| Celebrating a Special Occasion with Jewelry | | | | have a clearer understanding of the importance of |
| Jewelry and Gems; The Buying Guide | | | | quality differences. |
| Colored Gemstones | | | | How to use the following guides |
| When you go to buy colored gemstones, you will | | | | The guides can be especially useful; and help you |
| find yourself immersed in color; every hue, every | | | | avoid mistakes, if you follow these steps: |
| shade of the spectrum. There has never been a | | | | - Decide what color you want in a gem and then |
| more exciting time to search for a colored gem | | | | make a list of the gems available in that color. If |
| because there have never been so many | | | | you want an emerald green gem, for example, |
| alternatives. Whatever color you prefer, and | | | | and cannot afford emerald itself, you would use |
| whatever your budget, there is a sparkling natural | | | | the guide to see what other similarly colored |
| gem waiting your discovery. | | | | emerald green gems are available; tsavorite |
| You will see new gems only newly discovered; | | | | garnet, chrome tourmaline, or green tourmaline, |
| emerald green garnet (tsavorite), blue and green | | | | green sapphire. |
| tanzanite (technically, the green variety should be | | | | - Compare their prices to get a sense of the |
| called green zoisite, since blue zoisite is what we | | | | relative cost of each. In comparing prices for |
| know as tanzanite, "neon" tourmaline from Brazil | | | | these green gems, you would immediately see |
| (Paraiba, also called Hetorite) in blue and shades | | | | that tsavorite garnet is the most expensive (but |
| never seen before. Sapphires abound in virtually | | | | still much more affordable than emerald), chrome |
| every color, as do tourmaline. Even diamond can | | | | tourmaline is next in cost, then green tourmaline, |
| now been seen in a wide variety of natural | | | | and finally, the most affordable, green sapphire. |
| "fancy" colors (some at very "fancy" prices). | | | | - Note availability to determine how easy or |
| The new colors are exciting, but so are the new | | | | difficult it might be to locate the particular gem |
| cuts; there are unusual shapes in both faceted | | | | you think you want. In this example, you would |
| and cabochon (or non-faceted cuts) cuts, "fancy" | | | | see that of the choices, and might be difficult to |
| and "fantasy" cuts, "sculpted" cuts. | | | | find. |
| In the following we will present some of the most | | | | - Note the range in price for the gemstones that |
| popular gemstones alternatives, by color, and | | | | interest you. The larger the price range in a given |
| guide to how they compare in terms of availability | | | | gemstone, the more critical any differences in |
| and wear-ability. Then the gems will we discussed | | | | quality becomes. A wide price variance would |
| individually. | | | | indicate that you must be especially careful to |
| Guides to popular gems | | | | spend time comparing and learning about the |
| The following charts show what gemstones are | | | | stone, developing an eye to spot subtle quality |
| available in various colors, as well as their | | | | differences. |
| wear-ability, price, and availability. In coming articles | | | | - Read about each gem individually. Now turn to |
| we will describe the gemstones; beginning with | | | | the next articles (or click on each gems to link) |
| "precious" and followed alphabetically by the other | | | | and read about each (or particular gems) of the |
| popular gems families, and provide important | | | | gems you're considering individually. You may find |
| information particular to each. It should be noted | | | | there is something about the stone, its history, |
| that the terms precious and semi-precious are | | | | mythology, or wear-ability, that makes it an even |
| discouraged today since they can be misleading; | | | | more interesting choice for you. Here you will also |
| rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are only "precious" | | | | learn if there is anything special you need to |
| in rare qualities, and there are many | | | | know, to look for or look out for, as you shop. |
| "semi-precious" gemstone today that are rarer | | | | Now, you are ready to embark o a sparkling |
| and more valuable than so-called "precious" gems. | | | | search. But always remember: being genuine does |
| Cabochon cut gemstones often cost less than | | | | not mean a stone is "gem" or that it is "valuable." |
| faceted gemstones. Gems used in mass-produced | | | | A gem must be beautiful and rare, attributes that |
| jewelry sold in many jewelry stores (including | | | | are related to quality. The finer the quality, the |
| online stores) are often "commercial" quality and | | | | more beautiful, and the more rare. The quality of |
| may cost significantly less. Rare gems in | | | | an individual stone is what determines whether or |
| exceptionally fine quality and rare gemstones of | | | | not it is a "gem," and it is the quality that |
| unusual size can sell for much more. If the price | | | | determines its value. The range in price for any |
| of a gem you are considering is usually high, it is | | | | colored gemstone is directly related to quality |
| strongly recommended to take extra steps to | | | | differences; and it can be enormous. Be sure you |
| confirm its exceptional quality prior to purchase; | | | | have read the previous articles carefully, and |
| including obtaining a quality grading report from | | | | understand the factor that determine quality |
| the American Gemological Laboratory. | | | | before making any decision. |
| The guide's purpose is twofold: to help you | | | | After reading these articles you will know what to |
| understand how prices for different gems in a | | | | ask the jeweler to show you. But do not forget |
| given color compare with on another; and to | | | | to a lot shopping and asking questions until you |
| demonstrate how significant the price range might | | | | really have developed a feel for that particular |
| be for a given type of stone, so that you will | | | | stone and its market. |