LEARN ABOUT GEMSTONES COLOUR, CLARITY, CARAT AND MORE
COLOUR
There are many factors that affect the quality and value of a Gemstone principally being the Four Cs factor: Colour, Clarity, Carat and Cut. Although it may vary in its depth and tonality, every Gemstone variety has its own natural colour, and colour is one of the most important value factor. Even if in some instances less colour may mean more value, for example when looking for diamonds, the quality of a coloured Gemstone such as Emerald, Ruby etc. is determined by three components of the colour it self which allow the maximum amount of light to pass through it, increasing its brilliance and fire. These are: hue, tone and saturation.
- Hue is the shade, tint or sensation of a given colour.
- Tone is the lightness or darkness of a Hue classified in light, medium-light, medium, medium-dark, and dark. Generally, for coloured Gemstones the most valuable range is Medium-light to medium-dark tone.
- Saturation is the level of intensity or purity of a gemstone’s hue or colour.
CLARITY
A naturally mined Gemstone, even if minute and invisible to the naked eye, would have flaws. The term Clarity is what describes the scale of imperfection in a Gemstone; in other words, the absence or presence of flaws inside or on the surface of a Gemstone.
The level of Clarity is measured by the imperfection’s visibility to the naked eye, upon which the Gemstone is graded. Inclusions invisible to the naked eye would make the gemstone rare and expensive.
All Gemstones are formed under pressure below the Earth’s surface. This intense force is what made you favourite Gemstone in first place and at the same time caused the inclusions that affect the Clarity. Some types of Gemstones such as Emeralds and Red Tourmaline will almost always have inclusions.
Inclusions, cracks, spots, clouds, or any other imperfection besides being a distinguishing element to discern natural Gemstones from the synthetic ones, rather than being detrimental they are the individual characteristics of every Gemstone used to understand the stone’s history, origin and value.
As most naturally mined Gemstones would have some degree of imperfection, unless your primary consideration is the value of the Gemstone it self, Clarity is is not a feature you need to particularly worry about.
CARAT
The most determinant factor for a Gemstone’s value rather than its size is its weight. The measurement unit used to weigh Gemstones is Carat, which is one-fifth of a gram (0.20gr = 1 Carat).
Due to their specific individual densities two Gemstones that may appear to have the same size may actually have two different weights given that they are different mineral with a different density. However, when shopping for Gemstones, you should put aside the size factor and look for quality.
CUT
The skilled work of the gem cutter is what ultimately will irradiate the brilliance and beauty of any given Gemstones. The right cut gives any Gemstone its sparkle and therefore ultimate beauty.
The Cut of a Gemstone is referred to two principal factors.
- The shape, for example cushion cut, emerald cut, marquise shape, round cut, oval cut, etc.
- The precision referred to the proportions and angles that will highlight the brilliance of the Gem.
Beauty & Brilliance
Beauty is the visual appeal (surface appearance) with which a Gemstone reflects light and captures attention while Brilliance is the amount of white light returning to the eye from a gemstone
Brilliance and Beauty reflected by symmetrical cut and colourful light reflections are what will make of a mineral a Gemstone.
Rarity
Unlike Blue Topaz, Amethyst, and Amber which are easily available in large size Diamond, Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire are Gemstones rarely found in large sizes. Large sizes of these gems command very high price per carat.
Value
Generally but not essentially, the principal factors used in the valuation of a Gemstone are:
- Rarity: the less available is the gemstone on the market the more valued it is.
- Durability: Gemstones that are more durable are more valued although, this may not be the case always.
- Popularity: Demand for a Gemstone influences its value.
- Enhancement: The type and degree of treatment used to improve the Gemstones appearance or durability.
Enhancement Techniques
Enhancement refers to any kind of treatment given to a gemstone other than cutting and polishing, in order to improve its appearance, durability and strength. The enrichment techniques vary with every variety of gemstone.
Commonly used enhancement methods:
• Bleaching: It is used to lighten or completely remove the colour of the stone.
• Coating: The stone is given a coat of film to improve its appearance, alter colour or add effects.
• Dyeing: Dyeing involves the use of colouring agent to intensify colour.
• Laser Treatment: A laser beam is used to reach the deeper inclusions and alter them.
• Irradiation: Used to alter the colour through the use of neutron and/or heat treatment.
• Bonding: The process of filling a porous gemstone with a colourless substance to strength.
• Waxing/Oiling: To improve the appearance by the infusion of colourless wax, paraffin or oil.
When purchasing your Gemstones:
When shopping for your favourite Gemstones you should avoid sellers especially from India who would sell you a 10ct Emerald for well under $30 and even provide you “Certificates” authenticating their Gemstones as “genuine” mined “gems”.
Don’t be amazed if you find gemstones that on your screen may appear with vivid colours of green, sold as emeralds. The vast majority of these so-called “emeralds” from India – sometimes even set on jewellery – are in fact dyed Sillimanite.
Sillimanite can naturally be found in the colours of Sapphire blue, blue-green, colourless, white, gray, yellowish, brownish, greenish, bluish and violet-blue.
Simply there is no way that anyone could sell genuine gemstones at that low price. A genuine ruby, or diamond about the size of a bean or an Emerald Gemstone mined in Colombia would not sell for less than $2 a carat in India. Even if the seller owned the mine in South America and then cut it Delhi wouldn’t for that price . It’s just common sense.
Even if these sellers have what may seem like a fair return policy, and you want to take the chance and buy it and then have a jeweller to test it, by the time you realise that you haven’t bought an Emerald but a ten cents worth “gemstone”, to return it to the seller in India, the postage only would end up costing you more than what you paid for it.
You need to be realistic. There is a good reason as to why the price for those stones is way too low. Frankly, we reckon that it would be nicer – and even cheaper – to buy a beautiful synthetic emerald from Eastern Europe or Thailand and from the word go know what you’ve got at hand rather than being a gullible buyer and be fooled with a dyed Sillimanite from Jaipur.
If you are determined to find a real bargain for the Gemstone that you are looking for take your time to do your research but eventually go to a reputable seller that is based in a country where consumer law, rules and regulations do exist and the seller is accountable to. While you are there, do also search a social media web page called “Scamoligist” and enter the word “Indian” and see what it comes up with.