7 tips on how to choose the best quality of Gemstones?

Introduction

Best quality gemstonesBuying coloured gemstones or gemstone jewellery is not as simple as it may appear since, like other valuable metals or stones such as diamonds, coloured gems must be purchased based on quality. One of the essential things that both jewellers and clients must undertake before buying a gemstone is determining its quality. While the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has developed a set scale for assessing the quality of diamonds, there is no worldwide standard for rating clarity in coloured stones.

If consumers apply the same grading criteria to coloured gemstones as they do diamonds, they may lose out on the best quality gemstones. When grading coloured stones, gem merchants or jewellers sometimes use terminology like VVS and VS Customers are perplexed by these phrases since they are linked with diamond grading and hence are not the ideal approach to grade coloured gemstones. If you want to buy quality gemstones online, these factors can help you identify the best quality gemstones.

best quality gemstones

Seven tips on how to choose the best quality gemstones

Before you plan to purchase good quality coloured gemstones, it is important to consider certain factors to select the best and be contended that the gemstone you are buying is worth the value.

1. Colour

The colour intensity of precious gemstones is an important quality criterion, with the most costly ones having a rich, concentrated colour. Depending on the gem species, the colours of these jewels can vary greatly. In addition, the colour of a gemstone can be enhanced (or lessened) depending on how it is cut. Before being offered on the market, a gemstone undergoes different treatments to improve its colour. Treatments such as high heat, dye, oil, resin infusions, surface treatments and coatings, and laser treatments are examples of these. Here's how to tell if you're looking at the best quality gemstones online when buying costly stones like ruby, sapphire, or emerald:
      • High-quality rubies have a colour that is neither too dark nor too bright. Pigeon's blood, which has a rich red colour, is the most expensive ruby colour.
      • Sapphires come in a range of colours, but blue sapphires are the most popular. Kashmir blue sapphires, which have a vivid blue colour, are the most valuable blue sapphires. The most desirable ones have a blue tone that ranges from mild to dark.
      • Saturated green with a medium to slightly dark tone is the most expensive colour in emerald

    2. Carat

    is another factor to consider when buying a good quality gemstone. The weight of a gemstone is measured in carats. It weighs 200 milligrammes or a fifth of a gramme. Decimal fractions are often used to express gem weights (for example - .25 carats). A carat is further subdivided into point units, with one carat equaling 100 points. The density of specific stones varies, which might impact the size per carat. For example, when a ruby weighs more than an emerald, they can both be one carat, but the emerald will be physically bigger.

    3. Cut

    A gemstone's cut should not be confused with its form. The shape of the stone determines whether it is a rectangle, square, triangular, round, pear, marquise, or other shapes. The cut refers to how the stone is faceted (from various sides). Faceting provides the gemstone depth of colour, and the sharp edges reflect light, giving the crystal a gleaming appearance.

    4. Clarity

    of a gemstone is the most important element in determining its value. It refers to more than just the clarity of the diamond. The more transparent a gemstone is, the more precious it is. Who wants to buy a hazy, fading sapphire or emerald, after all? The purity of a gemstone is referred to as clarity. The internal and exterior features of a gem are evaluated to determine clarity. Inclusions within the gemstone and imperfections on the surface are examples of these features. Some faults can only be seen with magnification, while others are easily visible with the naked eye. The gemstone with a greater price has fewer flaws or imperfections, indicating that it is closer to perfection. Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, for example, are all anticipated to contain some imperfections. Gems with no inclusions are more expensive since they are harder to come by. If the inclusion is located in a location that affects the stone's colour, brilliance, or transparency, it can drastically lower the gem's overall quality and value.

    5. Size

    When purchasing a coloured stone, the size also contributes to the value. Each gem material's size, which comprises its weight and face-up diameter, is closely connected to its value. The price per carat rises when the size approaches that of high-demand stones. Some jewels seldom exceed a few carats in weight, while others might weigh hundreds of carats. In addition, once a stone reaches a size that is often used in jewellery, the number of potential purchasers drops dramatically, and the diamond's relative worth per carat drops as well. Furthermore, large stones with distinctive colours are usually costly.

      6. Grading

      For gemstones, there is no widely acknowledged grading standard. However, some jewellers utilise a colour grading method called the ‘A' grading system to evaluate the intensity of coloured gems like sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. AAAA, AAA, AA, and A are the different grades.
          • AAAA - vivid colour
          • AA - deep colour and moderately to slightly included. 
          • AAA - strong colour and maybe somewhat included.
          • A - dark colour, opaque appearance, and occasionally strongly incorporated.

          The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) recently established a clarity-based grading system for coloured stones, which helps buyers comprehend the various clarity requirements for different gem types. The GIA method divides gem varieties into three categories based on their clarity: Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3.

          1. Durability-

            The ability of a gemstone to be fashioned, mounted, and worn results from its durability, which is determined by both hardness and toughness. For example, Sapphire, Ruby, and garnet are well-suited to an active daily life and look great in rings, bracelets, and cufflinks. Others, such as emeralds, pearls, and opals, require earring or necklace mountings to keep them looking lovely while also keeping them safe.
          2. Gemstone inclusions-

            Colour comes naturally in several colourful gemstones. Some garnets, for example, have pleasing colours built-in. The ultimate colour occurs with help in other coloured gemstones. We've known how to treat a raw ruby to get a nice red hue for almost as long as humans have worn rubies. Heat treatment is not used on all rubies, although it is used on the great majority of them. Gemstones with naturally occurring colours are typically more expensive due to their scarcity. To get the gorgeous hues or clarity, we seek in the sizes we prefer. Many gemstones are treated or improved in some way, such as with heat or safe irradiation. These less valued stones can be pretty precious. Some jewellers offer synthetic coloured gemstones. Synthetic coloured gemstones contain all of the visual, physical, and chemical qualities of real coloured gemstones, but they're made in a lab rather than found in nature.
          3. Gemstone certification-

            If you want to make sure the gemstones you're buying is the best quality gemstones, always ask for a certificate and don't buy uncertified stones. If the gemstone does not come with a grading report, there is no way of determining its quality. For example, colour variations between neighbouring colour classes may be so small that they go undetected. On the other hand, they might help you save a lot of money, especially if you buy an uncertified gemstone with a one-grade colour improvement. It relieves tension and gives you confidence that you are getting a fair bargain on a precious stone, especially if you are paying a lot of money.

          IrisGems- the place to buy the best quality gemstones online

          We are a colour gemstone supplier that supplies jewellers and designers with the best quality certified gemstones. We believe in offering our clients only the finest, and we never skimp on the quality of our products or services. Our primary objective is to deliver unsurpassed quality and service. Our unique cuts have received several accolades and are pretty popular among our clients. We thrive on our continual need for innovation, and as a result, we've been at the forefront of several industry advancements. We have certified gemstones from reputed labs like Gubelin, SSEF, GRS, GIA, AGL.

          Conclusion

          You now have a better understanding of the factors that go into buying the best quality gemstones. Remember that a stone's rarity does not always imply "higher quality." Smaller or lighter stones than the highest grades may be ideal for you. Keep in mind; however, that clarity might affect a gem's longevity and jewellery use. Furthermore, the cutting may significantly impact a gem's look, therefore scrutinising cut stones.