Journal · 177 notes
Stones & grading
Written for buyers rather than for search engines: what a specification actually means, where an order usually goes wrong, and what to ask before you pay a deposit.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Moissanite vs Lab Grown Diamond: A 2026 Bespoke Buyer Verdict
An atelier honest verdict on moissanite versus lab grown diamonds for engagement rings, covering look, hardness, price, and how each wears on the hand.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Silver Soldering: Flux Timing and Heat Control
Borax vs handicraft vs white flux, heat order on the joint, and the 5-second window between active flux and brittle fire-scale.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Scapolite: The Rare Gem Most Buyers Have Never Heard Of
Scapolite is a rare aluminum silicate that comes in violet, yellow and cat's-eye. Learn its properties, how it is cut, and what it costs.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Blue Topaz: Why Almost Every Blue Stone Was Brown First
Nearly all blue topaz starts gray or brown before it reaches heat. Here is how that treatment works, what it costs, and what to expect.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Garnet Varieties: From Pyrope to Tsavorite
Garnet is a family of stones rather than one gem. Compare pyrope, almandine, spessartine, tsavorite, and demantoid by color, hardness, and real value.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Prehnite: The Pale Green Gem That Ages Gracefully
Pale, translucent, and often mistaken for jade — prehnite has a following among bench jewelers. Here is how it cuts, sets, and wears.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Tourmaline Gemstone Guide: Every Color of the Rainbow
From neon-green paraiba to pink rubellite and bi-color slices, tourmaline is one of gemstones' most varied families. Here is what moves the price.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Cavansite: The Electric Blue Mineral That Loves to Be Seen, Not Worn
Cavansite is a vivid blue collector mineral found on stilbite matrix. Its properties, sources, and why jewelers rarely set it in daily wear.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Blue Chalcedony: Soft, Matte and Quietly Luxurious
Blue chalcedony is a microcrystalline quartz with soft sky-to-slate blue. Learn where it comes from, how it is cut, and how to care for matte blue gems.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Topaz Gemstone Colors and Treatments: What Is Real?
Natural topaz is usually colorless or pale. Learn how blue, pink, and imperial topaz get their color, which stones are treated, and what to pay.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Morganite Engagement Rings: Color, Durability & Settings
Peach morganite is a soft, romantic alternative to white stones. Here is how it holds up at the bench, which settings suit it, and what it costs.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Spinel Gemstone Guide: The Ruby Look-Alike That Deserves the Spotlight
Long mistaken for ruby, spinel is a durable, vivid, and affordable gem. Learn its properties, treatments, and why it beats ruby on value.