Gem Information
The world of gemstones is full of intrigues, mysteries and surprises. Through over the centuries people desired gorgeous stones the way, they had thirst for power. In many ancient cultures some gemstones was equivalent of power, showing the high rank of the owner. Money, Wealth is a twin-sister of Power. There was always some group of people who would able to concentrate a fortune, pushing less lucky ones away. By dominating the market, they are able to push some gems up to the top, commanding the high price for the gems which under different circumstances could be less valuable. Are there specific standards for gem value? At the beginning the most important criterion was the color, not the stone itself. The jewelry pieces of Egyptian king Tutankhamen were skillfully crafted in gold with gems - as turquoise and carnelian - together with dyed ceramic glass to look like a specific gemstone. Should we call it imitation or, simply, fake? The beauty was the most important part not the type of the gemstone; and the glassmakers in ancient Egypt had the benefit of royal patronage. In Medieval Times the values of gems shifted from look to the religious, talismanic and medicinal properties. These believe were accepted with no questions. Different time had different values of gemstones – emphasizing ones and diminishing the others; diamond not always was the number one on the list. What about now? How the modern world judges the gemstones? They are systems to grade diamonds, colored stones (some of them) and pearls. They are just charts, not standards for appreciation. Frankly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. How could I say which color is prettier – red, green or blue? Price is how much the buyer agrees to pay for the goods. We pay for the beauty of the gem, the quality of it. We also pay for availability of this gem on the market and the rarity of it. And we sure pay for the mystery behind this desirable gem. They are a lot of gemstones on the market, for every taste by the different price range. Just make your mind and buy what you want. The possibilities are endless. No claims are made for the properties of the gemstones. These alleged powers are gathered from writing, books, folklore and various sources. |