Ever went on a shopping spree for gemstones only to find you were confused and unsure what you wanted? Here is our definite guide on all the 5 important aspects of gemstones from E.S. Designs. This complete 101 on gemstones will help you make informed decisions while shopping for gemstones.

The three Cs

The three critical aspects of any gemstone are its color, cut and clarity. These are also referred to as the 3 Cs of quality.

Color:

The first aspect is the color of the gemstone. The color of a pure and high quality gemstone should never be extremely dark or light. Instead it should contain the true natural hue of the stone along with small traces of complementing colors which are due to other minerals inside. At E.S. Designs we take care to ensure that each of our gemstones is of the highest quality and the best hue. The three aspects of color include the tone, hue and saturation. The tone pertains to how deep the color actually is. The tone can be represented as light, dark, medium, medium-light or medium-dark. The hue of gemstones plays a critical role in ensuring the quality. At E.S. Designs every gemstone is as per its natural color. As an example, our sapphires vary in hue from greenish blue to a purple shade of blue. The saturation of a gemstone indicates the amount with which the stone is devoid of gray or brown colors. At E.S. Designs our gemstones have vivid colors which mean they only have a slight trace of gray or brown.

Cut:

The cut of the gemstone is the next critical aspect that defines its quality. While there is no definite cut pattern or shape as is found in the case of diamonds, the best gemstone cuts usually bring out the ideal hue, color and brilliance. The best cut will ideally preserve the true weight of the stone and will also maintain the natural color. In stones that have a high saturation of color it is advisable to go for a shallow cut as it will facilitate light to go through. If the saturation is lower then make sure the cut is deeper. Another useful tip is to look at the symmetry of the gemstone cut while examining a piece of jewelry. The light should get reflected symmetrically throughout the entire surface.

Clarity:

Some amount of flaws are sure to be found even in the most expensive and rare gemstones. It is extremely rare to find a gemstone that does not have any inclusions or flaws inside it. You will find that at E.S. Designs we use only the best gemstone clarity which ranges from light to moderate inclusions. The type of gemstone you are looking at will also determine the amount of inclusions it will contain. Stones such as blue topaz, aquamarine and citrine have lesser inclusions naturally. On the other hand stones such as ruby or emerald have much more inclusions. So while buying gemstones make sure to compare the inclusions against these standards and parameters. If you are opting for a colored gemstone then clarity plays a vital role in determining its overall quality. At E.S. Designs we use stones which have a moderate or light inclusion in them making all of our jewelry pieces fine and classic collections.

Enhancements:

The next important aspect to look for in a gemstone is the level of enhancement in it. Most of the time, the typical colored gemstone will be enhanced. However, there are some rare gemstones which are completely natural and have not undergone enhancement. These will of course command exorbitant prices too! Heating procedures are a necessary and important part of the enhancement process. Heating comprises an important process during finishing and polishing the jewelry piece. At E.S. Designs all of our gemstones have been enhanced. If you are buying one that has not undergone enhancement make sure to ask for grading reports regarding the stone to ascertain the quality.

Size:

The size of a gemstone is not merely determined by carat weight. Instead a more accurate estimate of the size of the gemstone is provided by a measurement of the diameter from a top view. For instance in the case of a ring or jewelry where the stone has been set, this will be the only visible portion. Even if a gemstone is denser than another stone it might still appear smaller in size as in the case between a ruby and a diamond. The ruby will look much smaller. Make sure to check the diameter when you buy any gemstone.