How to Buy a Colored Gemstone
In my last few posts I was just briefing you on how to get the stone of your choice. Now we will concentrate on how to get the deal through, how to make the purchase.
Like any other purchase, this one is about asking the right questions and getting the jeweler to answer the questions himself or get the answers from wherever he damn well pleases. Unlike any other purchase, it’s also about getting the answers in written on the bill and double-checking the facts and the gem (for what it is being represented to be) from an honest independent gemologist-appraiser. There is no place for blind faith in this trade, confidence between the buyer and seller is established only through confirmation and reconfirmation. Your right to complete information needs to be respected, and in case the information given is wrong, your right to get your money back too. So first we look at what you need to ask to get all the preliminary information.
- First things first! - What kinda stone are we talking about? Is it a genuine or not? If it is, is it a natural stone or synthetic (synthetics happen to be genuine too – the difference between synthetics and imitations, remember!)?
- What does the name mean? - We talked about misleading qualifiers and all – if the guy says it’s a Rio Topaz instead of just a Topaz, ask him what the hell that means. Again pose the first question – is the stone genuine or not? If it is, ask him why the qualifier is being used. I guess you can risk being rude over being stupid.
- Is the color seen on the stone natural? - Enhancement techniques have become pretty commonplace these days. If one of those treatments - diffusion or radiation, or some other kinda jig such as painting or smoking has been performed on the stone, we need to know.
- What about the clarity? - The inclusion and abrasions on the stone? Flaws do not affect the price of the thing so much as in case of diamonds. But if the inclusions are so many that the beauty is affected, or if there are so many cracks that the stone may break in two any minute, then we have a problem. Also, some gems such as opal and tanzanite are more brittle than others and may chip or break even with practically no flaws. This does not necessarily affect the price, but you might wanna reconsider how you plan to use the gem. For example, embedding it in a ring makes it pretty vulnerable while using it in a pendant or earring does not. Either way, you have a right to get that piece information, so get it!
- What shade is it? - How close is it to the pure spectral shade? Is it too light or too dark? How does the color look in daylight, fluorescent or incandescent light? These are obvious questions. But the answers might not be that obvious. While recommending you to ask these questions, I am assuming that you have done a good deal of window shopping and developed a critical eye for each hue and shade. You might have a personal taste that is not the purest and the most priced shade. That’s all right, but you must know where exactly your shade stands in the hierarchy.
- Will the color stay? - Is it permanent? This question is pertaining to the new kinds of treatments such as diffusion and radiation that stones are being subjected to these days. These impart a color which has been seen to fade away with time. A popular example is the amethyst. Now how long the color’s gonna stay is something even experts can’t predict. But you have the right to know so that you may take protective measures. For example, it has been seen that exposure to heat and sunlight speeds up the fading process. So you need to be more careful in that regard.
- What about the stone’s personality? - This is basically with reference to the cut of the gem. Fine cutting can enrich the color and personality of the stone and increase its value. But again, another important thing to understand here is that sparkle is not the same thing, and not as important, as color. Normally we would think that brilliance and right color come together with a good cut, but that is not so. So a cutter might sacrifice the brilliance of the stone for the hue that is most desired, and if the hue is good enough, then it’s worth it. But if that is not the case, you might wanna tell the jeweler to show you something with a little more sparkle but a color of your liking. All the while, remember that color is more important for price considerations.
- Does the stone need a protective setting? - For example, if the stone is a tanzanite, an opal or an emerald, even though the stone is practically flawless, a high or open setting might not be good. The stone would need more protection, such as in a bezel or some other kind of setting.
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