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The world's best gem articles, published weekly.

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Overview of Gem Cutting Styles

Discover the 4 main gem cutting styles that transform rough stones into dazzling jewels. Learn how brilliant, step, mixed & fantasy cuts create…

The Role of Faceting in Gemology

Master gemstone anatomy and faceting terminology! Discover how precision cutting creates brilliance, fire, and scintillation – the only human-controlled…

What Is Faceting?

Discover the ancient art of faceting – how rough stones become brilliant gems through 3,000 years of cutting techniques. Learn about cabochons…

Public Perception of Synthetic Diamonds Impacts Gem Market

Ever since synthetic diamonds became a significant player in the wider diamond marketplace in 2018, gem news has been dominated by theories trying…

The Orlov Diamond: A Tale of Power and Intrigue

Discover the Orlov diamond’s journey from Indian temple to Russian Imperial Sceptre. Learn how this 190-carat gem connects to Catherine the Great…

Future of Canadian Representation in the U.S. Jewelry Market: An Interview with Anita Agrawal

The Spirit of the Tucson Gem Shows Tucson gem shows are neutral territory for those in the gem and jewelry industry. There, people from all over the…

Interview with GCAL: Grading Reports and 8X Diamond Cuts

GCAL by Sarine is a US-based company that offers a diverse range of services, from diamond grading to precious metal testing, to damage and restoration…

How to Identify Ruby Simulants and Synthetics

With practice and some basic tools, anyone can separate natural rubies from ruby simulants. Learn all about the most common lookalikes here.

Quartz Toxicity: Understanding the Risks for Jewelers and Wearers

Understand quartz toxicity: safe for jewelry wearers but potentially dangerous for makers. Learn about silica dust health risks, essential…

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Over 15 years, we have assembled detailed pricing and value information for appraising over 70 different gemstones. The values in our guide come from a variety of sources including primary and secondary gemstone dealers, jewelers, miners, and wholesale suppliers of commonly traded gemstones.

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January Birthstone

Although many associate January's birthstone, garnet, with the color red, they can come in a variety of colors including red, yellow, orange, green and even blue.

February Birthstone

Thanks to its beauty and relative abundance, the February birthstone, amethyst, is used in all types of jewelry: from the mass market to the finest custom couture pieces.

March Birthstone

The March birthstone is aquamarine. Famed for millennia for its pure and even blue or blue-green color, potentially large size, and sparkling clarity, the aquamarine has been a valued gem to many cultures. Aquamarine is a variety of the gem species beryl, making it a close cousin of emerald.

April Birthstone

April's birthstone is diamond. The vast majority of diamonds are transparent, colorless, and show an extraordinary display of well-defined white and multi-colored flashes. Rarely, diamonds also occur in a rainbow of exciting body colors.

May Birthstone

May's birthstone is emerald, a rich green variety of the diverse beryl gem group which must exhibit a dark enough tone and saturation to be called by that name.

June Birthstone

June's birthstone is the pearl. Pearls can only be grown by a very small percentage of mollusk species which may live in either saltwater or freshwater environments. Each species produces a distinctive-looking pearl that is characterized by a specific range of colors and sizes.

July Birthstone

This vibrant red gemstone is the July birthstone and is closely associated with love, passion, and romance. While there are affordable options to be found, the largest and most beautifully colored rubies can be very expensive; the best rubies may be sold for the highest cost-per-carat costs of any colored gemstone.

August Birthstone

Peridot is the August birthstone. It is also sometimes called the “evening emerald” because of its unique capacity to sparkle under natural or artificial light. However, it should not be confused with emerald because peridot has its own distinct characteristics setting it apart from other gemstones.

September Birthstone

The September birthstone is sapphire. Sapphires are members of the gem species corundum. Depending on the exact chemistry of individual stones, sapphires may present a whole spectrum of colors with the exception of red. This is because red sapphires are put into their own category and called rubies.