Coloured gemstones are generally cut to maximize the beauty of their colour. To recognize quality in the cut of a gemstone, there are several points to consider.

What to Look For

A good cut showcases the gemstone's colour, diminishes its inclusions, and exhibits good overall symmetry and proportion. Because gemstone colour can vary, there are no hard geometrical standards when it comes to maximizing brilliance or colour. Gemstones, especially rarer ones, are sometimes cut for size without regard for their colour. For example, when corundum varieties such as sapphire and ruby are cut for maximum weight rather than beauty, they may display banded colours or streaks.

Buyers Tip  
Always request that a stone be accompanied by a grading report to ensure its quality and
accuracy.  At La Mode Fine Jewellers we offer loose gemstones through our Black Box Gemstone program.  All stones are accompanied by their own individual grading report and are serial number engraved to ensure its quality and accuracy.  Buy with confidence.

Gemstone Cut

Look at the gemstone in the setting and ensure that all the facets are symmetrical. An asymmetrically-cut crown indicates a gemstone of low-quality. In all cases, a well-cut gemstone is symmetrical and reflects light evenly across the surface, and the polish is smooth, without any nicks or scratches.   

Buyers Tip 
Always request that a stone be accompanied by a grading report to ensure its quality and
accuracy.  At La Mode Fine Jewellers we offer loose gemstones through our Black Box Gemstone program.  All stones are accompanied by their own individual grading report and are serial number engraved to ensure its quality and accuracy.  Buy with confidence.

Buying loose stones

At La Mode Fine Jewellers we offer loose gemstones through our Black Box Gemstone program.  All stones are accompanied by their own individual grading report and are serial number engraved to ensure its quality and accuracy.  Buy with confidence.

Many customers of ours travel abroad and have discovered that many gemstones can be purchased from their source for considerable savings.  You should be aware that many gem dealers cut their loose stones 'heavy' to increase their carat weight to drive up the prices.  These stones can be very difficult to set  in traditional settings and may require additional cutting to produce a desired shape.  There is also an added risk that a stone could be chipped or damaged during the setting process.  Gemstones with lower hardness ratings are more difficult to set.  Keep in mind that buying a finished piece of jewellery where the stone is already set in a ring or pendant removes this risk.  By all means picking up a souvenir can be exciting and can garner you a treasured heirloom, simply educate yourself on the type of gem you intend to purchase and always compare prices from at least two dealers.

At La Mode Fine Jewellers we also offer a large selection of unset and semi set mountings.  Many of our customers have taken stones from their current jewellery and remodeled them into a new settings.  This is a very cost effective way to modify or enhance your current jewellery.