| Subject | Date Asked |
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| rhodium plating | 8/22/2008 |
Q: Can a sterling silver bnagle bracelet be rhodium plated, and what is the average cost? My husband ... A: Judy yes I think that is do-able. They may have to plate it with another metal first I not sure on ...
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| Care and measure of opals | 8/21/2008 |
Q: It's nice to find an expert to get the right answers from. This question consist of two parts. The ... A: I keep my opal in water. Oil does not evaporate as easy as water and could be good. But water does ...
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| drilling holes | 8/20/2008 |
Q: What type of equipment should I be using to drill holes into small(less than 1/2" thick) stones like ... A: You need to get a flex shaft for your dremel. Next use a triple ripple diamond bit but use at least ...
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| purchasing ground-up minerals | 8/15/2008 |
Q: I want to experiment with certain minerals (preferably ground-up) in chemical experiments. Where ... A: Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. This is not an easy question to answer. I have been ...
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| Help | 8/8/2008 |
Q: I hope you can help me. I'm looking for someone to cut a raw sapphire i have I'm not sure how to ... A: Yes I could cut it for you. E-mail me if you want to do it. I will send you a price. The star ...
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| value of topaz | 8/4/2008 |
Q: I recently came across a topaz stone that my grandmother left me amongst some other jewelry. It was ... A: Teri, Placing value on stones is not one of my best things to do. Thing is it depends on several ...
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| gold marking | 8/2/2008 |
Q: I have a brooch with an 20mm x 15 mm fire opal. The frame of the brooch looks like gold and the ... A: If the brooch is indeed gold that would be a good bet. It must of come from Europe. Jewelers here ...
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| gems | 7/31/2008 |
Q: How do I get super glue off of a gem A: Almost all gems can be soaked in acetone to remove the glue. Some emeralds that have been oiled ...
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| Cutting sea glass | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I hope you can answer my question. I am a beginner and have been collecting sea glass for years! I ... A: I am not sure what a # 61 is. I buy them buy the millimeter size. If you are drilling holes I ...
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| Broach identification | 7/28/2008 |
Q: Looks like the mounting reads 15CT which I assume is 15K gold. The 70 year old lady that I acquired ... A: Jay, I am not sure what to say other than my first impression of the stone is that from these ...
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| gem and mineral questions | 7/27/2008 |
Q: Where is rhodium mined at? What kind of price can you get for rough rubies (34 carats)? A: Rhodium is a by product of Platinum mining mostly. Russia and Africa are two of the main sources. ...
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| Amethyst | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I just bought an amethyst crystal.. How would I know if it's fake? Thanks.. A: It looks like the inclusions in your picture look natural. Has someone polished it or is it natural ...
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| "Scratches" in sapphire | 7/17/2008 |
Q: My fiance has a platinum engagement ring with an 3 karat emerald cut sapphire in the center. The ... A: I can tell you that sapphires are the hardest natural substance next to diamond. So they do not ...
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| clear coat for gemstone | 7/14/2008 |
Q: I make jewelries as a hobby and have decided that i can probably start selling them. My problem ... A: The only way is to polish them no coating will work. If they are rough then they need to be cut ...
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| large cut natural topaz | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I have just inherited a 30 carat (at least) square cut (cut just like an emerald cut, only it is ... A: This stone has more value for sentiment than dollars. I should be able to buy a stone like this for ...
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| inlaying stones in resin | 6/26/2008 |
Q: I've cast a ring and want to use stone chips as an inlay with resin. Do you know what kind of resin ... A: Here is a site where you can get a epoxy for that job. It is the 330 epoxy. If you still want to ...
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| Lapis Bracelet | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I have a seven stone silver Lapis bracelet but lost a stone so now I only have 6 stones. I was ... A: A stone can be cut to replace it. However color matching can be tricky. Is the stone just blue or ...
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| Rubies | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I am deployed at the moment and I was approched by a man that had a ruby the size of a monkey fist. ... A: 90 percent of the time they are not gem quality. Good Ruby rough is very rare and expensive. You ...
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| Rubies | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I am deployed at the moment and I was approched by a man that had a ruby the size of a monkey fist. ... A: A good ruby of that size if it was gem quality would be worth a Kings ransom. A ruby is a hexagonal ...
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| saphires | 6/17/2008 |
Q: can you tell me the market value of a dark blue sapphire per caret at this time? A: Kathy, That is a complex question. If the stone is too dark they are very inexpensive. If the ...
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| Tiger Eye Cross | 6/9/2008 |
Q: My wife purchased a Tiger Eye Cross and dropped it. It broke in two and I was wondering if there is ... A: Here is a website to order your glue try the 330 epoxy. Just make sure it is held tight while the ...
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| 1978 Trident Technical school ring | 6/1/2008 |
Q: I have a ring from trident technical school from the class of 1978 that I am looking to sell. What ... A: If it is a gold ring say 14K then at 900.00 gold price it would be 58 percent of that price less ...
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| pearls | 5/31/2008 |
Q: How can you tell if pearls are real or fake, They were handed down to me. I'm not able to find any ... A: B I thought I answered this a few days ago. Sorry if it did not reach you. Most pearls today are ...
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| POLISHING ROUGH SAPPHIRE | 5/29/2008 |
Q: HOW CAN I POLISH ROUGH SAPPHIRE I HAVE A SMALL TUMBLER I WOULD LIKE TO GET A SHINE ON THE STONE SO I ... A: I polish sapphire with diamond powder. As far as tumblers I can not say for sure but sapphire which ...
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| drill pearls | 5/28/2008 |
Q: You mention that you found a divise to cut & hold a pearl while you drill it. What drill is it? Also ... A: Here is a website for the pearl drill. ...
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| denim sapphires | 4/30/2008 |
Q: I am trying to match a stone to my husband's eyes (blue, but grey not green based), and a local ... A: I would not use the word inferior. It may not be the preferred color, but that is a matter of ...
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| Agate and Onyx? | 4/23/2008 |
Q: What is the difference in between Dyed Agate and Onyx? (To my knowledge the agate is concentric, ... A: I am not sure about the parallel idea but yes dyed agate is concentric. As far as the difference one ...
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| rough diamonds | 3/30/2008 |
Q: I have some lava rocks,can there be diamonds inside of them ,and if ther is, how can I tell if the ... A: Diamonds normally are found in gravel beds and or in place in the earth. They are formed in ...
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| 'real' rubies | 3/27/2008 |
Q: Is it true that the way to tell if a ruby is real, is by putting it under a UV light - and it will ... A: There is no way I know of to know for sure. If you had looked at a lot of natural ones and a lot ...
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| 'real' rubies | 3/26/2008 |
Q: Is it true that the way to tell if a ruby is real, is by putting it under a UV light - and it will ... A: Not exactly, here is an artical on the subject. Distinguishing Properties RUBY * ...
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| STONES & MINERALS | 3/25/2008 |
Q: I "inherited" a collection of sorts from a previous jeweler. Most are polished stones. I am trying ... A: A custom jeweler or gemologist could give you an idea what stones are genuine and which are ...
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| amethyst ring | 3/22/2008 |
Q: Can the color of an amethyst be enhanced? Would a jeweler be liable for cracking and coloring a ... A: Jewelers do not have the time or knowledge generally speaking to heat treat stones. They are known ...
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| GB mean | 3/18/2008 |
Q: what does 24 K GB mean is it real or not A: This means your jewelry has a very thin layer of 24 karat (24K means pure) gold bonded to base ...
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| Amber Stone | 3/9/2008 |
Q: I had a question on a amber stone that appears to have russian markings. I am wondering what it is ... A: They are just called Amber. It would be hard to tell how old the ring is. I do not think that ...
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| Amber Stone | 3/8/2008 |
Q: I had a question on a amber stone that appears to have russian markings. I am wondering what it is ... A: I guess I do not understand your question. It is amber, which is petrified tree sap. When the sap ...
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| platinum wedding band | 3/3/2008 |
Q: Can my grandmothers platinum wedding band be thickened and re-shaped to create a slightly wider ... A: The only way you could make it thicker would be to re-cast it. It would take more metal to do that. ...
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| black onyx and white topaz | 2/29/2008 |
Q: I won a string of black onyx beads with white topaz chips for a small price on Ebay. Though ... A: Black Onyx is abundant. Most of it is dyed agate, some is natural. The natural will have ...
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| hematite | 2/26/2008 |
Q: I have a faceted hematite stone (marquis shape) that someone special gave me. I want to have it set ... A: You should not have any trouble. Most jewelers know about hematite. The cost would depend on where ...
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| minerals | 2/13/2008 |
Q: what is the rarest mineral? A: John, My field is more in the gemstone world. Here is something I found in the gemstone world. ...
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| gemstone test | 2/2/2008 |
Q: plz tell me how i can check my gemstone is real or not if i have no special apratus for testing. any ... A: Amir, What type of stone do you have? What is the history of how you got it? Is it cut or rough? ...
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| Jewelry i purchase | 1/30/2008 |
Q: i had no attention on returning it until my bestfriend said it would originally turn from its gold ... A: Most jewelers can re-plate your necklace back to gold. It is very easy and does not take much time. ...
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| lacquer | 1/29/2008 |
Q: Recently I was attempting to remove oxidation on the silver in an abalone necklace and stripped off ... A: I answered this a few days ago but somehow it did not make it into the system. Sorry about that. ...
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| Gemstone drilling | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I was wondering if you can help me or point me in the right direction. I want to start making ... A: I was asked this question not to long ago. I personally use both a small drill press for using ...
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| Cleaning uncut gemstones | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased some uncut emeralds and rubies. Basically they are straight out of the ground. ... A: Normally you can see very easily what you have if they are good quality. Even if the crystals are ...
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| In Afghanistan | 12/17/2007 |
Q: Mr Covey I am in Afghanistan and want to know which stones should I buy while I am here and how do I ... A: What are you buying? Unless you have knowledge and experience in the type of stone you are buying ...
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| Equipment for drilling gemstones | 12/15/2007 |
Q: I am just getting into drilling and need to buy equipment. Should I be looking at a dremel tool ... A: You may want both. Also I found this drill for drilling pearls. You could use diamond bits with it ...
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| Equipment for drilling gemstones | 12/14/2007 |
Q: I am just getting into drilling and need to buy equipment. Should I be looking at a dremel tool ... A: What type of drilling are you going to be doing? Beads? What type of stone? How many units per ...
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| Drilling holes in fragile material | 12/7/2007 |
Q: I recently purchased some antique poker chips, some are made from bone and some are made from mother ... A: Yes diamond is recommended. Get a triple ripple type 1.8 mm Go slow and keep the drill cool in ...
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| Ring Resizing | 12/5/2007 |
Q: I just bought my girlfriend a Blue Topaz and diamond Ring set in 10k white gold. I haven't given it ... A: Try this directory just enter your zip code. Call one or more of these independant masters. I am ...
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| Jewelry Repair | 11/29/2007 |
Q: I have a small crack in my center diamond on my engagement ring. How much does something like this ... A: I think I already answered this but, I will answer again. The cost would depend on the repairs but ...
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| Is This Stone a Blue Sapphire? | 11/26/2007 |
Q: my team found a very big blue stone in Borneo, Indonesia recently. It is about a baby head in size ... A: What I am saying is from a picture I can not make a good assessment. I do not see any crystaline ...
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| brooch with stones marked 800, signed | 11/14/2007 |
Q: What does the 800 mark mean and I can't make out the signing. Also the center stone is so dark and I ... A: If the brooch is gold it could mean 800 fine. 1000 would be pure gold. This is how London gold is ...
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| Gemstone Design via Cad Design | 11/8/2007 |
Q: Do you have knowledge regarding designing gemstones using cad design? If your response is yes I ... A: First you need to learn to operate the software. Then you can make 3D renderings of rings etc. ...
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| Serpentine | 11/7/2007 |
Q: I wonder if you could tell me how safe serpentine from Peru is. I have some jewelry from there but I ... A: Is your stone fibrous looking? Asbestos is very fibrous, and curly in the serpentine. Chrysotile ...
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| stone replacement | 10/28/2007 |
Q: heres my story. I inherited an old filigree bracelet. Its Rhodium plated metal, but not gold or ... A: That happens to be my specialaity. Cutting stones to match. I would need a stone to match. If you ...
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| jade | 10/13/2007 |
Q: How do I tell if jade is real? What color should jade be on the inside of a broken edge? How do I ... A: Here is some info on the subject. Jadeite Chemistry: NaAlSi2O6 , Sodium Aluminum Silicate Class: ...
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| tanzanite | 10/13/2007 |
Q: With all the hype about tanzanite, do you think it is worth investing in and if so what size stones ... A: Well they say the supply will run out in the future which does add to that possibility. If you do ...
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| diamonds vs. diamonds vs. ?? | 9/14/2007 |
Q: I heard that diamonds are 9 in hardness, diamonique, an 8, and another variety altogether (?) an ... A: Actually, diamonds are 10 on the moh scale. Ruby is 9 but the space between 9 and 10 is greater than ...
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| citrine repair | 9/13/2007 |
Q: I have an 18 carat one stone citrine that has lost it's brilliance after my fiancee wore it ... A: Yes I re-polish stones all the time. It would have to be removed from the mounting by a jeweler. ...
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| opal stone in ring | 9/2/2007 |
Q: can you tell me what i can do about an opal stone that is very dull. i brought it on e-bay for ... A: It needs to be polished with pure high grade cerium oxide on felt pad that is spinning the felt is ...
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| hallmarks | 9/1/2007 |
Q: have the letters GLC9K stamped on the inner of my wedding band also have the normal hallmarks, what ... A: They are probably manufacturer stamps. Is is it marked 14K or 18K? Is it gold? As you know gold ...
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| gemstone size | 8/30/2007 |
Q: I have several rings where I lost the gemstone. How can I get the correct size to fit. Is there a ... A: Most jewelers would measure your mounting for free at least the ones I know would. They would also ...
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| Drilling Gems | 8/29/2007 |
Q: What type of Dremel Tool should I use to make holes in gems for jewelry making? A: I use a regular dremel with a flex cable attachment. I buy diamond drill bits sizes range from 1.5 ...
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| Unknown purple stone | 8/27/2007 |
Q: I have a bracelet, belonging to my mom, that has pearly purple stones, which are carved to look ... A: I would need to see a good digital picture. Purple could be amethyst but it is not pearly. Could ...
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| gems | 8/19/2007 |
Q: I don't much about gems but I'm here in gem country and wanted to take advantage of my opportunity ... A: Well, if they look too good chances are they are fake. I would say just go by your instinct and as ...
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| Jewellery Repair | 8/18/2007 |
Q: Do you know of any way to convert pierced earrings into clip-ons? Clips are so much easier on my ... A: Depending on the design of you earring it would be a matter of cutting off the post and soldering ...
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| gems | 8/18/2007 |
Q: I don't much about gems but I'm here in gem country and wanted to take advantage of my opportunity ... A: What gem country are you taking about? What kind of gems are available? Cut stones are easier to ...
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| ring | 7/19/2007 |
Q: i have a ring with 3 amethyst. alot of detail,lots of small balls. inside of the ring there is a ... A: Is the ring white or gold color? It sounds like a silver ring. As far as value that is in the eye ...
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| cutting amber | 6/30/2007 |
Q: i got a rough piece of amber as a gift. it's in a pretty cheesy sterling wrap. i think it has a bug ... A: Off hand I am not sure who I could send you to. How do you want it re-cut and set in? Me and my ...
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| types of glue for stones? | 6/29/2007 |
Q: I am trying to glue various types of cabochons ex;black onyx , mother of pearl, turquoise etc...into ... A: You could try loctite instant glue. Also there are special jewelers two part epoxies (330). Check ...
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| Measuring various gemstones | 6/25/2007 |
Q: 1) Is coral considered a gemstone? Would it be measured in carats. 2) Which of the following are ... A: Some may consider coral as a gemstone but I do not. But it is used like gemstone materials. So I ...
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| How to?? | 6/25/2007 |
Q: I have some loose diamonds. I have a catalogue that has gold earring mountings for the round stones ... A: I could talk to my jeweler friend whom I do gemstone cutting for and he does jewelry work on ...
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| How to?? | 6/24/2007 |
Q: I have some loose diamonds. I have a catalogue that has gold earring mountings for the round stones ... A: To set diamonds you would need a jewelers tools. They cut seats in the gold. Then they bend the ...
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| Recutting Round Emerald | 6/22/2007 |
Q: I have a 2.89ct Round Columbian Emerald that is mounting into a ring. At the bottom of the gem, ... A: David, I have to apologize. I answered the same day I got it. I not sure what happeded when I saw ...
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| White Sapphires | 6/1/2007 |
Q: What is the value of white sapphires that are free of inclusions, per carat? Does the country of ... A: White sapphires can be quite inexpensive from 5.00 to 20.00 per carat. It does not matter where it ...
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| sapphire grades | 6/1/2007 |
Q: I have a 7x5mm, .90 ct. emerald cut sapphire. Color: fine- Dk. Clarity: LF-1 Price per carat at the ... A: Who graded your sapphire with these terms? I have not seen or heard them before. What color is ...
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| ametrines and lines of demarcation | 5/30/2007 |
Q: I recently bought a ring off the internet and it was advertised as an ametrine, 5 carats in weight ... A: Ametrine can be exactly 50/50, the gemstone cutter can make that by how he orients the rough. ...
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| sapphire polishing | 5/10/2007 |
Q: my wedding ring is a sapphire that cost my husband $4000. I can't remember the carat wt.Recently one ... A: The jeweler would have sent your stone out to a gemcutter like myself. He would use a steel wheel ...
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| need some help | 5/9/2007 |
Q: how are gold mines are found? why gold is measure in carat? who own most of the gold ? what is ... A: Gold mines are found by prospecting. You go into the field. Take samples then assay the samples. ...
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| Jade pendant necklace | 4/30/2007 |
Q: I have a what I believe to be jade pendant on a gold chain. The pendant is carved and I think the ... A: Most people who work with gemstones for a living could tell you by looking at the stone if it is ...
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| Drilling Holes | 4/18/2007 |
Q: I recently bought some polished rocks at a store that was closing. They did not have holes in them ... A: You will need to buy a dremel tool at home depot or hobby shop. You will also need to buy some ...
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| garnets | 4/16/2007 |
Q: I recently went mining and went home with some garnets,I believe almandine.They all have a multi ... A: I believe I already wrote to you. But it was brought to my attention this question was unanswered. ...
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| AMETHYST | 4/12/2007 |
Q: I AM LOOKING FOR A 8 MM X 22 MM FACETED AMETHYST FOR A RING I HAVE. HOW CAN I FIND ONE? THANKS FOR ... A: I need an email address to send you pictures. I will need to know more about your ring. Do you ...
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| AMETHYST | 4/10/2007 |
Q: I AM LOOKING FOR A 8 MM X 22 MM FACETED AMETHYST FOR A RING I HAVE. HOW CAN I FIND ONE? THANKS FOR ... A: I could get you into the stone for around 35.00 to 55.00 range. A gemologist can certify the stone ...
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| AMETHYST | 4/9/2007 |
Q: I AM LOOKING FOR A 8 MM X 22 MM FACETED AMETHYST FOR A RING I HAVE. HOW CAN I FIND ONE? THANKS FOR ... A: I could provide that service for you. I can custom cut it for you. I would charge 65.00 to cut it ...
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| Just curious about a stone I found, nothing more! | 4/6/2007 |
Q: How can I get a stone identified and be taken seriously? It's a water washed bluish green jagged ... A: Do you have a good digital camera? If so take some pics and send them to me. Use good light and ...
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| polishing to high gloss shine | 3/31/2007 |
Q: I have a bunch of cut rocks,petrified wood and other kinds.They range from 1 to about 6 inches round ... A: They need to be vibro-lapped polished. It is a large oscillating machine with polishing compound. ...
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| excess glue | 12/30/2006 |
Q: I ordered a rose quartz pendant online & cannot get the seller to respond to my e-mails. The pendant ... A: Get some Acetone and a small glass container you can seal that is large enough to hold the quartz. ...
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| difference | 12/29/2006 |
Q: My elderly mother lives in a home..she gave me a bracelet she won in Bingo...it is stamped 925 ... A: The best way is to look carefully at the stones under a microscope. Look for bubbles they are ...
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| black diamonds | 12/11/2006 |
Q: Black diamonds intrigue me. They don't come out of the ground that color do they? Do you think ... A: Yes they are that color out of the ground. Mostly the white stones are more valuable. However some ...
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| Price Comparison on Natural and Lab Created Emeralds | 12/9/2006 |
Q: I'm doing a report on natural and lab created emeralds for my science class, I have to find info on ... A: The created Emerald everyone goes after is called Chathams. They are around 300.00 to 400.00 per ...
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| Minerals | 11/29/2006 |
Q: What is the melting point for the mineral APATITE! A: The only reference I could come up with said 1300 C. As you know Apatite is mostly Calcium. Its ...
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| Jadeit ring | 11/11/2006 |
Q: I bought a jadeit ring in Bejing, from the factory, via the tour bus, for £198. I was very pleased ... A: I would need to see the quality of your jade to determine the value. As to it breaking those things ...
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| ring with emerald and ruby | 11/11/2006 |
Q: i ve got this ring from 15 years and i D like to know its value. it has an emerald, a ruby and 10 ... A: To determine its true value it would need to be inspected by a qualified gemologist. He would ...
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| Cutting a tourmaline | 11/8/2006 |
Q: Forgive my ignorance here, as I'm just starting to work with tourmaline. I have purchased a gorgeous ... A: Sorry for not answering sooner. This the first chance I had to do so. I am currently on the road. ...
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| Wholesale | 10/22/2006 |
Q: I have 2 questions: 1) Approximately how much percentage lower than the rapaport do retail stores ... A: Part one I will get back to you on. I will ask some of my clients what they pay. Part two I would ...
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| Interested Student in Geology Unit | 10/20/2006 |
Q: My name is Luana, and I'm a student at Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. I have just ... A: 1. Gemstones are identified by, optical characteristics, color, transparancy and refractive index. ...
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| turquoise rings | 10/7/2006 |
Q: I have several sterling silver turquoise rings that do not fit a certain finger they used to. San ... A: Yes they can be resized. However if they use their torch they have to be careful. Touquoise is very ...
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| stone to sell | 9/26/2006 |
Q: My parents have inherited a nice stone that they want me to try and sell for them. I’ve never tried ... A: Sorry for not anwsering sooner. I just now saw your question for the first time. Somehow it got ...
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| Cracked Jade | 9/23/2006 |
Q: I am wearing a jade bracelet that has a visible crack around it. I was hoping I could treat it ... A: Sorry to hear about your braclet. I really can not think of any thing that could prevent it from ...
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| Polishing shells | 8/23/2006 |
Q: Steven, I have some trocus shells. I have seen some available commercially that are polished to ... A: You need to use a rough sanding wheel followed by finer and finer grit sanding. Maybe 180 mesh, ...
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| drilling stones | 8/20/2006 |
Q: Steven: I'm a fellow AllExperts member (Sleep Apnea category) who needs your help. My daughter ... A: What you need is a diamond bit or bits. I would get a 1.8 mm bit to start the hole. If you want it ...
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| gems from Afghanistan | 8/17/2006 |
Q: My husband bought some gems and stones (rubies, emeralds, alexandrite, lapis etc...) during his tour ... A: I would consider selling them on E-Bay or other online auctions, just set a basement price you will ...
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| Bidz.com | 8/10/2006 |
Q: My wife is excited about Bidz.com, where a person may bid for expensive jewelry and maybe get it for ... A: I looked at the site just now. It looks on the up an up. The key to it is to be very knowledgable ...
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| How to polish gem stones? | 8/8/2006 |
Q: I went to North Carolina,and stopped by a paning for Gem Stones.I didn't get them polished,so my ... A: You can purchase a tumbler from a rock shop. It come with instructions. You place the stones and ...
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| end cap for flat cut stone to be used as a pendant | 8/2/2006 |
Q: I did not really want to drill holes because I was afraid I would break the stones in doing so. Can ... A: What kind of stone do you have? and what exact shape? Are they square, rectangle, round, oval? If ...
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