Friday, July 10, 2015

Fine Gemstone Jewelry: The Buying Tips

By Olive Pate


When we talk of jewelry, we are more often talking of special stones or minerals. Gold, silver, copper, and diamond are among the most sought after stones and minerals used for jewelry. However, this does not mean that they are the only used minerals. The stones such as diamonds belong to a unique category of stones commonly referred to as gemstones. In this category, diamonds tends to be the most expensive ones, however, those who cannot afford the diamond or simply don't want them, then the fine gemstone jewelry collection is quite wide, and the buyers need tips in buying these jewelry.

The main consideration is the color characteristics of the stone. There are three aspects of gemstone color; the hue, saturation and the tone. The hue describes the stone's primary color and can be described as a tint or a shade of blue, red or any other color.

As for the hue, the focus is on its base color (shade or tint). The intensity of the base color is described by saturation and the tone is the description for the color depth. Generally, too light or too dark gemstones are not the best ones, instead, choose the one that has a bright, rich, intense and pure color that is also vivid.

The second aspect in your selection should be the clarity. It describes the flaws present or absent either on the surface or inside the stone. It plays a crucial role in the gem value and quality. Generally, it is very rare to find a gem that is completely flawless and are thus very expensive. The value of diamond get most affected by flaws, however, the value of most other stones are not affected much by the flaws not unless these flaws affect its durability.

The cut is also another important factor to pay attention to. The cut simply refers to the proportions and symmetry and it affects its overall beauty. Polishing the gem is part of the art, why a larger stone fetch more; the balance must be reached to get a well-polished stone without wasting much of the weight. It goes without saying that the client should go for an ideal cut that has the shape that appeals to the buyer.

Although it also pays to look at the clarity, color should always be given more importance than the clarity. In order to examine the clarity, the procedure is to examine it from the face up position. Look for an inclusion or flaw from the top position, if none appears, then it is better that way. The imperfections can be seen well through the magnifying glass or a microscope.

The other important tip is the treatment or enhancement used. The enhancement is done improve the appearance in terms of its color and clarity and may also enhance durability. It may be done by oiling, dying, heating, waxing, bleaching or irradiating among other methods. As such, determine if it is natural or treated and if treated then determine the method used. Determine if special care is required and if the treatment affects its durability.

The last tip is to always ask for the certificate particularly if buying a costly gemstone. It may mean that you have to spend more but it provides the necessary peace of mind. In the certificate, there are details that can help you in comparing different options before the actual purchase.




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