Gemstones are quite durable and require much less care than other pieces of jewelry. However, you want to keep your investment looking as shiny and polished as it did when you first purchase it. First, make sure to routinely clean your gemstone. For a thorough cleansing, soak gemstones in water with just a minute amount of soap. Then, using a soft-brush (a toothbrush works well here), scrub gently, removing dust and dirt particles accumulated on the ring and around the setting. Never put stones in an ultrasonic cleaner. While the harder stones such a diamonds and rubies can hold up, others may not. To eliminate the possibility of damaging your gemstones, cleanse them with the aforementioned soap and water solution.

Shopping for a gemstone is a lot of easier if you have a specific color and/or stone in mind. There are so many to choose from, you may find yourself making a hasty decision if you arrive at the jewelry store with no special stone already in mind. Before you make a purchase, ask the jeweler if the stone is natural and if so, request information from a well-known, credible jewelry laboratory regarding that specific stone. Take into account all aspects of the purchase, including setting, future care and more.

Some countries sell gemstones with a lab certificate. This certificate usually contains information about the stone and its origins. However, there is no regulation within the U.S. regarding where these certificates are offered, meaning the one that comes with your stone could be bogus. A certificate is different from an appraisal. The former gives information about the stone itself and the latter gives you an idea as to the value of your jewels. In this Internet age, this problem has become more widespread. Do not purchase gemstone just based on the accompanying certificate. If you are not sure of the reputation of the seller, insist on inspecting the gemstone for yourself and arranging for an outside appraisal and evaluation.

One of the newest gemstone trends being seen today is the advent of the gemstone engagement ring. While diamonds are still the most popular seller, gemstones are moving up in popularity as an engagement ring option. Choosing a gemstone engagement ring is not only a matter of personal style, but also what is appropriate for everyday wear. Some gemstones are softer than others, which means the wrong stone can chip or scratch over time. Most jewelry experts recommend utilizing sapphires and rubies in engagement ring styles because they are tougher and more durable than other gemstones. They can therefore stand up to daily wear better than other gemstones. If you are going to choose a stone other than a diamond, a ruby or sapphire is the optimal choice.

Once you have decided on a gemstone, it is time to figure out what kind of setting you would like for your new purchase. Look for a setting that will hold the gemstone securely in place and display it in a manner that shows off the stone’s best features. Setting considerations include the strength of the metal, how well it polishes, is it properly smoothed out around the edges, are there any blemishes on your potential setting, etc. An additional tip is to look for a complete finish on the metal, including the back. Gemstone necklace settings should lay well around the neck area. Earrings should sit study in the ears without dangling forward unintentionally. If the stone is a gift, another option is to let the recipient decide on the setting and instead present the stone itself as the gift.

Take care to be careful with your gemstone jewelry. Even the toughest stone can break if there are inclusions or imperfections with the structure of the stone. This is a flaw that cannot always been seen with the naked eye upon the purchase of your gemstone jewelry. If you have jewelry with a softer gem or an included stone, store it in a safe place whenever you are engaging in strenuous activity or exposing it to harsh chemicals. Even the top three stones can be damaged in the right conditions.

• Diamonds, when struck in just the right way, can shatter into pieces.
• Rubies and sapphires are the toughest of all the gemstones and can chip if hit at a sharp angle.
• The opaque gemstones, such as turquoise and malachite require extra special care. Do not clean these with anything but a wet cloth. These are porous gemstones and absorb cleansers, chemicals and even soap, which can cause build-up within the stone structure.

Purchasing fine jewelry of any kind is a serious decision and all factors should be weighed carefully. If you are unsure of the value of your gemstone jewelry, request an appraisal from an independent jeweler or jewelry lab. Even the most well-established and knowledgeable jeweler can be erroneous in the appraisal information for a piece of gemstone jewelry. You have the right to know for yourself exactly what the value of your gemstone jewelry really is. Also, if you want to protect your gemstone investment, stick with purchasing from reputable jewelers and don’t try to get something for much less than it’s worth -- it can come back to bite you in the end.

It is important when shopping for gemstone jewelry to be sure you are purchasing an authentic stone. Many times, imitation gemstones can closely mimic a real stone, fooling consumers into making an uninformed investment. Here are some tips to ensure you get a natural gemstone:

• Fake gemstones are usually made of glass or a plastic material. A reputable jeweler with a trained eye can usually spot this difference.
• Imitation gemstones are sometimes set into a solid foundation with a piece of foil underneath the stone that makes it shimmer with different colors or sparkle much brighter. If possible, choose a stone not yet in a setting to prevent this type of deception.
• If you are purposely choosing a synthetic gemstone, be sure you are paying what the jewelry is really worth. If the stone is not real, you should not be paying anywhere near a similar price as authentic gemstone jewelry.

Going on the hunt for gemstone jewelry can be confusing because there are so many different stones and the prices vary greatly between real and fake gemstones. Knowing the difference between different types of gemstones can help you make the most informed decision possible when it comes to potential purchases. If you are looking for natural gemstones, question your jeweler about the manner in which they have been handled. Natural gemstones are not supposed to be altered in any way, with the exception of being cut or polished to fit a setting. They should not have been treated otherwise. Genuine gemstones are also authentic, but are usually treated in some form. A great deal of gemstone jewelry falls under this category. Treatments are usually done on genuine gemstones to improve the overall look and feel of the stone.

Gemstones break down into five different categories for pricing purposes: traditional, new classics, collector gemstones, connoisseur gems and affordable gems. They all have basic price ranges; however, it all depends on quality. The ranges are supposed to give you an idea of the relationship between different stones and pricing structures.

Traditional Gemstones : Stones in this category are ruby, blue sapphire and emerald. They all have a distinguished appeal and history and are the most valuable of the colored gemstones. Rubies and emeralds are normally priced higher than sapphires because they are rarer. Prices for these three range from $250 from $10,000 per carat.

New Classics : These are the new stars of gemstones and include tanzanite, aquamarine, imperial topaz, tourmaline and tsavorite garnet. Prices in this category range from $50 to $1,000 per carat for a quality store. However, tsavorite is the exception, with quality stones of this kind reaching up into the $3,000 per carat range.

Connoisseur Gemstones : These stones are specialized because of their rarity. This category includes black opal, jadeite, pink topaz, chrysoberyl cat’s-eye, fancy colored sapphires and alexandrite. They range from $250 to $5,000 per carat, with the exception of alexandrite, which can fetch up to $10,000 per carat.

Collector’s Gemstones : These stones are not found in quantity, so when you get access to them, they can be a great investment. Gemstones found in this category include moonstone, morganite, spinel and zircon. Price ranges in this category range in the hundreds instead of the thousands.

Affordable Gemstones : These stones combine vivid color with affordability. Gemstones in this category include citrine, peridot, blue topaz, amethyst, white opal, onyx and amber. Prices in this category range from $5 to $100 per carat.

Pricing among gemstones is probably more varied than any other form of jewelry. This is because not all stones are valuable and still others are quite rare. When shopping for gemstones, get as much information as possible about a specific stone before you purchase it to be sure you are getting the best deal possible. Like the jewelry industry at large, the demand for certain stones usually drives the price up and down. Quality also makes all the difference. The Four C’s used to determine the quality of a diamond (clarity, cut, color, and carat) all apply to gemstones as well. Gemstones with a deeper, richer color will be more expensive. Clarity will also drive up the price as well as a good cut.

The gemstone industry was originally made up of just three gemstones: rubies, emeralds and sapphires. For a long period, they were the most popular of any gemstone. However, as other stones gained in popularity, jewelers began to refer to anything outside of the top three as semi-precious and the big ones were dubbed precious. However, the jewelry industry has since banned such terminology because some top three stones can sell for less money per carat than rare versions of others. Therefore, it is important not to let jewelry terminology dictate your decision on any particular gemstone.