0 carats 鑽石的大小「克拉」是什麼意思?

你知道一克拉是什麼意思嗎?

「克拉」一詞來自阿拉伯語，意思是「角豆樹的果實」。

地中海沿岸有一種角豆樹（Carob tree）
所結的豆莢長約15公分，花呈粉紅色，果仁呈褐色，
這種樹無論長在何處，所結的果仁完全一樣，重量也驚人地一致。

所以古時候的人把這種豆子用來衡量重量。
久而久之，豆角就變成了一個重量的單位。
後人也把這種樹稱為克拉樹（Carat tree）。

在沒有天平和砝碼的古代，
人們便用它來作為秤量寶石重量的單位。
從此以後，克拉這個名詞就沿用到今天，

後來為了方便計算，
1987年，
英國對地中海各個地區的豆角做了一個統計，
發現最輕的豆角為0.188公克，
最重的豆角為0.215公克。
經平均後的重量為0.215公克，
這就是今天一克拉等於0.2公克的由來。

一克拉可分爲100分。
因此，
一顆25分的鑽石
就是重量四分之一克拉
或0.25克拉。

0 非洲的最高峰 Kilimanjaro，意為「燦爛發光的山」

吉力馬扎羅山（斯瓦希里語：Kilimanjaro，意為「燦爛發光的山」）位於坦尚尼亞東北，臨近肯亞邊界，部分山區被指定為吉力馬扎羅國家公園，並登陸為世界遺產，整個山脈東西綿延50公里左右，由七座主要的山峰，其中三座是死火山，馬文濟峰（Mawensi 5,149 米）、西拉峰（Shira 3,962米）和基博峰（Kibo 5,895 米）。基博峰上面的烏呼魯峰（Uhuru）是非洲的最高峰。


請參考 維基百科，自由的百科全書


1987年被列入“世界遺產目錄”。世界遺產委員會第11屆會議報告： 


吉力馬扎羅山是非洲的至高點，是一個火山丘，有五千九百六十三米高，矗立在周圍的草原之上，它那終年積雪的山頂在大草原上若隱若現。


山麓的氣溫有時高達59攝氏度，而峰頂的氣溫又常在零下34攝氏度，故有「赤道雪山」之稱。在過去的幾個世紀裡，吉力馬扎羅山一直是一座神秘和迷信的山-沒有人真的相信在赤道附近居然有這樣一座覆蓋著白雪的山。 


東非大裂谷直至今天仍存在著地殼運動，吉力馬扎羅正是較近的火山活動的結果。它的形成大約始於75萬年以前，最初由三個大火山口組成：希拉，基博和馬文茲。而後希拉火山錐崩塌消失，接著是馬文茲。然而基博火山卻一直保持著活力，在大約36萬年前還出現過一次大規模的爆發，它釋放的黑色熔岩蓋過希拉火山口，在馬文茲火山的原址上形成了吉力馬扎羅山鞍。 


神話：

吉力馬扎羅山是坦桑尼亞人心中的驕傲，他們把自己看作「草原之帆」下的子民。據傳，在很久很久以前，天神降臨到這座高聳入雲的高山，以便在高山之巔俯視和賜福他的子民們。
盤踞在山中的妖魔鬼怪為了趕走天神，在山腹內部點起了一把大火，滾燙的熔岩隨著熊熊烈火噴湧而出。妖魔的舉動激怒了天神，他呼來了雷鳴閃電瓢潑大雨，把大火撲滅，又召來了飛雪冰雹，把冒著煙的山口填滿，這就是今天看到的這座「赤道雪山」：地球上最獨特的風景點之一。


請參考：我最喜歡的山，乞力馬札羅山

0 千萬分之六的產量

根據2006年 日本有色寶石雜誌 絕世精品區說道：

坦桑藍是非常稀有的
全世界唯一坦桑藍產區
(坦尚尼亞的吉力馬札羅火山)
平均每一百萬克拉坦桑藍原石中
只能獲得 0.6克拉珠寶級坦桑藍.

坦桑藍有著與喀什米亞藍寶石
一模一樣的外觀，

濃郁、高雅如天鵝絨般藍色調，
為寶石中之極品，
但卻只需一點點價格就可以擁有。

只有其些微紫羅蘭色調
讓專家可以察覺到
它並非藍寶石，
而是藍色黝簾石。

但其藍色的透明度高,淨度佳,火光好，
且瑰麗光彩遠勝過藍寶石，
再加上產量非常有限

眾多因素之下
有水漲船高之勢，
是一種值得特別注意的中高價寶石.
尤其 是超過10克拉以上
高品質坦桑藍格外罕見珍貴. 


圖片說明:
Tanzanite: Shown here in both crystal and cut form, tanzanite was used to create Scott’s remarkable Queen of Kilimanjaro tiara. (Photo: Harold and Erica Van Pelt)  

0 來自非洲最高峰 - 坦桑藍(Tanzanite)

1967年,
在東非坦尚尼亞(Tanzania)
北部的美瑞拉尼(Merelani)地區,
一位馬賽族(Masai)土著
在非洲最高峰附近
被一簇高度透明,
因風化而露出地表的濃藍色晶體給絆倒.

當地一位名叫德蘇扎Manuel dSouza 的尋寶人
聽到這個消息,
立刻申請了四區的採礦權.
德蘇扎期盼礦區所產的
是新的藍寶石.

不久,同區20平方哩的土地上,
出現了超過90個宣稱據有礦權的礦區.
沒有人知道這些美麗的晶體到底是什麼???

此一發現也在寶石學界引發一陣騷動,
全球頂尖的寶石學家
也著手研究此新的材料.

到了1969年,
寶石學家斷定出
此藍色寶石乃是以
矽,鈣和鋁為主要成份
的黝簾石當中
一種新的透明類別.

當時已知的黝簾石
是不透明的綠色,
通常只能作為雕刻用材,
而非製成珠寶.

此藍色寶石
迅速受到歡迎.
礦區原石源源不斷被挖出,
且盜匪猖狂.

Tiffany Co.介入了推廣.
並且為其取了和它非洲產地一樣
具有異國風味的名字(坦桑藍 Tanzanite),
消費者心弦大動,
寶石也熱賣.

0 精采的原始坦桑藍 Magnificent

坦桑藍迷人之處
在於它的多色性
搶眼亮麗表現,

藍與紫雙色性游移間,
滿足了珠寶收藏家 和珠寶鑑賞家
視覺百分百享受,

更滿足了配戴擁有者
稀有性獨特性
獨一無二世上絕無僅有珍罕寶石.

(文章譯於GIA 參考書GEMSTONE BUYING GUIDE)


圖片解釋：


Magnificent untreated tanzanite crystal.
Crystal: Bill Larson collection; Photo: Jeff Scovil


In 1978 a massive cholera epidemic struck northern Tanzania and interrupted production of rubies, garnets, sapphires, chrome tourmaline, chrysoprase, and tanzanite. In addition, most of the known gem deposits were playing out. As a result, decreasing production has caused a scarcity of quality gemstones and a rapid rise in their value.

0 史詩般的天然色彩 - 坦桑藍 Historic

Blue indigo: Historic natural-color tanzanite crystal (6 x 3 cm, 68.4 grams, 342 carats). (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul; Crystal: Pala International)

“Gerhardt reminded us that these pieces were mined in 1969 in the very first year of mining production before the material was named tanzanite. When he purchased them in Meralani, Tanzania, he was the first to bring the material back to Idar-Oberstein and found them to be blue zoisite. As a normal procedure he tried heat treatmernt and was amazed at the results. He was quick to purchase as much rough as he could, recognizing that the blue zoisite would become a new major gemstone. He kept this piece natural (unheated) as it was so large and had a fine termination whereas most of what he bought were broken fragemnts.

“After some discussion three specimens were selected and purchased. The great memories were enhanced by Gerhardt reminding me that the large single tanzanite I had just purchased from him was quite famous.”

Indeed this crystal is featured in two separate 1970s publications. Luckily we have copies of these publications in Pala International’s library. Upon returning to California, we looked up the photos of our new aquisition. Please enjoy them here. This natural-color tanzanite crystal — together with the publications — is available.

0 稀有性及美艷多色性 (2色性& 3色性)... 坦桑藍(Tanzanite)

來自非洲最高峰 - 吉力‧馬札羅火山

坦桑藍(Tanzanite)

化學式：Ca3Al3(SiO4)3(OH)
屬於黝簾石(Zoisite)的一個變種
國內又稱：丹泉石

1960年間

首先在東非\坦桑尼亞境內

吉力‧馬札羅火山 山丘 發現蹤跡,

到了1967年
Tiffany Co. 副總裁

亨利.浿萊特 (Henry Platt)
將它以坦桑尼亞發現國
為其命名為：坦桑藍 (Tanzanite).

1968年
Tiffany Co 看準坦桑藍的

稀有性及美艷多色性 (2色性& 3色性)

在多變幻彩中
坦桑藍深深吸引眾人焦點,

1968年
Tiffany Co.有計畫性全球行銷規劃下
正式將坦桑藍帶入國際珠寶 市場,

從此坦桑藍正式躍身國際舞台,而大紅大紫發光發熱

照片解釋:

This natural-color tanzanite is 3.5 x 3 x 2 cm and over 200 carats. When photographing it, Jeffrey Scovil commented on its superior quality. Soon after listing, it was sold to a lucky and savvy buyer.

Photo: Jeffrey Scovil; Gem: Pala International

0 AGL announces grading report alterations

New York--The American Gemological Laboratory (AGL) announced a number of alterations and additions to its operations at a recent meeting designed to put to rest any rumors that the lab is struggling. Held on Oct. 22 at the lab's headquarters in New York City's Diamond District and attended by the lab's entire six-member team, the meeting comes in the wake of an up-and-down year for the colored gemstone-grading laboratory.
The lab was shut down for a time earlier this year after former owner Collectors Universe, a public company, opted to exit the gem-grading business.

However, former AGL Vice President and Chief Gemologist Chris Smith, who now serves as president of the lab, acquired the operation and reopened the AGL on April 1.

Among the changes discussed during the brief meeting was the lab's decision to use the term "heating residue" instead of "flux-type enhancement" to identify the treatment done to rubies in which the stones are heated to modify color and heal fissures.

"It puts us more in line with the terminology other labs are using," Smith said during the meeting.

In addition, the AGL has developed the term "composite ruby" to distinguish lead glass-treated rubies from regular heated rubies.

Also discussed at the meeting was the lab's use of the word "although" when describing country of origin in its reports; for example, "although this stone exhibits characteristics of stones found in Burma, we believe it to be from Sri Lanka." From now on, according to the presentation given at the meeting, the lab's reports will only mention country of origin if it has sufficient evidence to determine origin; there will be no "although" mentions.

Smith explained in a later interview with National Jeweler that the purpose of the changes is to make the lab's reports as understandable as possible.

"Any aspect of our report--could be identification, or enhancement, or treatment or grading--we're in the process of refining the terminology we use to bring better clarity and reduce confusion," he said.

The AGL will update reports to reflect these changes at no cost for any certificates issued since the lab's re-privatization on April 1.

In addition, the AGL announced during the meeting that:

• It has acquired the rights to JewelFolio, the high-end, hardbound reports issued for stones such as Colombian emeralds and Kashmir sapphires once trademarked by the now-shuttered American Gem Trade Association Gemological Testing Center.
• In increasing its collaboration with the Tanzanite Foundation (TF), the AGL has finalized an agreement to include the TF color-grading information on all of its tanzanite reports.
• It has acquired a Renishaw Raman spectrometer and additional portable analytical equipment to further support laboratory and identification services.
• The AGL held its first off-premise testing (OPT) in Hong Kong this past September and plans to hold OPT sessions in Thailand and Sri Lanka in the next several months and in Tucson and Las Vegas during the gem and jewelry shows next year.

ABOUT: American Gemological Laboratories