Gemstones Buyer's Guide

The beauty, rarity and historical mystique of gems are timeless. Their richly diverse varieties and colors come in a kaleidoscopic array that puts Diamonds to shame. However, before you make a purchase, you will need a basic understanding of gems. Understanding the value of gems is essential to making a successful and rewarding purchase. Regardless of the gem variety you're buying, there are a few constant rules to bear in mind when selecting your jewel.

Color Color is the single most important factor when evaluating colored gems. Basically, the more attractive the color seen, the higher the value. Bright, rich and intense colors are valued over those that are too dark or light. Colors that are dulled by tones of black, gray or brown are regarded as less desirable. The colors seen should ideally remain attractive regardless of prevailing light conditions. Whether viewed indoors, outdoors, by day or by night, a gem should always remain beautiful. The mixing of color hues into combinations, such as purple-blue in Tanzanite and bright blue-green in Apatite is attractive and value enhancing. Although specific colors hues can affect the prices of gems, personal preferences are also very important. Many gems also have specific expressions to denote the very top colors found within a species. For example, Pigeon Blood Red or Cornflower Blue are respectively used for Ruby and Sapphire. Such terms are equable with the most desirable colors to be found within a gem species (i.e. colors that cannot be bettered). Optical Effects Some gems exhibit unusual optical effects known as phenomena. These rare and beautiful effects very often add value to gems. The Cat’s Eye Effect, the Star Effect and the Color Change Effect are very popular phenomena and are highly valued.

Chatoyancy Chatoyancy or the Cat’s Eye Effect is a reflection effect that appears as a single bright band of light across the surface of a gemstone. This phenomenon is commonly found in Chrysoberyl, Tourmaline and Tigers Eye. Asterism Asterism or the Star Effect is a reflection effect that appears as two or more intersecting bands of light across the surface of a gem. This phenomenon is commonly found in Ruby, Sapphire and Garnet. Color Change Color change gems are those that distinctly change their color when viewed under two different light sources. This phenomenon is commonly found in Alexandrite, Sapphire and Color Change Garnet.

Cut & Polish Unlike Diamonds, colored gems possess variable optical properties and are not cut to a uniform ideal. A well-cut colored gem exhibits even color, a minimal number of inclusions, good brilliance and shows the majority of Carat weight when viewed from the top. A well-cut gem should also exhibit good symmetry and polish condition. Facets should be aligned straight in relation to the gem’s girdle and also to each other. Polish condition should be good with no visible surface pits and polishing lines. Marquise cut Pear shape Oval shape Trillion cut Round cut Emerald cut Princess cut Square cuts Straight baguette Carat Weight Gemstone weight is measured in Carats. This unit of measurement originates from the traditional use of carob seeds to weigh gems. Carob seed were used because of their consistent size and shape. One Carat is the equivalent of 0.20 Grams. Further divided into 100 smaller units known as Points, the term carats is often confused with “Karats”. “Karat” is a measurement of gold purity and has no relationship to the term Carats. As the weight of a gem increases, so does its price per Carat. Large gems are always rarer than smaller ones, so per Carat prices rise exponentially. A 3 Carat Ruby is always worth far more than three 1 Carat Rubies of the same quality. Gemstone prices also increase rapidly when in excess of certain key weights. For example, a 2.01 Carat Ruby has a higher price tag than a 1.99 Carat Ruby, despite a negligible difference in actual size. Pricing is said to suffer a “Non Linear Scale of Increments”. Clarity Most gems contain tiny natural features called inclusions. Mostly microscopic in nature, they are most easily glimpsed under magnification. Inclusions that don’t interfere with the brilliance, sparkle and fire of a gem don’t affect the value. Many gems have tendencies to be more included than other varieties. For example, Emeralds are known to be far more included than Sapphires and this should be taken into account when making your selection. The clarity of gems is determined by judging the amount and location of inclusions seen. Basically, the higher the clarity grade, the higher the value of the gem. Durability Gems with better durability and resistance to wear are generally more highly prized than those of lesser durability. Rarity Generally, rare gems are more highly prized than more common varieties. However, if a gem variety is so rare that it is essentially unknown to the general public, it is often classified as a "collector gem". Gems such as Boracite, Childrenite and Simpsonite are extremely rare, attractive and durable, but they are unlikely to command prices appropriate to their rarity because fewer people are aware of their existence. Historical Connotations Species of gems that are rich in history and lore are more highly prized by some individuals than those lacking a rich lore or history. A good example of this is Rubies from the Mogok Valley in Burma. While many people are prepared to pay considerably more for Rubies from Mogok, other individuals may feel that a comparable Ruby from Madagascar will be better value. Pairs & Suites Pairs or suites of gems matched for color, clarity and cut are valued more highly per Carat or per gem than single gems of the same quality. Given the rarity of many gems, a matching set is disproportionately hard to find and will command a higher per Carat price than if each of the gems from the suite were sold separately.