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
Blue Topaz Gemstone Guide: Colors, Value & Care
Everything bench jewelers and buyers should know about topaz: Swiss and London blue, mystic topaz, heat treatment, Mohs hardness, and daily care.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Spessartite Garnet: The Bright Orange Mandarin Gem
Spessartite garnet explained: the orange mandarin color, where it is mined, why clean stones are rare, and how to set and care for it.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Bloodstone (Heliotrope): The Green Jasper with Red Spots
Bloodstone is a dark green chalcedony dotted with red jasper. We cover origins, hardness, how it is cut, and how to wear it daily.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Garnet Gemstone Guide: Varieties, Colors & Hardness
Garnet isn't just January's deep red birthstone. Explore pyrope, almandine, tsavorite, demantoid, and which varieties hold their value.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Diaspore: The Color-Change Gem From the Turkish Mountains
Diaspore, sold as Zultanite, shifts from green to champagne to pink depending on light. Learn its properties, price and jewelry use.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
How Moissanite Is Made: From Silicon Carbide Boule to Faceted Gem
Inside the synthesis process: silicon carbide growth, boule selection, cutting, grading, and certification before moissanite reaches wholesale.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Rhodium Plating vs Silver Dip on 925 Sterling: Finish Comparison
Rhodium plate is a 0.5 to 1.0 micron coating that lasts 12 to 18 months. Silver dip is a tarnish remover that strips silver every use. Which to sell.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Plating Wear and Replating Cycles: What Brands Budget For
Rhodium wears through on rings in 12-24 months. Our thickness choices, wear math and replating program so your customers know what to expect.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Gold vs. Silver: How Manufacturing Differs Between the Two Metals
Melting points, annealing cycles, solders, finishing, and tarnish control: why a silver shop and a gold shop run on different rhythms.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Taaffeite: The Gemstone Discovered Already Cut
Taaffeite is one of the few gemstones first identified as a cut stone, not a rough crystal. Its mauve color, sources, and collector history.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Morganite for Engagement Rings: A Peach-Pink Alternative to Diamond
Morganite's soft peach-pink tone is having a moment. We cover hardness, durability, setting choices, and whether it earns a place on your finger.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Jade Guide: Jadeite vs. Nephrite, Toughness and Treatments
Jade means two different minerals—jadeite and nephrite. Learn why jade is the toughest gem, how to spot A, B and C jade, and how to buy it.
