Gemstones

Blue Oval Sapphire September Birthstone   Square Ruby July Birthstone   Square Emerald May Birthstone   Color The jewelry industry recognizes the highest quality gemstones by purity of their hue, the depth of tone, and the color saturation. The best value is in colors that include “slight” traces of other colors, are not too light or dark, and have a lot of saturated color. Doron Diamond Merchant offers some of the highest-quality colored gemstones available,. The beautiful color of a gemstone is its most defining characteristic, and many jewelers consider it to be the most important evaluation criterion. When deciding upon gemstone color, examine hue, tone and saturation. Hue The most valuable gemstones are those that exhibit a pure color and only “slight” hues of other colors in addition to their primary color.. For example, Doron Diamond Merchant’s sapphires range in the hue from “slightly purplish-blue” to “slightly purplish-green”, pink sapphires always range from “pink” to “slightly purplish-pink”, and rubies range from “slightly orangish-red” to ”purplish-red”. With the exception of opals, variation in a gemstone’s hue will be called out in the gemstones detail on the product detail page. Tone Tone represents the depth of color, ranging from colorless to black. Gemstone tone is described as “light”, “medium-light”, “medium”, “medium-dark”, and “dark”. Doron Diamond Merchant offers gemstones with the most sought-after tones that fall within the medium-light to medium-dark range. For all of our gemstone jewelry, you’ll find any tone variations are called out in the product details. Saturation Saturation, or color purity, refers to the degree to which the gem is free from brown or gray hues. The most desirable gemstones, which show little gray or brown, are often described as having “vivid” or “strong” color saturation. Generally, the levels of color saturation will not be called out in the product details because the gemstones in our jewelry are hand selected for their vivid colors. Clarity Almost all gemstones contain tiny fractures called inclusions. Flawless gemstones are very rare and valuable, and even the most high-end gemstones are at least slightly included. The best value is found in gems that are lightly- to moderately- included, like those found in Doron Diamond Merchant gemstone jewelry. Identifying Marks Because gemstones form under unique circumstances, each individual gemstone is comprised of a combination of trace minerals, which create a unique set of identifying marks or inclusions. Inclusions will not necessarily detract from the beauty or desirability of a colored gemstone. What to Look For When considering a colored gemstone’s clarity, you should measure your expectations against the standard for that variety of gemstone. Some varieties of colored gemstones, such as aquamarine, blue topaz, and citrine, have naturally fewer inclusions while other gemstones, such as the emerald and ruby, tend to have a higher rate of acceptable inclusions. Clarity is an important factor in comparing quality colored gemstones. Even opaque opals can have milky inclusions that will effect their iridescence and color play. In general, the best values are available in gemstones that are moderately included. Exceptional gemstones with few or no inclusions are available, but they can command extravagant prices. Care Cleaning Gemstone Jewelry After removing your gemstone jewelry, wipe it with a soft cloth to remove dirt and other residues. In general, all you need to clean your gemstone is warm, soapy water and a very soft brush. A soft toothbrush and mild dishwashing liquid does a good job. Remove your jewelry, let it soak in the soapy water for about 20 minutes, and then gently brush it and rinse it thoroughly. Be careful not to scratch the metal of your setting. Home ultrasonic cleaners are not recommended for all of your colored gemstones. Ruby and sapphire are typically safe to clean in an ultrasonic cleaner, but other gemstones are not. Because of their porous composition, opals should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner. Similarly, emeralds should always be cleaned by hand. Storing Gemstones Store your gemstone jewelry in a lined case or a soft cloth, so the gems do not touch each other or parts of other jewelry. Gemstones are harder than gold, silver or platinum and can scratch the surfaces of your other fine jewelry if they are not kept separate Wearing Gemstone Jewelry While it’s true that gemstones such as ruby and sapphire are second only to diamond on the hardness scale, it is not a measurement of their indestructibility. It means that these gemstones are able to resist scratching almost as well as diamond. Abrasive surfaces, harsh chemicals, and sharp blows can damage even the toughest gem. Your gemstone jewelry should be the last thing you put on when getting dressed and the first thing you take off at the end of the night. Store it carefully and it will be enjoyed for generations.