Importance of Cut and Polish in Gemstones

Cut is one of the all-important 4Cs and is used not only to appraise diamonds but gemstones in general as well. Gemstones are often cut with regard to their size alone. But beautifully cut gemstones take their color into consideration as well.

If you are shopping for faceted gemstones, one way of determining the excellence of its cut is to check if it is able to reflect light on a consistent level throughout its surface. Look for symmetrical rather than asymmetrical cuts as well. Lastly, be reminded that cut is different from shape.

Polish is simply adding the final touches to a gemstone. A well-polished gemstone is one with evenly smooth gloss and with no visible scratches on its surface.

What about carats? Bigger is not always better. Understanding how gemstones are weighed and measured if a very important factor when purchasing an antique engagement ring or even a vintage engagement ring.

Although bigger seems better and more expensive, it is not always so in the world of jewelry. In fact, size is not even synonymous with carat weight and you need to keep that in mind when shopping for gemstones and antique jewelry.

Carat Weight versus Size

Diamonds and colored gemstones alike are evaluated and appraised according to the 4Cs which are made up by cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Carat weight is much different from size and definitely more important than the latter. Also, take note that carat is different from karat, which is the measurement unit used for gold. Carat weight uses the abbreviation ct and ct TW for carat total weight.

In the past, carob seeds were traditionally used to measure a gemstones weight because of its uniform shape and size. In 1913, however, the jewelry industry managed to set universal standards for measurement and the carat weight system was born.

One carat is always equivalent to one-fifth or twenty percent of one gram. One carat is made up of one hundred points. As a gemstones weight goes up, so does its value or price per carat.

The way carat weight is discussed is occasionally a cause for confusion. Remember that a gemstone with .005 ct may be called a half point gemstone. A .25 ct gemstone could be called a quarter carat while a .50 carat gemstone may be referred to as a half carat or fifty points.

Gemstones are often listed according to their size because it is more uniform than carat weight. Two different gemstones may have the same size but different carat weights and consequently, different prices as well.

Understanding the principles and values of a gemstone can only ensure a perfect sale and the knowledge that you really do know what you are purchasing when it comes to gemstones.

About Buying Fine Gemstone Jewelry

Something that is fun to own and is also an investment is fine gemstone jewelry. Almost everyone has a piece of jewelry with diamonds in it, it’s true, and they go with anything. However, fine gemstones can say a lot about who you are with elegance and classical taste.

You can find jewelry with precious and semiprecious stones that correlate to your birth month. If you’re not particularly enamored with your assigned birthstone, you may have to reconsider the type of gem you wear. February, for example, has amethyst as its birthstone, but perhaps purple is not your favorite color or it doesn’t suit your personality. There is green amethyst, however, which is sometimes referred to a prasiolite, and it is a lovely, pale green. Garnets and sapphires can be found in an array of different colors, so that you can wear your birthstone proudly in a color you love.

Fine gemstone jewelry can be made with investment grade gems. Some gemstones are relatively rare and more difficult to find. The names of some of them may be unfamiliar to you, as they never reach the general market because of their limited quantities. Some investigation will be necessary to discover which gems are the most rare and sought after, and where they can be acquired. You can select from so many more fine gemstones than sapphires, rubies, and emeralds.

Take your time in putting together a collection of fine gemstone jewelry. Running up your credit card balances will take a lot of the enjoyment out of owning gemstones. Put money aside, instead, so that you can purchase jewelry when a coveted piece goes on sale at a reduced price, or your birthday arrives and you want to treat yourself. People definitely notice fine gemstone jewelry, so you will want your pieces to reflect your individual taste. Classical pieces are always wise choices if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on jewelry. Versatile jewels like diamonds and pearls can tolerate daily wear. Fashion jewelry that reflects the current trends will look out of style in a relatively short period of time, and you may grow tired of it.

It is best to spend more money on fewer pieces of fine gemstone jewelry, as it will always be in fashion. Gemstones in every color imaginable will beautifully accessorize your clothing, and you might even begin your own collection of fine gems.

Online Gemstone Dealers

There are hundred of online dealers offering gemstones for sale. The attraction of buying gemstones online is similar to that of any other product — the buyer is looking for the best possible selection at the best possible prices.

However, buying gemstones online is a bit riskier than buying books or cameras. The product is not standardized, for one thing. For another, gems are very small objects and their colors and details are extraordinarily important. Buying a fine gemstone on the basis of photographs and descriptions can be challenging.

But the risks in online gemstone buying are balanced by the rewards. Prices for gemstones online can be as much as 50% less than retail shops or even wholesale distributors who are far down the supply chain for gemstones. There are meaningful savings to be found online, especially for buyers who themselves are in the gemstone or jewelry business.

Selecting a reputable dealer can look like a daunting task. But like any other specialized product, you want to find a dealer who is an expert in his or her field, and for who gemstones are a vocation, not just a business.

Here are some useful hints for finding a gem dealer who is as passionate about gemstones as you are:

* Look for a dealer who carries a large stock. The world of gems is vast, and there are more than 100 different varieties of natural gems. A professional dealer will stock the rare and exotic gems as well as the standard types. Also look for a substantial stock in each gem type. That means the dealer buys in quantity and you’ll have a wider choice of cuts, sizes and colors.

* Look for a dealer who frequently adds new gems to his stock. The supply of gems from the mines is constantly changing, and serious dealers are opportunistic buyers who always take advantage of new material as it comes on the market. Fine gems that may be plentiful this month may be impossible to find the following year. A dealer who is always buying is a dealer who is closely following the market.

* Look for a dealer who provides lots of information about gemstones. Experts have expert knowledge and usually love to share it. Look for information about the history and characteristics of the different types of gemstones, as well as information about gem mining, cutting and polishing, gemstone pricing and developments in the gemstone business.

Make a Simple Gemstone Necklace

With gemstone beads, every bead is precious. Every bead is beautiful. A little more effort is needed when stringing a gemstone necklace together.

First, decide on the design. Take a fishing line and string the gemstone beads through it. Hold the string of beads around your neck in front of the mirror to see how the necklace would look. When you are pleased with your design, then start stringing the beads together properly.

For that, you need colored thread that matches the beads and some nylon thread to strengthen the necklace and to needles that can go through the beads, 1 at a time.

Thread both needles with as much colored string and nylon thread as they can take.

Twine an end of the strings from both needles together Thread the needles through the hole on one side of the clasp and tie decorative knots to secure the strings to the clasps.

Use both needles and tie a knot as close to the clasp as possible.

Slip both needles through the first bead, one needle at a time, then tie
another knot to secure the bead. Make sure the knot is large enough so the bead
cannot slip over the knot. Slip the needles through the next bead and tie
another large knot to secure the bead. Repeat the process until you have secured
all the beads for your necklace.

Now slip the needles through the hole at the other part of the clasp and tie
a decorative knot as close to the beads as possible. Slip the needle back
through the previous bead to hide the string and then snip off the excess
string.

Natural Alexandrite Gemstone

Usually gemstone buying is never seen as an investment. However, if one invests wisely, gemstones buying can be very profitable and remunerative too. The popular belief that a diamond is forever and it fetches up to 75% of the resale value and colored stones have no resale value is absolutely wrong. Conversely, investing in gemstones can be a profitable business if not just a hobby. But love for gemstones and appreciating their worth are also equally important. One should, therefore, not only look at the monetary benefits but also should be able to appreciate their beauty. If you have the money and are also a gemstone lover then this article is definitely worth a look.

Most of the gem lovers have, at some point or the other, must have heard of the color changing Alexandrite. It is one of the rarest gemstones found which possesses a beautiful characteristic of color change, i.e. it displays a different color in daylight and another color in evening light or candle light. This phenomenon along with rarity makes it very valuable. If you are interested in investing in alexandrite then it’s better to learn everything about it. A single search online yields enough information for you to know everything about it.

Tips for buying alexandrite

1. Trust only natural!

When buying an alexandrite gemstone, one must always make sure that he/she is buying a natural alexandrite and not synthetic alexandrite. The certificate should mention the word “natural”. People often end up buying synthetic gemstone paying very high price and later repent on their decision. As technology rapidly develops, more and more synthetic alexandrites are flooding into the market, which are becoming increasingly difficult to identify. In other words, natural alexandrite without any treatments is getting rarer day by day and hence it’s becoming more valuable.

2. Always insist on authentication

Always buy with a certificate, from a reputed gemological laboratory and not just from the dealer who is selling it, mentioning its authenticity. These days it’s very easy to print out a piece of paper and laminate it, calling it a certificate. Many customers get carried away by this laminated and printed sheet .So one must make sure that the certificate is from a reputed source.

3. Quality comes first!

Always go for quality rather than quantity. A good piece, though a small one, is any day better than a big gem with lower clarity and color.

4. Choose the cutting edge

As far as possible go in for a proper cut gemstone. Shallow cut gems lighten the color, while very deeply cut gems, on the other hand, darken the color so much that the change in color is rarely visible. Always go for the best cut your money can buy!

Finally to conclude, if you are a gem lover or collecting gemstones is your hobby, you’ll just love this amazing colour changing gemstone in your collection. An investment you will never regret!