There are so many different types of gemstones that it becomes difficult to identify what’s real and what’s not. The price of semi precious gemstones is determined by several factors such as the color, the size, the cut, the clarity, the weight, etc. When buying gems, loose or processed in jewelry (rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets) there are some things you can check to ensure it’s a real, natural, high quality gem. There are some factors that define the grade of semi precious gemstones. These factors are commonly refered as the 4 C’s, carat, color, clarity and cut. A combination of these factors determine the price and rarity of the gem.
- Carat
Gemstones are weighted in carat, 1 carat is equal to 200 milligrams. Gemstones should be weighted with great precision because a small difference in carat can make a considerable change in price depending on the other 3 factors. Don’t confuse carat with karat. The latter one refers to the purity of gold or gold alloys. - Color
Color is one of the most important things to consider when buying gems. The color you choose will limit the choices you have in type of stones. Some gemstones are rarer than others and this will influence the price. Another thing that will have an impact on the price is the specific variety of color you pick. There is always some color variation between different stones from the same kind. Color is composed of 3 dimmensions: hue (the primary color such as blue, red, orange), tone (how light or dark the color is) and saturation (intensity of the color). As a rule of thumb a bright, intense, pure, rich and vivid color is best. - Clarity
Clarity of a gemstone is primarilly affected by blemishes and inclusions that are formed during the crytalisation process. Althought sometimes this might affect the beauty of the stone, it is also a proof of the authenticy. Semi precious stones without these marks are very rare and will affect the value. Gemstones like tanzanite, citrine, aquamarine, topaz and kunzite are typically eye clean while gemstones like ruby, emerald, sapphire and red tourmaline are almost always visibly included. - Cut
The appearance of a gem is greatly affected by the cut of the gem. Precious stones are always cut to maintain the maximum weight while exposing an optimal brilliance and color. Normally each stone is analyzed individually to decide on the ideal cut. A well cut gem comes alive and sparkles under direct light, there shouldn’t be any dark or washed out zones.
Related posts: