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| The Mohs Scale of Hardness |
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Named for the 19th century German mineralogist who created it -- the Mohs scale measures the hardness of minerals. Basically, the 10 point scale gauges the "scratchability" of stones and minerals. It is by no means a balanced scale -- the difference in hardness between 9 (ruby) and 10 (diamond) is greater than the difference between 1 (talc) and 9.
A high Mohs rating does not always mean that a gemstone is also tough. The emerald, for example, has a Mohs rating of 7.5-8.0, yet its crystal structure makes it more brittle and prone to cracking and chipping than members of the quartz family that have lower Mohs ratings. Precious metals -- gold, platinum, silver -- have a Mohs rating of about 4, which means that they can be scratched by many gemstones. Care should always be taken to store your jewelry separately.
| How colored gemstones are judged |
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Jewelers, like buyers, consider the depth and radiance of colored gemstones the most important quality, and deep, rich translucent coloration is highly valued. No matter the particular gemstone shape -- round, pear, heart -- a balanced cut is key. Facets should be symmetrical and centered, and the stone should not have breaks or chips.
Flaws are hard to avoid in natural gemstones, and if there are not so many inclusions as to distract the eye, jewelers value these tiny irregularities as unique identifying markers. "Zoning" is a term that jewelers use to describe the color consistency of a stone -- the more consistent the color, the better.
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In 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers agreed on the birthstone chart that we use today. If you don't know your birthstone, or if you want to see what the birthstone of a friend or special someone is, look over the table below.
| January |
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Garnet |
| February |
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Amethyst |
| March |
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Aquamarine |
| April |
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Diamond or White Topaz |
| May |
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Emerald |
| June |
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Pearl or Moonstone |
| July |
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Ruby |
| August |
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Peridot |
| September |
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Sapphire |
| October |
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Opal |
| November |
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Citrine |
| December |
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Blue Topaz |
Other than your birthday, there are a lot of reasons to choose to wear different gemstones. Each has unique powers attributed to it that can help its wearer's health, love prospects, and mental focus. Click on the name of any gemstone to learn more about its fascinating history and lore.
Here is a good chart to find out which precious stone is generally associated with each astrological sign:
| Aries (March 22-April 20) |
Diamond |
| Taurus (April 21 - May 21) |
Emerald |
| Gemini (May 22 - June 21) |
Agate |
| Cancer (June 22 - July 22) |
Pearl or Moonstone |
| Leo (July 23 - August 22) |
Ruby |
| Virgo (August 23 -September 22) |
Sapphire |
| Libra (September 23 - October 23) |
Opal |
| Scorpio (October 24 - November 21) |
Sardonyx |
| Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) |
Topaz |
| Capricorn (December 22 - January 21) |
Onyx |
| Aquarius (January 21 - February 21) |
Turquoise |
| Pisces (February 22 - March 21) |
Moonstone |
| The right gift for your anniversary |
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Every anniversary of your marriage is worth commemorating with an enduring token of love and affection. Try this guide to locate the traditional gemstone or precious metal for each major anniversary:
1. Gold
2. Garnet
3. Pearl
4. Blue Topaz
5. Sapphire
6. Amethyst
7. Onyx
8. Tourmaline
9. Lapis Lazuli
10. Diamond
11. Turquoise
12. Jade |
13. Citrine
14. Opal
15. Ruby
20. Emerald
25. Silver
30. Pearl
35. Emerald
40. Ruby
45. Sapphire
50. Gold
60. Diamond |
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