Buying Guide
Colour, and how to judge it
With coloured stones, grading language matters less than the stone in front of you. Here is what to look at.
What to assess
HueThe colour itself. Slight secondary tones — a blue in a sapphire, a pink in a ruby — change price considerably.
SaturationIntensity. Vivid stones command the highest prices; over-dark stones close up in low light.
TreatmentMost sapphires and rubies are heated. Untreated stones carry a premium and a report.
DurabilityEmeralds are included by nature and need protective settings. Sapphire and ruby wear daily without concern.
Living with a coloured stone
Choose for durability if the piece will be worn every day, and for colour if it will not. We are happy to hold two or three options side by side in the studio so you can compare in daylight.