Gem Buying Guides

High-performance diamonds are marketed as perfectly symmetrical stones of exceptional quality. Learn if they’re worth the extra money you’ll…

Many consumers don’t have the money they need at hand for their dream engagement ring. Find out which engagement ring financing option is best…

The old rule about spending a month’s salary on a diamond engagement ring is just that: old. Learn how you can create a beautiful ring within your…

Hearts are becoming more popular as engagement ring stones. Our guide to buying a heart-cut diamond will help you choose one that’s perfect for…

One-carat oval diamonds are versatile alternatives to one-carat rounds. Our guide can help you find the right oval-cut diamond for your own engagement…

Word is out that diamonds aren’t that rare. So, why are they still so expensive? Learn about diamond rarity and quality and how they impact cost.…

Do white sapphires make good alternatives to diamonds? Compare their qualities and learn how to choose the right engagement ring stone for you.…

Can you save money with an I1 clarity diamond and still have a nice-looking engagement ring? Learn how to look for an affordable and eye-clean center…

You’ll have to make many decisions when you choose a diamond for your engagement ring. Here are nine things you should know before buying a diamond.…

Does a VS1 clarity diamond offer a good balance between quality and price? Learn how to compare clarity grades so you can pick a good eye-clean ring…

The old European cut (OEC) has a lovely charm. Learn what makes an OEC diamond special and how to find the best one for your engagement ring.

Although an SI2 clarity diamond has a low clarity grade, you can still find one that will look good in an engagement ring. Learn how to shop for one.…

What diamond color will look best in a rose gold engagement ring? In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to pick the right stone for this…

Super ideal cut diamonds meet exacting standards for top visual performance. But are they worth the extra cost? Before you buy, learn about these…

A trillion-cut diamond makes a distinctive center stone, but finding a good one can be difficult. Learn how to choose the best quality stone for…

If you like the diamond look but want something different, learn the pros and cons of these white gems and find the right mined-diamond alternative…

An SI1 clarity diamond might be a bargain, but can you find one that looks great? Learn how to assess these diamonds and choose one that’s right…

Is an E color diamond a good choice for your engagement ring? Learn why the second-best white diamond color grade might not be worth the cost.

When is a VS clarity diamond the best option for your engagement ring? Learn about diamond clarity grades and how to choose the stone that’s right…

Finding the best diamond color for your budget and style can be a challenge. Learn how to choose a diamond color for a yellow gold engagement ring.…

How will a VS2 clarity diamond look in an engagement ring? Learn if it’s the right stone for you and how to pick the best one within your budget.

An I clarity diamond has a low clarity grade, but can it look OK in an engagement ring? Learn the pros and cons of these stones and how to find a great…

Finding the best diamond color for a white gold engagement ring can be tricky. Read our complete guide to finding the best color for your ring and…

Clarity grades are the most confusing part of diamond engagement ring buying. See what an SI clarity diamond looks like and learn how to pick the…

Sunny and bright, citrines symbolize health and happiness. Our citrine engagement ring guide will show you how to pick the perfect gem for your…

Thinking about a tourmaline engagement ring? Learn everything you need to know to buy your perfect gem, from hardness and durability to color connoisseurship.…

A favorite color for nature-inspired designs, green gemstones never go out of style. Learn which of these 32 green gems hold up best for engagement…

If you like green, you’ll love an emerald engagement ring. However, judging emerald quality is complicated. Learn how to find the best gem for…

If you like red, ruby isn’t your only gemstone option. Here are 23 different red gemstones. Learn which ones are durable enough for ring use and…

A traditional favorite, a ruby engagement ring stone symbolizes love and passion. Learn how to find the gem that best fits your budget and style.…

Your next plate of steamed clams might hold a rare quahog pearl. Learn how to judge the quality of these purple pearls before your next trip to New…

Bright orange colors and flames that seem to dance across the surface make the melo pearl a fascinating gem choice. Learn how to find a quality specimen.…

Clam pearls can grow to be some of the largest in the world. Learn more about these aquatic gems and how to buy a top-quality tridacna pearl of your…

Three carats is a dream size for many diamond shoppers. Learn about current prices and how to find the best three-carat diamond within your budget.…

If you’re trying to create an ethical engagement ring, you have some research ahead. Our guide can help you shop for ethically sourced gemstones…

Emerald, ruby, sapphire, and diamond are the most popular choices for classic engagement ring stones. Learn more about these traditional favorites.…

Exceptionally sparkly, radiant-cut diamonds are great for engagement rings. But how can you find a top-quality gem? Read our tips for buying radiants…

Buying a diamond but unsure about the girdle? Learn everything you need to know about diamond girdles, including thickness ratings and girdle…

A two-carat diamond engagement ring is sure to turn heads. Learn how to choose a top-quality diamond in this size while staying in your budget.

A beautiful and versatile shape, marquise-cut diamonds are perfect for unique engagement rings. Learn how to pick the stone that’s best for…

Your budget, style, and expectations will impact the size diamond you choose for your jewelry. Read our guide to see what carat diamond works best…

Debating moissanite vs diamond for your engagement ring? Learn how they compare in beauty, durability, and price and pick the gem that’s best…

Choosing a five-carat diamond isn’t as simple as finding a diamond in a smaller size. Read our insider tips to find the right rock for your engagement…

Don’t be fooled by overgraded diamonds. Learn how diamond certification from different labs can impact the quality of the stone you purchase.…

With elegant curves, cushion-cut diamonds have a classic, timeless style. Learn the pros and cons of cushions and how to find the best one for your…

If you’re a first-time buyer, you may be worried about diamond polish and symmetry grades. But what do these grades mean, and do they impact price?…

A D color flawless diamond has the highest color and clarity grade — and the biggest price tag. Are these premium diamonds worth the extra money?…

Dreaming of a pear-shaped diamond engagement ring? Learn the pros and cons and read our expert advice to find the perfect pear for your style and…

Although cut for perfect symmetry and top performance, is a Hearts and Arrows diamond worth the high price? Learn more and decide what’s best…

These ten gems are some of the rarest and most desired in the world. If money is no object, consider one of these stones for an expensive engagement…

Buying a one-carat diamond ring shouldn’t be confusing. Learn how to pick the ring that’s best for you in our six-step, money-saving guide.

Considering different diamond shapes for your engagement ring? Learn how shape affects size and cost and read their pros & cons to see what’s best…

With protective settings and special care, these 7 beautiful but delicate engagement ring stones can help you make a unique statement piece about…

Some advice you might find on diamond fluorescence is outdated. Learn how fluorescence really affects your diamond’s color grade and price…

Looking for a gem that will make a big impression on your finger, not your wallet? These ten gems make great options for affordable engagement ring…

The mesmerizing patterns of emerald & asscher-cut diamonds can give engagement rings a subtle style. Learn how to find a quality diamond within…

Searching for an ethical engagement ring? Learn about conflict-free diamonds, issues with artisanal mining, and how to find a ring that’s right…

Princess-cut diamonds are an excellent alternative to rounds. Learn the 4Cs for princess cuts and how to choose the best diamonds for your engagement…

Before spending money on a VVS diamond, read about the pros and cons of diamonds with this clarity grade. What you learn might surprise you!

Don’t let the bowtie effect keep you from buying an oval-cut diamond. With prices lower than rounds, ovals are also a stylish choice for engagement…

Searching for diamonds online shouldn’t be so complex. Use our recommended parameters to buy the best diamond for your engagement ring — and…

Blockchain tech can provide secure, digital transaction records. Can blockchain diamonds resolve ethical and legal issues related to sourcing…

Separate fact from fiction and you’ll find lab-created diamonds make great alternatives to mined diamonds. Our guide will show you how to shop…

Celebrate your unique love story with an opal engagement ring stone. Though opals require extra care, no other gem combines color and fire the way…

You can probably find a topaz engagement ring stone in your favorite color at a reasonable price. Learn what to look for and how to care for your gem.…

Not all rare gemstones cost a fortune. If you’re looking for something different but affordable for your wedding, here are 10 rare engagement…

Rare malaya garnets come in many colors and make wonderful jewelry stones for any style. Learn the 4Cs of this gem in our malaya garnet buying guide.…

Although natural pearls are extremely rare and expensive, the availability of cultured pearls makes it easier to buy this classic, elegant gem…

Looking for a fun summertime gem? Watermelon tourmaline adds a pop of color that’s perfect for a playful summer look. Learn about the quality factors…

For thousands of years, garnets have symbolized love, life force, and victory — perfect associations for an engagement ring. This durable gemstone…

Padparadscha sapphires get their name from the Sinhalese word for “lotus colored.” This rare and elusive gem generates some debate among…

Rare, beautiful, and expensive, sapphires will really wow when brides need “something blue.” When you’re shopping for sapphire engagement…

Evaluating emerald quality, especially clarity, can be very complex. Navneet Gems & Minerals has proposed the following system for grading emerald…

How can you find the right website when you’re buying diamonds online? Since everyone shops a little differently, see which of these diamond…

When consumers think of diamonds, they think “expensive.” However, what exactly makes that so? Beyond the unavoidable factors of mining, cutting,…

Diamond buyers often find assessing clarity challenging. Although inclusions may be difficult to see and identity, they can have a significant…

Cut is perhaps the most complex of the Four Cs of gem grading and is usually taken for granted by consumers. However, diamond cuts greatly affect…

For most gem buyers, color is probably the most well known of the Four Cs of gem grading. However, diamond color grading can be confusing. Learn about…

Diamond buyers often want to know which of the Four Cs of gem grading is most important — color, clarity, cut, or carat. However, these qualities…

Symbolic of sea and sky, blue has always been a popular color for gems. Learn how to assess color in blue gemstones and see which ones hold up best in…

Considering a conch pearl buying trip to the Caribbean? Quality factors for these gems differ from colored gemstones. Before you make a purchase,…

With bright, apple-green hues, chrysoprase makes an attractive, eye-catching jewelry stone. If you’re looking for a top-quality gem, read…

From bright, sunny colors to deep golden hues, yellow gemstones are warm and inviting. Learn how to assess the quality of yellow gems, and find out…

With only a few produced each year, pink diamonds are among the rarest gems on the planet. Learn how quality impacts cost for these rarities in our…

With bright rainbow iridescence, ammolite is sure to draw attention. Read about this gem’s unique quality factors before your next ammolite…

Silky golden rutile inclusions in quartz have become quite popular. Read our rutilated quartz buying guide to help you choose a stone for your next…

Soft, violet-blue hues have made iolite a popular stone. Read about the quality factors for this trendy gem in our iolite buying guide.

Paraíba’s neon blue hues stunned the gem world in the 1980s. Read about the quality factors for this striking gem in our paraíba tourmaline…

Stunning green hues and a brilliance that outshines diamond combine to make demantoids truly captivating. Read more in our demantoid garnet buying…

Citrine’s affordable autumn hues make it a great option for trendy jewelry. Read about the quality factors for this stylish gem in our citrine…

Rare and fragile, kunzite challenges lapidaries and delights jewelry aficionados. Our kunzite buying guide can help you add this gem to your collection.…

Blue diamonds are among the rarest and most prized diamonds. Our blue diamond buying guide will help consumers understand the value factors for…

One of the earliest known gems, amber’s bright sunshine hues delight and enthrall. Learn more about this ancient gem’s qualities in our amber…

Although often overlooked, quartz is available in many styles at reasonable prices. Our crystalline quartz buying guide can help you pick your…

Deep-water coral displays bright, rich reds and delicate pinks. Our precious coral buying guide will help you choose a gem for your next jewelry…

Fancy colored yellow diamonds are becoming increasingly popular. Our yellow diamond buying guide has the information you need before your next…

With sheen reminiscent of moonlight, moonstone is treasured across civilizations. Our moonstone buying guide can help you pick a gem for your…

Known for stunning, saturated hues, tourmaline is a colorful and modern gemstone. Read about quality factors for this gem in our tourmaline buying…

“The Stone of Heaven,” jade has an unmatched elegance. Learn more about the unique quality factors of both jadeite and nephrite in our jade…

Long valued for its brilliance, zircon is a natural and affordable beauty. Learn more about the quality factors for this gem in our zircon buying…

Decorative, patterned forms of agate are excellent natural gems. Learn more about agate’s mesmerizing patterns in our agate buying guide.

With so many colors and varieties available, garnet buying can be daunting. Whether starting your collection or completing it, our guide can help.…

More than just a simulant for sapphire, tanzanite’s vivid hues have stunned the gem world. Our tanzanite buying guide can help you find a gem you’ll…

Revered for millennia, sky blue turquoise still has a dedicated following. Our turquoise buying guide can help you pick a gem for your next jewelry…

Vivid color change makes alexandrite one of the world’s most coveted stones. Our alexandrite buying guide can help you find the best gem for your…

In this golden age of pearls, a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors are available. Our pearl buying guide can help you select a pearl you’ll…

No gem evokes the blue-green colors of the sea like aquamarine. Our aquamarine buying guide can help you choose the best gemstone for your jewelry…

Morganite has become a popular jewelry stone, especially for engagement rings. Our morganite buying guide can help you pick a great gem for any…

Long valued for its purple color and symbolic associations, amethyst is a versatile gem. Our amethyst buying guide can help you pick an excellent…

Our lapis lazuli buying guide can help you learn how to grade these gems, what to avoid, and how to identify a high quality stone or a bargain in the…

Our emerald buying guide can help you learn how these gems are graded, what to avoid, and how to identify a high quality stone or a bargain in the rough.…

Our peridot buying guide can help you learn how these gems are graded, what to avoid, and how to identify a high quality stone or a bargain in the rough.…

Our sphalerite buying guide can help you learn how these gems are graded, what to avoid, and how to identify a high quality stone or a bargain in the…

Our Oregon sunstone buying guide can help you learn how these gems are graded and how to identify a high quality stone or a bargain in the rough.

Our spinel buying guide can help you learn how spinels are graded, what to avoid, and how to identify a high quality stone or a bargain in the rough.…

Our opal buying guide can help you learn how opals are graded, what to avoid, and how to identify a high quality stone or a bargain in the rough.

Our topaz buying guide can help you learn how topazes are graded, what to avoid, and how to identify a high-quality stone or a bargain in the rough.…

Long associated with royalty, sapphires are some of the most popular (and expensive) gems in the world. Our sapphire buying guide will help you…

Our ruby buying guide can help you learn how rubies are graded, what to avoid, and how to identify a high quality stone or a bargain in the rough.

Rare chrome tourmaline can show an emerald-like green color. With a highly desired color and tourmaline’s excellent qualities as a jewelry stone,…

Looking for a tourmaline jewelry stone? If you like green and you’re on a budget, green tourmaline or verdelite is the gem for you.

Our indicolite buying guide can help you learn how these blue tourmalines are graded, what to avoid, and how to identify a high-quality stone.

Like all tourmaline gemstones, rubellite wears well in almost any type of jewelry. This stone’s raspberry-like color draws a great deal of attention.…

First-time gem buyers may find diamond grades confusing. Our consumer guide explains how diamonds are evaluated and gives advice on how to choose…