Gemstones Guide

For those looking to add a splash of colour to their jewellery collection, coloured gemstones make for a great choice. From the regal sapphire to the enchanting emerald, there are plenty of precious stones to choose from. Either paired with diamonds for dramatic effect or simply worn alone, jewellery adorned with gemstones have long been favoured.

Before searching for your dream piece of gemstone jewellery it is a good idea to take some time to do your research to get the best value for your budget.

 

Type of Gemstones

1- Sapphires

Sapphires, in fact, come in a large spectrum of colours (apart from red) – not only the blue type that we more commonly know. When we refer to a sapphire it tends to describe a blue sapphire, however, when it comes to other colours they are known as pink sapphire, yellow sapphire etc.

The most important aspect when estimating the value of sapphires is colour. They get their signature colour from traces of chromium, iron, titanium and other key elements. Sapphires with a pure blue hue are deemed the most desirable and those seen with vivid saturation are considered high quality gems. Likewise, sapphires that appear to be darker are deemed less desirable and therefore less valuable.

 

2- Green emeralds

The most desirable emeralds are those that appear saturated and bright with a bluish-green to green hue. Like most other gemstones, colour is one of the most important factors used to determine the value. The most desirable emeralds are those that are highly transparent with a nice, even colour throughout the entire gem.

Like most coloured gemstones an emerald’s clarity is graded by eye. It is expected that an emerald will have numerous inclusions or surface breaking fissures, so an emerald without any visible inclusions to the eye (flawless) is considered very rare. This is why most emeralds are treated in order to enhance their hue and improve their clarity.

 

3- Red rubies

Did you know that rubies and sapphires are the same mineral? They are both a variety of the mineral corundum, however the colour is what sets the two gemstones apart. A sapphire is blue due to small traces of titanium and iron, whereas a ruby gets it’s beautiful red hue as a result of high levels of chromium. Like other coloured gemstones, colour is considered the most important aspect and inclusions are to be expected. Rubies with a vivid, medium-dark red to a slightly purplish red hue are considered the most desirable. Those that are deemed to have a superb colour and appear ‘eye clean’ tend to be higher in price.

 

4- Yellow diamonds

Did you know that diamonds come in a spectrum of colours, not just the colourless variety that we know and love? Yellow diamonds are, in fact, one of the most desired coloured diamonds and can command prices just as high, if not higher, than the colourless type. Diamonds that are found at the bottom of the colour grading scale for colourless diamonds actually contain traces of yellow. These faintly yellow coloured diamonds also appear at the bottom of the yellow diamond colour grading scale. The yellow diamond colour grading scale falls within the Y-Z range and finishes at the fancy deep/ dark yellow grade. It is thought that yellow diamonds that are more vibrant and richer in colour are more desirable, however, this also relates to personal preference.