Jyotish Gems or Glassy-gems?

[Guest guest]

Hare Rama Krishna

BUYER BEWARE: GLASS-FILLED RUBIES (AND BLUE SAPPHIRES) ARE HERE!

Remember the old saying: “If its too good to be true, it probably IS too

good to be true!â€. So consumed we are with buying the best and yet only

willing

to pay just a fraction of the real price for it, that it is no surprise that

what most of us wear as Jyotish gems in today’s commercial world is nothing

better than a sweet placebo for a medical tablet. What is more disheartening

to my mind is that knowing the possible consequences of their actions on a

clients life, there are gem dealers willing to sell “junk†( with a nice

story)

just to make a buck. Potency of a gem ( to give results, alias positive or

negative!) is paramount to the entire purpose of wearing it. And then the hard

working astrologers are blamed that their predictions do not work out.

I write to inform my audience about such recent developments within our

trade of Jyotish gems.

While the supply of Glass-filled rubies (primarily African material) has

been around in the commercial gems trade for about 3 years or so now, it was

disappointing to see them being sold as Jyotish gems. Even as they entered the

commercial gems market in late 2004, where in calibrated sizes they were mixed

with the otherwise heated ones and passed on by many, essentially

constituting what in my book is called cheating ( equivalent to mixed water in

milk).

Later low grade materials from Burma also commonly found in the market, even

in bigger sizes. Now, as recent as my December visit to Thailand, I witnessed

similar glass-filling treatments in blue sapphires also being offered to me,

as natural!

WHAT IS GLASS-FILLED TREATEMENT OF RUBIES AND SAPPHIRES?

Essentially low quality corundum (the family of gems to which both rubies

and sapphires belong) containing severe amounts of fractures, fissures and open

planes is separated and put thru strong acidic solutions (ex.Hydro Floride,

Nitric Acid) to remove any external and/or surface impurities and organic

substances. Then the “pale†colored corundum is heated together with

similar

RI (refractive index) glass flux. As a result of simultaneous heating

process, the now melting glass fills in the fissures or fractures or otherwise

open

planes of the gem. In case of a ruby the partner component is lead and

otherwise in case of a blue sapphire the component mixed is cobalt.

So after subsequent cooling off, the resultant gem is much more high grade

in its clarity (since the cracks are now filled), and is of a remarkable

stronger color as a result of added component (lead and/or cobalt, as the case

be).

THE MILK WITH WATER OR WATER WITH MILK?

In short, Both! I say this because no one can know without “dismantlingâ€

the gem in question. More than likely, its the latter. As I just experimented

with a 20 carat ruby that I bought in Tucson gem show, where as much as 45%

of the gem weight was glass! The problem with this treatment is that such

glass easily breaks away with general wear and tear over a period of time, and

with simple jewelry repair jobs and acid/sonic cleanings. Either way, I think

when its really important for us to drink pure milk, it does not matter the

composition, its best if such gems are avoided for Jyotish purposes.

SUMMARY

Just to put things in perspective, a fine quality 1 carat natural ruby could

cost around $1800/ct where as a comparable lead-glass-filled ruby would

cost $40.00/ct. Hopefully, your personal gem dealer or jeweler knows the

difference and tells you the truth, because to your untrained naked eye, they

both

would look the same. Like I always say, here again, who you choose to buy

from is as important as what you buy in the gem business.

My guru has taught me that by wearing gems we are ultimately inviting the

devata associated to come and reside in it, and certainly I can’t imagine

offering them a “broken glass†for an abode.

Anyone interested in further knowledge on the subject, or anything else

related to gems, is welcome to write to me privately.

Namaste;

Gaurav Jain

Planetgem.biz

U.S.A Cell : 917 774 9911

India Cell : 98290 38633

 

 

 

 

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