 | Jerry Burnell has been a driving force in the jewelry industry of Kansas for the past 30 years. Jerry is a native of Wichita and a graduate of Wichita State University. He jokingly says that he had a degree in business, almost a masters in business, almost a degree in chemistry, with heavy studies in physics, math, and biology and he just quit college, that he figured that with 239 credit hours he should be able to make a living somewhere. Actually he was already deep into the motions of starting the most respected jewelry design team in this part of the country. Jerry is highly regarded and considered an expert in many fields, three of which are Precious gemstones, jewelry manufacture, and jewelry design. Jerry is presently president of The Kansas Jewelers Association and holds a position on the advisory board of Jewelers of America. You may contact Jerry at Burnell’s Jewelers, (316) 634-2822, or find Burnell’s Jewelers on the web at www.burnells.com |
Gold, Silver, Diamonds & Jewelry
2005-12-29 08:44:00
History of gemstones - continued
ANSWER: Continuing with our gemstone historical knowledge…garnet is an extremely popular burgundy red colored gemstone, and contrary to the belief of many, is not particularly rare. They can be everything from fully transparent to opaque. The name garnet comes from the Latin word granatum, or pomegranate. There are 6 garnet varieties, with five of them being used as gemstones.Jade is another gemstone that has been held in high esteem since Neolithic times, both for its pleasing color and its sturdiness in use. The name jade comes from the Spanish words pietra d'ijada, or colic stone. It was once regarded as a potent medicine. In China, where jade has been highly prized for thousands of years, over a hundred different names are in use for the different colored varieties. Imperial jade is transparent, and it is prized by the Chinese above any and all other gemstones. It is so clear that it is even possible to read print easily through a really good specimen.Peridot is a transparent green gemstone. It contains both iron and magnesium in proportions that vary somewhat from stone to stone. It is set in necklaces, earrings and looks good when it is surrounded by small amethysts or garnets.Silica gems, based on quartz, contain the two most common chemical elements in the earth's crust in combination. The gas oxygen, and the non-metallic element silicon, are in its properties. This family forms the largest group of gemstones, both in the number of varieties and in the quantities mined. It includes one truly precious species, opal, and a large number of semi-precious stones such as jasper. The gemstones can be classified into three varieties. Quartz, which is transparent and cut from a single crystal, translucent varieties called by the term chalcedony, and the familiar opal. The crystals of quartz and chalcedony are of exactly the same composition and structure. They differ in only one way…size. The name quartz comes from the German querertz, meaning crossing ore. When pure, it is absolutely colorless and is frequently called rock crystal. Lapis Lazuli is another stone that has been in high favor for ornamental purposes for thousands of years, with most folks having never heard of it. The ancient civilizations of Sumer, India, Egypt and China all held it in great esteem, and some archaeological finds have proven that its deposits, in remote parts of Afghanistan, have been worked for more than 6,000 years. It is popular due to its intense blue color, which is totally resistant to fading in sunlight. Lapis lazuli is a rock rather than a mineral. Its blue colors are supplied by an isomorphous series of aluminum silicates. Lapis lazuli also contains white or gray calcite, yellow metallic specks of pyrite, and minor mixtures of other minerals. The name of this stone seems to have originated in the Middle Ages. Lapis means stone and lazuli is derived from the Arabic word for blue. Some minor deposits of lapis are in Siberia, Upper Burma, and in the Sawatch Range of Colorado, as well as in San Bernardino County, California. Some of the information in this article was collected from the world wide web.
