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DIAMONDS, GEMSTONES & CRYSTALS
FACTS & FIGURES

Gems are among the most fascinating and exciting of objects. They have intrigued mankind since before the dawn of recorded history. Even today nothing creates quite as effective an image of pure, tangible, concentrated value as a box overflowing with jewels.

This mystique is unrivaled among the commodities held precious by mankind. The fact that the mystique exists is seldom questioned, but its nature is harder to determine. Basically, the entire lore, history, and value of gems is based on the combination of beauty and utility they possess. Man has a deep-seated need to create artistic works and to adorn himself. Although many kinds of natural materials; such as mineral pigments, can be applied to this end, gems occupy a special place. jewels are found among the remains of most human civilizations, and tell us as much about their creators in some cases as pottery, clothing, and tools.

The high value placed on gems since earliest times is due to their unique properties. The colors of gem materials are among the richest and purest in nature. For example, the depth and purity of emerald's green hue inspired reverence in Pre-Columbian societies, and large emeralds became objects of worship. Gems are also hard and durable. It is easy to see how man, with his short life span and vulnerability to nature's forces, must have regarded such "indestructible" and permanent objects with awe. Man's embellishment of gemological properties led to a wealth of superstitious belief so strong and pervasive that its remnants are with us even today.

Gem value is based on such properties as beauty, durability, and rarity, as well as the fashion of the times. These criteria have become well established over a period of many centuries. Most gems are mined and can be regarded as mineral resources. just as in the case of gold mines and oil wells, the supply in any one place eventually runs out. This adds a "collector value" to gems from specific mines that may now be exhausted. But gems represent a tiny percentage of the vast tonnage of minerals mined yearly. Their scarcity is a fundamental fact of geochemistry and the operation of laws of chance.

In inflationary periods throughout history, commodities that have intrinsic value have been greatly prized. Gold, silver, and other precious metals have such value, because they have universal acceptance as a medium of exchange. Antiques, rare coins, works of art, and other objects may have collector value, which implies acceptance as value objects by a limited group of people. Gemstones, especially diamonds, have attributes that place them in both categories.

The historical record of gems indicates a strong level of general acceptance, akin to that reserved for the precious metals. Fashion might cause temporary rises and dips in the market value of particular gem varieties, but gemstones in general have proven to be time-honored means of storing value. And few other commodities allow a person to store as much value in as small a space.

Modern technology has enabled man to duplicate in the laboratory many of nature's masterpieces. Gemstone synthesis is one of the great achievements of the 20th Century. Today one can buy man-made ruby, emerald, sapphire, spinel, alexandrite, and other gems, and more gem varieties are sure to be manufactured in the future. Gem identification and authentication has taken on new dimensions and become quite complex, Yet the difference in value between a natural and synthetic gem can be enormous. For example, a ten-carat synthetic and natural ruby might differ in value by as much as $50,000. This sum is large enough to make it imperative that a means of distinguishing natural and synthetic gemstones be developed.

DIAMONDS an EXPENSIVE GEM STONES

How big you want your diamond to look. A lot of people want their diamond to look as big as possible, even if it doesn't weigh much. Fancy shapes generally look bigger than round diamonds of equal weight, particularly if they are elongated like the marquise and pear. The Trielle is also known for looking bigger than it weighs. The people that market it claim that it looks nearly 50% larger than a round brilliant diamond of the same weight because it is cut wide and shallow.

The shape and size of your hand. The shape of your diamond can give the illusion that your hand looks longer or shorter than it is. For example, a long, thin diamond set lengthwise along your finger can make your hand look longer and thinner. A broad diamond or long one set horizontally across your finger can make your hand look broader and shorter. Try on a few shapes and see which one flatters your hand the most.
The color and clarity of the diamond (how flawed it is). The shape and cutting style that can best mask flaws and yellow tints is the round brilliant. In emerald cuts and baguettes, the flaws become the most obvious. What this means is that a low quality, less expensive, round brilliant can look very good to the naked eye, whereas a step-cut, rectangular or triangular diamond of the same quality might look unacceptable.

The availability of the shapes. Even if you like a specific shape, you may find that there is a very poor selection in the size or quality you want to buy. For example, you might have a hard time finding a well-shaped one-carat marquise and end up buying another shape instead. If you have your heart set on a specific shape, ask your jeweler to find it for you. He can call around to various diamond dealers until he finds the diamond that meets your needs, but be prepared to give him the time he needs to find your stone.

Your purpose for buying the diamond--pleasure or investment. If you're buying a diamond for personal pleasure, any shape you like can be a good choice. But if resale for profit is your goal, you need to consider what shapes are most in demand and are likely to stay in demand. If the diamond is less than three carats in weight, you are more likely to find a buyer for a round diamond. For stones over three carats, you will probably find it hard to find an immediate buyer no matter what shape you buy, mainly because so few people can afford investment quality diamonds that size. However, fancy shapes might be a better choice for stones over three carats since they outsell large round diamonds.