| Investing in gemstone jewelry can be a major | | | | stone. Colored gemstones with good color and |
| purchase, and it's important to know what factors | | | | brilliance may be cut deeper than diamonds. |
| affect the price of gems. Whether you're buying | | | | Stones with the same size face may be of |
| a gift for that special someone, or treating | | | | different carat weights, which will affect the price. |
| yourself to a beautiful piece of jewelry, here are | | | | 7. Carat Weight: Carat weight refers to the size |
| some tips on what goes into the price of | | | | of the stone. Usually the higher carat weight, the |
| gemstones. | | | | greater the price of the gemstone. A carat is 1/5 |
| 1. Color: A major factor in gem pricing, color value | | | | of a gram. Some opaque or translucent stones, |
| can vary between different types of gems. For | | | | such as jade and malachite, are sold by the piece |
| example, color has a greater effect on the value | | | | or the size of the stone rather than carat weight. |
| of blue sapphires than on blue topaz or yellow | | | | Some cuts may be priced per piece, and some |
| sapphire. As a rule of thumb, the more saturated | | | | colored stones under 1/2 carat can be priced |
| the color the higher its value. Personal preference | | | | according to size. |
| is definitely a factor, as one grade of stone might | | | | 8. Treatment Status: If you're going to invest in a |
| be more appealing than another. In general, if | | | | gemstone, be aware of treatments. Has the |
| there is more gray, black or brown in a stone, the | | | | stone undergone a process to improve its natural |
| price may be lower, unless, of course it's | | | | appearance? Most colored stones are treated |
| supposed to be that color. Red opals are the | | | | since high quality untreated stones are more rare |
| rarest opal color, so they would be more highly | | | | and expensive. Some treatments such as dyeing |
| valued. Even lower priced lightly colored gems can | | | | or cavity filling are less acceptable than heat |
| be very beautiful if well cut. | | | | treatment. Almost all emeralds have tiny |
| 2. Clarity: A stone that is relatively free of flaws, | | | | fractures, so it's customary to fill them with oil, |
| inclusions and blemishes will be more valuable than | | | | epoxy or wax. It's important to find out whether |
| one that has flaws. The smaller and less noticeable | | | | a stone has been treated, to what extent, and |
| the flaws, the more the gemstone would be | | | | what kind of treatment it received. |
| valued. Diamond values rely more on clarity than | | | | 9. Place of Origin: Where did the stone come |
| those of gemstones, since the visual appearance | | | | from? The country or area where it was mined |
| and color of gemstones have more bearing on | | | | isn't as important as the quality. For some gems, |
| value than the clarity of the stone. | | | | such as rubies, sapphires and emeralds, origin can |
| 3. Transparency: Clear stones, which allow light to | | | | affect the price, depending on rarity and color |
| pass through them, will have higher value if they | | | | quality. |
| are more transparent. Rubies and sapphires have | | | | 10. Phenomena: This would include unusual |
| microscopic particles within the stone which | | | | characteristics like cat's eye, stars or light shifts. |
| disperse the color, so they may be expected to | | | | Cat's eye stones have a band of reflected light |
| be less transparent, and can be more valuable | | | | that looks like the eye of a cat. Stars are bands |
| than more transparent ones. The value of | | | | of light that cross each other in the center, like in |
| emeralds, rubies, sapphires, opals, jade, star and | | | | the star sapphire. Moonstones show a floating |
| cat's eye gems rely a great deal upon their | | | | shifting light effect, and some stones change color |
| transparency. | | | | when viewed under incandescent light. Opals show |
| 4. Shape: Shape and cutting style aren't as | | | | shifting colors of the spectrum. Pearls are |
| important as color, clarity and transparency in | | | | iridescent, and may have subtle combinations of |
| determining the value of a gemstone, but shape, | | | | pink, blue or silver. |
| cutting style and the quality of the cut play a | | | | What's the most valuable color of gemstone? |
| major role. Fashion and demand can affect prices, | | | | Generally, the less brown or gray in the stone and |
| round over oval, for example. Personal preference | | | | the more saturated the color, the higher the price. |
| is an important factor as well. | | | | Each gemstone has a range of shades of color |
| 5. Cutting Style: The way a stone is cut or | | | | with varying values. Personal preference will |
| faceted can affect its price. Cabochon stones, | | | | determine which stone you're attracted to, but it's |
| which have rounded tops and no facets, are | | | | important to know how to compare prices. Color |
| generally priced lower than faceted stones. | | | | is often considered the most important factor in |
| 6. Cut Quality: The proportions and finish of a cut | | | | valuing gemstones, and although it is a major |
| stone affect the brilliance and color of gemstones, | | | | factor, color isn't everything. Become |
| so this is a crucial factor to consider. A well-cut | | | | knowledgeable about all the factors that go into |
| stone will have even color throughout, with no | | | | the pricing when shopping for gemstones. |
| dark or pale areas in the face, or flat area, of the | | | | |