A Lesson on Gemstones

Gemstones (unless manufactured) are found in nature. They can be a mineral, rock or petrified material. When a gemstone is cut or faceted (cut to create a face of the stone) and polished it becomes a collectible or, it is used to make jewelry.

Gemstones are sought after for their beauty and/or their perfection, so appearance is of great importance. A variety of characteristics influence a gems beauty. A gems beauty is determined based upon color, unusual optical phenomena (its responses to interactions with various forms of light), its rarity and even such things as an unusual item embeded within, such as a fossil.

Gemstones have traditionally been categorized as precious stones and semi-precious stones. Historically, the categorization of precious stones has resulted from their use in religious ceremonies and their rarity. Traditionally, only five gemstones were known as cardinal gems and were classified as precious; diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, and amethyst. Today, all gemstones are considered precious however, diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds are generally considered to be the most valuable.

When considering gemstones you should understand how they are measured. Their measurement can be expressed in weight or physical dimensions.

Weight will be expressed in karats or carats. A karat is 200 milligrams, or one-fifth of a gram. Karats are further divided into 100 units known as points. Doing the math, a 20 point stone, or .20 karats, would weigh 40 milligrams.

Physical dimensions are simply expressed in millimeters.

Gemstones can also be treated to enhance their appearance and/or durability. Some treatments are commonly used and accepted, others may give only a temporary improvement in appearance.

Buyer beware. There is much more to know that will be covered in future posts so check back.