa teman yang berpengalaman saat membeli.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p></p>
<br /><span style="" lang="SV"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-792205803161339972010-03-29T22:00:00.000-07:002010-03-29T23:37:47.374-07:00Ruby<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1F8UEMHisAyxSptoLOkv4PLbQ4gvrpF2r3us_2yU0o-2oUg61pO6ECoqW6UxqDUt0jJB0yQIAgtGO-Ju_vFTagaURDKLG4tFsyB7tqxPwiEmoz5TdTzyvPELD3_Qwp17WmkswiZE2BKc/s1600/3-ruby-crop.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1F8UEMHisAyxSptoLOkv4PLbQ4gvrpF2r3us_2yU0o-2oUg61pO6ECoqW6UxqDUt0jJB0yQIAgtGO-Ju_vFTagaURDKLG4tFsyB7tqxPwiEmoz5TdTzyvPELD3_Qwp17WmkswiZE2BKc/s320/3-ruby-crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454288493282733122" border="0" /></a>Bila berbicara tentang batu mulia <span style="font-family:times new roman;">(gemstones)</span> yang bernama Ruby, imajinasi kita serasa terbang ke negeri 1001 malam. Terbayang sesosok gagah didampangi permaisuri yang cantik, anggun, tinggi semampai, lengkap dengan mahkota dan jubah bertatahkan batu Ruby berwarna merah. Tidak hanya berhenti sampai disana, rupanya batu Ruby memiliki kelebihan lain disamping keindahan kasat mata semata…<br />Pada masa lalu Batu Ruby diyakini sebagai alternatif sebagai penawar racun, menghindarkan orang dari wabah penyakit, untuk terhindar dari duka, dan beberapa manfaat lain. Bahkan sebagian orang yakin bahwa Batu Ruby dapat dipakai sebagai perantara akan cita-cita yang diinginkan, meramal atau mendapatkan keberuntungan dalam spekulasi bisnis atau mendapatkan cinta seseorang.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYDEp_7VcwW6gSooSQBMg50_oZOq8PIVpRpIdu3CC8XlaTYMl9Yj4GOrySn7bD8nMWzzz12lfHo-VUj1FhFgrAiYLwIXduAxXbVOGZnenRfxNAU3NPgYy4DAK2LHXk50sOpBbQjc8RkU/s1600/ruby-raw-crop1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYDEp_7VcwW6gSooSQBMg50_oZOq8PIVpRpIdu3CC8XlaTYMl9Yj4GOrySn7bD8nMWzzz12lfHo-VUj1FhFgrAiYLwIXduAxXbVOGZnenRfxNAU3NPgYy4DAK2LHXk50sOpBbQjc8RkU/s320/ruby-raw-crop1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454288791756085506" border="0" /></a>Dari komposisi kimianya, Baru Ruby merupakan suatu variasi merah tua aluminium oksida yang jernih dan bersih, dihargai sebagai batu mulia: juga disebut merah delima murni.Yang sangat berharga untuk aluminium oksida yang alami adalah ruby ( dari bahasa Latin yang berarti Rubrum atau, ‘ merah’). warna suatu ruby sangat bervariasi dari yang merah jambu sampai ke suatu merah yang sangat lembayung RUBY mempunyai warna merah terang anggur bebas dari warna coklat atau warna warna ungu atau warna yang kuat atau terang yang mengingatkan kepada warna darah ataubuah kersen atau buah tomat atau merah delima. Warna merah ini terdiri atas alumunium yang tercampur dengan chrominium (Cr); akan tetapi kalau tercampur dengan sedikit Titanium (Ti) warnanya berubah menjadi biru dan namanya safir, jika tercampur dengan zat besi warnanya berubah menjadi kuning yaitu safir kuning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhuPDUXJgcDoVUwRfn6d8-Z-_1Rom5NpdEFSomjBuruUiXN5Y-pP6md3bWtj-PFgSzAKG9bSS9bz0nz4QQuGRA7pj8WbtuJ9hx1CPtpKC4mgXEM-towqay1WzpYClHqJWLkycht3xu_4/s1600/ruby-ster-birma.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhuPDUXJgcDoVUwRfn6d8-Z-_1Rom5NpdEFSomjBuruUiXN5Y-pP6md3bWtj-PFgSzAKG9bSS9bz0nz4QQuGRA7pj8WbtuJ9hx1CPtpKC4mgXEM-towqay1WzpYClHqJWLkycht3xu_4/s320/ruby-ster-birma.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454291108389883826" border="0" /></a>Batu Ruby yang paling terkenal didunia adalah dari Birma, yang mana sekarang disebut Myanmar. Dimana ruby dari tambang Myanmar adalah lebih tua dari sejarah yaitu jaman batu. Selain Ruby Birma, dikenal pula Ruby madagaskar, dan Ruby Afrika. Akan tetapi kualitas dan keindahan Ruby yang berasal dari Madagaskar dan Afrika masih dibawah Ruby yang berasal dari Birma. Sehingga tidak dapat dipungkiri bahwa harga pasaran untuk Ruby Birma lebih mahal, apalagi Ruby Birma yang memiliki star (ster).<br />Bagi para pecinta batu, harga batu Ruby untuk pasaran di Jakarta dan martapura sebagai parameter harga, berkisar antara Rp 100.000 sampai puluhan Juta rupiah. Keindahan dan kemewahan batu Ruby tak bisa dipungkiri lagi telah membius banyak kolektor untuk berburu batu ini.<br />Pemakai batu ruby mempunyai keyakinan batu yang dikenakannya akan memberikan kebahagiaan dan menambah wibawa pada dirinya. “Batu ini tergolong batu yang sangat digemari karena warna merahnya dapat bersinar di tempat gelap dan dapat berpijar jika diterangi sinar ultraviolet.</div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-48154465190006724612009-08-16T18:46:00.000-07:002009-08-16T18:51:35.232-07:00Infected H1N1 flu<div align="justify"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370743498235826610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXevvLGC6yCgtqJHCvTQfZYDbdixVlXSAP2prngqYJaqPo_ZLuc2en0PnshzPnOIUigs84Vu65Dzc2fdClap1u3MXQtnlS0FXf1gnOOJXK4IG1PXYPgnbizlJGVnkJNKZm6ttznzbaT6g/s320/babi.jpg" />A farmhand who travelled to Mexico and fell ill upon his return apparently infected the pigs with the H1N1 influenza virus, said Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer.<br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Pigs at an Alberta farm caught the same swine flu strain that has sickened hundreds of humans around the world, federal officials said Saturday.<br /><br /><br />"The concern is that if it's circulating in a pig herd, that any other humans that come onto the farm might be exposed and be at risk."<br /><br />"So far, basically what we're seeing in the pig is the same strain as we see in the humans," Butler-Jones said.<br /><br />It's believed to be the first known case of pigs catching the swine flu virus from humans.<br /><br /><br />The farm worker returned to Canada from Mexico on April 12 and had contact with the pigs two days later. About 220 pigs in the herd of 2,200 began showing signs of the flu on April 24, said the country's top veterinary officer, Brian Evans of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.<br /><br /><br />All of the pigs are recovering or have recovered and the farm worker has also recovered.<br />One other farm worker subsequently fell ill. It's not yet known if that person caught the swine flu.<br /><br />The virus has shown no signs of mutation when passing from human to pig, Evans said.<br /><br />"At this point in time, the issue of this being a human virus, having been introduced to the pigs, and the characterization of this virus, shows it is still that virus," he said.<br /><br /><br />"There's been no adaptation identified through the transfer from humans to pigs at this time."<br /><br />The herd affected has been placed under quarantine.<br /><br /><br />It's common to see influenza in pigs and human transmission to pigs is known to occur, Evans said.<br /><br /><br />Normally detecting influenza in pigs would not generate a response from food safety officials, but with an international flu outbreak, the current circumstances are different, Evans told a news conference in Ottawa.<br /><br /><br />"The chance that these pigs could transfer virus to a person is remote," said Evans.<br /><br /><br />The H1N1 virus, which is made up of swine flu genes, is believed to have jumped to humans sometime back and has been passing person to person.<br /><br /><br />The World Health Organization has insisted there is no evidence that pigs are passing the virus to humans, or that eating pork products poses an infection risk.<br /><br /><br />Herman Simons, a spokesman for Alberta Pork, a producer's group, said the main worry is the possible effect of the discovery on exports.<br /><br /><br />"That's our big concern," Simons said. "The biggest concern is it may impact exports of live animals into the U.S."<br /><br /><br />In 2008, total Canadian pork exports were valued at $2.7 billion, including nearly $527 million worth of Canadian live swine exports.<br /><br /><br />Earlier this week, the World Health Organization dropped the term "swine flu" -- a nickname that angered pork producers and led to a drop in pork sales -- in favour of its scientific name: "H1N1 influenza A."<br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, Canada's swine flu caseload swelled Saturday to 85 cases as health officials confirmed a host of new cases in Nova Scotia, Alberta and Quebec.<br /><br /><br />Public health officials say Nova Scotia has 17 new cases of swine flu, as jurisdictions across Canada are starting to report the widening spread of the illness.<br /><br /><br />Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of Nova Scotia, said at a news conference Saturday that of the new cases in the province 11 are students who were exposed to the virus at the private King's Edgehill school in Windsor, N.S.<br /><br /><br />The other six were tested in doctors' offices in the Halifax area, suggesting the virus has jumped from being isolated in a small town to Atlantic Canada's most densely populated city.<br /><br /><br />There are now 31 cases in Nova Scotia, making it the province with the largest number of confirmed cases in the country.<br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, seven new cases have been reported in Alberta, doubling that province's count to 15.<br /><br /><br />Two women, one man and a girl became Edmonton's first to come down with the disease. One woman and a boy were also diagnosed with swine flu in northern Alberta.<br /><br /><br />Another woman in Calgary has also come down with the disease.<br /><br /><br />None of the cases have required hospitalization, said Alberta Health.<br /><br /><br />Strang says he is uncertain whether any of those infected in Halifax had contact with students from the private school, or if they contracted the illness from other sources.<br /><br /><br />He says further tests are needed, and he'll know more in a few days.<br /><br /><br />"This is not a surprise. We fully expected to see more cases, as I've been saying all week. We also expected it would spread beyond King's Edgehill school," said Strang, after announcing the new numbers.<br /><br /><br />He added there have been no reports that any of the people with the flu have been hospitalized.<br /><br /><br />Though he emphasized that to date most cases are mild, he also urged Canadians to be cautious.<br /><br /><br />"I ask people to be extra vigilant and to take precautions around general hygiene. That means washing hands thoroughly and often, coughing and sneezing into your sleeve and disinfecting tables and worktops," he said.<br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, new cases have also been confirmed in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.<br /><br />Health officials in Quebec confirmed the province's second case of the flu strain, a school-age child who recently returned from a trip to Mexico. Quebec's first case was confirmed in Montreal earlier this week.<br /><br /><br />British Columbia reported three more confirmed cases Saturday bringing the total in the province to 22. All the cases have been mild and the patients have either recovered or are recovering.<br /><br /><br />Two more confirmed cases were reported in Ontario, bringing that province's total to 14 cases.<br /><br /><br />The new Canadian cases came as the WHO announced it will release 2.4 million anti-viral doses to 72 countries.<br /><br /><br />The federal government, meanwhile, has expanded its swine-flu prevention campaign to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, with a new "citizen-readiness campaign." </div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-15133821236971312942009-08-07T19:08:00.001-07:002009-08-07T19:31:36.436-07:00Employee Leasing in Tampa, Florida Gives You More Time for Your Business<p style="text-align: justify;">Tampa Employee LeasingWhen you choose employee leasing in Tampa, you are helping not only your company, but also supporting a Florida business, since PEP is based in Florida. Let PEP help you remove the tiresome trivialities of human resources, insurance and benefit claims, as well as payroll headaches. Your business is what you do best, and at PEP what we do best is manage your non-essential business functions. You want to have a successful, profitable business, and you can have just that when you let PEP take over your employee leasing. Tampa is full of well-qualified candidates, and PEP can help you keep them in Tampa, working for you.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">A Pledge of Quality Employee Leasing in Tampa</h2><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Our dedication to treating your employees with all the respect and integrity they deserve is rivaled only by our commitment to outstanding service for you. When your business prospers, so do we, and at PEP we want you to succeed so we can grow with you. Employee leasing in Tampa, as well as elsewhere, is a pledge to give your employees the benefits and attention to detail they deserve so you can give the core aspects of your business the attention it deserves. We can take your payroll, benefits and HR departments, the areas that do not generate profit for you, and let you stay in control of the essential functions of your business, the areas that let you grow.<br /><br />Let PEP give you the boost you need to develop your company by using employee leasing. Tampa isn’t the only city that needs your business, and having PEP on your side can let you expand into other markets and dominate your field.</p>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-47510272235378706332009-08-07T18:59:00.000-07:002009-08-07T19:31:36.436-07:00Security Management<p style="text-align: justify;" class="standSubHeader">Comprehensive Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) to protect corporate data and meet compliance mandates</p><div> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">NetIQ offers a comprehensive and unique approach to SIEM that includes change and threat detection, user and access control monitoring, real–time security event management, and enterprise <a href="http://www.netiq.com/issues/LogManagement.asp">log management</a> – all in a single solution. By providing these powerful features together, NetIQ enables you to:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Satisfy log management requirements quickly through a “start fast, start simple” approach</li><li>Implement change detection and access monitoring quickly, without requiring third-party product integration</li><li>Enable and leverage real-time event management, including correlation, as your organization is ready</li><li>Address changing threat vectors by focusing SIEM protection on your host platforms</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">NetIQ provides SIEM protection for Windows, Unix, Linux and iSeries host platforms, network and security devices such as routers, switches, and firewalls, and applications such as web servers and databases. Custom integration is also supported.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="standSubHeader">Protect data, streamline compliance, and accelerate incident response</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="screenshot" style="width: 200px; text-align: justify;"> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="openWindow('/shared/images/prd_sst_SecurityManager_SectionLg.gif', 'NetIQ Security Manager',550,402,'NetIQ Security Manager provides customizable views of security incident information, presented on its Today Page');"><img src="http://www.netiq.com/shared/images/prd_sst_SecurityManager_SectionSm1.gif" alt="" border="0" height="129" width="188" /></a> <ul><li>NetIQ Security Manager provides customizable views of security incident information, presented in a single console view.</li></ul> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">NetIQ® Security Manager™ is an industry-leading Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution that provides protection for your critical data and systems.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">It provides host-focused security for your vital infrastructure and enables you to satisfy your toughest compliance challenges by <a href="http://www.netiq.com/products/aegis/adapters/SM.asp">automating security</a> activity reviews, log collection, threat management, incident response, and change detection.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">With NetIQ Security Manager, you will be able to reduce both organizational risk and workload by addressing far more easily some of the most demanding compliance and data security requirements, including: </p><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Change detection and <a href="http://www.netiq.com/issues/FileIntegrity.asp">file integrity monitoring</a> </li><li><a href="http://www.netiq.com/issues/Privileged-User.asp">Privileged-user monitoring</a> </li><li><a href="http://www.netiq.com/issues/logManagement.asp">Log management</a>, analysis and query-based forensics </li><li>Security event correlation, forensic analysis, and integrated response</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="standSubHeader">Protecting Critical Data on Hosts</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Security threats are increasingly focused where your enterprise data resides—your servers, databases, directories and other technologies. If these are accessed by unauthorized users, you are at risk of data breach, revenue loss and compliance fines. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">NetIQ Security Manager offers a unique approach to secure host systems: not only to protect data where it resides but also to improve your ability to demonstrate compliance with mandates like <a href="http://www.netiq.com/solutions/regulatory/pcidss/default.asp">PCI DSS</a>, HIPAA, SOX and others. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="standSubHeader">Responding to Security Events</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">NetIQ Security Manager provides you with a single view into security events, potential breaches, and privileged-user activity. Events are collected, analyzed and stored to provide rapid detection and identification of threats to systems and data. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Responding to attacks in real-time closes the vulnerability gap and helps you ensure that attackers, insider or external, are prevented from causing damage or <a href="http://www.netiq.com/issues/CustDataProtection.asp">stealing sensitive data.</a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="standSubHeader">Log Management and Analysis</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Log and event information from your systems is securely collected and stored to provide you with the ability to meet compliance goals and security needs from a single solution. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Flexible reporting and trend analysis provide you with the tools not only to identify risks, but also to build a sound security strategy by identifying activity patterns that could signify long-term attacks, breaches, or security weaknesses.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="standSubHeader">The NetIQ Difference – Accelerating Security Maturity</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">NetIQ Security Manager delivers the scalability you need to meet the ever-changing requirements of a highly distributed and demanding environment. Whether your requirements entail simple compliance-focused log management or you need to evolve to full-featured enterprise Security Information and Event Management, NetIQ Security Manager can help you improve the reliability and security of critical systems and data. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Combined with NetIQ® Aegis™ for security workflow automation, NetIQ® Change Guardian™ for enhanced privileged-user monitoring, and NetIQ® Secure Configuration Manager™ for compliance and entitlement reporting, NetIQ Security Manager forms part of a powerful, integrated, automated solution for security and compliance management.</p><p class="formboxhead" style="margin-top: 30px;">NetIQ Security Management Capabilities</p> <table style="margin-top: 20px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="130"><img src="http://www.netiq.com/Shared/Images/CP_ChangeThreatDetection_sm.gif" class="thumbnail" height="67" width="120" /></td> <td align="left" valign="top"><p class="standSubHeader">Change and Threat Detection</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.netiq.com/products/sm/default.asp"></a>NetIQ Security Manager and the Change Guardian modules provide powerful detection of changes and threats across host and network devices.</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table style="margin-top: 20px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="130"><img src="http://www.netiq.com/Shared/Images/CP_UserAccessControlMonitoring_sm.gif" class="thumbnail" height="67" width="120" /></td> <td align="left" valign="top"><p class="standSubHeader">User and Access Control Monitoring</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">NetIQ Security Manager and the Change Guardian modules provide monitoring of both privileged and non-privileged users to provide a better, centralized and protected audit trail of their activities.</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table style="margin-top: 20px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="130"><img src="http://www.netiq.com/Shared/Images/CP_LogManagementForensics_sm.gif" class="thumbnail" height="77" width="120" /></td> <td align="left" valign="top"><p class="standSubHeader">Log Management and Forensics</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.netiq.com/products/sm/default.asp"></a>NetIQ Security Manager TRACE™ log management technology provides scalable and distributable log consolidation, supporting high-speed forensic queries, OLAP-driven trend analysis, and at-a-glance summary reporting.</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table style="margin-top: 20px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="130"><img src="http://www.netiq.com/Shared/Images/CP_SecurityEventCorrelationAnalysis_sm.gif" class="thumbnail" height="77" width="120" /></td> <td align="left" valign="top"><p class="standSubHeader">Security Event Correlation and Analysis</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.netiq.com/products/sm/default.asp"></a>NetIQ Security Manager provides real-time security event management including correlation, multi-stage filtering and duplicate event reduction, to help identify, prioritize and respond to security incidents.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-65294776278056008402009-08-07T18:49:00.000-07:002009-08-07T19:31:36.436-07:00100% Home Equity Loan<div style="text-align: justify;" class="modfloat full"><div id="mod_3195069" class="module moduleText color0"><div style="word-wrap: break-word;" class="txtd" id="txtd_3195069"><p>100% home equity loans are also, not to put too fine a point on it – a thing of the past. That is not to say there may not come a time where the governments have printed enough money that they once again reappear, but I very much doubt it. The chances of you being able to refinance with poor credit are slim to none at the moment.</p><p>A 100% home equity loan is a loan against the value of your house. Or rather against the the total value of equity you own in your house. During the recent credit boom, these loans were freely available to almost anybody with a pulse. No income necessary, the pulse was good enough. It didn’t even need to be a strong one.<br /><br /><br />The simple fact of the matter is, there is no such thing and any companies offering such a loan are to be avoided. The only possible way I can see a loan of this type being offered is if it is offered against their valuation of your home. And you are going to discover that their valuation is somewhat lower than either yours or the current market valuation.<br /><br />Most of the information on the internet is out of date regarding these loans. Even a so-called “respected,” financial institution – Wells Fargo - has misleading and out of date information on their website. They are apparently still offering 125 percent home equity loans, and have a list of the advantages of taking out a 125 percent home equity loan.<br /><br /></p></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;" class="modfloat right"><div id="mod_3195070" class="module moduleImage"><div id="imgs_3195070"> <div id="img_url_1134957"> <img src="http://z.hubpages.com/u/1134957_f260.jpg" class="half" alt="Wells Fargo Still Offer 100% Home Equity Loans" title="Wells Fargo Still Offer 100% Home Equity Loans" height="195" width="260" /> </div> <div class="caption_half" id="img_desc_1134957"> Wells Fargo Still Offer 100% Home Equity Loans<br /><br /> </div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I refuse to leave a link to their site, but feel free to do a google search and see how they were pitching these loans that caused (at least in part) the current financial crisis. After a several hundred word sales pitch, they offer the warning that “Even though home equity loans can carry lower interest rates than unsecured credit, there is still some risk. Defaulting on any home loan, including a 100 percent home equity loan or 100 percent mortgage refinance, could mean losing your house.”<br /><br />What they should have said was <strong><em>“Even though home equity loans carry ridiculously low interest rates for a short period of time, after which we will apply a crippling rate of interest that carries the risk of the entire banking system collapsing because we do not actually have this money we are lending you. Defaulting on any loan is quite OK for us because the government will bail us out in any event. Using your tax money. ”<br /><br /></em></strong><p>Now that is a proper warning. It is pretty entertaining to see their “advice,” about borrowing against your home equity, given the current condition of the banks.</p><p>Because - let's face it, the banks have made a spectacular mess of things. Anyone needing to <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Refinancing-with-poor-credit">refinance with poor credit</a> at the moment is in a world of hurt, to use a favorite expression, and things are not improving. Desppite massive injections of taxpayer money into the financial system, still banks are not lending - in fact 45 banks in the US have gone broke already this year - with more to follow. </p>Until such times as the credit markets are unfrozen, and <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Mortgage-Rates-Refinancing">refinancing rates for mortgages</a> come down to a reasonable level we are all in trouble. Those lucky few with cash to spare will be reaping the rewards - as long as they can get their money into non-paper assets before the inevitable hyper-inflation kicks in, but in the interim, those needing to <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Refinances-with-bad-credit">refinance with bad credit</a> are going to be paying<br /></div>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3416865171125527977.post-47377416553261611142009-08-07T00:39:00.001-07:002009-08-07T19:31:36.436-07:00Illinois Lemon Law Attorneys<span id="lblBodyHtml">Adam J. Krohn is one of the founding partners of Krohn & Moss, Ltd. He has been admitted to practice law in Illinois, Missouri and before the U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, the U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Distict Court Northern District of Indiana, The Supreme Court of Illinois and the Supreme Court of Missouri.<br /><br />Mr. Krohn is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, The National Consumer Law Center and Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety. Mr. Krohn was chosen as the guest speaker at the Chicago Bar Association's "Consumer Rip-Offs" seminar held at the Harold Washington Library. He is also an active member of the YLS Consumer Fraud Sub-Committee and submitted a proposal to the Committee regarding the Illinois New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act that would enhance state warranty rights.<br /><br />Mr. Krohn has been featured on CLTV News, Channel 5's Target 5 News Reports, the Gazette News Service, the Chicago Sun Times and was featured in The Reader's 25th Anniversary Celebration issue. He also had one of his jury verdicts reported in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (Bantz vs. Mercedes Benz of North America).<br /><br />Mr. Krohn has tried to verdict many consumer cases in both state and federal court. In May of 1998, Mr. Krohn obtained a $78,866.25 sum for his client, Pamela Connor. A federal jury awarded her another $27,166.25 (on a $22,000 vehicle and she was able to retain ownership of the subject vehicle) and awarded her another $1700 in punitive damages. The trial judge later awarded an additional $25,000 in punitive damages against Ford Motor Company and Krohn & Moss settled its attorneys' fees which Ford Motor Company was required to pay.<br /><br />Mr. Krohn has also successfully briefed and argued cases before the Seventh Circuit of Illinois in matters which have had enormous impact on consumers.<br /><br />Mr. Krohn is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law. He was an associate at Daniel Suber & Associates, and also at Friedman & Olson, Ltd. where he practiced civil litigation. Since 1995, he has devoted his professional career to fighting for the rights of consumers.<br /><br />Mr. Krohn is also a professor of Consumer Law at Chapman University’s School of Law.</span>SERBA SERBIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259415709390477061noreply@blogger.com0