January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
Welcome to the GemologyOnline.com Forum
A non-profit Forum for the exchange of gemological ideas
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:46 am

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Is moonstone hard to get right?
PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:25 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran

Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:33 am
Posts: 840
Location: Mars PA
I use to subscribe to the Gem Guide and they still send me brief articles describing some gemstone electronically. I just received their June production. It is labeled.

Gem World International June 2019 Featuring Moonstone.

Short of a brief discussion on the present prices of moonstone, it really is for a person who is very new to gemology, in my opinion. As I was skimming it, I ran into the following statement that really makes me wonder who writes and reviews this "educational" material.

"Fine and transparent examples of moonstone may be faceted, but due to Feldspar's low HARDNESS, they won't display the best BRILLIANCE."

The capitulation is mine so I can make my point clearer.

I hope you reflect on this authoritative statement and realize that they mean index of refraction rather than hardness. I guess that it is an easy mistake to make, but it does not fill me with confidence in their effort to get things right. I bet one of their articles on Paraiba tourmaline would be a humdinger.

Bruce


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Is moonstone hard to get right?
PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 9:26 pm 
Offline
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:31 pm
Posts: 4015
Location: North Carolina
It is probably just a typo introduced during editing--originally it probably discussed both its relatively low hardness (for ring usage anyway) and its relatively low refractive index, and accidentally got shortened into the current phrasing.

_________________
Rough and cut classic and exotic synthetic gems:https://store.turtleshoard.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Is moonstone hard to get right?
PostPosted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:33 pm 
Offline
Active Member

Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2017 8:33 pm
Posts: 80
Maybe a typo but maybe not?

Low hardness could also mean not the best polish can be achieved, which would affect its reflectance properties and cause less then optimal "brilliance"?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Is moonstone hard to get right?
PostPosted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 8:15 pm 
Offline
Gold Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm
Posts: 1424
Location: San Marcos, CA
I would agree with Stephen, Brilliance is going to be more a refractive index issue than hardness. Moonstone takes a very good polish even when faceted. Seems like the article may have just been transposed in error. I have polished many moonstone cabochons and faceted quite a few as well. No special technics are necessary or tools. Reflections will not effect brilliance.

_________________
The Gem Garden
San Marcos, CA


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Gemology Style ported to phpBB3 by Christian Bullock