Buying a gemstone is often a very different experience than buying a diamond. Gemstones are bought based on favourite colours, wardrobe matches, personality, and fashion trends.
While gemstones are judged using the 4Cs, just as diamonds do, each is judged separately. For example, a sapphire is compared to another sapphire, but wouldn't be compared to an emerald or aquamarine. Choose your gemstone jewellery based on your personal preferences.
Gemstone colour is different from judging the colour of a diamond. Every gemstone has a range of colour that runs from light to dark and more vivid to less vivid, with a small range of colour considered preferable. All of the families of colour are represented by gems of different types.
Ruby, Mozambique Garnet
Pink Sapphire, Rhodolite Garnet
Yellow Sapphire, Citrine
Emerald, Bloodstone, Jade, Peridot
Blue Sapphire, Aquamarine, Blue Chalcedony, Blue Spinel, Blue Zircon, Lapis
Amethyst, Tanzanite
Akoya Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Mabe Pearl, South Sea Pearl, White Spinel, White Topaz, Moissanite, Opal
Smoky Quartz
Tahitian Pearl, Onyx
We sell a number of different shaped gemstone jewellery. Some of our most popular shapes include round, marquise, oval, pear, princess, and baguette.
Gems are cut in a variety of different ways. Transparent stones will often be cut with facets. Unlike diamonds, the facets are planned to maximize the colour. Other stones like jade, opal, and onyx will be cut into a smooth domed shape known as a cabochon. While still other stones like cameos are intricately carved.
Gems also have internal characteristics called inclusions. Some gemstones are known for having many inclusions like emerald or for having few inclusions like citrine. Each gemstone will be graded for clarity differently.
Like diamonds, gemstones are measured using carats. A carat is equivalent to .2 grams or .007 of an ounce. Unlike diamonds, each gemstone has a different density, which determines its weight versus its measured size. A one carat citrine won’t measure the same as a one carat sapphire.
We take pride in offering great value and quality. In order for us to offer this value, it is necessary to buy and sell diamonds in weight ranges. To help assist you in understanding these ranges, we have provided the following chart of size tolerances.
Published by the American Gem Trade Association.
Enhancement: Any treatment process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance (colour/clarity/phenomena), durability, or availability of a gemstone.
N: The "N" symbol appears on the chart only for natural stones which are not currently known to be enhanced; however, the "N" symbol can also be used for other natural gemstones in the event that a gemstone has received no enhancement and the seller will provide a guarantee that there has been none.
E: The "E" symbol indicates that a gemstone has undergone its traditional enhancement process.
