What is the cheapest stone in the world?

Understanding the value of colored stones is very important for a successful purchase, but examination and evaluation is by no means an easy task. Indeed, in the evaluation of colored gemstones, the subjective factor plays a much more significant role than in the evaluation of diamonds.
It is very important to know the 4C’s rule (Color, clarity, cut and carats) – only understanding the “relationships” of color, clarity, cut quality and carat weight will allow you to correctly and realistically evaluate a particular stone.

I. Color

“I think it really hurts God if you walk around somewhere dressed in purple and no one notices.”
Alice Walker Color is the most important factor in determining the value of colored gemstones, and most dealers estimate the color component in a stone’s value to be between 50 – 70% of the total value. In general, a bright, rich, intense and pure color is always better than a dull, non-intense color. Gemstones should not be too dark or too light. Ideally, they should look good in any light. Colored stones with a color changing effect should show a strong change under different lighting conditions.
It is imperative to take into account that the visible color of the stone always depends on the type of lighting. Even in daylight, the same stone can look different because the intensity of daylight varies throughout the day and depends on latitude. Morning, midday and evening light have their own characteristics, sometimes greatly affecting the appearance of the stone.
Just like natural daylight, artificial light also has a very significant effect on the visible color of the stone. For example, incandescent lamps add red tones to stones, while a fluorescent lamp makes the stone “greener” or “blue.” In order to correctly describe the color of a stone, experts use various lighting sources that allow them to obtain light with different temperatures. Standard temperatures of light for various minerals have long been studied by specialists in the field of optics and crystallography.
When purchasing stones online from photographs, you must be very careful, as the vast majority of unscrupulous dealers use incorrect lighting when photographing stones. This happens either out of ignorance, or in order to inflate prices for an unsuspecting buyer, or to sell inexpensively a stone that is not worth even what they ask for it. We must not forget one more very important detail: no matter what effect the color has on the cost of the stone, no matter what opinion a gemologist expresses about it, YOU will be the one who wears jewelry with the purchased stones. Therefore, your personal preferences are most important when choosing the color of gemstones.

II. Purity

“I’m just a handsome, neatly hewn Mongolian boy.”
Yul Brynner The purity of colored gemstones is only the second most important factor when evaluating them. Natural colored stones are almost never as pure as diamonds, and they cannot be graded using the same criteria as diamonds.
Popular and expensive gemstones such as emeralds, rubies and alexandrites are extremely rare to be pure. Cleanliness and transparency are of course always desirable, but color is still of paramount importance.
Precious stones have different chemical compositions, different crystal structures, and grew and matured in different geological conditions. Some of them are never clean and completely transparent. And if from Amethysts, Topazes, Citrines, Kunzites, Tanzanites, Yellow Beryls and Chrysoberyls While one can still expect the absence of inclusions visible to the naked eye, it is difficult or even very difficult to count on this for Alexandrites, Sapphires, Rubies, Andalusites, Iolites, Garnets, Spinels, Tourmalines. Well, if you are lucky, get ready to pay a serious price. In some cases, very strong inclusions in stones are not a disadvantage, but rather an advantage, and significantly increase the value of the stone. The best star sapphires and rubies, chrysoberyls and cat’s eye scapolites are usually almost opaque. These stones are very strongly included, but microscopic in size inclusions reflect light in a special way and produce these effects – “multi-beam star” or “cat’s eye”.

III. Cut

“Born in fire, blown with a mouth and given its shape by hands and heart.”
Waterford glass The most common method of cutting a gemstone is to turn its surface into a series of planes, which we call facets, or facets. They are the ones who give the stone its final shape. After cutting, polishing is applied – the oldest known method of treating the surface of a stone.
It is the cut that gives a gemstone its beauty and brilliance. With an ideal cut, the stone reflects and refracts almost the entire stream of light passing through it. The angles and relative positions of the edges are of utmost importance; the “brilliance” of the stone depends on this. Why doesn’t every stone have the perfect cut and proportions? Nature gives us raw materials in a very wide variety of shapes and sizes. Many crystals can be very flat and bulky. Only through experience and talent can a cutter attempt to maximize results and produce the largest stones in size and weight from the material available.
Since gemstones are sold by weight, larger stones typically cost more than smaller stones. The price for 1 carat of large stones is usually higher than for small ones. That is why the cutter always tries to squeeze the maximum size and weight out of the available material. In this case, inclusions, bubbles, shells, cavities can often appear on the surface of the stone, and in order to hide them, the cutter has to neglect ideal proportions. What can be said about voids and bubbles in gemstones? Professional conscientious jewelers, gemologists and dealers will always report the presence of voids or bubbles when describing or selling a gemstone when assessing its clarity. Voids and bubbles in gemstones are something that can be easily noticed, especially in overly flat stones. Voids and bubbles cause reduced or complete absence of reflection and refraction of light in the center of the stone, and this leads to a decrease in brilliance, deteriorating the “play” of the stone .. Why are gemstones with voids and bubbles still produced and sold? The answer is very simple! Some stones are so rare in large sizes that they cannot be neglected even though there are voids and bubbles! Encumbered by a bubble or void inside, a 3-carat Burmese ruby ​​will almost always cost more than a perfect 1-carat ruby ​​cut from it!
There are no generally accepted standards for assessing the quality of cut colored stones. This criterion is the most subjective for any expert. In fact, everything depends only on the cutter himself. This is a profession that you can learn, but you cannot become one of the best in it if you don’t have a talent given from above.. They say that one becomes a cutter, but CUTTERCUTTERS – born..
The greater or lesser degree of visibility of inclusions, the play of the stone depend not on the opinion of an expert, not on the skill of the jeweler, but only on him – on His Majesty the Talented Cutter. Does cut affect the color intensity of a gemstone? You often hear this question.. And the answer to it is also very simple. Of course it does, and how! Any gemstone will not only become lighter if you reduce its size. The color saturation will also change. Any stone looks lighter when its size decreases, and darker when its size increases. Cutters, taking into account many factors in their work, including this one, often cut not one large stone from a very dark material, but several medium ones or many small ones. Moreover, their total value, thanks to the best color, exceeds the value of 1 large one! And for light stones – everything is the same, but just the opposite. You can pick up, for example, a couple of topaz. One is small, a few millimeters, the other is a cobblestone of a hundred carats. To the uninitiated eye, these two stones will appear to be completely different colors – a pale sickness blue and a bright blue stone! But in fact, both have the same color, only their apparent intensity and saturation differ.. Unfortunately for all of us, even in the purest transparent diamond, some part of the light flux is not only refracted and reflected, but also scattered and absorbed.. The darker the stone , the greater the degree of color dispersion and absorption. The more light that is absorbed or scattered, the darker the stone appears.
We value precious stones for their beauty, for their color, for their “game”. Stones with pure bright colors and good clarity are very rare. Sometimes a specialist sees that he has a stone in his hands that has already been cut. But – unsuccessfully cut. Often such stones are given to an experienced cutter for recutting. As a result, even taking into account the loss of 30-50% of weight, much more beautiful and valuable stones are obtained.

IV. Weight (carat)

“Do not expect to buy cheaply something that is worth the price of gold at triple its weight. ”
John Bartlett. A carat is a metric unit of weight used to describe the weight of a gemstone. A carat is equal to one fifth of a gram and there are five carats in one gram.
Gemstones are most often sold by weight rather than by size. Less valuable materials, or, conversely, the most valuable ones, can be cut into calibrated standard sizes commonly used by jewelry makers.
The cost of 1 carat of large gemstones is always higher than 1 carat of small ones of similar quality. The price ratios for 1 carat depending on the weight are different for different stones. But on average we can offer the following scale: (1/2 – 1cts) = price ($x/cts). (1 – 2cts) = price ($2 x/cts.) (2 – 3cts) = price ($4 x/cts.) (3cts. +) = price ($4-5x/cts. +) (5cts. +) = significant multiple price change. The weight of a stone depends on its size, but for each type of stone this dependence is purely individual. All precious stones have different densities, and the mass per unit of their volume depends on this indicator. There are very light stones, such as opal, and there are particularly heavy stones, such as sphalerite or zircon.
For example, a round 1-carat diamond with ideal proportions would have a diameter of 6.25mm. An opal of the same exact shape and size will weigh 0.70 carats, and a zircon will weigh 1.40 carats.

V. Cost

“ When we want to build something, we first consider the design, then draw and build the model; and only when we see the outline of the house do we begin to try to imagine how much it will cost us. And what’s strange is that we never guess!”
William Shakespeare As with any other commodity, gemstone prices are determined by supply and demand. Fine, high-quality gemstones have never been available in sufficient quantities, and world prices are very often fueled by the largest dealers buying up the best and limiting the supply of the best to the market for a time. .
The reality in the world of gem mining can shock many. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people literally shovel with their hands thousands and thousands of tons of earth and rock. In the hope, very often illusory, of finding a precious “piece of Earth” and becoming rich overnight. Most deposits are developed using this “hand-digging” method. Very often, the use of machines and modern mining technologies turns out to be unprofitable. For example, when the bearing layers lie deep enough and their “payload” is low..
Very often, deposits are quickly exhausted and their development stops.. This usually happens when small deposits are found near the surface of the earth.. But as soon as one has to go deeper.. It is cheaper to close such production..
The supply of precious stones to the world market is completely unpredictable. It depends on the most unexpected factors. For example, from politics.. If some serious mess happened in Madagascar or Sri Lanka, and we would pay for an inferior sapphire at the price of an excellent diamond.. Very often, the owners of mines close and mothball them for economic reasons.. In order to return to development later, when market conditions contribute to an increase in prices for their stones..
Television also has a significant impact on prices. Just 10-15 years ago, very few people knew what tanzanite was? But at some point, cheap products with tanzanites appeared on shopping TV channels in America and Europe. Their popularity grew very quickly, and grew manifold, and along with popularity and demand, prices also increased manifold..
The DeBeers group is another example. Diamonds have always been popular. But it’s unlikely they would have been so popular if DeBeers hadn’t spent millions of dollars a year promoting them! Well, how would we know that “a diamond is forever” if they didn’t tell us? VI. Confidence and reliability “If manifestations are deceptive, then they do not deserve our confidence in them. When someone claims what seems true to him, it is important to understand whether it seems true or true.”
Diogenes Laertius Successfully purchasing a gemstone on a professional level requires years of experience. For the hobbyist or collector, buying a gemstone can be fun and profitable at the same time. If you are a casual buyer, or want to invest your spare funds in precious stones, you simply need to do thorough research! Go to jewelry stores, visit websites or some of the online auctions – shop around. Read popular science and scientific publications. It’s not for nothing that they say: Knowledge is Power!
A great way to educate yourself is to visit various exhibitions of minerals and precious stones. The goal of all this is only one thing: to find your gemstone supplier. You must completely trust your supplier, be confident in his professionalism and integrity. The choice of suppliers is rich. When you’re looking for someone to buy from, you ask questions like: Are they members of a sales organization? How long have they been in business? Do they have a good selection of stones? Do they make their own jewelry? Do they know about colored stones? Do they have any gemological education at all?
What about online providers? Are the photos really clear and in focus? Are the images enlarged to show the actual inclusions? Are the photos processed in Photoshop to mislead you? What about guarantees and return options? Do they have good recommendations? Are their descriptions true, do they indicate that the stones have been refined? Are they trying to convince you that their stones are IF pure, that is, free of inclusions? Do they offer internationally recognized certificates or certificates of gemstone identification, or at least the opportunity to obtain such a certificate or certificate, even at your expense? How quickly, competently and kindly do they respond to questions? What about insurance? What about reviews from other buyers?
Knowledge and confidence are the real secrets to a successful and correct purchase of precious stones at a reasonable price. Even experienced dealers prefer to buy gemstones only from their regular suppliers.
You must always remember a few simple rules:
1. Cheap is never good, good is never cheap.
2. Which of us is rich enough to afford to buy cheap things?
3. The miser pays twice! And in case of relapse – many times! Well, if there are no jokes: when you see 2 absolutely identical stones, but with prices that differ by an order of magnitude, suspicion should always be raised by a CHEAP STONE! There are no miracles in the world of precious stones. In the rest of the world too. Red is one of the most vibrant and symbolic colors. This is a shade of vital energy, fire, blood, power, magical rituals and festive fireworks. Seductive and passionate, slightly furious and eye-catching, red stones have long been among the most valuable and treasured acquisitions. Jewelry with red minerals gives strength to overcome all kinds of obstacles and problems, awakens a sense of leadership and saturates with energy. Jewelry with these luxurious crystals can become an impressive addition not only to an evening look, but also to an everyday look. Let’s talk about six minerals that attract femininity and the warmth of a hot embrace. The Emporium Gold salon offers you to buy jewelry from famous brands at a price of up to -50% of the boutique price. The authenticity of the products and the characteristics of the precious stones are confirmed by a certificate. Free delivery within Russia will be a pleasant bonus. Pay attention to promotional items with red price tags. The Moussaieff Red Diamond weighing 5,11 carats and the fancy red diamond weighing 1,01 carats Argyle Bohème (2 photos)

Diamond

A natural red diamond is a rare representative of the precious family. The color of such crystals is influenced by specific combinations of impurities and complex anomalies in the crystal lattice during the formation process. In many cases, stones are endowed with secondary undertones: purple, orange or brownish. Intensely red, even with obvious inclusions, diamonds are counted individually. Pure specimens without impurities, which are certified as Fancy Red, are distinguished by their unique uniqueness. Fire diamonds are small in size. For this reason, mixed techniques are used for cutting. For example, the top edge is left flat, and the pavilion hidden in the frame is faceted. This is how inner radiance and play of light are achieved. In items made of white gold or platinum, small scarlet stones occupy a central position, often next to pink and colorless diamonds. The appearance of red diamonds on the market is an event in the jewelry world. Stones are sold at auctions for staggering sums. The average cost is $1 per 000 carat. Pigeon Blood ruby ​​ring and earrings; ring and earrings with rubies, diamonds and emeralds; Carrera Y Carrera Seda Imperial Orchidee ring and earrings with rubies and diamonds (6 photos)

Ruby

A natural variety of corundum, translated from the Latin “rubeus” – “red”. The stone is also known as yakhont, carbuncle or red sapphire. Rubies are characterized by a high degree of transparency and brilliance. The color varies from red to deep red depending on the percentage of chromium in the composition. The term “pigeon’s blood” is used to denote the most valuable bright red color of ruby. The stones are easy to process; all kinds of edges can be applied without the risk of cracks or chips. A round, marquise or pear cut is considered impeccable. Cloudy stones with inclusions are cut into cabochons. Imperfect specimens are refined using heat treatment to improve the color and purity of the stone. Often the setting for scarlet rubies is white or red gold in combination with diamonds or natural sea pearls. In the jewelry market, rubies are valued on par with diamonds. The cost of low-grade stone reaches $3500. The price of top-class crystals at auctions starts at $100, and the color “pigeon’s blood” starts at $000 per carat. Ring with rubellite (red tourmaline) and Carrera Y Carrera Butterfly Dance necklace with rubellite (red tourmaline) (2 photos)

Rubellite (red tourmaline)

This is a variety of tourmaline of igneous origin, the color range of which is represented by all shades of red: from soft cherry to rich blood scarlet with a transition to purple. The shade can be “zonal”, with “stars” or “tongues of flame”. The stone has a transparent or translucent structure with a metallic sheen. There are specimens with a greasy matte surface, which acquires a glossy shine after processing. Rubellite is characterized by pronounced pleochroism – it changes color depending on the refraction and reflection of light rays. The preferred cut is cabochon, but step and diamond cuts are also used. Many famous brands use rubellite to create brilliant jewelry: cocktail rings, necklaces with a large central stone and evening chandelier earrings. The price of a 1 carat crystal starts at $30. Elite examples are sold at auctions for tens of thousands of dollars. Ring, earrings and pendant Made in Italy with garnets (3 photos)

Garnet

Externally, the crystals of minerals of this group resemble grains of the fruit of the same name, and the name comes from the Latin “granum”, which means “grain”, “grain”. The surface of garnets is characterized by a glassy or greasy sheen with a slight moiré haze. The classic representatives of this group of minerals have all shades of red, and some specimens are distinguished by the play of purple, black and even green undertones. Gems with step or diamond cuts look exquisite in jewelry. In some cases, processing is reduced to a minimum: for example, heavy beads made of not cut, but only polished red garnet, which are decorated with precious metals, look avant-garde. Such minerals are not found in costume jewelry. Garnet is an inexpensive stone. Technical quality samples cost a couple of dollars, but the price of collectible pieces reaches several million dollars per carat. Hyacinth (red zircon)

Hyacinth (red zircon)

This is the only precious variety of zircon. The primary color type of the mineral is red, yellow-red or reddish-brown with tints from ruby ​​to dark brown. The stones have an impeccable shine caused by the ability of double refraction of rays. When exposed to light, the crystals acquire a matte tint and gradually darken. The average hardness of hyacinth makes this mineral easy to process. The main cutting methods are diamond or cabochon. An incomparable addition to jewelry is a scattering of colorless zirconium or diamonds. Gold is considered the best setting for bright scarlet stones, but silver is also found. Platinum is not used. Expensive luxury jewelry is also made with hyacinth inserts. The gem is not cheap: the price for 1 carat is $100 or more. Pendant and ring Made in Italy with coral and diamonds (2 photos)

Red corals

They are fossils of multicellular invertebrate marine animals, translated from Greek “coralion” – “son of the sea”. These minerals have a porous structure and are 85% calcium carbonate. Untreated corals are matte, but after polishing they acquire an attractive waxy sheen. Quite common, but no less in demand, is red coral (Corallium rubrum). The color palette ranges from bright orange to crimson specimens called “fiery”, “blood flowers” and “blood foam”. Red corals have been used in jewelry production since ancient times. Most often in the form of rounded smooth beads, as well as polished in cabochon shape. It is not customary to cut corals. The price of a smooth, evenly colored red bead with a diameter of 3-5 mm is 10 dollars per gram, 7-8 mm reaches 20 dollars. In general, coral beads start at $800. The final price will be affected by the weight and artistic value of the jewelry. If you want to sell jewelry from famous brands, our salon will help you do this profitably. In 90% of cases we offer the highest price in Moscow. For a preliminary assessment, leave an online application on our website or write to our WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram (+7-985-727-75-55).