Gemstone buying Guide Series

Gemstones Buying Guide Series No.1

Published only on Monday’s.  Extracted from Gemstone Buying Guide by Renee Newman GG

 

Colored Gem Price Factors :

 

Following factors can affect the prices of coloured gemstones:

-          Color

-          Clarity

-          Transparency

-          Shape

-          Cutting Style

-          Cut Quality

-          Carat Weight or stone size

-          Treatment status

-          Place of Origin

-          Distinctness of phenomena

 

Color plays a major role in gem pricing, but its impact varies depending on (1) quality. (2) size, (3) variety and (4) species of a gemstone.

Color has a greater effect on the price of a blue sapphire than on example a blue topaz or yellow sapphire.

-          In most cases, the stronger and more saturated the color, the more it is valued

-          In some cases, buyer/seller preferences impact prices more than the strength of the color

-          In most cases, the more greyish, brownish or blackish a gemstone is the lower its price

-          The more rare a color, the more it may be valued

-          In most cases, the lower the quality of a stone, the less impact color has on  price

-          Low price does not necessarily mean low desirability

 

Clarity is the degree to which a stone is free from flaws (inclusions and blemishes).  Usually the fewer, smaller and less noticeable the flaws, the higher the price, especially for higher priced gems such as rubies and emeralds.  However there is a greater tolerance for flaws in colored gems than in diamonds, and prices are typically based on the visual appearance of colored stones rather then on clarity grades. There is no universally accepted grading system for colored gems.  In some cases flaws may be a welcome sign that a stone is natural and not treated nor lab-grown.

 

LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT TOPICS: Transparency & Shape next MONDAY….