frequently asked questions regarding unheated sapphires, pearls, alternative gems; factors that set jyotish gems apart from ordinary gemstones
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Jyotish Gem FAQ

 
   
What is the difference between a jyotish gem and an ordinary gemstone available through the jewelry trade?

Clarity standards within the jewelry trade allow too many imperfections so most gems available through jewelers are not good enough for jyotish gem prescriptions. A stone may be within the parameters of good quality from the jeweler's perspective but still fail to meet our standards.

Each gemstone that I offer is individually selected to meet the highest clarity standards for jyotish gem recommendations.

 
 

Heat treatment in sapphires

 


Heat treatment of blue and yellow sapphires is widely practiced in the jewelry trade.

My gemological training at the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences in Bangkok and at the Gemological Institute of America in Los Angeles focused on separation of heat-treated from unheated sapphires.

Heat-treating is dominant in the gem and jewelry business because it converts unattractive gray corundum into more attractive colors. Heat-treatment "cooks" the stone at approximately 2000 degrees Celsius, almost to its melting point. According to jyotish Pandits, untreated blue sapphires and untreated yellow sapphires are essential for jyotish gem recommendations.

 

While we are on the topic of gem treatments

 


Almost all emeralds have numerous fractures that are filled with oil or high-refractive material to disguise their presence

 

What are akoya cultured pearls?

 


Akoya bead-nucleated, cultured pearls are the Japanese products that dominate the jewelry pearl market. Akoya pearls have a thin, superficial layer deposited by the akoya mollusc over a bead that has been inserted into the oyster. Only a small fraction of an akoya pearl's weight is actually pearl material; the rest is just the bead. Because the ratio of pearl material to bead is so low, akoya pearls are not recommended for jyotish gem purposes.
 

What are South Seas pearls?

 


These are bead-nucleated cultured pearls grown in shellfish that accept a much larger bead than Japanese oysters. The result is a cultured pearl of much larger size. South Seas pearls usually have a thicker layer of pearl material surrounding the implanted bead than Japanese cultured pearls but the bulk of the "pearl" still consists of a bead nucleus so most Vedic astrologers don't recommend them.
 

What are freshwater cultured pearls?

 


Fresh water tissue-nucleated pearls result from the implantation of a small piece of tissue from the mollusc itself. Pearls grown this way are virtually solid pearl material all the way through, therefore freshwater cultured pearls are good for jyotish gem recommendations. Tissue-nucleated pearls do not contain a bead nucleus so almost their entire carat weight consists of pearl material. This contrasts with bead-nucleated cultured pearls in which most of the weight consists of the bead rather than pearl material.
 

How should pearls be set into a piece of jewelry for Jyotish?

 


Most jewelers drill holes in pearls so they can be glued to post settings in jewelry.

For jyotish gem prescriptions, drilling a hole is not acceptable so we've designed a setting style that holds pearls in place without drilling holes.

When a jyotish gem is set into a piece of jewelry it must touch the skin during wear. All pendants on the pearl page were created specifically to conform to these requirements to fulfill your jyotish gem prescription.

 

How large are these gems?

 

The photographs have been greatly enlarged in order to show detail and facilitate viewing.

There are two ways of describing the size of a gemstone: measurements in millimeters and weight in carats.


Measurements in millimeters and carat weight of each gemstone are given in below the photograph.

You may notice that some gems of comparable weight are considerably different in dimension. This frequently occurs due to differences in the proportions used in cutting and polishing the gem. The cutter will often vary the proportions in order to save as much weight as possible.

 
 

How do I determine the appropriate gem recommendation for my particular needs?

The choice of jyotish gem best suited to you must be made by a jyotish Pandit or knowledgeable astrologer.

These experts make recommendations based on planetary influences indicated by your astrological chart.

 

 
 

I haven't been given a Jyotish gem recommendation. Can I make a choice of gemstone based on a book that I am reading?

Not a good idea! Everyone's situation is different with a different combination of planetary influences. It requires a skilled and knowledgeable expert to determine the appropriate jyotish gem prescription.  
 

What should I buy when the recommendation given to me is for a jyotish gem costing much more than I can afford?

This is common because astrologers recommend the ideal remedy, without knowing if you can afford it.

It's ok to use a jyotish gem smaller than the recommended size as long as the quality is maintained.

Another approach is to use an alternative gemstone, referred to as Uparatna.

Peridot is an uparatna gemstone alternative for emerald at a fraction of the cost of emerald. Jyotish gem alternatives for diamond are white sapphire and white zircon, (zircon is a naturally occurring gemstone not to be confused with cubic zirconia, a synthetic material in widespread use in the jewelry trade). Garnet is the jyotish gem alternative to ruby.

 
 

How are these gems purchased at the source?

I use a gemological microscope to sort through literally thousands of gemstones, selecting only a fraction of one per cent of the gems offered. Each gem must meet the criteria for jyotish gem recommendations plus each gem must represent the best value in its category so that every selection is the ideal combination of quality and value.

 

 
 

Do you sell synthetic gems?

A synthetic gem is a man-made material that appears to duplicate the chemical and crystallographic structure of a genuine gemstone. The advice given by leading Jyotish Pandits is that synthetic gems have no value for jyotish gem recommendations.

Some synthetics are manufactured in large scale factories while some are made in small batches in "laboratories". Whether they are flux-grown, lab-grown, flame-grown or home-grown they are all man-made and I don't sell them.
 
 
30 Day Return Policy
 

Every jyotish gem on this site comes with a 30 day, full-refund return policy.

I ask only that you return the gem in its original condition and that it hasn't been set into a piece of jewelry at any time prior to its return.

If you'd like more information about returns, please contact me at: billkent@islandnet.com

 
 
 


Canadian and American Clients: Your gem purchases are free of taxes, customs fees
and shipping charges.

You pay nothing extra.

 

Canadian Clients receive all items "taxes and shipping included". .

American Clients: Your gems are free of import taxes, customs duties and shipping charges.

Plus, you receive an Export Discount of 5%.


International Clients: You receive an Export Discount of 5%.

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The Canadian Dollar has gained strength and now I can purchase gems in Asia at

much better prices. So I'm passing this saving on to you.

 

Effective immediately, all items are reduced by 12% from list price. Please subtract

12% from prices shown on-site. All Canadian, American and International Clients

immediately qualify for this benefit.

 

The Export Discount of 5% for American and International clients is calculated after

subtracting the 12% price reduction.

 

Please contact me at billkent@islandnet.com  with any questions you may have.

   
   
   

william kent corporation
po box 5544 victoria bc
canada V8R 6S4  
tel: 250-595-6024
e-mail: billkent@islandnet.com  
in Canada tel: toll-free 1-800-656-5368
www.jyotishgem.com

   

For more information and to place an order please e-mail: billkent@islandnet.com

           
 
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