The Book Of Oh My God Gemstones

This book is all about Oh My God gemstones and the simple people who love gemstones. Our compassionate boss and his team whose inspiration is Jesus is going to share with you the precious details of appreciating God’s splendid gift to mankind without any need of gemological expertise.

Written by P.J.Joseph

The price of wisdom is above rubies.
-Bible, Job 28:18

Chapter 5
Corundum

One late afternoon a mechanical engineer telephoned the compassionate boss for an appointment. The compassionate boss came forward, welcomed the mechanical engineer politely and offered him a chair; the precious assistants glanced at him knowingly.
He looked at the plaque and paused.
“Sir, I bought this beautiful jewelry and other colored stones in Thailand during my vacation. I was told they were rubies and sapphires. Are they really precious?” the mechanical engineer asked.
The compassionate boss examined the gem and jewelry collection with caution. He summoned Peter to examine the jewelry and identify the colored stones.
The compassionate boss said, “Rubies may be red, pinkish red, orange red, purplish red and brownish red, while blue sapphire colors are violet blue to blue, blue to greenish blue. Colors other than red or blue are termed sapphire with color prefix; for example, green sapphire, yellow sapphire, orange sapphire, pink and pinkish orange sapphire. They are precious.”
“Are there colorless sapphires?” the mechanical engineer asked.
“Pure corundum is nearly colorless,” the compassionate boss explained. “Totally colorless stones are rare and the so-called colorless sapphires have a faint yellowish shade of color. Many of the small colorless sapphires used in inexpensive jewelry are most likely synthetic.”
The mechanical engineer tried to reason, to understand.
He asked, “Does diamonds and colorless sapphires look the same?”
The compassionate boss replied, “For the novice they may look the same, but colorless sapphires are good imitations of diamond. If the stones are well cut, colorless sapphires may be confused for diamonds. For the trained professional, colorless sapphires does not show the same luster like diamonds. Diamonds have more dispersion and flash.”
He remained perfectly calm.
A few moments later he asked, “I heard people talking about star rubies and sapphires at the shop. I didn’t know they were valuable. What are star rubies and sapphires?”
The telephone rang.
As he was about to leave the office for commercial errand, he turned toward the mechanical engineer, lowered his eyes and said, “My precious assistants will be working with you for a while.”
The mechanical engineer bowed and said, “Certainly, sir.”
Margaret answered, “Stars or asterism as it is often called are one of the phenomenal effects seen in rubies and sapphires, if cut as cabochon. Asterism or stars may be perceived as multiple cat’s eyes and the special effect is due to inclusions. Instead of one set of parallel inclusions there may be three intersecting at 60/120 degrees. If the stones are cut correctly, this will provide a six-rayed star in rubies or sapphires. Top quality stones are rare and valuable.”
He interrupted, “How do you judge stars?”
“In my opinion, you should look for good body color—the sacred aura,” Paul explained. “When you find one, then you know it’s an Oh my God star ruby or blue sapphire. In rubies, you are looking for top red with fine transparency, with just enough needle-like inclusions to show a good star. The color should be intense as possible and evenly distributed throughout the stone. The stone should be free from color zones or bands or distracting patches of whitish silk.”
“Any more tips?” he asked hesitantly.
“Of course, there are more,” Judith said. “A good star ruby or sapphire should be free from distracting inclusions and blemishes. In other words, the stones should be free from cracks and surface reaching fissures. There must be a fine balance between the stones transparency and quality of stars. If the stone is heavily included with needle-like inclusions, this reduces transparency and intensity of color; lack of needle-like inclusions may cause ill-defined stars. The password is if the color is intense and transparent, with sharp and complete star, with no missing or weak stars, with good shape and symmetry and near perfect finish, you have an Oh My God star ruby or sapphire. Buy it.”
The mechanical engineer looked into Judith’s eyes with excitement.
“What is the best color for ruby?” he asked eagerly.
Thomas replied, “The best color should be red with spiritual intensity, with no pink, purple, orange or brown shades. If the rubies are relatively free from inclusions and blemishes and well cut, then it’s the best, but most rubies are cut for weight. The standard shapes are oval and cushion. Mind you, some people like rubies with a slight shade of pink or orange. It’s a personal taste, and one should be sensitive and compassionate when judging ruby colors.”
He asked, “What about blue sapphires?”
“With blue sapphires, the best should be blue with no violet or green shades. Like rubies, most blue sapphires are cut for weight,” Judith said.
Inwardly, smilingly he observed the gems and jewelry collection in the office.
“I have been told that rubies and sapphires look different under different lighting. It’s hard to believe. Is it true?” he asked.
“It is,” Paul confirmed. “Rubies tend to look dull or sleepy under fluorescent lights, while blue sapphires look more vibrant under fluorescent lights. Rubies look vibrant under incandescent lights because incandescent lights contain more red wavelengths, while fluorescent light contain more blue wavelengths so blue stones look more intense under fluorescent lights. I think if rubies look red under fluorescent lighting and blue sapphires blue under incandescent lighting, the stones have passed the color test.”
He nodded.
“Can you judge the quality of rubies and sapphires by their locality?” he asked anxiously.
“Not really,” Judith replied. “Traditionally, Burmese rubies and Indian (Kashmir) sapphires were perceived the best, but you may also find poor quality stones from the same localities. So I would suggest one should judge the stones by their quality not locality. You will always find good quality rubies and sapphires from other well known sources, but at times they are sold as Burmese rubies or Indian (Kashmir) sapphires. Validating the origin of a popular locality is not perfect science. There are a few gem testing laboratories specializing in origin determination.
Occasionally, gem testing laboratories does make mistakes with origin determination.”
“What about treatments?” he asked. “Are they frequently encountered in the market?”
Peter answered, “Nearly all rubies and sapphires are treated to improve color or clarity resulting in an increase of salability and value. There are different types of treatments such as heat treatment, where the purpose is to improve color or clarity; surface diffusion treatment adds color or stars on surface only; glass filling improves color or clarity and may also add weight; shellac infilling may improve the appearance and add weight; impregnation with oils, waxes or dyes improves clarity or color; surface coating may add color; irradiation may add color and the colors but may not be permanent; beryllium treated stones may add color. Overall as long as they are properly disclosed there is nothing wrong with the treatment.”
“It’s scary,” he said, “but how do we know what we are buying?”
“Generally speaking treatments may be selectively disclosed to the consumer for fear of losing business,” Paul explained. “The fact of the matter is virtually all rubies and sapphires are heat treated, but untreated rubies and sapphires fetch good premiums if one can prove it. Only a very few sources produce good quality untreated gems.”
“Are there any synthetics?” he asked.
Judith said, “Nearly all varieties of corundum have been synthesized by different processes. The only way to identify them from their natural counterpart is by studying their inclusions, color and at times their cut and, of course, the price. They are relatively inexpensive, but if one is to judge by their color, there is a possibility of misidentifying the stones as natural.”
“What about imitations?” he asked.
Margaret answered, “There are many, but for rubies the most frequently encountered red stones are red spinel, garnets of different red shades, red tourmaline, red glass and ruby/synthetic ruby doublets. For blue sapphires you may encounter blue spinel, blue tourmaline, tanzanite, iolite, kyanite, blue glass and blue sapphire/synthetic blue sapphire doublets.”
When the compassionate boss returned he displayed extremely fine qualities of corundum varieties from his gem collection for comparison. The mechanical engineer was delighted.
“Rubies are sapphires have been known to many cultures in different ways in different times,” the compassionate boss said. “Their beauty and mystique continues to excite buyers all over the world even today, but many do not understand stones which is why they make mistakes. Perceptions about quality and locality can make a big difference. The main character defects are ignorance, panic, greed and expectations. There is a lot of froth in the stone market on perceived qualities and prices so valuations have to come to realistic levels. Buying stones may become an emotional transaction if you don’t know the facts. You should never buy them based on rumors and false promotions. Gemstones nourish the emotional component of your life. Ask your soul to guide you to the one that is best for you.”
The mechanical engineer bowed, “You’re are absolutely right, sir.”

Precious insights

- Learn the basics of the qualities and other varieties of corundum.
- Set a personal budget.
- The standard magnification for viewing gems is ten times.
- Use transmitted, reflected and fiber optic light source to view the color contrast between natural, treated, synthetic and imitation.
- Judge the overall appearance of corundum in natural skylight and artificial light source (s).
- Always judge corundum by their overall quality not locality.
- Always do your research
- All treatments should be disclosed at all levels of distribution chain.
- If doubtful, have it checked by a reputable gem testing laboratory.

The Book Of Oh My God Gemstones

This book is all about Oh My God gemstones and the simple people who love gemstones. Our compassionate boss and his team whose inspiration is Jesus is going to share with you the precious details of appreciating God’s splendid gift to mankind without any need of gemological expertise.

Written by P.J.Joseph

The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
- Bible, Luke 16:8

Chapter 4

Coral


One late evening a schoolgirl telephoned the compassionate boss for an appointment. The compassionate boss came forward, welcomed the schoolgirl politely and offered her a chair; the precious assistants glanced at her knowingly.
She looked at the plaque and paused.
“Sir, I got this red bead from my brother,” the schoolgirl said happily. “I want to know more about it because it looks different but beautiful.”
The compassionate boss paused.
“You should thank your brother for the gift,” he said. “It looks like coral, but we will do proper tests to identify it so that we can explain it you.”
The compassionate boss summoned Ann to conduct proper gemological tests.
“Oh sure,” the schoolgirl said. “I can’t wait, but please tell me more about coral. I want to learn new things. Is coral natural?”
“Coral is an organic sea gem,” the compassionate boss said. “The worldwide pollution in the seas and other environmental concerns are affecting the availability of this beautiful gem, but it’s still around.”
“What is the best color in coral?” the schoolgirl asked eagerly.
“The people in the trade have unique ways of describing color,” the compassionate boss said. “The best is red, but it’s a different red when you compare red coral with other red colored gems. You may find various shades of red; from pale to dark red, and also white, black, blue and golden brown. Coral has a special kind of organic but spiritual tranquility. It displays a living attitude, creative subjectivity and unique otherness. You need to open your third eye to perceive it. Most people don’t, but practice it. You will see a whole new world of colors and spiritual descriptions.”
“I didn’t know it,” the schoolgirl said.
The telephone rang.
As he was about to leave the office for commercial errand, he turned toward the schoolgirl, lowered his eyes and said, “My precious assistants will be working with you for a while.”
The schoolgirl bowed and said, “Certainly, sir.”
“May be your brother isn’t aware of facts. Where is he how?” Ann asked.
“I think so,” the school girl said. “He has friends in Italy and visits them during the summer.”
“Most of what you see in coral in many parts of the world is lower grade,” Margaret said.
“Why?” the schoolgirl asked.
“In a way it’s due to environmental issues,” Mary said. “As a living organism, coral is exposed to predators, pollution and the way some gatherers collect them in different part of the world.”
“How do they collect them?” the schoolgirl asked.
“At times coral gatherers dynamite coral reefs,” Mary said.
“That’s terrible,” the schoolgirl said. “They are destroying the environment.”
“It’s the coral skeletons that collectors make into beads and other ornamental materials,” Margaret said.
“That’s interesting,” the schoolgirl said.
“Coral is a special gem material,” Ann reminded. “You need to handle with care.”
“Why?” the schoolgirl asked.
“Coral is sensitive to chemical, detergents, perfumes and body acids because of its organic origin,” Mary said.
“What should I do?” the schoolgirl asked.
“Coral should be cleaned in mild soap solution to remove dirt, while softer corals from the Mediterranean may require repolishing to preserve the surface luster, while the toughest from the Sea of Japan are perceived to be resistant to chemicals and acids, which is also the source the so-called ox blood coral,” Ann said.
“I didn’t know it,” the schoolgirl said. “How would you describe my coral?”
“It’s spiritual like you. Its bright pink and some in the trade describe it as angel skin coral,” Margaret said.
The schoolgirl tried to reason, to understand.
“I like the description,” the schoolgirl said. “I feel closer to angles and god.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, “Peter said, after identification. “By the way, your coral bead is natural and not treated. We examined it.” She thanked Ann.
“Do they treat coral?” the schoolgirl asked.
“Usually coral is dyed or bleached to produce the popular natural colors to make it available at an affordable price,” Mary said. “Porous materials may be impregnated with plastics to fill the holes and improve color and surface luster.”
“Are there any imitation?” the schoolgirl asked.
“How did you know that?” Mary asked curiously.
“I heard it at school,” the schoolgirl said. “My brother told me that there is an imitation for nearly every gem material in the world.”
“That’s an interesting comment,” Margaret said. “The most popular imitation for coral are plastic, glass, reconstructed coral, stained marble, shell, and the so-called synthetic coral, which is an imitation made from crushed calcite produced in a number of colors. With proper magnification, you should be able to recognize the tell-tale signs.”
“What is the proper magnification for viewing gems?” the schoolgirl asked.
“The standard magnification for viewing gem is ten times,” Peter said. “Under magnification, you should be able to notice the textural differences between natural, which is concentric similar to growth rings of a tree, while in imitation you don’t see the natural pattern.”
“I must thank you for taking care of me,” the schoolgirl said.
When the compassionate boss returned he displayed several fine qualities of coral from his collection for comparison.
“Appreciating the beauty of coral is a gradual but enlightening process,” the compassionate continued. “Once you understand the inner meaning of color in coral try personally to experience it. Jesus said let the children come to me for such is the beauty and simplicity of heaven because we are God’s creation. Coral is precious. You are precious too.”
She was convinced.


Precious insights

- Learn the basics of the qualities and varieties of coral.
- Set a personal budget.
- The standard magnification for viewing gems is ten times.
- Use transmitted, reflected and fiber optic light sources to view the color contrast between natural, treated and imitation.
- Judge the overall appearance of coral in natural skylight and artificial light source (s).
- Always judge coral by their overall quality not locality.
- Always do your research.
- All treatments should be disclosed at all levels of distribution chain.
- If doubtful have it checked by a reputable gem testing laboratory.

The Book Of Oh My God Gemstones

By P.J.Joseph

Know thyself.
-Anonymous

Chapter 3

Beryl

One late evening a movie actress telephoned the compassionate boss for an appointment. The compassionate boss came forward, welcomed the actress politely and offered her a chair; the precious assistants glanced at her knowingly.
She looked at the plaque and paused.
”Sir, what are natural gemstones?” the actress asked. “I always keep hearing when someone tries to sell me jewelry and beautiful stones.”
The compassionate boss answered, “Natural gemstones are products of nature: God’s gift to mankind.”
“Thank you. Recently, I purchased a parcel of emeralds and other colored stones from South America. I want to design beautiful jewelry for my children. Can you identify emeralds just by their color?” she asked.
The compassionate boss answered, “Yes and no. Emerald is the green variety of beryl. The colorless variety of beryl is goshenite. The pink variety is morganite. Heliodor or golden beryl color ranges from pale yellow to intense yellow orange. Aquamarine is the blue variety of beryl. Pezzottaite is a newcomer from Madagascar and the color ranges from pinkish red to purplish red. A deep red to purplish red variety from the USA is termed red beryl or described as red emerald in the gem trade. Generally speaking, a gem species is defined as a crystalline substance that has a definite chemical composition that may vary within certain defined limits. Variety may be distinguished by the color or phenomena such as stars, cat’s eye, etc. Trade name, on the other hand, is a name in common use for a gem variety. For example, emerald or other varieties of beryl may be described in different ways by gemologists, traders and jewelers depending on the intensity of the color and the color causing element. You should be able to make beautiful jewelry out these stones when you know their properties. You need a general education before you specialize.”
“That’s interesting. Are beryls usually treated?” the actress asked.
“Beryls found in nature are natural. They may be treated one way or the other to improve color or clarity,” the compassionate boss replied.
“I didn’t know it,” the actress said.
“The most expensive variety is emerald and here are some interesting facts,” the compassionate boss said. “Most emeralds are oiled: others are fracture filled or dyed. Emeralds are frequently oiled to hide surface reaching fissures or cracks in order to improve clarity. In a way, the treatment may also improve color. The treatment may not be durable. You need to oil the emeralds periodically to maintain the color. Fracture filling is another type of treatment used to improve either clarity or color. The treatment may be more durable than oiling under normal wear. But if the emeralds are exposed to acid bath or chemical cleaning the fillings may be removed affecting the durability of the stones. Dyeing is a very ancient practice. Usually low quality stones are treated with organic or inorganic compounds to improve color or clarity. With visual observation and proper magnification one should be able to identify the stones.”
The telephone rang.
As he was about to leave the office for commercial errand, he turned toward the actress, lowered his eyes and said, “My precious assistants will be working with you for a while.”
The actress bowed and said, “Certainly, sir.”
“What is proper magnification?” the actress asked.
“The standard magnification for gemstone is ten times,” Peter said.
“What about other colors in the beryl family?” the actress asked curiously.
“The color of aquamarine may vary from blue green to green blue to blue, but most specimens may be heat treated to remove the green out of the stone. The color change is permanent. It’s an affordable gem and the more affordable the better. Some green and yellow beryl may turn blue after treatment. Maxixe type natural beryl is fine blue, but may fade to a light yellow color when exposed to sun light, ultraviolet light or strong fluorescent light," John replied.
A few moments later the actress asked, "How come people who sell stones aren’t disclosing the truth?"
Andrew said, "It's a tricky situation. Most are honest and try their best to explain the facts, while others aren't that open out of fear that disclosure may ruin the sale so they become creative with the so-called facts."
When the compassionate boss returned he displayed extraordinary qualities of beryl varieties for comparison.
"The collections are beautiful. What's the best way to educate consumers?" the actress asked.
"Follow the Jesus path," the compassionate boss said.
"What is the Jesus path?" the actress asked curiously.
"When you speak the truth to a person you have made him happy. Blessed are the clean of heart and merciful for they will be shown mercy and see God. That's the Jesus path," the compassionate boss answered.
The actress asked, "How come no one ever bothers to practice the concept?"
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is normal your whole body will illuminate with total internal reflection, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness lacking brilliance,” the compassionate boss replied.
"That’s brilliant,” the actress exclaimed.
Matthew said, "In addition to treatments there are synthetics and imitations, and they are widely available all over the world, in all colors, sizes and price ranges. Most people may perceive synthetics as artificial or fake stones."
The actress looked confused. "So, what is a synthetic?"
"Synthetic stones have the same chemical, physical and optical properties like their natural counterpart. The difference is, natural gemstones are found in nature, while synthetic gemstones are produced in a laboratory: man found vs. man made," Sarah said.
The actress interrupted. "Are synthetic emeralds difficult to identify?"
"May be yes and no,” said Anna. “Usually synthetic emeralds have better color, and the gem quality stones are relatively clean and well cut, and sold at an affordable price, while natural emeralds though beautiful may not always be clean. With the exception of a few, most natural emeralds aren't clean and prices vary depending upon the size, color, clarity and cut. Clean natural emeralds with good color are expensive, and you may want to obtain a report from a reputed gem testing laboratory.”
“What about other color varieties of beryl?” The actress asked.
Ruth said, “They may be perceived as good simulants for other colored stones. Some are so clean you need to do proper test (s) to identify them. Visual observation alone may not be enough; you need to go the extra mile to find the truth. For example, synthetic blue beryls may imitate the familiar blue stones such as blue sapphire, blue tourmaline, blue spinel and blue topaz.”
The actress looked perplexed. “So, what’s the difference between synthetic and imitation?”
Margaret said, “Synthetic gems have similar chemical, physical and optical properties to their natural counterpart, while imitations are stones that imitate other colored stones.”
“So, what are the imitations for emerald and aquamarine?” the actress asked.
“The best and cheapest I can think of is glass. If you observe and analyze properly, it’s not difficult to identify,” Mark said.
“How does emerald influence people and value? I know color has an important part, but there must be more,” the actress commented.
“Emerald is the queen of the beryl family and has spiritual gemstonality, which is its color and history,” Sarah said. “The stone may make you feel important and foolish. Emeralds speak a unique language of silence and color, calming your nerves and spiritualizing your conduct and behavior. It may make you romantic and humble. Sometimes they make you mad. That’s the character of the stone. But at the end of the day, it’s all about connecting the dots: love, relationships, money, ego, balance and happiness.”
“Can emeralds buy happiness?” the actress asked.
“Emeralds bought with proper knowledge and disclosure should make you happy,” the compassionate boss said. “They are precious stones.”
“Can emeralds spoil you?” the actress asked.
“If emeralds are bought with knowledge, moderation, humility, and in a responsible manner, you will find favor with God, and the stones will never spoil you,” the compassionate boss replied.
“Where do the best qualities come from?” the actress asked.
“Colombia is perceived as the source for emeralds but good quality emeralds may come from other parts of the world, “Mark said. “Brazil is a well known source for aquamarine, but there are other localities in Africa and Asia that produces good quality aquamarine, and other colors in the beryl family. In some cultures, color, appearance and locality is important, while others may look for overall quality and value. Every gemstone has a price point. Many do not understand what a gem has to go through to get to a piece of jewelry. In many countries, gem mining is not regulated; there are environmental concerns, dirty politics, poverty, bureaucracy, currency fluctuations, and other unknown factors that may influence the price structure of popular colored gems. The affluent may have a different perception of what quality should be and may become selective, while others don’t.”
“Now I understand the importance of finding matched gemstones for a jewelry ensemble,” the actress said. “You never believe till you do it by yourself. I don’t think I have got the perfect match so I will be patient.”
“With emerald, it’s going to take more time,” Matthew said. “Selection is a magic combination of consistent color, clarity, dimensions, and proper cutting.”
“If you are looking for the perfect emerald jewelry, the most important factor is going the extra mile intentionally to find large parcel of suitable rough. This is where the real story begins. Many don’t understand the concept,” Mark explained.
“Really?” the actress said. “I want to start all over again. I think I understand the meaning of natural, treated, synthetic and imitation. Now I want to make the perfect emerald jewelry for my children so that they will remember me forever.”
“You have a unique taste, my dear,” the compassionate boss answered smilingly.
She smiled wisely.

Precious insights

- Learn the basics of the qualities and varieties of beryl.
- Set a personal budget.
- The standard magnification for viewing gems is ten times.
- Use transmitted, reflected and fiber optic light sources to view the color contrast between natural, treated, synthetic and imitation.
- Judge the overall appearance of beryl in natural skylight and artificial light source (s).
- Always judge beryl by their overall quality not locality.
- Always do your research.
- All treatments should be disclosed at all levels of distribution chain.
- If doubtful have it checked by a reputable gem testing laboratory.

The Book Of Oh My God Gemstones

By P.J.Joseph

Learn by doing.
-Anonymous

Chapter 2

Amber

One late afternoon a musician met with the compassionate boss at his office. The compassionate boss came forward, welcomed the musician politely and offered him a chair; the precious assistants glanced at him knowingly.
He looked at the plaque and paused.
“Sir, this is the most beautiful gift I have ever received from a member of my band,” the musician said happily.
The compassionate boss examined the gift with passionate attention.
“The prayer bead is beautiful,” the compassionate boss said. “Its amber, and the best I have seen so far—the Oh My God gem quality.”
“You think so?” the musician asked. “How do you know the quality? Please explain it to me. I don’t know much about it.”
“With keen observation and practice you learn the fine details. You get a feel for the material with time,” the compassionate boss replied.
The musician tried to reason, to understand.
“I would like to know more about it,” the musician said. “Organic gems have always fascinated me.”
“Amber is fossilized resin from ancient forests. It’s a geological miracle and one of the wonders of Mother Nature. Ancient tropical forests have been excreting small and large drops of aromatic sticky resin embedding leaves and insects in their path. With time they hardened into soft and lustrous substances. The fossilized lustrous material began to wash up on the sea shores and beyond. Amazingly it’s the women who began to love and wear amber. There is a peculiar romance associated with amber’s unbelievable life span under the sea and the biological particularities,” the compassionate boss explained.
“I believe in God’s miracles. What are the colors of amber?” the musician asked.
“Pale yellow is the commonest color. The gem quality specimens are perfectly transparent and are termed clear amber. It takes good polish and is in demand as beads. Massive amber is more or less cloudy. The cloudy type may be translucent to opaque, and softer than clear amber with an inferior polish. White, blue and green amber are rare,” the compassionate boss replied.
“Do you think the prayer bead is clear amber?” the musician asked.
“You are right,” Peter said. “Like colored stones no two amber pieces look the same. Amber is fashioned as beads, cabochon or carved for ornamental purposes. ”
The telephone rang.
As he was about to leave the office for commercial errand, he turned toward the musician, lowered his eyes and said, “My precious assistants will be working with you for a while.”
The musician bowed and said, “Certainly, sir.”
“I didn’t know about the qualities,” the musician remarked. “Please tell me more about amber.”
“Amber may darken to red or brownish red color with age and the change is due to unique chemical reaction,” Simon said. “It also can be electrified by rubbing with a cloth and will attract bits of paper. Amber floats in a saturated saltwater solution while its closest simulant plastic sinks.”
“That’s interesting,” the musician said. “In fact I would like to try it for an experience.”
The musician’s eye suddenly filled with tears.
Simon continued, “Because of its resinous nature, amber gives off a distinctive aromatic color when hot needle is applied to an inconspicuous spot, while plastic give off an acrid odor.”
“Wow!”
“Cloudy amber may be treated to improve its appearance by heating in vegetable oil or in air. Leaf-like cracks may be seen or caused deliberately which is part of the clarification,” Peter said.
“That’s not good. Why do they do it?” the musician asked.
“In order to improve the overall quality,” Simon remarked. “Amber can be enhanced with special heat treatment or dyeing, especially green, to induce artificial aging.”
“That’s not very nice,” the musician said. “I thought they were all natural.”
“Small amber chips may be compressed under heat and pressure to produce larger material,” Peter said.
“How do you identify it?” the musician asked.
“They are called pressed amber or ambroid. There is a difference in the texture and the material may show roiled appearance because of distortion. With reference samples and keen observation one should be able to detect the specimen,” Simon said.
“Are there any synthetic amber?” the musician asked.
“Don’t worry. You will see more imitations such as plastic, carnelian, and glass. Copal resin or Kauri gum, which is a recent fossil, may have very similar appearance,” Simon said.
“I didn’t know it,” the musician said.
“Don’t panic,” Peter bowed. “If you have any further doubts you are always welcome to visit us.”
“I will,” the musician said. “And thank you all for taking caring of me.”
When the compassionate boss returned he displayed amber beads of extraordinary size and beauty and showed them to the musician. The two men looked into each other’s eyes with excitement.
“Did you know that amber is a man’s best friend?” the compassionate boss remarked.
“No, but why?” the musician asked.
“The softness and lightness of amber make it easy to handle and pass through fingers and because of it, amber is of great demand among smokers in cigarette holders, mouthpieces and pipe stems as it feels cool. Some of the prized Turkish hookahs embedded with colored stones are popular among collectors,” the compassionate boss said showing one from his collection.
“Oh my God,” the musician said quietly.


Precious insights

- Learn the basics of the qualities of amber.
- Set a personal budget.
- The standard magnification for viewing gems is ten times.
- Use transmitted, reflected and fiber optic light source to view the color contrast between natural, treated and imitation.
- Judge the overall appearance of amber in natural skylight and artificial light source (s).
- Always judge amber by their overall quality not locality.
- Always do your research.
- All treatments should be disclosed at all levels of distribution chain.
- If doubtful have it checked by a reputable gem testing laboratory.

The Book Of Oh My God Gemstones

This book is all about Oh My God gemstones and the simple people who love gemstones. Our compassionate boss and his team whose inspiration is Jesus is going to share with you the precious details of appreciating God’s splendid gift to mankind without any need of gemological expertise.

Written by P.J.Joseph

Learn by doing.
-Anonymous

Chapter 2

Amber

One late afternoon a musician met with the compassionate boss at his office. The compassionate boss came forward, welcomed the musician politely and offered him a chair; the precious assistants glanced at him knowingly.
He looked at the plaque and paused.
“Sir, this is the most beautiful gift I have ever received from a member of my band,” the musician said happily.
The compassionate boss examined the gift with passionate attention.
“The prayer bead is beautiful,” the compassionate boss said. “Its amber, and the best I have seen so far—the Oh My God gem quality.”
“You think so?” the musician asked. “How do you know the quality? Please explain it to me. I don’t know much about it.”
“With keen observation and practice you learn the fine details. You get a feel for the material with time,” the compassionate boss replied.
The musician tried to reason, to understand.
“I would like to know more about it,” the musician said. “Organic gems have always fascinated me.”
“Amber is fossilized resin from ancient forests. It’s a geological miracle and one of the wonders of Mother Nature. Ancient tropical forests have been excreting small and large drops of aromatic sticky resin embedding leaves and insects in their path. With time they hardened into soft and lustrous substances. The fossilized lustrous material began to wash up on the sea shores and beyond. Amazingly it’s the women who began to love and wear amber. There is a peculiar romance associated with amber’s unbelievable life span under the sea and the biological particularities,” the compassionate boss explained.
“I believe in God’s miracles. What are the colors of amber?” the musician asked.
“Pale yellow is the commonest color. The gem quality specimens are perfectly transparent and are termed clear amber. It takes good polish and is in demand as beads. Massive amber is more or less cloudy. The cloudy type may be translucent to opaque, and softer than clear amber with an inferior polish. White, blue and green amber are rare,” the compassionate boss replied.
“Do you think the prayer bead is clear amber?” the musician asked.
“You are right,” Peter said. “Like colored stones no two amber pieces look the same. Amber is fashioned as beads, cabochon or carved for ornamental purposes. ”
The telephone rang.
As he was about to leave the office for commercial errand, he turned toward the musician, lowered his eyes and said, “My precious assistants will be working with you for a while.”
The musician bowed and said, “Certainly, sir.”
“I didn’t know about the qualities,” the musician remarked. “Please tell me more about amber.”
“Amber may darken to red or brownish red color with age and the change is due to unique chemical reaction,” Simon said. “It also can be electrified by rubbing with a cloth and will attract bits of paper. Amber floats in a saturated saltwater solution while its closest simulant plastic sinks.”
“That’s interesting,” the musician said. “In fact I would like to try it for an experience.”
The musician’s eye suddenly filled with tears.
Simon continued, “Because of its resinous nature, amber gives off a distinctive aromatic color when hot needle is applied to an inconspicuous spot, while plastic give off an acrid odor.”
“Wow!”
“Cloudy amber may be treated to improve its appearance by heating in vegetable oil or in air. Leaf-like cracks may be seen or caused deliberately which is part of the clarification,” Peter said.
“That’s not good. Why do they do it?” the musician asked.
“In order to improve the overall quality,” Simon remarked. “Amber can be enhanced with special heat treatment or dyeing, especially green, to induce artificial aging.”
“That’s not very nice,” the musician said. “I thought they were all natural.”
“Small amber chips may be compressed under heat and pressure to produce larger material,” Peter said.
“How do you identify it?” the musician asked.
“They are called pressed amber or ambroid. There is a difference in the texture and the material may show roiled appearance because of distortion. With reference samples and keen observation one should be able to detect the specimen,” Simon said.
“Are there any synthetic amber?” the musician asked.
“Don’t worry. You will see more imitations such as plastic, carnelian, and glass. Copal resin or Kauri gum, which is a recent fossil, may have very similar appearance,” Simon said.
“I didn’t know it,” the musician said.
“Don’t panic,” Peter bowed. “If you have any further doubts you are always welcome to visit us.”
“I will,” the musician said. “And thank you all for taking caring of me.”
When the compassionate boss returned he displayed amber beads of extraordinary size and beauty and showed them to the musician. The two men looked into each other’s eyes with excitement.
“Did you know that amber is a man’s best friend?” the compassionate boss remarked.
“No, but why?” the musician asked.
“The softness and lightness of amber make it easy to handle and pass through fingers and because of it, amber is of great demand among smokers in cigarette holders, mouthpieces and pipe stems as it feels cool. Some of the prized Turkish hookahs embedded with colored stones are popular among collectors,” the compassionate boss said showing one from his collection.
“Oh my God,” the musician said quietly.


Precious insights

- Learn the basics of the qualities of amber.
- Set a personal budget.
- The standard magnification for viewing gems is ten times.
- Use transmitted, reflected and fiber optic light source to view the color contrast between natural, treated and imitation.
- Judge the overall appearance of amber in natural skylight and artificial light source (s).
- Always judge amber by their overall quality not locality.
- Always do your research.
- All treatments should be disclosed at all levels of distribution chain.
- If doubtful have it checked by a reputable gem testing laboratory.

The Book Of Oh My God Gemstones

By P.J.Joseph

No one is wise at all times.
-Pliny The Elder, Natural History

Chapter 1
Andalusite

One evening a banker telephoned the compassionate boss for an appointment. The compassionate boss came forward, welcomed the banker politely and offered him a chair; the precious assistants glanced at him knowingly.
The banker looked at the plaque and paused.
“Sir, I bought a unique colored stone in Sri Lanka,” the banker said smiling sweetly. “The moment I saw the stone, I fell in love with it immediately. It was spontaneous.”
“When you fall in love with colored stones,” the compassionate boss remarked, “you become part of nature. You may want to thank god for the unique opportunity.”
“May be you are right,” the banker said. “I had not thought of that.”
“That’s interesting,” the compassionate boss said.
The telephone rang.
As he was about to leave the office for commercial errand, he turned toward the banker, lowered his eyes and said, “My precious assistants will be working with you for a while.”
The banker bowed and said, “Certainly, sir.”
“This gem has been with me for sometime,” the banker continued, “and nobody knows about the gem. It has strange colors.”
“I understand, but you are getting carried away,” Peter said calmly.
The banker blinked.
“I do get carried away when I see a beautiful gem. Let me show what I have got,” the banker said holding up the bright gem for Margaret’s admiration. Margaret took the gem and examined it.
“Wow! It looks like an andalusite to me,” Margaret said. “It’s a beautiful Oh My God gem.”
“How did you know that? I like the Oh My God statement, but what’s andalusite? I have never heard the name before,” the banker said.
“From visual observation and experience,” Margaret said immediately.
“That’s good. I was told it was top quality tourmaline,” the banker said.
“Top quality andalusites are not that easy to find,” Peter said. “But you have what others don’t have. The common simulants are tourmaline and alexandrite.”
“Are simulants and imitations the same?” the banker asked.
“Yeah, they are the same,” Mary said.
“How do you describe the color in this stone?” the banker asked. “I have a hard time figuring it out.”
“It’s a pleochroic stone,” Mary added.
“What does pleochroic mean?” the banker asked.
“It means different colors in different direction,” Mary said. “A combination of yellowish green and orange brown, but the beauty is in the color contrast. In andalusite, you don’t look for one color instead it displays different colors when viewed in different directions. That’s the Oh My God character of this stone.”
“I didn’t know it,” the banker said. “Is there any other colored stone that looks similar?”
“Alexandrite,” Peter said quickly. “Alexandrite is a phenomenon stone. The gem displays red when viewed under incandescent light and green under fluorescent light, while andalusite does not change colors the way alexandrite does. It shows different colors at the same time due to pleochroism and proper cutting. The other colored gem is tourmaline. A few other gemstones may show similar color pattern, but with careful observation and proper identification one is able to differentiate andalusite from tourmaline, alexandite and other colored stones.”
“Do you need to loupe the stone?” the banker asked. “I want to check the color and clarity.”
“You don’t need to loupe andalusite for color,” Margaret said.
“Why?” the banker asked.
“There is no need to check the color with a loupe,” Peter interrupted. “In this office, it’s okay, but when you are at a dealer’s office it is customary to use a loupe to examine only stones it is intended to purchase.”
“I didn’t know it,” the banker said. “It’s an interesting perspective. Perceptions can make a difference.”
“In reality, if you don’t know how to use a loupe,” Margaret explained, “and if you are not familiar with the gemstone species, you may be wasting your time, because you don’t know what to look for.”
“So how do I know?” the banker asked.
“If you don’t know ask so that people who are knowledgeable may be able to explain complex details in sweet words, and you don’t feel embarrassed,” Margaret said. “That’s simple education.”
“You are right. It makes sense,” the banker said. “I must admit colored stones are complex. They have new names and stories. At times it’s confusing but I like the concept.”
“With colored stones there will be always interesting stories for everyone,” Mary said. “You will never get bored.”
“It’s true,” the banker said. “If stones had no color, then there is nothing to talk about.”
“That’s an interesting comment. The gem andalusite has provided you with lovely color for little investment,” Margaret said.
“That’s right,” the banker replied.
When the compassionate boss returned he displayed fine specimens of andalusites from his gem collection for comparison.
“Spectacular colors,” the banker said softly.
“Gemstones are always spiritual reflections of God,” the compassionate boss said holding a fine andalusite from his collection.
“Is andalusite precious or semi precious stone?” the banker asked.
“Every gemstone is precious to me,” the compassionate boss said. “Colored stones are unique gifts from God for everyone who believes in color and compassion. Many have no idea what a gem has to go through to get to a client. When you find a beautiful stone you share the knowledge with your fellow human being. It makes you feel good.”
“You bet,” the banker said. “I thought I was buying tourmaline and look what I have got. It was blessing in disguise, and I am happy.”
“I don’t think you may be aware of this,” Mary said. “Andalusite requires special care if you want to enjoy the beauty of the stone.”
“What’s that?” the banker asked.
“Andalusite jewelry is not that frequently seen in the market due to a physical property known as cleavage,” Mary added.
“I had not thought of that,” the banker replied. “What’s cleavage?”
“Cleavage is an even breakage along a plane found in certain gemstones. Andalusite’s distinct cleavage may create problem for setters. It’s a one of kind gemstone with distinct beauty and many people don’t know about it. The gem may require special attention, but the striking color makes you feel good,” Peter said.
“It’s good that you mentioned,” the banker said.
“Remember this,” the compassionate boss said. “Andalusite will always be a precious stone. Everyone is treated equally in front of gemstones. They don’t know if you are rich or poor. They do not make the rich look beautiful nor does it make the poor ugly. That’s the mind construct of all gemstone species.”
“Yes indeed,” the banker said happily. “I will be looking forward to collecting new gemstone species in the comings days. I will be seeing you soon.”
“Good luck, but before you leave, you may want to tell us how much you paid for the stone,” Peter said.
“You know something,” the banker said. “When I like a colored gemstone and have a good story I never worry about the price, because beauty is priceless. I want to enjoy the beauty of the stone.”
“That’s good attitude,” the compassionate boss said. The banker flushed.


Precious insights

- Learn the basics of the qualities of andalusite.
- Set a personal budget.
- The standard magnification for viewing gems is ten times.
- Use transmitted, reflected and fiber optic light sources to view the color contrast between natural and imitation.
- Judge the overall appearance of andalusite in natural skylight and artificial light source (s).
- Always judge andalusite by their overall quality not locality.
- Always do your research.
- All treatments should be disclosed at all levels of distribution chain.
- If doubtful have it checked by a reputable gem testing laboratory.

The Book Of Oh My God Gemstones

This book is all about Oh My God gemstones and the simple people who love gemstones. Our compassionate boss and his team whose inspiration is Jesus is going to share with you the precious details of appreciating God’s splendid gift to mankind without any need of gemological expertise.

Written by P.J.Joseph

No one is wise at all times.
-Pliny The Elder, Natural History

Chapter 1
Andalusite

One evening a banker telephoned the compassionate boss for an appointment. The compassionate boss came forward, welcomed the banker politely and offered him a chair; the precious assistants glanced at him knowingly.
The banker looked at the plaque and paused.
“Sir, I bought a unique colored stone in Sri Lanka,” the banker said smiling sweetly. “The moment I saw the stone, I fell in love with it immediately. It was spontaneous.”
“When you fall in love with colored stones,” the compassionate boss remarked, “you become part of nature. You may want to thank god for the unique opportunity.”
“May be you are right,” the banker said. “I had not thought of that.”
“That’s interesting,” the compassionate boss said.
The telephone rang.
As he was about to leave the office for commercial errand, he turned toward the banker, lowered his eyes and said, “My precious assistants will be working with you for a while.”
The banker bowed and said, “Certainly, sir.”
“This gem has been with me for sometime,” the banker continued, “and nobody knows about the gem. It has strange colors.”
“I understand, but you are getting carried away,” Peter said calmly.
The banker blinked.
“I do get carried away when I see a beautiful gem. Let me show what I have got,” the banker said holding up the bright gem for Margaret’s admiration. Margaret took the gem and examined it.
“Wow! It looks like an andalusite to me,” Margaret said. “It’s a beautiful Oh My God gem.”
“How did you know that? I like the Oh My God statement, but what’s andalusite? I have never heard the name before,” the banker said.
“From visual observation and experience,” Margaret said immediately.
“That’s good. I was told it was top quality tourmaline,” the banker said.
“Top quality andalusites are not that easy to find,” Peter said. “But you have what others don’t have. The common simulants are tourmaline and alexandrite.”
“Are simulants and imitations the same?” the banker asked.
“Yeah, they are the same,” Mary said.
“How do you describe the color in this stone?” the banker asked. “I have a hard time figuring it out.”
“It’s a pleochroic stone,” Mary added.
“What does pleochroic mean?” the banker asked.
“It means different colors in different direction,” Mary said. “A combination of yellowish green and orange brown, but the beauty is in the color contrast. In andalusite, you don’t look for one color instead it displays different colors when viewed in different directions. That’s the Oh My God character of this stone.”
“I didn’t know it,” the banker said. “Is there any other colored stone that looks similar?”
“Alexandrite,” Peter said quickly. “Alexandrite is a phenomenon stone. The gem displays red when viewed under incandescent light and green under fluorescent light, while andalusite does not change colors the way alexandrite does. It shows different colors at the same time due to pleochroism and proper cutting. The other colored gem is tourmaline. A few other gemstones may show similar color pattern, but with careful observation and proper identification one is able to differentiate andalusite from tourmaline, alexandite and other colored stones.”
“Do you need to loupe the stone?” the banker asked. “I want to check the color and clarity.”
“You don’t need to loupe andalusite for color,” Margaret said.
“Why?” the banker asked.
“There is no need to check the color with a loupe,” Peter interrupted. “In this office, it’s okay, but when you are at a dealer’s office it is customary to use a loupe to examine only stones it is intended to purchase.”
“I didn’t know it,” the banker said. “It’s an interesting perspective. Perceptions can make a difference.”
“In reality, if you don’t know how to use a loupe,” Margaret explained, “and if you are not familiar with the gemstone species, you may be wasting your time, because you don’t know what to look for.”
“So how do I know?” the banker asked.
“If you don’t know ask so that people who are knowledgeable may be able to explain complex details in sweet words, and you don’t feel embarrassed,” Margaret said. “That’s simple education.”
“You are right. It makes sense,” the banker said. “I must admit colored stones are complex. They have new names and stories. At times it’s confusing but I like the concept.”
“With colored stones there will be always interesting stories for everyone,” Mary said. “You will never get bored.”
“It’s true,” the banker said. “If stones had no color, then there is nothing to talk about.”
“That’s an interesting comment. The gem andalusite has provided you with lovely color for little investment,” Margaret said.
“That’s right,” the banker replied.
When the compassionate boss returned he displayed fine specimens of andalusites from his gem collection for comparison.
“Spectacular colors,” the banker said softly.
“Gemstones are always spiritual reflections of God,” the compassionate boss said holding a fine andalusite from his collection.
“Is andalusite precious or semi precious stone?” the banker asked.
“Every gemstone is precious to me,” the compassionate boss said. “Colored stones are unique gifts from God for everyone who believes in color and compassion. Many have no idea what a gem has to go through to get to a client. When you find a beautiful stone you share the knowledge with your fellow human being. It makes you feel good.”
“You bet,” the banker said. “I thought I was buying tourmaline and look what I have got. It was blessing in disguise, and I am happy.”
“I don’t think you may be aware of this,” Mary said. “Andalusite requires special care if you want to enjoy the beauty of the stone.”
“What’s that?” the banker asked.
“Andalusite jewelry is not that frequently seen in the market due to a physical property known as cleavage,” Mary added.
“I had not thought of that,” the banker replied. “What’s cleavage?”
“Cleavage is an even breakage along a plane found in certain gemstones. Andalusite’s distinct cleavage may create problem for setters. It’s a one of kind gemstone with distinct beauty and many people don’t know about it. The gem may require special attention, but the striking color makes you feel good,” Peter said.
“It’s good that you mentioned,” the banker said.
“Remember this,” the compassionate boss said. “Andalusite will always be a precious stone. Everyone is treated equally in front of gemstones. They don’t know if you are rich or poor. They do not make the rich look beautiful nor does it make the poor ugly. That’s the mind construct of all gemstone species.”
“Yes indeed,” the banker said happily. “I will be looking forward to collecting new gemstone species in the comings days. I will be seeing you soon.”
“Good luck, but before you leave, you may want to tell us how much you paid for the stone,” Peter said.
“You know something,” the banker said. “When I like a colored gemstone and have a good story I never worry about the price, because beauty is priceless. I want to enjoy the beauty of the stone.”
“That’s good attitude,” the compassionate boss said. The banker flushed.


Precious insights

- Learn the basics of the qualities of andalusite.
- Set a personal budget.
- The standard magnification for viewing gems is ten times.
- Use transmitted, reflected and fiber optic light sources to view the color contrast between natural and imitation.
- Judge the overall appearance of andalusite in natural skylight and artificial light source (s).
- Always judge andalusite by their overall quality not locality.
- Always do your research.
- All treatments should be disclosed at all levels of distribution chain.
- If doubtful have it checked by a reputable gem testing laboratory.

The Book Of Oh My God Gemstones

By P.J.Joseph

Introduction
Once upon a time there was a gemstone expert who was brilliant, compassionate and open minded. Jesus and the golden rule do to others whatever you would have them do to you inspired him. He chose Peter, John, Mark, Luke, Simon, Mary, Margaret, Ann, Judith, Sarah, Paul, and Thomas from the bottom ranks of gemstone industry and transformed them into precious assistants in brilliance teaching about gemstone materials, loving kindness, sharing the concept of compassion, consistency, clarity, self control, creativity, courage, and capital without hurting others. He became known as the compassionate boss.

They had been to the gem mines in Afghanistan, Burma, Cambodia, Pakistan, India, Iran, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Central African Republic, Sierre Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritania, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia, United States of America, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela and Sri Lanka to observe cultural diversities, trading practices, environmental concerns, and product descriptions.

He taught them to perceive gemstones as gifts from God, encouraging people to collect them as objects of art or beauty, sharing knowledge and wealth for the benefit of all. The twelve assistants were fascinated with gemstones and people. Like people, no two gemstones were alike. They were different with unique chemical, physical, optical, spiritual, and geological birthmarks displaying colorful gemstonality.

He also taught them about the unique status of colored gemstones in the real world. They could be soft or hard, yet they could be perceived as beautiful stones. The function of gemstone cutting in faceted styles has been to maximize brilliance. When cut differently like cabochon, they displayed spectacular phenomenal effects like star, cat’s eye, sheen, play of color, color change and other optical patterns. When he came across the best, he had a unique way of describing the quality. He called them Oh My God Gemstones.

This book is all about Oh My God gemstones and the simple people who love gemstones. Our compassionate boss and his team whose inspiration is Jesus is going to share with you the precious details of appreciating God’s splendid gift to mankind without any need of gemological expertise.