Colored Gemstones
The sparkling blue of tropical waters... the soft pink of a dewy rosebud... the
deep green of the South American rain forest...
Fine gemstone jewelry has an amazing ability to conjure beautiful images,
resurrect long-lost memories, and transport you to faraway places. No wonder the
ancients believed gemstones held so many magical powers — and no wonder quality
gemstone jewelry is still considered one of the most romantic gifts a man can
give to a woman.
And if you’re buying fine gemstone jewelry for yourself, you’ll find it all
the more fascinating and seductive when you know the stories behind your gems.
This is where you’ll find information about gemstones’ origins, their care, and
the many ways they can make your life more colorful.
About color
Gemstones come in a fascinating array of colors; that’s why there are so many
different words used to describe them. Here are the ones you’ll hear most often.
Hue is the basic color of the stone: red, blue, or more complex colors
like bluish-green.
Tone is how light or dark the color is of that particular gemstone. A
stone’s tone may range from very, very light to very, very dark.
Saturation measures the intensity of the color. A stone may range from
grayish to moderately strong to vivid. A vivid royal blue, with no gray, would
be highly saturated.
Size
People always talk about diamonds in terms of carat weight, but what about
other gemstones? Is carat weight really the best way to know the size of a
gemstone?
Not exactly. Carats tell you the weight of a stone, but some gems are denser
than others. That means a one carat ruby, which is more dense, is going to be
smaller than a one carat emerald, which is less dense.
Confused? Don’t worry! At Helzberg.com we always tell you the size of a
gemstone in millimeters — not carat weight. So you can instantly tell that a 7x5
millimeter oval emerald is larger than a 6x4 millimeter oval ruby.
Our official advice on size
Carats and millimeters aren’t the only considerations when choosing a
gemstone. A gem’s setting, cut and brightness also affect how big it looks. At
Helzberg Diamonds, we don’t want anyone to focus on size alone. With quality
gemstone jewelry, it’s just as important to consider how the entire piece makes
you feel. Does the color take your breath away? Does the setting fit your
personal style? Are you excited to wear it?
Clarity
Every natural gemstone, like every human being, has birthmarks. In the case
of gemstones, they’re called "inclusions," and they were created during the
thousands of years when the stone was being formed. Tiny specks of minerals got
trapped inside during the crystallization process, creating natural flaws.
Some gemstones are more likely to have inclusions than others. Gems such as
aquamarine or topaz generally have very few or no inclusions, while other
gemstones, such as emeralds, almost always have inclusions — many of which are
visible to the naked eye. (In the case of emeralds, the inclusions are called
the "foliage" of the stone.) Finding one of these stones without inclusions, or
with very discreet inclusions, is very unusual — making them extremely rare and
very expensive. Many people, however, believe that inclusions make a gemstone
unique and beautiful. So ultimately, it’s up to you how important clarity is
when choosing a gem.
Enhancements
Nearly every gemstone you buy, anywhere, has been enhanced in some way. Most
often it’s been heated to enrich the color. (Maybe we should say "heated again,"
since heat is how Mother Nature makes gems in the first place.) And sometimes,
tiny fractures are filled with colorless resins or oil.
Enhancements have been widely accepted for years, starting with early gem
merchants from India who immersed their emeralds in oil or paraffin to improve
the appearance of their stones. Today, enhanced gemstones are accepted by even
the finest jewelers. Like us.
Precious vs. semi-precious gemstones
This one’s pretty simple to understand: it’s all about how easy a certain
gemstone is to find.
Garnets and
Opals are more common, so they’re labeled
"semi-precious."
Emeralds are harder to come by, so they’re called "precious."
But what is precious to you? Precious and semi-precious are both technical
definitions; it’s up to you to decide which gems you prefer. Your birthstone,
for example, has personal meaning to you. A ruby given to you on Valentine’s Day
could be your most treasured possession. When it comes to choosing the gemstone
that’s right for you, you have to follow your heart.
What "lab-created" really means
Some gemstones are created in a laboratory. Lab created gemstones are
chemically, physically and optically identical to gems that are found in nature.
Scientists re-create the process Mother Nature uses to turn natural minerals
into gems (except their labs don’t take thousands of years, and they can control
the quality of the stones). Often, Helzberg Diamonds will offer our customers
nature-created and lab-created versions of the same gemstones — emeralds, for
instance. It’s a choice that really comes down to personal taste.
Buying a colored gemstone gift
If you’re buying a gemstone as a gift, keep a few basics in mind:
- Listen for hints. It’s amazing what you can pick up when
you’re paying attention.
- Look at her wardrobe. What clothing does she wear over and
over again? (Your old T-shirts don’t count.) What would look good with
it?
- Look at her lifestyle and hobbies. If she is an avid
gardener or does a lot of heavy work with her hands you may want to
steer clear of the more fragile gemstones such as opal or emerald and go
with a harder stone like sapphire.
- Notice her jewelry collection. Does she generally like big
pieces, stud earrings, colored gemstone rings, anything blue?
- Think proportion. A short gemstone necklace may look
uncomfortably tight on some women. Large, dangly earrings might be
overwhelming on others.
- Has she recently lost or broken something that could be
replaced?
- What kind of jewelry does she give to her friends?
- What’s her birthstone? See our chart to find out. You
could start with one piece of birthstone jewelry and build up a collection over time.
Shop our colored gem selection now to find the perfect gift.
Buying a colored gemstone for yourself
Gemstone jewelry is a great way to treat yourself. It’s a beautiful,
fashionable way to add sparkle to your wardrobe — and it can be quite
affordable! A few thoughts to keep in mind while you’re shopping:
- What’s your birthstone? See our chart to find out. If
you start a collection of birthstone jewelry, be sure to tell your loved
ones so they can contribute!
- Do you like to wear fine jewelry every day, or just on
special occasions? Stones best for everyday wear are durable gems such
as ruby or sapphire. Emeralds, opals, and
tanzanite are more fragile, making them more appropriate for special occasions. Of course, all gemstone jewelry is highly versatile. It
really comes down to your lifestyle, personal taste and the design of
each piece of jewelry!
- What colors do you wear the most? If you like pastel shades,
choose a lighter gem, such as aquamarine or tanzanite.
People who dress in bright colors, or want to add "pop" to a neutral
wardrobe, often choose rich warm colors such as citrine or
peridot. And of course, black onyx and fiery opals go
well with almost anything.
Shop our gemstone selection now to find the perfect accessory for yourself.
You can’t go wrong at Helzberg Diamonds.
At Helzberg Diamonds, we’ve been selling fine gemstone jewelry for over 90 years. We’ve staked our reputation on the superior quality of our jewelry — so
you can rest assured that every piece we sell has been personally inspected and
approved by our highly trained jewelers. Best of all, your purchase is backed by
our
Satisfaction Guarantee — one of the most generous, comprehensive
jewelry guarantees you can find.
So whether you’re a seasoned gemstone-buying expert, or a beginner just
starting to explore, you can always buy with confidence when you shop at
Helzberg Diamonds.
