How to Buy: Gems

Nature produces a variety of magnificent colored gemstones. Dozens of these stones satisfy our love of color in fine jewelry. Ruby, emerald and sapphire are the most popular.

Color is the primary characteristic gemologists use to determine the quality of a gemstone. Clarity and brilliance are also important in determining a stone's beauty and value.

Gemologists divide the color of a gemstone into three parts: hue, tone and intensity, or saturation. Many stones are enhanced to improve their color to the naked eye. Some of these treatments are permanent and undetectable. Others can be identified and may cause the gem's color to change over time. Stone enhancements must always be disclosed to the customer so that you can make an informed purchase.

Variations in color give gemstones unique personalities and ever-changing popularity. For example, sapphires appear in nature in all colors but red. In the blue variety, the gemstone varies from pale, watery gray-blue to deep, greenish-blackish-blue, and all colors in between.

Sapphire can be extremely common and affordable, or rare and pricey. Tivol gemologists purchase sapphires from many countries and in many ranges of rarity and beauty. We delight in helping customers who want to study this and other magnificent gemstones.