E.S. Design

Most people are familiar with the four Cs of a diamond. Diamond grading using these four attributes helps people decide what diamond to purchase. When it comes to gemstones, what are the attributes that need to be considered in order to assess its quality? Is there a system of gemstone grading similar to that of diamonds? The answer may come as a surprise to most people but when it comes to gemstones, there is no grading system to assess its quality or even clarity.

In order to help you in your gemstone investment, below are some tips to consider in your gemstone purchases.
A gemstone’s clarity and color and interlinked. In the same way that diamonds have internal flaws and imperfections, gemstones are the same. Internal flaws such as feathers, cracks, pits, chips, and black spots are commonly found in gemstomes and affect their clarity. However, it is not quick to identify these imperfections because foreign materials inside gemstomes are the same color as the stone itself. This makes the task of assessing a gemstone’s clarity a lot more challenging.

Minerals and natural materials are found inside a gemstone. They are the elements that give the gemstone its beautiful color. Some of these elements are nickel, iron, chromium, and aluminum. The rich and deep green color of an emerald for instance, is largely influenced by its chrome content. If a gemstone does not contain any of these minerals, it will have no color at all.

As a rule of thumb, it is best to judge a gemstone’s clarity by using a 10x jeweler’s loupe. Look carefully inside the gemstone for inclusions. The cleaner a gemstone looks under the loupe, the better it is. However, ensure that the color is also rich and intense. After all, you are purchasing the gemstone for its beautiful hue.