Newsletter - June 2, 2010
The Jewelry Crafter
A newsletter for the home jeweler
This newsletter will be published every 2 weeks, and will include hints and tips for your jewelry business. Any feedback or comments about the topics presented here are always appreciated. Click here to e-mail us.
If you have an idea for an upcoming article, or would like to submit an article for the newsletter, please contact us. Anyone who submits an article will receive a permanent link to their website in a special section of our link pages.
New Stock
We have some new designer cabochons in the store this week. We will be adding more as they are cut, so keep checking back.
Gemstone Clarity Explained
by Mary Harvey
You want to buy some gemstones, but how do you know what you are getting? A lot of gemstone sellers use a grading system to classify their gemstones. Listed below are the types and grades of gemstones to help you understand the terminology of gemstone clarity.
Gems are usually graded by a type (1,2,or 3) and by clarity (VVS, VS, SI, etc.). Below are the grading criteria used by the Gemological Institute of America for colored gems:
- Type 1 gemstones are are stones that are usually free of inclusions. They include gems in the quartz family, like amethyst and citrine, topaz, zircon, and beryls, like aquamarine.
- Type 2 gemstones include garnet, iolite, alexandrite, ruby, sapphire, or peridot.
- Type 3 gemstones are stones that are almost always included. These include emerald and red tourmaline.
Clarity in the type 1 group are classified as VVS (minute to detectable), VS (minor), SI1 (noticeable), SI2 (obvious) or I (included)
Clarity in the type 2 group is classified as VVS (minor), VS (noticeable), SI1 (obvious), SI2 (prominent), or I (prominent, affecting appearance)
Clarity in the type 3 group is classified as VVS (noticeable), VS (Obvious), SI1 (prominent), SI2 (more prominent), or I1 (affecting appearance or durability)
For example, if you are looking at a stone that is VVS type 2, that means that it is a type 2 stone which has minute inclusions that may be visible only under 10x magnification. On the other hand, A VS type 3 has inclusions that are easily visible to the naked eye.
Some sellers may use simpler terms to describe the clarity of their gemstones. For example:
- Clean - no inclusions visible under 10x magnification
- Eye-clean - inclusions not visible to the naked eye
- VVS, VS, or SI - Inclusions visible to the naked eye, but still a beautiful gem
- included - numerous inclusions that affect the beauty of the gem
Knowing this terminology will help you in making an informed decision when buying colored gemstones. There are several great books on gemstones and gemstone buying on the market. For more information, check out Gemstones of the World by Walter Schumann, and Jewelry and Gems, the Buying Guide by Matlins and Bonano. Both of these books are a great resource for learning about gemstones.
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