01
BE. Stone Buying Checklist
How to read a crystal bracelet before you buy it: ten checks, in order, with the reasoning behind each. A4 PDF included.
Read the checklist →Journal · Field notes
Journal
Field notes for understanding materials, comparing stones, choosing size, and caring for what you wear.
Published records
186 records
01
61
Optical Effects Hub: Sheen, Adularescence, Tyndall
Lustre is surface reflection; sheen is a broad appearance descriptor; adularescence is moonstone’s layered-feldspar interference effect; and the Tyndall effect is fine-particle volume scattering. The terms are not...
Read field note →
62
What Is a Gemstone Inclusion? A Practical Primer
A gemstone inclusion is material or a material-filled cavity enclosed within a host gem. Contents, present phase state and texture or relative timing are separate evidence fields, not...
Read field note →
63
Crystal Bracelet Glossary: 25 Terms That Actually Matter
Twenty-five material, structure, optical, durability and disclosure terms for reading crystal bracelet listings without marketing fog.
Read field note →
64
Lab-Grown vs Natural Amethyst: What Actually Changes?
Lab-grown amethyst is synthetic quartz, not purple glass. Compare chemistry, growth origin, visual limits, laboratory separation and disclosure.
Read field note →
65
Moonstone vs Pearl: Glow, Lustre and Durability
Moonstone is feldspar with adularescence; pearl is a biogenic gem with nacreous lustre. Compare light, hardness, care and bracelet use.
Read field note →
66
Citrine vs Golden Rutilated Quartz: Two Yellow Structures
Citrine carries yellow body colour; golden rutilated quartz contains visible rutile needles. Compare structure, quality, treatment and buying value.
Read field note →
67
Kyanite vs Sapphire: Similar Blue, Different Mineral
Kyanite and sapphire can share a deep blue, but differ in composition, structure, directional hardness, cleavage, treatment and wear.
Read field note →
68
Obsidian vs Onyx: What Is the Difference?
Obsidian is volcanic glass; jewellery onyx is parallel-banded chalcedony. Compare structure, hardness, black colour, dye disclosure and safe checks.
Read field note →
69
Smoky Quartz vs Obsidian: Crystal or Volcanic Glass?
Smoky quartz is crystalline SiO₂; obsidian is natural volcanic glass. Compare structure, appearance, hardness, fracture and bracelet wear.
Read field note →
70
Garnet vs Ruby: How to Tell Them Apart and Choose
Garnet is a silicate mineral group; ruby is red corundum. Compare identity, hardness, visual overlap and what to ask before buying.
Read field note →
71
Black Bead ID: Obsidian, Onyx, Tourmaline or Glass?
Black colour is not an identification. Compare obsidian, onyx, black tourmaline and manufactured glass through lustre, texture, edge light, internal features and laboratory limits.
Read field note →
72
What Stone Is My Bracelet? Narrow It in 4 Questions
Identify an unknown bracelet by recording transparency, lustre, inclusions, optical effects, texture and drill-hole features, then follow the right material branch.
Read field note →