Gemstones are usual rocks that are cut and polished, before being distributed. Organic gemstones are the ones, which do not undergo purification; they remain natural. Before buying any gemstone the 4 C's of gemstones must be looked into - Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat. Most of the factors that determine the value of a gem are as follows-
- The rarity of a gem plays a very vital role in its value. The rarer the gem, the larger the value. Sometimes the features of a particular gem also raise the prices, for example- Colored diamonds are less preferred than original diamonds because original diamonds are rarer and less mined.
- A blemish on the surface of the gemstone also helps to state its naturalness.
- A defect within the stone in the form of bubble, grain and sand can also reveal its rarity.
- A binocular microscope, along with a hot needle for turquoise and amber testing can tell you about the quality of the stone in hand.
- A reputed certification can also ensure that you land your hand on the right quality gem. Certifications act as a sign of authenticity to the customer that his investment has been on the right product.
- Testing can differ from gemstone to gemstone. For example, the genuineness of a pearl can be tested by rubbing the pearl in front of one's teeth. A genuine pearl will feel gritty and a counterfeit one would be smooth, or in the case of an opal, most of the fake opals are white and jewelers dye them into blue to make them more precious. A look through the naked eye can reveal that the blue covering is uneven.
- Purchasing a gemstone from an authenticated jewelry store will help curb counterfeiting as the reputation and brand image of the store will be on stake, if the counterfeiting comes to light.
Although, Gemstones are a very good investment, intense care has to be taken in order to prevent them from eroding away with daily wear and tear. Many gemstones are treated for wear and tear using various chemicals that may change over the time. Such chemicals can also make you lose your gem value when compared with an authentic Gem. One can only say ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ and it differs from person to person.
