by Sheweta Dhanuka

Diamond, the name is derived from a Greek word adamas, meaning unconquerable. It is considered as the ‘ King of Gems’. This is the reason why it is close to the heart of all the queens that is each and every woman on the universe. It symbolizes forever love and commitment among the partners. It is the stone for engagement and 75th wedding anniversary.

To make the purchase of a genuine Diamond it is essential to understand all the 4C’s thoroughly as the 4C’s viz. colour, cut, clarity and carat weight determines the quality of the stone. The grading system is also based on these four characteristics. Buyers need to know these facts. Thus, this article offers all the necessary information about this gorgeous stone and also acts as a buying guide. Apart from the four crucial Cs, it provides information on other characteristics as well like certificate, use, origin, precautions etc.

Colour – It is the only stone that occurs in almost all colours but the highly priced and preferred diamond is colorless. Colorless stone inhibits brilliance and sparkles maximum. In this stone, light passes through one side to other easily and the reflection of light occurs to the fullest. Apart from the colorless gems, other chosen colours are blue and yellow. Few more fancy colours are brown, orange, pink and green. According to the Gemological Institute of America’s colour scale, colorless diamonds are priced highest while fancy colours are valued least. However, many people treasure bright and intense colored stones too.

Cut – This C is the most significant characteristic as worth and value of the stone is largely depended on it. The over all appearance and look gets enhanced with the efficient cut. Cut specifies the reflective qualities. In a well-cut diamond, light enters inside the stone from one facet and after covering all the sides, reflects back from the same facet to the eyes of the observer. This results in brilliant sparkle of light visible by the naked eyes of the spectator. When the stone is cut poorly then the light enters from one facet but instead of reflecting back it passes or leaks through the sides or the bottom of the stone.

The stone is graded on the basis of the classification of five types of cut. These are Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good and Fair & Poor cut. In ideal and premium cuts, light is reflected brilliantly creating the sparkle in the stone. Ideal cut is valued most while fair & poor cut is least. The reflection of light and monetary value reduces in the same order.

Clarity – The formation process of this stunning stone is quite complicated thus, presence of inclusions in the stone is obvious. The clarity is determined on the basis of amount, size and visibility of the flaws. Flaws are of two type’s viz. inclusions and blemish. Inclusions are present inside the stone like air bubbles, cracks, fractures or traces of other minerals. While blemish appear on the surface of the stone such as scratches, pits and chips. Almost all the stone consists of flaws that can be viewed with either by naked eyes or magnifying loupe. No stone would ever seize similar flaws. For instance in few stones flaws would be clearly visible while in few it would be almost negligible. With the increase in the number, size and visibility of the flaws the cost decreases. However, absolutely clean and clear stone are also found but are very rare in nature.

Carat weight – Stones with small carat weight are found more easily than with higher carat weight. Larger stones occur seldom in the natural state therefore for such stone, per carat weight the price is more than that for the smaller size stones. One carat weight is equal to 0.2 grams. Stones in all sizes and weights are available in the market. Anything could be selected in accordance with the size and depth of the pocket.

Certificates – Diamonds are the stones most in demand and highly expensive. There are many dealers all over the world who sell imitations and semi precious stones at the price to true diamonds. Thus, in order to avoid all the doubts about the originality, certificates are given along with the purchase of the stone as the proof of quality and value. These certificates are also called as ‘Grading Reports’ that offer complete evaluation and details covering all the factors except for the price in terms of money of the stone.

The recognized diamond grading labs in world are Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS). There are many laboratories issuing certificates across the world. Every lab maintains different standards. When buyers opt to buy non-recognized labs certified diamonds then it is better to ask for the credentials of the certifying labs. With the help of the certificates the buyers are enable to make a better choice among all the available options without any risk of the quality. When diamonds are purchased in loose that is without mounted in jewelry items then in such a situation, buyers should ensure to take the certificate.

Price – All the 4 C’s are together taken into consideration for determining the price of this exquisite gem. Colour, cut, clarity and carat weight carry equal weight age in deciding the price. Change in one characteristic can jeopardize the price of the stone completely. Colorless stones are valued most. Cut offering maximum reflection of light and sparkle is highly priced. Stone with minimum flaws is worth more. And finally with the increase in carat weight the price also increases. Rare occurrence of stone is responsible for the soaring prices. Thus, price of rare colorless diamond with no or negligible flaws possessing brilliant cut and high carat weight would touch the sky that is would fetch maximum price.

Shapes – Diamond cuts are different from the shapes. Cut implies reflective qualities in respect to sides and facets of the stone while shape is the outer appearance. This magnificent stone is a very tough stone thus can be given varied designs and styles. The ideal shape for this gemstone is round. This shape offers maximum brilliance and sparkle. Therefore, major part of the gems trade segment select round shape for jewelry items. Rings with oval shape diamond are suitable for the females having smaller and broad fingers as oval shape offers elongated look. In the same way pear shape is appropriate for average length fingers. And this shape makes striking pendants and earrings too. Some other commonly seen shapes are marquise, princess cut, heart, square, emerald etc. Few unusual styles are flower, kite, trilliant, triangle, cushion cut and many more.

Occurrence – This dazzling beauty is formed very deep inside the earth crust under high heat and pressure and comes to the surface via Volcanoes. Crystallization occurs only when precise minerals combines together in the required set conditions. It is found in transparent crystal form of pure carbon. Its unique physical and chemical properties make it a very special stone. It is the hardest gemstone and good conductor of heat. It exhibits highest refractive index, dispersion and fluorescence.

Source – India and Brazil were the first two countries to produce this amazing stone. Today, one of major supplier is South Africa. Few other countries are United States of America, Nigeria, Nairobi, Russia and Australia. The prime source of this glittering stone is Kimberlite, which is volcanic rock.

Enhancement – Natural colorless stones are not enhanced as the Mother Nature presents it in perfect form. However, the fancy colored stones are irradiated or heat-treated to enhance the colour.

Imitations -Today, many of the stones are synthetically produced in laboratories. It is more costly to produce this stone artificially than mining. But, due to growing demand and less supply many people in many countries are into the business of producing artificial stones. Semi precious stones and other stimulants like man-made glass are also sold in the market as the genuine diamonds. Therefore, buyers need be extra cautious when buying this captivating beauty as these imitations is sold at the price of true stone. The innocent buyers are deceived using the fancy trade names.
Uses – It is used in varied ways. Being a tough material, diamond tools are used to shape the lenses precisely and accurately for the eyeglasses. Similar tools are used in windows industry, space probes and manufacturing of computers and televisions.

This attractive stone make exquisite jewelry pieces that are treasured most by the females. Jewelries can be made of sterling silver, platinum, 14K or 18K white and yellow gold. Silver is used little less as it is not compatible with the worth of the stone. Hand crafted jewelry is also gaining popularity day by day. It is an important part of men’s rings and pendants.

Diamonds used for female jewelry items viz. rings, pendants, earrings or necklaces can be of any carat weight. As such there is no ideal weight. Higher the weight of the pocket of the buyer so can be the carat weight of the stone. This wonderful stone is very well paired with other precious and semi precious stones. While pairing, being more expensive it is generally in used in smaller sizes but more in number than the other stone in the design. The modern jewelry designers create all the ornaments in breath taking designs. Any type of setting can be used like prong or bezel. Buyers, while making the purchase of any item must ensure that settings are done well as there is high probability of loosing this precious stone.

Precautions – It is the hardest stone among all the gemstones found in nature. It rates 10 Mohs on the hardness scale. It is ideal for the daily wear jewelry. Only general gemstone precautions and care are required to be practiced for the everlasting retention of the stone.
Beliefs – In ancient times, it was believed to possess the power to protect against the evil and incurable diseases. Today, astrologers associate it with courage, good fortune and victory. It also promotes faithfulness and loyalty in a marriage. Moreover, people wear this striking stone as a status symbol and to gain special recognition in affluent society.

Men and women across the globe desire to wear this glorious stone in spite of it being an expensive and beyond the affordable range. This incredible stone even conveys intimate feelings to your partner in best possible way. Apart from the emotional feelings one strong reason to buy this stone is – buying diamond is an investment, as the worth and eminence remain same forever. Thus, everyone should acquire this asset once in his or her lifetime. So get started!!

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by Binasaji

It is strange but when a real pearl is seen under a lens it has a smooth surface unlike in the tooth test where it feels gritty. This is due to the nacre of the pearl, which feels gritty but looks smooth. Imitation pearls will have a smooth appearance but under a lens they have a broken surface much like the surface of the moon.

Have you come across a perfectly matched strand of pearls at an unbelievable price – have a closer look and take a minute to check to see if they are real pearls or imitation pearls. These days it is difficult to spot an imitation pearl and a real pearl from a distance. The technologies in creating imitation pearls have advanced such that only a closer examination can reveal the origin of a pearl – whether made by a person or machine, created in minutes or formed inside a mollusk under the ocean for several years. China was the pioneer in creating Imitation pearls and now imitation pearls are manufactured across the globe.

Imitation pearls have a range of uses in several industries – Toys, Buttons, Fashion and Clothing, Artificial jewellery and many others. These pearls are used to make junk jewellery as well. Imitation pearls are fairly popular since they can be dyed into any color and are can be created in a variety of shapes from perfect spheres to ovals in any size. Called by several names like Faux pearls, Venetian pearls, Turkish Rose Pearls, semi-cultured pearls, Majorca pearls, Bohemian pearls, Organic pearls – the list of names for imitation pearls is long.

Imitation pearls are not gemstones and are manufactured manually or by machines. The process is rather simple. First, the desired shapes of beads in ceramic, glass or plastic are manufactured- sometimes even organic objects like shells are used. These are then coated and colored to recreate the look of real pearls. Several processes exist in the coating and coloring of imitation pearls. The coating used on imitation pearls (called pearl essence or essence d’orient) was discovered by a Frenchman named Jacquin. He found that fish scales emitted a pearly substance in water – he extracted this substance and mixed it with other chemicals to create the essence d’orient. This product is normally used to coat the beads to give them a pearly appearance. Hollow glass beads are coated inside with pearlessence and then filled with wax. Plastic beads are coated on the outside with this substance. These coated glass and plastic beads are then dipped in various solutions to give them a high luster and gloss.

The Majorca imitation pearls are renowned for their high quality and offer guarantees against chipping, discoloration etc. The technology behind manufacturing of these pearls is a closely guarded secret. Hand and machine made special nuclei are coated several times with high quality essence d’orient or other chemicals, polished, given a protective coating again and finally treated under ultraviolet radiation to give them a luster and radiance comparable to cultured pearls. Although Majorca pearls are imitation, with good care, they can last for a long time.

Another method of making imitation pearls is to coat beads with real pearl powder (which can be expensive). Some companies even compress rose petals to make rose smelling pearls. Another form of imitation pearls is coating shell, ceramic beads with lacquer, shiny mica and other metallic substances to give it the glow of pearls.

Just like cultured and natural pearls, imitation pearls too can be of differing qualities. The Majorca pearls are some of the most expensive imitation pearls. The price of the imitation pearls depends mainly on the coating used – pearl powder and good quality essence d’orient veneer will be more expensive than mica covered beads. A strand of Imitation pearls can cost anywhere from twenty to a hundred dollars. A very good quality strand of Majorcan pearls could even cost a little more.

If you are interested in buying real pearls, knowing how to differentiate between real and imitation pearls will assist you in making the right choice.

The simplest and easiest way is to rub the strand of pearls lightly along your teeth, if it feels smooth – it is imitation. Real pearls do not have a uniform surface and the nacre feels gritty on your teeth. But this test needs to be done very carefully since our tooth enamel is harder than pearls and can result in scratches on the pearl. Also some high quality imitation Majorcan pearls will pass the tooth test as they are manufactured with great care and replicate real pearls in every aspect.

Another easy way to gauge the authenticity of the pearls is to weigh them in your palms. Real pearls are solid inside and will weigh more than plastic imitations. But wax filled glass pearls, which are not hollow, will not pass this test, since their weight is almost the same as real pearls.

In a strand of real pearls, at least one pearl will be flawed. Also to find a flawlessly matched set of pearls is very difficult and these will be expensive. Pearl strands with perfectly matched colors, luster, shape and size are suspect, especially if the price is not high.

Examining pearls under a magnifying lens is another option to check whether a pearl is real or imitation. It is strange but when a real pearl is seen under a lens it has a smooth surface unlike in the tooth test where it feels gritty. This is due to the nacre of the pearl, which feels gritty but looks smooth. Imitation pearls will have a smooth appearance but under a lens they have a broken surface much like the surface of the moon.

Have a good look at the area around the holes of the pearls, real pearls being uniform throughout will not have any visible lines around the drilled holes or anywhere else in the pearl. The coating of imitation pearls can flake off during the process of drilling holes and the difference between the coating and the bead will be visible if the area surrounding the holes is carefully examined. The coating may be thinner around the drilled are and will have a cheap shiny finish, which is a result of the thinning of the coating on the inner plastic or glass bead.

All the above tests are reliable but the safest method is to buy from a reliable source and ensure that the price quoted is equivalent to the quality of the pearls. A flawless set of pearls is expensive and depends on the type of pearl – freshwater, cultured – the region it is sourced from – Tahiti, China, Japan, Australia and its color, luster, size and shape.

Imitation is the best form of flattery and in pearls as with everything else, the booming imitation market is proof that pearls are extremely popular.

by Sheweta Dhanuka

These are procured only from the land of Tahiti. Pinctada Margaritifera or black-lipped oysters are grown in the waters of French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. The pearls are produced in the womb of these oysters.

Black Pearls are exceptional variety of pearls that every woman having known its grandeur would yearn for the jewelry holding these pearls. Frenchman, Jean-Marie Dormand was the father of cultured black pearl farming. The first harvesting of black pearl was done in the year 1965. It was exported foremost in 1972 and since then it has seen the robust growth.To make the purchase of genuine pearls at the correct price is a tough task. While buying it if the buyers have no information then it is suicidal and even little knowledge might turn to be treacherous. In such circumstances buyers should put off the plan of purchase for a moment and search out the complete know-how about it then after ensue for the acquisition. This content aims to proffer the buyers with the preeminent reliable and comprehensive information about these elite pearls.

Black Pearls are also called South Sea Black pearls. These are procured only from the land of Tahiti. Pinctada Margaritifera or black-lipped oysters are grown in the waters of French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. The pearls are produced in the womb of these oysters. With the attempt to facilitate the purchase of true black pearls government of Tahiti had laid down few regulations. These rules have to be followed by the sellers as the legal rules and by the buyers as the buying guide. It begins with size, nacre thickness, luster, surface quality, natural colour and shape. Some more characteristics are discussed to provide additional information about this extremely precious gift.

Size : The size of pearls is articulated in terms of the diameter and the unit used is millimeters (mm). It is measured in two ways. First is by the shortest diameter and secondly it is measured along the two diameters -the longest and the one after it. Round and semi round shapes are measured by the first while the rest three are measured in second way. The accepted size of black pearls gauge between 9-12 millimeters. The pearls measuring between 12-14 millimeters are associated as cream of the crop. Size between 14-16 mm is rare in nature hence are most precious and very expensive. More than 16mm is even more rare. Size more than 18mm is beyond the imagination and would fetch the price as high as sky. Buyers must ask for the micrometer and check the size of the pearl themselves in an attempt to evade all future bombshells.

Nacre Thickness : This characteristic determines the life and luster quality of the pearl. Nacre is the successive layers deposited on the nucleus surface of the pearl. It can be thick or thin. Thick nacre is more than or equal to 80%, less than this percentage is referred as thin nacre. Tahitian government allows the pearls with the thick nacre to be exported while the rest with thin nacre are rejected. Thick nacre enhances the look of the pearl as the effect body colour along with overtones and luster is doubled.

Luster : In layman’s words luster refers to the shine and gleam while technically it is the quality of the light reflections from the pearl’s surface. When light falls on the surface of the pearl it is reflected back in different directions from the internal layers of the nacre. Generally Tahitian pearls posses high luster yet it could be ripped into four that is very high, high, medium and soft. Very high luster means light reflections are brilliant while high luster refers to bright reflections. Medium is moderate reflections and weak reflection is soft luster. Dull luster is seen in the pearls with thin nacre therefore as pearls with thin nacre are rejected so is the pearl with dull luster. This characteristic along with the surface quality plays vital role at the time of pricing.

Surface Quality : Surface quality refers to the outer appearance of the pearl. As pearls are produced by the natural process it tends to have some or the other imperfection. Gemstones consist of flaws where as pearls have blemishes on it’s surface. These blemishes are easily visible by the naked eyes and as such no specific instrument is needed. The surface quality is split into four. These are Clean-Very Lightly Blemished, Lightly Blemished, Moderately Blemished and Heavily Blemished. These ratings are done one the basis of the smoothness and amount of blemishes on the surface. Tahiti government had made the rule that the pearls very poor in surface quality (having blemishes more than the quality D) could not be exported and had to be sold within the boundaries of the country itself.

Quality A : This type is clean to very slightly blemished with very high luster. Slight blemishes imply less than 10% of the surface that even are concealed later on while making the drill hole. The surface is completely smooth. This type is quite rare in nature. Everyone seeks this clean surface quality but for buying it one needs bulging pocket.

Quality B : It is lightly blemished with high luster. Light blemishes refer to imperfections less than one third or 33% of the surface.

Quality C : This type is moderately blemished with medium luster. It is certainly more than one third but less than two third of the surface that is less than 66%.

Quality D : It is heavily blemished with soft luster. In this type the blemishes are fully concentrated and are more than in the two third of the surface that is more than 66%.

Natural Colour : Pearls from Tahitian land could enlist varied colours from the edge of the black lipped oyster that produces it. The pearls seize black, blue, green, brown and gray body colours. Most of the pearls hold attractive overtones like lunar blue, silver, gold, gray-pink, peacock green, rainbow and reddish purple. Pearls are formed in diverse permutations and combinations of body colour and overtones. Overtones are the additional colours that increase the value in the economic terms. Pearls without any overtone are priced very less as compared to those having overtones. Further, regular deep black and gray with overtones of peacock green and rainbow are very costly.

Colours are created by the nature itself in the black-lipped oyster. The colours possibilities are ahead of the control of the farmers doing the oyster farming. However, few oyster farming theories suggest that the trace elements present in the water where the oyster grows might be the reason for varied body colours and overtones.

Shape : It is first and fore most characteristic of the pearls that ought to be studied by the buyer at the time of the purchase. There are five distinctive shapes of the Tahitian pearls.

Round – This shape had, is and always shall be most in demand. It is completely round sphere with diameter variation less than 2%. Perfect round shapes are procured rarely.

Semi-round – It is also round but a little imperfect in shape. The diameter variation rate varies from 2 -5 %. It is also known as off round or near round. To differentiate between round and semi-round shape, roll the pearl on the flat tabletop. If it rolls straight in one direction then it is round and if it deviates from the straight line it is semi round in shape.

Semi-baroque – This shape is not round but has as a minimum of one axis of rotation so that it could spin on a flat surface. It is could be found in four different shapes viz. pear, teardrop, oval or button.

Circled – This shape contains idiosyncratic bands, streaks, rings or grooves perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the pearl. These rings cover more than 75% of the pearl’s surface. Out of the total harvested cultured pearls this shape accounts for 30%.

Baroque – It is always irregular that consist of no symmetry. It cannot be spin at all as it does not have any axis of rotation.

Price : Price is ascertained from the surface quality, size, colour and shape. It decreases from quality A to quality D. The cost increases with the increase in the size of the pearl. Slight increases of minor 1mm can also make the cost increase drastically. Body colours with overtones are priced more than the pearls with plain body colour. Finally the perfect round is priced maximum and minimum for baroque shape. Black pearls are very precious and thus are expensive. However, it could meet all the budget restrictions. For example when it comes to reduce the price with the compromise in one of the characteristic then it should be shape. Shape is important but it does not affect the durability but only the look. Further, when all the pearls are strung together in the string the shape of the single pearl is not even noticeable. In case of jewelries holding single pearl the defect in the shape is veiled at the back and covered with the metal.
Occurrence : Pearls are produced in the womb of black lipped oyster. It is the miraculous amalgamation of animal and mineral cultivated by man. The farming of oyster requires stacks of care like when weather is stormy it needs to be engrossed in the lagoon where as during the summers it needs to be taken to the cooler place. The farmers coddle oysters as their own babies. Oysters are grown for minimum two years. At the time of harvesting barely 30% of the oysters cultured generate a pearl. The by-products of cultured pearl harvesting are mother-of-pearls as well as Keshi and Mabe. These are widely used for decorative purpose and jewelry like earrings, pendants, rings and broaches.

Imitations : Artificially black colored pearls are created but they lack the natural bright colour and high luster as that of original pearls. However, to produce something identical to Tahiti black cultured pearl is very difficult. To shun every single chance of getting befooled, make the purchase only from the truthful and reputable dealers.

Precautions : Black pearls are the most delicate darlings. In order to enjoy wearing pearls for the lifetime several precautions and care is required. Woman those who sweat a lot should avoid wearing pearl jewelry on a regular basis and must wear it occasionally. The acid present in the sweat ruins the durability, luster and shape of the pearl. It should be protected from vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, cleaning agents like detergents or soap etc. and cosmetics such as hair sprays, perfumes and bleaches etc. Exposure to excessive heat could dry it off and make it prone to splits/cracks. Always ensure to remove it before going for a swim or wearing the dress made up rough fabric like Shetland wool etc.

At the time of taking off the pearl jewelry always clutch the shank or metal part instead of the pearl. This would evade the probability of loosening of pearl from the jewelry. After the use the pearls must be cleaned with the damped cloth. Once in a while it can be dipped in the slight salty water and polished with the drop of olive oil to maintain its luster. Home ultrasonic cleaner, steam cleaning and toothbrush are absolutely no-no for cleaning. Finally it must be stored in a separate jewelry pouch made up of soft cloth. Storing in any jewelry box is not recommendable as after some time due to lack of air pearls could get dry and be prone to breaks. Pearl necklace must not be worn when the string is soggy because then string gets dirty soon and cleaning it is very difficult. With the purpose to avoid the likelihood of loosing the necklace always restrung it once in the year. These precautions would enable you to retain the pearl and its jewelry.

Hard work, patience and utmost care gets paid off when mesmerizing black pearl is obtained. Farmers pamper black lipped oysters like infants then the amazing pearls comes into existence so we who own these pearls must continue to take care of these pearls like our own babies. Exquisite jewelries are created using it that makes the women look elegant and gorgeous. So be a good caretaker and look beautiful always.

How colored stone prices are fixed

by Ardamun

In the ancient times, the colored stones were graded and classified according to their color. All red stones were generally classified as ‘ruby’, all green ones as ‘emerald’, and all blue ones as ‘sapphire’.

Summary: In the ancient times, the colored stones were graded and classified according to their color. All red stones were generally classified as ‘ruby’, all green ones as ’emerald’, and all blue ones as ‘sapphire’.

How Are The Prices Fixed For Colored Stones?

Colored gemstones have fascinated people from the ancient times. Since antiquity, people thought that the gemstones possessed magical powers and used them as objects of personal adornment. They always had the desire to possess beautiful colored stones. The three major natural characteristics – its beauty, its durability, and rarity – and one other, the perfection, or otherwise, of its cutting have a big hand in assessing the value, and hence the price, of a precious colored gemstone.

Factors That Affect The Price Of Colored Stones

Other than beauty and durability, the factors that affect the value, and hence, the price of colored stones are: rarity in nature, and the demand for them. The rarer a colored gem is, with its limited availability, the more desirable it is considered and therefore, more valuable. Its limited availability leads to increased demand, which automatically leads to increase in price.

The current fashion trends and the fluctuation in demand for them greatly affect the gem price. The earlier 20th century saw the popularity of amber and turquoise, and then they became less favorable. The end of the 20th century saw the resurgence of popularity of these gems and hence their prices too.

Celebrity Gemstones and Prices

The celebrity gemstones set their own records for prices and have no relation to the prices of colored gemstones of the similar quality and size. A factor that affects the prices of colored of gemstones depends on who owns them.

A spectacular 17.68-carat ruby ring, owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, sold for $290,000 – a whopping $16,000 a carat. This is more than the price of some of the most expensive diamonds. Similarly, a 47-carat kunzite ring that President Kennedy purchased for his wife was sold for $410,000, which averaged out at more than $8,700 per carat!

The 62.02 carat Rockefeller Sapphire – a blue sapphire – set its own record price of $48,871/carat and the total price of $3,031,000. It goes without saying that colored gemstones of similar weights and quality would not fetch similar prices.

Grading Of Colored Stones and Their Price

In the ancient times, the colored stones were graded and classified according to their color. All red stones were generally classified as ‘ruby’, all green ones as ’emerald’, and all blue ones as ‘sapphire’. Over time, gems became associated with money, and the need to price them correctly brought in the need to identify them correctly. The introduction of the imitation and synthetic gems in the 1800s, and the development of cultured pearls and emerald imitations in the 1900s, brought in the need for gemological expertise to separate the genuine colored gemstones from the fake ones.

This brought in the need to grade the colored stones based on the 4 Cs similar to diamonds. The credit for creation of the 4C system of grading of gemstones goes to The Gemological Institute of America. The evaluation of the colored stones based on Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat is somewhat different from that of diamonds. Where diamonds have precise grading for color, clarity and cut, in the case of colored stones the main consideration is color. Minor differences in clarity do not affect the price of the colored stones.

Color – Color is due to miniscule amounts of trace elements, which could be a part of the gemstone’s composition, or introduced later when the gemstone is forming in the earth. These trace elements bring forth the amazing colors we see in the gemstones. The more the intensity of the color in the colored gemstone, the more its value, and hence its price due to its increased desirability. As far as pricing of the colored gemstone goes, the color plays a greater part than its clarity.

Clarity – Clarity is the internal purity of a colored gemstone and is secondary to its color. Sometimes the unusual inclusions in the colored stones may actually enhance their desirability and therefore, their value. The star-like inclusions in rubies and sapphires, caused by the presence of the mineral rutile, increases the desirability of these gems and people are prepared to pay a higher price for them. A similar phenomena in the tiger-eye quartz – though not star-like, but parallel lines – too affect its desirability.

Not all inclusions have the desired effect. Too many inclusions that inhibit and interfere with the passage of light through the colored stones diminish their value.

Cut – Whereas the most appealing cut for a diamond is the round brilliant cut, the colored stones are cut into more shapes and proportions than diamonds. The varieties of shapes that enhance the appearance and the beauty of the colored stones are: oval, cushion, marquise, emerald cut, pear, cabochon, trapezoid, mixed-cut, and tablet. The proportions of the colored stones differ from that of the diamonds, with each cut made to preserve the weight and show off the best color.

Certain cuts and shapes look more appealing on certain colored stones. Fine cut emeralds are cut in the traditional emerald cut shape, opals in the cabochon (a smooth curved top) shape, and top quality rubies and sapphires in oval or cushion shapes. These traditional cuts enhance the value and price of the colored stones.

Carat – A carat is the measure of weight of a stone and is equal to 200 milligrams. The larger the size of the colored stone, the higher its per carat price. The price of a three-carat colored stone is not three times the price of its one-carat avatar, but much more, simply for the reason that larger stones are rare.

It is not only the weight of the colored stone that helps fix its price. It is all of the above grading factors, along with other factors, that decide the final price of the colored stone. A 0.95-carat higher quality colored stone, vis-à-vis its color, clarity, and cut would be priced higher than the comparatively lower quality 1-carat stone.

Other Factors And Price

There are other factors too that affect the price of the colored stones. Hardness is one quality that is well liked. Hardness is its ability to withstand being scratched. It is measured as per the Moh’s scale, where 0 is the softest colored stone and 10 the hardest – which is the hardness for diamond.

The price of the colored stones also depends on their ability to withstand chemicals and such substances. This stability is important. Some amethysts fade in sunlight, turquoises discolor by skin oils, and opals may crack by exposure to dry air.

Toughness of the colored stone, that is its ability to resist cracking, chipping, or breaking, is another factor. The luster and the brilliance of the colored stones too have an impact on how the prices are fixed for colored stones.

When prices are fixed for colored stones, it is a combination of all the above factors that come into play.

Baby Jewelry

by Pam Brown

What does one get for the newborn baby that already has everything? Many people have found themselves in this very situation. You want to purchase something that is just a little more special than standard baby gifts, but have no idea where to start your search. The precious newborn already has all the toys and gear he or she will need for the first few months of life. Mom and Dad are well equipped with gift cards and cash for anything else that could possibly be needed. So what does one do?

What does one get for the newborn baby that already has everything? Many people have found themselves in this very situation. You want to purchase something that is just a little more special than standard baby gifts, but have no idea where to start your search. The precious newborn already has all the toys and gear he or she will need for the first few months of life. Mom and Dad are well equipped with gift cards and cash for anything else that could possibly be needed. So what does one do?

Why not consider giving a precious gift of keepsake baby jewelry. Making such a purchase is sure to delight all who rest their eyes upon it. You may wonder what kind of baby jewelry is available and where to even begin your search for such a unique item. Many online retailers, jewelry stores, and baby boutiques offer extensive lines of baby jewelry to choose from. It would be wise to pre-establish your price point before you ever begin previewing lines of baby jewelry. This is because it is available in a wide range of prices. Shopping for baby jewelry is often comparable to shopping for regular adult size jewelry. The overall price range will not be lower simply because you will be selecting pieces in smaller sizes. This is a common misconception had by consumers when beginning their search for a piece of jewelry. They will often times find that the price can be even higher than that of adult sizes due to the handcrafted quality of workmanship required to create an infant sized piece of jewelry.

Once your price range is established you can begin to browse different lines. Most baby jewelry styles are limited to rings, bracelets, and necklaces. You may find the occasional broach or tack pin, however, the bracelet is by far the most popular item on the market. These come in a variety of boy and girl styles and sizes.

One of the most popular items for newborn girls, is the classic pearl bracelet. This is a timeless piece of keepsake baby jewelry that can be passed on from generation to generation. You will find that you have a huge selection of cultured or fresh water pearls to choose from at midline prices. If you are in the market for something a little more high end, you might consider a bracelet done in Black Tahitian or Japanese Akoyan pearls. These can be quite costly but are sure to make an impression. If you are in the market for a pearl baby bracelet that is a little more cost effective, you might consider some of the freshwater or cultured pearl designs.

Many are made of hand knotted and hand strung genuine freshwater pearls. The handcrafted approach, goes a long way in assuring that you are receiving a top quality piece of keepsake baby jewelry. Many pearl bracelet styles can also be personalized using genuine sterling silver, lettered, charms. Presenting the parents of a newborn with a baby gift of this level of quality and thoughtfulness, is sure to warm the heart. These bracelets would make wonderful baby shower gifts.

Along with the ever popular pearl styles, many designers offer genuine Swarovski crystals, rose quartz and other precious gems in their designs. These can be finished out with gold, sterling silver, or platinum clasps and closures. These types of finishing touches add a hint of elegance to an already stunning piece.

If you find yourself shopping for a newborn boy, there are many styles of newborn and infant rings available to choose from. Most gold rings are made of the more malleable 10 karate yellow gold. This eliminates any binding or pressure on an infant or newborn’s delicate skin and finger. These more common styles can often times be personalized or engraved with birth dates and other important information. What wonderful personalized baby gifts! These kinds of baby rings can also be crafted from other precious metals such as platinum and silver if you choose. You may also find a good selection of tie tacks and I.D. bracelets for boys as well. It would be wise to consider the overall cost when considering personalization or the addition of gemstones and engraving. You will find that it does not take long for a simple piece of baby jewelry to turn into a costly one when adding these options.

Once you have chosen the perfect piece of baby jewelry, it is extremely important to be informed of the potential danger posed by baby jewelry if not properly supervised. These pieces will undoubtedly have small movable parts and pieces, that if swallowed, could cause possible choking or death. When presenting the parents of a newborn or infant with a piece of keepsake baby jewelry, be sure to advise them of the potential dangers. It would be advisable to have the child only wear the jewelry on special occasions when they can be supervised at all times to guarantee their safety. Once the cautions have been understood, the parents can enjoy your heartfelt expression of love and appreciation for their new arrival. Presenting their baby with a piece of keepsake baby jewelry will be a gift they treasure for numerous years to come.