Hope's Corner - Gemstones

Last month my husband and I went on a buying trip for loose gemstones. We bought some truly fabulous color. I am most excited about our black Opal collection. If you love the play of color in an Opal, you need to see the Opals we bought from Australia. Flashes of reds and oranges, streaks of color every way you turn it! If you aren’t in love with Opals, you probably haven’t seen fantastic Opals, they are truly breathtaking and no two look the same.

If I had to pick a single gemstone that was my favorite of all the things we bought, hands-down it would be the 10 carat blue Sapphire. I searched for my own Sapphire for 4 years (nearly drove my husband mad). I had the color in my head. I would know it when I saw it. Well this Sapphire blows mine out-of-the-water! This is the prettiest Sapphire I have ever seen as a gemologist, and as a buyer. The 10 carat is unheated (which makes it very rare) it comes from Burma and was re-cut 4 times to become the dazzling beauty that it is. This is what we in the jewelry industry refer to as “gem quality.” Not your ordinary Sapphire. If you want to see one of the finest Sapphires nature has created, come in and ask to see the 10 carat, it won’t be in the cases as I am trying to come up with a ring incredible enough to show off this gem!

If you wanted something hot, a wicked red, the Rubies we bought are “pigeon blood red” they scream passion, look at me. Not pinkish, not purplish, not dark, not light, just in your face traffic-light red. One gem that’s been very popular lately is Morganite. A pale pink that has a lushness rare in pink gems. The pear shape that I bought comes from Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Whatever color speaks to you, chances are, I’ve got a gemstone perfect for you. I am extremely excited to debut our new gems. Stop in and ask to see these beauties, but I must warn you, you will fall in love.

~ Hope Wixon

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Use what you know about the 4Cs as a guide to making informed decisions when shopping for gemstones...

Color - the most important element when choosing a gemstone. Every gem has a unique color range. Generally speaking, the purest and most vivid color a gem can have will also be the most expensive due to the rareness of stone’s rich color.
Cut - Next to color, this is the most important factor in beauty. Faceted gemstones should have a pleasing shape with lively display of color and light.
Clarity - If they don't detract from appearance, clarity features also known as identifying characteristics are accepted in most colored gems. In fact, they provide a benefit by proving that that gem is natural.
Carat - Most colored gems are available in a wide range of sizes, but for some the selection is limited.

Submit a question

Q) I’m shopping for a color gemstone piece of jewelry, what is your recommendation to finding the right one?

A) Go BIG, the most common mistake people make is choosing a gemstone that is too small. Start by looking at the biggest gemstone for your budget and keep in mind the color gemstone should make a statements so be sure any side stones only enhance the gemstone and don’t distract from the boldness of the color.

Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires -- "Oh My!"...This year's Oscar stars strolled the red carpet in bright and colorful jewels. Among the most stunning jewels of the night was a pair of vivid green Columbian emerald earrings (115 carats total) worn by Angelina Jolie. Nominee Marissa Tomei wore a vintage 1943 estate sapphire and diamond gold bracelet (saphhires total over 51 carats and 5 carats of diamonds). Amy Adams wore a dramatic statement piece - a vintage bib-style necklace with 630 carats of emeralds, rubies and sapphires, and 39 carats of diamonds. Alicia Keys wore a 19th Century amethyst ring. Remember, a Slumdog can become a millionaire so add a little more color to your life and you’ll look like a million bucks!

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