Gemstone Education

There are five essential characteristics of gemstone quality. By understanding these characteristics, you'll be able to shop with self-assurance, so that you can purchase the best gemstones you can possibly buy.

Color

Gemstones are considered high quality based on purity of their hue, the depth of tone and the color saturation. Gems such as ruby, amethyst, sapphire and emerald have attractive color as their main attraction, and are generally expected to be transparent; however it is not necessary for gemstone to be transparent. Colorless stones, naturally, are bound to be less attractive or beautiful, or are they? Although sapphire, spinel and quartz and other gemstones can occur in colorless varieties, they are usually quite uninteresting because they do not have the advantage of possessing the beauty of color. Diamond likewise is often colorless, but perversely, it is considered by many to be the most desirable gemstone.

Size

The carat weight of a gemstone is not necessarily an accurate gauge for gemstone size. In general the larger a gemstone the more obvious its beauty, therefore the greater its attractiveness. But if a gemstone is too large to be used in jewelry then it will be cut down to reassure that there will be several beautiful stones.

Clarity

Because gemstones form under unique conditions, each individual gemstone consists of a plethora of trace minerals, which create a unique set of identifying marks or inclusions. Inclusions will not necessarily detract from the beauty or desirability of a colored gemstone. Almost all gemstones contain tiny fractures called inclusions. Flawless gemstones are very rare and valuable, and even most high-end gemstones are at least slightly included. The best value is found in gems that are lightly and moderately-included, like those found in Outlet jeweler gemstone jewelry.

Cut

Unlike diamonds, with gemstones there isn't an "ideal" cut that is configured for maximum brilliance. But a high value gemstone cut is one that presents the most even color, exposes the fewest inclusions, and displays the majority of the gemstone weight when set in jewelry.

Enhancements

Unpolished gemstones are typically very rough and very course. Gemstones straight from the mine can easily be mistaken for pebbles or gravel. Almost every colored gemstone you will ever come across has been heat-treated. Heating completes the natural process nature started, and is used to enhance the colors of a gemstone. Nearly all colored gemstones available have been enhanced. Gemstones that have not been enhanced but exhibit desirable color and clarity are very recognizable by the extravagant price they command.