The most beautiful color in the world is the one that suits you

MOHAMED NAJIB SAAAD

7 Jun, 2017

The most beautiful color in the world is the one that suits you

The most beautiful color in the world is the one that suits you

Here is a piece of advice worth listening to! Color is the most important criterion for determining the value of a colored gem. But in the end, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and judging a color is a perfectly subjective affair. This does not mean, of course, that there are no criteria of universal validity; But they should never take precedence over personal appreciations of the color of the gems. It will not surprise anyone to learn that the more the color of a fine stone is attractive, the more valuable the stone. Colors with the most value are determined by two factors: fashion and rarity. It is easy to understand the importance of fashion: everything depends on the popularity of a color, at a given moment. If no one appreciates the color of a fine stone, its rarity plays no part. Conversely, when a gem whose color is in the spotlight is rare - as is the case with the tourmaline of Paraíba or the sapphire Padparadscha - there is a "superstar" gem. In general, intense colors are preferred over colors that are too dark or too light. But there are also exceptions, such as the pink amethyst of France which is the

favorite stone of the Victorian era

How the color of a fine stone is described can make people want to buy it; This may also have the exact opposite effect. When used wisely, words can seduce and inspire, arousing the desire to also possess a colored gem. For some fine stones, there are terms or phrases with which it is possible to describe the most sought after colors, for example the "noble red" of a spinel or blueberry sapphires

But what exactly is "color"? To simplify, the gemstones are divided into two types, as to their color:

Idiochromatic: A coloring element is contained in the structure of the mineral, which is responsible for the characteristic coloring. The high iron content of a peridot, for example, is about 10% of its total mass; For this reason, this stone will always present green tones.

Allochromatic: Color is the product of small amounts of coloring elements that are not an integral part of the normal crystal structure, or are the result of defects in the crystal (colored centers). In the pure state, allochromatic minerals are colorless. Without coloring elements (and / or colored centers), all the sapphires would be colorless, for example

The most beautiful color in the world is the one that suits you

On most objects, color is produced by interaction with light. Some fine stones receive their color through physical processes - one sees it for example with the play of the colors of the opal. In the case of opal, the light is divided into color flashes which vary according to the angle of observation. On most fine stones, and even on most objects, our perception of color implies an extraordinary metamorphosis. As the rainbow is the proof, white light consists of the different colors of the chromatic spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. When white light passes through a fine stone, certain colors of the spectrum are absorbed. If all the colors of the spectrum cross the gem, the latter appears white; If they are all absorbed, it appears black. The colors of the spectrum of white light that are least absorbed combine to produce the color of the gem. The absorption of certain colors is also referred to as "selective absorption of light", and is always the same for a given stone. A fine red stone appears red because all other colors of the spectrum are absorbed by it. It is the variations in the colors that make up the light source that make a gem look different in different lighting conditions. Even a small difference in the light source can result in a significant change in our perception of the color of a stone. In extreme cases, this produces the effect of the color change. Ideally, the colors of a fine stone should be beautiful regardless of lighting conditions.

The color includes the following three components:

Hue: The position of the color on the chromatic circle. The hue is called tone, shade or color impression.

Clarity: Indicates whether a color is light or dark, and to what degree.

Saturation: The intensity (strength or purity) of a color.

Although there are different specialized systems for color gradation in the jewelery sector (eg GemDialogue, GemEWizard and GIASquare), there is no standard standard for describing the color of fine stones. This is mainly due to the fact that colored gems are perceived very subjectively. This is why the vendors have developed since their own system, for example the designation "AAA". Color can be an excellent decision criterion for choosing the fine stone that will suit you, but consider that it is not a reliable indicator when it comes to identifying the stone! Even experts may be wrong. This is a lesson to remember: color is a great help, but other visible characteristics, such as inclusions, traces of wear (which are an indication of hardness), pleochroism, fires And flicker are also decisive. It is only by using these criteria, in combination with the use of gemmological instruments such as the microscope, the magnifying glass and the refractometer, that it is possible to identify with certainty a gemstone

Black stones

The most beautiful color in the world is the one that suits you