Gemstone Information

Since the beginning of time, gemstones have captured the imagination of people. The saturation of color, the brilliance the stone displays and the carat weight and cut draw people to prize gemstones. They are amazed by the range of gemstones available.

Gemstones are judged by Color, Carat Weight, Cut and Clarity.

Color – is the most important factor. The saturation of color along with the purity of hue determines value. Those with the brightest and most vivid color will usually have the highest value.

Carat Weight - is the measurement of what a stone weighs. When properly cut a carat weight becomes important. The larger the stone the higher the value as long as you also consider the other factors.

Cut – is what determines the brilliance and beauty of the gemstone. Although there is no ideal cut, a gemstone showing the majority of its weight, displaying even color and having few inclusions is preferred.

Clarity – almost all gemstones contain some degree of inclusions. Flawless gemstones are rare and quite valuable. Even high end gemstones such as Emeralds contain some inclusions. There are gemstones that are usually cut without inclusions; these include Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Garnet and Amethyst to mention a few.

Caring For Your Gemstones

Gemstones are not as hard as diamonds and require a common sense approach to their care. Do not wear your jewelry during activities such as gardening, sports, housework or where you might be in contact with chemicals. Dirt can accumulate between the gemstone and the setting. The easy way to clean this is with a soft brush and warm water. Rinse thoroughly, shake and lay on a soft cloth to dry. Occasionally check for loose stones. If a stone is loose contact your jeweler to check the stone and setting and repair it. Store your jewelry in separate compartments in a jewelry box or fabric pouch to avoid chipping the gemstones or tangling the chains.

Pearl Information

Pearls grow inside oysters, mussels and clams. When a small irritant such as a piece of sand becomes trapped inside, the shellfish releases a substance called nacre, which forms a smooth, hard layer around the irritant. This creates a natural pearl. Freshwater pearls form when this irritant is inserted thru human intervention. Akoya pearls have a small shell bead inserted. This creates a perfectly round pearl, thus increasing the value of the pearl.

Pearls are judged by their nacre, luster, size, shape and color.

Nacre- is a pearls external layer. Larger pearls generally have thicker nacre layers and greater luster. The thickness of the nacre also determines the pearls durability.

Luster – is the shine created by light reflecting on the pearl. The thicker the nacre is the higher the luster. A pearl with a smooth and blemish free surface produces a higher luster.

Size – another factor in determining the quality of pearls. Larger pearls are more expensive. The type of pearl can determine the size. For example, freshwater pearls usually are 3mm to 8mm in size. Akoya pearls range from 4mm to 8mm and South Sea and Tahitian can go to 15-16mm.

Shape – most pearls are round, but only a small percentage is perfectly spherical. Pearls are grown in many shapes: round, oval, teardrop, button, baroque, coin, etc.

Color – the color of a pearl is called “body color”. Pearls usually come in the following colors: white, cream, black, silver and pink. Some colors are caused by dying the pearls.

Caring For Your Pearls

The luster of pearls can grow over the years if you take care of them. The oils from your skin keep pearls moist, but contact with cologne or perfume can dull your pearls. Use a soft cloth like those used for eyeglasses to wipe your pearls after wearing and before storing them. You can clean your pearls with soapy water. For necklaces and bracelets make sure you clean between the pearls. Never use cleaners such as ammonia, bleach or an ultrasonic cleaner as they will destroy the luster of the pearls. Restring your pearl necklace and bracelet every few years using silk thread.