Gemstones are normally thought of as being in an unpolished state, but not always. The word Jewel, on the other hand most often refers to a piece of jewelry that has been set. In other words, a ring, pendant, earring and so forth. But sometimes these words are used interchangeably. I don’t worry a lot about the nomenclature of things. Plain old easily understood English is the thing for me.

But in some circles, you might have to be very careful about calling something a gemstone or a jewel.

My favorite place to view gemstones in their natural state? The Smithsonian in Washington D.C., of course. Have you ever been there? It is truly a jewelry/gemstone lover’s dream!

One of the “new” gemstones is called Kunzite, a pale pink stone with a bit of a lilac cast. Of course the gem itself is  terribly ancient, but it was only discovered in 1902. It was named after George Kunz, who was the lead jeweler at Tiffany & Co., and a mineralogist himself.  I have heard it described as a very feminine stone, and of course it must be cut correctly to show its delicate beauty to full advantage.

I think this is cheating, but the stone is often heated or  irradiated to increase the richness of the color. I am old fashioned, and prefer gemstones au naturel.

Speaking of au naturel, this gemstone should not be worn on the beach or in direct sunlight, because this could cause the color to fade. The pink undertones are due to the manganese content of the gemstone. Pretty, but somewhat delicate in this regard!

I’ve always been a sucker for sparkling gemstones. Diamonds are lovely, but to me nothing compares to a beautifully cut and polished emerald or ruby. If you want to surprise your significant other this holiday season, consider a dazzling ring or pendant in the colors of the season.

Did you realize that the color in gemstones is caused by impurities? I find that fascinating. Maybe that’s why they’re so appealing to me. I’ve never been one to go for things that are considered “perfect.” To me, an ideal drinking glass is a slightly off-center hand blown one, full of bubbles, thicker on one side than the other. Not to compare the glory of a red ruby or deep green emerald to a drinking glass, but you get the idea.

I encourage you to look at many different rings or pendants, in various settings before making your final decision. Certain settings tend to bring out the “personality” of the stone more than others.

Men wear jewelry, have for a long time. But Henry VIII was the epitome of male adornment. He wore more jewelry than any of his 6 wives did, possibly more than all of them put together. He had whole suits of clothing that encompassed peals and jewels, sewn right into the fabric.

King Henry is thought of as a manly man (if possibly a tad off his rocker) but nonetheless he was a man that enjoyed the beauty of the gemstone. Even his feathered hat is adorned with jewels. In the famous portrait by Hans Holbein, the good king is depicted broad-shouldered and proud, displaying his fantastic parure, which means “suite of matching jewelry.”

That must have been a heavy outfit, but Henry was a fellow who could carry it off.

If you’ve never been to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. - you are missing a magnificent opportunity to view some of the world’s most beautiful gemstones.

A few years back I saw the blue Hope Diamond on display there. It had such luster and appeal- it’s hard to imagine a more impressive gemstone. Of course the history of this gemstone is full of legend and intrigue.

But for my money the best part of the display was the naturally occurring crystals that I imagined to still be growing behind the glass. Of course they weren’t, but because of their structure they almost seemed alive.

You’ll just have to go see for yourself.

Did you realize that an uncut diamond may have very little luster? It takes artistry to bring out the beauty of a gemstone.

A lapidary has great skill. He or she has much knowledge on gem cutting, gained through experience and practice. He can look at an uncut gem and tell exactly how the stone should be cut to bring out the greatest beauty in the piece. Much of this is based on the action of the light as it passes through the gemstone and reflects from its surface.

There are many different cuts possible. Transparent stones such as diamonds and emeralds have a few principal cuts used, most of them involving facets. The more facets, the more light is reflected which is what causes the stone to shine with such brilliance.

Just like our ancestors, we love the beauty and mystery of gemstones.

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with any gem under consideration. Of course a trained gemologist will know more about gemstones from his or her years of training and study than a layman will, but it certainly can’t hurt to learn a bit about your favorite gemstone if only to increase your own appreciation for it.

There are so many factors to take into consideration. The color, the cut, the brilliance of the gem, etc. are all important. You want to be an educated buyer, so it’s a great idea to learn as much as you can before making that purchase.