| Welcome to Certain Gems | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rubies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A ruby is a red gem variety of the mineral corundum. Varieties of corundum are called sapphires if they are blue and fancy,and any color other than red or blue. Chemically it is an aluminum oxide. Rubies get their red color from traces of chromium in the aluminum oxide. The red of most rubies has a brownish or yellowish tint. But the most highly valued rubies have a bluish tint called pigeon's blood red. Rubies and sapphires are second only to diamonds in hardness, and fine-quality rubies are among the costliest of all gems. The finest rubies come from Myanmar. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pearls | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A pearl is one of the most valuable gems. Large, perfectly shaped pearls rank in value with the most precious stones. But pearls are different from other gems. Most gems are minerals that are mined from beneath the earth. But pearls are formed inside the shells of oysters. Mineral gems are hard and usually reflect light. However, pearls are rather soft, and they absorb, as well as reflect light. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diamonds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diamond have great power to reflect light, bend rays or light, and break light up into the colors of the rainbow. But to produce the greatest brilliance in a diamond, many little facets (sides) must be cut and polished on it. Each tiny facet must be exactly the right size and shape and must be placed at exactly the right angle in relation to other facets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gold | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gold is a metal prized for its beauty, usefulness, and scarcity. Throughout history, people have sought gold more eagerly than any other metal or jewelry. Gold has a lovely yellow color and a metallic glow. It is one of the easiest metals to shape. It can be beaten into thinner sheets than any other metal. Gold doesn't rust or tarnish. Gold deposits rich enough to mine profitably are found in many amounts of gold. Gold was the 1st metals discovered. People have used gold for jewelry for thousands of years. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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