When it comes to purchasing gemstones, you will need to do plenty of research to educate yourself before going shopping. When you understand what you are buying, you can help ensure that you get an excellent deal. Below you will find some of the different characteristics that various gemstones have, which will get you on your way to learning about gems and ensuring you get an excellent deal when purchasing them.
The Colour Of Gems
There are two different types of gems when it comes to colour, colourless or near colourless, and coloured gemstones. With colourless gems such as diamonds, the less colour, the better, and the less valuable gemstones will have hints of browns, yellows, and other colours. With coloured gemstones, the more colour, the better, so you will want to have darker pure colour shades in the gems you purchase.
The Clarity Of Gems
The clarity of the gems is another aspect that you need to understand when shopping for gemstones. When you are looking at the clarity, you will be looking at various factors, including:
- How many inclusions the gems have?
- Where the inclusions are.
- The colour of the inclusions.
- The size of the inclusions
If you come across gems without inclusions, you are most likely looking at an artificial gem or one that has been enhanced. Many types of gemstones are enhanced. It can be hard to tell if you are not an expert, so you can consider sending the gems to a laboratory for gemstone identification, which will give you an idea of how they were enhanced.
The Cut Of The Gems
There are various types of cuts you find gems having, and the cutting and polishing process can transform the way the gemstones look and how they interact with light. Some of the most popular cuts for gemstones include:
- Emerald Cut
- Radiant Cut
- Round Cut
- Marquis Cut
- Cushion Cut
- Princess Cut
The Carat Weight Of The Gems
The carat weight of the gems will also play a significant role in their value. The bigger the gemstones are, the more they are worth. One carat is equivalent to 100 cents, also called points, and this equates to around 200mg. The bigger the gemstone and the better the clarity and colour, the more it will be worth.
Ensure you do plenty of research before you go shopping for gemstones, and you can get yourself some excellent deals in gemstones that will make an ideal investment or beautify jewellery.
