Q: I was in a jewelry store last week and saw what they called a ‘Fancy Yellow Sapphire’. They also told me that sapphires can be many colors. Is this true and how do I determine value?” 

A : The world of colored gems is vast and the correct determination of value is based on rarity and quality. Many gemstone species are available in various colors, including sapphire, tourmaline, spinel and garnet. The crystallized form of the mineral Corundum is called Sapphire or Ruby. A natural sapphire can be colorless, blue, yellow, orange, green, lavender (which is very rare) or pink, and when it is red, it is called Ruby. When the crystal is very pure it is colorless and when impurities are introduced during the growth process, colors are created. Sapphires and rubies can be very bright and are very durable. 

Garnets are also available in a wide variety of colors. Most people think of garnet as a burgundy/red color, yet the rarest are green or orange. Orange garnets are called Spessartite or Mandarin Garnet and most green garnets are Tsavorite. Tsavorites can seldom be found in sizes larger than five carats and Spessartites are rarely found in sizes larger than eight carats. Both Spessartites and Tsavorites are rare, beautiful and valuable. was in a jewelry store last week and saw what they called a ‘Fancy Yellow Sapphire’. They also told me that sapphires can be many colors. Is this true and how do I determine value?” 

Spinel is also an exceptionally beautiful and brilliant gemstone. It is naturally created in every color of the rainbow, including black, and is almost as hard as sapphire. Because it is extremely beautiful and durable but less well known, its cost is less than sapphire, making it an exceptional value. Though many colored gems are rare, the absolute rarest of all are colored diamonds. For every 100,000 carats of ‘white’ diamonds mined, there is but one carat of natural colored diamond found. Colored diamonds come in every shade of every color in the color spectrum. To put in perspective the value of a colored diamond, recently a 6.04 ct. vivid blue diamond ring sold at auction for $7.98 million dollars, making it $1.03 million per carat. 

The beauty and value of any gemstone is determined not only by the eye of the beholder, but also its color saturation, its clarity and last but definitely not least, is the cut of the gem. The cut can make or break the beauty of any gem and this is where the “X factor” of the human comes in. In the hands of a master gem cutter, the value of any gem can be greatly enhanced. 

It is difficult to include all the important factors involved in gemstone evaluation in one short answer. I would advise anyone interested in the purchase of a gem of importance to consult with a trusted and knowledgeable professional. 

Zoltan David – Designer / Master Goldsmith 
www.zoltandavid.com

Tags: Expert