Gemstone Color

• Color
• Size
• Clarity
• Cut
• Enhancement
• Care

Color is one of the most important factors when judging a good gemstone.
A finely cut gemstone will exhibit a good color, have no inclusions, and feature overall symmetry and proportion.
A dark, intense color in a gemstone does not necessarily mean the stone is high quality.
Rare gemstones are often cut for size, and color isn't the main priority. For instance, Precious stones like Sapphire and Ruby are cut for maximum weight, not beauty, and they may show streaks or an array of colors.
Medium-tone, clear, and intense are some grading terms that define a well-colored gemstone. The shade, tint, or sensation of a gemstone's color is known as hue. Precious gemstones are known to demonstrate a pure color and will feature "minor" hues of other colors in addition to their primary color.
Look for dominant color clarity when evaluating a gemstone's hue. Tone in a gemstone essentially means the depth of color, ranging from colorless to black. It is defined as the relative darkness or the lightness of a hue. Commonly used terms to describe a gemstone tone are "light," "medium-light," "medium," "medium-dark," and "dark."Saturation or purity is described as the strength of a hue. It also refers to the degree to which the gem is free from brown or gray hues.
Some of the most valuable gems that indicate little gray or brown are often described as having "bright" or "strong" color saturation.