Fine Gemstone Jewelry: The Buying Tips

By Olive Pate


There are several minerals and rocks that are polished and used for jewelry. The diamond and gold for instance, are among the most expensive jewelry items while copper and silver are also common jewelry minerals. Gems are rare stones and come in stunning beauty, wide variety and colors. Many people are not aware that a diamond jewelries are also part of fine gemstone jewelry. There are several other gemstones that also look good in jewelry and cost far less as compared to diamond.

With several types of gemstones in the market, a buyer needs some tips to help them get the right jewelry at the right price. The different types of stones also mean different colors, and color is perhaps the most important aspect in making your choice. Generally, the color of a given gemstone will determine 50%-70% of its market value. The color aspect is determined by its hue, tone and the saturation.

The most commonly used tips for customers are the 4Cs; color, clarity, cut and carat. This is applicable mostly for diamonds, but is also used for most other colored gemstones. These are the characteristics that the jewelers used when selecting the gems and one will hardly fail through these criteria. However, it must still be known that grading is not usually uniform.

The second aspect in your selection should be the clarity. It describes the flaws present or absent either on the surface or inside the stone. It plays a crucial role in the gem value and quality. Generally, it is very rare to find a gem that is completely flawless and are thus very expensive. The value of diamond get most affected by flaws, however, the value of most other stones are not affected much by the flaws not unless these flaws affect its durability.

The cut is also another important factor to pay attention to. The cut simply refers to the proportions and symmetry and it affects its overall beauty. Polishing the gem is part of the art, why a larger stone fetch more; the balance must be reached to get a well-polished stone without wasting much of the weight. It goes without saying that the client should go for an ideal cut that has the shape that appeals to the buyer.

Although it also pays to look at the clarity, color should always be given more importance than the clarity. In order to examine the clarity, the procedure is to examine it from the face up position. Look for an inclusion or flaw from the top position, if none appears, then it is better that way. The imperfections can be seen well through the magnifying glass or a microscope.

The other clue is gemstone cut. As much as possible, the client is advised to always choose the ideal cut gems that have the desired shape. It does not really cost more to get a good cut, but it may add a lot to the gem beauty. The other consideration is the carat weight. This largely depends on the buyer's budget. With a decent budget, it is better to choose an average size gem that has a good looking color, clarity and cut instead of choosing a larger one that means sacrificing the color, clarity and cut.

Lastly, consider getting a certificate that details the information about your gem. Today, there are many laboratories that can help verify the authenticity of your stone. The information can also help you make the comparisons before you make the purchase.




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