FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Since the beginning of time, humans have always had a fascination for shiny and glossy gemstones.
The Romans believed that a diamond was a piece of a falling star. On the other hand, the ancient Greeks believed that a diamond was the teardrop of the Gods.
Today we know much more about gemstones and understand the formation of a unique stone, and still, there is no end to our fascination. From the Egyptian ruler Cleopatra's famous love for emeralds and other green gemstones like peridots to the well-known emerald necklace which sank with the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean, the passion for gemstones has remained true. It is quite rightly said that a diamond is a girl's best friend.
Gemstones are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and the value of a stone depends mainly on the four Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat.
These are the globally accepted methods of grading and evaluating a gemstone. Experts use these four parameters to measure the actual value of a stone. Here are some more gemstone facts that you must know.
Experts support the opinion that the formation of gemstones happened on Earth, ranging from millions to billions of years ago.
These stones can be classified into precious and semi-precious gemstones. The precious gems are diamond, emerald, ruby, and sapphire; these are mainly used in jewelry. All the other gems fall into the semi-precious category.
From ancient times all the way to date, people have been using these unique stones primarily for jewelry and ornamental purposes. However, in various cultures all over the world, it is believed that gems have extraordinary power and healing properties.
Every gemstone forms uniquely.
Gemstones are made of minerals, rocks, or other organic materials and people choose them for their beauty and rarity. Fossilized wood is also used as a gem material. Different types of cutting and polishing produce different results. Most gemstones are extremely hard, but some are very soft, delicate, and showcased in museums.
Gems are not crystals. They are made organically with organic matter. Crystals are pure substances with molecules and ions in a fixed arrangement. Classification of crystals depends on their geometric shape, such as cubic or hexagonal.
Rough gemstones can look dull and even greasy. Their appearance is usually not shiny, but some gemstones can be glasslike, metallic, or silky. The true luster of a gemstone is witnessed only after the polish and cut.
The most sought after five special stones are:
Diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire, and amethyst.
12 sacred stones from Revelations in the Bible are:
Topaz, sapphire, amethyst, jasper, chalcedony, jacinth, hrysolite, chrysoprase, sardonyx, sardius, emerald, and beryl.
Painite is considered the rarest gemstone and the rarest mineral on Earth. The stone was first discovered in 1951, and by 2004 less than two dozen painite samples were discovered.
Moissanite is an excellent alternative to diamond and has a higher refractive index resulting in more sparkle. In terms of rarity, emeralds are better than diamonds. The emerald stone is more expensive than a diamond of the same quality.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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