When you explore the world of gemstones it is necessary to understand the term “Gemology”. Gemology is a branch of art or crafts which deals with gems. Throughout history, gems have been the symbol of beauty, rarity, kings, wealth and power. Everyone desires to have these beautiful gifts of nature. In modern days gems have a wide market, people buy gems as gifts for loved ones for special occasions, couples looking for engagement rings that last for a long time, travelers, jewelry designers and so on. When you explore the world of gemstones there are various factors that you must keep in your mind. They are as below,
Familiarize yourself with gems
Average consumer cant make the precise judgements as qualified gemologists. Gemologists have far greater knowledge which allows them to make those precise judgments. When you are selecting a gemstone, there are critical factors that you must be aware of such as color, cut, brilliance and weight. Learning these factors will allow you to familiarize yourself with the gems stones and to become an intelligent gem buyer.
Ask questions from yourself
There are a few questions that you must ask yourself initially before buying a gemstone. They are:
- Is this the colour I want?
- Is this the cut I want?
- What is my budget for the stone?
- What is the carat weight of the stone?
- Is this a genuine natural stone?
if you have answers to all the questions mentioned above then you are ready to go ahead and purchase a gemstone.
Make sure to keep the stone clean
It is essential to keep the stone clean when you examine it. If there is no way to make the gemstone clean. Breath unto the stone and clean it using a clean handkerchief. It will allow you to have a clear view of the gemstone and examine it properly. You should try to view the stone from different angles to check if there are inclusions and scratches. You may use a loupe to examine the inclusions more carefully.
View the gem under proper lighting
When you are examining a gemstone you should try to use spotlights and it will give a fantastic look to the stone. The source of the light must come from above or behind you so that light would go through the stone and reflect back to your eyes. Don’t use a fluorescent light to examine the stone as it may adversely affect the colour of the gemstone.
Use Authenticated laboratory report
If the stone is expensive and more than 2 carat. It is always recommended to verify the facts by a qualified gem testing lab such as GIA, IGL, AGL etc. Gem testing laboratories will provide you the most accurate facts about the stone. That way you can make sure if the stone is worth the amount you spend.