How can you distinguish precious from semi-precious gems?  Traditionally, the precious gems stones are diamonds, emerald, ruby and sapphire. Semi-precious stones are everything else. Ruby and sapphire are technically the same gem stones, corundum. Emeralds, a beryl is also considered precious. However other beryl like aquamarine are semi-precious gems. Opal that exhibit plays of colors is called a precious opal but not considered as a precious stone. No two gems are the same and since the early times people have done their best to classify and categorize them. The precious and semi-precious distinction goes back to Ancient Greece. Instead of following tradition, let’s evaluate gems based on their own merits. There’s no standard or universal system in determining the value of a gem stone. From a seller’s point of view, precious stones price and value will generally decide by color, rarity and clarity. They would also look for defects in the stone.

Many gem stone buyers still adhere to the 4 C’s when in a hunt for a good deal. They know the gem’s Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. But what if you’re not out to buy a gem? What if you found a gem, would you be able to identify them without the help of a professional?

What can you do?

Before you start, clean your stone with a soft gem cloth. This will remove dirt from your stone so you can get a proper look at it.

Once your stone is clean, hold your gem with tweezers.

Observing the gem’s color is the first and easiest clue when it comes to identifying a stone. Try to observe your gem with just your naked eye in daylight or in a well-lighted area.  Emeralds are red, rubies are red. Hue is the overall color of the gem.

Decide if your stone is translucent, translucent or opaque. Jade would be a translucent gem and onyx is opaque. For translucent gems, if there is fire in your stone, this may be a diamond, or a rare garnet.

Here’s a guide you can follow when buying gemstones to get the most of your money.

1. Sapphires. These are precious stones which are common in many stores. The most valuable out of all sapphires is the deep ocean blue in color. Sapphires come in many colors like blue, purple, orange, white and yellow. Sapphires are commonly used in engagement rings. They stand for sincerity and faithfulness. The Royal family always use this precious stone as an engagement ring.

2. Ruby. These precious stones usually come in pinkish hue to a very rich red hue. The richer the red and the clearer the stones makes it more valuable.

3. Emerald. Comes in a very rich vibrant green color. The most in demand emeralds are those which comes from South Africa. However beautiful these stones are susceptible to damage since they are very brittle. Make sure that you care for it the right way when using one.

Many aren’t aware of the considerations when buying or investing in Gemstones. Here are a few things we should consider when investing in these precious gems:

1. Quality of cut. To check, take a stone and check if the facets line up on the surface of the gem. Take note that a standard brilliant round or oval stone is the best stone. Check for it’s luster. Check if it is symmetrical and if the facets are all aligned. It is important to look into the bottom or the pavilion of the stone. You can easily determine if the stones are hand cut or not. Look for fractures, this are hair line cracks inside the stone.
2. Color. Investors usually buy gemstones that are clean. Transparency is another quality an investor looks into. It should be flawless inside. You should be able to see right through it. It should look like a glass with color. Hazy or translucent gemstones are usually cheaper. Also consider the gemstones color saturation.

3 different parts of color in gemstones:

• Color Hue. Basic recognizable color that we see.
• Color Tone. This refers to the different degree of lightness or darkness of the gemstones color.
• Color Saturation. This refers to the strength or intensity of a basic hue.

Have you heard of the gem called Alexandrite? It is also famously known as the “color-change gem”. It gained this name since it changes its color. During the day it holds a relaxing arctic and greenish color. When under a warm light it’s reflecting a lovely red gem with a pleasant raspberry inflection. You can experience its color change by switching from daylight to warm light. It is more valuable as its color change becomes more noticeable. Not only is it rare, and expensive but it’s very mesmerizing. Some people who own this kind of precious gem feel its magic and energy attributed to it. Its first discovered in the beautiful Ural Mountains in Russia in the early 1800’s. This gem can also be found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, and parts of Africa.

Precious stones are expensive because of their hardness and rareness. Precious stones or gemstones as it is also known are more valuable than semi-precious stones.

Generally, there are four popular precious stones, they are also known as the big four:

1. Diamond: This precious stone is known for its hardness and age. Natural diamonds ages between 1-3.5 billion years! They are composed deep in the earth’s mantle. They are made up of carbon and these precious stones are very rare. They are sold by the carat.
2. Emeralds: They are known to be beautiful gemstones. They are colored stones mostly they have a distinctly rich green color. They are valued more depending on their color. Emeralds are rarer than diamonds. Another fact one should know is that it’s the softest precious stone among the four.
3. Ruby: This precious stone is known for its reddish color. Its value is affected depending on its color, clarity, and cut. The most valuable rubies are the ones called “blood-red” or “pigeon red”.
4. Sapphire: They are known as the blue gemstone. It is popular and valuable because of its beautiful color, firmness, brightness, and its durability.

It’s not been a dazzling year for the diamond industry: global demand for gemstones declined in 2019 in the first three quarters. This is shown by a current study by the management consultancy Bain & Company and the Antwerp World Diamond Center. Diamond jewelry is expected to decline in sales by around two percent throughout the year, while rough diamond business is likely to have slumped by around 25 percent.

The sector is particularly troubled by the trade dispute between the United States and China. The conflict unsettles the Americans and diminishes buying pleasure in the US market, which is important for diamond sales. In addition, fewer tourists from China came to the United States in 2019, and a new extra inch of the US-made Chinese jewelry more expensive by 15 percent.

In Europe too, political instability is putting pressure on the consumer climate. According to the study, Brexit and the ongoing demonstrations in France are the main reason for the falling demand for the precious stones.

The weakening diamond market is hurting mine operators. After the mining of rough diamonds reached a record high in 2017, the producers apparently couldn’t get rid of their stones afterward. The unpleasant consequences in the past year were falling prices and falling profit margins. The mining companies now want to counteract this – and stir the drum. Marketing spending in the diamond sector reached a record high in 2019. In total, the producers invested around 200 million US dollars, around 183 million euros, in advertising measures. In addition, the production of rough diamonds has been reduced by around seven percent since 2017.

Despite the marketing offensive and the decline in funding, the study predicts a slow recovery for the diamond market in 2020. In the long term, however, the sector is beginning to stabilize. It is said that consumers see diamonds as a permanent investment, especially in uncertain times. Large producers such as Alrosa, De Beers, or Rio Tinto are therefore striving to keep the mining of rough diamonds stable in the long term. The statistics portal Statista also sees a long-term trend towards stabilizing production and also predicts a slight increase for 2020. According to this, around 157 million carats of rough diamonds will be mined this year.