What makes lapis high quality?
Let's discover what makes lapis qualify as "high quality". There are a few things to look at when classifying lapis:
Died or not? If it is died the color will look very consistent. Natural lapis should have some variations in color. So in conclusion the more the color varies the lower the quality.
Is it waxed? Waxing the stone is just part of the polishing process. Waxing doesn't efffect the quality, but it does create a shinier stone. The centerpiece of Butterfly with Lapis Necklace at our website is a good example of a waxed, high quality lapis stone.
Is the Color Consistent? I mentioned above that the more uniform the color, the higher quality... as long as the stone is natural. Some lapis will have streaks of gold or patches of white. This indicates a lower quality, although this can add texture and dimension to the stone.
So what is the deal with pearls?
When trying to value pearls, there are two main characteristics to consider: size which is measured in millimeters and the quality of finish. The quality of the finish or nacre coating gives a pearl its luster.
Did you know there are several types of pearls? Pearls require no polishing or faceting to shine. Both natural and cultured pearls are made of mollusks but natural pearls are made without human intervention and cultured pearls need an irritant added to the shell in order for the pearl to grow.
Since the 1920's, natural pearls are very rare. Most pearls used in jewelry today are either cultured or imitation. That is why it is very important to understand the difference between the two and to trust the source of your jewelry.
Let's discover what makes lapis qualify as "high quality". There are a few things to look at when classifying lapis:
Died or not? If it is died the color will look very consistent. Natural lapis should have some variations in color. So in conclusion the more the color varies the lower the quality.
Is it waxed? Waxing the stone is just part of the polishing process. Waxing doesn't efffect the quality, but it does create a shinier stone. The centerpiece of Butterfly with Lapis Necklace at our website is a good example of a waxed, high quality lapis stone.
Is the Color Consistent? I mentioned above that the more uniform the color, the higher quality... as long as the stone is natural. Some lapis will have streaks of gold or patches of white. This indicates a lower quality, although this can add texture and dimension to the stone.
So what is the deal with pearls?
When trying to value pearls, there are two main characteristics to consider: size which is measured in millimeters and the quality of finish. The quality of the finish or nacre coating gives a pearl its luster.
Did you know there are several types of pearls? Pearls require no polishing or faceting to shine. Both natural and cultured pearls are made of mollusks but natural pearls are made without human intervention and cultured pearls need an irritant added to the shell in order for the pearl to grow.
Since the 1920's, natural pearls are very rare. Most pearls used in jewelry today are either cultured or imitation. That is why it is very important to understand the difference between the two and to trust the source of your jewelry.
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