A gemstone is a mineral or rock, such as diamond, which can be used in jewelry after cutting or faceting and polishing. Gemstones are diverse in their beauty and many gems are available in a stunning variety of colors. Each has a different luster and style, whether rough or polished.

You can see the differences with the GIA’s Gem Encyclopedia!

Birthstones

A birthstone is a gemstone associated with the month of one’s birth. Wearing a birthstone is considered to bring good luck and health. Certain gemstones are believed to have supernatural powers and their relationship with planets.

What’s your birthstone?

• January – Garnet
• February – Amethyst
• March – Aquamarine
• April – Diamond
• May – Emerald
• June – Pearl or Alexandrite
• July – Ruby
• August – Peridot
• September – Sapphire
• October – Opal or Tourmaline
• November – Citrine or Yellow Topaz
• December – Blue Topaz

Buying a Diamond

When you go out to buy a sparkling gemstone, especially a diamond, you must remember the 4Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carats. These 4Cs form the basis of a universal diamond grading system, so you’ll be able to recognize the best stone like a pro!

Cut

How well does the cut channels light? That means sparkle!

 

Color

The purest diamonds are colorless, but other gems come in a wide variety of colors.

 

Clarity

Is the stone blemished, internally or externally? 

 

Carats

The weight of the stone usually has a big impact on price.

Each gemstone you see will have a different rating for each category, so it’s important to consider all four together. For example, two diamonds of the same carat weight could still look very different. One might be clear, while the other is brown. All these factors affect the overall beauty, and price, of a gemstone.

For more information on the 4Cs, check out our blog post “How to Choose the Perfect Diamond”!

Diamond Shapes

Another major decision when it comes to diamond-buying is which shape you want. There are many different shapes, and each has its own benefits and disadvantages. 

For more details on the different shapes, check out this diamond shape infographic!

How Do I Care for My Jewelry?

Regular cleaning of jewelry is essential to maintain the shine and brilliance of the gemstones and metal. As you wear your jewelry, it will naturally get dirty. Products like soaps, lotions, and even your skin’s natural oils will accumulate on the piece. Even when you aren’t wearing it, jewelry collects dust!

You can clean your jewelry at home with a soft brush, water, and soap, or you can use ready-made jewelry cleaners. Periodically, you’ll want to have special pieces professionally cleaned so that the jeweler can check the security of the settings.

When not wearing your jewelry, store each piece individually in a soft cloth pouch or plastic bag. This will ensure that one piece of jewelry or gemstone will not scratch another.

We detail how to clean your jewelry in this blog post: “How to Care for Your Diamond Jewelry”

Have a Question about Diamonds?

We love diamonds, and we love helping our clients! If you have questions or want some help finding the right stone or style, we want to hear from you. Check out our Contact page for all the ways you can contact us, including our social media accounts.