Gemstone Color, Interesting And Useful Information.
Gemstone jewelry is made attractive by the gem stone colors in the jewels. A gem or jewelry buyer very often chooses gemstones only based on the color. Despite the popularity of colored gems, not many people are aware of important issues concerning gem stone colors. In this short write-up we try to bring the most important issues related to gem stone colors to your knowledge. The information is kept as simple and non-technical as possible.
Natural and treated colors: When you see the gem colors in your gem stone jewelry you should note that not all the gems have natural colors. Gemstone experts have devised methods to treat gemstones. The idea is to either change or enhance the natural color of the gem stone. The gorgeous violet-blue tanzanite gemstone begins life as a dull brown gemstone. Heat treatment brings out the exciting color that is finally seen in the cut gemstone. Similarly the dark uniform color of many blue lapis gems that you come across is derived by dyeing the gem stone. Natural color blue lapis will always show white patches and specks.
Different gems same color: In cases where you are interested in a particular gem color rather than a particular gemstone type, there are good options for you. Most casual gem buyers think only of blue sapphire when wanting a blue color gem stone. Similarly all that they know is emerald when it comes to selecting a green gem stone. However the fact is that, there are more blue and green gems that are equally good and cost much less. The gemstone or jewelry seller will obviously be interested in pushing the most expensive gems, blue sapphire and emerald suits his plan too. Blue gems can include all shades of blue topaz, blue sapphire, blue zircon, aquamarine and blue apatite. When it comes to stones with green color consider peridot, emerald, chrome diopside (rather soft stone), green tourmaline, moldavite and even green jade.
Color stability: This is another area where gem providers love to keep buyers in the dark, it makes it easy to make a sale! Dyed gems like blue lapis should not be soaked in water or made to come in contact with strong detergents. Wax treated turquoise can also change color when exposed to heat or chemicals. All Kunzite fades in color after time, this is irrespective of the gemstone color being natural or treated. Emeralds with their oil treatment seem to have better color and lustre, oiling is done for all emeralds. However if anything happens that causes the oils to dry up, the color of the gem could become less attractive.
As the gems and jewelry industry gets increasingly commercialized, profit margins take importance over ethics. New treatment methods are not as stable as conventional heating or radiation. Junk quality rubies are treated throug a glass fissure fill process. This gives them a gorgeous appearance, but they are no where as durable as rubies put through the conventional heating process. Such gems can sell for around 3 to 5 dollars a carat. Similar looking rubies with heat treatment can cost around 500 U.S$ to 1,000 U.S$ per carat. Gem sellers take advantage of this and often push glass filled rubies for over 10 U.S$ to 20 U.S$ per carat ! Some even fool innocent buyers by selling glass filled rubies at the same price as heated rubies.
The above information is extracted from the Directstones report on gemstone color. The resource is maintained by Kaisilver, the world's leading online custom jewelry provider. The objective is to take care of small gem buyers by educating them. Custom cut gems are also made available for small gemstone buyers. You can even order one single gem of your choice from Directstones. The website has valuable information regarding gems, information that most gemstone manufacturers fail to disclose. You can access the gem color report at http://www.directstones.com/gemstone-colors-01.htm