Why Buy Gemstones Instead of Jewelry?

There are many reasons people choose to buy gem stones loose before they have them set into a piece of jewelry. It is much more difficult to determine the quality of a gemstone once it has been placed in a setting. The color, cut, and clarity is much easier to evaluate when the gemstone is loose. The perception of color changes depending on the color that surrounds an object. For example, emerald will appear different when set in platinum, yellow gold, or white gold. The condition of the cut, such as chips on the girdle or misaligned facets, can be hidden by bezel mountings and prongs. Judging the clarity of a gemstone is also more difficult because inclusions may be out of sight behind various parts of the jewelry mounting.

The actual carat weight of the gemstone is impossible to verify once it is placed in a piece of jewelry. Often jewelers estimate the weight of the gemstone based on measurements of the gemstones’ crown dimensions. With diamonds, this method of estimation is fairly accurate since they are cut to more or less standard sizes. Colored gemstones are often cut to non-standard proportions and the carat weight is much more difficult to estimate based on crown dimensions.

Another reason people buy loose gemstones rather than the finished product is because they want to have a unique piece of jewelry by setting the stones themselves or by hiring a custom jeweler. If you buy from a reputable gemstone dealer one can usually save some money and end up with a nicer stone than you would buying the finished jewelry. Even better saving can be had if you set the stone yourself or hire a bench jeweler. Finally, there is a growing group of collectors who buy loose gemstones and have no intention of ever setting the stone. Collectors are found at every price point from reasonably priced amethyst to high-end loose rubies.