Gemstones have always been the cherry on top of delectable icing. Rich, luxurious and bountiful, they mesmerise with their colours and beauty. If the hues and the consequent value of gemstones have perplexed you, here is a quick guide to help you appreciate these magical and natural stunners.

How important is colour?

Nearly 60% of the estimated value of a gemstone is based on its colour. The other factors, clarity and cut comprise 25% and 15% respectively.  The colour of the gemstone depends greatly on the way it absorbs light and the colours that it reflects back. To the naked eye many gemstones look like the same colour, however, every gem has a unique colour known as its absorption spectrum, giving the gemstone its own beautiful hue.

 

Evaluating the colour of the gemstone

When looking at the colour of a gemstone, three main factors that gemmologists consider are hue, tone and saturation.

 Hue

The hue of a gemstone is what a person perceives as its colour, example the green of an emerald or the red of a ruby. Richer and deeper hues of a gemstone are more valuable; for instance, a bluish green emerald or a pure green emerald is worth a lot more than a light yellow green emerald.

Tone

Tone of a gemstone refers to the lightness or the darkness of the gem. This refers to the amount of white or black tone present in the stone that can make a stone appear anywhere in the spectrum of very light to very dark.

Saturation

Saturation is the strength or the intensity of the hue of the gemstone. It can range from a dull to a pure vivid.

Putting it all together

Selection of gemstones is not as technical as diamonds. Factors such as play of light, the source of light, the human eye, the origin of the stone and others make the process more subjective compared to selecting a diamond. An example, one may find a very deep, highly valued ruby dull. A lighter hue of a ruby with more saturation, thus more vibrancy could suit someone’s tastes better. Cut and clarity of a gemstone also play a role in evaluating a gemstone.

What is Sleepy Stone?

Sleepy stones, as called in the jewellery industry, are gemstones that lack cut and clarity; such gemstones consequently lack shine. However, colour of the gemstone remains one of the biggest deciding factors of gemstone evaluation. The most valued and desired are richer, deeper and more vivid gemstones that dazzle with their brilliance.

Can you find me a beautiful stone within my budget or evaluate the stone for me?

If you are interested in purchasing a gemstone or getting one evaluated you can contact us at info@kahn-jewellery.com