We talk about a magnetic personality when we refer to someone who is so charming, charismatic and who captivates your attention not to forget of being so irresistible. In general you are drawn towards a magnetic person. However, in gem & jewellery the word magnetic is used to imply mutually opposite ideas. Read on……
The word magnetic is used in gem & jewellery industry in two sets of meaning. One is to imply that gems & metals can be attracted to any other external force such as a real magnet. For example, several types of Garnets including Almandine, Pyrope and Demantoid when placed within a magnetic field would be easily get attracted to this field. Similarly metals such as Iron, Nickel and Cobalt possess what we call magnetic properties that push these metals into the folds of any magnetic field.
This property of being drawn into a magnet is dubbed as “magnetic susceptibility”. In simple language we call this “being attracted to magnets”. The degree of being attracted to magnet differs from metal to metal and gem to gem. Some exhibit strong inclination to be picked up by magnet. Epidote and Magnetite are gemstones that possess strong magnetic properties. Iron is a metal that can be quickly grabbed by a magnet. These are classified as “Ferromagnetic”. Others carry fairly weak magnetic properties. Classified as “Paramagnetic” these metals including Platinum and Titanium show little enthusiasm in getting attached to a magnetic force. Hessonite and Grossular are couple of gemstones displaying weak magnetic ability.
Then there are gems & metals that are diamagnetic. This means magnetic force cannot draw these matters but instead expel them from the area of magnetic force. Bismuth, Cadmium, Carbon and Copper are the main minerals in this group; Sapphire and Zircon are notable gemstones in the diamagnetic category.
To add a twist in the meaning gem & jewellery industry, has introduced items that is magnetic in true sense of the word. A good example is magnetic jewellery made with real magnets. As you are aware a magnet carries magnetic force within itself enabling it to draw into its fold any matters that are susceptible to magnetic force. Needless to say, this magnetic jewellery attracts any matter that has magnetism within it. Most if not all these magnets are man-made from an alloy of two or more minerals. Ceramic Ferrite, Strontium Ferrite, Samarium Cobalt, Neodymium and Alnico are varieties of magnets used in the industry.
Do we have natural magnets in the world? Yes, Earth is embellished with a natural magnet in the form of Lodestone. It is the only mineral that acts as a natural magnet amidst all artificial magnets.
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