There are more than 300 gemstones from traditional to popular jewelry standards.

What is a Gemstone?

Gemstones are basically minerals that are chosen for their beauty and durability. It is thereafter cut, polished for use in jewellery. Most gemstones are minerals and are cut from naturally occurring crystals. To qualify as a gem, the specimen should be hard and tough to resist scratching and have beautiful clarity, color or ‘fire’.There are certain exceptions to this definition. Pearls and Amber for instance are well-known gemstones but they are not minerals. They occur organically. People also prefer to wear opal as a jewelry stone but these are delicate gems that require a great deal of care. 

Every gem has something unique about them whether its their appearance, rarity, symbolism or optical properties. However, not all gemstones make a good jewelry stone. Some are too fragile to wear. Gemstones are used to add color to jewellery and make it look more vibrant and lively.

Gemstones are classified in different ways. Traditionally, precious stones were the big four gemstones- Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires.

Let’s study the profile of some popular gemstones:

• Aquamarine: It is named after sea water, aquamarine’s freshly watery hue is a cool plunge into a refreshing pool. It comes in a slightly greenish blue variety of the mineral beryl. Aquamarine prices depend on depth and purity of color and quality. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and the gem of the 19th wedding anniversary.

• Amber: Amber is the hardened resin of ancient pine trees. This organic substance is most well-known for the incredible inclusions of insects that can be found within it. People have been making amber jewelry for over 10,000 years, which could make it the first gem material ever used. The fascination with amber continues today. Amber is commonly sold by grams, not carats. 1 gram = 5 carats. Amber is rarely faceted.

• Diamond: It is the most romanticised and heavily marketed gemstone. They are no doubtely, nature’s most precious and beautiful creation. Diamond is a mineral formed at very high temperatures and pressures, deep within the earth. Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of commitment and love. Indian diamonds are primarily alluvial, found in sandstones and conglomerates or gravel deposits. Nearly every jewelry establishment handles diamonds, even if it has no other gemstones in stock. The annual world production of diamonds is on the order of 10 tons. Of course, only a small percentage of this is gem quality, but diamond of very fine quality is nowhere near as scarce as equivalently high quality ruby or emerald.

• Emerald: Emerald has been synonymous with the color green since ancient time. A fine emerald is a truly breathtaking sight, and this member of the beryl family deserves its placement among the traditional “Big Four” gems along with diamond, ruby, and sapphire.
  

• Pearl: Pearls are the only gems found within living creatures, both salt and freshwater mollusks. However, most pearls on the market today are cultivated, since they now occur extremely rarely in nature. While they require special care, pearls have an enduring appeal for jewelry, particularly as the traditional June birthstone. Prices of pearls are based on several quality factors. Natural pearls are extremely rare, and largely limited to auction and collector’s markets. These can be worth 10 to 20 times an equivalent Akoya cultured pearl. Imitation pearls are also widely sold in artificial jewelry, but its quality is usually very poor.
  

• Ruby: One of the most popular traditional jewelry stones, ruby is exceptionally durable. Its colors, always red, can reach vivid levels of saturation. Fine-quality rubies are some of the most expensive gemstones, with record prices over $1,000,000 per carat. 

• Sapphire: Sapphire is the most popular after the diamonds. The pure blue colors and excellent durability of this gem-quality member of the corundum family make for an exceptional gemstone. However, not all sapphires are blue. The September birthstone comes in every color of the rainbow. Except red. On the market, blue sapphires are usually simply called sapphires, while sapphires of other colors are commonly specified as yellow sapphires, pink sapphires, etc, and are collectively known as “fancy sapphires.”

Guide in selecting the Gemstone Ring:

Sapphire and Ruby remains to be the preferred choice after diamonds for engagement rings. These stones also have a rich history of royalty and wealth for centuries. 

• Set a budget: Spend on the ring what is comfortable to you and your partner. The carat weight, the style or look of the ring all determine the cost of the gemstone. A gemstone most probably fits everyone’s budget.
• Pick a gemstone: The center of the ring attracts the attention and is also the main reason for the price tag. You may choose from varieties of stones from emerald, ruby, diamond, blue topaz, aquamarine and blue sapphire.  If you’re confused what to pik then we suggest going by the birthstone.
• Birth Gemstone chart:

January: Garnet Gemstone

February: Amethyst gemstone

March: Aquamarine gemstone

April: Diamond Gemstone

May: Emerald Gemstone

June: Pearl or Light Amethyst Gemstone 

July: Ruby Gemstone

August: Peridot Gemstone

September: Blue Sapphire Gemstone

October: Opal or Pink Tourmaline Gemstone

November: Topaz or Citrine Gemstone

December: Blue Topaz or Light Sapphire Gemstone 

• Pick a shape: Some of the popular gemstone shapes are princess, round, cushion, Oval, Emerald and Pear. Most picked out of them all are round and emerald shapes. 
• Shop with your eyes: You can visit our store or shop online and choose from a plethora of collections from classic, contemporary style, solitaire, halo and three stone. You may choose the style based on your preferences. 
• Choose a metal: What feeling do you want the ring to invoke? Many people enjoy the versatility of white gold, while others enjoy the vintage/traditional look of yellow gold, and the romantic feel of rose gold. Those who enjoy platinum metals select it because they want their colorless stone to appear to hold no yellow tinge, they want a more durable choice than yellow gold, and it has hypoallergenic properties.
• Carat: Carat has the largest impact on the look of the ring. However, when it comes to the price tag, the carat weight for loose gemstones (other than diamonds), does not increase highly as you go up in carat weight. 
• Order the ring: Before making the purchase, shoot questions to the retailer. This way you will have peace of mind. Some key things to ask your jeweler about are gemstone certification(s) from a reputable place (like GIA or IGI), if they use pure precious metals, if they have appraisals, and the return and warranty policy.

Gemstone has been worn for astrological or jewellery purposes since ancient times. The selection of gemstone largely depends on its durability, and aesthetic value. It is important to be assured of the quality and authenticity of the gemstone to avoid unpleasant surprises. It is always advisable to buy gemstone from a reputed seller who is happy to answer your question honestly. 

How to wear a gemstone?

Once you have chosen the ideal gemstone for you or your family, the question arises is how to wear a gemstone? 

Gemstones can be best worn in the form of jewellery. The selection of a metal and jewelry setting that compliment the gem’s physical and astrological properties is a crucial step to ensure maximum positive results and maintain the gem’s quality for a longer time. Another important aspect is to ensure that the gemstone is touching the wearer’s skin properly after being studded in a jewelry piece. Those who believe in Pooja rituals, must follow the right vedic procedure to wear a gemstone to attain maximum benefits in their life.

How to care for Gemstone jewellery:

Gemstones are more delicate than diamonds in relation to hardness, durability and hence require utmost care. Ensure to remove your jewelry when doing gardening, housework and exercise. Even while dealing with harsh chemicals and soaps, you must not forget to remove your jewellery first.  

The most expensive gemstone is the Ruby other than diamonds. A one-carat ruby engagement ring is at least 60% increase versus one carat diamond engagement ring. On the other hand, London Blue Topaz is the cheapest gem. The price for 1 carat London Blue Topaz  is 15% of 1 carat of Ruby. 

Grading of the Gemstone:

The majority of reputable laboratories grade gemstones on a letter scale AAAA, AAA, AA, and B. Jewelry-ready gemstones need a grade from AAAA, AAA, or AA because any other grade will be too inadequate to set. AAAA gemstones are extremely rare and can make up less than 5% of the market. AAA and AA gems make up a majority of the market and are favorable for rings, earrings, and necklaces. Gemstones that are graded below B could be cut into cabochons or craft beads.

Investing in a genuine, lab certified gemstone and hallmarked jewelry is a good way to ensure the best value for money. When purchasing a rare and expensive gemstone from a popular origin, one should be extra careful and must rely only on the certificates issued by the prestigious gem labs like IGI, GTL, GIA, GRS etc. 

For most people buying Gemstones is a complicated task. There are many fake colored stones which are sold in the name of gemstones. So it is advisable that you buy precious gemstones from a trusted source.

Many factors set value. Things like weight, intensity of color, size, rarity, quality and also the country of origin are deciding factors for the price it commands.