Hanging Aquamarine Earrings

You have selected to learn about Utilizing the Gemological Institute of America Grading system

Due to the fact that our gemologists were trained at the GIA in the US, we use the GIA grading system. The GIA system is the only recognized universally used grading system for colored stones based on a scientific approach, thereby removing the subjectivity often encountered on the internet with color grades particularly.

You have selected to learn about ICA Member

We are a full member of the ICA (International Colored Gemstone Association) which is the largest and only worldwide body of its kind. It is a strict proponent of a stringent code of ethics to which we strongly abide. Click here to learn more

You have selected to learn about Gemstone ID Number

This particular gem’s ID number. It corresponds with the market based appraisal which accompanies the stone and the Personalized History and Ownership Report which becomes available in the online membership account of clients who purchase gemstones from us.

You have selected to learn about Barcode

One of the security features on the certificate.

You have selected to learn about Metal Type

The type of metal used in the setting. In the case of gold, the quality of the metal is expressed in terms of karats. Whereas carat spelt with a “c” is a weight and used to describe gemstone weights, karat with a “k” is actually a ratio and is used to denote gold quality. 24 karat gold is pure gold. As 24 karat gold is generally considered to be too soft to be used in its pure form in jewelry, it is alloyed to make it more durable. 18 karat gold is considered by most designers to be the optimum balance of durability and quality. 18 karat gold is 18 parts gold, 6 parts alloy. 14 karat gold is 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy and 9 karat gold is only 9 parts gold and 15 parts alloy so is actually more alloy than gold. The alloy is used to change the color. So white gold contains platinum metals like rhodium and palladium to make it look more white whilst rose gold is gold alloyed with copper to make it look more pink.

Silver uses a different grading system with Sterling Silver being the finest grade. Pure silver is too soft to make jewelry from so silver is also alloyed, usually with copper. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing a minimum of 92.5% by weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. All our silver jewelry is made using sterling silver.

You have selected to learn about Gemstone Species and Variety

We will address the categories of Gemstone Variety and Species together. All gemstones have a scientific nomenclature allocated to them. Gemologists refer to gemstones using this nomenclature. A gemstone first belongs to a Species in the gem kingdom, just as different animals and insects do in the animal kingdom, then they have a variety name allocated to them within that species. For example, Tanzanite belongs to the species Zoisite, Ruby and Sapphire to the Species Corundum, Aquamarine to the species Beryl and so on. Within each species, each different stone has a variety name allocated to it. So in the examples above, Tanzanite is the blue variety of the species Zoisite, Ruby is the red variety of the species Corundum whilst Sapphire is the blue variety of the species Corundum. Aqumarine is the blue variety of the species Beryl whilst Emerald is the green variety of the species Beryl. When testing gems, each species has clearly defined physical and chemical characteristics which gemologists can identify using gemological equipment. These clearly and positively identify a particular gemstone as a member of its particular species.

You have selected to learn about Weight of Metal

The weight of the metal used in this setting.

You have selected to learn about Manufacture

Denotes the method of manufacture. Hand made jewelry is more valuable than mass produced jewelry as it is a labor intensive process requiring great skill.

You have selected to learn about Hallmark

Fine jewelry often carries the hallmark of the designer/manufacturer stamped into the gold.

You have selected to learn about Side Stones/Additional Stones

This is a definitive description of the gemstones used as sidestones/accent stones to the center/ most prominent stone in the setting including their GIA grades.

You have selected to learn about Weight

Weight in gems is measured in carat. One carat is equal to 1/5th of a gram and the term is derived from the early days of gem trading when the seeds of the Carab tree were used as counter measures to weigh gems as carab seeds are always uniform in weight. Not to be confused with “karat” which is a ratio and a term used to refer to gold.

The carat weight of a gemstone is one of the 4 C’s and hence an important value indicator in its own right. Generally speaking, the higher the carat weight the rarer the gemstone as it exponentially more difficult to come by clean, top color large gem crystals than it is small ones. That is why, with most gems, you will see an increase in price per carat as the carat weight increases in the same quality bracket. Notable examples are Tsavorite, which is very rarely found in high qualities in sizes above 2 carat, hence per carat prices leap more steeply than with many other colored gemstones.

You have selected to learn about Shape

This refers to the shape or cut of the gemstone. Generally speaking, no one particular shape is considered more valuable than another as gems are cut into the shape that their rough state best dictates in order to retain the most weight in the cutting process. However, occasionally, some sellers will sell more wasteful cuts such as trillions at a premium. We do not subscribe to this practice and all shapes are priced on a par. The exception to the rule is matched pairs. Usually in order to cut a matched pair weight is deliberately lost in order to bring both stones to the same dimensions. This is why matched pairs generally command a 20% premium in the marketplace.

You have selected to learn about Clarity Type

The GIA grades clarity in transparent, faceted colored stones using a series of definitions which state the typical inclusions and their appearance in each grade. The typical clarity of a given kind of colored stone depends largely on its mode of formation. Different gems can be very different in typical occurrence and they clearly cannot be graded in exactly the same way. The ground rules have to be slightly different. Some colored stones like Aquamarine and Tanzanite are expected to be relatively free of inclusions. Others like Ruby and Tsavorite are acceptable with minor inclusions. And some like emerald, may have numerous inclusions or inclusions very obvious to the unaided eye and still be desireable. To clarity grade emeralds on the same scale as Aquamarines would almost automatically put all Emeralds in the lowest clarity grade. To balance fairness and workability, the GIA divides all transparent colored stones into 3 broad categories or Clarity Types. Each Type is based on the inclusions generally expected to be seen in stones in the market.

TYPE 1 - Stones that are often virtually inclusion free. Include Aquamarine, Tanzanite, Topaz
TYPE 2 – Stones that usually contain inclusions. Include Ruby, Sapphire, All Garnets, Spinel, Tourmaline
TYPE 3 – Stones that are almost always included. Include Emerald, Red Tourmaline
There is a subtly different set of clarity grade definitions for each type

You have selected to learn about Clarity Grade

Gems are graded under 10x magnification. The GIA clarity grades are VVS / VS / SI1 / SI2 / I1-3 / Dcl. Colored stones are not graded by the GIA as flawless or internally flawless, even if they are. This is because a rigid definition of the flawless grade for diamond grading has become established in the trade bolstered by clear FTC guidelines and the vast majority of colored stones simply cannot measure up to these strict definitions for the highest grades of Diamonds. In Type 1, a colored stone that would grade flawless in the diamond sense may sometimes be found perhaps in Aquamarine or Tanzanite but very unusual as virtually any minute inclusion or blemish would disqualify it. Diamonds are graded much more strictly than colored stones as they are harder.

GIA grades are applied to each of the 3 gem types differently (to understand what constitutes a gem type click on the "Clarity Type" category on the certificate.

GIA Clarity Grades as applied to Type 1 Gemstones:

VVS : Characterized by minute inclusions which are difficult to see under 10x and invisible to the unaided eye. Even under a 10x a VVS stone might appear to be flawless. Typical inclusions may be pinpoints, very fine needles.

VS : Characterized by minor inclusions which are somewhat easy to see under 10x but usually invisible to the unaided eye. Typical inclusions might be small included crystals, liquid inclusions, numerous fine needles, small fingerprints

SI1-SI2 – Characterized by noticeable inclusions which are apparent under 10x and in SI1 usually visible and SI2 quite visible to the unaided eye. Inclusions normally have low relief. Typical inclusions may be included crystals, large fingerprints, chips, feathers, dens clouds.

I 1-3 – Characterized by inclusions that have a negative effect on either appearance or durability or both. Inclusions are often large and prominent to the unaided eye and there amy be noticeable loss of transparency.

Dcl – Declasse – Characterized by inclusions so numerous the entire stone is no longer transparent but translucent at best. Dcl stones lack beauty and durability.

GIA Clarity Grades as applied to Type 2 Gemstones:

VVS : Characterized by minor inclusions which are somewhat easy to see under 10x but usually invisible to the unaided eye. Typical inclusions might be small included crystals, liquid inclusions, numerous fine needles, small fingerprints

VS : Characterized by noticeable inclusions of moderate size, which are easy to see under 10x and sometimes visible to the unaided eye. They are still non damaging. Typical inclusions are liquid inclusions, fingerprints small chips, small feathers, clouds.

SI1-SI2 – Characterized by obvious inclusions which are large and/or numerous under 10x and in SI1 apparant and SI2 very apparent to the unaided eye. Typical inclusions may be large included crystals, large chips, feathers, dense clouds.

I 1-3 – Characterized by inclusions that have a negative effect on either appearance or durability or both. Inclusions are often large and prominent to the unaided eye and there amy be noticeable loss of transparency.

Dcl – Declasse – Characterized by inclusions so numerous the entire stone is no longer transparent but translucent at best. Dcl stones lack beauty and durability

GIA Clarity Grades as applied to Type 3 Gemstones:

VVS : Characterized by noticeable inclusions which are easy to see under 10x but usually invisible to the unaided eye. They are still non damaging. Typical inclusions are small included crystals, liquid inclusions, fine needles, small feathers, clouds.

VS : Characterized by obvious inclusions which are very easy to see under 10x but and often visible to the unaided eye. Typical inclusions are small included crystals, liquid inclusions, chips, fine needles, small feathers, clouds.

SI1-SI2 – Characterized by prominent inclusions which are large and numerous under 10x and in SI1 apparant and SI2 very apparent to the unaided eye. Typical inclusions may be easily visible but not extensive feathers and dense clouds.

I 1-3 – Characterized by inclusions that have a negative effect on either appearance or durability or both. Inclusions are often large and prominent to the unaided eye and there amy be noticeable loss of transparency.

Dcl – Declasse – Characterized by inclusions so numerous the entire stone is no longer transparent but translucent at best. Dcl stones lack beauty and durability

You have selected to learn about Color Grade

Color is the main indicator of value in colored gemstones and is the most important of the 4C’s. The GIA has a sophisticated color grading system which is the most advanced and only non subjective system yet developed. The GIA Color Grading system describes color in terms of 3 dimensions — Hue, Tone and Saturation.

HUE is the basic impression of color that we notice immediately. A gem usually has several hues in it and hence it is given a dominant hue and a modifying hue. The vB you see in this example stands for a modifying hue of blue and a dominant hue of violet. Thus the stone is a violetish Blue.

TONE is the lightness of darkness of a color sensation. The GIA divides tone into 11 steps from colorless or white through increasingly darker grays to black. The GIA uses 7 of these steps in grading tone in transparent colored stones.

• 2: very light (hue)
• 3: light (hue)
• 4: medium light (hue)
• 5: medium (hue)
• 6: medium dark (hue)
• 7: dark (hue) 8: very dark (hue)

The optimum range with most gemstones is 4—7 where the stone is neither too light or too dark. SATURATION is the strength, purity or intensity of the hue. It is assessed on a 7 level scale (0 through 6)

• 1: brownish/grayish (hue)
• 2: slightly brownish/grayish (hue)
• 3: very slightly brownish/grayish (hue)
• 4: moderately strong (hue)
• 5: strong (hue)
• 6: vivid (hue)

As color can be the most complicated and difficult to understand of the GIA grades, we have developed a set of charts which will help you better understand tones and saturations as they apply to a particular gem type:

Click Here to see the Tanzanite Tone and Saturation Chart

Click Here to see the Tsavorite Tone and Saturation Chart

Click Here to see the Aquamarine Tone and Saturation Chart

Click Here to see the Malaia Garnet Tone and Saturation Chart

Click Here to see the Rhodolite Garnet Tone and Saturation Chart

Click Here to see the Yellow Sapphire Tone and Saturation Chart

You have selected to learn about Photograph

The actual photograph of the gemstone in question taken in white daylight spectrum.

Photographs are of the actual gemstone represented and are not enhanced in any way.

You have selected to learn about Graduate Gemologist

Our certificates are graded by GIA Graduate Gemologists and signed by our Chief Gemologist. The GG Degree is the most coveted and respected of the qualifications in the Gemology arena. It is recommended that when dealing with a gem company they should have GG’s on staff in order to ensure accurate gem identification and representation. Click here to verify our Chief Gemologists GG status on the GIA Worldwide directory.

You have selected to learn about Tamper Proof Hologram

One of the security features of the document. If tampered with the hologram will denature and spoil hence indicating that the document has been tampered with.

You have selected to learn about Item Description The type of jewelry

The type of jewelry