Monthly Archives: February 2023

In addition, the degree of fashion plays a significant role in determining the price of a product. Simply put, the more an accessory falls under the definition of a “fashion trend”, the higher its cost.

The world of precious stones is very large and, unfortunately, confusing, especially when viewed superficially. At the moment, more than 2.5 thousand minerals are known, but only a little more than a hundred of them are of value in terms of the jewelry industry and arts and crafts.

It is quite difficult to understand the intricacies of varieties of precious, semi-precious and ornamental stones, but there are also valuable natural formations that are not minerals. Therefore, within the framework of this publication, several approaches to the classification of valuable minerals and natural formations will be considered.

What are the types of precious stones

The names of precious stones and minerals (which, in fact, are one and the same) are given differently in different classifications, since a unified system has not yet been developed. From the generally accepted point of view, only the most beautiful, rare and expensive minerals and other natural formations can be considered precious stones.

According to Article 1 of the Federal Law of March 26, 1998 No. 41-FZ, officially diamonds, rubies, emeralds, alexandrites and sapphires, as well as pearls of natural origin, that is, organic, are exclusively precious stones. This also sometimes includes amber, but in the presence of some unique features – special inclusions, heavy weight, and so on.

Ring from the “Diamonds of Yakutia” collection in Sunlight

However, there are nuances here too: precious stones in jewelry look very impressive and cost accordingly. But very small or defective minerals lose a lot of value, while semi-precious gems of large sizes and rare colors can be equated in value with precious stones of the first order.

The science that studies precious stones is called gemology. This is a special section of mineralogy dedicated to precious, jewelry, ornamental jewelry (semi-precious) and ornamental stones.

Table of precious stones according to the classification of the prominent Soviet and Russian mineralogist E.Ya. Kievlenko looks the most logical and easy to understand. On its basis, in the light of modern realities, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences E.P. Melnikov proposed an improved version of the classification.

Without going into details, four groups of valuable minerals are distinguished:

• Precious stones. Diamond, classic blue sapphire, ruby, alexandrite, emerald and natural sea pearls.
• Jewelry stones. They are divided into four orders. Among the most famous are: fantasy-colored sapphires, spinel, opals, tanzanite, various types of beryls and corundums (except for precious ones), tourmalines, zircons, garnets, river and sea cultured pearls, amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, tiger and cat’s eyes, apatite, mother-of-pearl, certain types of quartz and others.
• Jewelry and ornamental stones. Malachite, turquoise, jadeite, lapis lazuli, pink and smoky quartz, jasper, ordinary opals, rock crystal, special varieties of jasper, jade, agate, chrysoprase and others.
• Ornamental stones. Jasper, marble onyx, jet, goldstone, obsidan, certain types of granite and other ornamental materials of mineral origin.

In addition to pearls, the classifier includes other materials of organic origin. These are corals, mammoth and ivory. They are considered jewelry and ornamental stones.

Top 10 popular gems

Considering gems in terms of popularity is not very correct, because the rarer the mineral, the more valuable it is. Therefore, here we will rely on the popularity of names and the value of noble minerals, and not their actual popularity among consumers.

Not everyone can afford a five-carat diamond ring or emerald earrings, but this does not mean that they would not want to have them. Especially the beautiful ladies!

Here is a non-exhaustive list of precious and semi-precious stones, among which there are both relatively cheap and exclusive minerals.

Moonstone

Meet one of the rather rare representatives of potassium and calcium feldspars, much loved by collectors and jewelers. The largest deposit of moonstones is being developed in Sri Lanka, in Russia they are mined in the Urals and in the vicinity of Lake Baikal.

The mysterious radiance of this stone gives it a very mysterious look and attractive exterior. Moonstone (adularia) in the classic version has a milky bluish color with beautiful tints, but sunny yellowish belamorites and black adularia are also known. They are not cut, otherwise they lose the lion’s share of their attractiveness.

Earrings with moonstone in the catalog Sunlight

This mineral has a pronounced feminine energy – the Moon is especially favorable to the fair sex, as well as creative people, regardless of gender. It is believed that the Moonstone is able to enhance intuition and extrasensory abilities, help in matters of the heart, and correct the state of health.

Moonstone has been recognized as an official gemstone by the State of Florida despite not being mined there. It happened back in 1970, when the American space expedition landed on the moon, starting from the cosmodrome in Florida.

Topaz

It is difficult for an amateur to immediately recognize topaz in a stone: this mineral is too diverse in color. The most widespread are cheap colorless specimens (pure aluminum silicates), however, there are even polychrome crystals, that is, combining several shades. It is the diversity of topaz that attracts the favorable eyes of jewelers to it.

Topaz has another significant advantage – it is very hard (8 points on the Mohs Scale), yielding in this nomination only to diamond and precious corundums (sapphire and ruby). It is chemical resistant and elegantly transparent.

Gold earrings with topazes

Despite the wide distribution (found whole crystals weighing 60-80 kg are known), pure transparent topazes of fantasy natural shades are highly valued by jewelers. And simpler options are available to absolutely everyone – such a handsome democrat.

Garnet

Blood-red stones were once called lal, without any distinction between their chemical composition and physical properties. Now only pyropes and almandines are called pomegranates, in the classic version they resemble grains of the fruit of the same name in color.

There are a lot of pomegranates with different formulas and properties in the modern classification. Most of them belong to the group of semi-precious (jewelry) stones. Some of them are not red at all!

Sunlight garnet and diamond gold ring

Opal

Once amorphous silica, now known as opal, was considered very valuable. They were extremely rare, which is why they often adorned the crowns of European monarchs. After the discovery of large deposits in Australia, where about 97% of opals are now mined, these stones have become much more affordable in terms of prices.

It is customary to distinguish noble (precious) and ordinary (semi-precious) opals. The former are characterized by an iridescent play of colors, transparency or translucency and are very expensive. Minerals of saturated colors are especially highly valued – fiery, blue and even almost black.

Jewelry with opals in the Sunlight

catalog In the mass jewelry industry, so-called doublets are often used: precious opal plates are glued onto a less valuable base. The surface of the mineral is usually coated with special resins to increase strength.

W. Scott’s novel “Anna von Geierstein” brought ill fame to opals. According to him, it was this stone that caused the death of the owner. Meanwhile, it has been considered a very strong amulet since the time of Ancient Rome.

Pearl

The most expensive and popular precious stone of organic origin is pearl. Moreover, the most valuable is sea pearls, grown naturally in a wild pearl shell, as well as natural “houses” of other mollusks. A foreign body (for example, a grain of sand) gets into the shell shells and it envelops it with a layer of mother-of-pearl.

Freshwater pearls are much less valued – they resemble lumpy grains of rice and very rarely have a perfectly spherical or pear-shaped shape. Cultured pearls stand apart: a foreign body is specially planted in the shell, and the mollusk completes the rest.

Gold earrings with cubic zirconias and cultured pearls

The main criterion for the value of a pearl is its size, brilliance and surface cleanliness. There are pearls of various shades – from white and yellowish to pink and even black (a huge rarity!). By the way, this is the only gem that is not processed at all.

Alexandrite

Before us is one of the “youngest” minerals: it was described only in 1842. At first, a strange stone was mistaken for a not too pure emerald, but it showed slightly different physical characteristics, in particular, greater hardness. The new stone was named in honor of the future Emperor Alexander II.

This mineral has a wonderful property: it changes color depending on the light, and in the widest range: from blue-green to red-violet tones. The higher the contrast of the color change, the more valuable the stone. There are alexandrites with opal radiance.

Jewelry with alexandrite in the Sunlight catalog

Alexandrite is an extremely rare and expensive stone. Jewelry from it is made exclusively to order and becomes the property of the elite. It is considered the most “Russian” gemstone, because the main reserves are in Russia.

About 100,000 tons of emeralds are processed annually at the Malyshevskiye mines, where the only emerald deposit in Russia is located. Every day, up to one and a half kilograms of emeralds and only 100 grams of alexandrites are found there!

Sapphire

The most valuable sapphire is a classic blue variety of corundum. That is, the cheapest gemstone of all sapphires is an alternatively colored mineral. Geologists, by the way, call only blue corundums sapphires, and jewelers – everything except those painted in red, that is, rubies.

It is the bright blue color of the mineral that is most highly valued, closer to pure cornflower blue: the darker or lighter the stone, the worse. The so-called star-shaped sapphires are interesting: under certain lighting, it seems that a six- or even a twelve-pointed star is burning inside the stone. They are not even subjected to classical cutting, but are inserted into jewelry in the form of cabochons.

Gold brooch with sapphires and diamonds Sunlight

Blue sapphires are found in many countries, including Russia (the Urals and the Kola Peninsula).

Ruby

Before us is a close relative of sapphire – also corundum, but blood-red in color, which is provided by chromium impurities. The brighter the color, the more valuable the stone, but much depends on its purity and size.

Ruby is a true gemstone with a long and glorious history. Jewelery with yahonts (rubies and sapphires) was found during excavations of Etruscan burial grounds. They were known by the ancient Indians and considered the most powerful talismans, appreciated by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Rubies are described in the Bible and mentioned in the writings of Pliny.

White gold ruby ​​and diamond ring Sunlight

The best rubies are mined in Burma (now Myanmar), significant deposits are found in other Asian and African countries.

In Russia, rubies are not purposefully mined, but occasionally worthy specimens are found when mining other corundums.

Emerald

The ancient name of this mineral from the vast beryl family is emerald. The ideal emerald is a transparent stone of rich green color, and the deeper the green, the better.

Unfortunately, this noble mineral is very prone to cracking, which is why it is so highly valued. A pure five-carat emerald costs more than a flawless diamond of the same weight! The purity of most natural emeralds is clouded by inclusions of air and all kinds of impurities, so they are often subjected to refining (oiling).

Gold earrings with emeralds and diamonds

The lion’s share of the world’s emerald production comes from Colombia, but the minerals mined in Brazil, Afghanistan and Zambia are of higher quality and purity. In Russia, these magnificent stones are mined mainly in the Urals.

Despite the fact that emeralds were known to the ancient Egyptians, they were brought to Europe only by conquistadors, conquerors of the New World. By the way, they have long been considered witch stones because of their piercing green color. However, the Arabs revered emeralds and wore them as amulets, and in Russia they were considered gems of wisdom and composure.

Diamond

Oddly enough, the standard hard diamond is a close relative of soft graphite: it also consists of pure carbon. A cut diamond is called a brilliant. It is rightfully considered the most famous and expensive gemstone.

Diamonds are used not only in the jewelry industry: they are indispensable in the production of cutting and drilling tools, lasers, watches and quantum computers.

A cut diamond should ideally be absolutely transparent, with a characteristic radiance and brilliance. A clean diamond is easy to lose in a glass container filled with water – it is simply invisible there. Often, diamonds contain impurities that give them different shades. Some (yellow and brown) reduce the value of stones, others (blue and pink) raise it to sky-high heights.

Gold rings with diamonds from the Diamonds of Yakutia collection

Diamond deposits have been found on all continents, including Antarctica. They occur in the so-called kimberlite pipes. The largest, cleanest and most expensive diamonds are currently mined in Africa: Botswana, Angola and Namibia. Russian diamond deposits are located mainly in the Urals and Yakutia.

Despite the fact that the history of diamond mining in Russia is less than a century old, our country is the world leader in this category. Yes, the average price of a Russian diamond is low (many small technical stones), but the production volumes are incredible!

The most expensive gemstones

Let’s not repeat the above: the last five positions described above are the most expensive gemstones by value. These are gemstones of the first order and the highest value by any classification.

But you need to understand that it is impossible to make an objective list of stones by value: the cost of a carat of a mineral depends not only on its chemical formula, but also on purity, transparency, size, color, presence / absence of defects and other parameters.

Therefore, in this nomination we present the rarest and most expensive minerals that go beyond the generally accepted standards. So, here is a list of truly unique stones valued at fortunes:

• Tsavorite. Jewelery garnet yellowish-green. A carat costs about 3-5 thousand US dollars.
• Sapphire. An unheated stone of pure blue color is estimated at 4.5-6 thousand dollars / carat minimum.
• Red spinel. It is considered one of the fastest growing minerals in price: the cost is 6-8 thousand dollars per carat.
• Demantoid. Another green garnet, but a piercing pure color. Ural demantoid costs about 10 thousand dollars/carat.
• Paraiba. Neon blue tourmaline that glows in the dark. Stones of average quality go for 8-12 thousand dollars / carat.
• Emerald. Flawless pure emeralds are extremely rare. The cost of a carat of high-quality unoiled emerald starts from 10-13 thousand dollars
• Padparadscha. Sapphire of incredible orange-pink color. Cost – 10-12 thousand dollars / carat.
• Alexandrite. The price of this stone fluctuates around 10-37 thousand dollars/carat. The most expensive are mined in Russia.
• Ruby. A pure large stone of the top color “pigeon blood” is estimated at 15-25 thousand dollars / carat.
• Jade. The rarest transparent jadeite, known as “imperial”, costs at least 20 thousand dollars/carat.
• Diamond. The cost of a quality colorless diamond is about $15,000/carat. A blue diamond costs about 30-50 thousand. And the most expensive precious stone in the world is the red diamond: a carat is estimated at 500 thousand – 1 million dollars.

Paraiba tourmaline

How precious stones differ from semi-precious ones

There are no objective parameters that distinguish precious stones from semi-precious ones. The main criterion in this case is the price: semi-precious ones are inexpensive, precious ones are not accessible to everyone.

In the classification of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of the jewelry industry, there is no concept of precious and semi-precious stones at all: they are jewelry, ornamental and jewelry-ornamental.

Precious stones mined in Russia are highly rated on the world market. Moreover, in the Russian Federation there are deposits of almost all precious minerals, with the exception, perhaps, of rubies.

Classification of stones according to their properties

In the classification of precious stones, their various physical, optical and other characteristics are taken into account. The most obvious characteristic of gemstones is their weight. Other things being equal, a carat of a large mineral will cost more than a similar unit of a small one (sometimes at times).

Carat is a unit of mass of precious stones, adopted by jewelers around the world. One carat is only 0.2 grams!

All other properties of precious stones can be grouped into the following broad groups:

• Rarity. The rarer the mineral, the higher it is valued. A large enough deposit to empty – and the stone immediately soars in price.
• Feeling. Tactile sensations when touched (“soapy”, slippery, and so on).
• Density. The denser the stone, the heavier it is. Zircon is even heavier than diamond. The lightest is amber.
• Hardness. Here it is appropriate to mention the Mohs scale, which grades the hardness of substances according to a ten-point system, from diamond (10) and corundum (9) to talc. The test is scratching the surface.
• Strength. A very hard stone may not be very strong and will easily crack under physical impact. Not too hard jade is very difficult to split due to its high viscosity, and zircon crumbles instantly.
• Cleavage. The description of this characteristic is quite complicated: it is the “behavior” of the stone when splitting (in what directions it splits). It is fundamentally important when cutting.
• Electrification and polarity. For the jewelry industry, these parameters are not fundamental.
• Transparency. Gemstones are usually transparent or translucent. The purer the stone, the more valuable it is.
• Colour. Multi-colored stones can be more valuable or cheaper than classic counterparts. Examples have been given above.
• Glitter. It can be diamond, glass, silky, mother-of-pearl and so on.
• Light refraction. A characteristic that is fundamentally important when choosing a cut.
• Dichroism and polychroism. The ability of a stone to change color depending on the angle and intensity of the light.
• Asterism. The effect of the “star” inside the stone when hit by light.
• Luminescence. The ability to glow, characteristic of diamonds, rubies, jade and other stones.
• Defective. The presence, location, type and number of various defects.
• Cut quality. The value of the mineral directly depends on the quality of the cut.
• Refinement. A stone with good natural characteristics will always cost more than an improved (heated, oiled, painted, etc.) counterpart.

How to distinguish gemstones from artificial ones

Artificial gemstones have the same composition as their natural counterparts. At the same time, they are, as a rule, of better quality and purer than their natural counterparts. Under artificial conditions, various valuable crystals are grown: diamonds, emeralds, rubies and others like them.

However, synthetic stones are much cheaper than natural ones (sometimes hundreds or even thousands of times). And this is explained by the fact that people tend to want to own something especially exclusive.

Almost all minerals stay cool for a long time. Fake made of glass or plastic heats up quickly in the hands. Thus it is impossible to distinguish a precious stone from a non-precious one, but a crude imitation will betray itself at once.

You need to understand that synthetic minerals are not fakes, that is, imitations (twin stones or ordinary glass). If you buy a product in a large jewelry store, the chance of acquiring an artificial analogue or imitation without knowing it is surely close to zero. They just won’t risk their reputation.

Gold ring with synthetic amethystGold ring with natural amethyst

A non-professional will not be able to determine a precious stone or not just like that, “by eye”. It is best to beware of buying jewelry from hand or small dubious shops.

But if you somehow got into the hands of a dubious copy, at your service is the examination and evaluation of stones, which can be ordered at any jewelry workshop. Gross fakes are determined immediately, visually, in complex cases more specific methods are required.

Interesting facts about precious stones

And now some interesting facts:

• The rarest gem in the world is grandidierite. At the moment, only eight copies are known.
• One of the most impressive gemstone collections in the world is the Diamond Fund at the Kremlin Armory in Moscow.
• The hardest gemstone is naturally a diamond. It is the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth.

There are not so many deposits of precious stones in nature, these minerals are expensive, not everyone can afford such a luxury. Do not be upset about this: only an expert can distinguish an artificial diamond or emerald from a natural counterpart. In addition, many semi-precious stones in a classy design look no less advantageous than prohibitively expensive top gems.

Gems – MIUZ Jewelry Guide

Gems

Types of precious stones

What the Law Says: List of Gems

Historical excursion

Top 10 Gems

By what criteria is a stone classified as precious

How to tell real gems from laboratory ones

Interesting facts about precious stones

Precious stones such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires are considered to be precious, but is the list limited to these four? In this article, you will learn what gems are, what are their characteristics and properties, and why they are so expensive.

Kinds of precious stones

There are several classifications in Russia, one of the oldest is Bauer-Fersman, adopted at the beginning of the 20th century. But it is inaccurate, so you should not rely on it. A more accurate classification belongs to E. Ya. Kievlenko, it includes many modern stones, including those discovered in the 20th century.

According to Kievlenko, all gems are divided into 3 large classes:

• gemstones proper: four orders;
• gemstones: two orders;
• ornamental stones.

Consider the orders of gemstones proper, the number of which is much more than four, as is commonly believed.

This classification does not include, for example, stones that were discovered in the second half of the 20th century. So, tanzanite, if evaluated by its market value, could have the status of a precious stone of the 1st order, and in terms of jewelry properties – of the 2nd order. In general, any division can be called conditional.

In the West, there is no provision for dividing precious stones into orders; they are all called nothing more than gem stones or gems. That is, these are stones that have jewelry properties, they can be cut and used to make jewelry.

Previously, all gems of the III and IV order, and sometimes the second order, were conditionally called semi-precious, but this is not true. The world community does not recognize such a division, since it discredits minerals in the eyes of buyers.

What the law says: list of precious stones

In the Federal Law No. 41 of 03/26/1998, only one order of precious stones is mentioned. According to the definition, gemstones include diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, alexandrites, natural pearls in raw and processed form. Unique amber formations can also be equated to them.

In all cases, we are talking only about natural samples, and not about materials of artificial origin, even if they have similar properties. The law does not provide any other classifications, which gives jewelry chains reason to use the outdated and incorrect term “semi-drugs”.

Historical excursion

In ancient times, various materials were classified as precious stones depending on their external characteristics and symbolic meaning. So, the list included pearls, amber and coral, which are organic materials.

Many minerals that were considered precious in ancient times are not currently considered as such. The Old Testament mentions 12 precious stones adorning the breastplate of the Jewish high priest: diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire, carbuncle, topaz, amethyst, agate, yahont (corundum), onyx, chrysolite, jasper (jasper). In ancient times, all red stones were called carbuncles.

Top 10 Gems

It’s not a secret for anyone what gems of the 1st order look like, but not everyone has an idea about the rest of the minerals from the list below.

Diamond

Diamonds
at all times were the most desirable among precious stones. As you know, this is a mineral with a reference hardness of 10 points. There are colorless and colored (yellow, pink, blue, red, etc.) diamonds. The latter, especially red and blue, are valued more than the rest.

Emerald

Deep green emeralds
so opulent that it gave rise to the new color term “emerald”. The stone is a representative of the beryl group. Colombian emeralds are especially valued. In the Russian Empire, only members of the imperial family had the right to wear these stones. Due to the fragility of the mineral, not every fixer will undertake to work with it. Since most of these stones have many inclusions, flawless samples of dense tone weighing from 5 carats are more expensive than diamonds.

Ruby

Rubies are called red corundums. Rubies from Myanmar are considered the highest quality, it is there that stones of the color “pigeon blood” are mined. And in 2015, a new ruby ​​deposit was discovered in Greenland.

Sapphire blue

Mineralogists call sapphire
only the blue variety of corundum. The best are cornflower blue sapphires of medium saturation. The most expensive and high-quality stones are mined in Kashmir. The largest blue sapphire is the carved Millennium Sapphire weighing 61,500 carats. Before cutting, the find weighed 90 000 ct.

Colored sapphires

Gemologists single out colored stones separately from blue precious corundums, and here the palette is quite wide: these are yellow, and pink, and orange, and green sapphires. Madagascar remains the main supplier of colored sapphires to the world market.

Tanzanite

A carat of tanzanite is valued at between $300 and $2,000. First of all, the price is influenced by the color of the stone, which can be blue-violet, purple, blue, olive and sometimes pink. There are also colorless tanzanites. The crystals are almost 100% transparent. The hallmark of tanzanite is trichroism, that is, the ability of the mineral to change color three times depending on how you look at it: from olive to blue-violet and then to red-raspberry-violet.

Alexandrite

Alexandrite, first discovered in Russia, is a variety of chrysoberyl. The mineral was named after Tsarevich Alexander. Later, after becoming emperor, Alexander II wore an alexandrite ring all the time. The main feature of the stone is the color reverse from greenish blue in daylight to crimson red in artificial (alexandrite effect).

Noble black opal

Noble opals, including black, are valued primarily for their ability to opalescent – to play with all the colors of the rainbow. The mineral acquired this ability due to large globules in the structure. At the same time, flashes of color come from the inside, and the overflows are soft and gentle. Opal is very often counterfeited, for fakes and imitations, reflections come from the very surface. The largest noble black opal ever discovered is the Lady of Glengarry weighing 1,520 carats.

Demantoid

Green garnet, the so-called Ural emerald. The unique feature of this Tier III gemstone is its high dispersion, which is superior to that of diamond. Demantoid
often has fibrous inclusions of golden byssolite, and it looks very beautiful. In addition, it is rare, so the value of the demantoid is classified as precious stones.

Kunzite

Pale pink transparent kunzite was Jacqueline Kennedy’s favorite stone. This gem variety of spodumene quickly gained popularity thanks to the support and publicity of Tiffany & Co. Some of the most beautiful specimens come from Brazil. Kunzite has the property of pleochroism – it is able to change color depending on which side to look at the crystal. Good hardness (7 points) allows you to wear any jewelry with this stone without fear.

What are the criteria for classifying a stone as precious

Value is determined by beauty, durability and rarity, with fashion playing an important role. Each criterion includes several characteristics.

Beauty is revealed through the prism of color, brilliance, the play of stone and various optical effects. A rare mineral is recognized if the deposits are rare, if the size and / or purity of the stone positively distinguish it from the representatives of its group. Wear resistance depends on strength, hardness, brittleness, cleavage.

A rare stone of a beautiful color, which has high transparency and the beauty of which does not interfere with enjoyment of inclusions and other defects, can be considered precious. At the same time, it is large enough and has good hardness, which allows it to be used for making jewelry. The presence of optical effects such as asterism, opalescence, pleochroism also affects the cost of the sample.

How to tell real gems from laboratory ones

An ordinary person will not be able to determine by eye that in front of him is a real stone or grown in a laboratory. Thus, it is not possible to distinguish natural emerald from hydrothermal emerald without special equipment.

Jewelry tags in jewelry chains always indicate the origin of the inserts. You can find notes that a grown stone is used or synthetic, hydrothermal in the case of emerald.

At the same time, samples created by human hands often have the same physical and aesthetic properties as the prototype. The only difference is that such stones did not lie in the ground for many years.

Another thing is when stones are ennobled in order to pass them off as precious or improve their properties, or frank fakes and imitations are used. For example, about 95% of mined tanzanite is yellow-brown in color. To obtain the commercial blue-violet color, the crystals are annealed at high temperature.

An independent gemological examination will allow to reliably establish the nature of the mineral, to determine the fact of refining.

Interesting facts about precious stones

1. The popularity of diamonds and the fact that they have become a symbol of love was facilitated by the mining company De Beers.

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YMCA Jacquline Baber-Bey Early Childhood Center

Infant & Toddler Care

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6 weeks – 2 1/2 years old

Hours:

Monday – Friday, 6:30am – 6:00 pm

Childhood Experience Required

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M. Keck Infant and Toddler Center

The Center provides infant and toddler classrooms for children 6 months to 36 months of age. This program serves 40 children in 3 different classrooms designed for the specific needs of young children. The infant room offers a 1:3 teacher-child ratio and the toddler rooms have a 1:4 ratio. We offer continuity of care for infants and toddlers and keep primary care groups together until they reach preschool.

Our program draws on the infant and toddler’s natural interest of discovery, urge to learn, and the need for close, responsive relationships with caregivers. Infants and toddlers have their own curriculum. Teachers plan the environment carefully so that lessons may be learned through exploration and discovery. Sensitive observation of the children’s needs and interests lead teachers to the appropriate next steps to take in planning. Planning for each day is based on these observations and emphasizes child-directed learning over adult-directed learning.

Young infants need closeness, reassurance and comfort to strengthen their sense of security. Our infant program provides opportunities for close contact and security by assigning a primary caregiver for each child. Teachers help infants by being available and responding promptly, bringing things of interest to the infant, and taking the infant to interesting things. A calm and soothing environment is provided to avoid overstimulation.

Older infants and toddlers are captivated by their growing ability to move. Caregivers provide a secure base of support from which children can venture out and explore. Exploration is encouraged by providing a safe and interesting environment, while at the same time providing challenging opportunities for movement.

California Infant/Toddler Curriculum Framework

Morning Arrival
7:30-8:30 Infants arrive with their parents and are greeted by the teachers. Parents then fill out an information sheet where they can give their child’s primary caregiver information about their child’s night and morning routines; meal times, sleep and other important information about their child.

Breakfast
8:30-9:15 Infants have individualized feeding schedules. Teachers will hold babies who are bottle fed and once babies are able to sit independently, they sit in small groups at a table with teachers. Information from the parent about when your child eats and what foods to introduce is important in order to keep consistency and identify food allergies. At all meal times, nursing mothers are encouraged to sit on a cozy rocker or sofa to breastfeed their baby.

Morning nap time
9:30-10:30 Usually younger infants sleep after breakfast while older infants who do not need a nap can go outside to the patio or play inside.

Morning choice time
10:30-11:30 This is a free time for babies to explore inside or have special time with peers and caregivers

Lunch time
11:30-12:00 The Center provides infant formula, cereal and baby food that can be introduced into the babies diet as discussed with parents. The Center also has a cook on site that makes healthy and delicious meals once babies are eating solid food.

Afternoon nap
12:15-2:30 Younger babies usually take an afternoon nap. Older babies have opportunities to play indoor or outdoors.

Afternoon snack time
3:00-4:00 A light snack is offered to babies waking up from their nap.

Afternoon choice time
3:00-5:00 Indoor free play time gives babies the opportunity to explore indoor equipment, look at books, play with cause and effect toys, sing songs with teachers and explore their environment.

End of the day goodbyes
5:00-5:30 Parent’s reconnect and view the information of their babies’ day

Morning Arrival 7:30- 8:30 Parents arrive and are greeted by teachers. Parents change their child’s diaper or encourage child to go potty as their last intimate moments before leaving.

Breakfast
8:30- 9:00 Breakfast is served in small groups as children arrive to the Center. The children are served family style by their primary teacher in order to encourage a positive meal time.

Morning Choice Time
10:00-11:30 Children have a choice to work inside the classroom or explore the outside yards.

Lunch
11:45-12:30 Lunch routines for toddlers focus on their increasing competencies as they learn to toddle to the sink, wash their hands and feed themselves.

Nap
12:45-2:30 Caregivers rub backs and read stories. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to bond with their primary teacher.

Snack
3:00- 4:00 Snack available, indoor choice time

Afternoon Choice Time
4:00-5:00 The children may play in the side yard with water, sand, and use push toys and balls. Indoor choices may include reading books, dramatic play, puzzles, music, and art experiences.

End of the Day
5:00-5:30 Primary teachers change diapers or help with potty; children work on quiet activities until they go home.

* These schedules are flexible and may change according to a child’s individual needs as well as the groups’ needs and interests.

Kindergarten kindergarten for children in Moscow, prices for a nursery garden for children from 1 year old under the Montessori program

Kindergarten nursery, or where to leave the baby when necessary?

In Soviet times, such a form of pre-school institution as a nursery school with groups for the youngest was quite developed. Today, there are significantly fewer such state institutions, despite the queues in them. But over the past few years, private nurseries and home kindergartens have appeared, which accept babies from a year old. However, this does not save many parents. nine0005

Parents have to face too many difficulties if they decide to send their baby to a kindergarten for children from 1 year old. The most common of them: frequent illnesses, constant tears (babies have difficulty “breaking away” from their mother), nutritional difficulties (some at this age are still breastfeeding or formula, others have allergies or certain food preferences) and adaptation (moreover, the better the situation in the family, the more difficult the child gets used to kindergarten). Plus, it’s corny scary to leave such a crumb, not knowing what kind of care he will actually take. nine0005

In addition, if we are talking about a private nursery or home kindergarten, then there are often certain conditions for accepting babies into groups, including at least potty training, weaning, the ability to hold a spoon , fork and mug, etc. But after all, not every one-year-old baby knows how to do all this … So it turns out that it is much easier for many parents sometimes to sit at home with their baby until a certain age and engage in home education than to send a nursery to a kindergarten. nine0005

Where can I find an alternative to nursery garden?

Before looking for an alternative to a nursery, you first need to understand why you would like to leave your child in it. If it is time for you to go to work, there is no one to leave the baby with, and a nanny is too expensive for you, then probably the state nursery for children will be the most suitable option for you. True, in this case, you should not place too much hope on this institution in terms of education and upbringing of your child, most likely, you will only receive supervision. nine0005

But if you are primarily interested in the educational process of the baby, and at the same time you still have the opportunity to attend classes with your child, then it is probably better to prefer a developmental center. Classes in such centers are usually held for children from 8 months to 6 years. And besides, regardless of the age of your crumbs, here you can always find a program that will meet all your requirements.

We grow and develop together with Montessori

The network of children’s developing Montessori centers “Constellation”, where literally everything is subordinated to the interests of young discoverers, for its part, is ready to offer you a number of developing programs for the smallest. nine0005

If the main thing for you is to raise your child to be happy, free and successful, to teach him to be independent, inquisitive, independent, disciplined and proactive, then our developmental programs based on the popular Montessori system will be the best option for your child and a great alternative to kindergarten manger. After all, with special care and love, we create all the necessary conditions for the development of a creative, talented personality of a child, help him to explore this world with joy and pleasure, gain new knowledge and skills, and acquire fundamental qualities for further development. nine0005

Montessori development

“Mom and baby” groups are created for children from 8 months to 3 years old. In them, kids, together with their mothers, do not just play with toys, but go through a whole educational process under the guidance of a teacher, while receiving their first knowledge

“Adaptation to Kindergarten” groups are created for children from 2 to 3 years old. kindergarten and give him all the necessary knowledge and skills that will be useful to the baby both directly when visiting kindergarten and in further socialization.

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• acquaintance with the outside world and social reality,
• individual work in a specially prepared Montessori environment, aimed at the comprehensive development of the child,
• speech development course with a professional speech therapist,
• classes in a creative workshop and a theater for a young spectator, including activities aimed at developing fine motor skills, creative thinking and the ability to aesthetic perception,

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and allow kids to learn to feel free in a new team, build communications and do without a mother, as well as take care of themselves (wash hands, tie shoelaces, fasten buttons and buttons, etc. ).

Short-stay groups mini-kindergarten nursery focused on children from 2 years old. This program is based on developing Montessori classes, and is also complemented by a wide range of additional disciplines, including English, musical development, a creative workshop, a theater for a young spectator, game gymnastics, speech development and much more. Children attending our mini-kindergarten groups receive all the knowledge necessary for entering school, as well as skills that are extremely important for later life, such as interaction with others, self-discipline, responsibility, diligence, working in pairs, the ability to find a compromise, as well as independently make decisions, make choices, bring what has been started to the end and much more. Part-time kindergarten groups of the network of children’s developing Montessori centers “Sozvezdie” is not only an interesting program for obtaining knowledge for preschoolers and high-quality preparation for school, but also an individual approach to education and upbringing, as well as loving teachers who see in each child a unique and unique personality. nine0005

Another article: Preschools

Transition from theoretical articles to practical exercises HERE

How to choose a private kindergarten that is right for your child

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07/18/2022

How to choose a private kindergarten


For many parents, choosing a kindergarten is a real quest. It is necessary to take into account many nuances, study the educational program, make sure that the child will be comfortable and safe. We have compiled recommendations that will help you choose a good kindergarten that your child will attend with benefit and pleasure. Also in this article we talk about a new effective format of preschool education – Pre-school.
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Content:

1. What to look for when choosing a kindergarten




2. What other questions to ask management and educators




3. Additional recommendations




4. Pre-school – the new kindergarten standard

What to look for when choosing a kindergarten
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A private kindergarten is a great alternative to a public one. Such an institution has many advantages: there is no queue, there are few children in groups, and classes are conducted according to modern and effective methods. However, all private gardens are different, and it is important to choose the right institution.

We list the main criteria that you need to consider in order to choose the right kindergarten.

Premises and territory


Usually in good private kindergartens there are no problems with the territory and premises.
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Assess how landscaped the area around the kindergarten is, whether there are necessary conditions for children to walk. Make sure there is nothing dangerous for the child, such as a broken swing or protruding nails. An important requirement is that the territory must be fenced, and inside there is a guard post. An electronic lock is required on the gate so that only teachers and parents can enter the kindergarten.

Entering the building, pay attention to the walls. What is on them – educational posters or crafts, drawings and photographs of children? It is very important for a child to see himself and the results of his labors. At the same time, it is necessary that this data is constantly updated. It’s easy to check: pay attention to the subject of the drawings and look at the children in the photo. For example, if it is summer now, and New Year’s cards and photographs of children making a snowman hang on the walls, it means that educators do not update the stands very often.
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Do not limit yourself to the corridors and the manager’s office: ask to be shown the rooms where the children spend most of their time, the dining room, the bedroom, the toilet, and the study rooms. If the management refuses to conduct a tour, this is a reason to think: perhaps they want to hide something from your eyes.

In the bedroom, check the comfort of the beds. Today, more and more modern teachers understand that it is not worth it with a fight and tears to force a child to sleep during the day if he does not want to. Find out if there is another way for children to relax and unwind besides sleep.
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Make sure the daycare has a place where the child can go to relax, cool down or just be alone when needed. At the same time, the place should be equipped and comfortable: such a requirement is even in educational standards. Ask if the children know about this place and how often teachers remind them of its existence.

Educational program


You can find out about the program on the Internet, but it will not be superfluous to ask the manager or educators about it. Usually, both public and private kindergartens have many different activities for children. However, private institutions have a richer and more effective program.
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There must be classes for the development of fine motor skills, logic, creative thinking. At the same time, an important part of preschool education is physical development. It is good if children do exercises and not only study during the day, but also spend time actively in general, play outdoor games.

Also, many modern gardens conduct English lessons. But here the question arises: how effective are classes 1-3 times a week? Many educators consider this approach not only ineffective, but also harmful. Yes, children will remember a couple of songs, learn the alphabet, but this will not be enough to understand English. In the future, the child will have to study with a tutor, while the kindergarten age, when children learn the fastest, will be over.
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However, choosing an English kindergarten is also not worth it. Here, most of the children are native speakers, and the program is aimed specifically at them. So, teachers do not translate words, do not use pictures and associations, because Most kids understand everything. In such an environment, a Russian-speaking child feels uncomfortable, develops worse and almost never learns.

If you want your child to learn the language more easily and at the same time develop according to their age and their skills, choose a bilingual kindergarten with full bilingual immersion. Here, educators do everything so that the child reveals his potential, mastering the necessary social skills and at the same time learning English in a natural environment. In bilingual kindergartens, children develop important and relevant skills, self-confidence, and language and communication barriers are eliminated. The English language here is not an end in itself, but a development tool.
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A bilingual kindergarten is the first step towards being able to speak both Russian and English. This result can be achieved in combination with a bilingual school in the future. Thanks to this approach, by the age of 12, a child will be fluent in both Russian and English.

Teaching staff


It is not always possible to see how the educator works with children during training and games in the group. But you can observe how the teacher behaves with children on a walk. Pay attention to such points:
nine0032 When the caregiver is talking to the children, does he squat down or talk from top to bottom. The last option is a bad sign.
1. What is the tone of the teacher’s communication – condescending or more benevolent, practically on an equal footing. The educator should speak to the child as a person and not suppress him.
2. How the teacher behaves during a walk: sits aloofly on a bench or watches the children, pays attention to everyone.
3. How the educator resolves conflicts: does he take sides. In such situations, it is important that none of the children feel like an outcast. Even if he was guilty, the teacher should not humiliate the child and put pressure on him. nine0033

Ask the head teacher how often the kindergarten needs new teachers. The turnover or its absence indicates how friendly and well-coordinated the team is, as well as the attitude of the management: this directly affects the quality of the work of the teaching staff.

If possible, talk to the teacher of the group to which you plan to enroll your child. Already only by the tone of communication you will generally understand what kind of person is in front of you. It would also be useful to get acquainted with the doctor, nannies and other specialists who work directly with children.
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What other questions to ask the leadership and educators


Above, we have listed the main points that you need to pay attention to before choosing a private kindergarten. However, there are still many nuances that need to be clarified, as well as important questions for teachers. Let’s consider what to ask the teacher and the head, so as not to make a mistake with the choice of a preschool institution.

How long does adaptation take and how does it work?
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Do not believe if you are told that in the garden, children immediately join the team and feel comfortable in the group, like at home. A small child will first get used to a new environment, educators and nannies. Teachers and parents should help the baby so that this period passes quickly and easily.

Some good gardens have a separate room where moms and dads watch their child adjust. Another option is to attend a part-time kindergarten or attend a summer camp. The latter option will help the child quickly get used to other children and caregivers, and it will also be easier to endure separation from mom and dad. Many private kindergartens offer discounts for camp or part-time attendance.
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How are conflicts resolved?


This question is one of the most important, especially if you did not manage to observe the work of the educator from the outside. Ask a question about conflicts to the head, as well as the teacher of the group to which you are going to send the child. An experienced teacher will talk about how he acts in conflict situations, how he builds relationships between children. Maybe give specific examples. If the teacher could not give a clear answer, this is an occasion to think about his competence.
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Do caregivers, nannies and other staff have safety instructions?


Above, we have already talked about how external security should be organized in kindergarten. However, it is important to find out how teachers provide it. To do this, you can ask the following questions:
1. If a caregiver or a nanny needs to leave, for example, to go to the toilet, who stays with the children?
2. Who is with the children during waking hours?

nine0032 Is there video surveillance in the premises and can it be accessed?

3. Where are hazardous items stored, such as cleaning products?
4. What help can a physician provide? What medications does he have? Can he accept medicines prescribed by a doctor for a child?
5. Will a child be able to open the door in an emergency?
6. Who, except for teachers and parents, has the right to be in a preschool institution? nine0033

Do not be afraid to ask elementary, at first glance, questions. The more details you know, the more likely you are to choose a safe daycare for your child.

How is food organized in kindergarten?


Nutrition is very important, because the food in the garden is different from what the child is used to at home. Ask to see the current menu for the week, and ask the following questions:
1. In kindergarten, do they teach a child to eat on his own if he does not know how? nine0033
2. What does the caregiver do if the child refuses to eat?
3. What does the teacher do if the child refuses to eat, but soon asks for food?
4. Where do they bring food to the kindergarten? Who is the supplier?
5. What do they do with leftover food?

For parents of children with allergies, the issue of nutrition is especially relevant. Check if it is possible to cook for such a baby separately.

How many people can be in one group?
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One of the advantages of private kindergartens over public ones is the small number of children in groups. This allows the teacher to give enough attention to all children. In addition, the smaller the group, the easier it is for the child to adapt to the team.

Can parents influence the work of the kindergarten?


In many private kindergartens, parents influence the learning process, the choice of teaching methods and development through boards of trustees. It is also possible to check the kitchen, study documents on financial transactions, and attend classes. All this speaks of the openness and honesty of the kindergarten.
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At the same time, if there are no such opportunities, it does not mean that the institution is bad: most likely, the head will explain to you why such a deep participation of parents is not accepted in the kindergarten. In addition, the intervention of moms and dads is often not a plus, but a minus. Parents most often do not have a pedagogical education, unlike kindergarten workers, therefore they cannot take into account all the nuances of education.

How much does kindergarten education cost?


Feel free to ask financial questions. In addition to clarifying the total cost of a child’s stay in the kindergarten, check about promotions, discounts and special offers: in some institutions, the management does not talk about them unless you ask. For example, you can ask questions like:
nine0032 How much does a child’s stay cost in the summer? Are there any discounts for this period?
1. Is the cost of the days when the child was sick or for other reasons absent from the kindergarten refunded?
2. How many months will the contract be concluded for?
3. Is there a free period?
4. Is there a system of discounts and promotions?
5. Are classes included in the total cost or paid separately?
6. Are there additional fees? nine0033
7. Do I need to pay extra if my child has allergies and needs separate meals?

Additional Recommendations


In addition to visiting the kindergarten and talking to the principal and teachers, talk to your parents. On the one hand, many of them may be biased and will tell you something that is not true. But on the other hand, communication with parents is an opportunity to learn about the pitfalls and important nuances of kindergarten.
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When choosing a garden, also consider its proximity to home. It is physically difficult for a small child to spend a lot of time on the road, especially in winter when it is dark and especially cold in the morning. The comfort and health of the child is much more important than the development of even the most effective methods.

Study the license and charter of the kindergarten. These documents will confirm the legality of the work of the institution, as well as tell a lot about its work.

Finally, don’t close your eyes to your own experiences. It happens that the parents are satisfied with the program, the cook cooks deliciously, and all the teachers are high-class specialists with extensive experience. But at the same time, the educators communicate with the children coldly, and the head answers the questions of the parents with irritation or reluctance. In such a situation, it is better to choose another kindergarten, because the most important thing is the comfort of the child. If the baby is reluctant to visit the garden, miss his parents, and come up with a thousand reasons in the morning to stay at home, no development and learning methods will be effective.
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Pre-school – a new standard for kindergarten


Kindergartens in the Moscow region are introducing a new standard of education for children aged 5-6 – Pre-school. It will facilitate admission to school and will allow you to obtain the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities for further education. Also, this standard makes preschool education more intense and interesting for children.

The Pre-school system has been operating in many countries of the world for a long time, including Great Britain, Italy, Germany, etc. It allows the child to master the skills necessary in the modern world. The latter are divided into Soft Skills (creative, communication, social and cognitive skills) and Hard Skills (writing, reading, counting and other skills that are needed for further learning). Consider what skills the child develops in the Pre-school system.
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Soft Skills	Hard Skills
readiness to explore the surrounding world; understanding of simple logic; the ability to make a choice; participation in creative activities: singing, drawing, modeling, dancing, theater, etc. nine0033 compliance with established rules; self-confidence and self-confidence; manifestation of empathy, willingness to help; desire to share with others.	Mathematics: ability to count up to 10; knowledge of at least 5 geometric shapes. Language: nine0032 knowledge of 5 poems and 5 simple fairy tales, the ability to retell the latter; mastery of the alphabet. Physical: ability to keep balance; development of gross and fine motor skills; ability to catch the ball.

These skills are enough for the child to start learning in primary school more easily and successfully.
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The Pre-school system is much more effective than being in a regular kindergarten at the age of 5-6 years. And that’s why:
1. It is much easier and more comfortable for a child to start school due to the acquired skills and abilities in the Pre-school system.
2. Unlike regular pre-school or kindergarten programs, the Pre-school system is child-friendly. The program is designed so that children receive knowledge without coercion.
3. Various skills and abilities are developed: reading and writing, mathematics, languages, communication, physical training, creativity, cognitive abilities, etc. nine0033

In addition, in many institutions where the Pre-school system is being implemented, training takes place in a bilingual environment. This is more effective, because the child receives all the knowledge, skills and abilities in two languages ​​at the same time – Russian and foreign. In the future, this will make it possible to master a second language at the native level and enter the best Russian and foreign schools and universities.

One of the institutions that implements a bilingual approach for children aged 5-6 is BKC NewTon School.
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Here, training is conducted according to two programs at the same time – Russian and British. All the skills acquired by the children are both in Russian and in English.

BKC Newton School has a safe and caring bilingual environment. The purpose of the preparatory school is the education and development of the intellect, the disclosure of the child’s abilities. Here, children not only learn languages, but also can fully reveal their potential – creative, academic, social, ethical, etc.
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Other benefits of BKC Newton School:
1. Friendly developmental environment. Children reveal themselves, demonstrate their abilities, talents, but do not compete with each other.
2. Comfortable atmosphere. The child can at any time ask a question, clarify something, take the initiative. Attentive and caring teachers encourage the research interest of children, motivate them to communicate.
3. Regular feedback. Teachers inform parents about the progress of the child and give recommendations. nine0033

The training program is built taking into account the physical and psychological characteristics of children 5-6 years old. Teachers focus on game forms, and also use the methods of the British program, approved by the UK Department of Education. In addition to standard classes, BKC Newton School has project activities, for example, “International Week”, when children get acquainted with the culture and characteristics of different countries.