Gemstone and Silver Grades
Gemstones:
A - Well shaped, excellent uniform color and size.
B - Well shaped, good color and size, may be bleached to enhance or remove color or blemishes.
C - Coated, regular shaped beads. May be coated to enhance color uniformity and general appearance of stone.
D - Dyed: the introduction of a coloring matter into a stone to give it new color, intensify its current color or enhance color uniformity.
N - Natural, nothing at all has been done to the stone except cutting and shaping. Stones not currently know to be enhanced in any way.
P - Polished with resin to produce a warmer color / appearance of the beads.
NOTE: The Alchemists Vessel currently uses both natural and dyed Garnet beads. Grade will be indicated next to item or on the customer invoice. We use both natural resin polished and coated (waxed or stabilized) Turquoise. All grades of Turquoise will be listed next to the item. Some variances in the gemstones are to be expected as variances occur in nature.
Pearl Grades:
A - Extremely well shaped, white, high luster, very minor surface blemishes.
B - Well shaped, white to light cream, high luster, minor surface blemishes.
Note: The Alchemists Vessel currently uses fresh water natural (FWn) A grade Pearls.
Sterling and Other Silver:
Sterling Silver items are 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper and other alloys. Sterling Silver will "patina" in time, that is, it will take on an antique look.
Silver Plated items are .15 to .25 mil thickness of silver plated to the surface of brass or other base metals.
Silver items are made of an alloy, mostly containing nickel, popularized in Germany and by Native Americans. Nickel silver resembles Sterling Silver in color, with a grayer tone.
* 999 (Fine silver used in bullion bars, also known as three nines fine) * 980 (common standard used in Mexico ca.1930 - 1945) * 958 (equivalent to Britannia silver) * 950 (equivalent to "French 1st Standard") * 925 (equivalent to Sterling silver) * 900 (equivalent to "Coin silver" in the USA, also known as one nine fine) * 875 (could be found in former USSR) * 830 (common standard used in older Scandinavian silver) * 800 (minimum standard for silver in Germany after 1884; Egyptian silver)
A - Well shaped, excellent uniform color and size.
B - Well shaped, good color and size, may be bleached to enhance or remove color or blemishes.
C - Coated, regular shaped beads. May be coated to enhance color uniformity and general appearance of stone.
D - Dyed: the introduction of a coloring matter into a stone to give it new color, intensify its current color or enhance color uniformity.
N - Natural, nothing at all has been done to the stone except cutting and shaping. Stones not currently know to be enhanced in any way.
P - Polished with resin to produce a warmer color / appearance of the beads.
NOTE: The Alchemists Vessel currently uses both natural and dyed Garnet beads. Grade will be indicated next to item or on the customer invoice. We use both natural resin polished and coated (waxed or stabilized) Turquoise. All grades of Turquoise will be listed next to the item. Some variances in the gemstones are to be expected as variances occur in nature.
Pearl Grades:
A - Extremely well shaped, white, high luster, very minor surface blemishes.
B - Well shaped, white to light cream, high luster, minor surface blemishes.
Note: The Alchemists Vessel currently uses fresh water natural (FWn) A grade Pearls.
Sterling and Other Silver:
Sterling Silver items are 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper and other alloys. Sterling Silver will "patina" in time, that is, it will take on an antique look.
Silver Plated items are .15 to .25 mil thickness of silver plated to the surface of brass or other base metals.
Silver items are made of an alloy, mostly containing nickel, popularized in Germany and by Native Americans. Nickel silver resembles Sterling Silver in color, with a grayer tone.
* 999 (Fine silver used in bullion bars, also known as three nines fine) * 980 (common standard used in Mexico ca.1930 - 1945) * 958 (equivalent to Britannia silver) * 950 (equivalent to "French 1st Standard") * 925 (equivalent to Sterling silver) * 900 (equivalent to "Coin silver" in the USA, also known as one nine fine) * 875 (could be found in former USSR) * 830 (common standard used in older Scandinavian silver) * 800 (minimum standard for silver in Germany after 1884; Egyptian silver)
