Buy Colored Gemstones With Confidence
Colored gemstones offer endless possibilities for creating jewelry that reflects your personal style. Whether you're drawn to the deep blue of a sapphire, the rich red of a ruby, or the vibrant green of an emerald, understanding what affects a gemstone's beauty and value can help you make a confident purchase.
At Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, you'll find a generous selection of loose colored gemstones, including sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and other fine gemstones. Shopping for loose gemstones allows you to evaluate the entire gemstone before it is mounted in jewelry. Without settings, prongs, or surrounding diamonds influencing your perception, you can accurately compare color, brilliance, transparency, shape, and overall appearance. Once you've selected the perfect gemstone, you can choose from our collection of mountings or work with our team to create a custom piece designed specifically around your stone.
You can also choose from our selection of complete rings available for purchase today.
Want to get in touch with us to get the process started? Contact us via phone during business hours or email us anytime:
What Determines a Colored Gemstone's Value?
Unlike diamonds, colored gemstones are not primarily valued using a standardized grading system. Instead, value is determined by a combination of factors, with color typically being the most important.
Color
Color is the single most important factor in most colored gemstones.
Gemologists evaluate color based on three characteristics:
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Hue: The gemstone's primary color.
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Tone: How light or dark the color appears.
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Saturation: The intensity or richness of the color.
The most valuable gemstones typically display strong, vivid color without appearing overly dark or washed out. However, personal preference plays an important role, and many buyers choose gemstones based on the colors they find most appealing.
Clarity
Most colored gemstones contain natural inclusions formed during their creation within the earth.
Unlike diamonds, inclusions are often expected in colored gemstones. In fact, certain inclusions can help verify that a gemstone is natural rather than synthetic.
Some gemstones, such as emeralds, commonly contain visible inclusions, while others, like sapphires, are often found with greater clarity. The goal is not necessarily perfection but rather finding a gemstone whose inclusions do not significantly impact its beauty.
Cut
A gemstone's cut influences its overall appearance, brilliance, and color presentation.
A well-cut gemstone will maximize the stone's visual appeal while showcasing its color evenly. Poor cutting can cause a gemstone to appear dull, uneven in color, or smaller than it should.
Unlike diamonds, gemstone cutters often prioritize preserving color and weight rather than maximizing sparkle alone.
Carat (Size)
As gemstones increase in size, they become significantly rarer and more valuable.
However, value does not increase at the same rate for every gemstone species. A large sapphire, ruby, or emerald may command a substantial premium due to its rarity, while other gemstones may remain relatively affordable at larger sizes.
Popular Colored Gemstones
Sapphire
Sapphires are best known for their deep blue color, but they are available in a wide range of colors including pink, yellow, green, orange, and white.
Sapphires are highly durable, making them an excellent choice for everyday jewelry and gemstone engagement rings.
Ruby
Rubies are prized for their vibrant red color and exceptional rarity. Fine-quality rubies are among the most valuable gemstones in the world and are often sought after by collectors and jewelry enthusiasts alike.
Emerald
Emeralds are admired for their rich green color and distinctive character. Most emeralds contain natural inclusions, often referred to as the stone's "jardin," which contribute to their unique appearance.
Other Popular Gemstones
In addition to sapphires, rubies, and emeralds, you may discover:
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Aquamarine
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Tanzanite
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Tourmaline
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Spinel
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Opal
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Garnet
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Morganite
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Peridot
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Amethyst
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Citrine
Our inventory changes regularly, and we can often source specific gemstones upon request.
Natural vs. Lab-Grown Colored Gemstones
Many gemstones are available in both natural and laboratory-created forms.
Natural gemstones are formed within the earth over millions of years, while lab-grown gemstones are created in controlled environments that replicate natural growing conditions.
Both can be beautiful options. Natural gemstones are generally valued for their rarity, while lab-grown gemstones often provide larger sizes and vibrant colors at a lower price point.
Our specialists can explain the differences and help you determine which option best fits your goals and budget.
Choosing the Right Gemstone Shape
Shape significantly influences a gemstone's appearance and overall style.
Popular gemstone shapes include:
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Oval
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Cushion
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Round
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Emerald Cut
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Pear
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Radiant
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Asscher
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Heart
Each shape offers a distinct look, and certain shapes may enhance color, make a gemstone appear larger, or better complement specific jewelry designs.
Colored Gemstone Engagement Rings
More couples than ever are choosing colored gemstone engagement rings as an alternative to traditional diamonds.
Sapphires, rubies, and other gemstones can create a distinctive engagement ring that reflects personal style while offering exceptional beauty and individuality.
Whether you're searching for a classic sapphire engagement ring or a completely custom design, our team can help you explore options that fit your vision.
Create Custom Gemstone Jewelry
One of the biggest advantages of purchasing a loose gemstone is the ability to create a completely custom piece.
After selecting your gemstone, you can choose from a wide range of settings or work with our design team to create a one-of-a-kind ring, pendant, bracelet, or pair of earrings.
Custom gemstone jewelry allows you to showcase a gemstone you love while creating a piece that is uniquely yours.
Why Shop for Colored Gemstones at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers?
When shopping for colored gemstones, seeing the gemstone in person makes all the difference.
Photographs often fail to accurately capture a gemstone's true color, brilliance, and character. By viewing loose gemstones side by side, you can compare options directly and decide based on what you see—not how it appears in a photograph.
Whether you're searching for a sapphire, ruby, emerald, or another fine gemstone, our specialists can help you find the right gemstone and create a piece you'll enjoy for years to come.
Want to get in touch with us to get the process started? Contact us via phone during business hours or email us anytime:
Frequently Asked Questions About Colored Gemstones
Are sapphires, rubies, and emeralds more valuable than diamonds?
They can be. Fine-quality rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are often rarer than diamonds of comparable size, and exceptional examples can command extremely high prices. Value depends on factors such as color, clarity, origin, treatment history, rarity, and overall quality.
Which colored gemstone holds its value best?
High-quality rubies, sapphires, and emeralds generally have the strongest long-term demand and resale potential. Gemstones with exceptional color, larger sizes, and documentation from respected gemological laboratories are typically the most desirable in the secondary market.
What is the most important factor when buying colored gemstone jewelry?
Color is usually the most important factor. Buyers are naturally drawn to gemstones with rich, attractive color, and color often has a greater impact on value than clarity or size. A gemstone with exceptional color will typically be more desirable than a larger gemstone with less attractive color.
Are inclusions in colored gemstones a bad thing?
Not necessarily. Unlike diamonds, many colored gemstones naturally contain inclusions. In some gemstones, such as emeralds, inclusions are expected and can help confirm that the gemstone is natural. The key is whether the inclusions significantly affect the gemstone's beauty or durability.
Are treated gemstones real gemstones?
Yes. Many natural gemstones undergo treatments to improve their appearance. For example, heat treatment is common in sapphires and rubies. Treatments can affect value, so it is important to understand what treatments, if any, have been performed before purchasing a gemstone.
Can I shop loose colored gemstones that are not set in jewelry?
Yes. Through our network of gemstone importers, we can usually source specific loose natural or lab-grown gemstones based on your preferences for type, color, size, shape, budget, and overall quality.
Which colored gemstones are durable enough for everyday wear?
Sapphires and rubies are among the most durable colored gemstones and are excellent choices for rings worn daily. Emeralds, opals, and some other gemstones require additional care because they can be more susceptible to chipping, cracking, or surface damage.
Can colored gemstones be used in engagement rings?
Absolutely. Sapphire engagement rings have been popular for decades, and many couples also choose rubies, emeralds, spinels, and other gemstones as alternatives to traditional diamond engagement rings. Colored gemstones offer a unique look while allowing for greater personalization.
How do I know if a colored gemstone is natural or lab-grown?
Determining whether a gemstone is natural or laboratory-created often requires professional gemological testing. Reputable jewelers will disclose whether a gemstone is natural or lab-grown and provide any available documentation or laboratory reports.
Can you source specific styles of gemstone jewelry if you don't currently have them in the store?
Yes. If you're searching for any style of jewelry set with a particular sapphire, ruby, emerald, or other colored gemstone, our team can help locate options to fulfil your dreams.
