What You Should Know About
Colored Gemstones
Part I

For those who love to express their personalities "in color" and for those who wish to complement an outfit with a touch of precious color, gemstones are the perfect answers. Beautiful, rare, durable, attractive and precious, gemstone jewelry makes the perfect adornment.

This multi-part article is meant to acquaint you with what you need to know about gemstones. The more educated a consumer you are, the more satisfied you will be with your purchase of gemstone jewelry. Keep in mind, please, that Kingston Fine Jewelry has a large selection of the most beautiful gemstone jewelry to fit a variety of budgets. What we do not carry in the store, may be, under many circumstances, specially ordered.

The Beauty of Gemstones
There is something very special about the glow of a colored stone. In some gemstones the color is derived from nature, while in others, the final color is derived by enhancement. Gem cutters, trained in this special art, are able to work with a gemstone to achieve a mix of color, weight (measured in carats), and shape to create a gemstone that is attractive and suitable for mounting. The size in which gemstones are available is often constrained by their availability in nature. Large amethysts, for example, may be found in nature, while alexandrite in large carat sizes is very rare.

The glow of a gemstone comes from how it is cut and shaped. The process of cutting a gemstone is constrained by the stone itself. Opals, for example, are suited to a smooth, rounded surface, while other, such as sapphires are suited to cutting in flat symmetrical planes, called facets. Some very skilled gemstone cutters can actually use convex or concave shapes, turning gemstones into min-sculptures.

The clarity of colored gemstones is an important factor in how they glow and shine. Some gemstones are completely opaque and block all light from passing through. Some, like tanzanite, have no inclusions to keep light from penetrating completely. Some, like emerald, have tiny characteristic inclusions which make each unique.