Buyers guide for colored gemstones and diamonds.
Colored Gemstones & Diamonds
Buyer's Guide
When gemstone connoisseurs are asked about what inspires them to pick a gemstone, they often say it is the gemstone itself. That the gemstones ‘speak’ to them. Almost as if they were living substances, individuals with their own character, nature, and preferences - as if the gemstones themselves were determined to select their masters.
Step 1
Trusted Seller
First things first. Buy gemstones and diamonds from reputed and learned sellers. Buying & selling gemstones require high-level expertise and extensive knowledge about gemology & the current market trends. A jeweler buying and selling without expertise might carelessly provide you with a synthetic, imitation, or an enhanced gemstone without any disclosure about the same.
If you are shopping a gemstone online, first assure yourself about the seller's authenticity. Also look for SSL certificates to verify the origin and genuineness of the online seller. Unlike other manufactured products, every natural gemstone is unique. Ask if the seller would ship the same gemstone or is it only a sample product that is listed online. Most of the gemstones listed on e-commerce marketplaces are only illustrative products, the gemstone which is shipped to you is a different one.
Step 2
Gem Inspection
Once you have found a reputed seller you are comfortable with, pick a gemstone that 'speaks' to you. Every individual might be spellbound to a different gem. The next step is to closely explore the gemstone. Every gemstone narrates a story through its color, clarity, cut & carat weight. Take your time, ask your jeweler to hold it to the light, turn it around, tilt it this way and that. You may also ask for a magnifier to peek inside and inspect the inclusions & surface features. Most importantly, try it on and see how it makes you look and feel.
Your jeweler must be able to explain the marks and blemishes which you might see in the gemstone. Inclusions, fissures, and surface-reaching cavities are commonly found in natural gemstones.
Colored gemstones are often enhanced through minor or major treatments. Ask your seller about the treatments performed on the gem and how it impacts the appearance and stability. We insist on buying a gemstone free of any major enhancements for astrological or talismanic purposes.
Step 3
Certification
Gemstone reports are an essential part of your gem & diamond purchase. A gem report should contain all necessary information about your gemstone including color, shape, dimensions, photograph, gem identity, and enhancements performed. A certificate without detailed information about the major treatments is incomplete, and such laboratories are not recognized for their authenticity or are also known as 'traders labs', who issue reports in favor of traders by not disclosing the treatments. If you are buying a gemstone that represents a significant purchase to you as an individual, ask for a report from a reputed laboratory.
If you are shopping a Diamond Solitaire over 30 cents, we recommend buying a diamond graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), who are the creators of the 4C's Diamond Grading System. As all diamonds look-alike in a photograph, the report number is laser inscribed over the diamond to verify its authenticity. Ask the jeweler to demonstrate this inscription to you via a digital microscope which will assure that the report belongs to the same diamond.