Gemston

es
What makes a mineral a
Precious Gem?
• Properties such as:
– Beauty
– Durability
– Rarity
Semiprecious Gems
• Possess fewer
qualities
• Usually less rare
(more common)
Birthstones by Month
MONTH  BIRTHSTONE
January  Garnet
February  Amethyst
March  Aquamarine
April  Diamond
May  Emerald
June  Pearl
July  Ruby
August  Peridot
September  Sapphire
October  Opal
November  Citrine
December  Topaz or Tamzanite
1. Diamond is
Mined
2. Diamond sent to DeBeers
3. DeBeers sells to select
diamond companies

FOR
4. The diamond is cut (faceted)
 5. Diamond broker sells stone
to retailer

                                                                                                      
Becoming an informed buyer…
The 4 C’s of Diamonds
• Color
• Clarity
• Cut
• Carat
 Color

• Caused by elements found within the

diamond (yellow = N)
• Highest color quality = clear
• Most people cannot distinguish D from J
The Hope Diamond
• 44.50 ct. blue diamond.
• At Smithsonian Museum
(Washington D.C.)
 
             

Clarity

• Diamonds develop natural “inclusions” (flaws).

• Inclusions determines clarity.
• Most people cannot distinguish IF from SI
 Cut

• Only C’s that we control.

• Best cuts = most reflection
Carat (ct.)Weight

• Mass of stone
• 1 ct = 0.2g (200mg)
• Diamonds are priced per carat
• Why is a 2-ct diamond more than 2x as
expensive as a 1-ct. diamond?
Being a smart buyer
 Sample Price Chart
for Round Brilliant approx. 1ct. (x $100)
(ex: D, VS1 = $7,100)
                   

  IF VVS1 VVS2 VS1 VS2 SI1 SI2 SI3 I1

D 142 94 84 71 64 57 51 41 35
E 94 84 71 65 61 55 49 40 33
F 83 71 65 63 59 54 47 38 31
G 70 65 61 59 55 50 44 37 31
H 61 59 56 54 51 47 42 35 29
I 51 49 47 45 43 41 37 33 27
J 43 42 41 40 39 37 34 30 25
K 39 38 37 37 36 34 31 27 23
L 35 34 33 32 31 31 27 25 20
M 29 28 27 26 26 25 22 20 17

Source: www.diamondhelpers.com
GOLD
• Very expensive $$$
• Very soft
• Must combine with
other metals for
jewelry
• K= karat; 24 K is pure
gold
How pure is 14 K gold???

Pure = 24 K
So, 14 K÷ 24 K= 58.3%
 References
• www.gia.edu/howtobuydiamond/Tour_FrameSet.htm
• www.aheejewelers.com
• www.gia.edu
• www.adiamondisforever.com
• www.debeers.org
• www.pluczenik.com
THE END