Colored Gemstones Facts and Families

Gemstones are very attractive even from afar. For women, a simple dress prepped with beautiful gemstones can turn something simple into something elegant. The brightness of the colors from within these gemstones possesses a trigger to provide a different splash of energy to its wearer. Claims have it that these gemstones have therapeutic effects too.

Based on color variety, a person is defined by what they choose. Experts say that if you’re the red type of person, you are considered passionate and loving. Others say that this type of color represents anger and fury. Thus, the list goes on.

Colored gemstones are formed through mixtures of different kinds of elements aided by the change in climate.

There are 3 types of gemstones. Type 1 would be the usual colored gemstone that doesn’t contain any inclusions. Examples would be Aquamarine, amethyst, blue topaz, etc. Type 2 are those gemstones showing inclusions visible to the naked eye. Examples would include Ruby, Peridot, tourmaline, etc.

And the last type would have to be those gems that possess inclusion both visible and invisible to the eyes and normally are always included due to the influence of the environment. Examples are emerald, watermelon, etc.

Principles of grading a gemstone are determined by 4 aspects.

• Color – considered as one of the most vital ingredient to determine the grading of a gemstone. A gem’s color must be standard. Every detail must be vivid, leveled and elaborated throughout the body of the stone. Variations would equate to the gem’s value.

• Clarity – this would pertain to a flawless gem. Inclusions must not be visible. Inclusions are used to tell how old the stone is and it helps gemologists identify what kind of gem it is under. If you’re planning to buy a stone, consider the placement and type of inclusion. If you could find a gem without flaws or inclusions, that would be very expensive because seldom it is that you find no inclusions in a gem.

• Cut – it is in the cut that light communicates with the gemstone. Cutting in a certain kind of proportion affects the color and liveliness projected.

• Carat – this refers to the heaviness of a stone. The heavier it gets, the more expensive it becomes. The carat lets you know how much is stripped off from the stone. It is a stone’s weight, whether heavy or light, that is often measured in jewelry making.

A gemstone has different colors. It doesn’t mean that when you think of red gemstone, only ruby would ring a bell. It takes more than one to identify a gemstone based on its color. Sometimes, a single gemstone can contain 3-4 different auras or a name can produce variable hues. Here are the families of gemstones under shades of different colors.

Red 
• ruby (yes, you have thought of that)
• garnet
• spinel
• coral
• tourmaline
• alexandrite

Blue
• topaz
• turquoise
• tanzantine
• sapphire
• spinel
• zircon
• lolite
• aquamarine
• lapis lazuli

Green
• alexandrite
• peridot
• sapphire
• emerald
• jade
• garnet
• hiddenite

Pink
• garnet
• topaz
• kunzite
• sapphire
• ruby
• spinel
• beryl

Violet
• spinel
• garnet
• jadeite
• amethyst
• sapphire

Orange
• fire opal
• garnet
• sapphire
• topaz
• citrine

Yellow Gold
• beryl
• Mgarnet
• amber
• tourmaline
• citrine
• topaz

Naturally multicolored
• tourmaline
• ametrine
• opal