GEMSTONES

The most valuable gemstones include traditional colorless diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and rare fancy colored red diamonds. Their values are determined by things including the 4Cs: carat weight, clarity, cut, color, as well as origin and market demand.

Birthstones are great thanks to their color, personalization, and style. Luckily, each month has a designated birthstone. January has garnet, February has amethyst, March has aquamarine, and April has diamonds. Emeralds are the birthstone for May, June has pearls, July has ruby, and August has beautiful peridot. Sapphires are the birthstone for September, October has opals, November has citrine, and topaz is the birthstone for December babies.

Ranking 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, diamond is the hardest gemstone. Its resistance to scratches makes it ideal for daily wear. 

There is a wide selection of fancy-shaped gemstones to choose from. These include round, princess, cushion, emerald, oval, radiant, asscher, marquise, pear and heart shaped.

Buying an engagement ring comes with many questions. At James Allen, we’re here to offer you 100% free advice and will assist you in understanding the best diamond quality for your budget and unique preferences. Our non-commissioned diamond and jewelry experts are available 24/7. Contact us here.

You can find the value of your gemstone by having it examined and graded by a professional gemologist who will measure its carat weight, cut, clarity, and color. At James Allen, you will receive your gemstone’s GIA certificate upon delivery.

Natural gemstones are mined from the earth and formed over millions of years through geological processes. Lab grown gemstones have the same chemical and physical properties as natural ones but are created in controlled environments. And imitation gemstones, such as cubic zirconia, may look like real gemstones but lack their mineral composition. Natural gemstones tend to hold the highest value, while lab grown options generally offer more affordability.

Cleaning your gemstones is similar to cleaning all your diamonds and other fine jewelry. Take a small bowl and fill it with warm water and mild dishwashing soap. Now, let them soak for around 15 minutes, then gently brush using a soft bristle toothbrush. Then rinse with clean water, allow to air dry, and you’re done!

Painite, with fewer than 1,000 known specimens, is considered the rarest gemstone. Other extremely rare gemstones include natural fancy red diamonds, jadeite, benitoite, and grandidierite, often selling for millions because they are so rare.

Some gemstones, like alexandrite and color-change garnet, can change color due to pleochroism, meaning they absorb and reflect light differently under daylight and artificial lighting. This unique feature increases their rarity and value.

A carat (ct) measures gemstone weight, where 1 carat = 0.2 grams, while karat (K) measures the purity of gold, with 24K being pure gold.

The best way to know if your gemstone is real is with a gemological certification from a reputable lab such as the GIA. You can also try it yourself by checking for natural inclusions and hardness (like the scratch test for diamonds). Fake stones often have perfect clarity, while real gems show imperfections.

To care for your gemstones, make sure to store them in their original packaging, or similar soft cloth pouch. This will help avoid scratching and other damage. Additionally, make sure to keep your gemstones clean.

Gemstones are cut using diamond-tipped tools to shape and enhance their sparkle. For example, the brilliant cut, commonly used for diamonds, maximizes light reflection, while a step cut, like in emeralds, highlights clarity.

Look for the 4Cs (color, clarity, cut, carat weight) and make sure your gemstone comes with certification from GIA, AGS, or IGI. And of course, shop reputable jewelers.