Grading Basics
Just like hunting for the right diamond, finding a quality gemstone for your engagement ring involves learning some new terminology and developing your eye’s ability to scout for quality. To help, trade grades for gemstones were established and are used widely. The 3 most significant factors are cut, color, and symmetry, but also include tone, saturation, extinction areas, presence or absence of inclusions, and distribution of color. In fact, the standards are very similar to those of diamonds, except that with gemstones we also consider color and hue to be a very distinct marker of quality.
Grades that are followed in the trade are as follows:
AAA – Also known as triple A, these are the best and the highest graded stones.
AA – These are also very good stones but fall a little short of the best in one or all categories.
A – They are still good and can be quite passable in some stones.
B – This is where you start compromising on the quality of the stone for the sake of price. However, depending on the stone you choose, you might find something lovely.
Different Quality Grade Emerlad Gemstones
