Colored Gemstone Engagement and Wedding Ring Buying Guide

By Bijan Aziz

Engagement Rings and Wedding Rings through the Ages

The allure of colored gemstone in Betrothal rings

Fascination with colored gemstones dates back to the very beginning of civilization. Long before the discovery of diamonds, the blue sapphire evoked visions of heaven; the red ruby was a reminder of the very essence of life. As early as Roman times, rings containing colored gemstones were prized as symbols of power and friendship. In fact, the most powerful; and the most beloved, wore rings o every joint of every finger, reflecting the status of their position!

As betrothal rings, colored gemstones also hold an illustrious position. In addition to the beauty of particular colors, certain powers attributed to certain colored gems made them not only beautiful but also meaningful choices. We see many examples of colored gemstones in engagement and wedding rings, from many centuries ago to the present, used both alone and in combination with diamonds.

Following the discovery of diamonds in South Africa, which made diamonds more widely available and affordable, colored gemstones were briefly ignored during the earlier part of this century. While there always been people who preferred colored gemstones despite the trends, colored gemstone engagement rings have only recently reemerged as a choice for the modern bride. The selection of a sapphire and diamond engagement ring by His Royal highness Prince Charles for lady Diana, followed not long thereafter by his brother Prince Andrew's selection of a ruby and diamond engagement ring for Sarah Ferguson, sparked a revival of interest in colored gemstones for the bride to be.

While rubies, sapphires and emeralds have historically been among the most coveted gems, particularly for important occasions, there are many alternatives in colored gems for today's bride, depending on budget and personal connection to bride herself. Keep in mind that most birthstones come in several colors. You may be surprised to learn that the color you associate with your birthstone may be only one of several colors in which the gemstone occurs.

For example, most people think garnet is dark red and are surprised to learn it can be emerald green, mandarin orange, yellow, white, purple; virtually every color in the rainbow except blue. If you have discarded the birthstone as a choice because you don't care for its color, check out all the colors in which it may be available before making a decision. Some colors in a particular gem may be rarer and less readily available and often costlier than better known colors, but your jeweler can work with you to discover your alternatives. One can combine a birthstone with diamonds, blending the symbolism of diamonds with the personal significance of the birthstone for a lovely, deeply meaningful, and often much more affordable ring.

In addition to birth gemstones, the choice of a particular colored gemstone may be connected to mystical powers, attributes, or symbolism with which the gemstone has been historically identified. There is an almost limitless wealth of information about colored gems, enough to stir the imagination of even the greatest cynic.

- Love rings and "Sentimental" jewelry

Throughout history, colored gemstones set in rings and other jewelry have carried hidden messages. We are seeing similar pieces being produced today. For example, a ring containing diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, emerald, sapphire, and topaz, arranged in that order, spells the word "dearest" if one takes the first letter of each word, thus carrying the sentiment that wearer is more dear than any other to the giver; a ring containing pearl, ruby, emerald, and sapphire spells "pres," which, in French, means "near" and suggests that the wearer is always near to the giver; amethyst, moonstone, opal, ruby, and emerald spells "amore," which is Italian for "love." And so on. Such a ring can create a wonderful, "sentimental" engagement ring.
Choosing the shape of a gemstone

Today's bride to be has more choices in engagement ring design and style than ever before. But the first step in creating the look you want is selecting the shape of the gemstone, A shape that is right for you. There are many shapes from which to choose, but it's important to choose the right shape because it will affect the overall design and look of your ring.

- Modern diamond shapes

1. Round brilliant

2. Pear shape

3. Marquise shape

4. Oval shape

5. Emerald shape

6. Heart shape

7. Princess shape

8. Radiant shape

9. Asscher Shape

10. Cushion Shape

In choosing a design that suits, taste, budget, and personality, one of the first steps is to decide on the diamond shape you want. Today, in addition to classic, round shape, there are many popular "fancy" shapes from which to choose.

As mentioned earlier, there are many exciting shapes, as well as the traditional "fancy" shapes; any shape other than a round, brilliant cut. Some of the new shapes lend themselves to very distinctive designs that would be difficult to create with other shapes; some exhibit unique personalities, not possible in any other; and some can even help you stay within your budget (some appear larger, for their weight, than traditional cuts, enabling you to get the size you want in a diamond that actually weighs less than you might have thought you need). One of the most exciting parts of searching for your ring is discovering what is really available today!

You should keep in mind, however, that fancy shapes, new and old, can be vary in their width and length, and in their basic proportioning, and these differences can result in a totally different look and feel on your hand. For example, an emerald cut diamond that is in a very long shape will look very different from one that is more squarish; a broad shouldered pear shape might look too triangular for the hand, while one with softer, more rounded shoulders might be just what what you want. To some extent, the choice of shape is a very personal matter, and there is no standard "ideal" range that is applied to shapes other than round, but you must be careful that the stone is not cut in such a way that is liveliness and brilliance is reduced or adversely affected.

As you begin to look at diamonds, try on all of the shapes; you may discover you like a shape you might not have considered otherwise! Try them in solitaire style (a single diamond at the center) and in designs that incorporate diamond accents or colored gemstone and diamond accents. It won't be long before you have a clear idea of the shape that best suits your personal style and taste, the shape that you really like best.

- Popular gemstone cuts frequently used as side gemstone for accent

1. Taper baguette

2. Straight baguette

3. Trilliant shape

In addition to the fancy shapes described above, there are several cuts that are frequently used as side accents. The most popular include straight baguettes, tapered baguettes, trilliant, and princess. There are also "specialty" cuts that are used to create very distinctive rings. These unusual shapes include half-moon shapes, trapezoids, kite shape, and bullets, and can be especially lovely accents with colored gemstones and diamonds.

Baguettes have been popular for many years and create a very traditional look. In both straight and tapered shapes, they are understated and serve simply to lead the eye to the important center stone. Today there are also "brilliant cut" baguettes; both straight and tapered, which some people prefer to use with a "brilliant cut" center gemstone; the overall impression across the top of the ring is then more uniformly brilliant.
Tapered or straight baguettes, used creatively, make elegant choices for diamonds or colored gemstones.

The trilliant is a relative newcomer that has quickly become one of the most popular choices to create an elegant and classic look. It is a triangular shape that has been cut with extra facets to create tremendous brilliance and liveliness. The trilliant, because it is cut from a very flat piece of diamond rough, also gives a very large look for its actual weight. It provides an important look to balance a large center stone, within a reasonable budget. They are popular choices to use with diamonds or colored gemstones.

The princess cut is also very popular as a choice for side stones, especially for channel set or bezel set designs.
Again, the use of side gemstones to accent a center stone (diamond or colored gemstone), and the shape of the side stone, is a matter of personal choice. In addition to the shapes mentioned here, almost any of the other popular shapes can be found in small sizes and can be used to create an interesting and distinctive ring.

- Popular shapes in colored gems

Colored gems can be found in any of the shapes described for diamonds. In addition, they are often seen in cushion cut, a modified oval. Keep in mind that some gems are more easily found in particular shapes than in others. For example, emeralds are most often seen in a rectangular shape (actually called "emerald cut") because this is the shape that tends to present emerald to its best advantage. In addition, natural crystal shape of emerald lends itself particularly well to a rectangular shape. Rubies and sapphires are often seen in the cushion cut. This is due in part to the shape of rough rubies and sapphires, but also to the fact that this cut seems to reveal the rich, lush color of these gemstones more fully than other cuts. Thus, it may be very difficult to find a sapphire or ruby in an emerald cut. Once again, your choice is very much a personal matter, but be aware that it may be very difficult, or impossible, to find certain types of gemstones in certain shapes.

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Tumbled Gemstone Pendants

Wear the Cool, Trendy Look

By Rakesh Rauly


Tumbled gemstone pendants have been used by both men and women since ancient times, although the term 'tumbled' was coined not very long ago and is now a common one in jewelry jargon. The only difference in the gemstone-fashioning technique, which we refer to today as 'tumbled', to the one employed by artisans in those early times, is the manner in which they created their versions of tumbled gemstone pendants. Centuries back, artisans did not have the tools and gemstone-fashioning techniques that jewelers possess today. Therefore, those early artisans cut whatever precious stones they discovered into little, irregular-shaped pieces. These little pieces were then attached to dry weeds, straw or animal hide and hung from their necks as tumbled gemstone pendants. Perhaps, the gemstone pendant that early man wore was the very first version of what jewelers, term today as a tumbled gemstone pendant.

As ancient as the tumbling process in gemstone-fashioning maybe, perhaps, you, like most people, may not fully understand what this process is all about. The common question that most jewelers today are asked is "what are tumbled gemstone pendants?" The word 'tumbled' doesn't refer to the pendants, but specifically, to the gemstones in a tumbled gemstone pendant itself. The actual process can be described as the polishing and smoothening of all surfaces of a gemstone by 'tumbling' it in a mixture of fine abrasive and liquid. Tumbled gemstone pendants are the products of this process which is distinctly different from the manual shaping and polishing of cabochon cut or faceted gemstones. The reason why teenagers and young adults clamor to have tumbled gemstone pendants is because of the dramatic, asymmetrical and unusually-shaped gemstones that evolve from the process of tumbling. The hundreds of such irregular-shaped gemstones have led to a wide range from which you can select your tumbled gemstone pendant easily.

The highlight of the tumbled gemstone process is that, it not only will give your gemstone pendant a polished look but will help to express the natural form, structure and unique beauty of each stone within your tumbled gemstone pendant. Such polished and asymmetric-shaped gemstones are created within sealed drums that possess rotating tumblers that ultimately accelerate the natural process and create the final gemstone form. This process can be likened to the smooth stones or pebbles you would find on river banks or beaches, the only difference being that this natural process is far slower than what modern day tumbled gemstone pendants go through.

Fortunately, there are various reputed gemstone dealers who utilize professional 'tumbling techniques' where you will find a wide variety of tumbled gemstone pendants. If you desire to have a particular shape of the gemstone you choose, an experienced jeweler could easily cater to your needs. Tumbled gemstone pendants are not just fashion statements made by the teenagers and young adults who wear them but items that express their youthfulness, verve and trendy lifestyle. If you are a teenager, young adult or simply young at heart, you can wear the cool trendy look, too.


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Valuing Your Gemstone

By Patricia Kraus

The value of a "living" gemstone is directly related to its rarity. Most of us have heard of using the 4 "C"s color, clarity, cut and carat, when determining the value of a gemstone. Weighing greatly on the rarity of a gemstone is color, clarity and cut, having to do with the quality of the stone and carat having to do with the size. Larger stones or stones with good color or clarity have a greater value because they are rarer. Keep in mind that color, probably being of most importance in colored gemstones, is of no importance when speaking of the brilliancy of a diamond where clarity and cut are used in determining its value. That being said, there is one more important piece of information to which many may be unaware and that is whether or not your stone has been treated or as some dealers describe it, enhanced.

Did you know that the treatment or enhancement of your gemstone can directly affect its value? For example, a large, untreated, (color unchanged) stone is much more desirable on the marketplace than a similarly "treated" stone and will never lose its color or beauty. A natural, untreated ruby or sapphire, for instance, can have up to 400% more market value than a similar heated ruby or sapphire. It is, therefore, undeniably important to totally understand gem treatments or enhancements at every level. Below are various methods of gemstone treatments along with information on how to detect that a gemstone has been treated, along with the disadvantages of certain treatments.

Living gemstones are routinely heated under controlled conditions to improve color, alter color, or improve clarity. Since natural heating also occurs under natural conditions, the artificial effects are sometimes indistinguishable from natural effects. Gemstones are normally heated at temperatures of 1200 degrees C, but can go as high as 1,800°C. Why does this matter? Your "magic" gemstone can become more brittle, causing fractures and chips. Be leery of dealers who claim that their gemstones were only treated using lower heats. That is sort of comparable to one becoming "a little bit pregnant". High quality unheated rubies and sapphires are extremely rare and command a much higher market price than the heated, but, understand that unheated/untreated specimens are almost non-existent. As a result, always purchase from a reliable supplier or have the seller's claim that a gemstone is untreated verified by a gemologist.

Radiation treatment is done to change the color of the gem, particularly in colored diamonds and topaz. Some diamonds may show microscopic characteristics indicative of radiation, such as a scalloped pattern around the culet or brownish radiation "spots" on the surface, but one normally needs high tech equipment in determining this type of treatment in a gemstone. R. Webster's Gems, fifth edition says that, ''A recent examination of a green diamond treated with americium-241 oxide indicated that this stone was not only radioactive, but that it could not safely be worn until the year 5071." Hoping that this would be the exception rather than the rule, it would still be prudent to buy from a reputable dealer, especially if you are purchasing topaz or colored diamonds. Further insist on a report from a certified gemologist when making any substantial gemstone purchase.

Beryllium treatment is a bulk diffusion process with which commonly uses beryllium, but may also include other chemicals such as lithium and titanium. Beryllium is not only a highly toxic material, but all the beryllium salts are known to be carcinogenic. As a result of this, the release of any beryllium or vaporized salts during the high temperature treatment process could have significant health consequences. There was even some concern that the there may be very small residual amounts left on the gemstone. Be aware that, many heated rubies and sapphires that were actually beryllium treated were only detected as heat treated by most of the world's labs. Unfortunately most labs don't have the very expensive equipment needed to detect a Beryllium treated living gemstone.

Fracture Filling is the process of filling surface breaking fractures with additives to improve clarity and or color. Emeralds commonly have their surface reaching cracks filled with resins, oleo-resins however with or without hardeners the treatment may not be stable. Beware of unscrupulous dealers who can add flux or glass in order to add extra weight to the gemstone, can use this treatment to get higher prices for their gemstones. Certainly, if you are aware of what you are buying, this process can provide some nice looking stones for a lot less money.

Laser drilling is the process that is commonly used in diamonds. A laser is used to bore a small hole in the diamond and burn an inclusion from the inside out. By reaching a dark inclusion with acid, the inclusion is bleached to a lighter color. Laser drilling makes the condition of the stone much less visible since it causes the inclusions to become invisible. It is extremely important that the laser drilled diamond be priced according to its original clarity grade and not the new clarity grade after treatment. Diffusion is a treatment used to deepen a gemstone's color by baking a layer of color into the gemstone's surface. This produces a false color for the stone and this treatment only intensifies a gemstone's outer layers. The problem with this treatment is that the color can eventually scratch off. Diffusion can be easily detected by a gemologist using a 10X magnification loupe. (Reference: http://yourgemologist.com)

So remember, treatments and enhancements are not always a bad thing. Some treatments produce beautiful stones and you can get more "bang for your buck" when purchasing a treated gemstone. But treatments can go either way since they create permanent changes in some gems and temporary changes in others. Therefore, the only way to be sure that your beautiful "magic" gemstone will stay beautiful forever is to buy them natural and untreated. And remember, before purchasing a living gemstone, be sure to buy from a reputable dealer, get a gemologist's report and familiarize yourself with the information and terminology provided above.


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Gemstones

You Must Know Some Facts

By Victor Thomas


Gemstones are used for making attractive ornaments. You may watch certain gemstone advertisements in the media. Most of the ads will confuse you by using distinct terms like natural gemstones, synthetic gemstones, simulated gemstones or combination of these confused terms. But in fact there are only 3 types of gemstones used in the UK. They are natural gemstones, genuine gemstones and synthetic gemstones.

* Natural gemstones are a gift of nature. They can be obtained only from nature without the interference of human beings. It is tough to afford these natural gemstones as they are very expensive.
* Genuine gemstones are stones which have to be undergone some process to improve its outlook. Most of the natural gemstones are treated for enhancing their appearance. Treated gemstones have known by the name of genuine gemstones.
* Synthetic Gemstones are made by human beings within a laboratory. They look similar to the natural stones. Even experts may feel difficult to differentiate this synthetic gemstones form the natural gemstones.


Price Tag

Demand and supply of gemstones are the two main factors which determine its price. As natural gemstones are very rare to get they cost too high. But the quality is incomparable. The only option is to get synthetic gemstones as they are comparatively cheap than natural gemstones. There are various versions can be obtained from the UK markets. Older synthetic gemstones were simple in its looks and they were imperfect in their shapes. But now synthetic gemstones are as same as natural gemstones. Gemologist or expert jeweler can detect them by analysis.

Shopping tips to get perfect gemstones

1. Go for a reputed jewellery shop or to a widely popular manufacturer for purchasing gemstones.
2. Verify your doubts regarding the quality of the stone before you pay for the stone.
3. Compare prices with multiple shops.
4. Get the details about the components.
5. Select the colour of the gemstone before you go for shopping.
6. Check the label whether it is a natural gemstone or a synthetic stone.
7. Always fix your budget earlier when you plan to buy a stone.

Make use these tips when you go for shopping for buying gemstones.



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Gemstones

An Introduction For You To Make An Informed Choice
By Rose Mary

Gemstones are mineral crystals or organic materials that have been cut and polished into beautiful items by skilled craftsmen. The minerals are naturally formed, solid, inorganic chemical compounds found in rocks. Each mineral has a fixed chemical composition and regular atomic structure, which gives it the specific hardness and color it possesses. Many natural crystals are attractive enough to be displayed. However, most of these crystals are faceted and polished to enhance their appearance.

Few gems, which are called organics, come from plants and animals. These gems include ivory, amber and pearl. There is a category of gemstones known as synthetics. They do not have any natural origin and are produce in laboratories. These artificial gems are cut to resemble the real ones. They have the same physical properties and chemical composition with natural gemstones. Gemstones are, typically, measured by their weight in carats.

To be considered a gemstone, it has to be rare, beautiful and durable. Gemstones, in its natural crystalline form, are rare, which means that they could only be found in certain parts of the world. Their scarcity makes them valuable in the market. The color of the minerals must be attractive, so that the gemstones will appear beautiful. Gemstones must be durable, which means that they should be hard enough to withstand scratches and damage.

The most valuable characteristic of gemstones is the color. Colorful gemstones such as emeralds, rubies and sapphires are highly priced. Diamonds, though colorless, are made beautiful and brilliant by skillful forms of cutting. White light is made up of a combination of the spectrum of colors. When white light falls on a gemstone, some of the colors are absorbed while the rest are reflected back. Those colors that are reflected are what we see as color of the gemstone. As each mineral interacts with light differently, a wide variety of colors of gemstones is produced.

The physical properties of gemstones are their hardness, their specific gravity, and the way they break. These properties depend largely on the atomic structure and the chemical bonding of the stone. The hardness of a gemstone is measured by how well it resists scratching. The specific gravity or density of a gemstone is derived by assessing its weight base on the weight of an equal volume of water. Gemstones can break in two ways, either by cleaving or fracture. The way they break depends on the atomic structure of the stone. Gemstones that cleave will break along the planes of weak atomic bonding. Those that fracture will break along a surface which has no relation to its atomic structure.

Gem cutting is a form of art which is done to produce finely cut faceted gems. This art contributes to the beauty of the gemstone and its value. There has been much progress made in gem cutting and polishing methods. These improved methods, coupled with an increased knowledge of the way gemstones responds to light, have resulted in marked improvements made on the appearance of gemstones.

Gemologists are fascinated by gemstones. They study each gemstone in-depth, both in its natural state and after it has been cut and polished. Gemologists are able identify every individual gemstone, as well as distinguish between a natural stone and a fake one.

Since early times, gemstones are considered precious and are well sought after. In the past, gemstones are known to represent wealth and power. They are used not only as jewels to decorate crowns and robes but also as amulets, talisman and charms. Nowadays, gemstones are not only for the wealthy, but rather they are appreciated by anyone who finds them beautiful and charming. Gemstones are commonly used to make creative jewelry pieces which are widely worn as accessories for personal adornment. Gemstones are highly treasured by people from all walks of life because of their unfading beauty with time. Being captivated by the timeless beauty of gemstones, most people desire to possess them. Hence, some people buy gemstones for collection purposes, while others buy gemstone jewelry for personal adornment or as gifts for friends. Gems that represent birthstones are commonly used as birthday presents. Due to the wide variety of gemstone jewelry items available in the market, there are plenty of gift ideas to choose from.


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Testing Gemstones

By Himanshu Shangari


When a person goes to purchase a gemstone or some gemstones after he has been prescribed those gemstones, and reaches the gemstone dealer and asks for his prescribed gemstones, the dealer displays so many varieties of every gemstone that it becomes difficult for the person to decide which gemstone is good to wear and which is not. And though a lab test is considered the final test for the genuineness of the gemstones, but this test is not very helpful in actual practice particularly in countries like India as they only tell whether a gemstone is original or not. But most of the times they are either unable or not willing to tell the quality of the gemstone. For example a report of genuineness is given for a Blue Sapphire worth USD 50 per carat and almost the same report of genuineness is given for the Blue Sapphire worth USD 500 per carat or even USD 1000 per carat. And where does it leave us. I guess nowhere. Because if a lab test can not tell you about the quality of a gemstone then what is the worth of that test report. I mean how can similar reports be given for the gemstones which are ten times different in price. So let's try to understand a few things that can help even an ordinary person who does not have much knowledge about gemstones at all, to choose a good gemstone for the price offered.

As the prices of gemstones are different in different parts of the world, so it is difficult to get an idea about the general price range for all the gemstones. But we shall look at some measures which can help us decide which of the gemstones among a variety of the same gemstone is suitable for us according to our price range. The first thing to look for in a gemstone is its colour and luster. For example, an Emerald which is a gemstone used to enhance the significances ruled by mercury should be green and bright. And though the colour may differ from light to deep green depending upon the price range of the gemstone, but the basic thing would remain the same. That is, it would be green if it is an Emerald. Same is true regarding all the other gemstones, and their colour ranges can be found in the article Gemstones and their Effects.

Second test for a gemstone which comes under the category of transparent gemstones like Ruby, Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, White Sapphire, Hessonite and to some extent Cat's Eye also, is the percentage of transparency. This is a very important test in deciding the quality of all the gemstones that belong to the transparent family of gemstones and should be considered with great attention. Hold the gemstone against the light, that is hold it in front of your eyes where the background is having sufficient light and then try to look through it by holding it still and then moving it in a semi circular movement forward and backward alternately and then try to find out what are you seeing in or through the gemstone. If the gemstone is absolutely transparent, it passes the test but then it would become very costly. And if there are some blockages or blemishes in the gemstone irrespective of the colour, then the gemstone is not a 100% and we would have to check for the percentage of blockage. For example if you can not see at all through a gemstone belonging to the family of transparent gemstones, when seen with bright light present in the background, the gemstone is not going to work very much and however cheap it may be, you won't be able to get any significant results from it. Heavy blockages found in the gemstones are usually in the form of clouds which are present inside the gemstones and may block the transparency of the gemstones from 20% to 90%. The gemstones with a blockage of 90% would not be transparent at all and would be more like an opaque gemstone in spite of belonging to the transparent family of the gemstones. In this case you are usually able to see only the surface of the gemstone and nothing inside it and nothing can be seen through it. This gemstone is useless and should not be worn as it can only give about 10% of the effects belonging to the planet because the radiations received by the surface of this gemstone are blocked by the clouds present in it and so they are not transmitted into your body. And as the percentage of transparency increases, the quality and price of the gemstone also increase accordingly. But knowing about the concept of blockage in the gemstones, you can choose a good gemstone which is falling within your affordable price range. A medium range of gemstones is suitable for most of the people and this range would have a blockage of about 50% to 20% depending upon the little variations in prices and the little variations from gemstone to gemstone in the same price band.

Then there are some impurities found in the transparent gemstones which are in the form of spots and lines present inside the gemstones. The lines are usually white and the spots are usually black and are very likely to be found even in a costly gemstone particularly Emerald, because even the very costly Emeralds have black or white spots or lines in them. Anyways the blockage made by these lines and spots can again be checked by viewing the gemstones holding them against the background where bright light is present. Hold the gemstone and try to see inside and see through it, and then slowly rotate it in a forward and backward movement and see what you can find inside it. Then change the side of the gemstone and repeat the procedure again. You'll be able to find some things which would help you deciding the quality of the gemstone. However the impurities found in the form of lines and spots present inside a gemstone are not very serious impurities and they generally block about 5% to 20% of the gemstone provided the spots and lines are not present in great numbers inside a gemstone. This much amount of impurity is acceptable if you are willing to buy a gemstone in an upper medium price band.

The gemstones should also be checked for any types of cracks present in them which is not a very common thing but can still be there in case of some gemstones and so it should be attended carefully. If you are sure that a gemstone is having a crack inside it, never buy it as the cracked gemstones are not worth the investment at all. After that you can look for the shape of the gemstone suitable as per the wearer. And regarding the Opaque gemstones namely pearl and Red Coral, they are comparatively very cheap and accordingly the chances of them being genuine increase already. But these gemstones can be checked for their colour and luster in particular. For example a pearl with a mixing of yellow colour which makes it creamish is likely to be cheaper than the pearl with a mixing of blue colour in it. In the same way the dullness or attractiveness of a Pearl and Red Coral can help in deciding their quality.

And finally there are some quality measures attached to some particular gemstones which I would mention one by one. Let's start with the trickiest of the gemstones when it comes to identification. And kindly pay close attention because so many of the people purchasing this gemstone are tricked. This gemstone is White Sapphire and it should be checked very carefully for its colour. A real White Sapphire is absolutely colourless and is clear like a crystal. You can very clearly see through a White Sapphire. And the problem with choosing this gemstone is that most of the White Sapphires displayed by the dealers are not colourless though them may seem to be colourless at the first sight. But as you monitor them closely, you would find that there may be a hint of yellow, blue or pink in the gemstone, which makes it an incomplete white sapphire and it should not be bought. So be particular about the colour of a White Sapphire while purchasing it. And then come the gemstones like Emerald, Yellow Sapphire and Blue Sapphire which become more and more costly as their colour becomes deeper and deeper. So any of these gemstones with very light colours should be comparatively cheaper depending upon the other aspects of the gemstone like transparency and luster. While in case of a Hessonite, it should preferably be light honey colour instead of deep honey colour. And in case of Cat's Eye, the best colour in my opinion would be the greenish yellow. But the most important test for a Cat's Eye is the presence of a nearly white line across the gemstone which gives the effect of a Cat's Eye when this gemstone is held and the hand is moved in a semi circular motion going forward and backward alternately. And if this line is broken or not present or not moving when the gemstone is moved, the gemstone is not very good in quality and you should consider looking at some other one.

And though a person who does not know anything about identifying the gemstones is not likely to be an expert even after knowing all these facts about choosing the gemstones, but still this information can prove very helpful for a common man while choosing his gemstones. So whenever you go to purchase a gemstone or the gemstones for you, check for the above mentioned details properly to increase your chances of getting a good gemstone for the price offered.