Gemstone Guide

An in depth look at color gemstones.
  • Buying a gemstone is often a very different experience than buying a diamond. Gemstones are bought based on favorite colors, wardrobe matches, personality, and fashion trends. While gemstones are judged using the 4Cs, just as diamonds do, each is judged separately. For example, a sapphire is compared to another sapphire, but wouldn't be compared to an emerald or aquamarine. Choose your gemstone jewelry based on your personal preferences.

Color

Gemstone color is different from judging the color of a diamond. Every gemstone has a range of color that runs from light to dark and more vivid to less vivid, with a small range of color considered preferable. All of the families of color are represented by gems of different types.

Red Ruby, Mozambique Garnet

Pink Pink Sapphire, Rhodolite Garnet  

Yellow Yellow Sapphire, Citrine

Green Emerald, Bloodstone, Jade, Peridot

Blue Blue Sapphire, Aquamarine, Blue Chalcedony, Blue Spinel, Blue Zircon, Lapis

Purple Amethyst, Tanzanite

White Akoya Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Mabe Pearl, South Sea Pearl, White Spinel, White Topaz, Moissanite, Opal

Brown Smoky Quartz

Black/Gray Tahitian Pearl, Onyx  

 

 

Clarity

Gems also have internal characteristics called inclusions. Some gemstones are known for having many inclusions like emerald or for having few inclusions like citrine. Each gemstone will be graded for clarity differently.

Like diamonds, gemstones are measured using carats. A carat is equivalent to .2 grams or .007 of an ounce. Unlike diamonds, each gemstone has a different density, which determines its weight versus its measured size.  A one carat citrine won’t measure the same as a one carat sapphire.

 


Diamond & Gemstone Size Ranges

We take pride in offering great value and quality. In order for us to offer this value, it is necessary to buy and sell diamonds in weight ranges. To help assist you in understanding these ranges, we have provided the following chart of size tolerances.
 

accent .004 min.
0.01 .008 min.
0.015 .012 min.
0.02 .015 min.
0.025 .02 min.
0.03 .025 min.
0.04 .035 min.
0.05 .045 min.
0.06 .055 min.
0.07 .065 min.
0.08 .075 min.
1/10 0.09 min.
1/8 .11 min.
1/6 .14 min.
1/5 .18 min.
1/4 .23 min.
1/3 .29 min.
3/8 .37 min.
1/2 .45 min.
5/8 .60 min.
3/4 .66 min.
7/8 .84 min.
9/10 .90 min.
1 .96 min.
1 1/8 1.10 min.
1 1/6 1.14 min.
1 1/5 1.18 min.
1 1/4 1.23 min.
1 1/3 1.29 min.
1 3/8 1.37 min.
1 1/2 1.45 min.
1 5/8 1.60 min.
1 3/4 1.66 min.
1 7/8 1.84 min.
1 9/10 1.90 min.
2 1.96 min.
2 1/8 2.10 min.
2 1/6 2.14 min.
2 1/5 2.18 min.
2 1/4 2.23 min.
2 1/3 2.29 min.
2 3/8 2.37 min.
2 1/2 2.45 min.
2 5/8 2.60 min.
2 3/4 2.66 min.
2 7/8 2.84 min.
2 9/10 2.90 min.
3 2.96 min.
3 1/8 3.10 min.
3 1/6 3.14 min.
3 1/5 3.18 min.
3 1/4 3.23 min.
3 1/3 3.29 min.
3 3/8 3.37 min.
3 1/2 3.45 min.
3 5/8 3.60 min.
3 3/4 3.66 min.
3 7/8 3.84 min.
3 9/10 3.90 min.
4 3.96 min.
4 1/8 4.10 min.
4 1/6 4.14 min.
4 1/5 4.18 min.
4 1/4 4.23 min.
4 1/3 4.29 min.
4 3/8 4.37 min.
4 1/2 4.45 min.
4 5/8 4.60 min.
4 3/4 4.66 min.
4 7/8 4.84 min.
4 9/10 4.90 min.
5 4.96 min.
5 1/8 5.10 min.
5 1/6 5.14 min.
5 1/5 5.18 min.
5 1/4 5.23 min.
5 1/3 5.29 min.
5 3/8 5.37 min.
5 1/2 5.45 min.
5 5/8 5.60 min.
5 3/4 5.66 min.
5 7/8 5.84 min.
5 9/10 5.90 min.
6 5.96 min.
6 1/8 6.10 min.
6 1/6 6.14 min.
6 1/5 6.18 min.
6 1/4 6.23 min.
6 1/3 6.29 min.
6 3/8 6.37 min.
6 1/2 6.45 min.
6 5/8 6.60 min.
6 3/4 6.66 min.
6 7/8 6.84 min.
6 9/10 6.90 min.
7 6.96 min.


Gemstone Enhancement Codes

Published by the American Gem Trade Association.

Enhancement: Any treatment process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance (color/clarity/phenomena), durability, or availability of a gemstone.

N: The "N" symbol appears on the chart only for natural stones which are not currently known to be enhanced; however, the "N" symbol can also be used for other natural gemstones in the event that a gemstone has received no enhancement and the seller will provide a guarantee that there has been none.

E: The "E" symbol indicates that a gemstone has undergone its traditional enhancement process.

 

B Bleaching

The use of heat, light and/or other agents to lighten or remove a gemstone's color.

C Coating

The use of such surface enhancements as lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling, or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color, or add other special effects.

D Dyeing

The introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify present color or improve color uniformity.

F Filling

The filling of surface-breaking cavities or fissures with colorless glass, plastic, solidified borax or similar substances. This process may improve durability, appearance, and/or add weight.

H Heating

The use of heat to effect desired alteration of color, clarity, and/or phenomena (if residue of foreign substances in open fractures is visible under properly illuminated 10X magnification HF should be used.

HP Heat & Pressure

The use of heat and pressure combined to effect desired alterations of color clarity and/or phemonena.

I Impregantion

The impregnation of a porous gemstone with a colorless agent (usually plastic) to improve durability and appearance.

L Lasering

The use of a laser and chemicals to reach and alter inclusions in diamonds.

O Oiling/Resin Infusion

The filling of surface-breaking fissures with colorless oil, wax, resin, or other colorless substances, except glass or plastic, to improve the gemstones appearance.

R Irradiation

The use of neutrons, gamma rays or beta particles (high energy electrons) to alter a gemstones color. The irradiation may be followed by a heating process.

U Diffusion

The use of chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to produce artificial color and/or asterism-producing inclusions.

W Waxing/Oiling

The impregnation of a colorless wax, paraffin, and oil in porous opaque or translucent gemstones to improve appearance.

Shape

We sell a number of different shaped gemstone jewelry. Some of our most popular shapes include round, marquise, oval, pear, princess, and baguette. 

Cut

Gems are cut in a variety of different ways. Transparent stones will often be cut with facets. Unlike diamonds, the facets are planned to maximize the color. Other stones like jade, opal, and onyx will be cut into a smooth domed shape known as a cabochon. While still other stones like cameos are intricately carved. 

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