Special optical effects in precious colored gemstones

Whenever we look, up above the world so high, it seems as if our eyes are being witness to a great scintillating wonder.

Painters of the Renaissance like Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo were painters who were inclined towards creating masterpieces. Their paintings show such captivating blend of colors, creating shades on the canvas which are heartwarming.

The playful choice to create that thoughtful picture of Monalisa is still a classic amongst renowned artful conceptions.

Similarly, such magical designs of man’s thoughtful mind are also evident in jewelry. Humans have embellished themselves with beautiful shiny gold and silver jewelry. In addition, colored gemstones setting has been the most sought over since centuries.

Since very long, human civilizations around the world couldn’t have been able to resist the charm of such adornments. The treasure chests of kings and queens have been full with such precious extravaganza.

Talking about colored gems, each one of it is a unique specimen of its kind. Together with color and clarity, optical effects in gems give them a distinct value.

Let us go through some of fascinating wonderful effects below:

1. Adularescence- This is an optical effect which appears hazy, cloudy like. An internal movement of sheen is seen inside the stone. A perfect example of this effect is moonstone.
2. Asterism- Just like a star with its six rays. This effect is best seen in a non-faceted gemstone. Specimens are ruby, garnet, and sapphire.
3. Chatoyancy- This effect resembles a cat’s eye. As the stone moves sideways, a thin bright shiny line across the stone makes it look intriguing. An example of this effect is seen in alexandrite.
4. Iridescence- This change-in-color phenomenon is very commonly seen in soap bubbles, butterfly wings, and sea shells. It is an optical effect which comes in effect as angle of the view is changed. A thin film of air or liquid facilitates such characteristic in a gemstone.

Stones lesser in value like andalusite, labradorite, spectrolite etc, are counted as specimens of this optical effect.

1. Luster- This term usually refers to surface sheen or brilliance of surface of gemstone. Pertaining to the degree of reflection of light, gemstones like diamond is a remarkable example. It has an ability to disperse light of different colors. As compared to diamonds, pearls lack that crisp luster form whereas they exhibit a smooth, silkier-looking luster, called as orient.
2. Play of color- Opal’s playful characteristic of multi-color display could best explain this term.

Therefore, the above described are terms used to describe the various detracting yet impressive optical effects seen in lesser known gemstones.

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I keep myself abreast with the new jewelry trends prevailing round the globe. I have a passion to write about jewelry and gemstones. I am working for an online gemstones and Jewelry selling website and this has given me an edge for writing better about the latest trends in gemstone and jewelry.

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Antique art deco engagements rings take after the architectural design of the period, art deco.  Known for its use of geometric shapes and colors, the architecture of the period stood out for its unique flair.  In the same way, antique art deco engagement rings show an eclectic style.  They emerged from Paris, first introduced at the world’s fair, increasing in popularity through the 1920′s.

Colorful Pieces of Art

Antique art deco engagement rings look like pieces of art.  There is rarely a single stone, or solitaire, ring.  Normally, there is a central stone that is accented with the surrounding, colored gems, so that the entire piece fits together in one pattern.  Part of art deco design is the geometric patterns used, and these are incorporated into the rings.  The designers wanted the rings sleek and modern (for the period of time) and produced settings and bands that were intricate and complimented the gems selected for each piece.

The bands and settings were usually of yellow or white gold, although platinum was also a metal of choice, since it is clear and white and off-sets the colored jewels in the rings nicely.  Since there are multiple stones used in an antique art deco engagement ring, the bands are normally not at thin as other eras, in order to hold the multiple stones as well as keep the band in place on the finger to best show off its design.

Making a Choice

Antique art deco engagement rings are beautiful, colorful and artistic.  They are an excellent choice for a lifetime commitment.  However, there are some important things to think about when contemplating art deco rings.

First, since there are multiple stones in the setting, and the stones are colorful, it is wise to think about wearing the band with any outfit on any occasion.  If the bride likes to match her jewelry with the outfit, then an art deco ring isn’t always the best choice, since the colors in the rings don’t always match the outfit or occasion.

Another important aspect of the antique art deco engagement ring is that it is difficult to clean.  Since the emphasis was placed on the artistic design, sometimes the antique engagement ring mounting doesn’t hold up as well during cleaning.  In addition, it is difficult to clean between the multiple stones, being careful not to damage the mounting or settings, so a professional jeweler is often needed to do a thorough cleaning.

If you love this article, you will also love another article written by this article’s author on computerized engraving machine and laser engraving equipment.

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