Know Your Stones: Intro Guide to Gemstones

No Millie Savage piece is complete without at least one; a pretty, shiny, sparkly gemstone.

But how much do you know about gems? If you've ever been asked about the stones in your jewelry and your answer was something along the lines of "uh, I don't know" then this introductory guide is exactly what you need to patch the holes in your knowledge.

WHAT IS A GEMSTONE?

We won't go deep into the science, but gemstones are a result of naturally occurring minerals or rocks that have been cut, shaped, and polished for use in jewelry and decorative accents.

With the exception of our lab-grown diamonds, all of our gemstones are natural and sourced from reputable miners from around the world.

THE FOUR C'S

The Four C's are the fundamentals of understanding gemstones. If you wanna talk gems with people, the Four C's will instantly make you sound like a master jeweller. So, what are the Four C's?

Carat - This relates to the gemstone's weight (and often size). A higher carat will usually mean a higher price, but it's not the sole indicator of quality.

Color - Pretty self-explanatory. Many colors you'll recognise, like the deep emerald green or ruby red, and these can contribute to a stone's value, but not all colours are created equal. Gemstone colour is evaluated on three points: hue, tone, and saturation. 

Clarity - When you look into a stone, how much or how little you see is determined by its clarity. Stones with a "flawless" clarity are considered to be at the tippy top of the grading pyramid, while stones with an "inclusion" clarity (a.k.a tiny blemishes or marks) are at the bottom.

Cut - Stones come in a variety of shapes, and this is determined by the cut. Different cuts can affect a stone's ability to refract light, which will in turn affect its sparkle, but each one requires mastery.

HARDNESS MATTERS

How soft or hard a stone is will determine how you should care for it - a soft stone will be more fragile and prone to scratching vs. a harder stone that can hold up to the roughness of everyday wear.

Gemstones are measured based on the MOHS Hardness Scale, with 10 being the hardest and 1 being the softest. Where a stone sits on the MOHS scale can influence how a stone is cut and set, so it's a good idea to refer to this scale when jewelry shopping so you can choose the right gem for your needs.

THE MOST COMMON & POPULAR CUTS

Gems can be cut into a variety of shapes, and each one has its own appeal. Depending on your personal style you may gravitate towards certain shapes; round and square cut gems can be a great choice for a simple piece of jewelry, but if you have a bolder personality you may like a heart or kite cut. 

Here's a quick rundown of each cut:

Round Cut - Does what it says on the tin! This is a round shape, usually with 57-58 facets for optimal sparkle.

Princess Cut - Square or rectangular cut with sharp corners, most often used for diamonds.

Emerald Cut - Not exclusively for emeralds, this cut is rectangular with chopped corners for a really classic look.

Trillion Cut - A curvy triangular shape, this one is a contemporary cut that's great for centerpiece and accent stones.

Oval Cut - Another self-explanatory one, this cut is similar to the round cut but with an elongated shape.

Cushion Cut - A more vintage cut, this is a square shape with rounded corners and larger facets that maximize lustre.

Pear Cut - This is a combination of two cuts with a recognizable teardrop shape, really popular for drop earrings and pendants.

Asscher Cut - Similar to the emerald cut but in a square shape, it's got cropped corners and large facets.

Marquise Cut - An oval shape but pointier, this cut can make stones look larger and fingers look slimmer.

Heart Cut - It's heart-shaped! A more modern shape but no less technically brilliant, this is often chosen for sentimental pieces (for obvious reasons).

Radiant Cut - This one combines the technical aspects of emerald and round cuts, designed to fully maximize the sparkle of a gemstone.



TL;DR - WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

The long-story-short is that gems can be natural or lab-made, come in a heap of colors and shades, cut in loads of different shapes to enhance their features, and measured on a fancy scale of hardness.

Choosing the right stone for you should factor in all of the above. And the best way to get the most out of your gemstones? A Millie Savage custom! Made especially for you with your own stones or gems sourced by our amazing team, a custom jewelry piece will mix your inspiration with Millie's creative genius.