Buying the right stone

Gemstones have been sought after and treasured throughout history. They have been found in ruins dating several thousand years. They are valued as gifts symbolizing love.

Generally, the price of any gemstone is determined by: size, cut, quality (color/clarity/treatments), and type. Here are some questions to ask about quality:

* Has it been treated? (See treatments listed below)
* Is the stone natural or synthetic?
* Are there any noticeable scratches, chips or inclusions?
* Is the color even throughout the stone?
* How good is the color? (Is it vivid?)
* If you are buying the stones for earrings or cufflinks, are the stones well matched?

There are many ways that dealers treat gemstones. The savvy buyer asks lots of questions and hopefully tests the results. Here are some treatments to look for:

* Irradiation: It is common to irradiate Aquamarine, London Blue Topaz, Emerald, and Diamond as well as other stones. This treatment brings out color and removes imperfections. Many dealers know if the stones they are selling have been irradiated. Honest ones will tell you if they are aware of the treatment.
* Heat Treatment: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Ruby, Tanzanite and Topaz are often heated at high temperatures to enhance color.
* Dye: This is the most common treatment used. On clear stones, dye may be visible in cracks that are darker than the rest of the stone. Sometimes dye appears as a residue that rubs off or white patches. Lapis and Rose Quartz are commonly dyed. Amethyst and Citrine are often dyed. Black Onyx is permanently dyed in normal processing.
* Coatings: Jasper is often dipped in petroleum products to bring out color and to seal it. Emerald is oiled; turquoise is waxed.
* Fake stones: Some dealers will try passing off fake stones instead of natural ones. There are fake stones for most gemstones on the market. Always ask what stone something is if you are not certain. Honest dealers will tell you. If a stone looks too perfect it may be fake, irradiated or dyed. I avoid Laboratory made products are known as synthetics.

Tips on buying beads:

* Good sized holes (so can use a stronger thread)
* Evenly shaped beads (as appropriate)
* If the beads are being sold in a 16" strand -- I make sure it is 16" -- not 14" or 15" if possible.
* Look for the best quality stone (if buying real stones)
* Make sure beads are not cracked or chipped by the holes as this tears the thread
* Good color (so can create harmonious necklaces and matching earrings)

Selecting gems and jewelry

Buying jewellery can be an enjoyable but daunting task. Identifying, let alone valuing precious material, is no easy task even for the expert - and the best way for you to be happy with your purchase is to be informed before you buy.

Read on to learn some useful tips before making your jewellery purchase -

Useful Info On Selecting Gems & Jewelery

Buy from a trusted jeweller or one who has been recommended
Ask around and get recommendations, ask friends for an introduction to a jeweller that they are satisfied with. If this is not possible, check on the jeweler through a government certifying body or some other authorizing body who has certified the jeweler.

A good jeweller will be clear and transparent in his explanation of the piece and will guarantee that the product is what he/she says it is. Also, the right jeweler will be there when the piece needs to be cleaned, restrung or remounted.

Find out if the jeweler provides other services (such as assaying and hallmarking) and check how their return or trade-up policy works. Finally, ask if the jeweler is affiliated with one of the jewelery trade organizations and also, if that association requires a code of conduct for its members.

Value for money
Ask around and window shop before you buy - do not be misled by huge discounts, which may be a gimmick to attract people into the shop. Compare jewellery prices before you buy. The lowest price is not an indication of the best value; diamonds and colored stones vary greatly in quality and price. Although the price of diamonds is relatively standardized to size and quality, colored gemstones are not and if you are making a major purchase, finding out the correct value of the piece is important.

The most accurate method of establishing value is through an appraisal from an independent gemologist preferably certified by an authorized body. Prices can vary greatly on similar items from vendor to vendor. So, lacking an independent appraisal, you should at least shop around and compare prices on items of similar quality.

Gemstone and diamond quality is a major factor in calculating the accurate value of a piece of jewellery. Get a detailed receipt giving materials, weights and number of stones, sizes and quality. Also get a money back guarantee if returned within a reasonable period so that you can have the jewelery evaluated by an independent appraiser.

Look for the registered trademark and quality mark
Whenever possible, look for quality marks such as hallmarks (which state the karatage of gold in the piece) as well as certification for the stones. There are also quality marks for silver and platinum - make sure your jeweller either stamps his jewelery with a quality mark or has it assayed and hallmarked by a central authority.

Get it in writing
When buying fine jewelery, ask the jeweller to write a complete description on your receipt. For gold jewellery, ask for the karatage; for diamonds, the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight (the weight of the center stone and total carat weight if there are side stones); for colored stones, ask for a description of overall color and carat weight and if the stone is of natural origin or has been treated in any way. All this information should be included on the bill of sale.

Gemstone Buying Guide

Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds and other color gems added amazing colors to any collection of jewelry. Gemstones (Colored Stones) jewelry is a great gift for a birthday or anniversary, cost effective (than diamonds) yet have the pride of a precious gift.

How to select a Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald gemstone:

Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald are the most recognized non diamond gemstones among other gems. These gemstones generally have mineral traces called as inclusions. But in gem and jewelry industry, these inclusions are acceptable and is very difficult and rare (and very expensive) to find a flawless or even slightly included gemstone.

Ruby, Emerald and Sapphire are generally treated to enhance color and remove inclusions. Gemstones like Emerald are used to treat with oils and resins while Sapphire and Ruby frequently heat treated. If the seller doesn’t mentioned about the treatments, you must ask from the seller and obtain a recognized gem certificate to avoid purchasing of treated gemstones for the price of untreated ones. These treatments are accepted as a standard procedure in the gem and jewelry industry. Also there are untreated gemstones, but these are highly priced and rare.

• Emerald – Emeralds comes in a large range of colors from yellow-green to blue-green, but most valuable Emeralds are those with pure green color. Emerald is the birth stone of May and consider as an anniversary gemstone of 20th, 35th and 55th years of marriage.
  
  
• Ruby – Rubies are the most valuable gemstone of all. Ruby is the birthstone of July and comes in orange-red to purple-red colors range. Blood-Red color rubies are considered as the most valuable.
  
  
• Sapphire – Like Ruby, Sapphire are also highly priced and not second to Rubies. The most famous colors are Cornflower Blue and Pure Yellow. Sapphires color ranging from colorless (white sapphire), yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue to black with all shades and mixes of these colors. Sapphire is the birthstone of September and 5th, 45th wedding anniversary gemstone.

Gemstone Color:
The color of a gemstone is the most important factor you should consider when choosing a gemstone. A small gemstone with very good color could be highly priced than a poor color heavier stone. Also a good color hides inclusions and brings a bright shine which is called as the luster. When you looking at the color of a gemstone, there are three factors to be considered;

• Hue – The unique color of the stone (as an example pure red, pure blue) without mixing of other colors.
  
  
• Tone – Indicates whether the gemstone is a lighter color or darker color, generally scale from light to medium to dark. The most preferable tone is either medium-light or medium-dark.
  
  
• Saturation – The purity of the color. If the color mixes more gray the saturation is low, and high saturated mean the color is more pure and brighter.

Cut and Polish is also another factor to be consider of when you choosing a gemstone. A good cut and well polished gemstone with leaner surface gives a bright luster (shining under light) and hide inclusions.