What makes a quality gemstone?

Understanding quality

The 4 C’s are applied to diamonds, and can be applied to all precious gemstones. Here is a summary of how the quality of gemstones is determined.

Colour - as a general rule, the more intense the colour the more valuable the jewel.

Clarity - you don't want to see inclusions or scratches or fine cracks with bare eyes, and even better under a loupe.

Size (Carat) - the bigger the more valuable. There are fewer large stones than small ones.

Cut - a good cut is symmetric and follows the natural form of the stone. Its purpose is to enhance the gemstone's look, make it sparkle.

Origin of a gemstone

You might want to consider if stones are ethically mined and legally sourced. For example, we wouldn't use diamonds that come from war zones.

These days, stones are grown in laboratories - man made artificial stones that are cheaper but lack what natural gemstones offer. You will want the real thing!

Price does not equal quality. Rarity and demand influence the price of a gemstone. Some gems are rarer than others. There are gemstones that have a single source, like Tanzanite, or only a few sources. That makes them rarer and if sought after pushes up their price.

Treated versus untreated

Gemstones are often treated with heat or radiation to enhance or change the colour. An untreated stone is worth more than a treated stone, as a general rule.

Stones like Emeralds are brittle and often have tiny fissures. Using oil makes these fissures less visible. Therefore a stone without fissures or with no oil is more valuable than one that oil has been used on.

At Avant Jewellery we prefer to source untreated stones that are sizeable and of best quality at an affordable price.

Find your special gemstone in our collections.