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Buying Colored Gemstones

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The Jewelry Hut
Jewelry and gems
The Buying Guide

Colored Gemstones

Buying colored gems

When you go to buy colored gemstones, you will find yourself immersed in color; every hue, every shade of the spectrum.  There has never been a more exciting time to search for a colored gem because there have never been so many alternatives. Whatever color you prefer, and whatever your budget, there is a sparkling natural gem waiting your discovery.
You will see new gems only newly discovered; emerald green garnet (tsavorite), blue and green tanzanite (technically, the green variety should be called green zoisite, since blue zoisite is what we know as tanzanite, “neon” tourmaline from Brazil (Paraiba, also called Hetorite) in blue and shades never seen before.  Sapphires abound in virtually every color, as do tourmaline.  Even diamond can now been seen in a wide variety of natural “fancy” colors (some at very “fancy” prices).
The new colors are exciting, but so are the new cuts; there are unusual shapes in both faceted and cabochon (or non-faceted cuts) cuts, “fancy” and “fantasy” cuts, “sculpted” cuts.
In the following we will present some of the most popular gemstones alternatives, by color, and guide to how they compare in terms of availability and wear-ability.  Then the gems will we discussed individually.

Guides to popular gems

The following charts show what gemstones are available in various colors, as well as their wear-ability, price, and availability.  In coming articles we will describe the gemstones; beginning with “precious” and followed alphabetically by the other popular gems families, and provide important information particular to each.  It should be noted that the terms precious and semi-precious are discouraged today since they can be misleading; rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are only “precious” in rare qualities, and there are many “semi-precious” gemstone today that are rarer and more valuable than so-called “precious” gems.
Cabochon cut gemstones often cost less than faceted gemstones.  Gems used in mass-produced jewelry sold in many jewelry stores (including online stores) are often “commercial” quality and may cost significantly less. Rare gems in exceptionally fine quality and rare gemstones of unusual size can sell for much more. If the price of a gem you are considering is usually high, it is strongly recommended to take extra steps to confirm its exceptional quality prior to purchase; including obtaining a quality grading report from the American Gemological Laboratory.
The guide’s purpose is twofold: to help you understand how prices for different gems in a given color compare with on another; and to demonstrate how significant the price range might be for a given type of stone, so that you will have a clearer understanding of the importance of quality differences.

How to use the following guides

The guides can be especially useful; and help you avoid mistakes, if you follow these steps:

• Decide what color you want in a gem and then make a list of the gems available in that color.  If you want an emerald green gem, for example, and cannot afford emerald itself, you would use the guide to see what other similarly colored emerald green gems are available; tsavorite garnet, chrome tourmaline, or green tourmaline, green sapphire.
• Compare their prices to get a sense of the relative cost of each.  In comparing prices for these green gems, you would immediately see that tsavorite garnet is the most expensive (but still much more affordable than emerald), chrome tourmaline is next in cost, then green tourmaline, and finally, the most affordable, green sapphire.
• Note availability to determine how easy or difficult it might be to locate the particular gem you think you want.  In this example, you would see that of the choices, and might be difficult to find.
• Note the range in price for the gemstones that interest you. The larger the price range in a given gemstone, the more critical any differences in quality becomes.  A wide price variance would indicate that you must be especially careful to spend time comparing and learning about the stone, developing an eye to spot subtle quality differences.
• Read about each gem individually.  Now turn to the next articles (or click on each gems to link) and read about each (or particular gems) of the gems you’re considering individually.  You may find there is something about the stone, its history, mythology, or wear-ability, that makes it an even more interesting choice for you.  Here you will also learn if there is anything special you need to know, to look for or look out for, as you shop.

Now, you are ready to embark o a sparkling search. But always remember: being genuine does not mean a stone is “gem” or that it is “valuable.” A gem must be beautiful and rare, attributes that are related to quality.  The finer the quality, the more beautiful, and the more rare. The quality of an individual stone is what determines whether or not it is a “gem,” and it is the quality that determines its value. The range in price for any colored gemstone is directly related to quality differences; and it can be enormous. Be sure you have read the previous articles carefully, and understand the factor that determine quality before making any decision.
After reading these articles you will know what to ask the jeweler to show you.  But do not forget to a lot shopping and asking questions until you really have developed a feel for that particular stone and its market.

Gems alternatives by its color

Color family Popular name of stone Gem family Red: from red to shades of pink Ruby, red bluish to orange red Garnet, several red color varieties Pyrope, brownish red o red Almandine, violet to pure red Spessartite, orange red to reddish brown to brownish red Rhodolite, red to violet Spinel, red to brownish red and pink Pink sapphire, pinkish red Zircon, brownish red to deep, dark red Sunstone, rich red to orange red Scapolite, light red Rubellite, red to violet red and pink Red beryl, red Morganite, pink to orange pink Kunzite, violet pink to pink violet Rose quartz, pure pink Andalusite, pink to reddish brown Diamond, all shade of pink and red Corundum Garnet Garnet Garnet Garnet Garnet Spinel Corundum Zircon Feldpar Scapolite Tourmaline Beryl Beryl Spodumene Quartz Andalusite Diamond Orange   Padparadshca sapphire, pinkish orange Scapolite, orange Sunstone, rich red to orange red Topaz, brownish orange, yellow orange, pinkish orange Spinel, brown to orange Zircon, orange to golden brown Hessonite, orange brown Malaya, pink orange to brownish red Tourmaline, orangy brown, yellow orange Diamond, various shades including yellow-orange, to brownish orange Corundum Scapolite Feldspar Topaz Spinel Zircon Garnet garnet Tourmaline Dimaond Yellow   Scapolite, yellow Sapphire, yellow Beryl, golden yellow Sphene, green yellow to golden yellow to brown Chrysoberyl, yellow, yellow green, yellow brown Citrine, Yellow to Yellow brown Grossularite, yellow to yellowish green to yellowish brown Zircon, yellow to yellow brown Diamond, all shades Scapolite Corundum Beryl Sphene Chrysoberyl Quartz Garnet Zircon Diamond Green   Emerald, yellowish green to bluish green Tsavorite, yellowish green to bluish green sphene, grass green to yellow green Tourmaline, all shades of green Peridot, yellow green to green Zircon, green to yellow green to gray green Alexandrite, daylight: bluish to bluish green; artificial light: Violet red Sapphire, yellow green to blue green to gray green Scapolite, greenish gray Demantoid, yellow green to green green Tanzanite, blue-green to yellow green to gray green Beryl Garnet Sphene Tourmaline Peridot Zircon Chrysoberl Corundum Scapolite Garnet Diamond Blue   Benitoite, blue to violet blue to gray blue Sapphire, cornflower blue to greenish blue to inky blue Tanzanite, violet blue Spinel, gray blue, greenish blue, true pastel blue Aquamarine, pastel to deep blue to blue green Indicolite, inky blue, greenish blue Paraiba, intense blue to violet blue to green blue Topaz, pastel to dark blue to blue green Zircon, pastel blue Water sapphire, violet blue Benitoite Corundum Zoisite Spinel Beryl Tourmaline Tourmaline Topaz Zircon Iolite Violet   Scapolite, violet blue to greenish blue to bluish gray, lilac to violet Amethyst, lilac to violet to reddish purple to brownish purple Sapphire, purple to violet Rhodolite, red violet Spinel, grayish violet to pure violet Paraiba, violet to blue violet Kunzite, pinkish violet to red violet Scapolite Quartz Corundum Garnet Spinel Tourmaline Spodumene

Guide to popular gems and their approximate prices *

Family Popular name Color (s) Approx. retail cost per Carat *  Brilliance Wear-ability Availability Andalusite   Poor man’s alexandrite   Changes color from grayish green to reddish brown, emerald green to bright yellow 1 - 5 CT: $50 -$300 5 - 10 CT: $100 - $400   Good   Good   Large: Scarce Smaller: Fair   Beryl (1)   Aquamarine   Golden beryl (heliodor)   Emerald   Morganite   Pastel blue to medium deep blue   Yellow;  brownish yellow   Yellow green to blue green   Pink to orange pink   1 t- 5 CT: $50 -$850 1 t- 5 CT: $50 -$850 1 - 5 CT: $50 - $125 5 - 10 CT: $75 - $200 10 - 20 CT: $100 - $500 1/2 - 1 CT: $1000 - $10,000 1 - 2 CT: $2000 - $18,000 1 - 5 CT: $75 - $200 5 - 10 CT: $200 - $800 Good   Good   Fair to Good   Good   Good   Good   Fair to Good   Good   Good   Good   Very fine Colombian: Rare Others: Good Fine: rare Medium: Good Chrysoberyl   Alexandrite   Chrysoberyl   Precious Cat’s eye   Changes from greenish in daylight to reddish in incandescent light Yellow to yellow brown to yellow green   Greenish to brownish yellow with eye effect 1/2 - 1 CT: $2,000 - $13,000 1 - 2 CT: $3,000 - $18,000 1 - 5 CT: $50 - $150 5 - 10 CT: $75 - $300 1 - 3 CT: $600 - $3,600 3 - 5 CT: $1,200 - $5,000 Good   Good   Negligible   Excellent   Excellent   Excellent   Large: Scarce Small: Fair Fair   Fair to Good   Corundum   Ruby (2)   Blue sapphire (2)   Colorless sapphire   Green sapphire   Pink sapphire   Yellow sapphire   Red to bluish or purplish red to yellow red   Bright blue to inky blue   White (colorless)   Clear green to brownish or bluish green   Light to very dark pink (almost red   Yellow (most are heat treated; natural yellow usually less brilliant) 1/2 - 1 CT: $1,100 - $10,000 1 - 2 CT: $2,200 - $20,000   1/2 - 1 CT: $250 - $3,000 1 - 2 CT: $500 - $10,000   less than 1 CT: $25 -$50 1 - 1.5 CT: $50- $100 1 - 3 CT: $50 - $200 3 - 5 CT: $100 - $225 1 - 2 CT: $600 - $4,500 2 - 3 CT: $800 - $6,000 1 - 5 CT: $125 - $850 10 - 20 CT: $700 - $2,500   Fair to Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Excellent   Excellent   Very Good   Excellent   Excellent   Excellent   Burmese: Rare Thai: Good Kenya: Fair Ceylon: Good Cambodia: Fair Vietnam: Fair Kashmir: Scarce Burmese: Scarce Thai: Good Australian: Good Good in sizes less than 1 CT Large: Scarce Others: Fair Fair   Good   Garnet   Almandine (common garnet)   Demantoid   Grossularite   Malaya   Pyrope (common garnet) Rhodolite   Spessartite   Tsavorite   Violet to pure red   Yellwo green to emerald green   Yellowish to yellowish green to yellowish brown Pink orange to brownish red   Yellowish red to dark red   Red violet   Brownish orange to reddish brown to brownish red Yellowish green to bluish green   1 - 3 CT: $10 - $50 3 - 5 CT: $25 - $50 5 - 20 CT: $50 -$100 1 - 2 CT: $800 - $8,000 2 - 3 CT: $2,000 - $12,000 1 - 5 CT: $50 - $150 5 - 10 CT: $125 - $350 1 - 5 CT: $85 - $400 5 - 10 CT: $250 - $500 1 - 5 CT: $10 - $75 5 - 10 CT: $25 - $100 1 - 5 CT: $25 - $225 5 - 10 CT: $75 - $450 1 - 5 CT: $50 - $600 5 - 10 CT: $75 - $800 1 - 2 CT: $600 - $2,500 2 - 3 CT: $1,000 - 3,600 Fair to Good   Very Good   Fair to Good   Good   Fair to Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Good   Poor   Good   Good   Good   Good   Fair   Over 5 CT: Scarce Other sizes: Fair to Good Iolite   Water sapphire   Violet blue to gray blue   1 - 5 CT: $25 - $125 5 - 10 CT: $60 - $350 Good   Fair   Good   Pearls (3) (cultured)   Round (4)   South sea (round)   Baroque   Freshwater   Black/Gray (round Tahitian)   Silver, silver white, pink white, white, cream   Silver, silver white, pink white, white, cream   White to creamy white   All colors   deep gray to black (Not dyed)   16” - 18” strands 6-6.5 mm: $500 - $1,750 7-7.5 mm: $650 - $3,200 8-8.5 mm: $1,600 - $9,000 9-9.5 mm: $4,500 - $20000, Prices per Pearl (5) 11-12 mm: $1,600 - $6,6600 12-13 mm: $2,200 - $7,500 14-15 mm: $5,000 - $12,000 16+ mm: $10,000 - $24,000 16” - 18” strands 7.5-8 mm: $400 - $1,200 8.5-9 mm: $500 - 1,600 16” - 18” strands 3-4 mm: $8 - $15 4-5 mm: $15 - $30 6-7 mm: $25 - $75 Prices per pearl (5) 8.5-9 mm: $500 - $1,200 10-10.5 mm: $1,100 - $2,500 11.5-12 mm: 43,500 - $6,000 Not Applicable   Not Applicable   Not Applicable   Not Applicable   Not Applicable   Good   Good   Good   Good