The beauty of gem jewelry determines its ornamental value, which can be pleasing to the eye; The rarity and durability of precious stones determine their preservation. It is found that high-grade gems can withstand the pressure of inflation better than anything else, because they can store wealth in the smallest form. It is no wonder that people's interest in gem investment has been growing in recent decades.
First, beauty
The beauty of precious stones is varied. The brilliance of diamonds and the delicate flash of pearls, the exaggerated patterns of agate and the slight transparency of jadeite will fascinate us. Light is the source of all the beauty of precious stones. Therefore, jewelry stores and counters should pay attention to lighting design. The interaction between minerals and light creates the intense colors of rubies and lapis lazuli, the flame of diamonds and the rainbow-like colors of opals. The light reflected from the surface of the gemstone gives each gemstone a unique luster, such as strong diamond luster and emerald pearl luster. The light radiated and reflected from the inside of the gem causes the soft luster of the moonstone. However, the charm of some gemstones is mainly caused by mineral inclusions, such as the flashing colors in timely and Nikzad gemstones, and the cat's eye flashes and starlight in some emeralds and sapphires. The charm of agate and jasper with more subtle color changes lies in a large number of patterns and structures formed during the growth of these minerals. Its growing zone and captured mineral fragments often show strange terrain and garden scenery. Most precious stones are not beautiful in their original state, and all their colors and luster can only be revealed through skilled cutting and polishing. The radiant diamond fire can only be displayed after the most accurate cutting and polishing. When we put on jewelry, our movement constantly changes the relationship between the gem and the light falling on it, adding light flicker to the color and flame of the gem. Point light can enhance diamonds and red.
Second, rarity.
If beauty gives us an initial impulse to precious stones, then rarity sends us rare and valuable information, prompting us to own them. Rarity determines the incredible value of those big gems in the world, and it is the main factor that affects the price of gems displayed in the window of every jewelry store. The value of gems, like the understanding of beauty, changes with the fashion trends and beliefs of different cultures, and fluctuates with the public demand and the difficulty of obtaining a particular gem.
Third, durability.
Gemstones are durable because they can resist chemical alteration, have enough hardness to resist wear and tear, and are not easy to break. Hardness is the standard to measure the wear resistance of gemstones. The most commonly used standard is Mohs hardness. 1822, German mineralogist Mohs selected ten minerals. According to its hardness, it is divided into ten grades: 1 (talc), 2 (azurite), 3 (calcite), 4 (fluorite), 5 (apatite), 6 (orthoclase), 7 (timely), 8 (topaz), 9 (corundum) and 10. The real hardness can be obtained by indentation hardness test. However, it requires complicated instruments. Gems must be strong and durable. Emeralds, for example, are fragile and easy to break, although their hardness is higher than the time. Like many precious stones, diamonds and topaz will break along the surface when falling or hitting hard objects, and the atomic bonding is weak. The toughest gemstones are jadeite, nephrite and agate, all of which have a hardness of about 7.