Right now you may be thinking about having jewellery made to give to someone you love. And while it would be easy to just buy diamonds, drop them off at a personal jeweller like Arte Oro, and be done with it, buying gemstones needs a little more thought and consideration — mainly because of all the different kinds of gems you can choose from.
10 Considerations for Choosing Gemstones
Here’s a quick start guide of 10 questions to think about when choosing a gemstone, just to help you get over the overwhelm of going through the 200-plus gemstones out there — to get the process underway. You’re going to want to do extra research on each particular gemstone once you’ve made a shortlist (even in your mind).
1. What will you use the gemstone for?
A ring, bracelet or a pair of earrings may be the first thing that comes to mind, but more to the point is whether you will be using this piece of jewellery for everyday wear or saving it for a party or special occasion.
2. What colour would you like the gemstone to be?
Most people simply go for their favourite colour or eye colour, but many people (particularly the artsy or romantic kind) choose gemstone colours according to what a colour means for them. A classic example would be choosing aquamarines because their blue colour easily recalls the sea to mind.
3. Does the gemstone itself mean anything to you?
Some gemstones (regardless of colour) have traditional meanings (the same way diamonds are supposed to mean “forever”). Rubies, for instance, can represent love, while emeralds are said to be symbols of peace and loyalty (or, if you or your loved one loved the books, the Wizard of Oz).
4. How sparkly or flashy do you prefer your gemstones?
Some people are the type who want their gems to make a statement, while others would much rather not be showy or call too much attention to themselves. A gemstone’s sparkle can be controlled by cutting them a certain way — the rounder or the more facets they have, the more the light can be bounced around and produce more sparkle.
5. Do you think size is everything when it comes to your gems?
Again, some people might feel that bigger gemstones mean a bigger, showstopping impact, while others might find that sort of thing rather tasteless. Whatever your preference, you can ask your jeweller to cut your gemstone, not just for their sparkle but to fit just right.
6. How perfect do you think a gemstone should be?
Jewellery experts say it’s super rare to find a gemstone that is 100% flawless or with zero inclusions. There’s always going to be some crack or crystal forming in there or other, but there are two pieces of good news about this: one, those inclusions can actually add to the beauty of the gemstone, and two, they don’t make the gemstone less valuable.
7. Are you okay with touching up a gemstone or must it be all natural?
Jewellery experts can also touch up or enhance a gemstone by treating it to make it shinier or so that the colour is brighter or more vivid. Some people may feel weird about that, but again, it could make the gemstone a lot more beautiful without at all lowering its value.
8. Is the class of the gemstone important to you?
If you’re buying a gemstone because they’re the perfect colour or there’s a special backstory to it for you and the person you’re giving it to, you probably won’t much care if it’s semi-precious or precious. However, if you see yourself, let’s say, giving this piece of jewellery to your child as a sort of investment down the road, it’s probably worth thinking about.
9. Will it matter to you where the gemstone came from?
Just like buying “blood diamonds”, some gemstones haven’t exactly been sourced in ways that would allow some people to sleep at night. You might want to consider whether the miners who extracted these gems were treated right or whether the environment was harmed in any way.
10. How will you know whether the gemstone is legitimate?
If class and sourcing are important to you, then you will want to think about whether the gemstone you’re buying comes with a certificate that says the gem is indeed true and above board. A good jeweller will be able to give you this certificate when you make the purchase.