Jewellery Gemstones
Gemstones can vary greatly in price depending on many different factors such as how rare the gemstone is and the quality of the stone. Gemstones are used in a variety of different jewellery with rings, ear rings and bracelets being the most popular uses of these stones.
Diamonds vary in price depending on the four C’s which are colour, cut, clarity and carat weight.
Diamonds are usually the most expensive gemstones and as a rule are a girls best friend. Diamonds vary in price depending on the four C’s which are colour, cut, clarity and carat weight. Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring mineral and are expensive because they are rare and extremely difficult to mine. Diamonds are graded depending on the four C's with IF being the highest quality diamond because it has no visible inclusions. Gradings in order are IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2 and I3. Most diamonds have some form of inclusions which is a gas build up in the diamond which impedes the visible flow of light through the stone. Only 20 percent of diamonds which are mined can actually be used for jewellery purposes with the other 80% being used for industrial purposes.
Pearls come in 2 different categories with these being freshwater and saltwater. Pearls can also be made naturally or they can be cultured by humans. Pearls are formed by an irritant inside the shell of an oyster which the oyster covers with calcium carbonate many times over which ultimately produces a pearl. Pears vary in price with naturally occurring pearls being more expensive than cultured ones. The only way to tell the difference between a natural pear and a cultured pearl is by xray. The value of pearls are based on a combination of colour, size and a lack of surface flaw. In general the larger the pearl the more expensive it is to purchase when used in jewellery.
Other Gemstones
The most popular gemstones are Diamonds, pearls, emeralds, aquamarine, tourmaline, Opal, Garnet, sapphire, topaz, peridot, ruby and amber. Prices of gemstones are generally based on the colour of the gemstone, the quality of the gemstone and the market value of the gemstone. Most gemstones that are mined are cut and polished before it's sold to the general public as it normally has a rough exterior. How it's cut and polished also plays a part in what the cost of the gemstone is as a finished product based on the time taken for the stone to be cut and polished. Gemstones are attractive to people because of the colour of the stone itself and the way light reflects off the stone.
Because of the price of many gemstones there are many synthetic gemstones being produced. These can be manufactured in labs and can be bought for a fraction of the price of the real gemstone in many cases. To many people this is an attractive alternative to buying a real gemstone because of the cost. Another positive is in most cases other people can't determine a real gemstone from a synthetic gemstone.
Some gemstones are treated before being put on the market to improve its colour or clarity. Methods which are used in treating the stone include heat, radiation, waxing/oiling and fracture filling. Many treatments are widely accepted by the gemstone community because the end product results in the improved quality of the stone and the colour of the stone remains stable. Some treatments however are not accepted because the stone can actually turn back to its normal colour in time.