Gemstone Buying Guide: Your Expert Companion

Gemstone Buying Guide

Purchasing a gemstone is typically a distinct experience in contrast to the process of buying a diamond. Gemstones are frequently selected based on an individual's preferred colors, the compatibility with their wardrobe, personal style, and current fashion trends.


While the 4Cs, which are used to evaluate diamonds, are also employed to assess gemstones, each gemstone is evaluated distinctly. For instance, the quality of a sapphire is measured against that of another sapphire, rather than compared to an emerald or aquamarine. Consequently, when acquiring gemstone jewelry, one's personal inclinations should guide the decision-making process.

Colors

Gems are truly fascinating specimens that come in a vast array of colors, each with its own unique range of shades and hues. When it comes to evaluating gemstone color, it's a different ball game from appraising the color of a diamond.

Gemstones boast an impressive spectrum of color that spans from light to dark, and from bold to subdued, with a specific range of color tones considered more desirable than others. What's even more impressive is that every family of color is represented by a diverse range of gemstone types, offering an endless array of possibilities to adorn oneself with.

Whether you're into the fiery red of rubies or the lush green of emeralds, there's a gemstone out there for every taste and style. So why not take a dive into the world of gemstones and explore the breathtaking range of colors and styles available to you? Who knows, you might just find your new favorite gem!
 

Shape

We sell a variety of different shaped gemstone jewelry online and in-store. Some of our most popular shapes include round, marquise, oval, pear, princess, and baguette. 

Cut

Gems come in a multitude of cuts and styles. Transparent stones are often cut with facets that are specifically designed to enhance their color. However, stones like jade, opal, and onyx are cut into a smooth, rounded shape called a cabochon.

Meanwhile, stones like cameos are expertly carved into intricate and detailed designs. Whether you prefer the bold brilliance of a faceted gem or the subtle elegance of a cabochon, there's a cut and style out there to suit every taste and preference.

Clarity

Gems have internal characteristics called inclusions. Some gems have many inclusions, while others have few. The clarity of each gem is graded differently, depending on the number and type of inclusions.

Much like diamonds, gemstones are measured in carats. A carat is equivalent to .2 grams or .007 of an ounce. However, unlike diamonds, the density of each gemstone varies, affecting its weight in relation to its measured size.

This means that a one carat citrine may not be the same size as a one carat sapphire due to their differing densities. Understanding the relationship between carat weight and gemstone size can help you choose the perfect piece of jewelry that meets your size and weight preferences.
 

Gemstone Enhancement Codes    

Enhancement: Any treatment process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance (color/clarity/phenomena), durability, or availability of a gemstone.

N: The "N" symbol appears on the chart only for natural stones which are not currently known to be enhanced; however, the "N" symbol can also be used for other natural gemstones in the event that a gemstone has received no enhancement and the seller will provide a guarantee that there has been none.

E: The "E" symbol indicates that a gemstone has undergone its traditional enhancement process.

Published by the American Gem Trade Association. 
Source - Gemstone Gnhancement Codes

B Bleaching: The use of heat, light and/or other agents to lighten or remove a gemstone's color.

C Coating: The use of such surface enhancements as lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling, or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color, or add other special effects.

D Dyeing: The introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify present color or improve color uniformity.

F Filling: The filling of surface-breaking cavities or fissures with colorless glass, plastic, solidified borax or similar substances. This process may improve durability, appearance, and/or add weight.

H Heating: The use of heat to effect desired alteration of color, clarity, and/or phenomena (if residue of foreign substances in open fractures is visible under properly illuminated 10X magnification HF should be used.

HP Heat & Pressure: The use of heat and pressure combined to effect desired alterations of color clarity and/or phemonena.
 
I Impregnation: The impregnation of a porous gemstone with a colorless agent (usually plastic) to improve durability and appearance.

L Lasering: The use of a laser and chemicals to reach and alter inclusions in diamonds.

O Oiling/Resin Infusion: The filling of surface-breaking fissures with colorless oil, wax, resin, or other colorless substances, except glass or plastic, to improve the gemstones appearance.
 
R Irradiation: The use of neutrons, gamma rays or beta particles (high energy electrons) to alter a gemstones color. The irradiation may be followed by a heating process.
 
U Diffusion: The use of chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to produce artificial color and/or asterism-producing inclusions.

W Waxing/Oiling: The impregnation of a colorless wax, paraffin, and oil in porous opaque or translucent gemstones to improve appearance.