Gemstone Clarity - Grading
Gemstone Clarity In a gemstone, clarity refers to the flaws that are either inside or on the external surface of the gemstone. A flawless gemstone (that is colored too) is more difficult to find than a diamond without flaws. Clarity is an important feature of all gemstones, but it is more important when you buy diamond jewelry. For instance, a high-quality gemstone may have many flaws because of its natural formation process. These natural flaws do not affect the value of that high-quality gemstone. A light colored gemstone must have fewer inclusions because the inclusions are clearly visible. In a dark colored, high-quality gemstone, the color can hide inclusions. Sometimes, blemishes can be used to identify the country-origin of a gemstone.Cutting/Finishing Light colored transparent gemstones are usually faceted to reveal the interior optical features of the gemstone. This process maximizes the light that is reflected by the facets and makes the reflected light look like sparkles to the person viewing the gemstone. Faceted gemstones are generally cut in some common shapes. It is very important that the facets are cut to the right angles, which can be different dependent on the specific properties of the gemstone. If the facets are not cut properly, light will not reflect back and the gemstone may lack the sparkle that is present in high-quality gemstones.
Gemstone Grading In the last twenty years, there has been a development of certification. This is not just true for diamonds, but gemstones have been included too. There are a great many labs that grade and give information on gemstones. A few of these labs are the Gemological Institute of America, American Gemological Laboratories and the American Gemological Society. Every lab has its own methods for the evaluation of gemstones. The differences in methods can sometimes produce different results. For instance, one lab can determine that a gemstone has not been treated while a different lab can determine that the same gemstone has been given heat treatment. To keep these differences to a minimum, seven well-respected labs created the Laboratory Manual Harmonisation Committee, which is working towards standardizing the way reports are made and the methods that are used in labs. It is also important to standardize the way reports are interpreted. It can be sometimes very difficult for labs to agree on the country-origin of a gemstone. This is partly due to the discovery of different new locations all the time. Determining the country-origin of a gemstone is one of the more difficult aspects of evaluation. Gemstone dealers are very much aware of the different results that can be obtained by different labs and will use these differences to try to get the best certificate they can for their gemstones.
Color and Treatment Birthstones How to Care for Gemstones
