How to choose a coloured gemstone

The correct answer when choosing a coloured gemstone for yourself can only be answered by you! As the saying goes "The beauty is in the eye of the beholder" it is so subjective like art, coloured gemstones are natures art, shaped and fashioned by man.

I can give you tips on how the gemmological society and gem dealers normally grade their gemstones and how one may command a higher value over another.

The main focus is the colour! Colour, colour, colour! If you like it and it is to your taste, then bingo! Each stone is known for their superior colour achieved. We are always as gemmologists looking for a vibrant gem with a deep colour, not too dark and not too pale. The cut (faceting) plays a huge role in the display of the colour in the gemstone. It has to be cut at the right angles to still have enough weight retention from being a rough (so be the best yield it can be - retain the most weight) to reflect light back to the viewer without being too deep, ending up a dark gemstone, or be so wide and shallow that the light is lost and there is no retention of colour back to the eye.

The answer - colour - may sound simple, however in reality it is quite a long subject and some gems with high commanding price points undergo long tests from various gem laboratories for their look and also to see if their colour is in fact natural. Some gemstones undergo treatments to make them look better and be more vivid, or have a different colour hue. These treatments of course need to be disclosed, and therefore a report from a reputable gem lab will be attached to a gemstone.

If you are looking for a stunning example of nature's artistry, explore our Opal Galactic collection — a curated selection of vibrant, high-quality opals that showcase a few examples of Opal gemstone jewellery.