Gemstones

Gemstones are creations of lapidary art!

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Quality mineral rough are cut, ground, and polished into geometric shapes with precision, patience, and pressure.  Often used in jewelry and other decorative fashions, gemstones are varied, valuable, and functional.  Topics and resources on this page should help rockhounds of all ages and experiences find something new to learn or review in their gemstone knowledge quests, but there are still many more places to learn about gems—books, salespersons, jewelry and rock shops.  Happy hunting~

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Subjects relative to gemstones:

• Art
  • Lapidary Art
  • Jewelry Design
  • Fashion Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Photography
  • Architecture
  • Sculpture
  • Stone Masonry
• History / Literature
  • Archaeology
  • Ancient Civilizations

  • Social Studies

  • World Religion

• Science

  • Chemistry
    • ​​Organic Chemistry

  • Earth Sciences

    • Geology

    • Gemology

    • Mineralogy

• Technology

  • 3D Modeling

• Engineering

  • Manufacturing

• Mathematics

  • Geometry

Key search terms:

• gemstone

• gemology / gemmology

• diamond grading

• color, carat, clarity

• jewelry

• stone setting

• lapidary art

• faceting

• cabbing

• cabochon

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Tools for gemstone ID & measurement:

• loupe

• microscope

• spectroscope

• Chelsea filter

• caliper

• carat gauge measure

• gram / milligram scale

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Careers involving gemstones:

• gemologist

• appraiser

• salesperson

• lapidary artist

• gemstone facetor

• diamond facetor

• bench jeweler

• jewelry designer

• fashion designer

• graphic designer

• photographer

• 3D model maker

• technical staff

• museum curator

• historian

• teacher

• writer

Resource

Education

• Carnegie Museum of Natural History:

  • Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems

• Gemological Institute of America (GIA)

  • “A public benefit, non-profit institute, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewelry.”

• International Gem Society (IGS)

  • “[T]he world’s top resource for gem professionals, enthusiasts, and industry content.”

• Headwaters Lapidary

  • “Learn How to Cut Gems”

  • Offers lapidary services and lessons in faceting and cabbing gemstones into finished pieces.

Gemstone

Organizations

• American Gem Society (AGS)

  • “The American Gem Society is the country’s preeminent jewelry trade organization dedicated to consumer protection.”

• American Gem Trade Association (AGTA)

  • “The AGTA is recognized within the jewelry trade as the authoritative source on natural colored gemstones: “The voice of the natural colored gemstone, pearl and cultured pearl industries.””