shape
carat
color
clarity

Help me assess these emeralds, rubies and sapphires

Ok I can only comment in general terms.

When it comes to value in CS color is No.1. and then color and color. This is especially true in the case of emeralds, which are naturally highly included stones.

Jardin is totally acceptable and considering how blown up these images are, both stones are actually quite clean with 1 being extremely clean, possibly indicating absence of treatment.

Brilliance is not something you want in an emerald although transparency yes. You do want this deep oily muted fire and the priced gota de aceite effect when you can.

Problem is emeralds are almost impossible to photograph-. Their color and fire just won´t show up like IRL. Then some may photoshop the photos so really you need a great return policy and time to be able to take/send the pieces to a recommended appraiser.

Both 1 and 2 could be good candidates for purchase depending on price of course and whether real life color actually matches the color on the photos. I loved the life and clarity of 1 but again cannot advice specifically and also you really have to seem them with your own eyes to know more.

Issues like doublets, synths, well based on the photos the emeralds are not but again this is why you will need an appraiser. A report helps, however, CS do not often get reports on them and even with one I would still use an appraiser.

In sapphires and rubies heating is accepted, however, I prefer them untreated just like my emeralds. In fact oiling in an emerald is more accepted and reduces value to a lesser degree than heating does in rubies and sapphires. It is ok but there is a huge difference in value when it comes to heating. This is something you should consider.

Thanks so much. This was really helpful.

If OP wants to read books on the subject then Ron Ringsrud´s book on emeralds is a must read:

http://www.emeraldpassion.com/index.htm

But no book will give someone the professional training and experience required to accurately assess the value of a stone, hence a report is a plus (can be done later though in CS not necessary) BUT must have a great return policy and make sale contingent on claims verified by report and/or appraisal done by a renown appraiser like the ones recommended here.

I guess that’s really it... hmm... maybe I should stick to going to my jeweler to buy the big ticket items like emeralds etc since it is so hard to make a good decision based on my very limited knowledge.
 

Wow. Thanks so much. I’ll have a look at the books but I’ll be very honest and admit I don’t know if I’ll get around to reading them. But do appreciate you sharing them. :)

If I’m buying a high value stone I’ll definitely have the stone examined by AGL as a first preference.

Those books showcase the best stones (plus other info) so I think they’re helpful learning material. Train your eyes to look for pretty stuff :mrgreen:.

If possible, I’ll go to large gem shows and look at all the high end low end stuff and take the time to shop around and learn before jumping into a large purchase. I agree though it’s hard to know if the gemstone is a good buy and if it’s a good looking specimen unless you shop around a lot and learn, it may take you a long time before you find something appropriate.

Also colour is a personal preference so you might like something that is not at the top end so all the better.

I think it’s hard to assess a gem by photos they can look very different in real life, so yes a good return policy is necessary.

Photo wise I think stones 1 and 6 have the potential to be nice looking stones. The others look a bit desaturated. Overall I’ll keep on looking unless they’re a real bargain.

That’s the thing. I’ve been to many gem shows but I just don’t have the confidence to pull the trigger on a significant purchase...
 
@icy_jade When DW and I first started in colored stones we were focused entirely on blue sapphires, and whilst it did take a number of visits to multiple vendors of loose stones, we eventually found we could tell the difference between high value, great color stones and poor color stones. Also the difference in price between vendors for similar quality sapphires was amazing to us, one vendor could be double the price of another vendor for essentially the same stone. It's nothing like buying diamonds, so shopping around is essential!!!

However when we started to venture beyond sapphires we found it overwhelming until we again decided to focus on one kind of stone at a time. So my advice is to pick your favorite color and become very knowledgeable on that gem before moving on to another color. This is not a race...there will be plenty of great stones out there once you are ready for them, and in a position to know a good deal when you see one. :D
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP

Featured Topics

Top