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, as all Goenka Diamonds gemstones do. For example, Goenka Diamonds sapphires range in hue from "slightly purplish-blue" to "slightly greenish-blue," pink sapphires always range from "pink" to "slightly purplish-pink," and rubies range from "slightly orangish-red" to "slightly purplish-red". With the exception of opals, variation in a gemstone's hue will be called out in the gemstone details 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." Goenka Diamonds 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 gemstone 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.

Ruby

Ruby jewelry is known for its fiery crimson color. High-quality rubies are cut to maximize the intensity of their color, not their size. At Goenka Diamonds, you'll find our hand-selected ruby jewelry has deep, saturated color, pure hues, and good translucency. Ruby is the traditional birthstone for the month of July.

Emerald

Emeralds are the ideal green, and they make a striking addition to any piece of jewelry. High-quality emeralds are cut to maximize the intensity of their color, not their size. At Goenka Diamonds, you'll find our hand-selected emerald jewelry has rich, saturated color, pure hues, and good translucency. Emerald is the traditional birthstone for the month of May.

Sapphire

Whether you prefer the pink or blue variety, the color of sapphire is known for its intensity. High-quality sapphires are cut to maximize the quality of their color, not their size. At Goenka Diamonds, you'll find our hand-selected sapphire jewelry has vibrant, saturated color, pure hues, and good translucency. Sapphire is the traditional birthstone for the month of September.

Garnet

The deep, burgundy red color of garnet makes it a favorite for a wide variety of jewelry. High-quality garnet is cut to maximize the intensity of its color, not for its size. At Goenka Diamonds, you'll find hand-selected garnets have rich, saturated color, pure hues, and good translucency. Garnet is the traditional birthstone for the month of January.

Citrine

The fiery, yellow-orange of citrine gives jewelry an eye-catching appeal. High-quality citrine is cut to maximize the intensity of its color, not for its size. At Goenka Diamonds, you'll find our hand-selected citrine jewelry has vibrant, saturated color, pure hues, and good translucency. Citrine is the traditional birthstone for the month of November.

Peridot

Peridot's unique vivid green adds a lively sparkle to any piece of jewelry. High-quality peridot is cut to maximize its color, not for its size. At Goenka Diamonds, you will find our hand-selected peridot jewelry has vibrant, saturated color, pure hues, and good translucency. Peridot is the traditional birthstone for the month of August.

Opal

Incandescent opal adds a unique play of color to fine jewelry. High-quality opals are cut and polished in cabochons to maximize their distinctive color, not necessarily for their size. At Goenka Diamonds, you'll find our hand-selected opal jewelry has a spectrum of luminescent inner colors. Opal is the birthstone for the month of October. Do not clean opal with an ultrasonic cleaner.

Aquamarine

Pale blue aquamarine gives jewelry a naturally light and bright appeal. High-quality aquamarine is cut to maximize correct color, not for its size. At Goenka Diamonds, you will find our hand-selected aquamarine jewelry has vibrant color, pure hues, and good translucency. Aquamarine is the traditional birthstone for the month of March.

Blue Topaz

Blue topaz has a uniquely radiant color that helps make it a striking choice for jewelry. High-quality blue topaz is cut to maximize the intensity of its color, not for its size. At Goenka Diamonds, you will find our hand-selected blue topaz jewelry has vivid, saturated color, pure hues, and good translucency. Blue topaz is the birthstone for the month of December.

Amethyst

Brilliant purple amethyst is an eye-catching choice for jewelry. High-quality amethyst is cut to maximize the intensity of its color, not for its size. At Goenka Diamonds, you'll find our hand-selected amethyst jewelry has vivid, saturated color, pure hues, and good translucency. Amethyst is the traditional birthstone for the month of February.

Pink Tourmaline

Pink tourmaline has fun, vibrant pink colors that are unique from every angle. High-quality pink tourmaline is cut to maximize the intensity of its color, not for its size. At Goenka Diamonds, you'll find our hand-selected pink tourmaline jewelry has vivid, saturated color, pure hues, and good translucency. Pink tourmaline is an alternate birthstone for October. Do not clean your pink tourmaline with a home ultrasonic cleaner.

 

CLARITY

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 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.

 

CUT

Colored gemstones are generally cut to maximize the beauty of their color. To recognize quality in the cut of a gemstone, there are several points to consider.

What To Look For?

A good cut showcases the gemstone's color, diminishes its inclusions, and exhibits good overall symmetry and proportion. Because gemstone color can vary, there are no hard geometrical standards when it comes to maximizing brilliance or color. Gemstones, especially rarer ones, are sometimes cut for size without regard for their color. For example, when corundum varieties such as sapphire and ruby are cut for maximum weight rather than beauty, they may display banded colors or streaks. Goenka Diamonds sells only the finest quality, hand-selected colored gemstones.

In a gemstone with more saturated color, the best cut may be more shallow than average, permitting more light to penetrate the gemstone, while in a less saturated gem, the color may benefit from a deeper cut.

Gemstone Cut

Look at the gemstone in the setting and ensure that all the facets are symmetrical. An asymmetrically-cut crown indicates a gemstone of low-quality. In all cases, a well-cut gemstone is symmetrical and reflects light evenly across the surface, and the polish is smooth, without any nicks or scratches. These are the characteristics that Goenka Diamonds jewelers look for when selecting our gemstone jewelry.

Cleaning Gemstone Jewellery

Like diamonds, fine quality color gems usually have a table, crown, girdle, pavilion, and culet. Iridescent opals are one exception, and most often have a rounded cabochon cut.

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 gemstones 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 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 Jewellery

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.