Gemstones types (Grades)

Colored gemstones are a great alternative to diamonds, as they add vibrance and unique personality to your jewelry. The value of these gemstones is determined by several factors, so it is essential to be aware of them before making a purchase.

Types of gemstones (grades)

You can easily identify the types of gemstones by identifying them through the following points

1. Exhale

Sapphire, a symbol of wisdom, honesty and trust, is considered a precious and beloved gift among members of the royal family. Nowadays, the demand for this wonderful blue-colored gemstone has increased and it is considered an ideal investment.
The hardness of sapphire is almost as hard as that of diamond, making it an ideal choice for everyday jewelry.
Sapphires are the second most commonly tested gemstone for engagement rings after diamonds.
For example, Princess Diana's engagement ring, now worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, features a 12-carat Sri Lankan sapphire.

2.Sapphire

Sapphires, considered the "most valuable gem", are the most expensive of all gemstones.
Because of its extreme rarity, it has become a gem of incomparable value.
This is why the prices of larger rubies are higher than those of smaller carats.
Thanks to its fiery red color, rubies have been considered a symbol of passion and love throughout the ages.
Sapphire is very hard like sapphire and suitable for everyday wear.

3. Emerald

Thanks to its bright green color and healing properties, emerald has held a special place in the hearts of many prominent people. It is said that Queen Cleopatra was passionately fond of these gems and used them for her royal decoration.
Emeralds are a symbol of peace, hope and new beginnings, and are a deeply meaningful gift when elegantly packaged in a piece of fine jewelry.

What should I look for when buying gemstones?

There are some things that you should know when thinking about buying gemstones, as follows:

Color intensity of gemstones

When purchasing gemstones, you should make color intensity your primary focus, as it determines the long-term value of the stone.
The most popular shade for color intensity is Vivid, which achieves a perfect balance of color saturation.
The more saturation or intensity of color, the more obscure the gemstone will appear, significantly reducing its value.
On the other hand, dull density can completely change the color of the gemstone. For example, a very light ruby can turn into a pink sapphire
However, there is no internationally accepted color grading system for this gemstone as there is for diamonds. ICL's seven color intensity levels include:

Dark: It has strong saturation and a very dark color tone.
Deep: Characterized by strong saturation and medium to dark color tone.
Vivid: It is characterized by bright saturation and a medium to medium dark hue, and is considered the ideal choice between hue and saturation.
Intense: characterized by moderate saturation and medium light tone.
Medium Intensity: It has moderate saturation and light color tone.

How to determine the size of gemstones

The size of the gemstone is determined by carat, it is equivalent to 0.2 grams and is divided by a point system, where every 100 points equals one carat. Increasing the size of the gem indicates its high value and indicates that it is rare.
Some gemstones increase in value dramatically with their size due to their rarity. For example, a 10.0 carat ruby can be one hundred times more expensive on average than a 1.0 carat sapphire.

Purity of gemstones

The ICL classification system is extremely clear, based on what can be seen with the naked eye without the need for magnification.
Impurities in gemstones are common and widely accepted, and their motherhood is often used to indicate the origin of the stone. There are three levels of purity:

“Eye clean” (EC1 - EC2) means that the impurities are not visible to the naked eye.
“Visible inclusions” (VI1 - VI2) means that the inclusions may be lowly visible to the naked eye.
“Contains impurities” (I1 - I2) means that the impurities are visible to the naked eye.

Learn about the origin of the gemstone

Unlike diamonds, the origin of gemstones can be easily traced due to the rare impurities found in each stone. We can look at them as “birthmarks” on the gemstone
Origin greatly affects the value of gemstones. Stones extracted from specific locations, such as Kashmiri rubies or Burmese rubies, hold great value due to their heritage and rarity.

Gemstone processing

Some types of gemstones are regularly treated to improve their color or clarity.
This practice is accepted in the jewelry trade and usually does not adversely affect the stone. Simply put, this method helps speed up the natural stone formation process.
The best and rarest gemstones are those that are discovered in excellent condition without the need for any additional treatment, and therefore their value is significantly higher
The most commonly used enhancements are those that involve heat, and include:

thermal processing.
Hot flow therapy

There are also treatments that use oil or resin to fill some of the cracks in the stone and improve its clarity.
These treatments are typically used on emeralds and are common in the jewelry industry

Gemstone shape

The shape of the gemstone does not affect its price, this depends largely on the person's preference.
Popular shapes are circle, oval, plain, pear.
Two different gemstones are usually used, one sparkling and one graded, to achieve a good balance between bright colors and sparkle.

Cost of gemstones

Color, clarity, origin, processing and carat weight are things that determine the price of a gemstone.
Be aware that high quality gemstones are very rare and will increase in value significantly.
Before purchasing a gemstone, you should know what level of quality you are looking for. Try to decide what is most important to you and check it according to your budget.