The classification and characteristics of jewelry

Jewelry refers to jade products. Jewelry should include gold, silver and natural materials (minerals, rocks, organisms, etc.). Jewelry, handicrafts or other collections with a certain value are collectively called jewelry, so in ancient times there was a saying of “gold and silver jewelry” Separate gold, silver and jewelry.

With the development of society and economy, in addition to natural gems and artificial gems, the concept of jewelry should be expanded to include gold, silver, jewelry, etc. The industry dealing in these items is collectively known as the “jewellery industry”. The scope of “jewelry” is much larger than the broad concept of “gemstone”. Gemstones in a broad sense refer to raw materials suitable for polishing or engraving into jewelry or handicrafts.

 

1. The classification of jewelry:

Jewelry is divided into natural jewelry and jade (natural gemstones, natural jade, natural organic gemstones) and artificial gemstones (artificial gemstones, reconstructed gemstones, spliced gemstones, synthetic gemstones).

Natural gemstones: 

Diamond, ruby, sapphire, chrysoberyl cat’s eye, beryl, emerald, aquamarine, tourmaline, spinel, zircon, topaz, peridot, garnet, crystal, feldspar, rectangular Pillar stone, pillar spar, zoisite (tanzanite), epidote, cordierite, sphene, apatite, pyroxene, andalusite, sillimanite, kyanite and other rare gemstones.

Natural jade: 

Jade, nephrite (Hetian jade), opal, yellow dragon jade, agate, jasper, Lingbi jade, blue and white jade, Xiuyan jade, Nanyang jade, ice chalcedony, She Tai Cui, golden silk jade, Lantian jade, Malachite, lapis lazuli, turquoise, aventurine, white marble, Junggar jade, luminous jade, chrysocolla, green jellyfish, lapis lazuli, golden jade, ice flower jade, Yingshi, etc.

Natural colored stones: 

Shoushan stone, Tianhuang stone, Qingtian stone, chicken blood stone, Wuhua stone, Changbai stone, Duan stone, Tao stone, Songhua stone, Yuhua stone, Balin stone, Helan stone, chrysanthemum stone, purple cloud stone, chime stone, swallow stone, She stone, Red silk stone, Taihu stone, Changshi stone, serpentine, water stone, talc, granite, marble, etc.

Natural organic gemstones: 

5 types including amber, pearl, coral, ivory, coal jade, etc.

 

2. Feature introduction

Gemstones must have the following characteristics:

(1)“Beauty” means bright, crystal clear and dazzling

A gem cannot become a gem if it is not beautiful. This beauty may be expressed as brilliant colors, or it may be transparent and clean, or it may have special optical effects (such as cat’s eye, color change, luminous phenomena, etc.), or it may have special patterns ( Such as chrysanthemum stone, agate, plum blossom jade, etc.). For example, if both diamonds are transparent and have few flaws, they can be polished into valuable diamonds, while those with poor transparency, many flaws, and black color can only be used as industrial raw materials.

(2)“Long-term” means that the texture is hard and wear-resistant, and it can last for a long time.

Due to the high value of a gemstone, people would necessarily expect it to be durable, retain its value and even be a hereditary item. One of the reasons why diamonds have become the most expensive gems is that they are the hardest gems in the world and are not afraid of corrosion. Therefore, the most valuable gems in the world are mostly hard and corrosion-resistant silicate minerals (such as jade), a few oxides (such as rubies, sapphires) and simple minerals (such as diamonds), while soft and easily corroded gemstones (such as Xiuyu, southern jade, etc.) have low value in themselves and are often used to make handicrafts to win by craftsmanship; But there are also a few gemstones that are not included in this list, such as opal and pearls.

(3)“Rare”, that is, low output

Things are rare and valuable. The extremely rare emeralds in the world are worth tens of thousands of dollars per carat (0.2 grams) of the best quality. Some very beautiful and long-lasting gems (such as amethyst) are, due to their output, The more it is, the easier it is to mine, and its price has always been lower. Some common rocks are beautiful and durable after polishing, but they cannot become members of the gemstone family. The reason is that things are easy to get and must be cheap.

 

3. The maintenance of jewelry

(1)Do not wear jewelry when exercising or doing heavy work to avoid irreparable damage caused by collision. Even during daily wear, care must be taken to avoid abrasions and sudden blows that can damage even the most resistant of gemstones.

(2)When storing jewelry, store the jewelry in a box or soft cloth so that it does not come into contact with other jewelry. Most gemstones are harder than gold, silver or platinum and may scratch the surface of other jewelry if not kept separate.

(3)When wearing jewelry, you should check it once a month. If there is any loose setting, repair it in time.

(4)Wear jewelry after washing and applying makeup. This will prevent hairspray or cosmetics from damaging the jewelry and maintain its color.

(5)Jewelry will lose its luster if it is stained with oil and sweat secreted by the human body. Therefore, if you wear it regularly, you should clean it once a month.

(6)Professional Care: Normal wearing and pulling will eventually cause the prongs and other metal parts of your jewelry to become loose. Therefore, it is a good idea to visit a jewelry store every six months to have your jewelry checked by a professional. If necessary, professionals can repair claws and ring handles, necklace clasps, and reshape deformed rings. When professionals handle your jewelry, they can also professionally clean your jewelry. If the gemstones are damaged during daily wear, the gemstones can be repolished at your request.