GEMSTONE EDUCATION
Choose from blue sapphire, amethyst, ruby, and more for the perfect engagement ring or statement jewelry.
HOW TO BUY A GEMSTONE
Learn all about gemstone colors, grades, and types. We break down all the essentials about durability, pricing, and quality so you can make an informed and confident choice. Whether it's black diamond, moissanite, or white diamond, our gemologists can make the best recommendations.
DIAMOND GUIDE
Diamonds are the rarest, hardest, most valuable and precious gemstone on earth. Moreover, they are the ultimate symbol of commitment and love. Use our diamond guide to learn the essentials of purchasing this symbol of your commitment.
8 STEPS TO SELECT A GEMSTONE RING
STEP NO. 1
Set a budget
When it comes to this topic, the advice is subjective. There is this rather antiquated piece-of-advice to save 2 to 3 months' salary. However, spend what is comfortable for you, and your partner. There are various ways to maximize any budget when purchasing with the right jeweler. For non-diamond gemstone rings, most of the budget will go towards the type of gemstone, the carat weight, and then the ring style/look. With Clarity gemstone rings start at $350 and can range upwards to $3,600.
STEP NO. 2
Pick a gemstone
The center stone is what eyes draw to first, and is the one of the main reasons for its price tag. We offer Diamonds, White Moissanite, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, London Blue Topaz, Peridot, Aquamarine, Amethyst, and Black Diamond. Don't know where to start? We recommend learning about their meanings or going based on our Birth Gemstone Chart.
STEP NO. 3
PICK A SHAPE
Some popular gemstone shape examples are Round, Princess, Cushion, Emerald, Oval, and Pear. For gemstones, the most popular picks are round and emerald shapes.
GEMSTONE SHAPES
STEP NO. 4
Shop with your eyes
Choose from our distinct five ring style collections: Classic, Contemporary, Halo, Solitaire, and Three Stone. Work to find the best style that corresponds with your partner and current jewelry preferences.
STEP NO. 6
Carat
When it comes to gemstone rings, the carat weight has the largest impact on the look of the ring. However, when it comes to the price tag, the carat weight for loose gemstones (other than diamonds), does not increase highly as you go up in carat weight. At With Clarity, we can set center stones as small as 0.5 carat.
STEP NO. 7
FIND THE IDEAL TIMING
Now that you have an idea of your ideal ring, set the proposal date ahead of time. This way you can give yourself enough time to plan and research the ring. As well as, have enough time for the ring to be picked up or shipped to you. We recommend giving yourself at least three months to sort all the details.
STEP NO. 8
Order the ring
Before you purchase, we urge you to ask all the right questions to your jeweler. This way you can get the best value for your jewelry purchase, and have some peace-of-mind. Some key things to ask your jeweler about are gemstone certification(s) from a reputable place (like GIA or IGI), if they use pure precious metals, if they have appraisals, and the return and warranty policy.
shop nowHow to care for gemstone jewelry
Gemstones can be more delicate than diamonds in terms of durability and hardness. Ensure that you're removing your jewelry when doing anything overly physical or dealing with harsh soaps or chemicals. When purchasing with With Clarity, all jewelry is covered for general wear and tear with our lifetime warranty. View our Gemstone Treatment & Care Chart for more.
FAQ's
Sapphire and Ruby. Sapphire and Ruby rank second to diamonds for gemstone durability and are in the same family (conundrum). They also have a rich history and have been associated with royalty and wealth for centuries. At With Clarity, about 95% of customer calls are for Blue Sapphires.
Other than (white) diamonds, rubies are the second most expensive gem. A one-carat ruby engagement ring is at least a 60% increase versus a one-carat (white) diamond engagement ring. A loose 1 carat 6mm round Ruby is $3k. Whereas a loose 1 carat 6mm round (white) diamond can range from $ 3k to $18k.
Within our inventory, London Blue Topaz is the cheapest gem. In fact, the price tag of a London Blue Topaz 1 carat, round shape is $160, which makes up less than 15% of 1 carat of ruby.
In order to know the answer to this question, one must understand the Mohs Hardness Scale because hardness is a good indicator of how well it will resist abrasions, scratches, breaking, and chipping. This scale ranks gem and mineral hardness on a scale of 1 (least hard) to 10 (hardest). Lab and natural diamonds rank at 10, which makes them the hardest substance known to man. Gemstones at a rank of 9 are ruby and sapphire, which are both in the conundrum family. However, they show no cleavage (splitting due to sharp hit), which is a property diamonds possess.
Gemstones are cut in three fundamental ways: Brilliant, Step, and Mixed. Brilliant cuts show triangular and/or kite-shaped facets, like round, oval, cushion, princess, pear, and marquise shapes. Step cuts show rectangular facets (reminiscent of a hall-of-mirrors), like emerald, baguette, and Asscher shapes. Mixed cut is a combination of triangular, kite, and rectangular facets. Oval shapes can be a famous example of mixed cut gems. Radiant shapes, another example, are good at hiding inclusions and concentrating color. They are a mix of brilliant and step cut facets. Cabochons cuts show no facets, oval or elliptical shaped with a dome
The majority of reputable laboratories grade gemstones on a letter scale AAAA, AAA, AA, and B. Jewelry-ready gemstones need a grade from AAAA, AAA, or AA because any other grade will be too inadequate to set. AAAA gemstones are extremely rare and can make up less than 5% of the market. AAA and AA gems make up a majority of the market and are favorable for rings, earrings, and necklaces. Gemstones that are graded below B could be cut into cabochons or craft beads.