Gems

Gemstone: A precious or semi-precious stone.- usually a mineral

Gem: A cut or polished gemstone.

To be a gem a mineral must be:

•Rare

•beautiful

•Hard (> 7)

•Quality cut or polish

The person who cuts and polishes gems is called a lapidary.

Marcel Tolkowsky

Creator of the Brilliant Cut

Gabi Tolkowsky

There are two basic cutting styles:

1. Cabochon

2. Faceted

Cabochon: rounded surfaces

Faceted: flat surfaces organized in a pattern

Cabochon

Black star diopsid Amethyst

Emerald

FacetedEmerald Cut

Amethyst

Emerald

Aquamarine

FacetedBrilliant Cut

Amethyst

TourmalineRuby

FacetedOval Cut, Square Cut, Heart Cut

Sapphire

Aquamarine

Citrine

Faceted

Diamondpure carbon

April birthstone (along with Crystal Quartz)

Emerald

Beryl

May birthstone (along with Chrysoprase)

Ruby

Corundum July birthstone (along with Carnelion)

Sapphire

Corundum

September birthstone (along with Lapis)

Aquamarine

Beryl

March birthstone (along with Bloodstone)

OpalQuartz

October birthstone (along with Tourmaline)

Tourmaline

October birthstone (along with Opal)

Garnet

January birthstone (along with Rose Quartz)

TopazNovember birthstone (along with Citrine)

Citrine

Quartz

November birthstone (along with Topaz)

Other Gemstones

ApatiteGold Beryl

Smokey Quartz Sunstone

BirthstonesBirthstones• January: Garnet or Rose Quartz• February: Amethyst or Onyx• March: Aquamarine or Bloodstone• April: Diamond or Rock Crystal• May: Emerald or Chrysoprase• June: Alexandrite or Moonstone• July: Ruby or Carnelian• August: Peridot or Sardonyx• September: Sapphire or Lapis• October: Opal or Tourmaline• November: Topaz or Citrine• December: Zircon or Turquoise

Synthetic Gems

Synthetic Gems

Cubic Zirconium

4 C’s: Clarity

4 C’s: Color

4 C’s: Cut

4 C’s: Cut

4 C’s: Carat

Tolkowsky’s Cut