Colored Gemstones
Beyond diamonds, colored gemstones add vibrant beauty to jewelry.
The Big Three
Ruby
- Color: Red to pinkish-red
- Hardness: 9/10 (very durable)
- Best origins: Burma, Mozambique
- Look for: Vivid, saturated color without being too dark
Emerald
- Color: Green to bluish-green
- Hardness: 7.5-8/10 (requires care)
- Best origins: Colombia, Zambia
- Look for: Vivid green, acceptable to have inclusions ("jardin")
Sapphire
- Color: Blue (also pink, yellow, orange)
- Hardness: 9/10 (very durable)
- Best origins: Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Madagascar
- Look for: Medium to medium-dark tone, strong saturation
Popular Semi-Precious Stones
- Amethyst - Purple quartz, affordable luxury
- Aquamarine - Light blue, excellent clarity
- Topaz - Various colors, very versatile
- Garnet - Deep red, great durability
- Peridot - Olive green, unique color
Treatments
Most colored gems undergo treatment. Common treatments:
- Heat - Improves color, widely accepted
- Oiling - Standard for emeralds
- Filling - Less desirable, affects durability
All treatments are disclosed on certificates.