Understanding Gemstone Hardness (Mohs Scale)
Hardness is an important factor in determining the durability and longevity of gemstones.
What is Hardness?
Hardness measures a gemstone's resistance to scratching. The Mohs scale is used to rank the hardness of minerals on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest (talc) and 10 being the hardest (diamond).
Why Does It Matter?
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Durability: The harder the gemstone, the more resistant it is to scratches and damage. This means it will maintain its beauty and clarity for longer periods.
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Everyday Wear: Gemstones with higher hardness are ideal for everyday jewelry, like rings and bracelets, which are subject to more wear and tear.
Mohs Scale Examples
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Talc: 1 (Very soft)
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Gypsum: 2
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Calcite: 3
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Fluorite: 4
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Apatite: 5
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Feldspar: 6
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Quartz: 7 (Common in many types of jewelry)
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Topaz: 8
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Cubic Zirconia 8.5
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Corundum (Sapphire and Ruby): 9
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Moissanite 9.25
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Diamond: 10 (The hardest known mineral)
Our Gemstones
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Moissanite: With a Mohs hardness rating of 9.25, Moissanite is almost as hard as diamond, making it incredibly resistant to scratches and perfect for daily wear.
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Cubic Zirconia: With a Mohs hardness rating of 8.5, it is quite durable but should be treated with more care than harder stones.
By understanding gemstone hardness, you can make informed choices about your jewelry, ensuring that your pieces stay beautiful and withstand the test of time.
Understanding Refractive Index
The refractive index is a measure of how much light bends, or refracts, when it enters a gemstone. This bending of light affects how sparkly and brilliant the gem appears.
What is Refractive Index?
Imagine light as a stream of tiny particles traveling in a straight line. When this stream of light enters a gemstone, it slows down and bends. The refractive index tells us how much the light bends.
Why Does It Matter?
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Sparkle and Brilliance: The higher the refractive index, the more the light bends and reflects inside the gemstone. This means the gem will sparkle more and appear more brilliant.
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Comparison: Diamonds have a high refractive index of 2.42, making them extremely sparkly. Moissanite, used in our jewelry, has an even higher refractive index of about 2.65 to 2.69, making it sparkle even more than a diamond.
Example
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Diamond: Refractive index of 2.42 - lots of sparkle.
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Moissanite: Refractive index of 2.65 to 2.69 - even more sparkle.
By choosing gems with a high refractive index, like Moissanite, you get a piece of jewelry that dazzles and shines brilliantly, catching every eye in the room.
What is 5A and 8A Cubic Zirconia?
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5A Cubic Zirconia: Known for its exceptional clarity and sparkle, it's a top-tier choice for those seeking stunning, affordable beauty.
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8A Cubic Zirconia: The highest grade, offering unparalleled brilliance and precision cuts that rival even the finest diamonds.
​Kindly note we do not sell or have any Cubic Zirconia lower than 5A.
We only support 5A and higher. All our Cubic Zirconia's have a Moh hardness of 8.5
Grades lower than 5A start to have Moh hardness of 8, and reduced sparkle.
Cleaning Silver with Aluminum Foil and Baking Soda: A Step-by-Step Guide
Materials Needed:
-Aluminum foil
-Baking soda
-Hot water
-A large bowl or pan
-Soft cloth or towel
Instructions:
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-Prepare the Bowl/Pan:
Line the bottom and sides of a bowl or pan with a single sheet of aluminum foil, shiny side up. This will create a chemical reaction that helps to clean the silver.
-Add Baking Soda:
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the aluminum foil. Typically, you can use about 2-3(or more as you wish) tablespoons of baking soda for a bowl or pan.
-Add Silver Items:
Place your tarnished silver items into the bowl or pan, ensuring they are in contact with the aluminum foil and baking soda.
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-Boil Water:
Boil enough water to fully submerge your silver items in the bowl or pan.
-Combine Ingredients:
Carefully pour the hot water into the bowl or pan lined with aluminum foil, baking soda, and your silver items. The baking soda will start to dissolve in the hot water. If needed, more baking soda can be added at this stage.
-Wait and Observe:
Allow the silver to sit in the solution for a few minutes. You may notice a slight sulfur smell as the tarnish is removed, which is normal. You can gently move the silver items around with a spoon if necessary. (Be careful, the water is hot.)
-Check Progress:
After a few minutes, check the progress of the cleaning. If the silver is still tarnished, you can let it sit for a bit longer. Usually, 5-10 minutes is sufficient.
-Rinse and Dry:
Once the tarnish is removed, carefully remove the silver items from the solution using tongs or a spoon (as the water will still be hot). Rinse the silver thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining baking soda residue.
-Polish:
Dry the silver items with a soft cloth or towel. You can also use a polishing cloth to give them a final shine.
-Tips:
For heavily tarnished items, you may need to repeat the process.
Avoid using this method for silver pieces with glued components or stones that might be affected by the heat. (Our Cubic Zirconia, Moissanite, and diamonds are safe for this method. We don't glue our products, and our products aren't affected by heat)
For intricate silverware, you can use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub away any remaining tarnish.
This method leverages a simple electrochemical reaction to effectively clean silver without harsh chemicals.