Gemstones

Different varieties of tourmaline tend to have different clarities. Thus while large clean tourmalines in the blue and blue-green colors are available, almost all red and pink tourmalines will show eye-visible inclusions.

Look for clarity in the iridescence. Also look for strong colors, as well as the existence of multiple colors and striations. The clearer the striations and the wider the range of colors, the more beautiful the labradorescence is likely to be.

With the combination of surface brilliance and a deep-seated glow, the lustre of a good-quality cultured pearl should be bright, not dull. Your reflection should be seen clearly on the surface of a cultured pearl. Any pearl that looks too chalky or dull indicates low quality.

Generally, the more colours in Opal there are the more valuable it is. Especially for Black Opal, the colour red is the most valuable because red is the rarest colour, followed by orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. However, a stone with dull red will be less valuable than a stone with...

A good moonstone should be almost transparent and as free of inclusions as possible. Inclusions can potentially interfere with the adularescence. Characteristic inclusions in moonstones include tiny tension cracks called centipedes. They are called this because they resemble those long, thin creatures with many legs.

The biggest tell of fake moldavite outside of the common shapes and color is the fact that fakes have no inclusions and few to no bubbles. Moldavite beads are uniform in shape, crystal clear, and have a clean appearance. Real moldavite pieces look dirty in comparison.

The gem's most valuable colour is dark blue to slightly greenish blue with moderately strong intensity. In general, the purer and more intense the blue colour, the more valuable the stone. Most aquamarine is a light greenish blue.