Gemfields’ chief gemmologist Elena Basaglia shares her insider tips for buying gemstones
Are you looking to buy a loose coloured gemstone or a jewellery piece set with one but not quite sure how to go about it? You're in luck. We caught up with Gemfields' chief gemmologist Elena Basaglia while she was in town, and asked her to share her top tips on purchasing a coloured gemstone so that you can walk into that store and buy the stone of your dreams with ease and confidence.
Gemfields is the world’s leading supplier of responsibly-sourced coloured gemstones, produces 25 percent of the world’s emeralds, and 70 percent of the world’s rubies. It is the operator of the famous Kagem emerald mine in Zambia, which is believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine; the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique; as well as another in Ethiopia.
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1. Colour and cut
The very first thing you should look at when purchasing a gemstone is its colour and cut. The step cut is typically used to shape emerald-cut gemstones, with facets that run up and down the stone's structure in a straight line, giving it a softer and more gentle shade because the light doesn't reflect off its angles as intensely.
The brilliant cut, on the other hand—often used in diamonds—allows for the light to bounce off the stone, making it appear very bright.