The Lab Gem Supplier

At the jewelry counter, looks can be deceiving. Lay two rings side by side. The one with the huge flashy rock that appears to be worth a fortune may actually be worth only a fraction of the cost of the ring with the tiny, perfect stone. In gemstones, it’s quality not size that matters most. 

Gemologists evaluate gemstones using the 4Cs: color, clarity, cut and carat weight. Developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the 1940s and 1950s, the 4Cs standardized the evaluation of diamonds and other gems worldwide. Along with development of GIA’s International Diamond Grading System, the 4Cs allowed gem suppliers to make consistent, objective gem comparisons — and customers finally had a reliable way to judge value and price. Developed to grade diamonds, the 4Cs can be applied to any gemstone. 

• Color in diamonds is about what you don’t see. Colorless diamonds have the greatest value. As hints of yellow or brown increase, diamond value decreases.
• Cut refers to the overall shape of the diamond as well as the number, size, shape and plane of the facets that create a diamond’s brilliance and sparkle. The standard round brilliant is the most used shape in diamond jewelry, but fancy shapes such as the marquise, emerald, pear and oval are also popular.  
• Clarity is the absence of marring blemishes or inclusions. Ranging from obvious, visible imperfections to the extremely rare, flawless diamond, most natural gems contain microscopic imperfections caused during their formation.
• Carat weight is the standard metric unit used to weigh gems. One carat equals 0.2 grams, the weight of a paperclip. Carats are divided into 100 points, allowing for precise measurement to the hundred-thousandths of a carat. 

In nature, each diamond and gem is uniquely formed, creating differences in the 4Cs that greatly affect value and potential use. However, in the laboratory diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and other precious gems can be created that possess the identical chemical composition and exquisite physical characteristics of the most perfect naturally-occurring gemstones. These cz diamonds (cubic zirconia diamonds) and lab created gems ensure that you receive perfect color, cut and clarity in the size required every time you order. For more information on lab created gems and to order, please visit the PehnecGems website at www.pehnec.com.