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Gemstone Butterflies

Gemstone Butterflies. A gemstone (also called a gem, fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semi-precious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli and opal) and occasionally organic materials that are not minerals (such as amber, jet, and pearl) are also used for jewelry and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their luster or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity is another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone.

Apart from jewelry, from earliest antiquity engraved gems and hardstone carvings, such as cups, were major luxury art forms. A gem maker is called a lapidary or gemcutter; a diamond cutter is called a diamantaire. Reference: Wikipedia

This category has information and price guides to antique and vintage gemstone butterflies including jewelry items.

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A NEPHRITE CARVING
Posted inAntiques Gemstone Butterflies Jade

Nephrite Jade Butterflies

Nephrite Jade Butterflies. Nephrite consists of a microcrystalline interlocking fibrous matrix of the calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole mineral series tremolite (calcium-magnesium)-ferroactinolite (calcium-magnesium-iron). The middle member of this series with an…
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Posted inAntiques, Gemstone Butterflies, Jade
A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE 'CAT AND BUTTERFLY' GROUP QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
Posted inAntiques Gemstone Butterflies Jade

White Jade Butterflies

White Jade is a form of Nephrite Jade. It is  usually white, off-white, or cream in color. When white jade appears as translucent white or pale yellow it is sometimes…
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Posted inAntiques, Gemstone Butterflies, Jade
17th century Ming Dynasty jade butterfly
Posted inAntiques Gemstone Butterflies Jade

Jade Butterflies

Jade butterflies. Jade refers to an ornamental mineral, mostly known for its green varieties. It can refer to either of two different minerals: nephrite, a silicate of calcium and magnesium,…
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Posted inAntiques, Gemstone Butterflies, Jade

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