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Gemstones are among the most individual of nature's creations: perfect crystals, with no two alike. These naturally occurring crystalline forms of minerals are desirable for their beauty and rarity. Today, there are more than 30 popular gem varieties, and many more, lesser-known rare collector gemstones. Some varieties of gemstones also come in a wide range of colors.
THE FOLLOWING GENERAL RULES APPLY TO ALL GEMSTONES:
COLOR - Vivid, saturated colors are more highly prized than subdued or washed-out colors. Deeper colors are more highly prized than lighter ones, unless the depth of color is so great as to make the stone appear blackish as in the case of a ruby or a sapphire. The best color for any gemstone should be obvious from several feet or even several yards away. For example, a ruby should be intensely red from across a room, and a blue sapphire should be obviously blue, not black. The exception to the rule occurs when the extremes are desired -- truly colorless diamonds are valued more highly than those with pale colors, and a truly black diamond would be worth more than one that is merely dark gray.
CUT - Larger stones are more highly prized than small ones, although stones too large for use in jewelry tend to have lower per carat prices. Also, stones that are not of a "calibrated cut" (which make them easy to set in standard findings) tend to have a lower price per carat.
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